Sam Burgess named in Bath back row for Newcastle trip
Last Updated: 10/04/15 5:01pm
Sam Burgess will start at blindside flanker in Bath’s Aviva Premiership fixture with Newcastle Falcons on Friday night.
The rugby league convert has been used at centre since arriving from South Sydney Rabbitohs, but head coach Mike Ford has elected to move him to the back row for their trip to Kingston Park.
Burgess’ inclusion is one of eight changes to the team that were narrowly defeated by Leinster in last weekend’s Champions Cup quarter-final.
In the backs, Semesa Rokoduguni returns to the wing with Ollie Devoto replacing the injured Kyle Eastmond at inside centre, while Peter Stringer partners George Ford at half-back.
Having struggled in the scrums against Leinster, Nick Auterac and Max Lahiff come into the front row, with Matt Garvey and Dominic Day forming a new second-row partnership.
With Stuart Hooper ruled out with a slight knock, openside flanker Francois Louw captains the side as they seek a 10th successive victory at Kingston Park.
The Falcons have recorded just one Premiership victory at home since November and director of rugby Dean Richards makes four changes to the team that were beaten at London Irish in round 18.
Rory Clegg is preferred to Tom Catterick at fly-half while Simon Hammersley comes in at full-back for his first start since the draw with Wasps in February.
Calum Green replaces Dom Barrow in the second row, while Mark Wilson moves to openside to accommodate Chris York’s selection at No 8.
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Chris Harris, 13 Adam Powell (c), 12 Juan Socino, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Ruki Tipuna; 1 Rob Vickers, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Kieran Brookes, 4 Calum Green, 5 Kane Thompson, 6 Richard Mayhew, 7 Mark Wilson, 8 Chris York.
Replacements: 16 George MGuigan, 17 Eric Fry, 18 Juan Pable Orlandi, 19 Josh Furno, 20 Sean Robinson, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Gonzalo Tiesi.
Bath: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 George Ford, 9 Peter Stringer; 1 Nick Auterac, 2 Ross Batty, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 Matt Garvey, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Sam Burgess, 7 Francois Louw (c), 8 Leroy Houston.
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Paul James, 18 Kane Palma-Newport, 19 Dave Attwood, 20 Carl Fearns, 21 Alafoti Faosiliva, 22 Micky Young, 23 Tom Homer.