Newcastle v Saints: Teams
Northampton will not be taking any chances against strugglers Newcastle when the teams clash at Kingston Park on Friday.
Last Updated: 14/04/11 1:46pm
Northampton will not be taking any chances against strugglers Newcastle when the teams clash at Kingston Park on Friday.
Saints return to Aviva Premiership action following Sunday's Heineken Cup quarter-final triumph over Ulster.
Currently lying fourth in the table Jim Mallinder's men go into the match looking to secure a place in the top-four and a place in the semi-finals.
But the director of rugby is well aware that, with the Falcons battling for survival in rugby's top tier, they could prove to be dangerous opposition on home soil.
"Newcastle are fighting for their lives and will battle throughout the full 80 minutes and beyond," he said.
Committed
"We are right at the business end of the season and a point here or there really matters to every team whether you are at the top or the bottom of the lead.
"The Falcons are physical in midfield, have a committed pack of forwards and one of the Premiership's top points scorers in Jimmy Gopperth.
"It will certainly not be easy for us at Kingston Park, far from it, and we are prepared for a tough challenge.
"We got a good result on Sunday in Milton Keynes, but that is behind us now and we have been fully focused on Newcastle all week.
"Understandably the players have been in good spirits, but they also know that we have to keep winning if we are to secure a place in the top four for the play-offs.
"There are lots of teams ready to capitalise if we slip up, so we have to make sure we don't."
Determined
Newcastle will be hoping to bounce back from last weekend's narrow defeat to Leeds and keep their Premiership survival hopes alive.
Alan Tait has made three changes to his side, with Tom Catterick coming in at full-back for the injured Jeremy Manning, and Gcobani Bobo and James Fitzpatrick starting on the wing and at centre respectively.
Back rower Ally Hogg, who never had to endure the threat of relegation during his ten-year stint at Edinburgh, insisted that Newcastle were still in control of their fate.
Drawing comparison with the Magners League, which is a ring-fenced 10-team competition, the former Edinburgh player said that he and his team-mates remained determined to fight.
"At one point behind and four games to go it is still in our own hands," he said. "And we will go out there for every single match determined to fight for the win."
"If you were in this position in the Magners League then you would start thinking about building for next year.
"But we don't have that luxury because we are fighting for our lives until the very end of the season."
Newcastle: 15 Tom Catterick, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 12 Jame Fitzpatrick, 11 Gcobani Bobo, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Micky Young, 8 Ally Hogg, 7 Will Welch, 6 Mark Wilson, 5 Andrew Van der Heijden, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Matt Thompson, 1 Jonny Golding.
Replacements: 16 Rob Vickers, 17 Grant Shiells, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Filipo Levi, 20 Alex Gray, 21 Chris Pilgrim, 22 Luke Eves, 23 Rob Vickerman.
Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Phil Dowson, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Dylan Hartley (c), 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Tom Mercey, 19 Mark Sorenson, 20 Tom Wood, 21 Stuart Commins, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Bruce Reihana.