Aviva Premiership: Newcastle v Saracens preview
By Press Association
Last Updated: 04/12/15 5:15pm
Newcastle coach Dean Richards has made two changes to the side that came away with a 15-15 draw against Sale Sharks last week.
The draw was the first Premiership points of the season for the Falcons. Winger Belisario Agulla makes his league debut in place of Giamba Venditti, while Tom Catterick comes into the side in the No 10 jersey to take over from injured Kiwi Mike Delany.
Richards is relishing the opportunity to test his side against the league leaders.
"Saracens will be a good challenge for the boys," said Richards. "We will look forward to this game purely because they are such a good team and you pit your wits against the best and they are the best at this moment in time."
Meanwhile England hooker Jamie George, fresh from signing a new contract with Saracens, will lead the side out at Kingston Park. Will Fraser returns to the team at openside flanker where he joins No 8 Samuela Vunisa in the loose trio. There are starts for scrum-half Ben Spencer, who impressed at Twickenham last weekend, centre Nick Tompkins and winger Mike Ellery.
Mark McCall is not underestimating the Newcastle Falcons despite the gulf between the two sides in the standings.
"We are well aware of the task that faces us on Sunday afternoon," said McCall. "The Falcons ran us very close in our last meeting at Kingston Park, and we are expecting another tough game this weekend.
"We are on a good a run, but that will mean very little if we don't turn up on Sunday with the right approach.
"Dean Richards has put together a very strong squad at Newcastle who are traditionally very strong at home. It will be a real test for us."
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Belisario Agulla, 13 Adam Powell, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Tom Catterick, 9 Michael Young, 1 Rob Vickers, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Jon Welsh, 4 Sean Robinson, 5 Calum Green, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch, 8 Nili Latu.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 Taione Vea, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Ally Hogg, 21 Sonatane Takulua 22 Craig Willis, 23 Chris Harris.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode; 14 Mike Ellery, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Duncan Taylor, 11 Chris Wyles; 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Richard Barrington, 2 Jamie George ©, 3 Juan Figallo; 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Kruis; 6 Jackson Wray, 7 Will Fraser, 8 Samuela Vunisa.
Replacements: 16 Jared Saunders, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Petrus Du Plessis, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Billy Vunipola, 21 Neil De Kock, 22 Tim Streather, 23 Ben Ransom.
