Newcastle Falcons v Wasps preview
Last Updated: 20/02/15 8:40pm
Italian international Andrea Masi has returned to Wasps' squad for Friday's Aviva Premiership trip to Newcastle but flanker James Haskell remains with England.
The absence of Haskell means that loosehead prop Matt Mullan will lead the side out at Kingston Park.
Also starting in the backs are Saxons stars Christian Wade, Joe Simpson and Elliot Daly. Andy Goode, who recently announced that he will be moving to London Irish at the end of the season, partners Simpson in the half-backs.
There is a strong loose trio in the form of Ashley Johnson, Thomas Young and No 8 Nathan Hughes, while Welsh lock Bradley Davies joins Kearnan Myall in the second row. Johnson returns to the team for the first time having served a three-week suspension for his challenge on Leinster's Dave Kearney in the Champions Cup pool match in January.
The game is of vital importance to Wasps, who find themselves in fourth place just two points behind third-place Saracens, who visit Sale this weekend.
Newcastle’s director of rugby Dean Richards has made several changes to his team that lost 46-17 to Exeter last week, with the forwards in particular sporting a new look this week.
Hooker Rob Hawkins joins the team in place of Scott Lawson, who misses out through injury, while Kieran Brookes returns from his England duties to take over from Juan Pablo Orlandi. Rob Vickers retains his place in the No 1 jersey.
In the second row there are two new faces in Josh Furno, who returns from Italy’s camp as the Six Nations takes a break, and Dom Barrow who is promoted from the bench as he continues his return from injury.
The loose forward combination of Mark Wilson, captain Will Welch and Ally Hogg returns for another week.
Newcastle: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Sinoti Sinoti, 13 Adam Powell, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Noah Cato, 10 Tom Catterick, 9 Mike Blair, 1 Rob Vickers, 2 Rob Hawkins, 3 Kieran Brookes, 4 Josh Furno, 5 Dom Barrow, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch (c), 8 Ally Hogg.
Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Kane Thompson, 20 Richard Mayhew, 21 Ruki Tipuna, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Gonzalo Tiesi.
Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 James Downey, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Joe Simpson, 1 Matt Mullan (c), 2 Carlo Festuccia, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 4 Bradley Davies, 5 Kearnan Myall, 6 Ashley Johnson, 7 Thomas Young, 8 Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: 16 Edd Shervington, 17 John Yapp, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Guy Thompson, 21 Tom Bliss, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Andrea Masi.