Northampton v Newcastle: Teams
Northampton boss Jim Mallinder inisists his side will give Newcastle "plenty of respect" ahead of their Guinness Premiership clash.
Last Updated: 27/02/09 2:55pm
Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder inisists his side will give Newcastle "plenty of respect" ahead of their Guinness Premiership clash.
The Falcons have won their last three matches and although the Saints have enjoyed an impressive run at home, Mallinder is expecting a tough encounter.
"Newcastle are in a good run of form and will pose us a lot of problems," he said.
"They are a team who like to move the ball, as they showed in their last away match at Bristol, where they won a try-scoring bonus point and put in one of the best displays of the season. We will certainly be paying them plenty of respect.
"Although we didn't win at Adams Park there were plenty of positives to be taken from the game, not least the amount of commitment that the players showed. If we can repeat that and add the accuracy we were missing against Wasps then we can achieve another positive result at home.
"We're not feeling any pressure from our home record as we take every game as it comes. You have to always look forward to the next match, not any that have gone before. But we're making Franklin's Gardens a difficult place to play and the fans create an atmosphere that gives the team a boost. It would be fantastic if we could have another full house tomorrow."
Newcastle have made just two changes for the trip to Northamption with Jon Golding set to line-up against his former side.
Returns
Golding replaces loosehead prop David Wilson, while Brent Wilson comes in for the injured Ed Williamson in the back-row.
Scrum-half Micky Young and full-back Alex Tait also start having passed fitness tests, while on the bench there are returns for Mark Sorenson and Russell Winter.
And Newcastle director of rugby Steve Bates is confident his side can end Northampton's stranglehold at home.
"Northampton are unbeaten at home in almost two years, but with three successive Guinness Premiership victories now under our belt we are going down there with plenty of confidence," said Bates.
"We know it will be a tough game against a Saints team which has a formidable record at Franklin's Gardens, but with the weather easing up a bit and the chance to play on what is generally thought of as the best pitch in the Guinness Premiership, the boys are looking forward to what will hopefully be an open and exciting game."
Northampton: 15 Bruce Reihana (capt), 14 Paul Diggin, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Chris Ashton, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha, 2 Brett Sharman, 3 Barry Stewart, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Juandre Kruger, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Neil Best, 8 Roger Wilson.
Replacements: 16 Paul Shields, 17 Tom Smith, 18 Christian Day, 19 Mark Hopley, 20 Alan Dickens, 21 Barry Everitt, 22 Chris Mayor
Newcastle: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Danny Williams, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 John Rudd, 10 Tom May, 9 Micky Young, 8 Adam Balding, 7 Brent Wilson, 6 Phil Dowson (captain), 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Rob Vickers, 1 Jon Golding.
Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 David Wilson, 18 Mark Sorenson, 19 Russell Winter, 20 Hall Charlton, 21 Rob Miller, 22 Tim Visser.