Saracens v Newcastle: Teams
Newcastle welcome back winger Danny Williams for Sunday's European Challenge Cup quarter-final at Saracens.
Last Updated: 10/04/09 6:06pm
Newcastle Falcons welcome back winger Danny Williams to their starting line-up for Sunday's European Challenge Cup quarter-final at Saracens.
The 22-year-old returns after missing the last four games having injured his ankle in the act of scoring against Sale - his fifth league try in just eight starts after switching codes last summer.
He returns to a Falcons side showing just two other changes from the one which travelled to London Wasps last weekend.
Both alterations come in the front row as David Wilson and Matt Thompson replace Micky Ward and Rob Vickers respectively.
Mentality
"We've been telling the players this week what cup rugby is all about, which is really attacking the game with a winner-takes-all mentality in a way perhaps that you would not always do in the league," said director of rugby Steve Bates.
"In the Premiership you're maybe thinking about being more cagey, protecting your bonus point and building a base from there, but in the cup none of that matters.
"We're going in with the view that we can win this competition, and to do that then obviously we need to clear Saracens as the first hurdle.
"People keep talking about securing a European place for next season, but for me there is much more to it than simply achieving Heineken Cup rugby.
"The players want to win a trophy on the back of what they have been doing over the last three months, well all season really, because even when we were losing games we were still building our game towards what we have seen after the new year."
Sarries boosted
Sarries are boosted by the return from injury of no less than five players for the all-English tie.
Alex Goode, Brad Barritt, Matt Cairns, Neil de Kock and Noah Cato are all fit and included in coach Richard Graham's 22-man squad.
However, the news was not so good concerning Wikus van Heerden and Kameli Ratuvou with the duo ruled out for the rest of the campaign with shoulder injuries.
Edd Thrower will also not feature again this season after breaking his leg in an A League fixture against Northampton.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Wyles, 13 Adam Powell, 11 Rodd Penney, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ben Skirving, 7 David Seymour, 6 Chris Jack, 5 Kris Chesney, 4 Steve Borthwick (c), 3 Census Johnston, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Matt Cairns, 17 Cobus Visagie, 18 Tom Ryder, 19 Donald Barrell, 20 Mickey Wilson, 21 Andy Farrell, 22 Noah Cato.
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 (c), 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Geoff Parling, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Matt Thompson, 1 David Wilson.
Replacements: 16 Rob Vickers 17 Micky Ward 18 Tim Swinson 19 Russell Winter 20 Hall Charlton 21 Rob Miller 22 Tim Visser