European Rugby Challenge Cup: Stade Francais v Newcastle Falcons preview
Last Updated: 12/12/14 9:16am
Newcastle Falcons have made seven changes for Thursday’s European Challenge Cup trip to Stade Francais.
The Falcons maintained their 100 per cent record in Pool Three with a 30-23 victory over the Parisians last weekend, but director of rugby Dean Richards has given his side a refreshed look for the Stade Jean-Bouin clash.
Alex Tait misses out after picking up a knock during last weekend’s contest. Chris Harris moves from inside centre to the wing, with Juan Pablo Socino coming into the midfield.
There is a new half-back combination as Rory Clegg and Ruki Tipuna replace Tom Catterick and Warren Fury, while tight-head prop Alex Rogers is promoted to the starting line-up after impressing when introduced as a replacement against Stade at Kingston Park.
Calum Green returns to partner Kane Thompson in the second row, while there are two changes in the back row as Dan Temm and Chris York give way for Andy Saull and Mark Wilson.
Rob Hawkins is included among the replacements for the first time since suffering an injury in the warm-up at Northampton in November.
Stade Francais, who have won just one of their three games in Europe this season, also make seven changes to their starting line-up.
Zak Taulafo and Remi Bonfils start in the front row, with Hugh Pyle named at lock and Raphael Lakafia at No 8.
Jerome Fillol replaces Julien Tomas at scrum-half, while Geoffrey Doumayrou and Djibril Camara come into the backline.
Stade Francais: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Jeremy Sinzelle, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Krisnan Inu, 11 Djibril Camara, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Jerome Fillol; 1 Zak Taulafo, 2 Remi Bonfils, 3 Davit Kubriashvili, 4 Hugh Pyle, 5 Gerhard Mostert, 6 Jonathan Ross, 7 Pierre Rabadan (c), 8 Raphael Lakafia.
Replacements: 16 Zurabi Zhvania, 17 Romain Frou, 18 Sofiane Chellat, 19 Paul Gabrillagues, 20 Matthieu Ugena, 21 Julien Tomas, 22 Vincent Mallet, 23 Jonathan Danty.
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Chris Harris, 13 Adam Powell (c), 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Noah Cato, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Ruki Tipuna; 1 Eric Fry, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Alex Rogers, 4 Calum Green, 5 Kane Thompson, 6 Sean Robinson, 7 Andy Saull, 8 Mark Wilson.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Mark Irving, 19 Dom Barrow, 20 Chris York, 21 Andy Davies, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Tom Penny.
Watch Stade Francais v Newcastle Falcons live on Sky Sports 1 on Thursday from 7.30pm