Worcester v Newcastle: Teams
Four of Worcester's squad will say farewell to Sixways, while Steve Bates has thrown down the gauntlet to Newcastle's fringe players.
Last Updated: 09/05/08 12:59pm
Four of Worcester's squad will say farewell to Sixways when Newcastle arrive for the final match of the season.
Tony Windo, Shane Drahm, Drew Hickey and Thinus Delport will leave the club at the end of the campaign and director of rugby is hoping the Warriors can give them the perfect send off.
"They have been great servants for the club. I hope they get a huge ovation from the crowd and we give them a great send-off," he said.
"We are looking for replacements but the Falcons game is all about them and I wish them well in their final game on home soil."
Windo is set to retire from playing to joining the Worcester coaching staff, while Drahm, Delport and Hickey are all moving to Japan.
Windo will start the match in the front row alongside Cjris Horsman, while Drahm is handed the No.10 jersey and Delport is named at full-back. Hickey will start the match on the bench.
Ruddock, who has also recalled Fijian back row Netani Talei to the starting XV, has admitted it has been a long, hard season for his side.
"It has been a long and tough season for us. People tell me it is a battle in this league to get through the season and they have been proven right," he said.
"But we've steadily improved and the second half of the campaign has been rewarding. Now we want to finish off in style for our own fans and give them a real show before the final.
Confidence
"Our recent victory over Newcastle in the European Challenge Cup will give us confidence. But we watched the Falcons against Leicester Tigers recently and they played a different style."
Newcastle interim director of rugby Steve Bates has thrown down the gauntlet to some of his squad to earn first-team places for next season.
The Falcons end their season with a trip to Worcester - and with little for the two sides to play for, as well facing their third game in a week, Newcastle have rung the changes.
There will be final appearances in Newcastle players for Lee Dickson, Ben Woods and Mathew Tait, while England trio Jonny Wilkinson, Jamie Noon and the departing Toby Flood are all missing.
Ross Beattie, the former Scotland flanker, captains the side, while fit-again All Black prop Joe McDonnell and England Students flanker Peter Browne start from the bench.
"We have picked a side for Saturday to basically say here is a chance for one or two people to stake their claim for next season," explained Bates.
"We fielded a largely young side against Wasps on Wednesday, and they were very competitive for the first hour before a couple of controversial decisions saw Wasps get themselves in front.
"We are looking at some different combinations, like Ross Beattie getting another start in the back row, which I am keen to see again after he did a lot of very promising things against Leicester on Sunday.
"The back line is looking a little injury-ridden, so we will have to see what shape that eventually takes. We are hoping that both Mathew and Alex Tait are fit to play, but if they aren't then we will have to unfortunately ask some of the guys who have already played two games this week to make it three on the trot.
"The inclusion of Lee Dickson, Ben Woods and, if fit, Mathew Tait, gives those guys the opportunity to have a send-off in Newcastle colours, which is the least they deserve after the contribution they have all made to this club."
Worcester: 15 Thinus Delport, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Rico Gear, 12 Dale Rasmussen, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Shane Drahm, 9 Matt Powell, 1 Tony Windo, 2 Aleki Lutui, 3 Chris Horsman, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 5 Craig Gillies, 6 Netani Talei, 7 Pat Sanderson (c), 8 Kai Horstmann.
Replacements: 16 Tevita Taumoepeau, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Will Bowley, 19 Drew Hickey, 20 Joe Carlisle, 21 Jonny Arr, 22 Chris Pennell.
Newcastle:15 Alex Tait, 14 Ollie Phillips, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Tim Visser, 11 John Rudd, 10 Steve Jones, 9 Lee Dickson, 1 Jon Golding, 2 Rob Vickers, 3 David Wilson, 4 Andy Perry, 5 Mark Sorenson, 6 Ben Woods, 7 Ed Williamson, 8 Ross Beattie (c).
Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Joe McDonnell, 18 Tim Swinson, 19 Peter Browne, 20 Brent Wilson, 21 James Grindal, 22 Rob Miller.