Worcester v Newcastle: Teams
Mike Ruddock knows Worcester must keep their cool if they are to beat Newcastle in the European Challenge Cup semi-finals on Friday.
Last Updated: 24/04/08 1:48pm
Worcester director of rugby Mike Ruddock knows his side must keep their cool if they are to beat Newcastle in the European Challenge Cup semi-finals on Friday.
The last time the two sides met, Worcester outscored the Falcons two tries to nil however they still ended up losing after Jonny Wilkinson kicked 15 points.
And with Wilkinson set to delay a shoulder operation to play, Ruddock has warned his side to keep their discipline.
Ruddock said: "The players are looking forward to the game and we hope home advantage and the backing of the Sixways crowd can fire us to a cup final.
"When we played Newcastle earlier this season we felt we should have won up at Kingston Park in the league, we outscored them two tries to nil.
"The deadly boot of Jonny Wilkinson won the game for them on that occasion and we know our discipline will have to be top drawer on Friday.
Ambitions
"For the Warriors it has been a season of steady progress and recently we have shown some good form at Sixways to beat top four teams like Gloucester and Leicester Tigers.
"Hopefully we have shown the home faithful that we have Heineken Cup ambitions and against Newcastle we can get the result that we badly crave."
Ruddock welcomes centre Dale Rasmussen back to his starting XV, while Pat Sanderson has recovered from a dead leg to play.
Newcastle will welcome back their star men for the visit to Sixways.
Wilkinson will delay his plans for an operation in a bid to kick the Falcons to glory and he is joined in the backs by England colleagues Jamie Noon, Toby Flood and Mat Tait.
In the forwards Ben Woods, Andy Buist, Carl Hayman, and Phil Dowson all return.
And interim director of rugby Steve Bates admitted: "The boys are fresh and in reasonable shape, they have trained well all week and there is a very positive focus within the group.
"This is a very important game in terms of reaching a European final, and this is a competition in which we have done well this season.
"We have had some good performances in this tournament, especially Brive away, and if we get to the final that would be a fantastic occasion for our supporters."
Worcester: 15 Thinus Delport, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Shane Drahm, 9 Matt Powell, 8 Kai Horstmann, 7 Pat Sanderson (c), 6 Drew Hickey, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Tony Windo.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Ruwers, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Will Bowley, 19 Tom Wood, 20 Jonny Arr, 21 Joe Carlisle, 22 Rico Gear.
Newcastle: 15 Mathew Tait, 14 Tom May, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Toby Flood, 11 John Rudd, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 James Grindal, 8 Phil Dowson (c), 7 Ben Woods, 6 Andy Buist, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Andy Perry, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Matt Thompson, 1 Micky Ward.
Replacements: 16 Andy Long, 17 Jon Golding, 18 Geoff Parling, 19 Russell Winter, 20 Brent Wilson, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 Tim Visser.