By Leipziger
September 28 2006

On Friday the Falcons make their first visit of the season to the current Premiership champions Sale to begin the EDF Energy Cup campaign, looking to keep up a very good record against the Sharks in Cup rugby in the last few years. In last season’s group match, a weakened Sale side were given a 5-try thumping 34-9 at Kingston Park, scene of their semi-final defeat in 2001. And of course lets not forget one of the Cup’s most exciting finals, the 37-34 victory of Newcastle against Sale at Twickenham in April 2004.

Only six of our starting lineup that day are still at the club: Joe Shaw, Tom May, Jamie Noon, Mark Mayerhofler, James Grindal and Micky Ward. Only Shaw was a scorer that day, whilst Sale’s talismanic England international backs Steve Hanley, Charlie Hodgson, Mark Cueto and Mark Cueto remain, and were joined in the summer by youngsters Andy Vilk and Chris Bell. And lets not forget, in three visits the Falcons have not won at Edgeley Park.

So far this season the champions have won three of their four Premiership matches, losing the opener at Leicester but then defeating Northampton at home, Worcester away and last Friday Cueto, Welsh centre Mark Taylor and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe scored tries backed up by Hodgson’s boot to beat Saracens 34-26. Considering how Saracens had taken us apart a few days earlier, and how our forwards have played so far as they prepare to meet Sebastian Chabal, Sebastien Bruno, Lionel Faure, Pierre Gaona, not to mention Scotland captain Jason White, this doesn’t bode well for tomorrow night.

John Fletcher has made several changes to the Falcons side, with Tom May in the centre and John Rudd making his first start on the wing behind academy centre Tom Dillon, who starts for the first time but at fly-half.

In the forwards, Sean Tomes and Eni Gesinde come in at lock and blindside and Micky Ward returns at tight-head whilst Robbie Morris continues at loose-head.

15 Matthew Burke (captain)
14 John Rudd
13 Jamie Noon
12 Tom May
11 Anthony Elliott
10 Tom Dillon
9 James Grindal

1 Robbie Morris
2 Andy Long
3 Micky Ward
4 Sean Tomes
5 Jason Oakes
6 Eni Gesinde
7 Ben Woods
8 Phil Dowson

Replacements:

David Wilson
Matt Thompson
Brent Wilson
Mike McCarthy
Tim Visser
Lee Dickson
James Hoyle

Sale have named a strong side, in contrast to this game a year ago, with several internationals including strong French duo, Sebastiens Chabal and Bruno in the forwards with England’s Chris Jones in between. Charlie Hodgson is on the bench, with Frenchman Daniel Larrechea at 10, and he will look to unleash the considerable talent of Jason Robinson, Steve Hanley and Oriol Ripol.

15 Jason Robinson
14 Oriol Ripol
13 Chris Mayor
12 Jon Bryant
11 Steve Hanley
10 Daniel Larrechea
9 Richard Wigglesworth

1 Lionel Faure
2 Sebastien Bruno
3 Ben Evans
4 Chris Jones
5 Chris Day
6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
7 David Tait
8 Sebastien Chabal

Replacements:
Pierre Gaona
Barry Stewart
Sean Cox
Michael Hills/Jason White
Sililo Martens
Charlie Hodgson
Mark Taylor

Looking at those teams, maybe you should revise your prediction. I have – I don’t think it will 0-0 anymore!