Challenge Cup - Round 3
Newcastle name strong team to bounce back in France
Newcastle have recalled Captain Matthew Burke to the team after missing last weekend’s EDF Energy Cup victory over NEC Harlequins, with England centre Jamie Noon also resuming club duties after starting all four autumn Tests for England.
Experienced wingers John Rudd and Tom May also return to the team in what is a crucial Pool 3 match for the Falcons.
"There’s a lot riding on Friday because if we lose then we face an extremely difficult task in getting to the last eight," said coach John Fletcher.
"We know Montauban were in the top three earlier in the season and that they’ve claimed some big scalps in the French league. They almost won in Toulouse last weekend but then the previous week were beaten at home by the bottom side, so like ourselves perhaps consistency has been an issue.
"Any French team is dangerous, especially at home, and we will treat them with the respect they deserve. Brive won there in the opening weekend, although the information we have from people who were at the game is that Montauban had rested some of their squad for that match.
"We understand they will be back to full strength this weekend though, so they will be a different proposition altogether."
Meanwhile Connacht have announced a their side ahead of Friday night's clash with Montpellier. The team shows seven changes to that which played Munster last weekend as well as two positional switches.
Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin, Michael Swift, Conor O'Loughlin, David Slemen, Ted Robinson and Gavin Williams all come into the side. John Fogarty, Colm Rigney, Chris Keane and Mark McHugh are moved to the replacements.
John Muldoon moves to number eight and Keith Matthews moves from centre to right wing. Brett Strugess comes into squad to be named amongst the replacements.
Glasgow head coach Sean Lineen has made four changes (one positional) to the starting line-up and a further four to the bench from the team who lost out to Leinster in their last outing. The team is missing five internationalists due to injury.
Centre Scott Barrow, prop Justin Va’a and hooker Scott Lawson all join the starting XV while Andy Henderson is moved from inside to outside centre. Kevin Tkachuk and Fergus Thomson move from the starting XV to the bench.
“This is going to be a very tough match. Narbonne always go out to play rugby and actually have the third highest attacking stats in the French league. They have a quality about their set piece and have a good track record in this competition. Both the top points scorer and try scorer in the French league - Rosalen and Candelon - play for Narbonne so we know we’ll have our work cut out for us,” said Lineen.
Guinness Premiership leaders Bristol will be without injured number eight Dan Ward-Smith and centre Rob Higgitt for their trip to Bayonne on Friday, but hooker Mark Regan plays after avoiding suspension when he appeared before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel earlier this week.
Lock Gareth Llewellyn captains the west country club, who are buoyed by England scrum-half Shaun Perry's first club start since October.
Steve Meehan hopes his Bath team can gain "a psychological benefit" by toppling Harlequins in their clash at the Twickenham Stoop.
The sides are scheduled to meet four times in European and domestic competitions between this weekend and January 27, starting with their Pool Four clash on Saturday.
Quins currently head the group by one point from unbeaten rivals Bath, and recent Guinness Premiership form suggests a home win ahead of next week's return Recreation Ground fixture.
Acting head coach Meehan said: "We are going to know each other very well by the end of January.
"If both sides were to win at home, there is no real edge, but if somebody can get a win away then I think that gives them a psychological benefit.
More to follow...
Fixtures - Round 3
Friday, December 8
Pool 4 - Connacht v Montpellier, 18:30 GMT, Galway Sportsground
Pool 3 - Montauban v Newcastle, 19:00 (18:00 GMT), Stade Sapiac
Pool 1 - Bayonne v Bristol, 19:30 (18:30 GMT), Stade Jean Dauger
Pool 1 - Dragons v Bucuresti, 19:30 GMT, Rodney Parade
Pool 2 - Glasgow v Narbonne, 19:30 GMT, Hughenden
Saturday, December 9
Pool 3 - Brive v Padova, 15:00 (14:00GMT), Parc Municipal
Pool 4 - Harlequins v Bath, 15:00 GMT, The Stoop
Pool 5 - Worcester v Albi, 15:00 GMT, Sixways
Sunday, December 10
Pool 5 - Viadana v Clermont, 14:00 (13:00 GMT), Stadoi Luigi Zaffanella
Pool 2 - Saracens v GRAN Parma, 15:00 GMT, Vicarage Road
For full standings, click here