Leicester ring changes as they look to bounce back at Newcastle
BRISTOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Dave Walder, the Newcastle Falcons headcoach looks on during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bristol Bears and Newcastle Falcons at Ashton Gate on January 01, 2021 in Bristol, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Following last week’s thrashing by Sale, Leicester make seven changes in the hope that a win away against Newcastle will propel them into 2023 play-off contention.
As Leicester look for their first away win in the Premiership since mid-October, interim coach Richard Wigglesworth makes sweeping changes as he aims to keep discussion around the club’s coaching and management firmly sidelined.
In the backline, Harry Simmons comes in for Anthony Watson and Matt Scott replaces Guy Porter. New half-back combination of Ben Youngs and Charlie Atkinson will also be looking to make their mark where Handre Pollard and Jack Van Poortvliet were unable to last week.
James Cronin enters at prop for James Whitcombe while Calum Green starts at second row, with Ollie Chessum moving to flanker in the place of Olly Cracknell, as Hanro Liebenberg takes the number eight spot.
Newcastle themselves name an unchanged forward pack yet but do make changes in the backs. Tom Penny skippers from fullback, coming in for Elliot Obatyino, as an Argentine combination is re-united in the centres with Matias Orlando and Matias Moroni starting together.
With the BT Sport televising a Newcastle home game for only the second time this season, the first having been a victory against Bristol Bears, Dave Walder insists he and his players are determined to seize the chance to showcase the club.
“It’s a massive opportunity for us to show a wider audience what we’re about, and we always love being on TV,” said the Newcastle head coach, speaking to the club’s official website.
“It’s a shame we’re not on TV more, and there’s a feeling around the club that we get ignored a bit in terms of how few times we get picked for televised matches compared to other clubs.
“First and foremost of course you want people inside the stadium and enjoying the game in person, but for the guys who can’t get here or for your away matches, absolutely you want to have that exposure of being on BT Sport.
“We want people to see what we’ve got going on and what we’re building as a team, and it’s important for us as a club to start getting our fair share of the TV picks.”
Written by Rupert Reddish
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