2 September 2005
SALE SHARKS have named their team for Friday's GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP opener against Newcastle Falcons at Edgeley Park (KO 8pm).
Daniel Larrechea, Mark Cueto, Mark Taylor, Elvis Sevealai'i, Jason Robinson, Charlie Hodgson, Richard Wigglesworth, Andrew Sheridan, Sebastien Bruno, Barry Stewart, Ignancio Fernandez Lobbe, Chris Jones, Jason White, Magnus Lund, Sebastien Chabal.
Replacements: Andy Titterrell, Lionel Faure, Stuart Turner, Dean Schofield, Christian Day, Valentin Courrent, Robert Todd
Head Coach Kingsley Jones said, " We have 32 players who deserve to start this game and we thought long and hard before naming our starting line up. Newcastle Falcons like us, enjoy playing attacking rugby and I am sure the supporters will be in for a treat in this opening game of the GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP. Competition for places this season will be intense and we are all looking forward to kick off time."
Sale Sharks are guaranteed their highest ever crowd for an opening fixture. Season Tickets are at an all time high, breaking the 4000 barrier yesterday. Tickets are still on sale for Friday evening's game and can be booked by phoning 08712-220120 or by booking online at www.salesharks.com.
Newcastle Falcons have named their team for Friday's GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP season opener against Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park (kick-off 8pm).
Newcastle Falcons director of rugby, Rob Andrew, has predicted points but added grit as his side travels to Sale Sharks on Friday in what is the opening match of the 2005/6 GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP campaign.
Andrew's men have provided free-flowing heavy scoring games when up against the Sharks in recent years, including the 2004 Powergen Cup final win, but the former England fly half has signalled that a more measured approach could be on the cards this time round.
"They are always open games with plenty of tries, but this one may be a little more attritional because both teams know there is a need to toughen up in the forwards," he said, after naming a team containing summer signings Andy Perry and Tino Paoletti in the tight five.
"We are both known for our open rugby, but it's probably fair to say we are both trying to look at the other side of the game and balance it out a bit. Having said that, when the opportunities arise I'm sure both teams won't be afraid to give it width and run some tries in."
Former England Under-21 lock Geoff Parling is named in the starting XV as Scotland's Stuart Grimes is on the bench, with Andrew stating: "Geoff has been very sharp in pre-season, and Grimesy would probably concede that Geoff did finish last season as the stronger of the two. He wasn't the player we know him to be last year, and Geoff deserves his start.
"Grimesy has admitted himself that he had a poor end to last season because he felt flat after playing so much international rugby on top of the club stuff, and he has since decided to take a year away from the Test scene, so I am sure we'll see the benefits.
"He has played a limited part in our friendly games due to a slight knee problem so he is easing his way back in, but he's on the bench for Friday and will be ready when we need him to come on."
Another man on the bench is England and Lions fly half Jonny Wilkinson, after a grumbling appendix forced him out of the club's pre-season friendly games.
With much media attention on the controversial rest days for Lions players, with Sale starting their Lions contingent, Andrew revealed that he has agreed with the England team management on his own player policy.
"The EPS situation seems to have got itself in to a bit of a tangle, and some clubs will open themselves up to future problems or disciplinary action, but that's their decision and I wouldn't want to comment either way," he said.
"All I know is that we won't be having any disciplinary hearings with Jeff Blackett at the RFU because I have had a good meeting with Andy Robinson at Kingston Park today and we are in total agreement on the best course of action for both Newcastle and England.
"We're not making any promises or hard and fast rules as to when Jonny will come on or if he will at all - we'll just see how the game is going and do what is required.
"Clearly there is a need for Jonny to play some rugby, but we have to be aware of what's happening on the night and the fact that he's had a pretty rough ten days."
It is again Dave Walder who starts in the No.10 shirt after storming performances against NEC and Glasgow in pre-season, with Andrew saying of Walder's situation as the media predictably focuses on Wilkinson: "Dave has lived with it for so long now that it's just water off a duck's back.
"He handles it extremely well, and he always plays just as many games as Jonny per season, if not more. It's just never been an issue for either of them, and in a league as tough as ours you need a big squad."
Up against a Sale team tipped by many pundits to be in contention for honours, Andrew said ahead of Friday's encounter: "Sale are being talked up in the media and they are talking themselves up as well, which is a dangerous thing to do, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
"They have lost some key guys, and it will be interesting to see how they go without Bryan Redpath at scrum half, who I believe has quietly been their most influential player for the last few seasons.
"It will be fascinating to see if Charlie Hodgson can fare well without Bryan running the game and giving him quick ball with time to think, but they are undeniably a good side so we aren't taking them lightly at all."
The Falcons also boast a former Shark in their ranks by virtue of winger Anthony Elliott, who scored a spectacular try on his home debut last Saturday in the emphatic win over Scotland's top-placed Celtic League side, Glasgow.
"The new lads have all done well from the moment they joined the club, and on the wing Anthony has been exceptional because he is basically keeping Mathew Tait out of the side purely on form and how he has gone in training," said Andrew.
"To be fair all of the new guys have looked sharp, and then we have the likes of Dave Walder, Jamie Noon and Hall Charlton looking the best they have for two years, so the team is really firing."
Newcastle Falcons team:
15 Matthew Burke
14 Tom May
13 Jamie Noon
12 Mark Mayerhofler
11 Anthony Elliott
10 Dave Walder
9 Hall Charlton
1 Ian Peel
2 Andy Long
3 Tino Paoletti
4 Andy Perry
5 Geoff Parling
6 Phil Dowson
7 Cory Harris
8 Colin Charvis (captain)
Replacements:
Micky Ward
Matt Thompson
Robbie Morris
Stuart Grimes
Luke Gross
James Grindal
Jonny Wilkinson
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