TEAM NEWS: BATH V NEWCASTLE
Jamie Helleur replaces Adam Powell at centre, while in the engine room Scott MacLeod comes in for Dom Barrow who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury.
After playing 50 minutes of last weekend’s 29-0 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons in the LV= Cup, Argentinian international Gonzalo Tiesi makes his Premiership debut for the Falcons.
Ally Hogg returns to the fold following his man-of-the-match display for Scotland ‘A’ against England Saxons and has a place on the bench alongside Saxon Kieran Brookes. The Falcons are however, without hooker Scott Lawson who is in the Scotland squad for tomorrow’s Calcutta Cup showdown with England at Murrayfield.
“Bath will be a very difficult test for us, but it’s a challenge that we are relishing and looking forward to,” said Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards.
“We gave a solid account of ourselves last week and performed very well, and it’s up to us to continue that momentum into this weekend’s game.
“It’s great to see Gonzalo Tiesi back in the team following injury and his experience in the backline will be invaluable – it will be interesting to see how he goes with Jamie Helleur in the midfield,” added Richards.
**Newcastle Falcons:** 15 Alex Tait, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Jamie Helleur, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Warren Fury, 1 Rob Vickers, 2 Matt Thompson, 3 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 4 Scott MacLeod, 5 Fraser McKenzie, 6 Will Welch (c), 7 Andy Saull, 8 Mark Wilson
**Replacements:** 16 George McGuigan, 17 Franck Montanella, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Sean Tomes, 20 Ally Hogg, 21 Chris Pilgrim, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Adam Powell