Team news: Unchanged side to face Saracens
Head coach Dave Walder goes with the same starting XV which defeated previously-unbeaten Bristol Bears 30-15 last Friday, with Will Welch captaining the team.
Adam Radwan and George McGuigan both start after spending three days in England’s training camp during the first half of the week, with the Argentina trio of Mateo Carreras, Matias Orlando and Matias Moroni all included having impressed last time out.
Fit-again scrum-half Michael Young takes up a place on the bench after breaking his hand in pre-season action at Leicester Tigers in August, while Jamie Blamire reverts to replacement hooker after his back-row exploits during the early part of the season.
Freddie Lockwood serves as back-row cover having returned from a loan spell at Jersey Reds, with Ben Stevenson also added to the bench.
Newcastle Falcons head coach Dave Walder said: “The lads showed great attitude and intensity last Friday in beating Bristol, and the challenge now is to do it on a more consistent basis.
“Those kinds of performances have to become the norm rather than the exception but we’ve shown we have it in us, and our supporters and players really fed off one another.
“Hopefully we’ll get a good home crowd in on Sunday to get behind the lads, and it’s a massive opportunity against a quality side.”
Like Bristol last week, Saracens arrive in the North East on the top of the Gallagher Premiership table with three wins from three, having put more than 50 points past champions Leicester Tigers last time out.
Walder said: “It’s no secret that Saracens are a class side, and you can’t fail to have been impressed by what they delivered last weekend in beating Leicester.
“They look to be playing more rugby at times rather than going to their kick-chase game, but they’ve got both in their armoury and will test us in different ways.
“They have a couple of my former Newcastle team-mates in their coaching group with Joe Shaw and Ian Peel, so it will be great to catch up with those guys, but first and foremost it’s an exciting opportunity for us to test ourselves against another quality outfit.”
[**Click here**][1] to buy tickets for Sunday’s 3pm kick-off.
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**Newcastle Falcons team to face Saracens (Sunday, 3pm, Kingston Park Stadium).**
15 Tom Penny, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Sam Stuart; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Will Welch (captain), 7 Connor Collett, 8 Callum Chick.
**Replacements:** 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Logovi’i Mulipola, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Sebastian de Chaves, 20 Freddie Lockwood, 21 Michael Young, 22 Pete Lucock, 23 Ben Stevenson.
**Not available for selection:** Phil Brantingham, Brett Connon, Luke Coulston, Nathan Earle, Carl Fearns, Gary Graham, Conor Kenny, Tom Marshall, George Merrick, Chidera Obonna, Charlie Smith, Josh Thomas, Philip van der Walt.
**Saracens:** 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Max Malins, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Owen Farrell (captain), 9 Ivan Van Zyl; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Kapeli Pifeleti, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 5 Theo McFarland, 6 Jackson Wray, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola.
**Replacements:** 16 Theo Dan, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Hugh Tizard, 20 Andy Christie, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Alex Goode, 23 Josh Hallett.
**Referee:** Wayne Barnes.
[1]: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/newcastle-falcons/EDP/Event/Index/1752
[2]: http://video.premiershiprugby.com/payment?utm_source=PRL&utm_medium=Clubs&utm_campaign=OTTPromotion&utm_content=Newcastle