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Jake Abbott - first Guinness Premiership start
Warriors shuffle pack for Falcons trip
30 October 2009, 12:25 pm
Back row ace Jake Abbott and prop Callum Black are awarded their first Guinness Premiership starts of the season as Worcester Warriors travel to face Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park on Sunday (kick-off 3pm).
Academy product Abbott is rewarded for a number of eye catching displays in recent weeks and will play at openside flanker as skipper Pat Sanderson moves to Number Eight.
Front row star Black will pack down with hooker Aleki Lutui and Tevita Taumoepeau, who has passed a fitness test to start the game in the north east.
"I was disappointed with the performance up front last week - the players are aware of that," said Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock.
"Because of that I've made some changes to the forward pack with Callum and Jake rewarded for their good form with deserved starts against Newcastle.
"This is a very important game for us and we have a big focus on it," added Ruddock. "Newcastle had a great win at Bath. They will have chests puffed out and they will be walking around happy with themselves and rightly so, to get a bonus point win away at Bath is a fantastic result.
"They will fancy their chances and will look to push the ball around and play some attractive rugby.
"What we need to do is be mindful of that, be really enthusiastic in our line press in defence, pressure them at all times and hit the tackle area. We need to force the mistakes from them that we saw them do against Bath."
Lock Craig Gillies will also hit a milestone in the game as he makes his 150th Premiership appearance and Ruddock is full of praise for his high-flying second row.
"It is a great achievement for Craig to make 150 games in the top-flight," he said. "He has been a great servant to Worcester Warriors and a consistent performer over a long period of time.
"But I'm sure Craig will be keen to celebrate his 150th Premiership game with a win so it becomes a doubly special day for him."
Warriors vs Newcastle Falcons
15 Chris Latham
14 Rico Gear
13 Alex Grove
12 Sam Tuitupou
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Willie Walker
9 Ryan Powell
1 Callum Black
2 Aleki Lutui
3 Tevita Taumoepeau
4 Greg Rawlinson
5 Craig Gillies
6 Tom Wood
7 Jake Abbott
8 Pat Sanderson (c)
Replacements
16 Adam Black
17 Chris Fortey
18 Jack Gilding
19 Will Bowley
20 Netani Talei
21 Jonny Arr
22 George Crook
23 Calum MacRae
Front row star Black will pack down with hooker Aleki Lutui and Tevita Taumoepeau, who has passed a fitness test to start the game in the north east.
"I was disappointed with the performance up front last week - the players are aware of that," said Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock.
"Because of that I've made some changes to the forward pack with Callum and Jake rewarded for their good form with deserved starts against Newcastle.
"This is a very important game for us and we have a big focus on it," added Ruddock. "Newcastle had a great win at Bath. They will have chests puffed out and they will be walking around happy with themselves and rightly so, to get a bonus point win away at Bath is a fantastic result.
"They will fancy their chances and will look to push the ball around and play some attractive rugby.
"What we need to do is be mindful of that, be really enthusiastic in our line press in defence, pressure them at all times and hit the tackle area. We need to force the mistakes from them that we saw them do against Bath."
Lock Craig Gillies will also hit a milestone in the game as he makes his 150th Premiership appearance and Ruddock is full of praise for his high-flying second row.
"It is a great achievement for Craig to make 150 games in the top-flight," he said. "He has been a great servant to Worcester Warriors and a consistent performer over a long period of time.
"But I'm sure Craig will be keen to celebrate his 150th Premiership game with a win so it becomes a doubly special day for him."
Warriors vs Newcastle Falcons
15 Chris Latham
14 Rico Gear
13 Alex Grove
12 Sam Tuitupou
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Willie Walker
9 Ryan Powell
1 Callum Black
2 Aleki Lutui
3 Tevita Taumoepeau
4 Greg Rawlinson
5 Craig Gillies
6 Tom Wood
7 Jake Abbott
8 Pat Sanderson (c)
Replacements
16 Adam Black
17 Chris Fortey
18 Jack Gilding
19 Will Bowley
20 Netani Talei
21 Jonny Arr
22 George Crook
23 Calum MacRae
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