Premiership
Team news: Carreras back to face Irish
Friday 3 March 2023
The Gallagher Premiership’s top try-scorer, Mateo Carreras, returns for Newcastle Falcons on Sunday when they host London Irish.
The 3pm kick-off at Kingston Park Stadium sees the return of the Tucuman try machine, who has averaged a touchdown every game in his 11 league appearances this season.
Carreras is joined by countryman Pedro Rubiolo as the 20-year-old Puma makes his Premiership debut on the blind-side flank – Newcastle looking for a repeat of their last home game in the league when they recorded a bonus-point victory over champions Leicester Tigers.
Philip van der Walt and Gary Graham are both absent due to injury in the back row having helped the Falcons take a losing bonus point away to Premiership leaders Saracens last weekend, while Matthew Dalton makes his third league start of the season in place of suspended USA international Greg Peterson.
Adam Brocklebank returns at loose-head prop – Brett Connon continuing in the fly-half berth after kicking five from five last time out.
Falcons head coach Dave Walder said: “We need to start better than we did last weekend at Saracens, although I was immensely proud of the character shown by the boys in coming back to get a bonus point despite playing a man down for more than an hour at the league leaders.
“We have to look at why we put ourselves in that position in the first place and make sure we’re on it from the very start, which is incredibly important against a quality side like London Irish.
“We can’t wait until we’re backed into a corner to come out fighting – we need to be on the front foot and there will be a huge focus on that.”
Hopeful of playing in front of their biggest crowd of the season, Walder said: “That’s massively important because our supporters give us such a lift.
“We saw in our last Premiership home game against Leicester Tigers what we can do when we start big and the crowd get into it, and it will be great on Sunday to have so many junior players here for our community festival.
“My son is here playing as part of that so I know how much excitement it brings, and having the involvement of so many local rugby clubs is crucial for the Falcons moving forward.
“We want to play in a manner which makes those guys proud, that they enjoy watching and crucially which gives us the win. It’s built around predominantly local players with a bit of stardust sprinkled from outside, and if we can get that right then I think we’re in a good place.”
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Newcastle Falcons team v London Irish (Sunday, 3pm, Kingston Park)
15 Alex Tait, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Michael Young (captain); 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Matthew Dalton, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Pedro Rubiolo, 7 Callum Chick, 8 Carl Fearns.
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Logovi’i Mulipola, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 Freddie Lockwood, 20 Tom Marshall, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Pete Lucock.
Not available for selection: Phil Brantingham, Sam Clark, Connor Collett, Gary Graham, Ewan Greenlaw, Nathan Greenwood, Zach Kerr, Charlie Maddison, Tom Penny, Guy Pepper, Josh Peters, Greg Peterson, Vereimi Qorowale, Sean Robinson, Oliver Spencer, Philip van der Walt, George Wacokecoke, Will Welch.
London Irish: 15 Ben Loader, 14 Lucio Cinti, 13 Will Joseph, 12 Benhard van Rensburg, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ben White; 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Agustin Creevy, 3 Oliver Hoskins, 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 5 Rob Simmons (captain), 6 Josh Basham, 7 Tom Pearson, 8 Chandler Cunningham-South.
Replacements: 16 Matt Cornish, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 Josh Caulfield, 20 Matt Rogerson, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Luca Morisi, 23 James Stokes.
Referee: Christophe Ridley.
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top14 side Toulon.
The explosive centre, who starred for his country during the recent World Cup, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a further year.
He will join up with Alex Sanderson’s Sharks squad ahead of the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season.
Waisea, 33, said: “I’ve watched the Premiership for a long time and it’s always been in the back of my mind that I would love to play there one day and experience rugby in England.
“Now that opportunity has arrived and I’m really, really happy and grateful. I’m so excited to get over there and join the boys and see how I can contribute to the team.
“I have spoken to Telusa Veainu and he only has positive things to say about the club and about Manchester.
“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the guys I’ve played against, like Tom Curry and George Ford. But I also know there are a lot of really talented young players in the Sale Sharks squad and I’m excited to share my experience and help them develop as much as I can.
“I told Alex that it’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years of my career and it’s something I’m passionate about.”
Nayacalevu, who stands at 6’4” and weighs in at 16st 7lb, spent ten years at Top14 side Stade Français before making the switch to Toulon in 2022.
He has won 34 caps for Fiji, slotting in at both centre and on the wing, and captained his country at last year’s World Cup, where the Pacific Islanders made the quarter-finals, losing 30-24 to England in Marseille.
He also famously scored for Fiji in their memorable pre-World Cup win against England at Twickenham.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Phil Brantingham to join Saracens
Prop-forward Phil Brantingham will leave Newcastle Falcons in the summer to join Saracens.
The 22-year-old has played 25 games for his home town club, and leaves with the thanks and best wishes of everyone at the Falcons.
Chairman of rugby Matt Thompson said: “Phil has done well for us and we made him a good offer to stay here.
“We respect his decision and wish him all the best for his move in the summer, but between now and then he will be fully committed to finishing the season strongly for Newcastle Falcons.”
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that forward Cobus Wiese will leave the club at the end of the season to return to South Africa.
The 26-year-old lock has played almost 80 games for the club and scored five tries since joining from the DHL Stormers ahead of the 2020/21 season.
He played a key role last year as Sale reached the Premiership final, and this season he has featured a further 13 times for Alex Sanderson’s side.
Alex said: “Cobus will be missed by all of us on so many levels. He’s the most polite and courteous of people off the field, but the most wildly excitable man on the field, and on a night out.
“To say Cobus wears his heart on his sleeve is to do him a disservice with regards to his emotional commitment for which his body has paid the price on occasion.
“He leads by example and has earnt the respect and adoration of the group both on a professional and a personal level. We wish him every success and happiness with his move back home.”
Everyone at Sale Sharks would like to thank Cobus for his contribution to the club and the team during his time here and we wish him all the very best for the future.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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