Gloucester v Newcastle, 02/04/2011

After the LV= Cup Final last Sunday we have a quick opportunity to get revenge against Gloucester tomorrow, although that will require a first win opposite rugby’s best chippy in almost 13 years.

It was 1998 when Peter Walton ran in a long-range try and Paul Van-Zandvliet got away with a trip on Mark Mapletoft (I think) as we snuck a 27-29 victory at Kingsholm on our way to the championship.  Since then though, it’s been defeats all the way at the home of rugby’s second-loudest fans.

Just a couple of years after our title win there was the time Olivier Azam-Epi Taione-Rob Andrew tried and failed to form the first branch of the Gloucester-Newcastle friendly society, and a 60-9 trouncing in the 2002 playoffs, before one of our most heart-breaking defeats ever.

0-20 up not long after half-time despite us being bottom of the league and Gloucester top, and the Cherry ‘n’ Whites had won the cup the previous week.  Unfortunately the hosts roared back in the second half and eventually won 25-23 thanks to a last-play Thinus Delport try and a conversion by Ludovic Mercier.

The closest we’ve come to beating Gloucester away this century was in late October 2007 in the EDF Energy Cup, when another late score by Glasst’r secured them an 18-18 draw despite a good midfield showing from Steve Jones outside returning World Cup finalist Toby Flood.  If only Tom May had scored when the ball stuck on the tryline!

In February 2008 the Falcons were 9-20 up in GL1 and despite two home tries looked good for a bonus point, until May tried to win the game with a drop-goal.  Gloucester charged the kick down and Akapusi Qera’s try, converted by Willie Walker, left us with nothing.

We were last in Teague’s bar just under 16 months ago in December 2009, and the Shedheads had a win in the bag thanks to Nicky Robinson’s boot long before Rob Miller converted Alex Tait’s try with just a few minutes left.

Obviously we have already been beaten by Gloucester this year, in the Cup Final in Northampton two weeks ago, but we have three home wins against them in the past two-and-a-bit years, and Harlequins destroyed our hosts at the Stoop 53-15 last weekend, so there is some hope.

Doesn’t matter who the opponents are anyway, we need all the points we can get with Leeds having a winnable game at home to Exeter on Sunday and the Cardigans visiting KP a week tomorrow.

The Falcons have made a number of changes with Jon Golding and Matt Thompson getting a rest, Euan Murray partnering Grant Shiells and Rob Vickers up front.  Tane Tu’ipulotu starts on the wing opposite Rikki Sheriffe and Rob Vickerman is in the centre for a first league start since October.  Micky Young is back in the starting line up and Mark Wilson is at blindside.  Tim Swinson begins at lock rather than moving there in the second half as Andrew van der Heijden is missing.

15  Alex Tait

14  Tane Tu’ipulotu

13  Rob Vickerman

12  Luke Eves

11  Rikki Sheriffe

10  Jimmy Gopperth

9  Micky Young

1  Grant Shiells

2  Rob Vickers

3  Euan Murray

4c  James Hudson

5  Tim Swinson

6  Mark Wilson

7  Will Welch

8  Ally Hogg

16  Matt Thompson

17  James Hall

18  Kieran Brookes

19  Glen Townson

20  Alex Gray

21  Chris Pilgrim

22  James Fitzpatrick

23  Tom Catterick

Future Falcon Jordi Pasqualin, outstanding in the cup final. is on the bench for Gloucester tomorrow alongside Rupert Harden, as Rory Lawson is available again.  Ten of these players started at Franklin’s Gardens a fortnight ago:

15  Freddie Burns

14  Jonny May

13  Tim Molenaar

12  Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu

11  Tom Voyce

10  Nicky Robinson

9  Rory Lawson

1  Nick Wood

2  Olivier Azam

3  Paul Doran-Jones

4  Jim Hamilton

5  Alex Brown

6  Alasdair Strokosch

7  Akapusi Qera

8c  Luke Narraway

16  Scott Lawson

17  Alasdair Dickinson

18  Rupert Harden

19  Dave Attwood

20  Brett Deacon

21  Jordi Pasqualin

22  Tim Taylor

23  Henry Trinder