Falcons could rush Tongan into action

9:46am Friday 31st October 2008

NEWCASTLE Falcons’ new signing Tane Tu’ipulotu will be on the replacements’ bench for Sunday’s EDF Energy Cup clash with Gloucester, despite only landing on British soil yesterday afternoon.

Tu’ipulotu met his new team-mates after jetting into Newcastle Airport, and provided his international registration is confirmed in time, he is expected to be involved in this weekend’s dead rubber.

The Tongan centre should not lack match fitness after appearing in last weekend’s New Zealand Cup final – his Wellington side suffered a dramatic 7-6 defeat to Canterbury – and Falcons director of rugby Steve Bates is hoping to use Sunday’s game as an introduction to British rugby ahead of November’s packed Premiership schedule.

“Tane came to the training ground straight from the airport before even dropping his luggage off,” said Bates. “That says a lot to me about him as a person and his commitment to this club.

“He is definitely keen to play, there are just a few issues we need to iron out in terms of his registration first, because we couldn’t start that registration process until he physically arrived in the country.

“On top of that, we need to monitor him closely from a physical standpoint to make sure the effects of jet lag don’t put him at any additional risk.

“Provided we can tick all of those boxes, Sunday represents an ideal chance to integrate Tane and get him familiar with what we do. From what we have seen he is a very gifted footballer and a real athlete who will add a lot to this team, so we are obviously keen to give him a run-out as soon as possible.”

Last Friday’s 26-13 defeat to Wasps effectively ended Newcastle’s interest in this year’s Anglo-Welsh Cup, but Bates has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes to his side for Sunday’s final group game.

Jamie Noon is unavailable as he continues his preparations for next month’s opening Autumn international against the Pacific Islanders, while fly-half Rory Clegg drops to the bench as England Under-20 international Rob Miller steps up to the starting XV.

“Sunday represents a great chance for us to look at certain combinations, and improve our play in some key areas which have not been as efficient as we would have liked throughout September and October,” explained Bates.

“Gloucester have a lot of injuries and some EPS commitments which might affect their team selection, although we were obviously disappointed to hear that Olly Barkley has been released from the England squad because he could be a very significant player for them.

“They are going for the win which would book them a place in the semi-finals of this competition, but we are certainly not treating this like a dead rubber. It has been a case of picking combinations that we want to see with a view to our November schedule in the league.”

FALCONS (vs Gloucester): Jones, Williams, May, Davey, Rudd, Miller, Charlton; McDonnell, Thompson, Ward, Swinson, Sorenson, Williamson, Wilson, Dowson.