Stats and preview of Newcastle Falcons league game

Fit again
By Duncan Wood
November 29 2002

Jamie Williams is fit again but can he get back into the squad for Newcastle? Bristol will be looking to build upon last week's historic win over Bath and repeat the recent win over the Falcons in Bristol.

Rob Andrew will not name his starting line-up for the Falcons clash against Bristol Shoguns on Sunday 1st December until closer to kick off.

The following players are unavailable for selection due to injury: - Dave Walder (tibia), Dave Richardson (cruciate ligament), Steve Brotherstone (knee), Gareth Maclure (hamstring), Jonny Wilkinson (shoulder) and Mark Wilkinson (ankle).

Epi Taione is also unavailable for selection as he is away on International duty with Tonga for the World Cup qualifier against Papua New Guinea.

The team will be selected from the following squad:

Ian Peel, James Isaacson, James Christian, Matt Thompson, Marius Hurter, Micky Ward, Stuart Grimes, Hugh Vyvyan, Craig Hamilton, Jon Dunbar, Richard Arnold, Phil Dowson, Rob Devonshire, Soa Otuvaka, Hall Charlton, James Grindal, Earl Va'a, Phil Godman, Tom May, Jamie Noon, Michael Stephenson, Liam Botham, Joe Shaw

The biggest absentee for either side looks to be Jonny Wilkinson who is set to miss 4 or 5 weeks of rugby with a shoulder injury suffered whilst playing for England against South Africa last weekend.

Whilst the club vs country debate has never raged as loudly in rugby as it has in football, one can only sympathise with the Falcons who have lost one of the best players in world rugby just when they need him the most having slipped to the bottom of the table.

Bristol, however, can look forward to welcoming back Phil Christophers, Felipe Contepomi and Agustin Pichot from international duty last weekend.

Also back in contention is fullback Jamie Williams who has not played since the defeat at Gloucester back in September and club captain Ross Beattie must be very close to being available for selection. He has also been out since the Gloucester game.

Julian White is still suspended, a fate which awaits Garath Archer next weekend after the lock forward lost his appeal against a yellow card received away at Sale. Unless he appeals, that's 3 in a year so a one match ban would rule him out of the Heineken Cup tie at Swansea.

Hooker Neil McCarthy is a long term injury absentee, Mike Lipman is ruled out for about 3 more weeks and Andrew Sheridan is not quite fit yet either.

This is a golden opportunity for Bristol to maintain the momentum of the past few weeks and continue their climb up the table.

All the good work done against Bath last weekend will be undone if they slip to defeat against Newcastle. The Falcons have lost 4 in a row and slipped to the foot of the table.

Despite their formidable records at Kingston Park, they've lost at home twice in a row and are now without their talisman, Jonny Wilkinson.

Bristol need to exert the type of stranglehold up fornt that they did against the Falcons a few weeks ago. If they can achieve that, then they have the firepower to clinch a 2nd away victory.

However, they can't afford to be complacent as Newcastle are always a force at home and will have something to prove after the Memorial Stadium defeat.

Newcastle Falcons vs Bristol Shoguns
Sun 1st Dec at Kingston Park - KO 14:30

Summary of meetings between the teams in the Premiership
Played 11
Bristol Shoguns Won 7 , 63.6%
Newcastle Falcons Won 4, 36.4%

Biggest Win for Bristol Shoguns, 38 - 10, 10 Nov 2002
Biggest Win for Newcastle Falcons, 50 - 8, 27 Dec 1997

Bristol Shoguns top try scorer vs Newcastle Falcons, Luke Nabaro, 4 tries

Bristol Shoguns top points scorer vs Newcastle Falcons, Felipe Contepomi, 35 points

Newcastle Falcons top try scorer vs Bristol Shoguns, Gary Armstrong, 5 tries

Newcastle Falcons top points scorer vs Bristol Shoguns, Jonny Wilkinson, 52 points

Previous Meetings

Date		Result	Venue
10 Nov 2002	Bristol Shoguns vs Newcastle	38-10	Memorial Stadium
24 Feb 2002	Bristol Shoguns vs Newcastle	33-17	Memorial Stadium
14 Oct 2001	Bristol Shoguns vs Newcastle	20-37	Kingston Park
27 Dec 2000	Bristol Shoguns vs Newcastle	15-23	Kingston Park
17 Dec 2000	Bristol Shoguns vs Newcastle	27-14	Memorial Stadium
23 Apr 2000	Bristol Shoguns vs Newcastle	30-11	Memorial Stadium
26 Sep 1999	Bristol Shoguns vs Newcastle	37-32	Kingston Park
26 Apr 1998	Bristol Shoguns vs Newcastle	18-43	Kingston Park
27 Dec 1997	Bristol Shoguns vs Newcastle	8-50	Memorial Stadium
23 Apr 1994	Bristol Shoguns vs Newcastle	22-13	Kingston Park
04 Dec 1993	Bristol Shoguns vs Newcastle	26-0	Memorial Stadium

Newcastle Falcons (12) v Bristol Shoguns (10)

· Newcastle will want to end a four-match losing run, whilst Bristol are unbeaten in their last three. The Falcons have lost their last two at Kingston Park - they have not lost three league games in a row there since they were in division two in season 1995-96.
· Bristol's long overdue victory at Bath last Sunday ended a four match away losing streak.
· Three weeks ago Bristol easily won 38-10 when the sides met at the Memorial Stadium.
· Jonny Wilkinson needs just six more points to become the third player after Tim Stimpson and Paul Grayson to accumulate 1000 Premiership points. Felipe Contepomi also needs only six more points for his 500 in his Premiership career.