Return of the Charv
By Leipziger
November 1 2007
This weekend our EDF Energy Cup campaign continues with the visit of Newport Gwent Dragons, as we look to capitalise on an open group and keep ourselves in contention for a first qualification for the semi-finals. Former Falcons captain Colin Charvis will be returning to Kingston Park for the first time having joined the Dragons from ourselves in 2006.
Charvis captains the side which drew 3-3 at home to Wasps last weekend in their opening match of the tournament, Ceri Sweeney and Danny Cipriani’s penalties the only points in the rough weather of South Wales.
The draw, along with our 18-18 at Gloucester means that the winners of this weekend’s matches in Group A will go into the final round of games in December with a strong chance of qualification, and two home wins would mean a straight knock-out tie between us and Wasps at Adams Park.
That is if knockout rugby is still allowed by the RFU, of course.
The Dragons’ one visit to Kingston Park is one no Falcons fan will need no reminding of (with the possible exception of Geordie Monkey, but I’m sure the bus driver will provide a hint), with Charvis, Matthew Burke and Jamie Noon’s tries sending a makeshift Newcastle side into the Heineken Cup quarter-finals of 2005.
This was in stark contrast to two and a half years earlier, when Newport RFC arrived on Tyneside for our first ever match in Europe’s top tournament, and triumphed 21-34. They remain the only foreign side ever to win a competitive match at KP.
Now three matches unbeaten, Newport have had a similar start to their league campaign to us, with three wins and three defeats from six matches. They have two away wins however, at Llanelli and Edinburgh, alongside a home win over Ulster, whilst both Cardiff and Munster have triumphed at Rodney Parade and Connacht slayed the Dragons in Galway in September.
This leaves our visitors in a respectable fourth place in the Magners League, although with 12 points they are already nine behind leaders Cardiff.
The Dragons don’t have a squad packed with household names, although Welsh internationals Kevin Morgan and Gareth Wyatt add talent and experience in the backs along with the versatile Sweeney. In the forwards, Charvis is joined by fellow internationals Michael Owen, Adam Jones and their own Steve Jones, as well as the hugely-popular-on-Tyneside Jamie Ringer.
If you need a reminder of why we love him so much, here it is http://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/36_1377.php.
The Falcons make just two changes to the side which came so close to winning in Gloucester in our opening game of the competition, Lee Dickson coming in for Hall Charlton and Mathew Tait playing his first club game of the season at 13. Joe McDonnell continues as captain.
15 Tom May
14 Ollie Phillips
13 Mathew Tait
12 Steve Jones
11 John Rudd
10 Toby Flood
9 Lee Dickson
1 Joe McDonnell (captain)
2 Matt Thompson
3 David Wilson
4 Andy Perry
5 Mark Sorenson
6 Geoff Parling
7 Brent Wilson
8 Russell Winter
Replacements:
16 Andy Long
17 Jon Golding
18 Jason Oakes
19 Ed Williamson
20 Hall Charlton
21 Tim Visser
22 Alex Tait
As expected Charva captains the Dragons team on Saturday, from his lesser-spotted position of openside, and Owen joins him in the back-row.
15 Martyn Thomas
14 Paul Emerick
13 Rhodri Gomer-Davies
12 Gareth Maule
11 Richard Mustoe
10 Aled Thomas
9 Andrew Williams
1 Hugh Gustafson
2 Ben Daly
3 Rhys Thomas
4 Andrew Hall
5 Peter Sidoli
6 Joe Bearman
7 Colin Charvis (captain)
8 Michael Owen
Replacements:
16 Kieran Crawford
17 Adam Black
18 Jamie Corsi
19 Lewis Evans
20 Richard Parks
21 Ceri Sweeney
22 Wayne Evans
Off the pitch (of sorts), Saturday would also have been the last match former All Black Mark Mayerhofler would have been available to play for the Falcons before heading back to New Zealand. Despite almost 100 appearances in his five years, what I will personally remember him for most is his first half a season in 2002/03, when his organisation, skill and tackling revolutionised a defence which was heading only one way – to Division 1.
I’m sure anyone who speaks to Bubbs at the game on Saturday will convey our appreciation for all his efforts during his time in the North East.
Thanks mate, and all the best in the future.
BTW, tickets for this game as almost everyone will know are just £10, and there's plenty of standing room left, so get down to the ground and give the lads some support!