Match preview

2 September 2011, 12:09pm

Four debutants included for Bath Rugby’s trip to Newcastle

Bath Rugby visit the Newcastle Falcons tomorrow for the opening game of the season, and four players will make their first competitive start in a Bath jersey, kick-off 6.30pm.

Lock Ryan Caldwell, flanker Carl Fearns, and centre, Dan Hipkiss, will all get their first Premiership starts for their new club, having impressed in the pre-season games.

Caldwell joins captain Stuart Hooper in the engine room, whilst Fearns lines up alongside Ben Skirving and Simon Taylor in the back row.

Also making his first start for Bath is Academy prop, Kane Palma-Newport, who scrums down with David Flatman and Pieter Dixon in the front row.

Michael Claassens and Sam Vesty are the pivots in the half backs, and Hipkiss continues his partnership with Ben Williams in the centres. Tom Biggs and Matt Carraro line up out wide on the wings, with Nick Abendanon completing the starting line-up at full-back.

Whilst Bath completed a double victory over Newcastle at the end of last season, winning both the games at Kingston Park and a week later at the Recreation Ground, Director of Rugby, Sir Ian McGeechan, knows that victory won't come easy tomorrow evening.

"We beat them twice at the end of last season, but playing a side at the beginning of a season is always a bit different. Last year, their confidence wasn't high and they weren't that relaxed, but all that goes away with the beginning of a new season.

"We expect them to do things with a bit more ambition and confidence, and we have to match that. We know how we want to play and we know the shape we want to put out on the field."

Bath Rugby team to face Newcastle Falcons

15. Nick Abendanon

14. Matt Carraro

13. Dan Hipkiss

12. Ben Williams

11. Tom Biggs

10. Sam Vesty

9. Michael Claassens

1. David Flatman

2. Pieter Dixon

3. Kane Palma-Newport

4. Ryan Caldwell

5. Stuart Hooper (c)

6. Ben Skirving

7. Carl Fearns

8. Simon Taylor

Replacements

16. Ross Batty

17. Nathan Catt

18. Duncan Bell

19. Dave Attwood

20. Guy Mercer

21. Mark McMillan

22. Paul Roberts

23. Jack Cuthbert