Newcastle vs Gloucester

[Epaminondas Pules]

Newcastle Falcons team v Gloucester (Friday, 6pm, Kingston Park)

15 Ben Redshaw, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Tom Penny, 12 Rory Jennings, 11 Ben Stevenson, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Hugh O’Sullivan; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Murray McCallum, 4 Philip van der Walt, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Freddie Lockwood, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Callum Chick (captain).

Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Phil Brantingham, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 Kiran McDonald, 20 Sam Cross, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Matias Orlando, 23 Elliott Obatoyinbo.

Gloucester Rugby: 15 Lloyd Evans, 14 Jake Morris, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 George Barton, 9 Stephen Varney; 1 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Fraser Balmain, 4 Freddie Clarke, 5 Arthur Clark, 6 Ben Donnell, 7 Lewis Ludlow (captain), 8 Zach Mercer.

Replacements: 16 Seb Blake, 17 Val Rapava-Ruskin, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Jack Clement, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Max Llewellyn. 23 Alex Hearle.

Referee: Jack Makepeace.

[Gloskarlos]

Hoping this goes ahead but the weather will be horrendous. Up the jumper stuff, which means it could very easily go either way. Hastings likely out until December so its sh1t or bust for Barton I reckon, this is his chance.

Would love for the TMO to be call Dempsey.

[FKAS]

Falcons have got an artificial pitch now so whilst it'll be wet at least there's no mud to contend with.

Barton should get at least one more game after this what with the world cup have a third place play off. Unless LRZ is coming back to play 15 and push Lloyd into 10.

Anyone know why VRR is benching again?

[Banquo]

Glaws have got an artificial pitch now so whilst it'll be wet at least there's no mud to contend with.

Barton should get at least one more game after this what with the world cup have a third place play off. Unless LRZ is coming back to play 15 and push Lloyd into 10.

Anyone know why VRR is benching again?

May want a quick edit.

[Gloskarlos]

VRR had a niggle in pre-season. Glos have a ton load of injuries again, not sure why. Barton might be cycling with Santi at 10/15 once he is back with us and sufficiently rested, but still plenty of opportunity whilst Hastings is absent. I have to say I have never been sold on him, but his time is now.

[FKAS]

Glaws have got an artificial pitch now so whilst it'll be wet at least there's no mud to contend with.

Barton should get at least one more game after this what with the world cup have a third place play off. Unless LRZ is coming back to play 15 and push Lloyd into 10.

Anyone know why VRR is benching again?

May want a quick edit.

No idea what you mean

To be fair they've both got plaggy pitches.

[Banquo]

Falcons have got an artificial pitch now s

[FKAS]

VRR had a niggle in pre-season. Glos have a ton load of injuries again, not sure why. Barton might be cycling with Santi at 10/15 once he is back with us and sufficiently rested, but still plenty of opportunity whilst Hastings is absent. I have to say I have never been sold on him, but his time is now.

Barton looked a prospect at age grade, albeit not necessarily a certain future international but someone who should be able to at least do a job in the Prem. Hasn't really kicked on but as you say his time is now and I'm sure Skivs will want to give him the opportunity to do so as him stepping up with Hastings out of contract at the end of the season offers Glaws the chance to move money around to other areas.

[ilovelamp]

Glaws win 18-14 in, frankly, biblical conditions.

Mercer, if he continues in this vein, will be the signing of the season. Absolute dream of a no 8 and utterly ridiculous that he’s not in France with England.

Hastings is confirmed as out until Xmas so Barton should get some real game time this season. So far he’s looked every inch a decent top level 10, more game time is only going to help.

[FKAS]

Sounds like a good game. Glaws 14-0 at half time but Falcons come fighting back. Finishes 14-18 with Glaws taking the win. Shame this wasn't televised as a warm up to the world cup semi final.

[TheDasher]

What's Arthur Clark like? A very big lad and only 21. Agood prospect?

[Banquo]

What's Arthur Clark like? A very big lad and only 21. Agood prospect?

I was really hoping he was born in 2001 and we could follow his odyssey.

[Banquo]

What's Arthur Clark like? A very big lad and only 21. Agood prospect?

I was really hoping he was born in 2001 and we could follow his odyssey.

Plus I reckon he could run through kubrick walls

[TheDasher]

Is he any good?

[Mikey Brown]

Glaws win 18-14 in, frankly, biblical conditions.

Mercer, if he continues in this vein, will be the signing of the season. Absolute dream of a no 8 and utterly ridiculous that he’s not in France with England.

Hastings is confirmed as out until Xmas so Barton should get some real game time this season. So far he’s looked every inch a decent top level 10, more game time is only going to help.

But what about his noodle arms?

[ilovelamp]

Is he any good?

6ft 8 and 19 stone!

He’s very, very good. Should be the heart of the Glaws engine room for many years to come and definitely an England prospect.

[TheDasher]

Is he any good?

6ft 8 and 19 stone!

He’s very, very good. Should be the heart of the Glaws engine room for many years to come and definitely an England prospect.

Exciting. We need more competition at lock. Praying for some naturally brilliant scrummaging props to emerge.

[Which Tyler]

Give him time but... Billy Sela is going to be immense.

[FKAS]

Is he any good?

6ft 8 and 19 stone!

He’s very, very good. Should be the heart of the Glaws engine room for many years to come and definitely an England prospect.

Exciting. We need more competition at lock. Praying for some naturally brilliant scrummaging props to emerge.

I'd like some brilliant carrying locks to emerge personally. Martin is a big lump at scrum time and Chessum ain't small but a monster ball in hand would me most welcome.

[Mikey Brown]

6ft 8 and 19 stone!

He’s very, very good. Should be the heart of the Glaws engine room for many years to come and definitely an England prospect.

Exciting. We need more competition at lock. Praying for some naturally brilliant scrummaging props to emerge.

I'd like some brilliant carrying locks to emerge personally. Martin is a big lump at scrum time and Chessum ain't small but a monster ball in hand would me most welcome.

I think both have a lot of room to develop there though.

Very pleased with Martin tonight and I liked Chessum off the bench. I quite like the idea of having the Lawes-esque fallback option of Chessum to blindside too, if Lawes calls it a day we go back to Curry at 6.