Newcastle Falcons team to face Northampton Saints

Connor Doherty returns for Newcastle Falcons on Saturday when they travel to Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton Saints.

He replaces Cameron Hutchison at inside centre following the broken thumb he picked up against Bath last weekend, while Newcastle’s bench sees the return of fit-again lock-forward John Hawkins.

Director of rugby Steve Diamond believes the Falcons can end 2024 on a high following their recent improvement, but knows his side will be in for a tough test in the East Midlands.

He said: “Northampton are still a very good side who can beat anybody on their day, but they’ve just been on the rough end of a couple of recent results. They’re very well coached, they’re formidable at home and it’s a different kind of proposition to what we had last weekend against Bath.

“They might not have the same bulk and forward momentum that Bath have got, but they’re ruthless on turnovers and they’ll pounce on any mistakes we make. Our focus is just on getting our own stuff right, taking our opportunities and defending as honestly and diligently as we have been doing. If we do all of those things it could be a close game, and once it’s a close game then you’ve got a chance.”

Reflecting on last Saturday’s loss to league leaders Bath, the Falcons boss added: “There was a crucial period either side of half-time where Bath picked up 14 points and we just went into our shells a little bit, and that was when the damage was done. We then got held up over their try-line which would have taken it to a one-score game, but instead it looks like a cricket score, which I don’t think tells the full story.

“We’ve been really positive with the lads in the aftermath, because there was a lot of good stuff in that game. Our discipline was superb yet again with only conceding five penalties, we defended our try-line for 25 phases at one point against the best red-zone attack in the league, and I’m not too disturbed by the result.

“I commented after the game about the size of their players, and I had the ‘good big’un always beats a good little’un’ kind of mind-set as I was driving home. But then I listened the Fury v Usyk fight on the radio during the drive, and it really hit home that size isn’t everything if your mentality’s right and you know what you’re doing.

“I’d spoken about the squad and budget that Bath have got, and when I listened back to it I just thought it sounded a bit defeatist, if I’m honest. I’m absolutely delighted with the lads we’ve got and the mentality within the building. Of course there’s always part of you thinking that with an extra million Quid you could add X, Y and Z, which is true, but the lads we’ve got are working hard and giving us everything at the moment, which I think is a pretty good place to be.”

Asked about his wider hopes for the sport during 2025, Diamond said: “I just want rugby to showcase and celebrate the best of itself.

“I’m a purist and I can find a lot of enjoyment in a 12-9 as long as both sides are giving it everything, but I think to grow the game we really need to be seeing tries – which we are doing in a lot of cases.

“In general you just want the players to be showcasing their skills, by which I also include tackling, because physicality is such an important part of the game which we also need to champion when it’s within the laws.

“I think we’ve got a very clean sport, overall. You don’t see many bad red cards these days, and I just think we need to celebrate the good things in rugby instead of always complaining about the bad.

“That’s how you’ll get more fans on board, either through watching on TV or coming to games in the flesh, which is ultimately what the sport needs if it’s serious about growing.”

Newcastle Falcons team v Northampton Saints (Saturday, 3pm, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens, live on Discovery+)

15 Ben Redshaw, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Connor Doherty, 11 Ben Stevenson, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Sam Stuart; 1 Murray McCallum, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Richard Palframan, 4 Sebastian de Chaves, 5 Kiran McDonald, 6 Freddie Lockwood, 7 Tom Gordon, 8 Callum Chick (captain).

Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Callum Hancock, 19 John Hawkins, 20 Philip van der Walt, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Kieran Wilkinson, 23 Oli Spencer.

Not available for selection: Sammy Arnold, Eduardo Bello, Adam Brocklebank, Tim Cardall, Luan de Bruin, Cameron Hutchison, Isaac Keller, John Kelly, Cameron Neild, Elliott Obatoyinbo, Jacob Oliver, Pedro Rubiolo, Adam Scott, Marcus Tiffen.