Togiatama set for Newcastle debut in Devon
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Togiatama set for Newcastle debut in Devon
Zuriel Togiatama makes his Newcastle Red Bulls debut on Sunday when they make the longest trip in the Gallagher PREM, visiting Exeter Chiefs.
The Fijian international comes in as one of five changes for the 3pm kick-off at Sandy Park as head coach Dan McFarland rotates his hooking resources, with Samson Adejimi in line to feature from the bench.
The other four changes all come in the back line as Werner Kok returns on the left wing from a hamstring injury - Sammy Arnold making a first appearance of the season at inside centre.
Zack Henry and Simón Benítez Cruz both start after coming on from the bench in Newcastle’s opening two league games, with McFarland determined to build on the bonus points taken by his side against Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers.
“Picking up bonus points in those games is some small degree of consolation because it shows we can compete and score tries, but of course we want to be winning above all else,” he said.
“I was disappointed against Leicester on Saturday because that was a game we were capable of winning. You’ve got to keep some perspective, though, and being disappointed by losing narrowly to one of last season’s semi-finalists at the early stage of the journey we’re on, I think it goes to emphasise the excitement and optimism around our ongoing growth.
“We’re making lots of line-breaks and offloads but we’re just not connected enough yet to finish them off, and I can’t fault the effort. Defensively I thought we were a step ahead of where we were against Northampton the week before, and I can see growth in that area.
“We know we’re not yet where we need to be, but it’s a new group and this isn’t going to be a quick fix. We’ll keep working hard every day and improving bit by bit every week, and I’m confident we will get there.”
Looking to find another level in the confrontational aspects of the game, the Red Bulls boss said: “In terms of physicality, in all honesty I don’t think we’ve been as physical as we can be.
“There’s definitely more to come. We’ve got to be putting shoulders into ribs, moving bodies at the breakdown, getting off the line in defence and smoking guys. We’re seeing bits and pieces of it, but with the style and speed of rugby that we want to be playing we’ve got to be doing more physical damage.
“That’s not to decry what we’ve been doing, because against Leicester in particular I thought we did see some positive progress on that side. But I don’t think we’re even close to the kinds of levels we need to be reaching, and once we get that nailed it just opens the door for the rest of our game to really take off.”
Fully respectful of the challenge posed on Sunday by last season’s Gallagher PREM finalists, McFarland said: “Exeter are a possession-based team when they’re in the opposition half, and like us they want to move the ball.
“They’re probably a bit more structured than we are and last year they had the best defence in the league. I’m sure they’ll admit they didn’t perform as they wanted to at home to Gloucester in round one but they put in a strong display at Bath last week, and they’re clearly a very dangerous side.
“They’ve got a lot of quality and it will be a huge test for us on Sunday. It should be a good spectacle because we’ve got two teams who really want to play and to get the ball moving, and I’m excited for the game.”
Newcastle Red Bulls v Exeter Chiefs (Sunday, 3pm, Sandy Park, live on TNT Sports)
15 Harrison Obatoyinbo, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Sammy Arnold, 11 Werner Kok, 10 Zack Henry, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz; 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 3 Elliot Millar Mills, 4 Oscar Usher, 5 Cam Jordan, 6 Max Hicks, 7 Tom Christie (captain), 8 Hoskins Sotutu.
Replacements: 16 Samson Adejimi, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 James Harper, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 21 Sam Graham, 22 James Elliott, 23 Brett Connon.
Not available for selection: Benjamín Elizalde, Ethan Grayson, Nathan Greenwood, Josh Hodge, Murray McCallum, Richard Palframan, Raffi Quirke, Reuben Parsons, Will Rigg, Adam Scott, Rusi Tuima, George Turner, Sam Waugh.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Sam Harris, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Will Butt, 11 Tommy Wyatt, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stephen Varney; 1 Ethan Burger, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Harry Wilson, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (captain), 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Ross Vintcent, 8 Greg Fisilau.
Replacements: 16 Louie Gulley, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 19 Tom Hooper, 20 Kane James, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Zack Wimbush.
Referee: George Selwood.
