ALESANA TUILAGI is hoping his rich vein of form with Newcastle Falcons will earn him a recall to the Samoa squad for this autumn’s Rugby World Cup.

Tuilagi has won 29 Samoan caps over the course of more than a decade, scoring 17 tries, but his last cap came almost two years ago and he faces a battle to win back his place ahead of the start of the World Cup in September.

Samoa play one of their pool games at St James’ Park, and Tuilagi is hoping his strong showings in the North-East over the last couple of months will help him return to the international arena.

The 33-year-old winger scored one of Newcastle’s five tries in last weekend’s LV=Cup victory over London Irish, and is hoping for another strong showing when his side return to Aviva Premiership action at Exeter Chiefs tomorrow.

“If you play well for your  club, you start to think about the next level,” said Tuilagi. “The World Cup would be great, but there is a lot of rugby between now and then, and I am just keeping my head down trying to win games with Newcastle.

“Hopefully, I will get the chance to play for Samoa again some day, but that only comes through my performances at the Falcons.”

Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards has made two changes for tomorrow’s trip to Sandy Park, with Juan Pablo Orlandi and Rob Vickers replacing Scott Wilson and Eric Fry in the front row.

Newcastle have never won at Exeter, but with a European Challenge Cup quarter-final against the Chiefs looming at the start of next month, second row forward Calum Green is hoping to put down a powerful marker.

“It’s quite nice to be playing them two times in fairly quick succession,” said Green.  “We enjoyed a good (home) victory over them in the Premiership during the autumn, so the aim is to play them three times and get three wins.

“Despite losing their last few in the league, we all know they are a very good side. They were top of the Premiership at one point during the early rounds and they are a decent outfit, especially down at their place.

“Sandy Park is never an easy place to get a win, the crowd are very passionate about their rugby and they make a noise. As a club, Exeter have made a big impact on the Premiership since being promoted, so much so that teams who come up from the Championship see them as the model to follow.

“The way they have done it is to become a real rugby side with a proper rugby culture. It will be tough down there, but we are in a good place.”

Newcastle Falcons: Hammersley, Sinoti, Powell, Socino, Alesana Tuilagi, Catterick, Blair; Vickers, Lawson, Orlandi, Green, MacLeod, M Wilson, Welch, Hogg.

Replacements: Hawkins, Irving, S Wilson, Barrow, R Mayhew, Tipuna, Tiesi, Tait.