WITH Alan Tait having rung the changes ahead of this afternoon’s game at Harlequins, stand-in skipper Rob Vickers is confident Newcastle Falcons will bounce back in style following last weekend’s embarrassment at the hands of London Irish.

Falcons were hammered 46- 12 last Saturday, a defeat that sent them tumbling to 11th in the Aviva Premiership table.

Today’s game pits them against a Quins side that finished on the right side of a thrashing of their own last week as they cruised to a 40-13 win over Exeter.

But as he continues to stand in for injured captain James Hudson, Vickers has expressed confidence that his team-mates will successfully get last weekend’s setback out of their system.

“Obviously we’re hurting as a team and as a club,” said the hooker. “It’s important that we get back on the horse and go down to Harlequins and get a result down there.

“They’re a big club with very big players, including a number of internationals throughout the team.

“I think it’s just important for us to go down there and play our game and impact our game on them, rather than us waiting and sitting back, letting them come to us.”

Emotions have been running high in the wake of the London Irish defeat, but Vickers has avoided the temptation to embark on a spell of shouting and screaming.

Instead, the 28-year-old has pledged to lead by example following his elevation to the role of skipper.

“I’m an honest bloke and I work hard to try to set an example of being a professional to the other players,” said Vickers. “That’s important for some of the young lads coming through.

“As a leader I’m probably quieter than some of the other captains of the past, but hopefully what I can bring in terms of professionalism will help to balance out my (lack of being) vocal around the changing room and on the pitch.”

Having criticised his side’s deficiencies seven days ago, Tait has made six changes for today’s trip to the Stoop.

Will Welch, Luke Fielden, Jeremy Manning, Chris Pilgrim, Rob Vickerman and Grant Shiells all come into the starting XV.

Manning replaces Alex Tait at full-back, Pilgrim comes in for Micky Young at scrumhalf, Fielding is preferred to Gcobani Bobo on the wing, while Vickerman edges out Luke Eves in the centre.

The pack has also been reshuffled, with Shiells, making his first start of the season, replacing Jon Golding and Welch getting the nod ahead of Brent Wilson.

FALCONS (vs Harlequins): Manning, Fielding, Vickerman, Henderson, Amesbury, Gopperth, Pilgrim; Shiells, Vickers, Ryan, Levi, Swinson, Welch, Pennycook, Hogg.