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Beattie ready to make most of second chance
FORMER Scotland back row man
Ross Beattie is determined to seize
his second chance with Newcastle
Falcons following a career dogged
by injury.
He is in a much-changed team to
visit Sale Sharks tomorrow for the
first time since rejoining the club
from Border Reivers in the summer.
Beattie said: gIfm 30 now, but I
feel like an excited schoolboy
about to play his first game of
rugby. I feel absolutely fantastic,
Ifm stronger than Ifve ever been
and Ifm both physically and mentally
fresh. I just canft wait for Sunday
to come round.
gIfve had some very dark times
during my time out of the game
and I was told on more than one occasion
that Ifd never play again,
but Ifve stuck at it.
gThis club means a hell of a lot
to me, and however I can help the
team on or off the field is what Ifm
all about.
gThere were a lot of times when
I questioned whether Ifd be able to
make this step. People can say itfs
just your job, but I would still have
been putting myself through all of
this anguish even if the game had
remained amateur. Thatfs what it
means to me.h
Newcastle are risking none of
their England backs tomorrow,
while most of the other players
who started last weekfs game at
London Irish are also rested ahead
of Fridayfs European Challenge
Cup semi-final at Worcester.
Former South Africa A skipper
Russell Winter replaces Phil Dowson
as No 8 and captain, and making
a rare senior appearance
alongside him will be Ed
Williamson.
England Under-20s fly half Rob
Miller starts after impressing on
his debut against Bristol last
month as Jamie Noon, Jonny
Wilkinson and Toby Flood are
given a few more days to get over
their injuries.
Flankers Andy Buist and Brent
Wilson are also sidelined after
leaving the field during the first
half of last weekendfs clash with
London Irish.
Acting director of rugby Steve
Bates said: gWe havenft picked the
side yet for the European semifinal
and there are still places up
for grabs.
gI am expecting a lot of players
to really put their hands up for selection
with a strong performance
at Sale.
gThere are some who have been
working hard to earn a chance and
believe they are better than the
guys who have been playing for
the first team. This is their chance
to prove my past selection wrong,
and the players are very excited
about that opportunity.
gJonny suffered a bit of a concussion
last weekend and hasnft
trained this week. We need him 100
per cent fit for our European semifinal.
gIfve known Ross Beattie for a
long time, and he is a very passionate
and determined character.
He is a very big physical player and
Ifm looking forward to seeing how
he goes.
gIn the Development XV games
he has demonstrated that he still
has the desire and skills needed to
succeed at this level, and he will
contribute a lot with his ball-carrying
ability and experience.h
The only first-choice back in the
Newcastle line-up is scrum half
Lee Dickson, who is joining
Northampton at the end of the
season.
Sale are also expected to be well
below full-strength after suffering
several injuries in their defeat at
Wasps on Tuesday.
Newcastle Falcons: Steve Jones, Ollie Phillips,
Tom Dillon, Adam Dehaty, Tim Visser, Rob Miller,
Lee Dickson, Jon Golding, Rob Vickers, David
Wilson, Geoff Parling, Sean Tomes, Ross Beattie,
Ed Williamson, Russell Winter (captain)
A host of Falcons academy players
have been selected in the
KooGa Wailers squad for todayfs
Hawick Sevens, with Newcastle
having won the Scottish borders
tournament for the past three seasons.
Coach Mark Laycock has selected
a much younger squad than
usual as he looks to blood the next
generation of local sevens talent.
As Laycock will be playing for
Tynedale, the Wailers will be
coached by Cameron Johnston,
the former Scotland Sevens international
who is on the road to recovery
after sustaining a serious
back injury playing for Blaydon
this season.
The squad, which includes the
England Under-18s pair of Rory
Clegg and Will Welch, will be back
in the borders next Saturday for
the Langholm Sevens.
KooGa Wailers squad: Richard Ellis (Northumbria
University), Grant Beasley (Falcons Academy,
Newcastle University), Will Welch (Falcons
Academy, RGS Newcastle),Tom Gough
(Northumbria University), Max Nimmo (Newcastle
University), Drew Locke (Northumbria University),
Lewis Boyd (Fylde), Michael Ellery (Falcons
Academy, Barnard Castle School), Robbie
Gash (Durham University), Rory Clegg (Falcons
Academy, Barnard Castle School)
9:19am Saturday 19th April 2008
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