SCRUM-HALF Louis Schreuder will make his first Newcastle Falcons start on Sunday when Dean Richards' side travel to London Irish in the Gallagher Premiership.

The three-time Currie Cup winner has been capped by South Africa, and steps into the side after making four appearances from the bench following his summer move from Super Rugby side the Sharks.

He forms a new-look half-back partnership with Joel Hodgson, who takes the number ten shirt in one of four changes from the side which defeated Gloucester last time out.

Hooker George McGuigan, who scored the last of Newcastle’s three tries in the 22-10 triumph, returns to the starting XV, while England’s Mark Wilson is replaced by Philip van der Walt in the back row.

Sean Robinson and Toby Flood jointly captain the side in Wilson’s absence, while Newcastle’s bench could see a Premiership debut for homegrown lock Will Montgomery, plus the return of John Hardie from injury.

Falcons are making their first visit to London Irish's new home at the Brentford Community Stadium, and Richards said: "It’s about how we get back on the horse and start winning again, and it’ll be a hard game down there.

“In a way it’s a little bit difficult to gauge what we’re going to be up against at London Irish, because they’ve only played a few games and have had a lot of guys out through injury.

“When you look down their squad list on paper they can put out an incredible side, and be top two or three material.

"If everyone’s fit it’s a hell of a team, but in terms of analysis it’s hard to gauge what their style is because they’ve not played a lot of matches and they’ve not quite managed to get their best side out.

“As to how that affects our preparation, it just puts your focus more on your own game, which, to be fair, we try to do anyway. "

Having had two free weekends following the forced cancellation of the European window, Richards added: “We’d had eight months without a game from March until October and then had our Boxing Day match cancelled, so we weren’t in desperate need of a rest.

"It’s a shame that the European fortnight got cancelled because it’s a competition which gives great exposure to a lot of our players."