ECC: Brive looking to clip Falcons’ wings
16
October 2008
 Brive
v Newcastle Falcons (Pool 4, 20.45, Stadium Municipal)
Brive have the chance to get their European campaign back on
track when they entertain Newcastle Falcons tonight in round
two of the European Challenge Cup.
The Top 14 side narrowly lost 34-29 away to Italian side
Overmach Rugby Parma last week but at least have home
advantage for tonight’s Pool 4 match against their Guinness
Premiership rivals.
Newcastle, semi-finalists last year, opened up with a
straightforward 63-0 trouncing of Spanish champions Cetransa
El Salvador, but will know Brive present a different
proposition entirely, especially at the Stadium Municipal.
The Falcons will be missing star player Jonny Wilkinson,
linked with Toulon before his latest injury, but can at
least call on fit again flanker Adam Balding following a
two-week lay-off for a head injury.
The English side, who travelled to France a day early to
give themselves added preparation, have also named winger
John Rudd in their squad in place of the injured Danny
Williams.
Newcastle are currently eighth in the Guinness Premiership
but will be looking for a repeat of last year’s away victory
in Brive.
They should certainly not be unfamiliar with tonight’s
surroundings as this is the fourth year in succession the
two clubs have been drawn together, with Newcastle winning
five of their six encounters.
“We know we will be in for a tough game against a determined
side in a vocal atmosphere,” said Newcastle director or
rugby Steve Bates.
And there will also be familiarity among the players with
Brive’s starting XV including former Leicester Tigers
fly-half Andy Goode; England World Cup winners Ben Cohen and
Steve Thompson, as well as Welsh number eight Alix Popham
and lock Christian Short.
They are currently eighth in Top 14 but have been in
free-flowing mode of late, scoring 123 points in their last
three games, with winger Norman Ligairi in particular potent
form.
A home win tonight is essential if they are to progress in
this competition.
Teams
Brive: 15 Alexis
Palisson, 14 Norman Ligairi, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Fabrice
Estebanez, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Arnaud Pic, 8 Alix
Popham, 7 Simon Azoulai (capt), 6 Antoine Claasen, 5 Damien
Browne, 4 Christian Short, 3 Pierre Capdevielle, 2 Steve
Thompson, 1 Davit Kinchagishvili.
Replacements: 16 Jean-Philippe Bonrepaux, 17 Pascal
Idieder, 18 Johan van Zyl, 19 Vincent Forgues, 20
Jean-Baptiste Pejoine, 21 Luciano Orquera, 22 Horacio
Agulla.
Newcastle: 15 Steve
Jones, 14 Tim Visser, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Tom May, 11 John
Rudd, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Hall Charlton, 8 Phil Dowson (c), 7
Ed Williamson, 6 Adam Balding, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Andy
Perry, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Andy Long, 1 Joe McDonnell.
Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 Micky Ward, 18 Tim
Swinson, 19 Russell Winter, 20 James Grindal, 21 Ollie
Phillips, 22 Tom Dillon.
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