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Mike Brown set for Newcastle debut, Saracens call in Mako Vunipola

By Liam Heagney

08 Oct 2021

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Ex-England full-back Mike Brown will make his first Premiership appearance for Newcastle this Saturday when the Falcons visit a Saracens team that includes Mako Vunipola for his first match since his Lions tour was followed by his recent omission from the England squad.

Saracens boss Mark McCall has issued a warning to England not to write off the Vunipola brothers, Mako and Billy, as well as Jamie George as he believes all three long-serving Test players still have much to offer at international level and all three are included to start in a Premiership match that is the club’s first home game in the tournament since a draw with Bath twelve months ago.

There are four changes to the starting Saracens XV from the side that narrowly lost at Leicester last weekend. Aside from Vunipola at loosehead, Callum Hunter-Hill comes into the second row, Sean Maitland is on the wing while Dom Morris is included in the midfield.

Jonny Hill guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload

Brown, meanwhile, will be gunning to make a good first impression for Newcastle after a pre-season rib injury ruled him out of the start of a campaign that began with a visit to Kingston Park by his old club Harlequins.

The veteran full-back is part of a starting XV showing five changes from last weekend’s dramatic home win over Wasps. Brett Connon comes in at fly-half, Trevor Davison is at tighthead, Sean Robinson at lock and Gary Graham is added to the back row mix.

With the countdown on towards the next England squad announcement on October 18, all eyes are on the three axed Saracens players… #EnglandRugby #Sarries #PremRugby #SARvNEW
https://t.co/WGgCvnj0at
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 7, 2021

Former Saracens winger Nathan Earle also starts against his former club having made a successful Newcastle debut last weekend. Falcons boss Dean Richards said: “Our morale is good after two wins against Bath and Wasps, although it is a shame it wasn’t three in a row with the Harlequins game on the first weekend of the season. We felt we could have gotten a little bit more out of that one, but we are going to Saracens on Saturday with plenty of confidence and belief that we can get the job done.

“Mike is someone who really wants to win and he promotes and demands excellence around him. Even without playing, he has been a part of what we have done this season just by his influence around the place, and that experience will prove its worth even more now that he is available to come in and play for us.”

SARACENS: 15. Max Malins; 14. Alex Lewington, 13. Dom Morris, 12. Alex Lozowski, 11. Sean Maitland; 10. Owen Farrell (capt), 9. Aled Davies; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Jamie George, 3. Marco Riccioni, 4. Callum Hunter-Hill, 5. Tim Swinson, 6. Nick Isiekwe, 7. Ben Earl, 8. Billy Vunipola. Reps: 16. Tom Woolstencroft, 17. Eroni Mawi, 18. Alec Clarey, 19. Sean Reffell, 20. Andy Christie, 21. Ivan van Zyl, 22. Alex Goode, 23. Nick Tompkins.

NEWCASTLE: 15. Mike Brown; 14. Adam Radwan, 13. Ben Stevenson, 12. Pete Lucock, 11. Nathan Earle; 10. Brett Connon, 9. Louis Schreuder; 1. Adam Brocklebank, 2. George McGuigan, 3. Trevor Davison, 4. Marco Fuser, 5. Sean Robinson, 6. Gary Graham, 7. Will Welch (capt), 8. Callum Chick. Reps: 16. Jamie Blamire, 17. Kyle Cooper, 18. Logovi’i Mulipola, 19. Will Montgomery, 20. Josh Basham, 21. Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, 22. Will Haydon-Wood, 23. George Wacokecoke.

'Dean was just honest with me. With some Premiership DoRs it’s hard to have honest chats'
Once earmarked for England @natenate174 is starting a new chapter at @FalconsRugby He talks @Harlequins, Gustard, rebuilding after injury & more, with @heagneyl ???https://t.co/xObd1MDhT7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 19, 2021

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 4 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 4 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 4 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 4 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 4 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 4 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍