Newcastle Red Bulls name debutant fresh from Rugby Championship

Newcastle Red Bulls summer recruit Simon Benitez Cruz will make his debut on Friday night against Sale Sharks six days after starting for Argentina against South Africa in the Rugby Championship.

The 26-year-old, who played 70 minutes of the Pumas’ narrow 29-27 loss to the Springboks at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, agreed a move to Kingston Park from Tarucas in his homeland just days before the Rugby Championship got underway.

He will make his debut from the bench in the first match of the Gallagher PREM Derby Weekend.

Newcastle head coach Alan Dickens has made six changes to his starting XV as the Red Bulls look for their first win of the league season.

Another summer signing, Boeta Chamberlain, will make his first start at fly-half, having previously played at full-back, while Fergus Lee-Warner is set to make his starting debut after coming on from the bench against Exeter Chiefs last week.

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Liam Williams and Oli Spencer have dropped out, with the Welshman listed as unavailable, while Ethan Grayson will shift from inside centre to full-back and Elliott Obatoyinbo will come in on the right wing. Fit-again Max Clark will start at inside centre in Grayson’s vacated No.12 shirt.

In the pack, it’s an almost entirely new front row as Adam Brocklebank and Richard Palframan will come in for Murray McCallum and Luan de Bruin.

Dickens said: “It’s the league’s derby weekend, and whilst I know everyone talks about the distance between Newcastle and Manchester this is still a really important rivalry for rugby in the north of England.

“It would make a big statement if we go over there and get a result, and that has to be the mindset.

“We know it’s a tough place to go but we’ve prepared well, and I’m looking forward to it.

“Our set-piece is a big focus, and the forwards have been working hard in terms of winning the ball and really laying that platform to launch our attack.

“Physicality and the contact area have both been big work-ons from last weekend, and we know that’ll be massive against a Sale Sharks side who thrive on those aspects of the game. If we shut Sale down they’ll go aerial after a couple of phases, and that’s another challenge we have to rise to.

“The lads are working hard, and I’ve been impressed with everyone’s attitude during the build-up.

“George McGuigan and the senior players have set the tone, they’ve spoken really well and got on with their work in the right way, and now it’s a case of bringing it all together against a very good Sale Sharks side.”

Newcastle Red Bulls XV: 15 Ethan Grayson, 14 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 13 Connor Doherty, 12 Max Clark, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 James Elliott; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 George McGuigan (captain), 3 Richard Palframan, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 5 Freddie Clarke, 6 Fergus Lee-Warner, 7 Tom Gordon, 8 Amanaki Mafi
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Oscar Usher, 20 Cameron Neild, 21 Simón Benítez Cruz, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Oli Spencer