Match Preview: Newcastle Falcons

• 10 September 2021
• Previews

​​​Get the latest ahead of Saturday afternoon's Scottish Building Society Series against Newcastle Falcons at the ERS (kick-off 3pm) with this week's Match Preview.

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HOW TO WATCH

The game won't be broadcast on TV or radio, but a full match replay will be shown on YouTube on Sunday (12 September). The only way to watch the game is in person. Get your tickets now!

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Ben Blain

Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White and Graham Ormiston

TEAM NEWS

Summer signings Henry Immelman, Ben Vellacott and Luan de Bruin all start the pre-season encounter which sees Blair name a balanced starting XV, skippered by Scotland international David Cherry.

FOSROC Super6 players Daniel Suddon and Patrick Anderson are named among the replacements after an impressive start to the season for the Southern Knights, while a larger 32-man team will allow for squad rotation throughout the pre-season campaign.

Click below to get all the team news ahead of Saturday's clash!

STORY OF THE MATCH

The ‘homecoming’ match-up will see Blair take charge of the capital side for the first time since being appointed Head Coach in July, as Edinburgh Rugby celebrate the beginning of a new era of rugby in its first-ever permanent home.

The match also sees fans return to an Edinburgh Rugby match in full numbers for the first time since February 2020 as the capital club continue preparations for the launch of the inaugural United Rugby Championship later this month.

Newcastle Falcons are the visitors to the ERS and are familiar opponents for the capital side. The two teams met in the Heineken Champions Cup during the 2018-19 season where Edinburgh secured back-to-back victories over the English club.

KEY QUOTES

Mike Blair
"I've been looking forward to this for about three weeks ago. I've been desperate to get this first game done to see where we're at and see the boys expressing themselves and playing well.

“As a team, we cannot wait to run out into the ERS for the first time, and to do so in front of our supporters, who’ve waited so patiently for this day through the midst of a pandemic, will be a really special moment.

Henry Pyrgos
"Hopefully as we start to pack it out it will create a great atmosphere for the players on the pitch and help to drive the club forward. I saw that at Glasgow, with moving to Scotstoun and starting to fill it out it was a much better atmosphere.

"It is really exciting for Edinburgh. There is so much growth here. We have great fans and it is great for them to have a home where they can get behind the team."

PRE-MATCH CHAT

Get the latest from Head Coach Mike Blair as he chats through his team selection and discusses the significance of Saturday's match-up in the capital.

LAST TIME OUT

Edinburgh Rugby travelled to face Newcastle Falcons in the Heineken Champions in December 2018 where tries from Duhan van der Merwe and James Johnstone secured a famous road win at Kingston Park.