PREVIEW: Premiership, Round 12

The Falcons missed a golden opportunity away at Wasps last weekend, where a determined defensive performance and a try from 33-year-old Tongan Latu put them within touching distance of a much-needed Premiership victory.

But Jimmy Gopperth's penalty five minutes from time made the Tynesiders pay for squandering eight points off the tee, and the 8-9 defeat denied them only a second away league victory since October 2013.

With bottom-of-the-table rivals London Irish getting a win last weekend, the pressure is now on the Falcons to continue a fine run of home form that has seen them triumph in their last four matches in all competitions at Kingston Park.

Their task does not get any easier against high-flying Leicester, but Latu is adamant they will go into the clash with confidence.

"I think at the moment this is the perfect time for us to strike them," he said. "They may be looking at Europe or further down the line this season, and we've been saying to ourselves we have nothing to lose.

"We have everything to gain from this match so we don't really care what they do or who they bring up – we just want them to know when they come up it's going to be a hard fight for sure.

"Leicester are one of the best teams in the league, and I think for us right now we need to focus on what we can do better as a team and as individuals too.

"We can beat any team that we come across, and at home especially we have been really strong of late. It's always good to play at home in front of your own fans and family.

"I don't think teams particularly coming up north to face us so from that respect it's so far, so good for us."

The Tigers themselves do not come into the game in their best form, with two narrow league victories followed by a 3-10 home loss to Sale Sharks last time out.

And while Leicester have won their last 11 fixtures with the Falcons in Premiership since Newcastle's 14-10 victory at Kingston Park in March 2009, Graham Kitchener admits they won't be taking anything for granted.

He said: "Newcastle have had some great results recently, beating Bath and Harlequins and they came very close last time out against Wasps so we know they are a good team that are going to pose a real threat.

"But we have put last weekend behind us now and are looking forward to getting out on a Friday night.

"The new pitch there lends itself to a fast-paced game which might suit us but we will have to wait and see. We want a win to get back on track after the Sale game."

We take a look at all the Round 12 action!

Friday, February 12

Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers

(Kingston Park – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT)

The Falcons have won their last four matches in all competitions at Kingston Park since Saracens beat them there in Premiership in early December. 

Leicester have won their last 11 fixtures with the Falcons in Premiership Rugby since Newcastle's 14-10 victory at Kingston Park in March 2009.

Teams:

Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Michael Young, 8 Ally Hogg, 7 Nili Latu, 6 Will Welch (captain), 5 Sean Robinson, 4 Mark Wilson, 3 Taione Vea, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Bobby Vickers.

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Alesana Tuilagi, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Craig Willis, 23 Juan Pablo Socino.

Leicester: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Mathew Tait (c), 12 Matt Smith, 11 Gonzalo Camacho, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Sam Harrison, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Lachlan McCaffrey, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Mike Fitzgerald, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Marcos Ayerza.

Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Logovi'i Mulipola, 18 Greg Bateman, 19 Sebastian De Chaves, 20 Laurence Pearce, 21 Jono Kitto, 22 Oli Bryant, 23 Jack Roberts.

Referee: Gregory Garner

Assistant referees: Ashley Rowden, Kelvin Stewart

TMO: David Sainsbury

Saturday, February 13

Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs

(AJ Bell Stadium – Kick-off: 14.30; 14.30 GMT)

Sale Sharks are in a rich vein of form. They have won their last five encounters in all tournaments since their 17-33 defeat at Exeter in Round Seven of the Premiership. 

The Sharks are unbeaten in their last nine fixtures at AJ Bell Stadium in all tournaments since Harlequins beat them there last April in the Premiership.

Teams: 

Sale Sharks: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Will Addison, 13 Sam James, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Nev Edwards, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Mark Easter, 7 David Seymour (captain), 6 Cameron Neild, 5 Andrei Ostrikov, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Vadim Cobilas, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ross Harrison.

Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Jonathan Mills, 20 Magnus Lund, 21 Chris Cusiter, 22 Joe Ford, 23 Tom Arscott.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Sam Hill, 11 James Short, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Will Chudley, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Don Armand, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Jonny Hill, 3 Moray Low, 2 Jack Yeandle (captain), 1 Ben Moon. 

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Kai Horstmann, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Will Hooley, 23 Max Bodilly.

Referee: Andrew Small

Assistant referees: Paul Dix, Robin Goodliffe

TMO: Geoffrey Warren

Gloucester v Harlequins

(Kingsholm – Kick-off: 15.00; 15.00 GMT)

The two sides drew 39-all in front of over 70,000 fans at Twickenham in the 'Big Game' in December, their first tie in competitive rugby since a 9-9 scoreline at the same venue in the old Division One in November 1987. 

Quins only victory at Kingsholm in the Premiership since 1999 came on their most recent visit in the competition in November 2014.

Teams:

Gloucester: 15 Billy Burns, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Billy Meakes, 12 Billy Twelvetrees (captain), 11 Steve McColl, 10 James Hook, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Mariano Galarza, 4 Tom Savage, 3 John Afoa, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paddy McAllister.

Replacements: 16 Tom Lindsay, 17 Dan Murphy, 18 Paul Doran-Jones, 19 Jeremy Thrush, 20 Jacob Rowan, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Mark Atkinson, 23 Rob Cook.

Harlequins: 15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Marland Yrade, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 Harry Sloan, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Nick Evans (captain), 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Mat Luamanu, 7 Dave Ward, 6 Luke Wallace, 5 James Horwill, 4 George Merrick, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Mark Lambert.

Replacements: 16 James Chisholm, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Will Collier, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Ben Botica, 21 Calum Waters, 22 Winston Stanley, 23 Tim Swiel.

Referee: Wayne Barnes

Assistant referees: Paul Burton, Simon McConnell

TMO: David Grashoff

Northampton Saints v London Irish

(Franklin's Gardens – Kick-off: 15.00; 15.00 GMT)

Northampton Saints' last three matches have all been won by the away side on the day, the Saints being victorious at Scarlets and Harlequins, and Wasps winning at Franklin's Gardens. 

The East Midlanders have not lost successive games at their historic home since December 2012. London Irish won 25-23 when the two clubs met at Madejski Stadium in Round Seven and have never achieved a Premiership double over Saints in the same season. The Exiles only victory at Franklin's Gardens since 2004 was 14-13 in the Premiership in September 2011.

Teams:

Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Jamie Elliott, 13 Luther Burrell, 12 Harry Mallinder, 11 James Wilson, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson (captain), 8 Sam Dickinson, 7 Tom Wood, 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 Christian Day, 4 James Craig, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Alex Waller.

Replacements: 16 Reece Marshall, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Victor Matfield, 20 Teimana Harrison, 21 Tom Kessell, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 George Pisi.

London Irish: 15 Andrew Fenby, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Fergus Mulchrone, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ciaran Hearn, 10 Shane Geraghty, 9 Scott Steele, 8 Rob McCusker, 7 Luke Narraway, 6 Jebb Sinclair, 5 Will Lloyd, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Halani Aulica, 2 David Paice, 1 Tom Court. 

Replacements: 16 Gerard Ellis, 17 Tom Smallbone, 18 Leo Halavatau, 19 Ian Nagle, 20 Ofisa Treviranus, 21 Darren Allinson, 22 Theo Brophy-Clews, 23 Dom Waldouck.

Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Assistant referees: Nigel Carrick, Wayne Falla

TMO: Sean Davey

Worcester Warriors v Bath

(Sixways – Kick-off: 15.00; 15.00 GMT)

Bath have lost their last six matches in all tournaments since beating Worcester 21-14 at the Recreation Ground in Round Seven. Bath's only victory on the road in the Premriship this season came on a trip to London Irish in Round Four.

Worcester's solitary victory over Bath in their last 15 meetings in all competitions was 16-7 in the Premiership at Sixways in November 2011. Bath's overall record at the venue is played nine, won six, drawn one, lost two.

Teams: 

Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Andy Symons, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Luke Baldwin, 8 GJ van Velze (captain), 7 Carl Kirwan, 6 Phil Dowson, 5 Darren Barry, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin

Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Na’ama Leleimalefaga, 18 James Johnston, 19 Dan Sanderson, 20 Dewald Potgieter, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Ryan Mills

Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Max Clark, 12 Matt Banahan, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Niko Matawalu, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Guy Mercer, 6 Leroy Houston, 5 Tom Ellis, 4 Stuart Hooper (captain), 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Nick Auterac. 

Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Beno Obano, 18 David Wilson, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Dominic Day, 21 Matt Garvey, 22 Jonathan Evans, 23 Jeff Williams.

Referee: JP Doyle

Assistant referees: Ross Campbell, Andrew Pearce

TMO: Stuart Terheege

Sunday, February 14

Saracens v Wasps

(Allianz Park – Kick-off: 16.00; 16.00 GMT)

Wasps have won their last three Premiership matches and have not won four in succession in the tournament since season 2012/13. Sunday's 9-8 victory over Newcastle at the Ricoh Arena was the first time in the past four years that Wasps had won a game without scoring a try.

Saracens have won their last nine encounters with Wasps in all tournaments since Wasps 20-15 victory at Twickenham in the 2011 London Double Header. Wasps have visited Allianz Park just once before, losing 12-19 in the Premiership in October 2013.

Teams: 

Saracens: 15 Marcelo Bosch, 14 Mike Ellery, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Samu Vunisa, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Michael Rhodes, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (captain), 4 Jim Hamilton, 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Richard Barrington.

Replacements: 16 Jared Saunders, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Hayden Smith, 20 Will Fraser, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Nils Mordt, 23 Ben Ransom. 

Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Ruaridh Jackson , 9 Dan Robson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 George Smith (captain), 6 Thomas Young, 5 Kearnan Myall, 4 James Cannon, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Ashley Johnson, 1 Simon McIntyre. 

Replacements: 16 Carlo Festuccia, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Alex Rieder, 21 Jamie Stevenson, 22 Jimmy Gopperth, 23 Rob Miller.

Referee: Ian Tempest

Assistant referees: Andy Watson, Craig Maxwell-Keys

TMO: John Burtenshaw

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