Tait back as Falcons host Tigers

Published: Friday, 16. September, 2011 in category Aviva Premiership
Tait: Back for Newcastle

The 23-year-old will be back in action at Kingston Park after being a late withdrawal before the 32-15 defeat against Exeter last time out with a hamstring strain.

Tait comes in for Tom Catterick, who drops to the bench, while Newcastle boss Alan Tait otherwise opts against making changes despite the lopsided scoreline against the Chiefs.

"The lads have been buoyant this week and we have had some good training sessions," the coach said.

"The score-line at Exeter didn't do the boys any justice and I think we can draw a lot of positives from those first two matches. Apart from the try, we played some of our best rugby in the first-half against Exeter last week."

Like their opponents, Leicester have lost their two opening matches of the season but will be boosted by the return of prop Julian White for the contest at Kingston Park.

The 38-year-old veteran, who comes in at the expense of Kieran Brooks, will play his first match of the campaign after recovering from knee surgery.

The only other change from the side that lost to Wasps last time out sees Thomas Waldrom brought into the starting line-up at No. 8, with Julian Salvi moving to flanker and Ben Woods dropping to the bench.

The Tigers are still without injury absentees Craig Newby, Jordan Crane, Geoff Parling and Mathew Tait.

Last year's runners-up Leicester are surprisingly still searching for their first win, although they have accumulated two losing bonus points, while Newcastle are on a run of nine straight defeats stretching back to last season.