By Mally (23/05/03)
May 23 2003

3 Newcastle Falcons feature in the England squad taking on the Barbarians this weekend. Jamie Noon's selection in the starting 15 is no surprise, nor is the inclusion of the versatile Hugh Vyvyan on the bench, it is Dave Walder's dramatic return to the England fold, which is the real talking point. There is no doubt that Clive Woodward's options at flyhalf were extremely limited for this match. Charlie Hodgeson and Paul Grayson are currently injured, and the Parker Pen Challenge Cup Final is also being played this weekend, which rules Alex King of London Wasps and Bath's Ollie Barclay and Mike Catt.

Fellow Newcastle Falcon, Jonny Wilkinson, is the first choice flyhalf, and Woodward has already stated that Jonny will tour (see article "Wilkinson to play All Blacks"), so Dave has been granted a golden opportunity to demonstrate just how good he is.

Over the last couple of seasons, particularly with the emergence of Charlie Hodgeson and Ollie Barclay, Walder has slipped down the England pecking order after being capped on England's 2001 summer tour to North America.

Having put in an excellent performance in the same match last year Walder will be looking to do something similar this time around. Clive Woodward has made it clear that all the players on show this weekend stand the chance of making it on to one of England's two summer tours, which are unquestionably the springboard into the World Cup side.

"There’s not a single player there who’s not in contention for the main trip this summer." (Clive Woodward in The Times)

This has been a tough season for Walder, who broke his leg in Newcastle Falcons' pre-season friendly against Edinburgh. Forced to watch from the side lines as Newcastle Falcons struggled to stay off the bottom of the Premiership table, Dave acknowledged how "frustrating" it had been.

"It's bad enough when you are playing but when you are watching there's nothing you can do about it."

Having not started a match all season Dave finally made it back onto the pitch to raptuous reception as a substitute in Newcastle Falcons 22 - 20 win over Northampton Saints on April 20th. With Walder not being at full fitnees the club re-introduced him gradually bringing him on for the last 10 - 15 minutes of their last 3 matches.

"I have played bits and pieces of three games against Northampton, Saracens and Bath. I wouldn't say I'm at full fitness but I'm getting back into it."

"My lungs are still burning a bit but the leg has come through everything I have done in training, so confidence-wise I am fine. It is just the running in the game I may be lacking a little bit."

Having begun the season injured and with only an outside chance of making the World Cup Walder has nothing to lose and everything to play for. As he says himself:

"I can only take one game at a time. I am in a win-win situation... Anything that comes to me now is a bonus. Fortunately I have got the chance on Sunday and if I can play well I will hopefully go on tour."

Walder will line up alongside Falcons' centre Jamie Noon, who recently picked up the Newcastle Falcons' Players' Player of the Season Award, gets the nod having had an excellent season, impressing in the England A 6 Nations games aswell as being one the Newcastle's best players this season. Hugh Vyvyan, who like Walder played in the same fixture last year, is selected on the bench, while Sharks' Chris Jones, who like Vyvyan plays in both the second and the back rows, starts.

Micheal Stephenson, who had also been selected as part of the the initial 28 man training squad, was sent home earlier in the week with a "minor shoulder injury".

England Team

15. Dan Scarbrough (Leeds Tykes), 14. Mark Cueto (Sharks), 13. Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons), 12. Ben Johnston (Saracens), 11. Phil Christophers (Bristol Shoguns), 10. Dave Walder (Newcastle Falcons), 9. Kyran Bracken (Saracens)

1. Mike Worsley (London Irish), 2. Mark Regan (Leeds Tykes), 3. Phil Vickery (Gloucester, captain), 4. Alex Codling (Harlequins), 5. Alex Brown (Bristol Shoguns), 6. Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers), 7. Mike Lipman (Bristol Shoguns), 8. Chris Jones (Sale Sharks).

Replacements:

Andy Titterrell (Sharks), David Flatman (Saracens), Hugh Vyvyan (Newcastle Falcons), Pete Anglesea (Sharks), Nick Walshe (Sharks), Kevin Sorrell (Saracens), Simon Amor (Gloucester).

Barbarians team

15. Percy Montgomery (Newport & South Africa), 14. Aisea Tuilevu (Otago Highlanders & Fiji), 13. Tomas Castaignede (Saracens & France), 12. Jonathan Bell (Ulster & Ireland), 11. Bruce Rheihana (Northampton Saints & New Zealand), 10. David Humphreys (Ulster & Ireland), 9. Augustin Pichot (Bristol Shoguns & Argentina)

1. Christian Califano (Saracens & France), 2. M Sexton (Ulster), 3. Carl Hayman (Otago Highlanders), 4. AJ Venter (Natal Sharks & South Africa), 5. Mark Connors (Northampton Saints), 6. Justin Collins (Wellington Hurricanes & New Zealand), 7. Sam Harding (Otago Highlanders & New Zealand), 8. Taine Randell (Otago Highlanders & New Zealand, capt).

Replacements:

Raphael Ibanez (Castres & France), Franck Tournaire (Leicester Tigers & France), Hottie Louw (Western Stormers & South Africa), Ryan Strudwick (London Irish), Mark Robinson (Auckland Warriors & New Zealand), Felipe Contepomi (Bristol & Argentina); Daryl Gibson (Bristol Shoguns& New Zealand)

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"Wilkinson to play All Blacks"

Newcastle Falcons' End of Season Awards