LONDON Welsh head coach Justin Burnell makes five changes for tomorrow’s crunch Aviva Premiership clash at home to Newcastle Falcons at the Kassam Stadium (2.30pm).

The Exiles go into the match rooted to the foot of the table with just one point from five matches.

Newcastle are once place ahead of Welsh with five points, meaning defeat for Burnell’s side would see them cast well adrift so early in the campaign.

All five changes come in the forwards, with Pablo Henn and Nathan Morris starting at loosehead and hooker respectively in place of Ricky Reeves and Koree Britton.

Latest Sport news

Matt Corker partners James Down in the second row, with Dean Schofield named among the replacements.

Richard Thorpe returns at openside in place of Lachlan McCaffrey, while No 8 Chris Hala’ufia makes his first start in place of Ollie Stedman.

“Saturday is a massive challenge for us, but we’re looking forward to the game,” said Burnell.

“We’re very proud to be in the Aviva Premiership – we’ve now just got to go up another level or find that magical formula that is missing.

“But when you talk about spirit and work ethic, I could never question that.”

Newcastle are unchanged for the first meeting between the two sides.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

London Welsh: Jewell, Stegmann, Reynolds, May (capt), Scott, Barkley, Weepu, Henn, Morris, Vea, Corker, Down, P Browne, Thorpe, Hala’ufia. Reps: Vella, Cahill, Gilding, Schofield, Pienaar, R Lewis, Roberts, Crane.

Newcastle Falcons: Tait, Sinoti, Tiesi, Powell, Cato, Socino, Tipuna, Brookes, Lawson, Wilson, Green, Barrow, Wilson, Welch (capt), Hogg. Reps: Hawkins, Rogers, Tomaszczyk, Furno, Mayhew, Blair, Clegg, Catterick.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.