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Juan Pablo Socino will make his Newcastle Falcons return on Saturday against Worcester Warriors after returning from his country’s World Cup semi-final efforts. The versatile midfielder played a key role in Newcastle’s survival last season as both a running threat and high percentage goal kicker. Socino played only a bit part in Argentina’s campaign, starting against Namibia and coming off the bench against the Springboks in the bronze match.
US Eagles Eric Fry and Todd Clever feature among the reserves, each having been part of all three previous match day squads this season. Argentine centre Gonzalo Tiesi remains unavailable due to injury while new signing Belisario Agulla has been left out of the squad after making his debut off the bench against Exeter last week.
A number of other World Cup 2015 participants also return to the team, including Samoans Kane Thompson and Alesana Tuilagi, Italian winger Giovanbattista Venditti, Scottish prop Jon Welsh, and Tongan skipper Nili Latu. Falcons have had a difficult start to their 2015-16 Aviva Premiership campaign, losing all three of their opening fixtures including a heavy defeat to Exeter Chiefs at home field Kingston Park last weekend.
NEWCASTLE FALCONS v WORCESTER
1 Rob Vickers 2 Scott Lawson 3 Jon Welsh 4 Mouritz Botha 5 Kane Thompson 6 Will Welch (capt.) 7 Nili Latu 8 Allister Hogg 9 Micky Young 10 Mike Delany 11 Alesana Tuilagi 12 Juan Pablo Socino 13 Chris Harris 14 Giovanbattista Venditti 15 Alex Tait
16 George McGuigan 17 Eric Fry 18 Taione Vea 19 Sean Robinson 20 Todd Clever 21 Ruki Tipuna 22 Tom Catterick 23 Tom Penny
