Rugby: Tait plays down great expectations ahead of Falcons bid

Newcastle boss Alan Tait will steer clear of playing the prediction game as English rugby's new Aviva Premiership season prepares for kick-off.

Tonight's league opener between the Falcons and Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park sees two relatively new-look teams - and new head coaches - facing each other. Both clubs finished in the Premiership's bottom four last term, so Tait and his opposite number Mike Brewer know there is much work to be done.

"People at the start of seasons are all trying to make predictions about teams, but it's not for me really," said Tait.

Tait will parade several summer arrivals tonight, including Scotland internationals Ally Hogg and Andrew Henderson, prop Tim Ryan, fly-half Jeremy Manning and Henderson's midfield partner Luke Eves.

And while Newcastle might not have recruited the big names signed by several other Premiership clubs, Tait is happy with his lot. "People on the outside might say that we've had to assemble the squad on a limited budget, but I am not someone who will ever say things along those lines," he added.

Brewer, meanwhile, fields a line-up including several debutants and shorn of injured England trio Mark Cueto, Mathew Tait and Charlie Hodgson.

Sale also have a new captain in 20-year-old forward James Gaskell.