Tait bows to Murray ‘badgering’

ALAN Tait last night revealed he was hounded by Scotland international Euan Murray to include him in his plans for Newcastle’s Anglo-Welsh Cup opener against Cardiff Blues.

The coach had expected the prop to need more time on the sidelines to recover from his World Cup exertions. But Murray reckoned the best way to get over losing to England in the pool decider was to get straight back to action with the Falcons.

As he stepped up preparations for the Cardiff clash at Kingston Park tomorrow, Tait said: “Euan has been badgering me all week to put him in the starting line-up. He is absolutely champing at the bit to get back to match action and that is great because he will definitely bolster the pack.”

Meanwhile, Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath said Murray’s front-row Test mate Al Dickinson will be a threat to his side’s hopes of retaining the LV Cup. Dickinson, also just back from New Zealand, will line up for new team Sale Sharks against his old West Country friends at Kingsholm tomorrow.

Redpath said: “Al moved on from Gloucester because he felt his opportunities were limited here. And I’m sure he will be desperate to try to do one over on us – he’s a very talented individual.”