Harlequins boost as England rejects prepare for Falcons with point to prove

Harlequins take on the Falcons at The Stoop with a backline brimming with players desperate to prove a point to England and Eddie Jones.

Mike Brown, Nathan Earle and Joe Marchant have all featured in England squads this series but have not won selection for a Test match, while 19-year-old Marcus Smith is one of Jones’s previous “apprentices”.

Quins’ head of rugby, Paul Gustard, said: “We welcome Mike, Nathan and Joe back into the first team and look forward to the attacking intent and sharpness that they can bring to our backline. We are disappointed that they are not representing England this weekend, but it is a great boost for our squad to be able to include players of their calibre for this match.”

Brown will start on the left wing, opposite Earle, not his preferred full-back position, where Aaron Morris starts. Jones might also take interest in the performance of Jack Clifford at open-side in his first Premiership appearance of the season.

Newcastle have Gary Graham, who was not selected by Scotland to face South Africa, at blind-side flanker.