Now, Bath are on the attack and have Newcastle back-pedalling. The ball is worked across to Semesa Rokoduguni, who crosses easily in the corner, but referee JP Doyle isn't totally happy with something in the build-up. A forward pass in there? Let's have another look.

And they win a penalty at the breakdown too. Was that Sam Burgess in there offending? Either way, Rory Clegg's kick is excellent and the deficit is back down to six points.

It's been a frustrating period at Kingston Park, meanwhile, after a couple more reset scrums. Newcastle are on the attack now though, venturing into Bath 22 for the first time...

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A bit of breaking news to bring you from elsewhere in the Premiership.

Wasps forward Nathan Hughes has successfully appealed against the red card he was issued for his clash with Northampton Saints winger George North during the last round of fixtures.

The number eight was handed a three-week ban but that has now been overturned and he will be able to play again immediately.

He did, of course, miss last weekend's defeat by Toulon in the Champions Cup however.

After a shaky first couple of minutes, Bath are now right on their game here. They work the ball up to the Falcons 10-metre line and it's a fabulous, absolute bullet of a pass from Jonathan Joseph that sets Semesa Rokoduguni clear down the right-hand side to score. Excellent pass, fine try. The conversion, however, drifts wide from a tight angle.

If Sam Burgess didn't feel involved enough at centre, he's certainly seeing plenty of action in the early stages at Kingston Park.

A couple more scrums, this time in Bath's half, leads to a long kick forward from George Ford and a line-out on halfway.

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Goodness me, that's excellent counter-scrumming from Bath though and they have the ball. Peter Stringer wastes no time in picking out George Ford either. But who can the little fly-half find from here? Ollie Devoto, playing at centre tonight, is the recipient and he barges his way over from close range.

George Ford's conversion is good too and Bath are ahead.

George Ford's restart is a good one and immediately has the visitors competing for ball. And then, having won a penalty at the breakdown, they immediately head for the corner to put Newcastle under some pressure.

Now, can Bath get the rolling maul working? The answer is yes, but it's halted soon enough and Newcastle have themselves a scrum five metres from their own line.

Owen Martin:, external "People saying 'Sam will smash it' at flanker have obviously never played rugby or in that position. Very demanding role but good luck."

And, from not the easiest of angles, Rory Clegg's strike is true and splits the posts. First blood to Falcons at Kingston Park.

Another knock-on follows in the aftermath, however, and it'll be Bath's put-in this time.

At first the scrum is as steady as a rock, with both teams refusing to budge, but after a collapse and a reset Newcastle win a penalty and it'll be a first shot at goal for Rory Clegg...

Here we are then, a first scrum down of the evening after Semesa Rokoduguni's knock-on - and a first look at Sam Burgess in the set-piece too.

It's a good push by Falcons though, and they retain possession inside their own half.

Referee JP Doyle puffs his whistle, Bath fly-half George Ford boots the ball high and deep into enemy territory and we're under way.

Here come the teams, Bath first out in their all-white away strip followed by Newcastle, decked out in their familiar black.

So we're just moments away from Sam Burgess's first start at flanker now - how do you think it's going to go?

Keep firing your tweets our way using #bbcrugby.

Bath: Watson; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Devoto, Banahan; Ford, Stringer; Auterac, Batty, Lahiff, Garvey, Day, Burgess, Louw (capt), Houston.

Replacements: Webber, James, Palma-Newport, Attwood, Fearns, Faosiliva, Young, Homer.

Newcastle Falcons: Hammersley; Sinoti, Powell (capt), Socino, Harris; Clegg, Tipuna; Vickers, Lawson, Brookes, Green, Thompson, Mayhew, Wilson, York.

Replacements: McGuigan, Fry, Orlandi, Furno, Robinson, Takulua, Catterick, Tiesi.

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Newcastle Falcons boss Dean Richards has made four changes to his side, with Rory Clegg, Simon Hammersley, Calum Green and Chris York all coming in.

Tom Catterick, Alex Tait, Dom Barrow and Will Welch are the unlucky quartet to miss out.

We've already established that Sam Burgess is at flanker, but Mike Ford has made six other alterations to his Bath team that lost at Leinster.

Semesa Rokoduguni returns on the wing, Ollie Devoto partners Jonathan Joseph in the midfield and George Ford is joined in the half-backs by Peter Stringer.

Image source, Getty Images

This season might not have gone totally to plan for second-from-bottom Newcastle Falcons, but they are still in with an outside shot of finishing above London Irish, who are currently 10th.

And, although on paper tonight's task looks a tough one, director of rugby Dean Richards told BBC Newcastle that the game presents "a fantastic opportunity".

"You only have to look at their team and you get a buzz," he said. "They're a quality side, they've recruited well and they're a star-studded outfit."

"The boys are looking forward to the game."

Will Gordon:, external "He will smash it. He should have started at Bath at 6 or 7."

Red Half of Manchester:, external "Just get him back to League already!!"

David Bunyard:, external Burgess in the back row? Is he likely to make international level in this role? Who will he replace, Robshaw, Wood?