RUSSELL WINTER hands the Falcons armband back to the club captain this afternoon – at the same time acclaiming another of this season’s five Newcastle skippers as the world’s greatest defender. The gritty South African led by example in last weekend’s rousing 19-12 win over Brive to set up a European Challenge Cup quarter-final, provided his side get at least a draw against Cetransa El Salvador this afternoon at Kingston Park (kick-off 3pm). Taking a seat on the bench after getting through his fair share of graft in France last week, former South Africa A captain Winter cedes his place and the armband to Phil Dowson, whose injury comeback quickens apace. Winter stands alongside Dowson, Joe McDonnell and Geoff Parling in having captained the Falcons this season – but in discussing the final man to make up that fearsome five, he reserved special praise. Hailing the returning Jamie Noon as the greatest defender in the world, Winter said the doting father’s tackling and work-rate are simply devastating. Winter said: “Noony is just an unbelievable defender, and I would say he really is the best in the world – I don’t think that is going over the top. “It is not just his determination, his strength and his speed, it is the technique he employs to make those massive hits. “In training, in defensive drills, people shy away from coming up against him – not through fear, but just because he can all too easily make you look stupid! “He comes at you out of nowhere, and smashes just incredibly hard, sometimes he’s hit you before you even realise it – one minute you are steeling yourself to take contact, the next your legs are swept from underneath you and you’re flat on your back.” Noon is itching to get back into the old routine after two weeks off caring for his young daughter, who scalded herself in an unfortunate accident at the family home. Falcons director of rugby John Fletcher told committed family man Noon to take all the time he needed to tend to his little girl – and that compassion will no doubt pay off with a typically robust Noon performance this afternoon. After Leeds’ Thursday night defeat in Castres, the Falcons can top their group by virtue of a draw, or even a defeat with the home side scoring four or more tries and coming within seven points of the Spaniards. For Fletcher and Co though, only a convincing win will fit the bill as tough league games against Leicester, Saracens, Gloucester, Wasps, Bath and Bristol start to loom large on the fixture list. Fletcher said: “We would never go into a game looking for anything other than the best win we could achieve. “If you start thinking about permutations and situations like that, then that’s when you might slip up. “And besides, in terms of the momentum and confidence of the side, we need to win this game and win it well. “There are some tough games coming up, so some of the lads are getting games here to ensure they’ll be fresh and in some playing form when the England guys head off for Six Nations duty.” NEWCASTLE FALCONS (Cetransa El Salvador, Kingston Park 3pm): Mathew Tait; Ollie Phillips; Jamie Noon; Steve Jones; Tim Visser; Lee Dickson; Joe McDonnell; Matt Thompson; Micky Ward; Geoff Parling; Mark Sorenson; Brent Wilson; Ben Woods; Phil Dowson (c). Substitutes: Rob Vickers; David Wilson; Sean Tomes; Russell Winter; Hall Charlton; Alex Tait; Joe Shaw. | 
