WHILE Jonny Wilkinson and Lawrence Dallaglio parade the Webb Ellis Trophy round Kingston Park today, Newcastle Falcons will find themselves up against four World Cup players.

As the only member of the England squad who played in every match in Australia, Dallaglio is joining Wilkinson in taking a rest.

But flanker Joe Worsley, centre Stuart Abbott and lock Simon Shaw, plus Scotland winger Kenny Logan, are all in the Wasps line-up.

Newcastle prefer to play on Sundays because they get better crowds, but the presence of the Sky TV cameras has dictated that there will be a 2.45 kick-off today and World Cup euphoria has ensured a Kingston Park sell-out for the first time.

The 10,000 crowd will be 2,500 more than have packed into the ground before and the management will be thanking their lucky stars they were able to increase the capacity last season.

They need crowds of around 6,500 to break even, and if the Wilkinson factor helps them regularly top that it will help them complete their ambitious development plans.

After the stadium was completed last year, things like the training shed and the development of more pitches to link up with the Northumbria University complex at Bullocksteads were shelved while Premiership survival was ensured.

There are no fears on that score this season as Rotherham will obviously go back down and the Falcons are in a congested mid-table, only two points behind third-placed Wasps.

Newcastle will be keen to make an impression on their new fans today as World Cup fever will have waned by the time they play their next home Premiership match against Northampton on December 28.

In the meantime, they have the two-legged European Challenge Cup tie against Vallidolid, from Madrid, which ordinarily would not attract huge attention.

But Wilkinson is due to make his comeback in the home leg in two weeks, so another large gathering can be expected then.

"Thank goodness we took a decision three or four years ago to build a new stadium, otherwise we would not have been able to cope with this," said Director of Rugby Rob Andrew.

"It's a huge opportunity for the club and it's going to be a stunning day for everyone. We'll be the first club in the country to have the World Cup paraded around the ground.

"We have a group of players here who feel genuinely that this is their club, and I include Jonny in that. There is a feeling that we are going places."

Andrew, who missed two victories while he was in Australia on Radio Five Live duty, has named the same side which won at London Irish last week.

But he has recalled skipper Mark Andrews to the bench following his chest injury and he could replace Scotland lock Stuart Grimes at some point.

Apart from their four World Cup men, Wasps include former England fly half Alex King for the first time this season and his deputy, Mark van Gisbergen, switches to full back.

Both are goal-kickers, with van Gisbergen boasting an 83 per cent record this season, compared with Dave Walder's 74 per cent for the Falcons.

Other Premiership statistics reveal that Falcons' scrum half Hall Charlton is the top ball-carrier with 70, while Wasps winger Tom Voyce has carried the ball further than anyone with 797 metres.

Presumably Sky's technology helps to produce such figures, but the fact that they have exclusive rights to the Premiership and the Heineken Cup will not help rugby to stay in the limelight.

Those who haven't got a ticket for Kingston Park or satellite television but still fancy watching some National League rugby have a choice today between Darlington Mowden Park, Blaydon or Tynedale. That's unless they are prepared to travel to the Potteries to watch Darlington play Longton.

Despite having 45 players registered, Mowden were able to name only 17 last night for the visit of Macclesfield.

They have been promised a prop and a back row forward for the bench by Newcastle, depending on who came safely through last night's second team game against New Zealand Under-21s.

The prop might have to start, however, as Danny Brown is working and Ian Keeligan is having extensive treatment on a back problem.

Centre Martyn Bray was required for last night's match, so is not available for Mowden after playing in their last two games.

Player-coach Richard Arnold could be out for two weeks with his shoulder problem, while lock Kelekolio Paino went for a scan on his knee yesterday.

Luke Monument is playing for the Rotherham Academy, so Tony Irwin again has to deputise for Paino at lock, with utility man Chris Strong coming in at blind side alongside Tom McLaren and Jonny Boatman.

With Jon Dye injured, there is no back row cover.

Chris Blacklock returns alongside Gareth Kerr at centre, with Andy Foreman and Dave Richardson on the wings.

Skipper Paul Lee's return for Darlington sees Dave Haswell switch to centre at the expense of his brother, Graham.

Matt Dilworth will start at lock, with Richie Taylor on the bench, where he is joined by two more forwards back after injury, prop Paul Shepherd and flanker Andrew Carphin.

Darlington have two good home matches next month, against Tynedale next week and Blaydon on December 20.

Blaydon have skipper Dave Guthrie back for today's visit of Preston Grasshoppers, while props Dan Harper and Paul Winter hope to be fit after missing two games.

Dan Clappison will again start at fly half and Matt Dehaty could return at centre as Andy Kahn is injured