Last updated 19:39, Thursday, 20 March 2008

ROBERT Miller missed out on helping England U20 win the Six Nations Grand Slam against Ireland at Gloucester.

But he did make his Guinness Premiership debut with Newcastle Falcons - and what a debut.

Though Newcastle lost 28-8 to Bristol, Miller had an outstanding game scoring all his team’s points and picking up the Man of the Match award.

At 18 years and 224 days, Miller became the third-youngest Falcon when he started at Kingston Park.

The club had parted company with director of rugby John Fletcher and forwards coach Peter Walton in midweek and there was little sign of any improvement on the pitch.

A try for the visitors after just two minutes set the tone, with the Falcons finding themselves 17-0 down at half-time.

Newcastle’s new interim director of rugby Steve Bates had turned to Miller to solve his Newcastle Falcons fly-half conundrum.

Although the Cumbrian teenager scored a try on his debut, and landed a penalty to claim all of Newcastle’s points.

Miller’s debut came about because of Jonny Wilkinson’s involvement with the senior England team.

Miller had been part of the England U20 squad but was recalled by Newcastle to fill in for Wilkinson’s absence.

While Miller has played the majority of his rugby in National Three North at Tynedale this season, he had impressed in the Falcons Development XV during Guinness A League action.

Mild-mannered off the pitch and calmness personified on it, Miller has benefited enormously under the influence of the likes of Wilkinson.