You can also just get the silly_newbie_template template from the cache provided you use a plugin to cache it, which you should. Then you won't need to run the fetch_template code.
PHP Code:
$search_text = '$vbphrase[x_members_and_y_guests]</phrase>)';
$vbulletin->templatecache['FORUMHOME'] = str_replace($search_text,
$search_text.$vbulletin->templatecache['silly_newbie_template'],$vbulletin->templatecache['FORUMHOME']);