Newcastle Falcons - We're back!! Championship winners

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Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: Peter Russell

Current Squad:

Forwards
Props:
Grant Shiels
Oliver Tomasczyk
Keiron Brookes
Scott Wilson

Hookers:
Matt Thompson
Rob Vickers
Scott Lawson

Second Rows:
Carlo Del Fava
Scott MacLeod
Sean Tomes
Frasier McKensie

Back Row
Ally Hogg
Will Welch
Richard Mayhew
Andy Saul
Mark Wilson
Chris York

Backs
SH's
Rory Lawson
Chris Pilgrim
Warren Fury
Mike Blair

Fh's
Joel Hodgson
Waisea Luveniyali
Rory Clegg
Phil Godman

Centres
Jamie Helleur
James Fitzpatrick
Tane Tu'ipulotu
Andrew Higgins
Alex Crocket
Michael Tait
Adam Powell
Danny Barnes - In from Munster

Wing:
Ryan Shortland
Andy Higgins
Suka Hufanga
Noah Cato

FB's:
Tom Catterick
Alex Tait

Bedford: 15 Ben Ransom, 14 James Stephenson, 13 Brendan Burke, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 James Short, 10 Myles Dorrian, 9 Luke Baldwin, 1 Ricky Reeves, 2 Neil Cochrane, 3 Phil Boulton, 4 Mike Howard, 5 Paul Tupai, 6 Gregor Gillanders, 7 Darren Fox (c), 8 Nick Fenton-Wells.
Replacements: 16 Scott Spurling, 17 Dan Seal, 18 Ben Gulliver, 19 Don Barrell, 20 Darryl Veenendaal, 21 Jake Sharp 22 Ollie Dodge.

I count at least 6 Saracens registered players in that mix.
Also James Stephenson only signed from Worcester last month.

Shocking really, you think they'd be some sort of rule against bringing players in.

How can a team expect to step up to the AP if nearly half their team is made up of loan players???

It is the weakness of the dual registered scheme. good that it gives players the opportunity to actually play matches, bad that it can distort the second tier.

Can't answer for Sarries players, but there may be a little jumping to conclusions here. Stephenson has not signed from Worcester. Worcester have signed him up to be their player for next season. He is still a Bedford player, just as he has been all season.

James Short...and Ben Ransom? They've both been playing regularly for Sarries havent they?

Sarries GF.

I've got a spare ticket if anyone fancies it?

Sorry meant Sarries...

tooboredtowork wrote:Can't answer for Sarries players, but there may be a little jumping to conclusions here. Stephenson has not signed from Worcester. Worcester have signed him up to be their player for next season. He is still a Bedford player, just as he has been all season.

that was me getting the wrong end of the stick then about Stephenson, apologies.

Absolutely chucking it down! Perfect weather Jimmy

Looked sunny on the telly a second ago, either way...C'mon Falcons!!!!

What a start.

Is fury playing how many hospital passes can he throw in the first ten mins

He's awful

My Skyplayer is on the blink, score please?

3s a piece

3-3

We're making good breaks and theres absolutely no support at all

I'd like to see them reset that and have another go, can't turn down points I suppose.

Is it me or are Bedford hitting early at every scrum?

GeordieFalcon wrote:3-3

We're making good breaks and theres absolutely no support at all

Falcons playing more enterprising rugby than against Nottingham. Alex Tait is quality.

3-6.

Fury is appalling

Second time we've got in behind them and been let down by poor hands, need to make this possession count.

Much better side so far

Our handling has been poor for a while now...

Not clinical at all.

Lost too many lineouts already. Really needs this sorted out.

3-12 at ht. Falcons should be reasonably happy, given the ball is like a bar of soap.

Our lineout is a shambles Cumbrian, always is.

Aye, doesn't look like it is going to be costly this time, but you have to think that Deano needs it sorted for next season.

I know overall it has been a decent performance (and I am always whining), but I want to see us score some trys! I have seen 2 and a half games of rugby in the last few weeks and we've score one (rather streaky) try and rarely looked like threatening the oppositions' line. My big worry is that the pack won't be able to bully Premiership teams like they have this season, they either need to up the ante or add something extra.

Powell has cut some nice lines

Hound of Harrow wrote:...Alex Tait is quality...

Steve Black tipped him as England material four years ago. I've lost count of the number of full back candidates we are supposed to have at the moment.

Argument for a yellow card there? Killing the ball in the red zone.

Well done Newcastle getting the win!

I've watched a few games recently and can't help but think they need to develop their attacking game to cope in the AP if they get promoted - been seriously lacking in that department.

Yeah, that is three games now that we have rarely looked like putting a seven pointer on the board. It is frustrating because we are getting forward dominance and creating a good platform, what is going wrong?

Safe rugby for the playoffs? Has the whether been bad generally?

I think it was exactly that...safe rugby...promotion is critical.

We made breaks, but had little support for those players when we did.
The lineout as mentioned above was a shambles.
The scrum was good
Defence was generally rock solid.
Gopperth kicked too much yet again...not sure ill actually miss him if we can get Clegg or Hodgson producing the goods.
Fury should not be in there.

Hopefully we have have some quality players lined up ala Mike Blair if we can confirm promotion on Wednesday night.

Mike Blair will help significantly in attack - the tempo will be lifted massively.

Absolutely RDW

Again whilst we were actually ok last night...we played the game to win regardless of performance, however we saw glimpses of good expansive play...players making good breaks etc..but there just seemed to be a lack of support...something like Chris Ashton would have scored a hatful.

Its this problem that has meant we have barely looked like scoring tries and have relied too much on the boot of Jimmy.

As mentioned above also...we wont have the same pack dominance should we go up...so we cant rely on that and indeed our lineout is attrocious at this level. We need to be able to enhance our game..

But Deano, Wells, Steadman, Russell etc are no idiots...they know the crack so i trust them.

Cumbrian wrote:Yeah, that is three games now that we have rarely looked like putting a seven pointer on the board. It is frustrating because we are getting forward dominance and creating a good platform, what is going wrong?

Looks to me like you're just comfortably doing enough to win those games, certainly against the Blues you weren't particularly under the cosh and in need of a 7 pointer. Deano is probably saving the game breakers and the more attacking styles for the Prem next season, why let everyone get a peak now when you can keep it under wraps?

If he isn't then it could be a long season for Falcons.

The weather hasn't always helped (although the first leg against Leeds was gloriously warm) . Perhaps it is the pressure of the play-off, just waiting to see the lads cut loose and enjoy the game a bit more. If we get a couple of early scores in the final and build up a good lead it will maybe come then.

I've been really impressed with Tait, he's looked outstanding at FB and will be a solid AP option.

I think it's becoming obvious where we need to improve....

The centres, Powell looks to be bedding in nice but we need a distributing option and possibly a bit of gas.

Back 3, Tait nailed on at FB but we need another top classs option, possibly some with a bit of physicallity.

If we manage to make it up...summer might see some considerable changes.

Front Row: I think we have a good stable of LH & TH's, but need a couple more

Hooker: We BADLY need a quality hooker,whos physical AND can throw..

Second Rows: Been excellent...but not getting any younger and Lineout just hasnt functioned at all so this area might get looked at

Back Row: I think we have strong options here...maybe need to replace the power option of Tuifua...oh for a young Pat Lam.

Half Backs: The addition of Blair will be MASSIVE. But we need a good back up aswell. Fury is NOT the answer
Fly half is going to be critical...Clegg and Hodgson divide opinions...and Godman???? Really? This could be a worrying position.

Centres: Powell has looked useful in games...Helleur has been great in the last half of the season...Hufanga has looked ok too. But additions will be required.

Wings: Shortland is quality, Catterick and Cato have potential but also glaring weaknesses...and Kibirige is a big hope but still young.

FB: Tait for me is inconsistant. Some games he's a real classy player but then others hes poor...

I think to make an impact in the prem we have some work to do.
Potentially:
1 Shiels
2 ??
3 Tomas / S.Wilson
4 Macleod / ??
5 Del fava / ??
6 Wilson
7 Welch / Saul
8 Hogg / Yorke / ??

9 Blair
10 Clegg / Hodgson / Godman / ???????
11 Shortland
12 Helleur / ???
13 Powell / ???
14 Cato / Catterick / Kibirige / ?????
15 Tait / ?????

You not got Fraser McKenzie coming? He's a big abrasive yet athletic lock / 6

Actually your totally right i did forget about him...but to be honest i dont really know much about him...

I was disappointed to see him leave Edinburgh because he was still fairly young and suited our style of play – big athletic ball carrier. If he’d stayed at Edinburgh I think he would have had a good chance to get capped in the next season or two.

Unfortunately he moved to Sale and has had a tough time with them.

Yeah McKenzie is coming to us next season and I can see him going straight into the team as first choice.

Regarding the wings, I really want to see Kibirige get a chance. I have read some really promising things about him and want to see if it is justified.

Andy Titterall might be a shout at Hoooker – even at 33 he was the fittest man in the Edinburgh team this year, although his lineout throwing wasn't reliable.

Good old warhorse to have in the trenches, if a little small.

We have physical hookers...if Vickers could throw to a good level i would be happy as he is physical and puts himself about.

Cumbrian

Kibirige has been put out a couple of times...and he's looked impressive...he's got pace, energy etc..and he's generally scored when he has played..hopefully a nice foil for big Shortland on the other side.
Loved his break yesterday mind...if Gopperth had held that pass we'd have scored a try i think.
Am i the only one that wont totally miss Jimmy??

I personally think Jimmy stifles back play, he tries to do everything himself. I would like to see a reliable kicker AND someone that can get the backline moving.

Glad im not the only one then Marra

Is Clegg or Hodgson the answer?

That is the question isn't it? Both need to work on their kicking percentages as we are going to need scrap for every point next season. I haven't seen enough of Hodgson in pressure games to know if he is up to running the line and Clegg is the very definition of flaky at times. I reckon Godman is going to be first choice.