Newcastle Falcons 2013/2014

First topic message reminder :

Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: Peter Russell (Leaving at the end of the season)
Forwards Coach: John Wells
Defence Coach: Graham Steadman
 
Current Squad: Underlined are new signings coming in the summer 2014
 
Forwards
Props: Grant Shiels, Oliver Tomasczyk, Keiron Brookes, Scott Wilson, Jeff Hallam, Rob Vickers , Eric Fry
Hookers: Matt Thompson, Scott Lawson, George McGuigan, David Nelson, Rob Hawkins
Second Rows:Scott MacLeod, Sean Tomes, Frasier McKensie, Dom Barrow, Callum Green  
Back Row:Ally Hogg, Will Welch, Richard Mayhew, Andy Saull, Mark Wilson, Chris York, Ben Morris, Semisi Taulava

Backs
SH's: Chris Pilrgrim (Signed for Leeds), Warren Fury, Mike Blair, Andy Davies, Ruki Tipuna
Fh's: Joel Hodgson, Rory Clegg, Phil Godman, Craig Willis 
Centres: Juan Pablo Socino, Jamie Helleur, James Fitzpatrick (Signed for Leeds), Alex Crocket, Adam Powell, Danny Barnes, Gonzalo Tiesi, Chris Harris  
Wing: Ryan Shortland, Noah Cato, Zac Kibirige, Sinoti Sinoti, Sean Brown, Tom Penny, Lee Smith
FB's: Tom Catterick, Alex Tait, Simon Hammersley

Out of contract Summer 2014:
Grant Shiells  
Oliver Tomaszczyk  
Gary Strain
Sean Tomes  
Ian Nagle (Trial till end of season)
Harry Spencer (Trial till end of season)
Chris York
Warren Fury  
Joel Hodgson  
Alex Crockett  
Ryan Shortland

Tough game for you boys yesterday then. Won't get any easier away at Brive next week. Do you think Deano will stick out a stronger side to try to pick up some momentum for the AP?

Too be honest Ozzy, Deano's only priority is staying in the Prem. I think he'll not want to risk players in positions we have no cover for...and I think he'll play a similar side as the one against Bucharest. And it gives the kids game time in a competition that's not critical, yet is against good opposition...

The trouble is GF, as we found last year, and I am sure you did the season before, losing can quickly become a habit. Surely Deano won't just completely write the Brive game off, as that could have massive impact going forwards. Also, whilst keys guys will need a rest, they also don't want to be rusty going into a crunch game against us next week.

Well yes, rustyness is always a problem aswell...but he seems to have great faith in the kids coming through (and rightly so as they are quite impressive) and we havent been blessed with injuries this season either.

Brive are unbeaten at home this season i believe..and drew with Calvisano at the weekend in the groups other game.

We shall see...

Fitzy covered back row on Sat?

Probably be a better flanker than he is a centre  

GeordieFalcon wrote:Well yes, rustyness is always a problem aswell...but he seems to have great faith in the kids coming through (and rightly so as they are quite impressive) and we havent been blessed with injuries this season either.

Brive are unbeaten at home this season i believe..and drew with Calvisano at the weekend in the groups other game.

We shall see...

Although Mike Blair will obviously be able to give them chapter and verse on how to beat his old club.

Knowing how to do something in theory AND actually doing it can often be two different things... 

I think he'll go with a young squad again, and we will get beat...but this is all his plan. Giving the kids valuable experience.

Im pretty sure he's not overly concerned about this competition and is using it as a great tool to blood the academy lads

Team V Brive is up:

Newcastle Falcons:
1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Scott Wilson
4 Fraser McKenzie
5 Sean Tomes
6 Dom Barrow
7 Mark Wilson
8 Chris York

9 Warren Fury (c)
10 Phil Godman
11 Ryan Shortland
12 James Fitzpatrick
13 Adam Powell
14 Noah Cato
15 Alex Tait

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Grant Shiells, 18 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 19 Scott MacLeod, 20 Ally Hogg, 21 Chris Pilgrim, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Sean Brown

Nice to see Shiells is on his way back...i despair when i see Godman there though. And lets see how our lineout goes with lawson back at 2 aswell....

How many of them make your first choice side GF?

Ozzy, its difficult as its still a work in progress and with lots of rotation to see who Deano thinks is the best.

In the pack id say 2.Lawson, 6.Barrow, 7.Wilson
Backs: The only ones i would say are nailed on is probably Tait and Shortland.Cato has played a few games aswell mind.

Vickers was our 1st choice hooker last season reserve after Lawsons arrival this season however, but is now covering LH due to injuries so i guess hes an experienced campaigner..

So all in all  its difficult to say we really know what our 1st choice team would be at the moment...but if i had to pick...not many of them would be in this lineup...

Better side than last week but still weakend.

Good to see Lawson, Shiells back. Not overly interested in the result, just hope we get through without any major problems.

Interesting to see different sides approaches to these Amlin games. We've gone out with a strong side (although only 2 of the pack selected would be first choice). I must confess to being slightly surprised at Marland Yarde's inclusion for us.

Great win tonight...

I thought we got beat?

You did.

What planet was I on last night? Obviously speckled hen was playing with my faculties ... 

Oh well nevermind

Team for Irish:

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Tom Catterick, 13 Danny Barnes, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Ryan Shortland, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Mike Blair, 1 Rob Vickers, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 4 Carlo del Fava, 5 Fraser McKenzie, 6 Dom Barrow, 7 Mark Wilson, 8 Ally Hogg (c)

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Grant Shiells, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Scott MacLeod, 20 Will Welch, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Phil Godman, 23 James Fitzpatrick

Good lineup bar Vickers at LH.

I really like the power in the back 5 with Del Fava, Barrow and McKenzie giving us go forward.

Have Falcons lost anyone to call-ups?

Not that I know of.

Skivington ruled out, he'll be a loss to Irish.

C'mon Falcons!!!

Losing Skivs is a blow for us, he provides real leadership out there. Having said that Gough and Evans should be ok as a pairing in the engine room.

Huge game this.

Best of luck.  

Big boost for the winner in the battle for relegation, although Wuss are looking dead certs at the minute.

Irish will be fine either way, Evans is a top signing and JOC isn't too shabby either. Even if he can't defend, pass or kick

Wuss look awful, which is great news for both of us, but I'll sit a lot more comfortably if we can you boys today!  

Looks a powerful pack...not sure on Vickers though...

Getting beat 3-5

Winning 6-5 now.

You're 6-5 up now.

Wahoo!! Sorry Pete

I prefer your updates than bbc's Cumbrian

8-6 at half time.

Aye, BBC aren't exactly quick at updating it. I've just tuned into it, although Irish sound like they've been the better team.

HT: 6-8

Listening to BBC Radio Newcastle they reckon 8-6 to us is about a fair reflection of the half.

How's the scrum holding up with Vickers at LH?

I'm not sure. The only one I heard about we were penalised for... so doesn't seem very promising.

Second half, Irish kick off.

Second penalty at scrum time, Vickers has been picked out by the commentators.

Irish miss the kick, big let off.

Falcons butcher a chance and play is brought back for a penalty and Clegg is lining up the penalty... He has missed it.

Ojo is down with a concerning injury. Looks like a clash of heads and he has been helped off the pitch.

Sounds like Clegg is having a bit of a mare.

My radio stream has died.  

Twitter feed says that Falcons knocked on close to the Irish line...

Falcons try!

Converted, 13-11 Falcons.

Just logged on and was 6-11.....I'm going to buy you a pint Cumbrian!

Hold the beers, there is a tense finish here. 2 mins to go and we can't get out of our half and Irish have already missed a penalty!

Irish awarded a penalty, will be the last kick of the game...

Missed! That should be the game!

Yep, that could be a huge win in the context of the season!  

We won????

Have to make it a nerve wrecker every time!

Yes!

Full time 13-11.

 

Good win. I see Newcastle staying up. Which would be good for English rugby in general.