Newcastle Falcons - Pre Season 2014 - USE SEASON THREAD NOW

[Geordie]

Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: John Wells
Forwards Coach: John Wells
Defence Coach: Graham Steadman
Attack Coach: Dave Walder
 
Current Squad:
Forwards
Props: Keiron Brookes, Scott Wilson, Rob Vickers , Oliver Tomaszczyk  Eric Fry, James Hallam (On loan to London Scottish)
Hookers: Matt Thompson (On loan Darlington), Scott Lawson, George McGuigan, David Nelson, Rob Hawkins
Second Rows: Scott MacLeod, Dom Barrow, Callum Green, Kane Thompson, Josh Furno, Uili Kolo'ofai, Glen Youngs, Will Witty, Sean Robinson (On Loan to Rotherham)
Back Row: Ally Hogg, Will Welch, Richard Mayhew, Andy Saull, Mark Wilson, Chris York, Dan Temm, Ben Morris (On Loan to Rotherham)
 
Backs
SH's: Warren Fury, Mike Blair, Ruki Tipuna, Andy Davies (On Loan to Rotherham)
Fh's: Rory Clegg, Phil Godman, Craig Willis
Centres: Juan Pablo Socino, Jamie Helleur, Adam Powell, Danny Barnes, Gonzalo Tiesi, Andy Tuilagi, Chris Harris (On Loan to Rotherham)Wing: Alex Tuilagi, Noah Cato, Zac Kibirige, Sinoti Sinoti, Sean Brown, Tom Penny, Lee Smith
FB's: Tom Catterick, Alex Tait, Simon Hammersley

[George Carlin]

Whoof. Lovely, here. Nice, fresh new thread.

First comment too.   

Nothing to say about rugby, but can I just ask for confirmation of what I have always believed must be true - that Mark Knopfler must be one of the most cherished sons of the region? Doesn't he still live in Northumberland somewhere, rather than having fecked off to LA or Nashville which would have been easy for him to do?

[Sgt_Pooly]

Stick to the topic George!

[George Carlin]

Oh, sorry.

Er, here goes - what's the difference between Warren Fury and a bucket of camel poop?
The bucket.

[Geordie]

Ha ha ha well George...yes Fury is pretty poop.

Knopfler was actually born in Glasgow. But yeah we'll take him as our own.

[Sgt_Pooly]

I hope we keep hold of Nagle, looks a really good option. I'm not sure if it would leave us a bit ott in the lock department though??

McKenzie, MacLeod, Nagle

Barrow, Green as lock/backrow

Spencer too??

[Geordie]

Well yes you have a point Sarge...however...

MaCleod, whilst he seems to just keep going putting in great performances is surely going to start slowing down soon. Fingers crossed he doesnt, but maybe next year he might be managed more and not play a majority of the games.

I think you hit the nail with Barrow and Green covering the back row. I said when Green was first announced that i see him coming in as a big physical 6 rather than a lock.

Spencer, well i cant comment. I understand hes a big physical lad who's toughened up in the lower french leagues. Aside from that i know nothing about him.

It gives us options and also allows for a bit of rotation.

[Driver]

Marker

[Geordie]

Sorry Driver?

Marker?

[Driver]

Just adding th page to my list so i can find it easier.

[Geordie]

Gotcha   

[Geordie]

So come on then...up to the current squad and announced signings (still praying we announce a few top quality ones once we're safe)....whats the team for next year.

Vickers....McGuigan....Brookes
Barrow....McLeod
Furno....Wilson....Welch

Blair
Hodgson
Sinotti....Socino....Tiesi / Powell....Kibirige
Tait

[Driver]

Shiells
McGuigan
Brookes
Mckenzie
Borrow
Wilson
Saull
York

Blair
Hodgson
Sinotti
Socino
Tiesi
kibirige
Tait

[Geordie]

Interesting we agree on all but the back row Driver.

[Sgt_Pooly]

I can't see McGuigan starting ahead of Lawson & Hawkins

[Geordie]

Is it his throwing?

Or just that he's not ready yet?

He's a big powerful hooker.

[Sgt_Pooly]

1. Shiells
2. Hawkins
3. Brookes
4. McKenzie
5. Nagle
6. Barrow
7. Welch
8, York

9. Blair
10. Hodgson
11. Sinoti
12. Sicino
13. Powell
14. Cato
15. Tait

[Sgt_Pooly]

His throwing GF, not good enough

[Driver]

I rate York quite highly , hasn't had a bad game since we've had him. 

Green will play lock , that is a given. He's just waiting for McLeod to stop.

They're is a lad who played for the 'A' team the other night who is meant to be something special.

 Harry Bate? They tweeted about a wonder try he scored.

[Driver]

First Ollie Hodgson crashed over from close-range, before the impressive Harry Bate crossed the whitewash with a magnificent solo effort from half way. The Newcastle University back-row was certainly enjoying himself alongside the more senior heads in the side.

[Geordie]

Well yeah ok i can agree with that Sarge his throwing is Vickers esque
But Dean is a BIG fan of his. I think he'll get quite a number of starts this season.

Interesting all three of us are mostly on the same ideas for the team...with one or two differences.

Bate is a 7 who plays for Newcastle Uni and Blaydon. By all accounts he's been pulling up trees for Blaydon this season. Bodes well for the future.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Green is only 6'4" I don't think he's s line out leader.

[Geordie]

Yeah thats why i was pretty sure he's been brought in as a heavy duty 6 who can cover 4/5 if required. He's a physcial guy.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Yea he's a solid unit, Barrow or Nagle wil cover MacLeod

[Driver]

I'm sure i read somewhere that Vickers has called the line when lifting this year? I might be imagining things but what happened to hookers calling the lineout? Crazy?

Blaydon roll out lots of good players.

Interesting a lot of big clubs in our area have struggled this year , West Hartlepool have only been getting the 1sts and Stags out.

[Sgt_Pooly]

You can see MacLeod calling during games Driver

[Driver]

It's strange though as i'm sure i'v seen Wilson call as well? 

It's not a particularly hard thing to do , which does say a lot about McLeod as our lineout doesn't vary at all and is too predictable as we just put the ball where the 9 is stood. 

Ideally the 9 should start on the 5 metre and come round to get the ball so it's harder to read if your the opposition.

[Geordie]

Yeah Blaydon and Tynedale get some good players, but them, the Unis (Northumbria and Newcastle ) and the falcons are all interlinked.

Edit:
I think we can all agree our lineout in general is shambolic...

[Sgt_Pooly]

It's better with Lawson, certainly better than last season when it was shocking

[Sgt_Pooly]

It's strange though as i'm sure i'v seen Wilson call as well? 

It's not a particularly hard thing to do , which does say a lot about McLeod as our lineout doesn't vary at all and is too predictable as we just put the ball where the 9 is stood. 

Ideally the 9 should start on the 5 metre and come round to get the ball so it's harder to read if your the opposition.

Perhaps Wilson is passing on the call to the hooker.

Calling a line isn't hard but running a successful line out is.

[Driver]

It's more about being well drilled having a successful lineout , teams will already know where they are going to throw to in certain areas of the pitch and will practice it all season. 

You can't throw to McLeod all day as he isn't quick enough off the ground and will get ball took off him eventually.

[Sgt_Pooly]

He hasn't done to badly.

He's only a slight lad, he gets thrown up fine. It's been the quality of the throwing that has usually been the issue.

[Geordie]

Interesting discussion on the unofffy.

Some suggesting Joel will not be offered a new contract...whilst Socino has been brought in to be a FH.

Also no Scott Wilson in the JWC squad. Does that mean he'll go on the Senior tour? Surely Brookes must go aswell then?

[Driver]

See Darren Fearn has joined Sale.

Leaving it late to be offering Joel a new deal. Hope they do , was immense against Saracens.

[Sgt_Pooly]

On Nagle, I wonder if Deano has held off playing him until he signs on??

[Geordie]

No idea whats going on with Hodgson its baffling.

Obviously things going on behind the scenes that we dont know about.

Nagle is a curuious one. That Harry Spencer was on trial aswell...wonder if either will be signed up?

[Sgt_Pooly]

If Deano has seen a bit of quality in them both he might not want to showcase them when we haven't got them signed up.

I really hope we don't lose Hodgson and sign Socino as a 10.

Ideal scenario would be to lose Godman and get a new 10 in I think, I've got my money on Colin Slade.

[Driver]

I'v got my money on my phone going off it the current recruitment policy hangs about.

[Geordie]

ha ha....yeah god knows why Godman is being kept.

Keep Hodgson, and play Socino as a 12...NOT a 10.

[Driver]

Tana Tui'Polatau has been nominated for Aviva Community player of the season.

[Geordie]

Really?

[Driver]

It's for community work , not actual rugby.

[Geordie]

Yeah i thought it must have been

[Geordie]

Falcons for Wasps trip:

Joel Starts again - finally. Get his contract signed.
Fitzy at 12?
I like the look of the backrow...though it does miss a bulldozer of a carrier.
Young trialist lock Harry Spencer on the bench as well....interesting.

Newcastle Falcons:
1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Scott MacLeod
5 Dom Barrow
6 Richard Mayhew
7 Will Welch (c)
8 Mark Wilson

9 Mike Blair
10 Joel Hodgson
11 Sinoti Sinoti
12 James Fitzpatrick
13 Gonzalo Tiesi
14 Noah Cato
15 Alex Tait

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Scott Wilson, 18 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 19 Harry Spencer, 20 Andy Saull, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Lee Smith

[Cumbrian]

We're winning 17-0 after 15 minutes...!  

[Sgt_Pooly]

 

Tait & Hodgson cutting them up with some fantastic attacking play???

[Cumbrian]

Too good to be true, Wasps are back in it with two quick tries.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Our defence has been pretty poor all season to be fair

[Cumbrian]

Aye, nice to see the lads getting a couple too though. I reckon we're mathematically safe if things stay as they are in the Sarries vs. Worcester match (15-3).

As I speak Wasps get a penalty...

[Sgt_Pooly]

Anything but a win means we're safe

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