Newcastle Falcons 2015 / 2016

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Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: John Wells
Forwards Coach: Micky Ward
Defence Coach: John Wells
Attack Coach: Dave Walder
Lineout Coach: Scott Macleod
Skills Coach: Mark Laycock

Current Squad (A= Academy):
Forwards
Props:
TH - Taione Vea, Jon Welsh, Scott Wilson, Paddy Ryan, Andrew Foster
LH - Ben Harris, Rob Vickers , Eric Fry, Alex Rogers, Sam Lockwood, Adam Brocklebank (A)

Hookers: Scott Lawson, Ben Sowrey, Kyle Cooper
David Nelson (A), Santiago Socino (A)

Second Rows: Callum Green, Mauritz Botha, Will Witty, Sean Robinson , Evan Olmstead, Nick Civetta, Glen Youngs, Andrew Davidson
Harry Snowdon (A), Josh Williams (A), Max Davies (A),

Back Row: Ally Hogg, Will Welch, Nili Latu, Mark Wilson, Dan Temm, Joshua Chisanga, Harrison Orr, Opeti Fonua, Tyrone Holmes
Joe Craggs (A), Calum Chick (A), Sebastian Ferreira (A), Simon Uzokwe (A)

Backs
SH's: Sonatane Tukulua, Micky Young, Sam Egerton
Dan Taylor (A),  Ruaridh Dawson (A)

Fh's: Tom Catterick, Mike Delaney, Joel Hodgson  
Craig Willis (A), Brett Connon (A)

Centres: Juan Pablo Socino, Adam Powell, Chris Harris,
Adam Redman centre (A), Tom Penny (A)

Wing: Sinoti Sinoti, Marcus Watson, Zac Kibirige, Veriniki Goneva,
Dan Marshall (A)

FB's: Alex Tait, Simon Hammersley
Ed Coulson (A)

Signings for Next Season:
Niki Goneva - Wing (Leicester)
Sam Lockwood - LH Prop (Jersey)
Sam Egerton - SH (7's / Quins)
Harrison Orr - Back Row (Ealing)
Joel Hodgson - 9, 10, 15 (Leeds)
Ben Sowrey - Hooker (Worcester)
Evan Olmstead - Lock (London Scottish)
Opeti Fonua - Back Rower
Nick Civetta - Lock forward
Andrew Davidson (Academy) - Lock Forward
Kyle Cooper - Hooker
Tyrone Holmes - 6/7 - Glasgow

He is mate yea.

Is Robinson better than Itoje? Now there's a debate....

Ha ha ha I think he's playing very well.

Shame about Welsh. He is class.

We've had some awful injuries.

Performances and results seem to be picking up though. I think Sinoti is pretty much back too.

Yeah we need to keep getting points. That's the critical part.

Tigers up next...

So Mcguigan all but confirmed to Tigers...where does that leave us.

Lawson isn't getting any younger and Nelson has barely been used.

So, the current run of good results has coincided with Andy Goode's appearances.

Is this though papering over the cracks and will you guys be lambasting Richards and Wells again in 8 months time?

Odd question.

If the team fails to deliver and plays as badly as they did for large parts of the year, the coaching team will get some stick.

Performances picked up prior to Goode making an appearance and one player doesn't make everybody else raise their game.

Decision making at the breakdown has improved, is that Goode? The lineout has improved, is that Goode? Defence has improved immeasurably, is that Goode?

Seems to me you either haven't been watching us much or you're looking for a little bit of a bite.

Not at all. Just that over the last few years you guys are moaning at the coaches for the first half of the season, then come the second half as performances pick up criticism fades away. You start the new season full of optimism but are very soon lambasting the coaches.

I guess what i am asking is do you think the coaching structure is correct at the moment? Should something happen within the coaching organisation to ensure next season you actually start the season looking like the sort of team you have been ending the season before? John Wells gets a lot of stick - he does not change his coaching, so what he does when things are going well is exactly the same as when things are poor. Is this good enough?

Surely the best time to discuss is when you are winning rather than the panicked hysteria after a series of depressing defeats?

As to Andy Goode it seems that his impact perhaps has secured wins over quins and Saints that otherwise would have been plucky defeats.

I presume the lineout is running better because Lawson is back in at hooker and you're getting more attacking lineouts than defensive lineouts under pressure in your own 22.

Is the defensive intensity better because you are tackling higher up the park and so are able to fully commit and then cover any lapses. Also discretions further up the park incur less wrath from the officials meaning you can hit the breakdown with more intensity.

Those things are facilitated by having a ten that controls territory. Goode won't single handily change everything but the control he does bring will allow your other players to play to their full potential.

Its an odd one LT.

I have always said I think we have some very good players...but for whatever reason they weren't producing the performances I felt they should be.

This season once again we started poorly which was especially disheartening after we were playing some real attacking rugby last season.

Rumours were bounding about that we had a redicluous number of injuries pre-season, plus the world cup players...that left preseason as a non entity.

Now that we are getting players back...and they are catching up with the tactics (that they would have got to grips with in preseason) we appear to be starting to put in a few decent performances.

I would also say that its not coincidence that Goode has come in and just given us that bit of experience in a key position...to make us play in certain parts of the field.

Its a combination of all those things.

I can assure you .....im not getting carried away. Im an old falcons fan..im a positive person...but a pessimistic Falcons fan!

Lets hope we just keep plodding on improving our performances.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I presume the lineout is running better because Lawson is back in at hooker and you're getting more attacking lineouts than defensive lineouts under pressure in your own 22.

Is the defensive intensity better because you are tackling higher up the park and so are able to fully commit and then cover any lapses. Also discretions further up the park incur less wrath from the officials meaning you can hit the breakdown with more intensity.

Those things are facilitated by having a ten that controls territory. Goode won't single handily change everything but the control he does bring will allow your other players to play to their full potential.

I think that's a fair point yes.

Also, I may joke about Robinson and wind beshocked up a bit...but he is a very good player. He's been on the cusp for the last few seasons and was excellent in European during that period. He's realising that potential now and he's looking a very strong premiership performer and real lineout guy.

Well Sgt, CUmbrian

Thoughts on McGuigan. Worst kept secret.

Are Socino and Nelson good enough to come through and support Lawson (whos not getting any younger)

I think we'll have another hooker lined up.

Heard all sorts about his attitude which is one of the reasons they let him go.

Really, I hadn't heard anything about his attitude. That's interesting.

I do remember Dean heaping praise on Nelsons progress, and hes big physical style of hooker. Maybe he'll be brought through as Robinson has this season.

I think there'll be a few leaving this summer.

Just to start with :
The tuilagi brothers should be pushed out of the door. A waste of budget money.
Thompson the lock seems to be injury prone now...he'll maybe hit the road.

Disappointed, but not the end of the world.

Fry, Thompson, Furno, Tuilagi's, Ryan, Tiesi, Catterick can be let go for me.

We've got the core of a really good squad.

I would agree with that Sgt.

I would also put Todd Clever in there. All flash no substance.

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-union/news/article/504/10188574/-?

Cusack the Glasgow TH joins till the end of the season.

what happened to Scott Wilson? injurty?

The reports im hearing about this Cussak...hes an appalling signing...even if it is a short term loan.

LT we have crazy injury problems. I think Scotty may even be out for the season.

What Im curious about is where are our young academy prospects coming through. We're doing fine with other positions but front row is seemingly sparce! Well hookers maybe ok....

I doubt many TH's are available at this stage of the season GF and he'll only be 3rd choice.

I still have hope for Harris, I'm surprised with how little game time he's had.

Yeah that's quite puzzling he came in with great hope as a young powerful mobile LH from Leeds but has barely played unlike Hill who has gone to Saints and is now in the England set up.

Falcons have signed a Kenyan back rower Joshua Chisanga- 6'2 and nearly 19 stones.

Apparently hes a huge ball carrier!

Well I never expected that one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8kezLieIuw

I seen he was on trial, he's a bit of a beast.

He looks exactly what we need.

So we'll turn the rough diamond into the real deal then hell sign for Leicester or Saints

Falcons Team for the relegation battle with Worcester on Friday night.

1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Taione Vea
4 Mark Wilson
5 Sean Robinson
6 Will Welch (C)
7 Nili Latu
8 Ally Hogg

9 Michael Young
10 Andy Goode
11 Marcus Watson
12 Adam Powell
13 Chris Harris
14 Alex Tait
15 Simon Hammersley,
Replacements

16 George McGuigan, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Callum Chick, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Craig Willis, 23 Juan Pablo Socino

Callum Chick could make his premiership debut. Captain of the England U20 side, No.8

Our form side I guess.

Back in the UK to watch this one although unfortunately not at the game.

Aye, im at the game Sgt, hopefully we can brush of the Glos game and really get as these. We need to be winning these games.

Gloucester was certainly a blip. I think the rotation and our home form put them off slightly....well a lot!

Yes...I hate too much rotation. Dean seemingly loves it, but surely the last few games of picking a stable team has shown the result!

Back to that team for tomorrow though so maybe he's learning.

Reckon if you can beat Worcester here, that should be Newcastle safe and challenging Bath for 9th. Should be a nervy game!

Well it would put us in a better position that's for sure. But Worcester are a physical combatative side who will put us under pressure.

Its blowing a hoolie and peeing it down this morning so if that continues it wont be a great spectacle...be down to the packs...even with our pitch.

Andy Goode has really piled on the pounds
Lucky kick there hitting both posts and going over.

We play like that for the rest of the season and we're in trouble!

Poor showing, really odd after how we've played recently.

8pts clear of Irish. I'm not sure I can see them winning 2/3 games tbh. The game at our place is obviously a huge one now.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Well Sgt, CUmbrian

Thoughts on McGuigan. Worst kept secret.

Are Socino and Nelson good enough to come through and support Lawson (whos not getting any younger)

Sorry, just spotted this. I am never happy to lose a young player with promise but what can you do?   If the lad's head has been turned he is going to go.  We'll just have to keep producing players so other teams can say they are providing the national team with players...

Didn't see the game last night, had prior commitments but followed it on twitter.  Classic Falcons, we've always got to do things the hard way.  We could have been on the cusp of safety... but no.

I think this is conspiracy against LI - how can Falcons beat the likes of Bath, Quins, Saints and Tigers at home and then lose to Warriors who came into the game without a single away win?   I think with Warriors winning last night the small chance LI had has now gone barring some miracle results.

Sadly, I think you could be right Heaf. Awful result for Falcons and probably more Irish.

So we've signed Goneva...really not inspired by that one.

And Clever is pretty much gone...no loss there!

Goneva is a really good signing. Worth 5-15 points a season.

A backline of Young , Delaney , Sinoti , Sociono , Harris , Goneva and Hammersley is as good as any outside the top 5.

If we stay up, where do we need to strengthen.

Who needs to move on.

Was at the falcons Wasps game on Sunday as part of my stag do.
Was very impressed with the set up at Newcastle and was a very nice little stadium with good atmosphere.

Luckily that hale storm cleared before kick off and got a fairly decent open game.
Newcastle were probably fairly unlucky not to get something out the game as for spells had way more possession and looked the better team.
Think it was Elliot Daly who made a couple of outside breaks who was the telling difference.
Great day out though and very good venue

I dreamt Irish beat us by one point at our place and we got relegated!

Please let it be true (sorry) ... and no contentious officiating decisions  

Big game in two weeks.

Indeed - I wish we didn't have the one this week as a distraction - last thing we need is the potential for more injuries ...

We have signed a prop from Jersey. http://www.planetrugby.com/news/newcastle-sign-loosehead-prop/

Sounds like a big lad, and in fact most front rows that have come from Jersey have done well, like Barrington at Sarries and Harry Williams at Exeter.

Just seen this signing.

Am I missing something??!! What the f#*K was the point in signing Ben Harris from Leeds? He's barely played a game. Now we sign another championship LH??

Looks like a big unit anyway.

Championship players are always a gamble, especially props. I seem to remember Fry being touted as the best scrummerging LH in the Champ a few years back, look at the state of him!

Harris is totally baffling. All I can think of is that his set piece work is really not up to standard as he's seen very little game time.

Harris leaving to Leicester.

TBH if we can't get Genge full time he would be worth a project signing.