Newcastle Falcons Season 2014/2015 - Closed, use new one.

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UPDATED FOR 2015 / 2016

Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: John Wells
Forwards Coach: John Wells
Defence Coach: Graham Steadman
Attack Coach: Dave Walder

Current Squad (A= Academy):
Forwards
Props: Taione Vea, Jon Welsh, Scott Wilson, Ben Harris, Rob Vickers , Eric Fry,

Hookers: Scott Lawson, George McGuigan, Rob Hawkins,
David Nelson (A)

Second Rows: Dom Barrow, Callum Green, Kane Thompson, Josh Furno,
Glen Youngs (A), Will Witty (A), Sean Robinson (A), Harry Snowdon (A),

Back Row: Ally Hogg, Will Welch, Richard Mayhew, Nili Latu, Mark Wilson, Uili Kolo'ofai, Dan Temm,
Brian Tuilagi (A), Joe Craggs (A), Calum Chick (A)

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

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

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

Wing: Sinoti Sinoti, Alex Tuilagi, Giovanbattista Venditti, Marcus Watson, Zac Kibirige,
Dan Marshall (A)

FB's: Alex Tait, Simon Hammersley

Contracts yet to be agreed:
Oliver Tomaschyk
Scott MacLeod
Warren Fury
Jamie Helleur
Noah Cato
Rory Clegg - Going to Australia

Rodgers isn't even Champ level so no surprise, awful planning from Deano.

Our habit of collapsing in last 20mins has carried through then.

Well played Falcons. A lot to be pleased about on that display. Good to see you throwing the ball about a bit. Gloucester won't trouble you on round 1 evidence!

Good to hear Maverick. I didn't expect a win but i just wanted to see us put on a performance that shows encouragement for the rest of the season.

It was always going to be tough. Encouraging that we stayed involved (for 60mis) against one of the top 4 sides in the league.

We need another option at LH asap.

Yup we do....Fry is a concern if he's our first choice (if Vickers is out)

How can we start the season with a National league player on the bench???

We need a top option asap, somebody to compete with Vickers as we could really struggle

Also great to see Chief back in Leicester. Didn't get much room, perhaps typically carrying some early season weight, but he'll give you plenty of entertainment this season!

Agree Sgt...its almost like Dean feels he can make the improvements to these players that others couldn't. Ie Hes done very well with Vickers..and can do the same with Fry, Rogers etc...but im not sure that is going to work.

We shall see. But there have been positives from today. Look forward to watching the game through..

Yea I'll jump on AP site tomorrow.

Sometimes you just need to get quality in though, especially in the scrum

First half Falcons had plenty of possession but were all huff and puff. Godman was godawful. McGuigan could not hit a barn door and the scrum was struggling from the start.

Introduction of Lawson along with Godman leaving with Socino stepping inside saw a vast improvement - but by then it was too late.


Oh - and yes one-eyed but I was disappointed with Welch who managed to catch Burns in the face twice with the forearm when supposedly attempting a chargedown.

Surely a flankers job is to rough the 10 up? I'd be disappointed with anything less!

There is legally, borderline and so late you should be pregnant. Welch was the latter. Burns is ugly enough as it is, he really does not need forearm smashes to the face.

I think Socino will move to ten for this season. In preseason v Edinburgh he looked better than either of Clegg or Godman.

Mcguigan is a cracker but his throwing is still way short of,what it needs to be. Lineout is critical and Lawson can do all the jobs well.

As for Welch...the job is to get at the FH...but I'll judge,when I see it if it was bang out of order or not.

To be honest once Dan Temm gets up and running all our 7's might be out of a job.

Falcons were a vast improvement on last season - but if your 10 does not have any clue ho wto orchestrate an attack you are hamstrung.

Look out for Sinotti's tackle on Mulipola in first half.

Big game for both of us next week after our opening losses. Gutted I can't head up for it, reckon it will be a real scrap.

does anyone know when the Tigers match with be on the premiershiprugby.tv website. I can't remember what the delay is on non televised games.

It's usually Monday I think Nathan. I've been checking today but nothing.

http://dlvr.it/6r5782

That's something dodgy Driver

It's on the AP site

Not really working mind, I'm just getting stuttering

It might be a little early in the day but... on L.Welsh performance today, we'll be okay this season.

LondonTiger wrote:First half Falcons had plenty of possession but were all huff and puff. Godman was godawful. McGuigan could not hit a barn door and the scrum was struggling from the start.

Introduction of Lawson along with Godman leaving with Socino stepping inside saw a vast improvement - but by then it was too late.


Oh - and yes one-eyed but I was disappointed with Welch who managed to catch Burns in the face twice with the forearm when supposedly attempting a chargedown.

It was a comfortable and businesslike win. An improvement on previous seasons lacklustre openers. Next up, a motivated Chiefs side at Sandy Park.

what ever Jimpy.

Yawn......

GeordieFalcon wrote: what ever Jimpy.

Yawn......

I suggest you man up.

Nothing that i said there wasn't true. It was a comfortable win, it was businesslike. It wasn't derogatory to Falcons in any way.

Please dont come back on this thread...thank you very much.

Have a nice day now.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Please dont come back on this thread...thank you very much.

Have a nice day now.

PMSL

Bye bye Sweetie pie....

PS

I suggest you man up.

Keyboard Warrior!!

Just ignore him GF, he'll go away

Ah i know Sgt...i keep biting (not like me) but i just cant help it...

ANyway...would you say Socino must start at 10 for the majority this season?

If Socino goes to 10, who plays 12 for you?

He as supposed to have played well there yesterday, Smithy was raving.

Ozz, Powell or Andy Tuilagi I imagine.

Powell and Tuilagi are very different types of players in the 12 jersey.  Horses for courses selections do you reckon, or would one be better than the other outside of Socino.  12 is such a key position these days.

Even Helleur at 12.

I think many of us were hesitant about Socino at 12 but it appears we were worried about nothing. He looks like he is quality in there.

10 Socino
11 Alex Tuilagi
12 Helleur
13 Powell / Tiesi
14 Sinoti
15 Hammersley

That gives us a nice blend of running and sheer power. And Socino will kick anything going.

Probably 12. Powell 13. Tiesi

This is how we set up last season. With Socino offering a strong running threat from 10 it could work well.

Alternatively 12. Tuilagi 13. Powell

Could work with both Socino and Tuilgi offering gain line breakers, maybe a little one dimensional but Powell is quite elusive.

Im not a huge fan of what ive seen of Andy Tuilagi ...though ill judge him on when i see him.

I am a fan of Helleur though. But i agree Powell is a good runner to balance the power.

However LH is going t be a problem.....and i suspect Lawson back at 2. Im a huge McGuigan fan but i think we saw that hitting your lineout is still a critical part of the game and his lineout is way short still.

Yea McGuigan's throwing is still dreadful.

I seen we're waiting on Vickers injury before signing a LH. We should be signing one anyway after the weekend.

I quite Andy Tuilagi, can give a real focus although hands aren't great. I'm unsure on Helluer, he's not much past a defensive rock.

At least its a step forward that we're actually talkng about positive options in the backs!

I think we've got some great options GF.

Just watching the game now, looking pretty good. Socino looks fantastic. Scrum was going well until Vickers went off, he was giving Balmain a real hard time. Pearce has no idea how to ref the scrum, absolutely clueless.

I havent had a chance yet. Ill watch it trough the week.

Socino has looked great since he came here. At Least our 10 spot is sorted then. And we all slated Deano for not looking into that area.

Whats Hammersley looking like? Will Tait find it difficult to get straight back in?

How about the breakdown?

PS Where you watching it?

Just on the AP site. Socino looks really classy.

Hammersley going really well, real option at FB. Breakdown going ok, little in the sides tbh (1st half).

Rodgers is on and is ok, Pearce makes his mind up before each scrum it seems. On the whole a pretty even contest so far, we'd have got on top if we had a decent LH as Balmain isn't a good scrummager.

Fantastic play from Sinoti and then Hammersley for our first try, Hammersley runs great lines

So the criticism of the ref is actually justified?

Though personally i dont like to use that as an excuse. Play the ref as you find him.

Yes Hammersley does run good lines...and he's quite tall i think. He'll probably fill out a bit aswell.

Sinoti was a cracking signing...one of Deans best.

I'm really confident we'll do well after watching this GF. The game was much closer than the score line and we played some nice stuff.

If we can get a good LH and play a hooker that can throw we have the makings of a good side. Seeing other sides this weekend, I can see us finishing outside the bottom 2.

Was McGuigans throwing blatantly bad or was it only marginally?

His work elsewhere is excellent.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I'm really confident we'll do well after watching this GF. The game was much closer than the score line and we played some nice stuff.

If we can get a good LH and play a hooker that can throw we have the makings of a good side. Seeing other sides this weekend, I can see us finishing outside the bottom 2.

Wow that is encouraging to hear. I will try to watch it tonight or tomorrow.

You'll love Pearce's performance, it's certainly a Welford Road special!

My team for next week:

1. Vickers (hopefully)
2. Lawson
3. Brookes
4. Barrow
5. Furno
6. Mayhew (or one of new boys)
7. Welch
8. Hogg

9. Blair
10. Socino
11. Tuilagi
12. Powell
13. Tiesi
14. Sinoti
15. Hammersley