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

Horrible to watch or not we've got more points than Worcester, if they were better than us they'd be above us in the table.

Worcester & Falcons are awful this season lets not pretend otherwise. Difference is we've managed 3 wins whilst Worcester have only beat us.

Spot on mate...

I've just had a scan on there GF, seems to be the few clueless posters with very short memories rather the masses.

I doubt the normal Worcester fan has any hatred towards us as we don't to them. I like Worcester as a club, they've been undone by a poor DOR in Ryan imo, it's not a dissimilar position to where we've been in the past and quite possibly are in now.

You signed eric fry the american prop

Great, we all know how the American national team is renowned for it's scrummaging power.   

Yeah he's a big lad....good around the park but some question marks over his scrummaging

6 signings so far, 4 from the Championship and 2 AP reserve players.

I'll hold full judgement till they get a run (Socino looks great) but it's hardly inspiring at the minute. I've heard there's a few more to come.

The odd time I've seen Fry I could swear it was at TH yet he's mentioned as a LH, any info?

Yeah always listed as a LH when I've seen him mentioned Sarge. But if you can't scrummage in the championship you'll get found out as much as the,prem so lets hope Dean has done his homework and they prove shrewd signings.

More to come as you say. I suspect a few quality ones if we confirm safety.

I've read on other forums that he has been pressed into service at tight-head at times by both the US national team and by Scottish, but he gets universally beaten up there.

I feel a bit unkind because of my my first response, he is/ will be a Falcons player and they are always welcome and have my full support. But we're really crying out for some quality.

Well he's 6'3 and 18-19st...maybe we should move him back to No.6. He'd be a monster blindside flakner...just what we need   

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Adam Powell, 12 Jamie Helleur, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Joel Hodgson, 9 Mike Blair, 1 Grant Shiells, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 4 Dom Barrow, 5 Scott MacLeod, 6 Richard Mayhew, 7 Will Welch, 8 Mark Wilson

Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 Gary Strain, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Ian Nagle, 20 Chris York, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Phil Godman, 23 Danny Barnes

Best line up I've seen all season I think, certainly in the backline.

Best team we've put out this.

Glad McGuigan is starting , best young player we've had this year.

Saracens;

15. Alex Goode; 14. Michael Tagicakibau, 13. Tim Streather, 12. Chris Wyles, 11. Jack Wilson; 10. Charlie Hodgson, 9. Richard Wigglesworth ©; 1. Richard Barrington, 2. Jamie George, 3. Matt Stevens, 4. Eoin Sheriff, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 6. Nick Fenton-Wells, 7. Will Fraser, 8. Jackson Wray.
Replacements; 16. Scott Spurling, 17. Rhys Gill, 18. Petrus du Plessis, 19. Hayden Smith, 20. Justin Melck, 21. Ben Spencer, 22. Nils Mordt, 23. Ben Ransom.

Just seen the team...good side at last...but I cant help wondering why he didn't play something like this a few games ago whilst we've been doing badly, rather than waiting for Saracens??

Anyway lets hope Hodgson proves he is the right one for that 10 spot...and we get at them!

Hodgson, McGuigan, Barrow, S.Wilson coming off the bench...lots of quality young kids!

Hope Shiells has a cracker as well.

Perhaps Richards knew that Sarries would put out the 2nd team.

Why isn't Scott Wilson starting?

Brings more from the bench at this stage in his career , ups the tempo when he comes on where as Tomas adds very little

I still think Wilson is a bit raw in the scrum, don't want him getting battered. Is this on TV?

I don't think Saracens can put out a bad team, but we've got to be looking at having a go at this lot. They've made a lot of changes and we're at home. A LBP is the minimum we need to come away with.

We could do with getting a few of the Leeds coaches on board, they're playing some lovely stuff.

Shurrrley you're not proposing poaching, Sgt?

That's the attitude!

Stand easy, men.

We've already taken barrow and green...they might get a bit miffed of we take their coaching team

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1ICS21RWrg

Listen and learn.

So Worcester beaten. Yet again could have won the game with different decisions during the game.

Are they down, are we safe....can we beat a hugely different sarries team?

2 wins needed basically for Worcester, I just can't see it.

A win or draw will see us 100% safe imo

What a start! Joel Hodgson launchs a penalty 60 metres to touch and Sinoti scores and Hodgson converts!

It's not on TV is it Driver? I knew I should have went

It's not on TV fella.

No conversion sorry.

Worse news , Goode shows his class and Streather scores to make it 7-5

Joel goes through Charlie with a powerful fend.

Hodgson penalty makes it 10-5 to Saracens , Jack Wilson returns from the bin.

Well at least it's a LBP

You boys are safe, Worcester won't get 9 points from their remaining 2 games, they'll be lucky to get 2.

If they're equal does it go to wins or pts?

Number of wins.

I suppose if they win both remaining games we'll be equal anyway. It could all be decided next round then.

Think Joel will get a extended run in the side now , was immense today.

Judging by reports anyway.

I didn't go i'm going off Twitter and fans forum

He still missed a few kicks, Socino should sort that out

Yeah Joel gettin a good write up.

Think we're safe,now...hopefully

Just catching up with a bit of S15. Would love to see us sign Colin Slade.

Fits in as an Evans type signing. Won't be on mega bucks but a class act seemingly out of the AB picture, we could build a team round him for the next 5 years.

This is going to come across as a whine.

Although I reckon we are pretty much safe this season, things simply must improve next season. Bristol are building a good team and the other teams are in danger of leaving us behind.

We simply must score more points. We've scored the fewest tries in league* (with 17) and if you take out Worcester (who themselves scored 25 and have been woeful) we have scored half the number of tries that the next worst try scoring team have scored (London Irish with 33). That is awful and indicative of awful play. The only way the club will climb up the table and get the crowds back in is to try and play attractive (and productive rugby).

It's why to an extent I'm worried about the Socinio, are we simply going to build a plan around tough forwards and goal kicking again? It hasn't worked this year and I doubt it will work next.

* I've been looking at the stats, if it stays like this we'll be the record joint worst try scorers (tied with Leeds' effort in 09/10) since the game went pro in 1996.

Just finishing watching the game now.

Front row went well, we had an advantage in the scrum (until Wilson came on)Great to see Shiells back and in form, he dominated Stevens throughout. McGuigan played well but throwing is an issue.

Barrow & Scotty v good although a little lightweight, fantastic to see Barrow back.

Backrow went well as a unit but lacked a ball carrier. Mayhew the pic imo.

Hodgson was great, one of best 10 performances for us all season. Few errors but always a threat, Blair solid as always.

Powell had a good game, has to start as he offers a running threat which compliments Sinoti.

Sinoti & Tait were great, esp Tait who had a stormer.

Overall we were the better team but just lacked a bit of luck and execution. Sarries took their few chances well, we should have won, especially after a quality 2nd half.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:If they're equal does it go to wins or pts?

If Wuss win their last two games and N/c lose theirs, they'll be on equal points - so assuming that neither gets a bp,

BBC says :

Number of wins
Difference between points for and against
Most tries scored
Most points scored
Difference between tries for and against

The point being that despite them actually playing well, the chances of Wuss winning both their games must be highly remote!

I agree Sunday had some good aspects to it....especially after some of the dirge we have been watching.

However,

It was a Sarracens 2nd team....and if we're safe this season MASSIVE improvements simply MUST be made.

Well we have two games left....

Wasps away , then Exeter at home.

Wuss have Sarries away then Glos at home.

Can we stay up?

Yeah , Saracens should roll out there big guns and Glaws need a big win.

It would be harsh on Wuss if Saracens did roll their 1st team out but i guess they probably will...to build some momentum for the play offs.

Gloucester are a local rivals aswell.

Big win for the A team tonight v Cumbria. 81-11
 
Nice to see us score some points regardless of the opposition. Brown got four and Barnes a hattrick.

Warren Fury has signed a new 2 year contract.

Ah im not sure about that one. Im not his biggest fan!

Blair
Tipuna
Fury
Andy Davies (Academy Promotee)

He's alright as a 3rd choice GF, you'd only be worried if he was your main man.