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

Mate i have no idea? I sometimes wonder about Deans decisions...

But i agree a decent side...we should have beaten them in the league and hopefully will be a bit more clinical and get a win here...even just to keep a winning run going as the cup means naff all...

Gloucester Rugby:

Martyn Thomas; James Simpson-Daniel, Mike Tindall, Ryan Mills, Jonny May; Freddie Burns, Dan Robson; Nick Wood, Huia Edmonds, Shaun Knight; Elliott Stooke, Tom Savage (capt); Ross Moriarty, Andy Hazell, Matt Cox

Replacements:

Dan George, Yann Thomas, Rupert Harden, Will James, Lewis Ludlow, Jimmy Cowan, Billy Burns, Rob Cook

The tide is going to change and the real Gloucester will now turn up... or so I have been saying all season!

That's a pretty decent side and it's great to see Woody return. My only concern is without Qera, Kalamfoni and Morgan we lack any ball carriers in the pack. however, I'd imagine with Moriarty, Hazell and Cox we're aiming to get to the breakdown first and play with quick ball out to the backs.

I have been confident and woefully put down on a number of occasions this season, but I do expect us to get the win. if any of you are making the trip the England game will be on at the ground beforehand.

I fancy Gloucester to beat us with that team.

Be a good run out for a pretty inexperienced front 5, hopefully our backline will start playing a bit.

A truly dire game of rugby! Its difficult to say Glaws were the better side, instead its probably better to say we were less awful! Brookes and Blair added something when they came on, but the damage had largely been done by then. It could be a long season for both our teams...

So it would appear mate...not great...

Interesting debate on the unoffy about Joel Hodgson. Many think that he's simply not seen as a future falcon by Deano etc. What do you think?

Also whats your thought on the current performances. The game v Glos was truly awful...we were poor beyond belief. Our backs offer nothing.

Do you think he is just building the basics first...as lancaster is doing for England? Big pack first then sort the backs out?

I don't think we've looked good in the backs for a long long time GF. If we can't get on top in the pack we simply have nothing else to offer, it's really odd.

One game plan and nothing else i agree mate. Its a concern.

It's got to be a coaching issue GF, we've looked better under previous DOR's. Our defence and pack are pretty well drilled but I think we've gone backwards tbh.

Well its just curious isnt it.

We dont seem to have prgoressed any from last season. Its almost a mirror of the national team. Decent pack but woeful backs...or at least a lack of the ability to use our backs.
It doesnt help having two FH's i dont rate either.

Team for Saints

1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Oliver Tomaszczyk
4 Carlo del Fava
5 Fraser McKenzie
6 Richard Mayhew
7 Will Welch (c)
8 Ally Hogg

9 Mike Blaire
10 Phil Godman
11 Ryan Shortland
12 Adam Powell
13 Danny Barnes
14 Noah Cato
15 Alex Tait

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Grant Shiells, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Scott MacLeod, 20 Chris York, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 James Fitzpatrick

Wheres Brookes? What is going on with him...

Vickers at LH again???

We're going to get humped.

I'm not getting this, we've got a perfectly good loosehead on the bench, why are we playing an out of position hooker there?

I just dont have a clue whats going on lads.

We're going to get humped all right.

Do you think Deano still knows what hes doing? Im just starting to wonder. As you say Cumbrian Shiels is a cracking LH...why play Vickers??!!

Cracking Saints side, be lucky to keep this under 40

15 Ben FODEN
14 Jamie ELLIOTT
13 James WILSON
12 Luther BURRELL
11 Tom COLLINS
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Lee DICKSON
1 Alex WALLER
2 Mike HAYWOOD
3 Salesi MA’AFU
4 Courtney LAWES
5 Christian DAY
6 Calum CLARK
7 Phil DOWSON (capt)
8 Sam DICKINSON

Replacements
16 Ross MCMILLAN
17 Ethan WALLER
18 Tom MERCEY
19 GJ VAN VELZE
20 Ben NUTLEY
21 Alex DAY
22 Glenn DICKSON
23 Dom WALDOUCK

Considering they are without Alex Corbisiero, Dylan Hartley, Tom Wood and George North, that is a very good team to be able to put out.

More in hope than expectation... C'mon Falcons!!!

Ref penalised us out of the game for the first ten minutes but won't do anything to stop Saints spoiling the breakdown at all...

FFS ref! Shouts don't go round the side and he Day does anyway but then he shouts that's fine! It's getting ridiculous.

This is getting ridiculous, man goes through the middle and we still get penalised...

Well not the cricket score I expected, how did we play?

Defence was excellent, we fronted up well for most of it and the try that broke the camel's back came in a somewhat unusual fashion. I'm still not convinced it should have stood. Didn't offer that much in attack though, Blair made a couple of nice line breaks but they were not even close to being finished off. Got tanked in the scrum and the lineout was a bit hit and miss.

I see young second row Will Witty has been called up to the England u19's

I was just glancing at the table and i didnt realise just how poor a total our "score for" was? Worst in the league at 69?? Waaaaay behind anyone else.

Thats says it all for me.

Hi, just wanted to send a message out to all Newcastle Falcons fans,

You may or may not be aware that the we are launching the Official Newcastle Falcons App at the Harlequins game this Sunday

The app allows fans to check in and post commentary and photos from the game. The app also allows fans to follow a live match feed on the website for any European or away games that are difficult to get to.

all you need to do is:
-download the Newcastle Falcons app on your smartphone
-sign in/create a profile
-check in to the Harlequins game
-Post your pictures!

You can find the download links in the relevant app stores or on the Newcastle Falcons website under 'Fanzone.'

good luck!

Ah right very interesting...

Newcastle Falcons for Quins:

Great to see Brookes starting. Backs just dont inspire at all...

1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Carlo del Fava
5 Fraser McKenzie
6 Richard Mayhew
7 Will Welch (c)
8 Ally Hogg

9 Mike Blair
10 Phil Godman
11 Ryan Shortland
12 Adam Powell
13 Danny Barnes
14 Noah Cato
15 Alex Tait

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Grant Shiells, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Sean Tomes, 20 Chris York, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 James Fitzpatrick

I don't think the backs are too bad, they just don't play any rugby. Godman is a championship 10 at best though.

Vickers at LH again, where's Montella!

Thinks he not back fit from injury yet Sarge. He joins Mark Wilson, Barrow etc on the sidelines.

I've got a feeling we could get something out of this game. Quins have got a lot of injuries and (Vickers aside) I reckon our pack could get stuck into theirs:

1. Joe Marler
2. Dave Ward
3. Will Collier
4. Nick Easter (c)
5. George Robson
6. Joe Trayfoot
7. Luke Wallace
8. Tom Guest

Their backline has a big edge over ours though. Saying that, I think our centre partnership definitely has potential.

So so bad. There's nothing in the backs, Godman is just not good enough.

It's just terrible to watch, we won't score a try in a month of Sundays like this...

Awful, Fitzy shouldn't be playing pro rugby, he can't catch!

I'm under the impression that Deano is picking games to win whilst exposing as many players as he can to Premiership rugby.

That was our strongest line up available.

You try to win your home games, we did and we got smashed.

Yup...its just poor stuff. Godman is appalling.

But not many of the backs are any better

Anybody going to the Calvisano game this Sunday?

All - many thanks for the warm welcome given to all the Quins fans at Kingston Park yesterday and my comments below are most certainly meant in rugby friendship and I hope they are taken as such. One thing that really struck me was that the Falcons fans did not seem to get behind the team very much. Just one example was in the first half the Falcons cleared an enormous kick from their own half which took play right down to our 22 line. However there was minimal noise from the crowd to encourage your team to get on towards our try line. After the game, one of the security people asked me what the score was and he said that he had heard the Quins fans but not the Falcon fans. How can that be at Kingston Park - (although I do accept we can be rather noisy!)? I know from talking to Quins players in the bar after games that hearing their support gives them a massive lift. We have been in the same sort of "not doing too well" situation as you (relegated in 2005) but the level of vocal support has barely wavered. You are obviously passionate about your rugby so please try and get organised and let the players hear that you support them. Best of luck...............(but not too much in mid Feb when you come to the Stoop please)

Thanks for your input, Ill pass on your thoughts.

I see we have signed 22 yo Dan Temm from Otley, who'll be an openside. Dual reg with Tynedale.

Gonzalo Tiesi is out for two months with a hamstring injury - by he was a good signing wasnt he!! Well worth the money!

Also Kieran Brookes has a knee injury which is being assessed.

Current long term injury list:
Franck Montanella, Matt Thompson, Oliver Tomaszczyk, Scott MacLeod, Dom Barrow, Andy Saull, Mark Wilson, Keiran Brookes, Gonzalo Tiesi, Jamie Helleur and Tom Catterick

Depressing reading, lets hope Worcester don't improve any time soon.

Hopefully we'll start to hear of some additions for next season.

Team for weekend:

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Noah Cato, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Alex Crockett (c), 12 James Fitzpatrick, 11 Ryan Shortland, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Warren Fury, 1 Grant Shiells, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Scott Wilson, 4 Sean Tomes, 5 Fraser McKenzie, 6 Harrison Collins, 7 Andy Saull, 8 Chris York

Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Gary Strain, 19 Will Welch, 20 Richard Mayhew, 21 Chris Pilgrim, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Alex Tait

Good to see some youngsters involved and Shiels/Saull starting.

Hopefully Sheills can claim back his 1 shirt with a good outing in Europe.

Glad Crockett is starting , should be our 13 for me. Good choice as captain aswell.

Yeah happy with some of these changes.

Still aint happy with bloomin Fury at 9!
Cracking young front row...looking forward to seeing how they go, and a cracking back row.
Zach back on the wing providing a bit more pace in attack.
and Nice to see Hodgson on the bench aswell...FINALLY!!

I expect to see tries...but for me the question is why are some of these guys not playing in the Prem instead of some of the durge that has been...

I don't know if it's the players or the coaching GF, we just look devoid of ideas.

It was a similar story last season, this isn't new. Past the rolling maul, scrum and Tuifua getting us over the gain line we rarely ripped teams up.

This season we've just removed Tuifua.

I'm starting to get doubts over Hodgson tbh , Jimmy played 10 in all the big games last season and Hodgson just doesn't seem to be in the mix this season.

I expect some serious recruitment in the next few months. Chris York struggles for match fitness i think as well seems to play 1 or 2 games then has 2 weeks off.

Hodgson clearly isn't fancied, I imagine he'll be off soon.

I hope we get a 10 sooner rather than later.

See Saull bagged himself a try for Tynedale in ND1. :p 

Sep Visser bagged 2 aswell.