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

First topic message reminder :

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

I thought Vickers was back too??

They're probably making sure Vickers is absolutely 100000% fit before they risk him.

Do you think they are trying to work on Rogers and Fry as they did with Vickers. Fry is one hell of a lump if they can get him to scrummage he would be a cracking signing.

He'll be getting a lot of work I imagine GF, he has potential but as a foreigner of questionable quality, it's an odd signing.

I like the look of Rogers, he's certainly worth a 3rd choice spot (although 2nd currently). He's a decent scrummager and is handy in the loose. Wilson seems to flag at 50mins and Rogers has only looked ropey when paired with Wilson around this time. I'd like to see him & Brookes start.

Yeah the fact Fry is foreign adds to the problem.

Strange one.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ah thats a nice one to have him back...a big lump of a player.

What has been wrong with York. Why has there been utter silence over this. Even after the big meeting last years when Dean said he would improve that aspect.

Nice to see Zac will be back though...i want to see him getting a good run out as i really dont think Alex T is going to produce...think he's past it.

Tait was our best back against Chiefs i thought , He's offloading game is quality. I think he's got a better chance on the wing though with Hammersley at full back.

Sorry Driver...i meant the prop on the wing...Alex Tuilagi

GeordieFalcon wrote:Sorry Driver...i meant the prop on the wing...Alex Tuilagi

Unless he has lost weight since the visit to us, that is denigrating to props. even Davy Wilson looks more athletic than Alessana did.

Spot on LT. I was a huge fan of at his best Alex Tuilagi. Now i may be doing him a dis-service and he just needs to get fit....but im really not sure we're going to see that happen.

Certainly work on him see how he goes...but with Alex Tait back fit, Zac Kibirigie on his way, Sean Brown a cracking prospect etc etc we are in good shape for wings...not forgetting Sinotti Sinotti ....so good they named him twice

I also wonder if we want a monster bruising winger....why we didnt go round the world to source some young prospects from the islands or whereaver...

Alessana always came back overweight and unfit after a summer in ~Samoa. Two years in Japan is well, a lot of relaxation - what with the big barbecues after every game.

Absolutely...we shall see what we do with him.

We may yet see this type of thing again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NUJqCdk88U

Lt, he will go down as one the of the best Premiership wingers in history....and i would love to see him have an Indian summer...and play like that for a season or two. Im not confident though.

But Sinotti Sinotti is making up for that anyway...the guys is sheer class.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 15.Alex Tait, 14. Sinoti Sinoti, 13. Gonzalo Tiesi, 12. Adam Powell, 11. Noah Cato, 10. Juan Pablo Socino, 9. Ruki Tipuna; 1. Kieran Brookes, 2. Scott Lawson, 3. Scott Wilson, 4. Calum Green, 5. Dom Barrow, 6. Mark Wilson, 7. Will Welch (c), 8. Ally Hogg.

Replacements 16.Rob Hawkins, 17. Alex Rogers, 18. Oliver Tomaszczyk, 19. Josh Furno, 20. Richard Mayhew, 21. Mike Blair, 22. Rory Clegg, 23. Tom Catterick

Do you think Hammersleys just getting a bit of a rest. Giving Tait some much needed gametime?

At some point could we possible see a backline three of:
11 Sinoti
14 Tait
15 Hammersley

I don't know GF , I think we underestimate Tait a bit too be honest. He's never done anything wrong when i'v seen him play.

Hammersley might just be a few yards off still. I think if we had lost to Chiefs he might of came back in but why change a winning team?

Tait was our player of the season last year. He was class.

I think he needs to be there. Its nice to have him and Hammersley to rotate with.

With Kibirige back soon...we'll have a few nice options for the back three.

I'm pretty sure i'd be right in saying Cato is only still with us as Zac is injured.

At some point this season , Welsh at home preferably I'd like to see us go

15.Hammersley
14.Kirbrige
13.Tiesi
12.Powell
11.Sinoti
10.Socino
9.Tupinua

So do we rest players for the Bucharest game on Friday?

Id look at something like:

1 Fry - Needs gametime
2 McGuigan
3 Scott Wilson
4 Glen Youngs
5 Kolo'Ufai - Needs gametime
6 Dan Temm
7 Saull
8 Richard Mayhew

9 Blair / Tipuna
10 Clegg
11 Alex Tuilagi - Needs gametime
12 Andy Tuilagi
13 Tiesi - Needs gametime
14 Sean Brown
15 Tait - Needs gametime.

Team for Bucharest

1. Eric Fry
2. Rob Hawkins
3. Kieran Brookes
4. Will Witty
5. Dom Barrow
6. Dan Temm
7. Andy Saull (c)
8. Mark Wilson.

9. Warren Fury
10. Rory Clegg
11. Noah Cato
12. Tom Penny
13. Chris Harris
14. Tom Catterick
15.Lee Smith

Replacements 16.David Nelson, 17. Rob Vickers, 18. Oliver Tomaszczyk, 19. Sean Robinson, 20. Richard Mayhew, 21. Andy Davies, 22. Craig Willis, 23. Simon Hammersley

Lots of English players and glad to see so many kids getting a run out.

Witty and Barrow are a big ol unit in the second row!
And i REALLY like the look of that back row.

Cracking young side, good to see

12-0 already.   Will Witty got the first on his debut in the 2nd minute.
Great for the young second row....

Let smith with the second.

7 mins gone

Ht 36-7

Great performance from the kids.

Tom penny two tries
Will Witty and try and lee smith
Chris Harris one and mark Wilson one.

David nelson the young hooker gets a try now aswell.
43-19

Not the strongest side the Romanians have ever had but nice to see the kids taking advantage

Our academy is looking strong for the future.

What did you think of some of the kids performances?

Falcons Team to play Newport.

1. Rob Vickers,
2. Rob Hawkins,
3. Kieran Brookes,
4. Scott Macleod,
5. Sean Robinson,
6. Will Welch, (c)
7. Andy Saull,
8. Mark Wilson

9. Ruki Tipuna
10. Rory Clegg
11. Lee Smith
12. Chris Harris
13. Tom Penny
14.Alex Tait
15.Simon Hammersley,

Replacements 16.Alex Rogers, 17. Eric Fry, 18. Oliver Tomaszczyk, 19. Will Witty, 20. Dan Temm, 21. Andy Davies, 22. Craig Willis, 23. Tom Catterick

Newport to play Falcons:

Lee Byrne ©, Matthew Pewtner, Tom Prydie, Ashley Smith, Hallam Amos, Angus O’Brien, Richie Rees; Boris Stankovich, Elliot Dee, Dan Way, James Thomas, Rynard Landman, Lewis Evans, Nic Cudd, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: T. Rhys Thomas, Phil Price, Lloyd Fairbrother, Andrew Coombs, Andy Powell, Jonathan Evans, Dorian Jones, Aled Brew.

I gather Newcastle are sponsored by Gilbert as well as Dragons. Is your kit available, as ours still isn't in the shops and only available for pre-order. Apparently Gilbert have had issues.

Yeah it's available

Get in you boys!
26-30
The kids did well

That's a great result, we were very good odds to win down there against a good Dragons side

well played falcons!

Terrific result - can't wait to see the highlights.

From a very dis heartened and dis gruntled Dragons fan Well Done Newcastle. After our win against Stade last week I had really strong hopes of pushing on and getting a good home win but again disappointment as a Dragons fan is something should be use to.

Again Well Done

Welch out for a few weeks , plus side Dan was meant to be immense in the back row.

Mate as a falcon fan I know disappointment well as Sgt and Driver will tell you.

As to the game...it's just nice to see a few w's and more...it's great to see the kids coming in and performing.

We've given Dean Richards a lot of patience with his long term plan....maybe just maybe there's small signs that things might be going as he said.

That's doesn't mean I expect us to win the premiership...just that it's maybe not the doom many falcon fans were beginning to wonder about.

Driver of welch is out I'd give saull a run out of we want a real 7

Although as you say Dan Temms performances seem to be consistently quality.

bedfordwelsh wrote:From a very dis heartened and dis gruntled Dragons fan Well Done Newcastle.  After our win against Stade last week I had really strong hopes of pushing on and getting a good home win but again disappointment as a Dragons fan is something should be use to.

Again Well Done

Were you there tonight? I would be interested to know what you saw.

Well Saints next in the Anglo Welsh...

Where do we go with selection? Many of the kids have been outstanding.
I suspect Dean will bring back a few of the 1st team...but we may see a few kids in there aswell.

The likes of Will Witty has been exceptional...Harris and Penny in the centres...and Lee Smith has played very well.

Among the many to shine was England Under-20s lock Will Witty, who scored for the second week in succession.

“Two tries in two games is incredible for any second-rower, but for a young lad like that it was incredible,” said the Falcons boss.
“He is one of these boys where you naturally worry throwing people into certain situations, but with him he just goes in and delivers.
“I can remember a young Chris Robshaw at Harlequins being very similar in that sense, and he just kept on delivering the more we put him in. He is now the England captain, which says a lot.
“Will is exactly the same, and every challenge we put in front of him is being answered.”

Newcastle Falcons vs Northampton Saints 1st November 2014 – Franklins Gardens KO – 16:00

1. Rob Vickers
2. Rob Hawkins
3. Scott Wilson
4. Calum Green
5. Scott Macleod
6. Dan Temm
7. Andy Saull (c)
8. Uili Kolo'ofai

9. Mike Blair
10. Rory Clegg
11. Alex Tuilagi
12. Jamie Helleur
13. Danny Barnes
14. Tom Catterick
15.Lee Smith

Replacements 16. Scott Lawson, 17. Alex Rogers, 18. Oliver Tomaszczyk, 19. Sean Robinson, 20. Dom Barrow, 21. Andy Davies, 22. Juan Pablo Socino, 23. Simon Hammersley

Joel starting for the Saints.

1 Ethan WALLER
2 Mike HAYWOOD
3 Gareth DENMAN
4 James CRAIG
5 Christian DAY
6 Phil DOWSON (capt)
7 Teimana HARRISON
8 Jon FISHER

9 Joel Hodgson
10 Will Hooley
11 Howard Packman
12 Dom Waldouck
13 Tom Stephenson
14 Jamie Elliott
15 Tom Collins

Replacements
16 Ross MCMILLAN
17 Danny HOBBS-AWOYEMI
18 Tom MERCEY
19 Alex WOOLFORD
20 Ben NUTLEY
21 Kahn FOTUALI’I
22 Harry MALLINDER
23 Josh SKELCEY

That's a pretty strong line up for us, should be a tight game.

Great to see Uili getting a run out, hopefully he'll get some match sharpness. Pity there's no Thompson.

Yeah I'm looking forward to seeing this one Sgt.

I've been hugely impressed with Temm.

Interesting to finally see Dom Waldock back, there was a time when he was talked up as the next great England centre

Yeah i remember that Yappy.
 
Similar to saull at flanker. Saull has really been finding some form recently though and with kiwi Dan Temm alongside him they have been brilliant for the A team games.  

They get a chance now against Saints to see if they can bring those performances up. I think they will play well today.

Is this on any streams

Falcons team for Cardiff

1 Alex Rodgers
2Rob Vickers
3 Scott Wilson
4 Calum Green
5 Dom Barrow
6 Richard Mayhew
7 Andy Saull
8 Mark Wilson

9 Ruki Tipuna
10 Juan Pablo Socino

11 Alex Tuilagi
12 Adam Powell
13 Gonzalo Tiesi
14 Noah Cato
15 Alex Tait

Strong Team...getting ready for the return of the prem?

I also note Jimmy Gopperth rumoured to be going to Wasps next season and that we are about to sign (on trial) Josh Arundel from HUll Rugby League team.

Socino missed two kicks already....

Scrum getting battered again.

Looking ok but lacking in their 22 (same old). Socino's kicking is shocking

Rolling maul is going well. Bizarre call not to give that try, that was clearly over from Wilson

Worked that time though! Try to Wilson.........3-7 to Falcons

We'd be at least 7-0 if we had a functioning scrum.

Bath 10-7 at HT, they've rarely ventured into our half but have scored when they have. Our scrum really is a shambles, a top LH is priority.

Yeah its not great Sgt.

Has the European games break hurt us a little.