Newcastle Falcons Thread - 2016 / 2017

[Geordie]

First topic message reminder :

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 - Jon Welsh, Scott Wilson, Paddy Ryan, Davy Wilson
LH - Sami Mavinga, Rob Vickers, Sam Lockwood, Adam Brocklebank (A), Joshua Chisanga (A), Trevor Davison (A)

Hookers: Ben Sowrey, Kyle Cooper, Scott Lawson
Santiago Socino (A) Jamie Blamire (A)

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

Back Row: Will Welch, Nili Latu, Mark Wilson, Harrison Orr, Opeti Fonua, Ally Hogg, Ryan Burrows, Gary Graham
Calum Chick,  Simon Uzokwe (A)

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

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

Centres: Juan Pablo Socino, Chris Harris, Dom Waldouck, Maxine Mermoz, Josh Matavesi, Joel Matavesi, Tom Penny
Ben Stevenson (A),

Wing: Sinoti Sinoti, Zac Kibirige, Veriniki Goneva, DTH Van der Merve
Adam Radwan (A), Cameron Cowell (A)

FB's: Alex Tait, Simon Hammersley

[Geordie]

And people where calling for Deano to be got rid off earlier in the season....

He's done a Quins with you and has built you to the point where you can attract top names and potentially progress to the top 6.

Guilty as charged Welly. But after years of dredge and the start of the season the same it was getting tedious.

Im pleased to have had that ranmed way back down my throat. Dean told us his plans years ago and to be fair to him they are starting to bear fruit.

He's doing exactly what he did with Quins, only hopefully he'll get to complete the job here....

[Geordie]

Joel and Josh matavesi confirmed for the summer.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Very happy with those signings, very astute.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Josh is a real powerhouse distributer and gives us real options in the centres/10. Looking forward to seeing a Matavesi/Mermoz midfield at some point!

[Geordie]

Don't forget JP Socino Sgt.

He's been outstanding this season. He was top class yesterday. Smashed everything in defence and was cutting them up in attack.

I hope he's not on his way and we don't know about it....

[Sgt_Pooly]

I doubt it very much GF.

Steady improvements in the squad, thats all we can ask.

From: JP, Harris, Powell, Waldouck

to:

JP. Mermoz, Matavisu, Harris/Walds?

So much better!

[Geordie]

Yes huge improvement!

Abd the younger Matavesi looks a unit too.

[Geordie]

Well not bad movements so far...

In:
Mermoz
Matavesi x 2
DTH van der Merve

Out:
Watson
B.Harris

Not fussed about losing Harris. Shame about Watson, but pretty much expected. We are strong in the wings...and dare say Dean will have other little jems lined up here and there.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Fantastic signings in the backs, really rate DTH. Can't wait to see them start clicking!

A LH and I think we'll be pretty much done. I imagine another FH isn't on the cards with Matavesi covering to a good standard.

[IanBru]

Crikey, DTH is a hell of a player - hopefully Richards doesn't try to plonk him in the centre where his skills are wasted. Get him on the wing and give him the ball - doesn't matter if there's space, he's probably the most touchline-aware wing I've seen.

[Geordie]

Having just signed 3 centres and with Penny coming through at 13 I doubt we'll see DTH in the midfield much.

Imagine:
9 Takulua
10 Hodgson
11 Sinoti / DTH
12 JP Socino or Matavesi
13 Mermoz
14 Goneva
15 Tait / Hammersley

With Willis, Penny, Kibirige, Harris EQ'd on the fringe and Conon, Marshall, Radwan, Stevenson + a few others all EQ and coming through the academy....

[TrailApe]

Now all we need is for the club to sell 'proper' sized tops for us 'former' (slightly out of shape) players instead of those sausage skins they flog at the minute.

Even the 2XL reveal things that shouldn't bee seen in daylight. A big baggy cotton shirt is what's required - in my humble estimation...

[Geordie]

Newcastle Falcons team to face Exeter Chiefs (Saturday, 3pm, Sandy Park)

1 Rob Vickers
2 Kyle Cooper
3 Scott Wilson
4 Calum Green
5 Evan Olmstead
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch (captain)
8 Nili Latu

9 Sonatane Takulua
10 Joel Hodgson
11 Sinoti Sinoti
12 Dominic Waldouck
13 Chris Harris
14 Vereniki Goneva
15 Alex Tait

Replacements
16 Ben Sowrey
17 Ben Harris
18 David Wilson
19 Glen Young
20 Callum Chick
21 Sam Egerton
22 Mike Delany
23 Fred Burdon

[Geordie]

What a bloody start...Goneva!!!

[Geordie]

Ah dear lord.....Alex Tait misses an open try, then short goes the length of the field to score.

[Geordie]

Falcons just trying to the force the off load a little too much causing knock ons.

[Geordie]

What a fantastic run by Calum chick....lots of talk about young England back rowers....this lad should be in the talk aswell!

[Geordie]

Try Vickers

[Geordie]

Looks like Billy Vunipola will be back in the Saracens side to face us!

And maybe Mako will be getting more gametime aswell!

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/39141044

[Geordie]

Team for Saracens - Sunday 2pm KO

1 Rob Vickers
2 Kyle Cooper
3 Jon Welsh
4 Calum Green
5 Evan Olmstead
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch (captain)
8 Nili Latu

9 Sonatane Takulua
10 Joel Hodgson
11 Sinoti Sinoti
12 Juan Pablo Socino
13 Dominic Waldouck
14 Vereniki Goneva
15 Alex Tait

Replacements

16 Scott Lawson
17 Ben Harris
18 David Wilson
19 Ally Hogg
20 Callum Chick
21 Sam Egerton
22 Mike Delany
23 Chris Harris

[Geordie]

Saracens name strong side both Vunipola's in the starting line-up....

15 Duncan Taylor (95)
14 Chris Ashton (109)
13 Marcelo Bosch (89)
12 Brad Barritt (c) (189)
11 Sean Maitland (14)
10 Alex Lozowski (21)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (178)

1 Mako Vunipola (112)
2 Schalk Brits (192)
3 Juan Figallo (55)
4 Michael Rhodes (49)
5 Jim Hamilton (67)
6 Jackson Wray (164)
7 Joel Conlon (7)
8 Billy Vunipola (69)

Replacements
16 Jared Saunders (44)
17 Richard Barrington (106)
18 Petrus Du Plessis (151)
19 Mark Flanagan (7)
20 Kelly Brown (149)
21 Ben Spencer (94)
22 Max Malins (4)
23 Nathan Earle (15)

[Cumbrian]

Could we get at that pack? The Vunipolas just back from long term injury, young lad in the back-row. If we can put them on back foot we may have a chance here. Never thought I'd be saying that 6 month ago!

[LondonTiger]

Sarries backline looks strong, but that pack does, to me anyway, look vulnerable.

Coming back from injury - Mako, Billy
Over the hill - Brits, Figallo, Big Jim
Average club player - Rhodes, Wray
Under achieved tyro - Conlon.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Im not so sure, Sarries really need the win. I imagine we'll stay with them for 50mins and lose by 2 scores.

[beshocked]

If Saracens didn't have both Vunipola bros I would have thought Newcastle would start favourites but with those two back playing together is should make a big difference.

Pack should have been vulnerable vs Sale but it held up well enough without both brothers.

Not going to be easy of course though.

The pitch should feel like home away from home too.

[WELL-PAST-IT]

Just don't break either of them, Vunipolas that is, ahead of next weeks game.

LT not sure I agree about Wray being average, he has looked pretty useful the few times I have seen him

[Sgt_Pooly]

Has anybody got a link to the game? I thought it was on BT sports.

Edit: Got one

[Geordie]

That was as flat as a fart.

Falcons were like a damp squib and so was the crowd. We only started playing with 10 mins to go! And we scored 2 tries!!!

[Sgt_Pooly]

I turned it off when Delany came on and missed the tries

We were ok but Sarries defence was strong. It shows you how far we've come when we can compete with a very strong Saracens outfit despite not playing that well.

I thought Keys had a dreadful 1st half. I lost count of the times Sarries were offside and their defender impeded the 9 from getting to the ball at the ruck. They played some clever/dirty rugby today and it worked against a poor ref.

[Geordie]

I'm beginning to wonder about Hodgson at 10. He's not been great recently. He's not controlling the ganes strongly enough...

[Geordie]

Adam Brocklebank and Simon Uzokwe have been selected for the England Students squad.

Good for them.

[Geordie]

Well Gary Graham son of falcon favourite George signs and SamI Mavinga the LH property

Jon Welsh and Chris has renew contract

Good work Dean!

[Sgt_Pooly]

Happy with the LH, it's been a real problem area this season. Not sure about Graham, could be another Orr and we already have Burrows signed up. I guess Dean keeps on taking punts on Championship players, although very few have actually came off bar Socino, Green and possibly Lockwood.

[Sgt_Pooly]

So.....first team squad.

LH - Lockwood, Mavinga, Vickers, Rodgers
HK - Cooper, Sowery, Lawson
TH - Welsh, Wilson x 2

Good stock in the front row, pretty happy with that.

LK - Green, Robinson, Witty, Olmstead
FL - Wison, Welch, Latu, Orr, Graham, Chick
8 - Hogg, Fonau, Burrows

Looking good.

[Geordie]

Yeah that's true about the championship players Sgt, but I like to see him looking at these players, I don't mind it at all. And they wont cost a lot for the budget.

Harrison Orr could still come good...

I suspect Dan Temm will be on his way in the summer. probably Nick Civetta the US lock aswell.

As for the squad...yeah that pack is looking pretty solid now isn't it. Don't forget Chisanaga aswell

And one to keep an eye on is young flanker Simon Uzokwe. Been VERY impressive for Darlington and is with us permanently next season...he's about 6'1 but built like a tank! I think he could get a few runs out next season.

Im also still very much "the jury is out" towards Fonua.

[Sgt_Pooly]

I really like Fonua but he needs to be fitter, not the first time he's heard that I imagine.

[formerly known as Sam]

I really like Fonua but he needs to be fitter, not the first time he's heard that I imagine.

Tigers had him working with a former royal marine personal trainer. I heard rumours they released him because he started showing the levels of fitness expected but not the work rate. They decided he just wasn't going to adapt. Apparently very stubborn hence having to hire a marine to make him do fitness.

[Geordie]

One of my biggest problems with Fonua is his actual handling. He seems to knock on several times a game. That takes away his effectiveness.

Someone like Latu is half the size yet FAR more effective.

I think Calum Chick could be another cracking carrying option...not as explosive but effective.

[Geordie]

Im also curious to know where we are budget wise...

[Sgt_Pooly]

One of my biggest problems with Fonua is his actual handling. He seems to knock on several times a game. That takes away his effectiveness.

Someone like Latu is half the size yet FAR more effective.

I think Calum Chick could be another cracking carrying option...not as explosive but effective.

Without doubt, it's his defence he really needs to address. Chick slips off way too many tackles at the minute.

[Geordie]

Yeah...but im sure when you have coaches like Dean, John Wells, and players like Latu, Wilson, Welch etc...they'll be working on his defence!

[Geordie]

Newcastle Falcons team to face Harlequins (Saturday, 3pm, Twickenham Stoop)

1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Jon Welsh
4 Calum Green
5 Mark Wilson
6 Callum Chick
7 Will Welch (captain)
8 Nili Latu

9 Sonatane Takulua
10 Joel Hodgson
11 Sinoti Sinoti
12 Juan Pablo Socino
13 Dominic Waldouck
14 Vereniki Goneva
15 Alex Tait

Replacements
16 Ben Sowrey
17 Ben Harris
18 David Wilson
19 Evan Olmstead
20 Ally Hogg
21 Michael Young
22 Mike Delany
23 Chris Harris

[Sgt_Pooly]

Well, that was shambolic.

Scrum, lineout and handling was dreadful. Hodgson throwing another intercept, he really does try too hard sometimes. Defence was almost non-existent, shows we have a long way to go to become a perm top 6 side. Really need to sort the scrum out, it's been a disaster all season.

[Geordie]

Been busy all weekend...

Havent seen any of the game...but looked like we took a right kicking!

[TrailApe]

I must admit I had doubts when I saw the quality of the Quins returnees for this game but didn't expect that big a humping.

In my humble opinion we need more quality in our squad before we face a League and also compete in the Big Boys European tournament, so just as well we won't make the top six.

Don't want to do a Saints!

[Geordie]

I dunno Trailape.

I think we have quality to be honest. I think we just had a bad day at the office which coincided with Quins having a near full squad with all their internationals firing.

[TrailApe]

I think we have quality to be honest

oh aye - we have some good players - but have we got enough of them?

Three or four crucial injuries and we won't be able to do ourselves justice in the Cup and could go into freefall in the league - it's a tough place.

Who would have thought that two seasons ago we would be discussing this though?

Nice place to be.

[Geordie]

Its a very nice place to be...

[Geordie]

A League Team to play Sale tonight.

15 Brett Connon, 14 Belisario Agulla, 13 Nick Reynolds, 12 Fred Burdon, 11 Zach Kibirige, 10 Craig Willis, 9 Sam Egerton, 1 Alex Rodgers, 2 Ben Sowery, 3 Scott Wilson, 4 Glen Young, 5 Harrison Orr, 6 Ally Hogg, 7 Tyrone Holmes, 8 Opeti Fonua

Replacements 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Josh Chisanga, 18 Jake Payne, 19 Archie Erskine, 20 Max Davies, 21 Ruaridh Dawson, 22 Adam Radwan, 23 Dan Marshall

[Sgt_Pooly]

Chisanga as LH replacement should be interesting. Looking at pics/vids, he's not the biggest. He's going to need to put a fair bit of meat on to make the move to the front row.

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