Great North Run

Newcastle Falcons were the second side to switch to an artificial service, and as with Saracens in 2013, looked to the greater consistency of surface as a launchpad for a more attacking and attractive brand of rugby. League tables in themselves are misleading, as Falcons held eleventh spot in their second season back in the top flight, but claimed twelve more Premiership points compared to 2013/2014, recording five wins and a draw, rather than just a trio of wins. As well as the obligatory wins against London Welsh, home and away, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester and Harlequins were defeated in the North East, Wasps were held to a draw, and perhaps the most impressive success of all was a home Challenge Cup victory against eventual Top 14 winners Stade Francais Paris. Probably the most stunning statistic which highlighted the dramatic revision to the style of play, though, was that their number of Premiership tries more than doubled from 23 to 57, 20 more than Leicester Tigers managed last season. Samoan winger Sinoti Sinoti served up nine tries.

 

Such attacking ambition is laudable, but the Falcons have struggled defensively so far, conceding an average of 33 points across their first quintet of Premiership matches, though they claimed a morale-boosting 15-15 draw at Sale Sharks on Saturday to claim their first points, though, even at this early stage, seem in a two-way battle with London Irish to preserve their Premiership status. The sides meet at Reading in January, with the return game in April. With Jonny Wilkinson the obvious exception, Newcastle have struggled to hang on to many talented players over the years, which continues to stunt their progress, with the likes of Toby Flood, Matthew Tait, Lee Dickson, Tom May and Phil Dowson amongst those leaving the club. This close season was no exception, as highly-rated prop Kieran Brookes left Kingston Park for the second time, alongside a number of other departures including former Saracens Noah Cato and Andy Saull. 

 

An eclectic range of signings came in to replace them which seemed to confirm the commitment to exciting attacking play. In the backs, versatile Kiwi back Mike Delany arrived from ASM Clermont Auvergne, whilst scrum half Micky Young arrived from Bath and Marcus Watson, who was on Saracens' books but never made a first team appearance, moved in from England Sevens. Tongan fly half Sonatane Takulua moved in from Auckland Blues, whilst Italian international wing Giovanbattista Venditti made the switch from Zebre and Argentinian back Belisario Agulla arrived from Agen. Forwards-wise, Mouritz Botha needs no introduction as the former Saracen lock made a surprise return to the English top flight after a short spell at Natal Sharks, whilst prop Ben Harris moved to the club from Yorkshire Carnegie, whilst Tongan Taione Vea joined the front row from London Welsh alongside Jon Welsh, who had made in excess of 100 appearances for Glasgow Warriors. Nili Latu, a further Tongan international, was added to the back row after a spell with NEC Green Rockets in Japan, whilst another signing from there was USA international flanker Todd Clever, who made 63 appearances between 2003 and 2014.

 

The elongated pre-season saw Newcastle play four games, two home and two away, in the Kings of the North competition with Leicester and Sale but lost all of their matches. Competitive action began with a home match with Gloucester, in which poor discipline proved the decisive factor in a 39-27 loss which saw the hosts score three tries to the visitors two, but allowed the visitors to claim nine penalties. 24 points down at the interval, the hosts improved in the second half thanks to well-worked tries from Simon Hammersley, Chris Harris and George McGuigan. In contrast, it was a difficult second half which proved the problem in the 42-16 loss to Northampton at Milton Keynes, where the visitors failed to deal effectively with the home sides forward power and rolling maul. There was even worse news the following week when Exeter left the North East, scene of a defeat for them last season, with a six try 41-3 win, as, again, their opponents' physicality was too much for Newcastle to withstand. The theme of a poor first half was to continue as Sixways, where Worcester had the try bonus point two minutes before the break on their way to a 28-20 success, as the Falcons proved particularly susceptible to the counter attack, but at least had the consolation of tries by Young and Tom Catterick to reward their bold approach. 

 

With the Challenge Cup next on the agenda, Newcastle opted for a modified side, who earnt a losing bonus point in a 13-9 loss at Brive, thanks to a trio of Catterick penalties and a strong defensive effort. A first win of the season duly arrived on home surface as Russian champions Enisei-STM were seen off 55-7 with nine tries in all, including four for Watson and three for Mark Wilson, as the Falcons effectively mixed forward power with incisive attacking moves. They continued the momentum back into the Premiership as they collected a 15-15 draw at Sale. In poor conditions, the visitors outscored their hosts by two tries to none, and Rob Vickers got the first after sustained pressure on 25 minutes, whilst Welsh barged over for a converted try with nine minutes to go; the draw preserved when a last-gasp Danny Cipriani penalty drifted wide for Sale. 

 

Giving the encouraging display, Newcastle will probably make few, if any, alterations from the side at the AJ Bell Stadium, which saw them regain their competitiveness up front. That starting XV saw Alex Tait at full back, whilst Venditti and Watson occupied the wings, outside a centre partnership of former Saracen Adam Powell and Argentinian Juan Pablo Socino. Delany and Young combined in the half backs. Into the forwards, and the front row comprised of Vickers, McGuigan and Welsh. Callum Green and Sean Robinson teamed up in the second row, ahead of Botha, whilst the back row was made up of Wilson, Will Welch and Latu.  Saracens may opt to rest players again ahead of the unknown quantity of Oyonnax, especially given the quality of performance at Twickenham. That could see Ransom retain his place at full back, with Chris Ashton and Chris Wyles continuing on the wings, and a centre partnership of Nick Tompkins and Brad Barritt, with Charlie Hodgson remaining alongside Ben Spencer in the half backs. In the front row, Richard Barrington could come in alongside Schalk Brits and Juan Figallo, with George Kruis and Maro Itoje in the second row, and a back row of Kelly Brown, Jackson Wray and Samulea Vunisa.