News: AP: Northampton Saints vs Newcastle Falcons - Preview
By St Dormouse
November 21 2013
After two well deserved wins by our much depleted squad, ably bolstered by our blossoming youngsters, it’s back to the Premiership this weekend and we welcome to our humble playing fields our Friends in the North, The Gosforth Football Club, newly promoted having had a season rebuilding in the Championship.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs. NEWCASTLE FALCONS
AP: Saturday, 23rd November 2013 - 3.15pm (BT Sport)
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS, NORTHAMPTON
MATCH PREVIEW
Newcastle are said to be the world’s first fully professional Rugby union club, the then owner John Hall installing Rob Andrew as ‘Director of Rugby’ in 1995. They immediately earned promotion and at the first time of asking won the premiership title. Since those heady days, however, they have never risen above 6th place, ending most seasons firmly in the bottom half of the table. They appear to have become something of a feeder club for the bigger teams, particularly good at nurturing fly halves. There is the obvious Johnny Wilkinson as well as Toby Flood and Mathew Tait, who as we know ply their trade up the road, Dave Walder who went to Wasps and Jimmy Gopperth now of Leinster. A certain Tom May is still Newcastle’s top try scorer and also holds the record for most appearances. We have pinched Phil Dowson and Lee Dickson who have both gone on to greater things, as well as Alan Dickens who is now doing a sterling job with the youngsters. Alongside an assortment of hijacked Scottish internationals there has always been a depth of talent at Kingston Park. If the players that the Falcons produced could have been persuaded to stay, we would be looking at a very different team.
(Yeah state the bleedin’ obvious Mark!)
Despite a losing start in torrential conditions at home to Bath, Newcastle have so far won 3 matches in this campaign beating Worcester and Sale away from home and sneaking a win against Irish thanks to a freak gust of wind. Whilst losing heavily to Saracens and Leicester they came close against Gloucester only for Ally Hogg to be denied by the officials at the death. They have shown grit and determination throughout and are not to be taken lightly, as we at the Gardens know only too well (19 points in 12 minutes springs to mind!). They currently sit in 9th place on 13 points, above Gloucester, Irish and Worcester. They have also won one of their LV games against Irish but lost to Gloucester. You may recall that we have secured two wins against the same opposition.
At fullback they have the very able Alex Tait. Noah ‘notnow’ Cato, previously of this Parish will presumably start on the wing and Adam Powell is a favourite to start in the centre. They have recently acquired the services of Argentinean Gonzalo Tiesi and also have Samoan Jamie Helleiu to partner Powell. Neither of these players featured last weekend for their national sides so I presume both are available (but as with a few of these chaps I am not certain so if any kindly Falcon is looking in please feel free to correct me as I go along). A regular gripe amongst the Northern faithful appears to be the poor distribution between forwards and backs but in Rory Clegg, Phil Godman, ex Scotland 9 Mike Blair and the splendidly monickered Warren Fury, I see some quality half backs so I find that surprising. Presuming he is available, Ally Hogg is a superb number 8 and a back row selected from Andy Saull, Skipper Will Welch and Dom Barrow is no pushover. Italian lock Carlo DelFava if available or Scott McLeod and Frazer McKenzie could make up the second row while up front Kieran Brookes looks good, as does ex France and London Welsh prop Franck Montanella and academy product and long time servant Oliver Tomaszczyk (pronunciation optional). Scott Lawson will presumably be with Scotland so I expect to see club stalwart Rob Vickers at hooker.
On the whole, a decent looking bunch but nothing to worry a full strength Saints team. But therein lies the issue.
Presumably missing with international commitments will be both Pisi boys, George, Samu, Khan and Vas. Presumably rested will be Dylan, Courtney and Woody. Possibly rested will be Fodes and Dicko. While we have performed admirably without most of these for a month it does leave me with a couple of dilemmas. Let’s start with the back three. I think Wilson is a decent stand in at fullback with a good boot, good under the highball and can run from deep. Do you start with him at 15 with Tom Collins and maybe Packman or Digger on the wings? Is Elliott available yet? Or do you ask Fodes to start with Wilson on the wing? The centres should be ok with Dom and Lex and Smyler should start after his well deserved break. Scrum half is an issue for me. Are Glynn and Day good enough to start a premiership match or should you ask Dickson to start? If things are going well take Foden and Dickson off in the 2nd half? Maybe Jim has enough faith in the youngsters to give the two England stars a rest. Fans fortunate enough to have seen the LV games will have better formed opinions than me.
In the back row I would hope to see the superb Sam Dickenson back, probably alongside Dowson and Clark. Maybe Clark will play in the 2nd row alongside Christian Day with Nutters, Harrison or Van Velze balancing up the back row.
After his week off I would expect early player of the season contender Alex Waller to start with Mickey Heywood and Ma’afu. I don’t have any worries in that department.
If we do start with Fodes and Dickson, and Elliott is fit then it’s not too far from the side that gave Saracens a hiding so I would like to think that we will have enough in the tank to beat Newcastle. 4 points, under the circumstances would be a good result. Of course 5 would be better but Falcons are a dogged bunch and under the protective wing of chief Budgie Dean Richards will have surely learnt plenty of the dark arts. Without those 3 I expect the job to be much tougher. Either way I would like the Boys to show the same pluck, skill and confidence they have shown for most of the season. The weather is forecast to be cloudy and chilly so time for us southern softies to start wrapping up. For the Geordies it will be like a trip to Benidorm so vests are optional. The game is on tv but even so hopefully a few hardy souls will make the long trek down and I’m sure they will be given the customary friendly Saints welcome, unless of course McSaracen comes in disguise then he will probably be singled out and roundly picked upon in a manner unbecoming of fans of a professional rugby club.
Roll on Saturday....Come on you Saints....
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Many thanks!
Just as a point of clarity, Gosforth play in the Durham and Northumberland leagues.
The team Saints are playing on Saturday are called Newcastle Falcons, the company's trading name being Newcastle Rugby Ltd.
A small, but important, distinction.
Saull is also out injured and unlikely to feature as far as I know. Vickers has been playing loosehead lately with our academy product and Irish under 20 George McGuigan slotting in at hooker. The experiment might continue as our scrum has been solid on the whole,but wouldn't be surprised to see Vickers moving to hooker and Shiells coming in at loosehead with Brookes or England under 20 Scott Wilson slotting in at Tight-head.
Barrow has been a revelation at both lock and number 6 and should be in the team as a matter of course. I believe most on Saturday will be seeing a future England test player in Barrow. Barrow alongside Hogg at 8,Powell at 12 and Blair at 9 are certainties in
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:11:21:11:25:42 by lizard118.
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Quote:markismith50
"it’s back to the Premiership this weekend and we welcome to our humble playing fields our Friends in the North, The Gosforth Football Club"
Just as a point of clarity, Gosforth play in the Durham and Northumberland leagues.
The team Saints are playing on Saturday are called Newcastle Falcons, the company's trading name being Newcastle Rugby Ltd.
A small, but important, distinction.
Mark, perhaps you don't know much about the history of RU "up north".
Saint til I die
Oh, I'm well-acquainted with the history. But the team you are playing on Saturday are not Gosforth.
Gosforth are away to Durham City in Durham and Northumberland One the same day.
Perhaps you don't know much about the present-day of RU "up north."
Obviously doesn't understand our sense of humour
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Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Quote:markismith50
"it’s back to the Premiership this weekend and we welcome to our humble playing fields our Friends in the North, The Gosforth Football Club"
Just as a point of clarity, Gosforth play in the Durham and Northumberland leagues.
The team Saints are playing on Saturday are called Newcastle Falcons, the company's trading name being Newcastle Rugby Ltd.
A small, but important, distinction.
Obviously not a regular reader, my previews and reports tend to be light hearted Mark, sprinkled occasionally with (debatable) wit and sarcasm. My reference to Gosforth is not meant as a nailed on fact, purely a hark back to a time gone by.For well over 100 years I believe you were indeed Gosforth before splitting. Are you taking offense at that? I don't know why, we have not been called Northampton St.James for many a year but still take great pride in calling ourselves The 'Saints' or The 'Jimmies'. Nevertheless it is nice that opposition fans take time to read and comment on my posts so thanks for that.
Lizzard Thanks for the updates and corrections. Much appreciated by myself and others on this site. If only we could have sat down with a couple of Brown Ales before I started writing this nonsense I could have appeared far more intelligent and knowledgeable than I actually am.
I am surprised that the ex-PO turned journo didn't take it in the light hearted manner that it was clearly intended.
nice preview
Will be watching this one, albeit from the luxury of a pub cosy chair with a pint for this one - thank heaven's for BT Sport this weekend!!!
Falcon calling in. Love the match report. Cant get down but have agree that if I manage away trips then Saints is first on the list; great ground, friendly supporters and the very occasional result!! Not expected this week ...
Gonzo Tiesi was injured for Argentina so not available for some time I understand.
Hope to see you next season.
Quote:Journo
The team Saints are playing on Saturday are called Newcastle Falcons, the company's trading name being Newcastle Rugby Ltd.
Wow!... consider yourself patronised St D - but humour has only just reached Hull......
Great report - can't wait always a good match with some great supporters coming down.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously