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

by Geordie Wed 03 Sep 2014, 1:51 pm

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

by **Ozzy3213** Mon 08 Sep 2014, 11:44 am

Is Vickers the converted hooker?

by Geordie Mon 08 Sep 2014, 11:53 am

Yeah he is Ozzy. Couldnt hit a barn door in the lineout so he was converted and to be fair to him...made himself probably the first name on the team sheet. He was that good. Even i had to eat humble pie Wink

as i doutbed the switch.

by Geordie Mon 08 Sep 2014, 11:56 am

Well that side looks pretty good to me Sgt.

Plenty of spark and a balance of power.

Pearce should be pulled up if it was as bad a performance as that. Was our scrummaging bad enough to warrant all the attentin

by Jimpy Mon 08 Sep 2014, 11:58 am

Sgt_Pooly wrote:You'll love Pearce's performance, it's certainly a Welford Road special!

I wonder just how many times Dean Richards will be blaming the referee for his team's performances this year....?

It works both ways, there were some strange reffing decisions against Tigers particularly in the 1st half at the breakdown. Also the ref missed a couple of clear blocks on Tigers players and a blatant non tackle where a Tigers player was scythed down by a Newcastle player who slid in legs first. Not to mention some very high elbows going in on the fly-half.

You play the referee, Dean (and you if you like) can moan all you like, the bottom line is that on the day, Falcons were simply not good enough, especially second half. Dean, my 1990's hero has turned out to not only be a cheat, but a whinger too.

There was some class on show from Falcons. Sinoti springs to mind, and if you can sort that pack out, there are some scalps on offer.

Now, feel free to see it another way and begin name calling again (i'm slightly worried about GF's continued use of camp endearments), but that is pretty much how it was. The Ref wasn't brilliant for either side, for example, Falcon's second try had more than a whiff of 'foot in touch', but as Ben Youngs rightly said, "I thought he had a foot in touch, but you play the whistle, the whistle didn't get blown, so he scored the try".

This is rugby, this is how it is, don't tell me that the Falcon's supporters don't try to influence the officials at kingston Park, because i've been there, a lot, and they do.

See you in March....

by Sgt_Pooly Mon 08 Sep 2014, 12:03 pm

Yawn......

It was really bad GF but I couldn't blame him on the defeat, just the margin really.

by Jimpy Mon 08 Sep 2014, 12:13 pm

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Yawn......

It was really bad GF but I couldn't blame him on the defeat, just the margin really.

Yes, superb counter argument.

It matters not, the five points belong to Leicester, the onus is now on both teams to address deficiencies, not seek to suggest that officials are treating hem unfairly.

by Sgt_Pooly Mon 08 Sep 2014, 12:15 pm

Yawn......

by Geordie Mon 08 Sep 2014, 12:16 pm

Ah your still here then Cherry Pie...

Well we can work on the scrum if we had issues.

by Sgt_Pooly Mon 08 Sep 2014, 12:20 pm

Scrum went ok bar a few GF.

Vickers was getting in top of Balmain but only lasted 10mins or so. Balmain had a habit of dropping his knee to the floor nearly every scrum but Pearce was too focused on penalising us. They had us on toast for the try but it was pretty even tbh.

Line out was a shambles with McGuigan.

by Geordie Mon 08 Sep 2014, 12:23 pm

Ah well ill watch the game and look forward to the next one. I might not be able to make it...i hope i can.

On a side note...are you getting tickets for St James for the World Cup games. Ive heard minimum tickets are £115 but one of my mates said he got some for £50.

by Jimpy Mon 08 Sep 2014, 12:24 pm

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ah your still here then Cherry Pie...

Well we can work on the scrum if we had issues.

No need for personal remarks- v2 mods

by Sgt_Pooly Mon 08 Sep 2014, 12:25 pm

I might try tickets for troops a bit closer to the time #tight

Working Saturday but should be able to get away, really excited

by Geordie Mon 08 Sep 2014, 12:33 pm

Cool could be a good game.

Of questionable sexuality, a Falcons supporter AND a Geordie. The cards really are stacked against you aren't they..

Oh now now my little sweet pea...

by Geordie Mon 08 Sep 2014, 1:04 pm

A-Team v Leicester

1 Eric Fry
2 Rob Hawkins (C)
3 Scott Wilson
4 Glen Young
5 Will Witty
6 Dan Temm
7 Andy Saull
8 Brian Tuilagi

9 Andy Davies
10 Rory Clegg

11 Danny Barnes
12 Andy Tuilagi
13 Jamie Helleur
14 Sean Brown
15 Lee Smith

16 David Nelson 17 Jake Elwood (Northumbria Uni) 18 Mark Irving (Tynedale) 19 Ian Billington (Necastle Uni) 20 Conran Gleeson (DMP) 21 Dan Taylor 22 Tom Catterick 23 Tom Penny

Nephew and Uncle Tuilagi playing....

by lostinwales Mon 08 Sep 2014, 1:20 pm

GeordieFalcon wrote:A-Team v Leicester

1 Eric Fry
2 Rob Hawkins (C)
3 Scott Wilson
4 Glen Young
5 Will Witty
6 Dan Temm
7 Andy Saull
8 Brian Tuilagi

9 Andy Davies
10 Rory Clegg

11 Danny Barnes
12 Andy Tuilagi
13 Jamie Helleur
14 Sean Brown
15 Lee Smith

16 David Nelson 17 Jake Elwood (Northumbria Uni) 18 Mark Irving (Tynedale) 19 Ian Billington (Necastle Uni) 20 Conran Gleeson (DMP) 21 Dan Taylor 22 Tom Catterick 23 Tom Penny

Seriously? What a name.....

by Geordie Mon 08 Sep 2014, 1:23 pm

Ha ha yeah i know...all the jokes have gone round the falcons fans. His folks must have been Blues Brothers fans....

by Geordie Tue 09 Sep 2014, 10:13 am

8-32 Falcons final score. By all accounts Andy Tuilagi made a huge impression at 12...making some big carries....

by Sgt_Pooly Tue 09 Sep 2014, 10:17 am

Haha, well that's what he does best GF!

He's a blunt tool but used right can be very effective. Lining up with him and Alex would certainly free up space for other in the backline.

by Geordie Tue 09 Sep 2014, 11:59 am

Yes thats very true. Very Happy

Any news on how Fry went?

And i wonder if we'll ever see three Tuilagis in the side this season...Alex, Andy and Brian. We're geting as bad as Leicester.

by formerly known as Sam Tue 09 Sep 2014, 12:07 pm

If he didn't go well then I'd seriously worry. Our tight head only turned 20 over the summer. From what I heard the Falcons scrum was on top pretty much throughout.

by Sgt_Pooly Tue 09 Sep 2014, 12:11 pm

It wasn't Sam.

Vickers was getting on top of Balmain from the off. It was pretty close till late in the 2nd, you minced us for the try.

Rodgers held up ok, Balmain dropped a knee pretty much every scrum but never got pinged. Pearce only reffed one team in the scrum which can happen sometimes.

by Geordie Tue 09 Sep 2014, 12:25 pm

Fry was playing in the A game aswell Sgt. Thats what i was asking about.

To me hes a concern but as ive said on the unoffy...he is very good in the open with and without the ball...its his scrummaging work thats the issue. But Dean must see something and believe that he can turn him in to a good premier standard scrummager...as they have with VIckers.

by Sgt_Pooly Tue 09 Sep 2014, 12:28 pm

Apologies Sam, wrong end of the stick

by Geordie Tue 09 Sep 2014, 12:40 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:If he didn't go well then I'd seriously worry. Our tight head only turned 20 over the summer. From what I heard the Falcons scrum was on top pretty much throughout.

PS Our TH is only 20 aswell...Scotty Wilson.

by Heaf Tue 09 Sep 2014, 12:59 pm

Sgt_Pooly wrote:It wasn't Sam.

Vickers was getting on top of Balmain from the off. It was pretty close till late in the 2nd, you minced us for the try.

Rodgers held up ok, Balmain dropped a knee pretty much every scrum but never got pinged. Pearce only reffed one team in the scrum which can happen sometimes.

I've seen him do that before - I can't remember who it was against but last season, for example, he called a perfectly straight feed crooked from the sidelines when he was an AR (it was on the 22 or 10m line and the ball followed the line perfectly) in Tigers favour and then ignored the Tiger's feed that went straight the the 2nd row.

by **Ozzy3213** Tue 09 Sep 2014, 1:22 pm

Do your guys train at Kingston Park or at a seperate training ground, and if seperate, does the training ground have a 4G pitch?

by Geordie Tue 09 Sep 2014, 1:28 pm

Im sure they'll be getting as much experience on the pitch as possible,

by **Ozzy3213** Tue 09 Sep 2014, 8:16 pm

Will be interesting to see what difference the pitch makes. I spoke to Blair Cowan earlier and he was saying that when we played up at your place last year it was ridiculously soft underfoot.

by Cumbrian Tue 09 Sep 2014, 8:36 pm

Just been browsing the offy and I noticed that the academy players have been updated. Don't know that much about them but I noticed that Harry Snowden is a big lad, 6ft 8in and getting on for 19 stone at 18/19 year old is scary. Anybody know if he is any good?

Witty is a big lad too, I seem to remember reading that he captained Yorkshire at county level as well, which is promising.

by Driver Tue 09 Sep 2014, 9:55 pm

Ozzy3213 wrote:Do your guys train at Kingston Park or at a seperate training ground, and if seperate, does the training ground have a 4G pitch?

We train at Northumbria Uni Pete. Used to be Druids park at gosforth

by **Ozzy3213** Wed 10 Sep 2014, 8:32 am

I'm pretty sure our guys will have been training on the 4G pitch that we have this week in preparation for Sunday. We did quite well on Saracens one last season. Wink

by Sgt_Pooly Wed 10 Sep 2014, 8:55 am

Saracens aren't the mighty Falcons!

To be honest this one could could go either way, really looking forward it. I think we're quite well matched and I was impressed with how we played at Welford Rd.

by **Ozzy3213** Wed 10 Sep 2014, 9:14 am

You do both play in black though, which is clearly a sign that we will win! Wink

by Sgt_Pooly Wed 10 Sep 2014, 9:23 am

I would have been more worried if you had JOC & Yarde in your backline, they could have caused real problems on the hard ground.

It'll be e a fantatsic battle, I'm hoping I can get down to watch it.

by Geordie Wed 10 Sep 2014, 9:32 am

I have a feeling Socino could turn out to be the difference in this game. I dont want to big him up to much...but he does look like a class act.

by Geordie Wed 10 Sep 2014, 9:34 am

Cumbrian wrote:Just been browsing the offy and I noticed that the academy players have been updated. Don't know that much about them but I noticed that Harry Snowden is a big lad, 6ft 8in and getting on for 19 stone at 18/19 year old is scary. Anybody know if he is any good?

Witty is a big lad too, I seem to remember reading that he captained Yorkshire at county level as well, which is promising.

I noticed it had been updated but didnt have a good look. Ill have a gander now though...if those stats are right then he is one big boy!

Witty and Glen Youngs are the two locks coming through who are getting alot of praise. They were the locks in Mondays A game with leicester.

Witty is an England U18 player and Youngs in the Scotland U20 team.

It would appear Dean is doing what he did at Quins...bringing lots of quality kids through. And its nice to see us producing some monsters aswell!

Locks:
Will Witty 6.6 - 18stone 4 (19yo)
Glen Youngs both 6'7 - 16 stone 8 (19yo)
Harry Snowdon 6'8 - 18.5 Stone (19 yo)

Hooker:
David Nelson 6' - Nearly 18st (19yo)

Edit...That Mark Irving the Tynedale prop is 6'4 and 21st! I didnt know he was that big.

by SirBurger Wed 10 Sep 2014, 9:37 am

GeordieFalcon wrote:I have a feeling Socino could turn out to be the difference in this game. I dont want to big him up to much...but he does look like a class act.

I'm a bit worried by the threat he poses as well. Can we trade him for Sheridan?!

by Geordie Wed 10 Sep 2014, 9:48 am

No im sorry but we'll stick with JPS for the moment.

by **Ozzy3213** Wed 10 Sep 2014, 9:53 am

Any ideas what you side is likely to be?

I suspect that ours will be:-

Fenby, Ojo, Sheridan, Geraghty, Short, Noakes, Steele;
Court, Paice, Aulika, Skivington, Leo, Cowan, Treviranus, Guest

by Geordie Wed 10 Sep 2014, 9:58 am

Cumbrian, Sgt

Whats the chances of Dean achieving his goal in a few years of a team of mostly academy produced players...with the odd top class exception.

1 Vickers / Hallam
2 McGuigan / Nelson
3 S.Wilson / K Brookes
4 Will Witty / Glen Youngs
5 Harry Snowdon / Dom Barrow
6 Ben Morris
7 Will Welch
8 Mark Wilson

9 Andy Davies
10 Craig Willis

11 Zac Kibirige / Sinotti
12 JPS
13 Chris Harris
14 Sean Brown
15 Simon Hammersley

Only struggles there is LH in my opinion.

by Geordie Wed 10 Sep 2014, 10:05 am

Ozzy,

its really difficult to suggest a team as Dean never plays the same team twice. Its mere guess work...but something like below would suit me.

1 Vickers
2 Lawson
3 Brookes
4 Barrow
5 Kolo'ufai / Calum Green
6 Josh Furno
7 Welch / Saull
8 Mark Wilson

9 Mike Blair
10 JPS
11 Alex Tuilagi
12 Andy Tuilagi
13 Powell
14 Sinoti
15 SImon Hammersley

The dilema is Josh Furno. I just think he's too lightweight for Lock...so he must play 6....but i like Richard Mayhew as he adds some real Kiwi power in there at 6.

Ive gone for the livewire non stop harrassment style of Furno in this game.

by Cumbrian Wed 10 Sep 2014, 12:51 pm

GeordieFalcon wrote:Cumbrian, Sgt

Whats the chances of Dean achieving his goal in a few years of a team of mostly academy produced players...with the odd top class exception.

1 Vickers / Hallam
2 McGuigan / Nelson
3 S.Wilson / K Brookes
4 Will Witty / Glen Youngs
5 Harry Snowdon / Dom Barrow
6 Ben Morris
7 Will Welch
8 Mark Wilson

9 Andy Davies
10 Craig Willis

11 Zac Kibirige / Sinotti
12 JPS
13 Chris Harris
14 Sean Brown
15 Simon Hammersley

Only struggles there is LH in my opinion.

Not sure about some of the academy lads, I'm a bit out of the loop at the moment. But your selection looks decent enough to me, but I'm not sure how many years Vickers has left in him. McGuigan and Nelson could be a very long term battle.

by Geordie Wed 10 Sep 2014, 12:55 pm

Yeah LH was the problem spot...only really Hallam...but he doesnt seem to be progressing...maybe we need LH to be one of those world class foreign spots Very Happy

by **George Carlin** Wed 10 Sep 2014, 6:06 pm

Geordie - I just read that Gary Strain has signed a one month training contract with Glasgow. Do you know why that would be and also what do you make of him as a player?

by Geordie Wed 10 Sep 2014, 9:06 pm

Decent squad player mate but no more. I don't think he'll add much to your team....in fact he'll not play.

by Geordie Fri 12 Sep 2014, 9:15 am

Just on the offy looking at Kane Thompson etc...the below would be a big yet mobile back 5...

4 Barrow (6'7, 19st)
5 Green (6'4, 18.2st)
6 Furno (6'7, 17.1)
7 Wilson (6'2, 17st)
8 Thompson (6'5, 17.7st)

by Sgt_Pooly Fri 12 Sep 2014, 12:17 pm

Few changes for Irish game, hopefully Fry can hold up.

15. Hammersley 14. Sinoti 13. Powell 12. Socino 11. Cato 10. Godman 9. Blair

1. Fry 2. Lawson 3. Tomaszczyk 4. Green 5. Furno 6. Wilson 7. Welch ( C ) 8. Hogg Replacements

16. Hawkins 17. Rogers 18. Wilson 19. Barrow 20. Mayhew 21. Tipuna 22 Alex Tuilagi 23. Helleur

Looking at the Irish line up we should win this one on paper. Hopefully stopping Irish from getting a LBP too. Fingers crossed, still a fair few injuries.

by Geordie Fri 12 Sep 2014, 12:27 pm

Im actually quite confident for this one SGt

Fingers crossed...we need a good performance and a good win

by Sgt_Pooly Fri 12 Sep 2014, 12:31 pm

If the scrum can hold up we'll win.

by Geordie Fri 12 Sep 2014, 12:35 pm

Yeah Fry is the critical one....the only thing im not confident in.

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