FALCONS FLYING IN


By Behind the Bench
April 28 2016

Falcons Flying In Saracens vs Newcastle Falcons Aviva Premiership Rugby Sunday 1 May Allianz Park   With Saracens' berth in the European Champions Cup Final in the bag, attention switches back to the Premiership, in which a home win over Newcastle Falcons, would all but secure a home play-off tie, and the bonus point would guarantee it. Followed by a game at Worcester to close the season, Saracens may opt to adjust their side, not only to keep players fresh for Lyon, but also ensuring that the full squad has game time, should they be required to step in. At the time of writing Owen Farrell's ban has just been confirmed as two weeks, although, as already pointed out on the messageboard, he was likely to be have been rested at some point in any case.

It's been a modest season for Newcastle, with five wins from 20 in the Aviva Premiership, and a failure to progress from their European Challenge Cup pool, but a burst of home wins in the early months of the year, as they were given fresh impetus with the return from retirement of Andy Goode, augmented by the essential home win over London Irish two weeks ago, have nearly delivered survival, although if Irish win both of their games, at home to Harlequins and at Wasps, they still have an opportunity of overtaking the Falcons. 
 
Back in December, a late surge by Saracens delivered a 38-3 win in the North East, with the visitors' forward power eventually proving too much for the home side, before the Challenge Cup double header with Connacht produced a win apiece, the second game at home producing a fine exhibition of the attacking rugby which Newcastle are looking to deliver on their 4G pitch on a more regular basis, although they have not won away in the Premiership, merely claiming a draw at Sale. 2015 ended with a 22-10 loss at Leicester Tigers, in which Falcons went 10-0 ahead and gave an encouraging display in defence. They took that form into 2016 as Bath were seen off 19-14 at Kingston Park for a first Premiership win of the season, again displaying a real determination in defence, setting up what was already a crucial trip to London Irish, where the visitors found themselves 20-0 down, but clawed it back to 20-15, and ended the game hammering the Reading side's line until they knocked on. Challenge Cup hopes were damaged as a modified side lost 24-7 at Russian outpost Enisei STM, meaning that the following weekend's 27-23 win against Brive was insufficient to gain progress.
 
In an odd sequence of results, Falcons scored 26 points in each of their next three home Premiership games in a set of results which saw them take a big step towards survival. The first match brought a 26-19 win in which they were 19-10 down at one point in the second half, and fittingly, it moved them off the bottom of the table, ahead of a 9-8 loss at Wasps. Back at home, Leicester were undone 26-14, built on another powerful forward display, whilst Goode orchestrated what ultimately proved to be a nervy 26-25 win against Northampton Saints. After that burst of form, though, Newcastle began to drift back into trouble, with six straight losses as the vital showdown with London Irish came into view. In a game in which the visitors enjoyed more territory and made more metres, they were thwarted by a supreme defensive effort, in which the hosts made 164 tackles, with back row Mark Wilson leading the way with 23 of them.
 
With the Storm losing out in the A League Semi Final at Northampton on Monday night, then some of the players may come into contention for this match, although Ben Ransom wasn't playing, so Alex Goode may remain at full back. Mike Ellery could come in on the wing, alongside Marcelo Bosch and Duncan Taylor, with Chris Wyles remaining on the other wing. Charlie Hodgson will be at fly half, with Neil de Kock starting at scrum half. Forwards-wise, Richard Barrington may come in at loosehead, alongside Schalk Brits and Juan Figallo at tighthead, with a revised lock combination of Jim Hamilton and Hayden Smith, and a back row of Kelly Brown, Jackson Wray and Samu Vunisa. Newcastle, though, will undoubtedly be at full strength. Simon Hammerskey offers a significant running threat from full back, with Alex Tait and Marcus Watson, scorer of the only try against London Irish, on the other wing. Mike Delany will be at fly half, now Goode has retired, with Michael Young at scrum half, in what could be an unchanged backline. Into the pack, and the front row could feature Rob Vickers, Scott Lawson and Taione Vea, with Calum Green and former Sarrie Mouritz Botha making up the second row, and a back row trio of Wilson, Will Welch and Nili Latu Langilangi. 

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FALCONS FLYING IN
Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 28/04/2016 06:45
TheSaracens.com
28/04/2016 06:45
Thanks Gerard. let's seal a home semi final on Sunday!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2016:05:12:11:36:51 by sutton_sarrie.

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falconsfan07
28/04/2016 15:18
Cracking write up, looking forward to the game, will only be watching it on TV unfortunately but will be chuffed if we manage a LB, hope for a good'n!

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