By Bonso
December 29 2011

For their final match of a memorable 2011, Northampton Saints travel north to take on Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park on New Year's Eve. Ever reliable COYSDC contributor, Bonso, looks ahead to the game...

NEWCASTLE FALCONS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

New Year's Eve, 2011 - 2pm

KINGSTON PARK, NEWCASTLE

MATCH PREVIEW

Kingston Park has certainly changed a bit since I first visited back in the days of Gosforth, gone are the grassy banks and railings to be replaced by a very nice compact stadium which, by and large, works very well. Unfortunately, on the pitch hasn’t been as good. Although Newcastle has produced several generations of fine players, gradually they disappeared in search of fame fortune and glory away from the north east. I won’t bore you by naming names,  but how about this for the long journey up the A1 see if you can pick an ex Falcons XV to play an ex Bristol XV. 

It has, by and large, been a miserable  season so far for our friends in the north, with 2 wins, a draw and a solitary bonus point to show for their efforts and they will be very much hoping to show they form they displayed against us last season in that feisty encounter. This will be a scrap make no bones about it. Falcons' position means that they must eeek out every home point they can to catch Warriors starting with New Year’s Eve against Saints. The weather forecast is dry which will favour Saints fast boys but a rainy morning might make it a little slick.

I expect Newcastle to be organised and brave but I see little flair in the backs. However,  Goppeth is a good controlling half and it could be a busy day for Saints back three as  Gopperth pings it back at us to try and force an error. We also know that any front row with our favourite vet in will be a handful and I am sure the devotees of the dark arts will take an interest in this one.

For Saints, I am beginning to see a plan coming together. No longer is there just plan A and if that doesn’t work we will do plan A but do it better. Saints now have some flexibility and things will get better and slicker as we relax into this. May and Pisi have been the catalysts for this, demonstrating an alternative to taking it up and the Maori sidestep. In the pack, whoever gets the nod I cannot see being troubled overmuch as the game wears on. It is not just fitness now but strength on the bench as well. We now have a young pack of international class or damn near it all through.

Discipline will need to be kept after last year’s shenanigans and also maybe Mr Wigglesworth might overcompensate for his last time with us against Wasps. Anyways, forward to the result.

Sorry Falcons fans but I can’t see you getting much out of this one Saints by 20.

News: AP: Newcastle Falcons vs Northampton Saints - Preview

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 29/12/2011 23:29

ComeOnYouSaints.com
29/12/2011 23:29

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

Phil.
29/12/2011 23:35

Nice one, Bons.

Many thanks!

Reply Quote Report

ChrisG
30/12/2011 00:46

Good work kind Sir!

Reply Quote Report

smitferbrainz
30/12/2011 10:05

I'd love it if Saints win by 20 but I can't see it. We should win but IMHO a win by 20 is wildly optimistic. Falcs will be gritty fighters and difficult to break down. I also think Wiggy will over compensate after his Wasps performance so we may be on the wrong end of him. Dangerous with Gopperth kicking well. We also suffered from poor discipline up there last season and again Gopperth may hurt us if we do this again. Saints win by no more than 10, possibly closer. Be great to get a 5 pointer.

Reply Quote Report

Robs
30/12/2011 11:38

see if you can pick an ex Falcons XV to play an ex Bristol XV.

Struggle with ex Bristol
but how about this for a fairly recent ex Falcons side:
15 Matt Burke/Rob Miller 14 Tim Visser 13 Tom May/Jamie Noon 12 Matthew Tait 11 Tom Biggs 10 Jonny /Toby/Dave Walder/Rory Clegg 9 Dicko/Micky Young/James Grindal 8 Dowse 7 Craig Newby 6 Ben Woods 5 Geoff Parling 4 Mark Sorenson 3 Carl Hayman/David Wilson 2 Andy Long 1 Kieran Brookes

This is without pausing for breath & thinking. Nearly all are still playing for other Clubs

Reply Quote Report

St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad
30/12/2011 12:08

Nice one Bons and good effort Robs

No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.

Dryathlon

Reply Quote Report

Horus
30/12/2011 20:21

Any predictions on the number of Saints spear tackles on Falcons' forwards ?

Soreson ;last season 1-0

Reply Quote Report

St Marlowe
30/12/2011 20:37

Any predictions on Falcons getting cheap excuses in early?
Horus : this season 1-0

David L

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

- Live wrong and preposterously

Reply Quote Report

smurfomatic
30/12/2011 21:27

Horus - shocking, isn't it? I wonder where he learned to play like that...along with Dowson, Dickson, Tom May etc etc.

Photo Gallery

Reply Quote Report

Chris B
30/12/2011 22:24

Quote:

Robs
see if you can pick an ex Falcons XV to play an ex Bristol XV.
Struggle with ex Bristol
but how about this for a fairly recent ex Falcons side:
3 Carl Hayman/David Wilson

That's like talking of Ayrton Senna and Pedro Deniz in the same breath.

Reply Quote Report

Saint Dom in Hanoi
30/12/2011 22:44

Great preview - and I do appreciate an optimistic, positive approach!


*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*

Reply Quote Report

Robs
31/12/2011 00:34

Quote:
Robs
see if you can pick an ex Falcons XV to play an ex Bristol XV.
Struggle with ex Bristol
but how about this for a fairly recent ex Falcons side:
3 Carl Hayman/David Wilson
Quote:
Chris B
That's like talking of Ayrton Senna and Pedro Deniz in the same breath.


ABSOLUTELY but Barf decided he was worth pursuing.
It's tragic to see so much of our home grown talent playing for other Clubs.I guess it happens all over the Prem. Can you saintly people suggest a xv who started playing or used to play for you but are now playing elsewhere?

Reply Quote Report

bonso
31/12/2011 00:48

Beech Gray Broster(Budgen Golding Sturgess and Murray) Cannon O'Donnaghue (Perciaval Lobbe) Best Browne Brown Howard (think he is still in France) Lewis Pratt (Ford Geraghty) Mayor Ansbro Harries Lamont and Wyles could count Rory but he was academy for a while. Thats off the top of Bons'bonce.

Reply Quote Report

Chris B
31/12/2011 01:49

Quote:

bonso
Beech Gray Broster(Budgen Golding Sturgess and Murray) Cannon O'Donnaghue (Perciaval Lobbe) Best Browne Brown Howard (think he is still in France) Lewis Pratt (Ford Geraghty) Mayor Ansbro Harries Lamont and Wyles could count Rory but he was academy for a while. Thats off the top of Bons'bonce.

Wot, no Bruce?

Reply Quote Report

Robs
31/12/2011 10:49

Bonso
Nice one

Out of that lot how many do you guys regret losing?

As you can imagine we regret losing a lot of ours!!

ALL the best for next year (not the rest of this!!)

Reply Quote Report

Saint Dom in Hanoi
31/12/2011 11:56

Particularly regret losing Ansbro, Murray and Joe Gray.

Soon will regret losing Chris Ashton, too...

Professional rugby: they come, they go. He who pays piper...

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net