Carnegie fans will remember with dismay trying to get into HC, normally threequarters empty, the last time JW was in town. The denizens of the  northeast  poured down the A1 en masse to follow the Falcons that day. They were not disappointed as Johnny squeezed through a mean Leeds defence to touch down at the scoreboard end. Last weekend the Falcons were without their England contingent. They have all returned to their club now and even the more hard bitten Leeds fans will have appreciated the performance of Jamie Noon in the centre against Ireland last week. Leeds has failed to impress anyone with their attack from midfield this season. Newcastle, on the other hand, has talent by the barrowload in a back division which is the envy of most other clubs. One thing that puzzles neutral observers is why does this talented team lie tenth in the Guinness Premiership? Clearly this question has been asked before as the Falcons have recently sacked their coach, John Fletcher.

Stuart Lancaster has a more certain future, at least  in the medium term. Barring one of the above mentioned miracles he will be coaching Leeds in ND1 next season before triumphantly returning to the GP on a more permanent basis a year later. That must be the plan at any rate. In the short term Lanny will be working on pulling off the great escape starting with Newcastle. The northeasterners can be beaten. Bristol showed that last week by playing a muscular forwards game. Has Leeds got the beef to do the business? The answer is yes. This game has long been targeted as a winnable one and the pack will surely rise to the occasion and deprive the “talent” of decent ball. Some of the Carnegie forwards are on good form, notably Balding, Lund and MacDonald, ably assisted by Ma’asi, Myall and Fourie. The backs will have their work cut out again so expect defensive heroics from the likes of Blackett and Hinton. The weather forcast for Friday is cold and wet - it may well be a case of who wants it most? If that turns out to be so then there can only be one result. A home win! Well stranger things have happened. Pass me those loaves and fishes.  

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