It is incredible to think that just getting to the quarter-finals will be seen as a big achievement for our club, when the likes of Munster, Leicester, Toulouse, Stade Francais and Leinster probably expect that as a bare minimum.  But this is only our second season in the tournament, and last time we didn’t even come close.

In January 2002 we had long since lost any hope of getting out of the group by the time we travelled to Rodney Parade for our final group game against Newport.  We were destroyed 53-17 on the Friday night, our points coming from tries by Ian Peel and Gary Armstrong, and two conversions and a penalty from David Walder.

On Newport’s one previous visit to KP we faired little better, losing 21-34 in our first European Cup match.  Of the starting lineup in that match, only eight – David Walder, Jamie Noon, Tom May, Jonny Wilkinson, Ian Peel, James Isaacson, Stuart Grimes and Epi Taione – are still with us.

Unfortunately, Wilkinson and Walder are both definitely injured for this weekend’s crunch game, and with Matt Burke, Mark Mayerhofler, Joe Shaw and even Tom May struggling to be fit, and Toby Flood being injured too, we are left with only one fit player who has any experience at all of fly-half – Mark Wilkinson.  Who kicks will be a very important decision, Mathew Tait apparently being the favourite at the moment, but May also being a possibility should he play.

And to make matters worse, in today’s press release Rob Andrew told us that both Micky Ward and James Isaacson are also unfit, and if neither make it, this leaves us with the untried Ed Kalman at prop, but only one of Andy Long and Matt Thompson on the bench as front row cover.  The team will be announced Friday lunchtime, but what it will look like is anybody’s guess.

But these problems must be forgotten on the pitch.  The objective is clear this weekend, win and we are in the quarter-finals, lose and we are out.  A draw would see us go through, as long as Perpignan didn’t win in Edinburgh.  That last permutation is unlikely though, so it seems we will know as soon as the final whistle goes on Sunday what our fate is.  The Dragons currently lie joint second in Pool 5 with Perpignan on 15 points, whilst we still head the pack on 17 and so have the big advantage of going into the last day having our fate completely in our own hands and not having to worry about anything else but winning the game by any margin possible.

Newport hammered Edinburgh 48-5 last weekend, and since we defeated them at Rodney Parade in October have won and lost (like us, suffering a heavy defeat in France 32-9) against Perpignan and won at Murrayfield.  In the Celtic League they are fourth at the moment, with seven wins from twelve matches.  Their last match in the league was a 35-26 defeat at Llanelli on New Year’s Day, and before that they beat Cardiff 25-21 at home.  Therefore, they also come into the game in mixed form.

However, once the referee blows the whistle at 1pm on Sunday, form and everything else will go out of the window and it will be down to the two teams to fight it out for the result.  Both teams need a win desperately, but, as I’ve said, we have the advantage of being able to completely concentrate on our own performance and result, whilst in the back of Newport’s mind will be the fact that even if they win, it still might not be enough to get them into the quarters if Perpignan equal or better their result.

To the players – Every Falcon is behind you, and is willing your victory.  Nobody expected you to still be in contention on the last day, and you’re already heroes.  Use the circumstances to increase your effort even more.

To the fans – This game is our biggest since the Cup Final, one of our biggest ever and demands a similar performance not just from the players but from the supporters too.  We must make a load of noise; let Newport know that they don’t just have 15 men to get past but also thousands of Geordies.  Let our boys know how much we want them to win, how much faith we have in them.  This is OUR responsibility, and for the individual reading this, it is YOUR responsibility to make as much noise as you can.

Trust me, when we walk off at 3pm having qualified for the quarter-finals, you will feel a lot better having played your part.

We are watching to see our team win. In the end, nothing else matters on Sunday afternoon.  This could be a great day in the history of our club if all of us come together for our boys.

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