GP: Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints Match Preview by Bleach

Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints

Friday, 27^st November 2009 - 8pm

Kingston Park

Match Preview

SINCERE APOLOGIES

And so, that's why you are reading this and that's why I am struggling after just one paragraph. What on earth do I , the author, know about Newcastle, what right do I have to offer any constructive comments about how the two teams will play. Oh dear oh dear.

The answer to my own dilemma came from the most unexpected source - the long suffering Mrs Bleach, driving home from a pleasant Sunday afternoon in Greenwich turned to me ( having just heard the Sports News ) and said " That Newcastle team have turned things around - they are ones to watch "

After a little investigation, I think she has a point which makes Friday evenings game that more interesting. A resurgent Falcons team, Saints ‘bogey' team, a cold November evening (probably wet) in Newcastle. I think St Kenneth sums it up quite nicely

"The Newcastle match for us worries me. Kingston Park seems to be a place we hardly, if ever, win at so that will be a really tough game for us, especially now that they have so much confidence after today's result."

And they are a little optimistic over on the Newcastle offy.

"This week against Northampton is a really good chance to put in a great home performance for our fans with a big Friday night atmosphere, the excitement and belief is definitely with us at the moment and we just can't wait to get back out there."

And so to the preview.

HOW  WILL THEY LINE UP?

Its very difficult, if not impossible, to predict how the teams will line up - I guess the Saints side will more or less pick itself with perhaps Tintin returning to his rightful position at 10 with  Smyler dropping to the bench ( he hasn't , in my opinion, shouted very loud that he wants to  own the 10 shirt ). I guess Courtney will want a full 80 minutes having removed all the splinters caused by the Twickenham benches - oh, then there's Dylan.. This blinking preview lark is now starting to get to me - so much to think about. Lets just conclude that as far as the Saints side is concerned, and at the time of writing this nonsense, I expect there to be several changes from the team that lined up against Harlequins. As far as the Falcons are concerned (I cannot type Budgies, so disrespectful and so yesterday) I can only go on what I have read and what I have seen. The team that lined up against Irish was hailed by some as " The strongest we have put out" and so I guess, and assume that the team to face the Saints will be similar to that outlined below. Its quite weird typing a Falcons team sheet and getting to ‘10' and not writing Jonny... the fingers do it automatically. The days of Falcons relying upon a few ‘super stars' seem to have vanished with the latest cull - the team looks a balance of youth and experience and its clear to see why this team have only lost  one GP game this season.

15 Alex Tait
14 Danny Williams  ( England Rugby League )
13 Rob Vickerman  ( England 7's )
12 Tane Tu'ipulotu  ( Junior All Black )
11 Charlie Amesbury  ( England 7's )
10 Jimmy Gopperth  ( Junior All Black )
9 Micky Young  ( England Saxons )

1 Jon Golding  ( England Saxons )
2 Rob Vickers
3 Carl Hayman (captain)  (All Black )
4 James Hudson  ( England Saxons )
5 Mark Sorenson
6 Tim Swinson
7 Will Welch
8 Adam Balding  ( England Saxons )

Replacements:

16 Alex Walker
17 Micky Ward
18 Laurence Ovens
19 Josh Afu
20 Ed Williamson
21 Hall Charlton
22 Rob Miller
23 Gcobani Bobo

NEWCASTLE FALCONS GUINESS PREMIERSHIP FORM

Well, some teams go a life time without DRAWING a game - Falcons seem to have become the masters of this growing art form. Three GP draws already this season!. However, the three Draws are accompanied with two impressive wins away from home - that's impressive.

• Sun 6 Sep Leeds Carnegie 9 - 9 Newcastle Falcons

"The pattern continued four minutes after the restart when Gopperth missed his fourth penalty from five attempts, yet Newcastle began to build up a head of steam. A forward pass denied them a try in the 56th minute after they fashioned a fine move which stretched Leeds to breaking point down the left flank.

Gopperth claimed his second penalty on the hour mark and then Thomas did likewise four minutes later. Gopperth struck again in the 69th minute to put Newcastle 9-6 ahead but Leeds drew level with six minutes remaining when Thomas landed his third penalty from five attempts."

• Sun 13 Sep Newcastle Falcons 16 - 16 Sale Sharks

"The Falcons began to lose their discipline and Thomas' second penalty trimmed the lead to 16-13 before the hosts were penalised for not rolling away at a ruck, allowing the former Cardiff man to tie the scores with just seven minutes remaining."

• Sat 19 Sep Leicester Tigers 15 - 6 Newcastle Falcons

• Fri 25 Sep Newcastle Falcons 17 - 17 Harlequins

A long-range penalty from Gopperth protected Newcastle's advantage but Evans hit back again with the boot. The late sin-binning of Rob Vickers for constant infringing, gave Quins hope and Evans levelled the scoreboard. But a late drop goal sailed wide from Evans as a first win eluded them.

• Sun 4 Oct Newcastle Falcons 15 - 22 Saracens

• Sat 24 Oct Bath Rugby 16 - 27 Newcastle Falcons

• Sun 1 Nov Newcastle Falcons 14 - 3 Worcester Warriors

• Sun 22 Nov London Irish  11 v   Newcastle Falcons  15

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

Going back to St Kenneth's "The Newcastle match for us worries me " I thought it was worthwhile looking back at previous encounters. According to the statistics, the honors are shared - 22 Games have been played with 11 wins each and NO DRAWS.

February 2009

"Resurgent Newcastle ran in three tries in the opening 11 minutes to end Northampton's long unbeaten home run a week short of its second anniversary."

Saints 13 Falcons 19

September 2008

"Jonny Wilkinson kicked 22 points and set up a try to inspire Newcastle to victory over Northampton in a scrappy GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP encounter at Kingston Park."   

Falcons 32 Saints 22

April 2007

"Newcastle Falcons banished any lingering fears of relegation with a hard-fought 16-7 victory over Northampton Saints at Kingston Park today. But for Heineken Cup semi-finalists Northampton the spectre of the drop remains after they failed to reproduce the fighting display that brought them victory in San Sebastien against Biarritz."   

Falcons 16 Saints 7

September 2006

"The efforts of Jonny Wilkinson were not enough to inspire Newcastle Falcons to victory in their first GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP game under new boss John Fletcher as Northampton Saints edged an engaging encounter at Franklin's Gardens."

Saints 25 Falcons 23

March 2006

"Northampton Saints moved ahead of Newcastle Falcons in the Guinness Premiership table with a bonus-point win at Kingston Park."

Falcons 13 Saints 32

September 2005

"Walder does not receive too many plaudits as Jonny Wilkinson's long-serving understudy at Kingston Park but he scored a neatly-taken try and stroked over a pair of drop-goals which Wilkinson would have been proud of to increase the gloom for Northampton boss Budge Pountney." 

Saints 9 Falcons 16

April 2005

"The good news for the visitor was the sight of injury-jinxed England star Jonny Wilkinson finishing a game on his feet - he successfully negotiated the final 46 minutes of the game." 

Saints 23 Falcons 22

September 2004

"Newcastle conceded a needless penalty in the first minute when David Walder ran it out of his 22 instead of kicking for touch - and then his kick did go out on the full."

Falcons 27 Saints 16

TRAVELLING INFORMATION

Extracted from Newcastle Offy

Address
Kingston Park Stadium
Brunton Road
Kenton Bank Foot
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE13 8AF

Ticket Hotline: 0871 226 60 60
Main Reception: 0191 214 5588

The stadium is located in a central area within Kingston Park which allows pedestrian travel easily. The stadium is just a short walk, (approximately 7 minutes) from Kingston Park Metro station which provides regular and frequent connections to destinations through out Tyne and Wear. Two local bus stops located at Kingston Park shops and Tudor Way are also just a short walk away, conn

Pedestrian directions to the ground

Kingston Park Shops - bus stop: (Approx 0.8miles from the stadium)
Start out by heading South towards Kingston Park Avenue. After 107 yards turn left onto Kingston Park Avenue at the T-junction, heading East. Go right on around the roundabout, 57 yards on then turn off onto Brunton Lane, heading South. After 250 yards turn right onto Tudor Way , heading West. Go right around at the roundabout, ¼ mile on and then turn off onto Ponteland Road, heading North. After 250 yards continue straight onto the Main Road, heading North. You will reach the stadium 150 yards along Brunton Road.

Kingston Park Tudor Grange (Tudor Grange is a housing estate in Kingston Park, Tudor Way is the main road running through the estate) - bus stop: Approx 0.3 miles from the stadium

Start out along Tudor Way, heading North. Go right around at the roundabout, ¼ mile on and then turn off Ponteland Road, heading North. After 250 yards continue straight onto Main Road, heading North. After 150 yards bear right onto Brunton Road, heading North. You will reach the stadium 150 yards along Brunton Road.

Kingston Park Metro Station (Approx 0.7 miles from the stadium)
Start out along Brunton Lane heading North, after 250 yards turn left onto Windsor Way heading West, after ¼ mile turn left onto Brunton Road heading South, and you will reach the stadium ½ mile along Brunton Road.

WHAT THE FANS ARE CURRENTLY DISCUSSING

Falcons Offy Forum

"Having spent the last week in London the rumour mill working overtime not about Mr Hayman being an All Black but the clubs financial woes and as rumour has it the falcons are not far of bust!!! Surely not?????????? Only time will tell I suppose

"What is the craic in The North East as the rumour mill here in NZ is that Carl is returning here at the end of the season as The AB'S need him for RWC 2011?....any comments"

"Received my copy of The Rugby Paper dated Sun 8th Nov yesterday.
There is a report which, to paraphrase, states Dave Thompson is considering walking away, that the club is close to administration and that the club is struggling to pay players' wages. Obviously it is not right to believe everything in print.
However it would not be surprising if, bearing in mind the low attendance figures this season which give us the lowest average of the GP, that the club was not flush.
I hope that the above is not correct or at the least exaggerated and that, with what appears to be a good team, we can get results to draw some of the less commited supporters back to KP and ensure there is a continuation of GP rugby oop North"

Fans Forum

"IMO we have in past years had superstars such as JW, Flood, TAit and Noon and we finished very low in the league each year. This year with only 1 superstar in Hayman we are currently 6th in the league and looking at teams and positions above us rather than below. If we did purchase a superstar who was English we also do not have them for vast chunks of the season due to internationals. It has also been proven that Falcons adding superstars to the teamsheet only adds numbers to the away gates, not ours. A successful team playing winning rugby gets our attendances up which IMO we have made improving steps toward. Heineken cup rugby is a very realistic goal for this season through the league which in past years has been a dream. Yes the performance at the weakened was awful and i was bored watching it but we look like we are focusing on the league and with a small squad is sensible. Turning over Irish is very do able, and Saints up here will be a cracking watch and could really shoot us up the table."

And so it was prophesized that "Turning over Irish is very do able " - as a former visionary I would have been extremely proud of that one. I have to consider the factors that will influence this game and despite the fact that the Falcons are flying high this is no ordinary Saints side. It has been a long while since we had such strength in depth and played in the manner that we are all witnessing. History is in the past and I firmly believe that we will rise to the occasion - there are a few players that are not only ‘ livid ‘ but probably want to prove a point  and that can only be good for the Saintly ones. Saints to win by 7 ( no idea why I say 7 - first number I thought of )

And on a final, final note - those travelling to the North East on a wintry Friday night  have my utmost respect - I think it will be a purple legging sort of occasion . Enjoy the game.

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