Yorkshire Carnegie
Preview: Leeds Carnegie v Newcastle Falcons
Vicks
By Andy Brown
September 4 2009
So, after what seems like a close season lasting around four years, and with the national media's eyes on the sport of rugby union for all the wrong reasons, we finally get to the weekend many of us have been waiting for. The rugby season – for playing the game that is, not the current press sport of shooting sitting-ducks – is about to start.
As supporters of Leeds, we go into this coming campaign with a bit more spring in our step than the last time we were in the Prem. For the first time that I can remember, the pundits are divided, with such luminaries as Will Greenwood and Stuart Barnes picking us to survive this time round. (I've always liked that nice Mr. Barnes – he really knows his onions!).
However, plenty more folk have taken what might look like the obvious route and named us as dead certs for relegation once again. When I looked recently at the betting odds, we were 4/6 on favourites for relegation. There's still plenty of work for us to do yet!
But on to the matter in hand, our first match against Newcastle has widely been regarded as a great opportunity to get a win under our belts. Newcastle have been perennial under-achievers over the years and last season was one of the most worrying for them. Many of the fans during the early part of the season were very disparaging of Steve Bates's appointment as Director of Rugby, and the early form appeared to bear out this distrust. However in what appears to be a regular post-christmas surge, Newcastle pulled well clear of trouble, and in this close season they have recruited heavily, bringing in sixteen new players.
Two of those new players, of course, we know very well. Messrs. Vickerman and Biggs have been named in the starting line-up for the match on Sunday, with Mr. Vickerman being particularly vocal about the relish with which he will return to Leeds, hoping to put one over his former team. I hope Leeds fans will give those two the warm reception that their past service for Leeds deserves. There is no doubt that all the new recruits that Newcastle have brought in are good seasoned professionals who should do well in the Premiership. But of course the question is, how will they gel?
By contrast, Leeds have a settled team that are, by now, used to winning. Their fitness regime has been improved to the extent that Neil Back and Andy Key are confident of their ability to stay the course in Premiership matches, and with recruitment strengthening key areas all things look as good as they can be. One fly in the ointment is the perplexing attitude to overseas rugby players that the UK Border Agency has taken, which means we are without two props and a centre for this encounter. However the rest of the team are all fit and healthy, so there is plenty to get excited about. If Newcastle come to Headingley expecting to wipe away a National 1 team as a prelude to their real season starting, they are in for a nasty shock.
Of course, there are pros and cons to the first match in the season being against likely rivals battling to avoid relegation in May. Our settled team may well be able to play against a set of individuals in Newcastle colours that don't yet know each other terribly well – catch them cold if you will. Alternatively, there will have been little or no chance to analyse previous performances on DVD, so there may be a few surprise tricks up their collective sleeve (metaphorically I hasten to add) that could cause problems for the Leeds defence. There are many unknowns.
What I'm sure we will see on Sunday though is a game of high intensity. Both sides know that this is a key fixture, and both sides will go all out to win, and win well. Grind your opponent into the dust in the first match of the season, and watch their little heads droop as they contemplate the severity of the challenge ahead of them after that kind of disappointing loss. Of course this match isn't the be-all and end-all, but psychologically, it would be a huge blow were we to lose.
Just as well, then, that Leeds will win a five point cracker of a game, with a huge captains performance from my man-of-the-match prediction, Marco Wentzel.
Leeds: 15 Jon Goodridge, 14 Richard Welding, 13 Jonny Hepworth, 12 Scott Barrow, 11 Lee Blackett, 10 Ceiron Thomas, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Rhys Oakley, 7 Hendre Fourie, 6 Kearnan Myall, 5 Marco Wentzel (capt), 4 Phil Murphy, 3 Tommy McGee, 2 Vili Ma'asi, 1. Gareth Hardy.
Replacements: 16 Rob Rawlinson, 17 Alex Moreno, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 Alfie To'oala, 20 Danny Paul, 21 Scott Mathie, 22 Henry Paul, 23 Scott Armstrong
Newcastle: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Danny Williams, 13 Rob Vickerman, 12 Gcobani Bobo, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Micky Young, 8 Peter Browne, 7 Brent Wilson, 6 Adam Balding, 5 James Hudson, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Carl Hayman (capt), 2 Rob Vickers, 1 Jon Golding.
Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 Laurence Ovens, 18 Micky Ward, 19 Mark Sorenson, 20 Ed Williamson, 21 Hall Charlton, 22 Rob Miller, 23 Charlie Amesbury.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
04/09/2009 11:10
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
I to saw the betting odds that we were 4/6 on favourites for relegation but I was tempted by the 200/1 odds of winning the premiership can I afford to blow ten quid.
Looking forward to Sunday, I expect another grudge match derby, maybe not always pretty, but intense & fast.
Quote:citizen-slacker
I don't think you'll take the drop. I think it will be one of the "big boys". Wasps are my favourites.
Looking forward to Sunday, I expect another grudge match derby, maybe not always pretty, but intense & fast.
Slacky
We are one of the "big boys"
Bigs will fancy his chances against Welding but then I'd fancy anyone scoring against Bigs so it could be level there. I rated Balding when he was here. Vicarman was caught napping positionally at last seasons Cup final against Moseley so I hope he is as slack tomorrow. Will be interesting to see if our half backs are up to it. Come on you Tykes, and welcome back Terry.
What doesn't kill me will make me strong. Aaaaaaaarghhhh.
