By Leipziger
December 24 2010

Following Bristol away in February 2009 and Sale away in April 2010, we now have what we expect to be this season’s Big Game – Leeds at Kingston Park.

The Premiership table leaves no doubt about the importance of this Boxing Day battle (well, the day after Boxing Day).  We are currently seven points ahead of the winless Cardigans, and a win will give us an opportunity to look forward for the rest of the season and try to achieve as high a position as possible.  Defeat will drag us into a relegation battle, and don’t forget we still have to visit Headingley in February.

After nine matches Leeds have still not won in the league this season after they successfully stayed up in 2009/10, and have only three losing bonus points to show for their efforts.  Beginning with a home defeat to Bath, the Yorkshiremen then lost by only a single point at Gloucester, before being beaten by Saracens and London Irish either side of a hammering at Leicester.

October saw two narrow home defeats to Sale and Wasps and then last month there was a 15-9 loss at Exeter before the team-formerly-known-as-the-Tykes conceded 51 points, including seven tries, at Harlequins.

Like ourselves, Leeds’s last league game was postponed, at home to Northampton three weeks ago.  Since then they have had two bonus-point wins over Crociati in the Challenge Cup, Michael Stephenson amongst the scorers in Italy on Sunday, to go with a win in Bucharest and a home defeat to Stade.

Two defeats in the LV= Cup seem to have ended their hopes in that competition.

Stevo is probably the most familiar name to Falcons fans in the Cardigans’ squad, having moved to Headingley this summer after five seasons with Bath.  In 14 starts though he has only crossed the try-line once, against Crociati.  There are two England international hookers though in Andy Titterell and World Cup winner Steve Thompson, who is enjoying a second chance at his career after previously retiring from injury.

Captain and former Tiger Marco Wentzel is also a Springbok with two caps for his country, and back-rower Rhys Oakley has played the same number of times for Wales, having reached a century of outings for Leeds last season.

Unlike Alan Tait, Neil Back and Andy Key do have a current England international in their squad in Hendre Fourie, a South African-born flanker with four caps who joined from Rotherham in 2007 and has played over 50 times for his current club.

After five wins in a row against Leeds after they were first promoted to the Premiership in 2001, and another period of dominance around the middle of the last decade, we have actually gone three competitive games without beating the Cardies right now.  Our last victory was a tight 21-19 win on 6^th October 2007, which might have been the day before Steve1888 (temporarily) conquered his fear of flying.

Of our side that day, all of the starters have left and only Jon Golding, Matt Thompson, Brent Wilson from the replacements are still at KP, although Andy Perry is on our backroom staff.

Since then we have lost and drawn at Headingley in the league (with a friendly win in between) before on 27^th December 2009 over 8,000 people saw Leeds grind out a 15-16 win on a horrible day at KP.  Alfie To’oala was the only try-scorer and despite late Falcons pressure we were unable to get the winning score.

An interesting omen might be that on Sunday it will be 365 days since we last played Leeds.  In 2002 and 2003 we met them at Headingley 362 days apart.  Both of those games ended in away wins too.  I didn’t say it was a good omen, although we did not win another Premiership away game in between our Yorkshire conquests, while Leeds were successful at Sale and London Irish in early 2010.

Another possibly good omen is that last season was the first time we’d lost our first game after Christmas since 2002.  That’s a record we will need to keep up this weekend.

This is likely to be our most important game of the season, so if you possibly can get to the match then please do and give the lads your full support.  If we win, and I fully believe we will, you will feel better if you know you’ve played your part.

The likelihood of Euan Murray making his debut should only increase the anticipation.  This is the kind of match rugby was invented for.

Newcastle v Leeds, 27/12/2010 – The Big One

Discussion started by FalconsRugby.org.uk , 24/12/2010 11:26

FalconsRugby.org.uk
24/12/2010 11:26

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nursepete
24/12/2010 12:22

Guscott has backed us to win against leeds

[news.bbc.co.uk]

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Heckler
24/12/2010 13:25

With Guscott predicting a win for you Budgies bodes well for us as he has backed us on many game this year and you know whats happened.
I am predicting a very hard fought match up on your cabbage patch with only a couple of points in it, all being well in the favour of the lads from Leeds.

Will look forward to drinking your beer and obviously your warm hospitality.

Have a good day tomorrow but not so good on Monday.....

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steve1888
26/12/2010 11:37

They have two current England internationals as Thompson has been playing although not as impressive as Fourie.

Hope you enjoy your day Heckler just not the result and safe journey to all your traveling fans.

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