The Newcastle Falcons pleaded, well requested at least, two away fixtures to start the season so that they could have sufficient time to work on the terraces on the east side of Kingston Park. Those fans who watched the pre-season game with the Pertemps Bees will be forgiven for looking quizzical as nothing has happened in that area, due for the most part to the refusal of planning permission to extend the ground capacity. But the two away games were granted and the Falcons must go to the Recreation Ground in Bath for Round Two of the Zurich Premiership. The Rec has not been a happy hunting ground for Rob Andrew’s men in recent years, though they did win there during their Championship winning season. In fact, it was their first game and first victory of that momentous campaign.
There have also been some close tussles between the two sides and the Falcons did manage a victory over Bath at Kingston Park last season. Right track Newcastle got off to a winning if not hugely impressive start at Worcester last Sunday, whereas Bath conceded four tries as they succumbed to Northampton. Against such vastly different opposition little can be read into these opening results, save perhaps that Bath have a defence that can be breached, while the Falcons are looking mean in that department.
 | | Matt Burke |
There are no reported injuries following Newcastle’s game at Sixways which means that if Australian new signing Matt Burke is to get a starting slot, then someone will have to be dropped.
Even after three pre-season games and a Zurich Premiership fixture, Rob Andrew has an interesting dilemma; what is his best side? Selecting Burke is likely to depend on how quickly and how well he has blended into the Newcastle squad and learned the training ground moves that the coaches wish to play. Raise the game The room for improvement after Sunday’s performance was suggested by Rob Andrew to be “around three to four hundred per cent”. Against the side that surprised everyone by rising from 11th in April 2003, to become table toppers last time around that improvement will be necessary and a bit of good fortune wouldn’t go amiss either. Pundits are already suggesting that the Falcons, with Jonny Wilkinson back to kick their points, are capable of a top three finish. With Leicester, Wasps and Northampton having eyes on those positions I don’t agree.
The Falcons and Bath might be the sides that fight out fourth and fifth in the final table and on that basis alone Saturday’s meeting should prove interesting; a bonus point would be worth having and might augur well for the remainder of the campaign.
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