Nobody in Europe, me included, and perhaps Rob Andrew excepted, thought that Newcastle Falcons could pull off a splash and grab raid over the Newport Gwent Dragons in Wales. But having done it, the Falcons must now produce an even bigger performance against a much fancied Perpignan side at Kingston Park. There are two ways of looking at this game. Let’s begin by being optimists. We all know that French sides travel badly and Biarritz and Bourgoin were beaten by Zurich Premiership clubs on their travels in Round One. Only Toulouse managed to squeak a narrow away victory. Perpignan were less than ordinary in the first half against Edinburgh last Friday night leading 3-0 at the break and were only marginally better in the second half getting two tries against a poor Scottish side. That, coupled with the Falcons tremendous spirited start should be enough for a home win. Flipside Now the pessimists take their turn. Perpignan who were beaten finalists in 2002/03, are everyone’s favourites to win the group and in their side they have a fly-half in Manny Edmonds who on his day can win a game single handedly. This is the side that everyone has to beat if progress is to be made. Surely the erratic Falcons can’t be the team to do it?
 | | Perpignan in action. |
This week, Edmonds has conceded that Perpignan have a lot of work to do to gain a victory with a side that has been showing poor form in the last three weeks. He also acknowledges that playing away games is harder, especially when ball control is lacking and unforced handling errors are being made. Rob Andrew meanwhile feels that Perpignan will present a different challenge to the Dragons but is giving nothing away about how his side will shape up for this next challenge. One change will be forced on the Falcons boss as American lock forward Luke Gross is suspended for the next four weeks after his heavyweight fisticuffs (and knee) with Ian Gough. Craig Hamilton who performed manfully in Toulouse three years ago would be the obvious replacement. Slippery when wet The weather forecast will not please the visitors from Perpignan with cold wet conditions promised and Newcastle will look to take advantage of the elements once again. Another factor will be the appointment of Nigel Whitehouse to referee the game, the Welshman may be another of these “personality” refs but like most of his countrymen he will enforce the breakdown with a gusto that the Newcastle Director of Rugby will welcome. David Walder says that the players go into this game with massive confidence. Having been a pessimist last weekend, I can find grounds for optimism in this second round. Knowing that you have to win your home games to make progress, I can see the Falcons doing it on Sunday, but it’ll be close enough to give the pessimists something to worry about until the final ten minutes.
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