The Falcons are flying
Newcastle have now won 2 games this season with both victories coming at home. Friday's fallen foe was Saracens whose defeat marked the biggest coup of the Diamond era. This victory also lifts Newcastle off of the bottom of the table. Kingston Park is swiftly re-earning its reputation as a challenging place to go and play rugby. The Falcons are a scrappy team but have seen results improve in the Premiership Cup due to a change in strategy by Steve Diamond. Ethan Grayson, who filled in for Brett Connon at fly-half earlier this season, has moved to fullback to accommodate the return of Connon thus providing the team with more control, creativity and a better, more varied kicking game. There will surely be more challenging days ahead in Newcastle, particularly now that the club is up for sale, but the Falcons look more capable of facing difficult scenarios head on. Kingston Park is becoming a Falcons stronghold and English rugby is better for it.
Thank you, Joe Marler
A legend of English rugby departed the game for the final time on Friday night at the Twickenham Stoop and this time he plans to remain retired. So, all that is left to do is to thank him for his contribution to the game as both a player and a personality. He amassed 95 caps for his country and won multiple titles with his club in a legendary and uniquely loyal career. His personality shone to the end, with the ref mic catching him asking referee Luke Pearce if he would be penalised for taking off his shirt should he score. He quickly left the pitch before the hour mark to one final standing ovation by everyone in the ground. The game itself did not go to plan for Harlequins with Danny Care saying in his punditry work for TNT on Sunday that it felt like they had been "out-Quinsed". Bristol look to be a special team who play an exciting brand of rugby. Their European campaign gets underway next week with presumably high hopes.
Cherries on top
Gloucester entered this season with perhaps more hope than belief that this season would be much better than last time out. It seems that they have made significant progress this year and the results are showing it. Beating last season's champions at their home stadium is a statement victory for a team playing without its talismanic scrum-half, Tomos Williams. Afolabi Fasogbon continues to impress and show his big character at scrum time. As for Northampton, they sit in eighth and deservedly so. They have shown consistent flashes but games have gotten away from them on too many occasions. They are definitely missing some of last year's muscle in the pack and will find it difficult to replace at this point. However, there is more than enough time for this talented group to turn things around.
Exeter come close but not close enough
Defeat to Bath makes it seven games and seven losses in the league for Exeter. The Cheifs came close and had multiple opportunities when the home team had a man in the bin but couldn't take any, eventually falling to a 19-15 defeat. Exeter will now start their Champions Cup campaign needing a boost before the Premiership resumes in a few weeks. Exter will hopefully keep getting players back and bolster their squad to have a strong finish which will be needed given that they are now bottom having already lost to Newcastle with a relegation playoff a legitimate possibility.
Sale show a bit extra
It was a tense first half between Sale and Leicester with the game being dominated by route one forward play and kicking. In the second half Sale came out swinging. They scored a try in the opening moments and never looked back. Sale got the initiative and were brave in possession. They are a tough team with good halfbacks and a deadly, well-balanced back line. Their home form is strong but their away form has to pick up in order for them to reach the playoffs but with their coaches and players, the Sharks are definitely in contention. As for Leicester, Cheika has brought a toughness and physicality to the Tigers which has made a huge impact but if they want to win titles they must prove they have another avenue to win games. They certainly have the backs to play more expansively so it is unlikely to be a recurring issue. I wouldn't be surprised to see both of these teams in the playoffs at the end of the season.
Add comment
Comments