Falcons make two changes for Amlin Cup trip to Toulon

Posted on Dec 16, 2011 in Amlin Challenge Cup, Newcastle Falcons

Falcons boss Alan Tait has made two changes for Saturday’s Amlin Challenge Cup trip to Toulon

Corne Uys returns at outside centre with James Fitzpatrick moving to the wing in place of Ryan Shortland as the north easterners aim to maintain their 100 per cent record in the competition.

Jeremy Manning gets the nod at fly-half while the forward pack is unchanged following a successful stint against Toulon’s heavyweights last week.

“Toulon will want to throw the ball around and they have absolutely nothing to lose,” said Tait who will have his sights set on progressing to the knockout stages.

“They know that if they want to win the group they need the bonus point against us, and they will chuck it about because four tries will be required,” he added.

Tait’s outfit claimed a famous victory over the French aristocrats last week, a result which secured top spot in the pool going into this weekend’s blockbuster.

Winning by the slenderest of margins in gale force conditions last week, Tait predicts a more open affair in the sunnier climbs of the south of France.

Tait said: “I think an open game is good for us. If it is another arm-wrestle then we run the risk of guys being battered ahead of the league matches that follow.

“Less contact areas will play into our hands as well, and we are a team that wants to play a bit of footy when the time is right with good ball in decent areas.

“French crowds are pretty hostile, but they can turn on their team just as they can get behind them.”

Tickets are still available for the Falcons next home game against Northampton on New Year’s Eve (kick-off 2pm) by calling 0871 226 6060 or click here to read more.

Newcastle:15 Greg Goosen, 14 Luke Eves, 13 Corne Uys, 12 Jamie Helleur, 11 James Fitzpatrick, 10 Jeremy Manning, 9 Jordi Pasqualin, 1 Grant Shiells, 2 Joe Graham, 3 Euan Murray, 4 James Hudson, 5 Andrew van der Heijden, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch, 8 Richard Mayhew

Replacements:16 Rob Vickers, 17 Ashley Wells, 18 Dan Frazier, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Ally Hogg, 21 Chris Pilgrim, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Luke Fielden

Tait names Falcons side for Irish test

Posted on Oct 21, 2011 in English Rugby, London Irish, Newcastle Falcons, Premiership

Newcastle Falcons have made four changes to the side that beat Cardiff Blues last week for Sunday’s LV= Cup trip to London Irish (kick-off 3pm).

Jeremy Manning comes in for the rested Jimmy Gopperth at fly-half, while Jamie Helleur takes up the inside centre berth occupied by Manning last weekend.

Luke Eves who had an impressive stint on the wing against the Blues replaces Corne Uys at outside centre with Alex Tait returning to the wing.

Chris Pilgrim gets the nod ahead of Jordi Pasqualin at No.9 with Falcons boss Alan Tait making just one change in the pack with James Hall replacing Euan Murray in the front row.

The Falcons opened up their LV= Cup campaign with a convincing 33-3 triumph against Cardiff and aim to make it back-to-back wins with victory over Toby Booth’s men.

“We were outstanding in the first-half and we played some really good rugby,” said Tait who guided the north easterners to the Anglo=Welsh final last term.

“I know Cardiff came up here with a young team but they were still very well drilled and had a lot of potential in their side. Paul Moriarty knows a lot of those players having coached them and they all come from good Welsh rugby backgrounds.

“I thought we went about our business in a professional manor – in the second-half we fell away a little bit and made it difficult for ourselves and probably should have won the game more comfortably,” added Tait.

Speaking about Manning’s selection at No.10, Tait admits he is looking forward to seeing the crafty Kiwi in action, saying: “I’ve been really keen to play Jeremy Manning at fly-half.

“I know he has done a great job for us at full-back but he can play in the middle of the field as he proved last week. I think he could develop as a good No. 10 in the Premiership as he brings something different to the game.”

With the Aviva Premiership recommencing the following week, Tait is expecting a tough test at the Madejski.

He said: “Even though it is the LV= Cup Toby Booth will want to get a strong team out there before they go into the Premiership the week after.

“We know that it will be a tough day at the office and this is an opportunity for people like Darren Fearn to step up. 

Newcastle: Greg Goosen, Rikki Sheriffe, Luke Eves, Jamie Helleur, Alex Tait, Jeremy Manning, Chris Pilgrim, Darren Fearn, Michael Mayhew, James Hall, Glen Townson, Andrew van der Heijden, Mark Wilson, Redford Pennycook, Ally Hogg (c)

Replacements: Joe Graham, Ashley Wells, Dan Frazier, Tim Swinson, Will Welch, Jordi Pasqualin, Corne Uys, Joel Hodgson

LV= Cup: Murray starts for Newcastle vs Cardiff

Posted on Oct 14, 2011 in Cardiff Blues, Newcastle Falcons

Newcastle Falcons will unleash some of their big guns for Saturday’s LV= Cup showdown with Cardiff Blues at Kingston Park (kick-off 6.30pm).

Fresh from his World Cup exploits down under, Scotland international Euan Murray starts in the front row while giant lock Andrew van der Heijden gets the nod in the engine room.

Goal-kicking sensation Jimmy Gopperth will don the familiar No. 10 jersey with fellow Kiwi Jeremy Manning returning to the back division following a lengthy spell on the sideline.

Manning will form a mouth-watering centre combination with new South African signing Corne Uys as head coach Alan Tait eyes successive victories on home soil.

Tait makes seven further changes to the side that went down fighting at Saracens in the Aviva Premiership last week.

Rikki Sheriffe and Luke Eves occupy both wings while Jordi Pasqualin, an LV= Cup winner with Gloucester last term is handed a chance to impress at scrum-half.

In the front-row Darren Fearn and Michael Mayhew partner Murray while last season’s Academy Player of the Season Mark Wilson comes in for Richard Mayhew at flanker.

Murray’s tantalising inclusion in the Falcons starting XV is real positive sign of intent by the Falcons, who were beaten finalists last time out.

Falcons boss Tait said: “He is one of the best scrummagers in the world, and Mickey Ward has got a smile on his face as front-row coach because he knows like me that great players make a great difference.

“I am expecting the scrum to be a solid base for us to attack from, and Euan will be a key part of that.”

Newcastle kick-started their domestic campaign with a hard-fought triumph over London Wasps a fortnight ago, a result which has revitalised the side according to Tait.

“We are starting to click, we still have players to come into the team and I am really excited with how we can kick-on,” said Tait.

“I have always said that I am keen to get a Newcastle Falcons style of rugby, so that everybody knows when the Falcons turn up they are going to get a certain type of game.

“Against Leicester and Exeter we put on some good stuff, and even last weekend against Saracens – who are the best team in the country – I was thrilled with how we played at times,” he added.

Newcastle: Goosen, Sheriffe, Uys, Manning, Eves, Gopperth, Pasqualin, Fearn, M. Mayhew, Murray, Townson, van der Heijden, Wilson, Pennycook, Hogg.

Replacements: Graham, Wells, Hall, Swinson, Welch, Chudley, Helleur, Hodgson

Tigers challenge for Tait

Posted on Jul 14, 2011 in Leicester, Premiership

England international centre Mathew Tait has completed his move to Leicester Tigers.

Tait, 25, has played more than 150 first-team games in eight seasons in club rugby, starting at Newcastle Falcons and then moving to Sale Sharks.

Capped 38 times by England, Tait has played at wing and full-back as well as at centre, and is now looking to make an impact at Welford Road.

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: “We think Mathew is an excellent addition to the squad.

“He has gained a lot of experience for a player who is still just 25 years old and he has played at the highest level, including the World Cup Final in 2007.

“But he is still young, he is still ambitious and he wants to challenge himself here.”

County Durham-born Tait made his senior debut for Newcastle Falcons in 2004 and gained his first England cap as an 18-year-old during the 2005 Six Nations.

He moved to Sale Sharks in 2008 and gained his most recent England cap in Australia last summer.

Tait said: “The move to Leicester Tigers gives me a great opportunity to continue my development as a player and I know there is still a lot to come in my career.

“I’ve enjoyed some great times in the game already and I still have ambitions and goals to achieve in rugby.

“There is a superb set-up at Leicester and a very competitive squad. I’m looking forward to trying to establish myself in the team here.”

Tait bolsters backroom staff

Posted on Jun 30, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Newcastle Falcons chief Alan Tait has bolstered his backroom staff with the addition of talented skills coach, Calum MacRae.

MacRae, 31, from Edinburgh joins the Falcons on the back of a distinguished playing career, having plied his trade in the Celtic league for the Borders. The former utility back went on to enjoy stints with Edinburgh and Worcester before taking the plunge as a coach.

A qualified PE teacher, MacRae coached at Italian Super 10 side Venezia, and now moves to Kingston Park just as pre-season training heats up.

“I’m really happy to have the opportunity to work here,” said a delighted MacRae.

“I have spent a lot of time going through every Falcons Aviva Premiership game of last season to see how we can improve our game in the backs. I have spotted a few things and I am looking forward to working with the backs this season and most of all improving their game sense,” he added.

And MacRae admits he was struck by the club’s ambition the moment he walked through the doors at Kingston Park.

He said: “There’s a lot of history at this club and I am proud to follow a long line of Scots who have worked at the Falcons. It is an exciting time and I can sense the ambition that the guys at the top have for the future of this club.”

MacRae was part of the Scotland training squad for a four year period which included call ups for autumn tests in 2006 and for the 2008 Six Nations Championship.

Head coach Tait believes MacRae is a good acquisition, saying: “It is something that the senior players have talked about, and when we spoke with them at the end of last season they felt it was an area where we could make some gains.

“We are always looking to improve, so we took that on board and put an extra skills guy in there who is already making a difference.”

Tait revealed that he was keen to get MacRae on board for the new campaign adding: “I spoke to Calum before the end of last season about the possibility of doing something with us, and he came back to me with some really good ideas.

“So far it is working really well. He is picking up individuals and working with them, and also taking groups to work on their skill base.

“Those little bits really make a difference. The players are dead keen to learn, and many of them have been coming in on their day off to put in extra work with him.

“It’s a part-time role, and he will come down from the Borders two or three days a week to work with the first team squad as well as doing some additional training with the academy lads and younger players.”