Out On The Full Meets: Nick Kennedy, Declan Danaher & Paul Hodgson

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Over the years London Irish's academy system has delivered us with a whole host of talented players; Marland Yarde, Anthony Watson, Matt Garvey, Jamie Gibson and Alex Corbisero are just a few of the names that crafted their trade with the South West London club. These are men that are developing into world class players however frustratingly for the Exiles to a man they all now play their rugby elsewhere. This year three individuals that are fresh off the rugby field have been given the task of continuing to develop this conveyor belt of talent and crucially stemming that flow out; Nick Kennedy, Paul Hodgson and Declan Danaher. I headed to Irish’s new home, Hazelwood, to speak to them as they embark on their new roles.

The return of a trio that have 700 club appearances for London Irish is hugely important to the future of the Club. Nick and Paul cut short their playing careers in order to take up their coaching roles, both had more miles on the clock and naturally I was intrigued to know about their decision making process;

“I had a couple of years on my deal with Harlequins and was 50/50 for a long time, on whether I wanted to continue to play or not. I’ve always wanted to go out on the top, my last game was the Semi Final of the Aviva Premiership, so not a bad one to go out on really?!”

"When I fully knew who I was going to be working alongside and everything else going on at the club it was an easy decision . However to get your head around the fact that all of a sudden you are going to cut your career short, not through injury either, is quite tough but soon as I did that I couldn’t wait and I’m glad I did now."

All three excelled on the pitch however collectively they are aware that their time on the field is in the past and they are focusing everything on establishing London Irish's Academy as one of the best in the country. Their passion and love for London Irish adds so much to their wealth of rugby knowledge and it is combined with other personal attributes that are driving the club forward as Nick highlighted;

“These two as players were the hardest working players that I’ve come across and they are exactly the same in their coaching careers, in terms of the hours that they work and the effort that they put in. Already it is their work ethic that is propelling the academy to another level.”

Few of us can forget the interview that Dec gave BT Sport when he opened up about the hardest of times at the Club, his emotion was raw for all to see, to use the Exiles’ phrase Dec really does bleed green, as do Nick and Paul. This personal attachment to the club is something that they are focused on sharing with their players and is key to ensuring that their young talent stays at Hazelwood as Dec highlighted;

“We’ve got good players coming through and it is ensuring that they are learning and playing an enjoyable style of rugby and importantly that when they pull that jersey on it means something to them. It should mean something to you playing for London Irish and that comes from the experiences they have playing together, winning or losing and the memories they are creating as team mates together.”

Paul also shared that there is more that they wish to give their players other than just first class rugby knowledge; 

"We have a responsibility to not only improve the guys as rugby players but as individuals. The three of us want to progress their rugby skills, we bang the drum hard about studying as well as playing rugby and we care about them. For me emotional attachment leads to retention and ultimately we want to keep our players.”

The trio are fully aware of the responsibility that lies on their shoulders, a Club’s academy is foundation of its future, it is the bed-rock of all successful sides and they certainly feel they have talent within their ranks as Dec explained;

“It would be unfair to start pointing people out, there are talented players coming through at every age group but whether they make that next step it is up to them and it is up to us. There isn't anything more rewarding than seeing a player execute something perfectly that you've worked on with them, sometimes for weeks, it is a great feeling." 

Paul added; “You think long and hard about what you want to be as a coach, you want to use all of your experiences and everything you have picked up from the best coaches you have been exposed to, but at the end of the day it is about standing on your own two feet and bringing something to the table that is fresh and new” 

All three may be fresh and new as professional coaches however there is no absolutely doubt that they are the right men to lead the future talents of London Irish. Paul, Nick and Dec's knowledge, experience and collective bond is something you simply cannot replicate, they are best friends off the field and a cohesive team on it. With one of the most prolific line out specialists of recent years, one of the best cover tackling scrum halves and the man that was totally and utterly fearless for fourteen years wearing green, London Irish’s academy is in extremely capable hands and we will all watch with great interest their and their academy’s progress over the coming months and indeed years.

Down to the Wire - Round 4 Review

Round 4 had some big shoes to fill after the drama of Round 3 however as expected it did so in empathic style. Across the country emotions ran high as once again we witnessed both the expected and the unexpected. Here is the full Out On The Full Aviva Premiership Round 4 review;

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At the Kassam Stadium on Friday night it was a game of two halves that ended with London Welsh's 4th loss of the year and Gloucester securing 5 points. Justin Burnell said before the game “Today it is about pride, we have just got to put a performance together” and for 60 minutes or so London Welsh did that, their line speed was faster and they had a real life, unified defensive line. However the wheels spectacularly fell off when Gloucester scored 31 points in the final 15 minutes as Welsh's fitness crumbled. In spite of the scoreline the Cherry & Whites didn't get into fifth gear however Dan Robson certainly showed what an asset he is and their set piece was much more assured with Afoa, Hibbrad and Thomas working well. One question that does remain is regarding the suitability of James Hook at 10, would he be more of an asset elsewhere?? One for the coaching staff to ponder perhaps!? For London Welsh the evening ended in disappointment with the over-arching emotion being frustration, Justin Burnell certainly will be reviewing the performance of referee Luke Pearse as well as his players for he felt their penalty count, 20-7 against them, was hugely unfair. Welsh's continued focus is to deliver for 80 minutes and not for 60 and of course it goes without saying that their fitness must improve drastically. Both sides have more to work on and neither have easy tasks in Round 5 with Gloucester hosting Leicester Tigers and Welsh heading to The Stoop. 

© Claire Jones RedHatPhoto.com 

At Franklin’s Gardens it was an emotionally charged fixture and one that went down to the final minute. After a rousing and fitting tribute to their beloved Saint Luis Ghaut the Northampton Saints started the game powerfully and took it to their visitors early on. Full back Ben Foden was superb throughout and across the board their physicality was eye watering. The loss of Courtney Lawes and Tom Wood prior to kick off could have been devestating however a huge amount of credit should go to Jamie Craig and Jon Fisher who both stepped up to the mark gallantly. Dylan Hartley's contribution was mighty and rounded; from his try saving defence to his inspiring leadership, he was rampant. For the opposition Dave Atwood pushed his own England credentials with another impressive display and Bath’s bench added even greater tempo to the match at exactly the right time as they wrestled the game back from the home side. Gavin Henson rolled back the years and 21 year old Nick Auterac turned heads however on an emotionally charged day there was only ever going to be one winner.


London Irish achieved a historic win at Welford Road on Saturday afternoon, it was their first since 2003 and only their second since 1923. Naturally Richard Cockerill was a frustrated man following the loss and the lion’s share of this frustration was directed at referee Greg Garnier for his decision not to discipline Irish’s Blair Cowen with a card for his punch on Jamie Gibson. It must be said that Cowen also turned heads for the right reasons with his physicality and go forward as did former Tiger Alex Lewington, Shane Geraghty and David Paice. The Tigers’ Captain Ben Youngs did everything he could to ignite his side however a real platform from the forwards that he organises was missing. It must be said that if any Premiership side had 20 of their key men injured they would struggle, like the Leicester Tigers are, however it doesn’t make it any easier to watch. Harsh words will be spoken again on Monday morning at Welford Road however they must dig in for the rugby clock stops for no-one and with Gloucester Rugby next week and Europe fast approaching an instant and collective team improvement needs to happen. For the Exiles it was a pleasing and satisfying day at the office and they should run out in Round 5 with a spot of swagger as their performances are building nicely week on week.

Sandy Park experienced it's first win in the Aviva Premiership since March as Exeter taught Harlequins a lesson. Conor O'Shea was visibly furious in his post match interview calling their inaccuracies 'unacceptable and embarrassing'. Quite frankly for chunks of the 80 minutes Harlequins looked slightly rudderless and whilst they are also tackling a barrage of injuries their lack of conviction is surprising from a side with so much on paper potential. As scatty as Harlequins looked Exeter were well drilled and quite frankly delightful... my broken record continues as Henry Slade delivered a beautiful performance as did Thomas the Tank. Thomas Waldrom is simply loving life at Exeter, he is a player reborn and it is his go forward that is pushing Baxter's side to great performances. Dave Ewers physicality set an example to the whole Premiership whilst Yeandle performed with poise at scrum time. The Chiefs deserve every single bit of praise that they are going to get, they are working so hard and are reaping the rewards of their diligence.  

At Allianz Park Saracens were back to their usual dominant selves as they pushed aside the Sale Sharks with ease. Sale simply weren’t at the races for much of the game whilst the home side looked much more colourful and on song back on their home turf. Jamie George celebrated his 100th Saracens’ performance with a solid day at the office and he was part of a pack that set the tone of the day and squeezed the visitors. In the backs academy member Nick Tompkins showed first class skills off the bench and the ‘old man’ Charlie Hodgson ran the show with ease. The Sharks, like others in the Premiership at the moment, aren’t living up to their pre-season billing and collectively are missing a spot of sharpness however individuals like Tom Brady continue to shine. An 80 minute performance is needed for the Sharks next weekend whilst for Saracens it will be a case of more of the same as they put their 100% record to its ultimate test against Bath at The Rec.

On Sunday afternoon Wasps welcomed the Newcastle Falcons to town and achieved their goal of a bonus point victory, however the performance wasn’t to the standard that they would have liked. The Falcons are a side that frustrate teams, they slowed Wasps down and if it weren’t for their basic handling errors and numerous forward passes Dean Richards’ side would have gained more from their trip down South. Wasps’ game missed a touch of fluidity however through sheer hard work and individual brilliance they got the job done. Out the back Rob Miller looked assured at full back and seamlessly transferred to fly half with twenty minutes or so to go, the Leuia Daly partnership showed huge promise and Joe Simpson’s form continues it’s upwards trajectory. For the visitors the performance of Juan Pablo Socino summed up the whole side; exciting at times but inconsistent overall. They were squeezed up front and without that platform life is always very difficult, Simon Hammersley didn’t reach the heights of the week prior and they lacked true precision. Wasps will take the points but again will be frustrated and Falcons remain in search of their elusive Premiership ‘W’... 20 games and counting since their last. 

Northampton Saints Photos © Claire Jones RedHatPhoto.com all proceeds supporting Restart, the rugby players' charity. 

Rugby Changing Lives - School of Hard Knocks Charity

Rugby, it is the game that we all live for and the game that adds so much joy to all of our lives. We love every aspect of it including the fact that it has an enormous ability to change lives for the better. The School of Hard Knocks concept is the brainchild of Ken Cowen and for the past 2 and a half years it has been showcased on Sky Sports. Two icons of the modern game; Will Greenwood and Scott Quinnell have presented and championed the show and through it we have seen exactly how powerful and effective the Hard Knocks way can be.  

In 2012 the School of Hard Knocks Charity was born, the SOHK Show stems from the Charity. The Charity constantly works to spread the Hard Knocks method across the country and founder Ken spoke to me about his memories of the very beginning;

“I first pitched the idea of using rugby to help change the behaviour of men to Knowsley Council in Merseyside... their response was plain and simple saying that it was a stupid idea which couldn’t work due to the fact that they didn’t have a single set of rugby posts in the borough. Obviously posts are important however I thought that it was a concept and idea worth perusing because the values of rugby are life values as well as intrinsic to game and with the physical outlet I believed it was the right solution."

When you meet Ken you realise that he is not one to take no for an answer, thankfully he perused the idea and just before the programme began he came into contact with a gentleman from Sky Sports who decided to film it. As a result 10 minutes of Hard Knocks appeared on Rugby Club and the rest, as they say, is history.

Two Fridays ago Sky Sports launched SOHK Series 7, this year the televised programme is based at Moseley Rugby Club in Birmingham and we have just witnessed the start of the participants' Hard Knocks journeys. Day 1 greeted them with snow and below freezing temperatures, even the hardy Scott Quinnell looked as if he was about to turn into an ice cube, however the importance of taking that first step and powering through in Arctic conditions was vital.

The programme and the Hard Knocks way, led by the SOHK Charity, has reached out to many people and has taken them from extremely dark places, darker than you and I could ever imagine and transformed their lives, in some cases it has genuinely saved lives. Now you may be thinking that I am being cliché or cheesy, but trust me I am not. In Series 7 we have already witnessed Adam, Adam's body found session one too much to cope with and he did what many players have done before, threw up his breakfast on the sidelines, however his breakfast was absinthe. Psychologist Paul Boross features heavily on the show and it is the work that he does, alongside Will and Scott and the rest of the SOHK team that assist these men in building their confidence, personal characters and helping them to overcome other significant life challenges. However it must be said that magic wands don’t exist in the land of Hard Knocks; instead perseverance, effort and determination are the tools for change and success.

Over the coming weeks Series 7 of the School of Hard Knocks programme on Sky Sports will showcase the journey that these men take, the lessons that they learn and how it impacts on them. Not every single individual going through the Hard Knocks doors will turn their lives around forever, however all are given a tremendous opportunity to do so. On Friday 3rd October the School of Hard Knocks Charity will preview the Series 7 Finale in London, it will be an emotionally charged night with individuals from the series, the SOHK team and guests sitting down to witness the final step of their televised journeys; beyond that last show it is up to the SOHK Graduates to take their opportunities and prosper. I cannot wait to be there and if you are in London I genuinely hope that you come along as well (details here). 

The School of Hard Knocks Charity continues the Hard Knocks way 365 days a year and it is through their dedication and the vision and work of founder Ken Cowen that means that rugby provides hope and a future when so many thought that there was nothing left.

Forever A Saint

This week the rugby community sadly lost one of its greatest assets, Luis Ghaut who lost his fight with Osteosarcoma. Luis’ team was the Northampton Saints and as we all came to understand he, was a true Saint by name and by nature.  

Luis and his inspirational character was brought to the attention of the wider Premiership Rugby community at the 2014 Final, when he led the Saints onto the field prior to their historic victory. Prior to that point Luis’ was known to many at Franklin’s Gardens due to his desire to raise awareness of the condition he was battling with and for his loyal support of the side. Following Saints’ historic win Tom Wood dedicated the victory to the young man and the name and story of young Luis Ghaut spread. Just a short time prior to that moment of running onto the field at Twickenham Luis had, had a serious operation. It was his own steely will and character that powered him to be ready for the big day, indeed it a feat that inspired the twenty three men wearing green that day. Running out with his Saints was just one example of Luis’ determination to not let seemingly large barriers stop him from living his life. It is a lesson we all should learn from, when things get just a little tough, or something seems insurmountable.

One of the most apt phrases that I read this week was that, as only a young man, Luis was a hero to his heroes. Never once did you see Luis complain at the cruel hand that he had been dealt, instead he had a desire to make every single moment count and raise funds for and awareness of Osteosarcoma. Luis’ unrelenting strength and determination to fight against a challenge greater than anything that you, I or indeed his heroes could imagine inspired and humbled them.

At this time the deepest of condolences are being shared by all us to Luis’ family and friends, all of whom are hugely proud of their Saint. Luis taught life lessons to those many years his senior and will hold a special place in hearts for forever.

Fundraising continues at http://www.lu15.co.uk/ 

Four Times The Fun - Aviva Premiership Round 4 Preview

The 2014/15 Aviva Premiership Season has already broken records with five hat tricks, eleven try bonus points and exactly 100 tries being scored it has been some start! If you then add this to the fact act that we have seen three separate teams' nil'ed and some clashes that went down to wire it has been quite the start to the season. The question now is what will Round 4 bring?!

The action all kicks off on Friday Night at the Kassam Stadium where London Welsh will host Gloucester Rugby. The last time London Welsh beat their visitors was in January 1983 in the John Player Cup, I must admit to not having being born at that point, so you could say that once again the odds are slightly staked against Justin Burnell’s side!!! However, they must disregard that and focus on improvement and a huge amount of effort is what their Head Coach demands from his men. From 1 to 15 they must step up individually and collectively they absolutely have to sort out their defensive line... I will continue to repeat this week in week out until it happens because it is fundamental. Gloucester's focus should be to reign in their penalty count in order to give themselves a chance of pressing on in games as opposed to gifting points away. Their backs will relish the prospect of a patchy defensive lines because the likes of May and Sharples see holes in even the most solid of lines so if London Welsh do not turn up in D then I can only see one outcome. It could be unconformable viewing at the Kassam, however I truly hope that it won’t be...

In Round 3 Saracens sneaked an ugly win over a determined London Irish side and their opponents Sale Sharks did the same against London Welsh, although their scoreline made for much more comfortable viewing. Mark McCall’s side are guaranteed to have their game faces on in front of a home crowd, whilst the Sale Sharks must press on in order to initiate some forward momentum. It is not going to be easy for the Sharks as Saracens have won the last 6 encounters between the two sides however based on their respective starts to the season the home side are favourites. Saracens, on paper, are more experienced up front and should squeeze Sale where it hurts however it will be intriguing to see the visitors' back line open up on the artificial surface should they be given quick, clean ball. The news that Owen Farrell is out for 'a few weeks' certainly rings a few alarm bells however for a few 10s, including Danny Cipriani it screams opportunity! 

Say hello to the clash of the weekend as the Northampton Saints welcome Bath Rugby to Franklin’s Gardens.. where do I possibly start with this one!? It is a match that is already getting the rugby pulse racing; indeed my fingers are already flying across the keyboard in anticipation of this almighty match up. The home side have the upper hand in terms of Aviva Premiership form, indeed Bath haven’t beaten Northampton in the competition since February 2011 and they haven’t been victorious at the Gardens since 2003. In saying that can anyone remember a time when Bath have ever looked better? ‘Scratching the surface’ was how Mike Ford described his back line’s performance last weekend and you can guarantee that from 1 to 15 they will step up again. On Sunday afternoon at Kingston Park Northampton conserved a little energy and boy will they need it, for this game will be played at a pace and intensity higher than anything that we have seen so far this term. We have some almighty match ups and with Lawes, Ma’afu, Attwood, Houston and more all on the pitch the physicality will be off the charts. Franklin's Gardens will have a minutes applause prior to kick off to pay tribute to their inspirational Saint Luis Ghaut. Luis will be in the minds and hearts of all on Saturday afternoon and as was eloquently said this week he was a hero to his heroes. Seismic... gigantic... colossal... gargantuan... the list of positive adjectives could go on, indeed for fans of either side and fans of rugby this should be a show stopping Aviva Premiership clash.

I can only imagine that the Round 3 analysis session at Welford Road was a grim place to be and Leicester Tigers' fans don't worry I won’t dwell on ‘that defeat’ any more. Hurt and humiliation are powerful emotions that in themselves will evoke a huge reaction, the question is will it be enough? London Irish will have battled with their own disappointment this week following their ‘one that got away’ in Round 3. This clash of emotions and individuals sets up another enthralling Round 4 Aviva Premiership clash between the two sides that are fairly evenly matched given Leicester's injury issues. The Leicester Tigers hold an impressive record over the Exiles, having not lost against them in their last 10 fixtures however Brian Smith’s men will sniff a spot of vulnerability and wish to pounce. Scott Steele will relish the prospect of showing his former side what they lost when he moved down Hazelwood this season, as will former Tiger Alex Lewington, whilst the home side's point to prove spans across the board from one to twenty three. In the Tigers' back line Miles Benjamin will make a welcome return as will Blaine Scully however the mountainous Manu and dominant Tom Youngs are just two of the many that remain on the sidelines. The message from Richard Cockerill will be 'show me what you are made of' whilst Irish's Director of Rugby will say ‘now is the time’.

On Sunday afternoon Sandy Park and the Exeter Chiefs welcome Harlequins to town. The last match between these two at Sandy Park was that nail-biting clash in May which Harlequins came back from an 18 point deficit to win 30-29. However it must be said that already this season the Chiefs are looking like a more complete side and a side that has the ability to deliver a much stronger performance on Saturday afternoon. Harlequins’ overcame their own emotional barrier last weekend as they bounced back from their humiliation the week prior and once again their leaders need to take charge. In the opening three rounds it is the Chiefs that have looked more stable and exciting of the two sides and O'Shea's side have been a little creaky. There will be an interesting battle between the two front threes and of course ‘Slade and Hill Watch’ continues! With the Tribe in full voice and their team firing on all four cylinders, the stage is set for another classic battle between two high tempo sides.

The final game of the weekend is in High Wycombe where Wasps host the Newcastle Falcons. Last weekend, in spite of a strong second half performance, Newcastle were condemned to their 19th successive Aviva Premiership defeat however  Wasps haven’t won three  back to back fixtures at home in the Aviva Premiership since early 2013. Dai Young’s side had an average day at the office last weekend and they must deliver a much more clinical and well executed performance on Sunday afternoon. The Falcons’ focus will be playing 80 minutes of rugby, not 20 or 40, but 80... if they do that then Dean Richards will be satisfied whatever the end result. Newcastle have made 5 changes to last weekend with their 2013/14 Player of the Season Alex Tait set to make his first appearance of the year as does Gonzala Tiesi. Dai Young has also made a number of changes; all eyes will be on the Daly Leuia centre partnership whilst Ed Jackson returns from injury in the backline. A reaction is needed from Wasps, a step up is required from Falcons, if both deliver these objectives you still fancy a home win however as they proved with their 7-7 second half draw with Saints the Falcons can't be taken lightly by anyone. 

Bath Time - Aviva Premiership Round 3 Review

Just when we think it cannot get any more dramatic or emotional we have another Round with an even larger talking point than the last. Following the outstanding scenes at The Rec, 'Why have a shower when you can have a Bath?' was the pertinent question of the weekend and elsewhere the action was pretty tasty too! Here is the full, Out On The Full, Aviva Premiership Round 3 review; 

It was another emotional and frenetic night at Kingsholm; over the course of 80 minutes the match twisted and turned as momentum swung back and forth between the home side and the Exeter Chiefs. Gloucester will know that it was a one that got away whilst Exeter, in spite of some scrappy moments, will be pleased to have closed such a game out. The home side started with the bit between their teeth and after taking full advantage of a period with an extra man found themselves 12-6 ahead. However slowly but surely the Chiefs felt their way into the match as during the first forty we saw them relax into their game and start to execute their wonderfully pacy game plan stretching to a 25-12 point lead. After the break both sides grappled for dominance, the Cherry and Whites, in spite of their scrum still creaking slightly looked to be turning the screw. Both sets of fans were extremely stressed it went down to the wire however for the first and hopefully not the last time this season Exeter held onto to their lead and finished the job. Individuals on both sides stood out; Johnny May looked sharper than ever with his solo try showcasing his talents well and Aleki Lutui made a real impact during his time on the field. Exeter’s stars came in the form of two men with killer boots; Gareth Steenson, who thoroughly deserved his MOM for pulling the strings so beautifully at 10 and Henry Slade for his all-around skill and physicality. More to work on for Gloucester before they head to London Welsh and a pleasing win for the Chiefs who head home to take on Harlequins.

In South West London Harlequins and Wasps had another of their classic battles; the last four matches between the two sides in the Aviva Premiership have been decided by two points or less and Saturday's game was almost as tight. It was an arm-wrestle however not of the beautiful variety as Harlequins were fired by emotion and Wasps looked a little scrappy throughout. As at Kingsholm the momentum shifted back and forth throughout and it was a feisty affair with Charlie Matthews, who delivered a strong positional performance, also carrying most of the handbags!! Chris Robshaw had an almighty shift, he punched holes whenever he had the ball, set the tempo and worked like a Trojan, and it was a performance to turn heads. Wasps' 'key men were quiet; Christian Wade hardly had the ball going forwards and you could see that Leuia hadn't played rugby in a while, though we had glimpses of his star potential. Two individual errors from Wasps handed Harlequins their tries, in fact Dai Young's side scored more (three) during the eighty minutes however as their Director of Rugby said Wasps looked 'tired and a little bit messy' and on the day weren't good enough. Conor O'Shea, like all the Quins fans at The Stoop, breathed a sigh of relief when JP Doyle below the final whistle because their side bounced back and reacted with passion. In Round 3 the Falcons await Wasps whilst Harlequins head to Sandy Park.

The euphoric Rec witnessed a match it only dared dream of at the start of the weekend as Bath Rugby scored 45 points and held the Leicester Tigers to nil. As much as it was Bath's greatest domestic hour in recent years it was Leicester's worst, they were squeezed at scrum time and run ragged out of it. It was a testing day for Cockerill and his men as they were totally and utterly dominated, how often do we say that? Injuries have ravaged through the side and prior to kick off Manu Tuilagi and Anthony Allen joined the hospital wing, two critical men and what a difference they could have made had they been there? On the other hand Mike Ford's side were mesmeric from one to fifteen, singling out individuals out feels almost cruel however it must be done. George Ford's empathic run of form continued, Kyle Eastmond took the pressure off his fly half brilliantly and Jonathan Joseph again reminded us all of the talent he has with his stunning contributions. Bath's line speed was quicker than ever, their hands were beautiful and it was simply a sublime day for all at The Rec as they sent the Tigers packing. In Round 3 Bath must take the momentum into their game against Saints whilst the Tigers must seek redemption at Welford Road against London Irish. 

Steve Diamond's Sale Sharks finally got off the board with a bonus point win over London Welsh; in the end it was comfortable however that was only thanks to four tries in the final fifteen minutes. At the break the scoreline was much more respectable for London Welsh, 15-3 down, however defensively once again it was difficult viewing, porous most apt description of it. Sale's key men were their wingers; Tom Arscott and Tom Brady that scored four tries between them however the Sharks weren't wholly clinical as their Director of Rugby highlighted; 'it wasn't a great performance by us, to be honest. We were scrappy in some areas.' I really don't wish to sound like a broken record however London Welsh didn't progress on from last weekend, defensively it was still under par and there were moments that can only be described as 'chaotic'. It doesn't get any easier for either side; Welsh have a short turn around to host Gloucester on Friday whilst the Sharks head to Allianz Park to face Saracens. 

London Irish came so close to recording another victory over Saracens, it was left to a last minute try from Billy Vunipola as Brad Barritt took the the bold decision to kick to touch as opposed to take the points that would have drawn the game. Mark McCall naturally had kittens on the side line and said after that 'we always have a policy that the players on the field match the decision. Would I have done the same? Probably not.' Many believed it would be an easy victory for Saracens, Tim Streather's score after one minute and the resulting 20-12 lead after 30 minutes also pointed to it however the Exiles had other ideas. Young Alex Lewington, was the man of the hour and with his hat-trick he showed a full box of tricks; pace, a side step Jason Robinson would be proud of and lethal finishing. Both Mark McCall and Brian Smith phrased Irish's tactics and game plan to stifle Saracens' line speed. Saracen Jacques Burger summed it up perfectly when he said 'well that wasn't pretty, got the win the ugly ones too though...' Hugely promising for London Irish who a proving to be Saracens 'bogey' team, Irish head to face a humiliated Tigers outfit whilst Saracens go home to welcome Sale Sharks. 

At Kingston Park the Newcastle Falcons were looking for their first win in 18 games however it was not to be as the Northampton Saints bulldozed their way into town and left with 5 points. For the first forty minutes Newcastle kicked aimlessly to Northampton Saints and with men like Ben Foden on the pitch it really wasn't a sensible game play. However after half time Dean Richards' men raised their tempo and enjoyed a much better and more composed run of play. The result was that they kept Saints off the scoreboard and scored a try of their own thanks to speedster Noah Cato. Simon Hammersley must be praised for his individual determination and work rate for the full eighty minutes and when things started to stick for Falcons it looked as good as it has done for a long time. For the visitors young Will Hooley had a distinguished day at the office as he looked as composed in the Number 10 shirt as his mentor Stephen Myler however Saints will rue letting the Newcastle Falcons back into a game that started with them scoring a point a minute. Frustration will be the over-riding Saints emotion, in spite securing the bonus point with a couple of minutes to go, it could and should have been more clinical. All credit to Newcastle for fighting it out until the bitter end however they will head to Adams Park in search of that win! 

Take Three - Aviva Premiership Round 3 Preview

After 12 matches and 607 points Round 3 of the Aviva Premiership is fast approaching us. Round 2 was quite the weekend as emotions ran high all over the country and I expect that a number of you, like myself, am still recovering from the highs and lows of the round.

The Round 3 action starts at Kingsholm where Gloucester Rugby will host the Exeter Chiefs. Gloucester showed an immense amount of resilience and fortitude to bounce back from their Round 1 annihilation and turn around the weekend’s match against the Sale Sharks and in Round 3 they must step up once again. The Exeter Chiefs will arrive in Gloucester with a bee in their bonnet after coming so close to beating Leicester and will vent their frustration on the home side. Form wise, Exeter have won two of their last three visits to Kingsholm however Gloucester nicked the last match between the two sides in March by a single point. It will be a game filled with tempo, both sides love to play at pace and let their backs ignite proceedings; the Chiefs could unleash a fit again Jack Nowell, who played his first rugby in 19 weeks in the A League on Monday night however it might be too soon. Gloucester aren’t expected to shake things up in terms of selection as their squad understanding is still forming. The importance of securing back to back wins at Kingsholm is hugely significant for Gloucester however Exeter have started this year with a bang and raised their bar by about forty feet from last year. It will be a fascinating game to watch!

On Saturday the Sale Sharks host London Welsh at the AJ Bell Stadium as they looked to gain their first win of the Aviva Premiership season. 0 from 2 was not the start that Steve Diamond intended however with all due respect to London Welsh the home side are expected to finish Round 3 with a win. London Welsh delivered a much stronger performance at The Rec however their defence remains a huge issue having shipped 105 points in two games. London Welsh should compete well at the set piece with Ricky Reeves, Nathan Morris and Taione Vea and they have pace and invention out the back with Seb Jewell and Seb Stegmann in particular. I fully expect to see a full box of Danny Cipriani tricks on display and physical offerings from across the park for Diamond was not a happy man following their Round 2 loss. The Sharks must not chase the win too early and be impatient, instead they must focus on delivering the performance and let the result take care of itself. For London Welsh, as with the case every week, the phrase ‘going for broke’ is appropriate and once again, sounding like a true broken record, upping their tackle completion rate and firming up their defensive line will be crucial if they are to get anything from the game.

This weekend in South West London Harlequins will host Wasps at the Twickenham Stoop. Harlequins’ performance against Saracens was distinctly below par; they dominated in terms of the total territory (60%) and possession (62%) and yet were nil’ed by their opposition. I’d say the less spoken about it the better because it wasn’t one of their finest hours. At the complete opposite end of the spectrum Wasps recorded one of their most significant wins in the Aviva Premiership in recent years against the Northampton Saints. Wasps’ gargantuan physical effort was matched by their invention in attack as they showed to the Premiership world exactly what they can do. Dai Young’s words of ‘why are we surprised?’ will echo in every Wasps' ears as they run out on the field this weekend aiming to prove that the high of Saints was not just a one off. Personally I’m excited to see the Joe Simpson versus Danny Care clash at scrum half, selection permitting; both are have searing pace and are competitive and feisty characters. I expect that Harlequins will bounce back and I’m predicting a competitive clash however for what it is worth I believe that Wasps might just squeeze this one.

London Irish have the pleasure of hosting Saracens for their first home game of the season at the Madejski Stadium. Saracens were extremely impressive in Round 2, clinical with a capital C and of course consistency is their middle name. The Exiles have not won back-to-back games in the tournament since February and it will be a tough ask to do so against Saracens however they were the last team to beat Mark McCall’s side in the regular competition. The arm wrestle at scrum time will be great to watch with Tom Court, David Paice and Halani Aulika expected to be fronting up against Richard Barrington, Jamie George and Kieran Longbottom, assuming neither Director of Rugby rotates his personnel. Irish must lower their error count and work extremely hard to find holes in the most organised defence in the Aviva Premiership. Saracens have no real need to change anything, whilst there are likely to be a few personnel changes due to their rotational policy, none will make any difference to their performance level and a bonus point win will be the aim.

The final game on Saturday is at The Rec where Bath Rugby welcome the Leicester Tigers to town. I cannot wait for this match; in my eyes it falls in the 'humdinger' category. Mike Ford wasn’t wholly happy with his side's Round 2 performance and it goes without saying that Bath will raise their game against such esteemed opposition. Leicester showed steely resolve to hold out against the Chiefs and will roll into town fired up for this, the first of their clashes against a one of the top sides. From 1 to 15 the expected head to heads are captivating and of course the most intriguing of the lot is the Freddie Burns versus George Ford showdown which I believe will be phenomenal. If Stuart Lancaster isn’t in the crowd at The Rec then he will certainly be tuning into BT Sport to see his two young fly halves tussle for supremacy. Am I going to pick a winner at this point in the week? Absolutely not!!! On home soil Bath will be resilient however the Tigers love to break up a party... all in all it has the potential to be the clash of the weekend.

Finally on Sunday the Newcastle Falcons entertain the Northampton Saints at Kingston Park. Dean Richards’ has already said that it will be a ‘hard day at the office’ however he rightly pointed out that ‘sometimes they are the best days because you have nothing to lose you just go out there play your heart out.’ The Northampton Saints will be smarting after their Round 2 loss, it was not the plan and it will have hurt them a lot. Jim Mallinder may be forced to rotate a few individuals in order to manage bumps and bruises, however when the teams are announced on Friday lunchtime I predict that it will be a strong Saints’ contingent heading up to Kingston Park. This week Richards will try to impose on his team the importance of staying calm, fronting up and taking your changes when they arrive. The Falcons always give everything for 80 minutes and boy will they need to with a scorned Saints in town. Everything points to a Saints victory, with a bonus point and with respect to the Falcons personally I cannot see the result going any other way.

Across the country in the Aviva Premiership Round 3 there are huge clashes, they are the type of clashes that make you wish the week away and then want to watch as much rugby as possible from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. Will Harlequins redeem themselves? Will Gloucester ignite Kingsholm once again? Which side will end victorious at the Rec? There are so many questions hanging just waiting to be answered, it will be an almighty round of Aviva Premiership rugby!! 

Unexpected Wins & Comeback Kings - Aviva Premiership Round 2 Review

Dramatic... thrilling... pulsating... once again the Aviva Premiership delivered us a weekend of drama and scintillating action. Right now on Sunday evening I have a sore throat caused by a lot of shouting beside a rugby pitch, a feeling that I'm sure many of you know well!!? It was quite the weekend so let's dive into the full Aviva Premiership Round 2 review;

Round 2 kicked off with a London duel between Harlequins and Saracens. BT Sport’s Nick Mullins described it as 'a Friday Night out with an extra bit of chilli sauce on your kebab' and all the chilli was of the Saracens’ variety as they continued their imperious run of form to nil Harlequins. Not stringing the phrases together, being squeezed at scrum time and missed kicks meant that it was night to forget for the home side. The only silver lining was Mike Brown's individual brilliance, saving two certain tries, however it was as darker day as Harlequins have seen for a long time. Saracens were totally dominant; they defended as if their lives depended on it and were ruthlessly clinical gaining points from any moment that they spend in Harlequins’ half. Charlie Hodgson, sporting a fetching white headband due to his eight stitches, kicked brilliantly and reminded us all why he is known as 'Charge Down Charlie'. Kieran Longbottom continued to impress at the set piece teaching Kyle Sinckler a thing or two and Chris Ashton proved that he is as quick as ever. Saracens’ Forwards Coach Alex Sanderson described his side as being ‘in a groove’ and it is the type of groove that makes every other team in the Aviva Premiership cower in fear. Harlequins had to deal with a number of injuries during the night as Nick Evans, Charlie Walker and Matt Hopper all left the field, however across the board they were out classed. Saracens head to the Madjeski Stadium next week whilst Harlequins will aim for redemption at The Stoop against Wasps. Final Result Harlequins 0 Saracens 39

In the blissful sunshine The Rec enjoyed almost a point a minute as Bath hosted London Welsh. It was a much improved performance from Justin Burnell’s side in spite of the fact if you looked at the scoreline, 53-26, cold you may not think so. Defensively Welsh did have more structure and in attack more impetuous; Weepu may still be far from match fit but his hands and distribution are as good as ever, Peter Browne and Lachlan McCaffrey were dogged and across the board Welsh got well and truly stuck in, technical term there!! Bath’s defence wasn’t up to the standard that their management team would like being described as ‘disappointing’ by Head Coach Toby Booth but in their 53 points there were many positives. Kyle Eastmond, Semesa Rokoduguni and Jonathan Joseph all were extremely potent in attack, Carl Fearns simply destroyed the field and young Chris Cook sealed his Premiership debut with a try and a superbly assured performance. Defensively Bath may not have been up to par however they looked like an extremely fit side and a side that had so much more in the tank. 5 points for Bath and Welsh’s first, all in all a solid day’s work at The Rec. Final Result Bath Rugby 53 London Welsh 26 

On Saturday afternoon Kingsholm was an emotional place as The Shed experienced a roller-coaster of a match and said a formal farewell to James Simpson-Daniel. There were many sights that will have stirred Gloucester fans; the fightback, Jonny May's feet, Greig Laidlaw's boot and the sight of the pack firing on more cylinders than has been seen in a long time.  Last weekend another Director of Rugby, Conor O'Shea, mentioned that you head into your next game with the emotion of the second half and what a drive that will be for the Cherry & Whites. Sale on the other hand will be kicking themselves, two points is little consolation for squandering an 11 point lead, 17-6, at half time. The brilliance of Cipriani who orchestrated everything will not go un-notcied, as the England fly half watch continues, however the day belonged to the home side. It showed great determination and character for the Cherry & Whites to bounce back from last weekend and from such a deficit in the match... they are not there yet but it is a very nice step in the right direction. Final Score Gloucester Rugby 34 Sale Sharks 27

Enticing, enthralling and nail biting; Sandy Park was in full voice as the Exeter Chiefs came so close to recording their first Aviva Premiership win over the Leicester Tigers since February 2012. The Chiefs continued to showcase their much improved game plan as they delivered the fast paced and physical game that we saw against London Welsh.  The young centres to watch Sam Hill and Henry Slade weren’t phased by their esteemed opponents, Allen and Tuilagi and instead they, like their entire side, matched the visitors from the East Midlands physically and in their attacking intent. Rob Baxter highlighted that; 'you have to try and cover all the bases against a top side' and for most of the match they did that however the Tigers used every ounce of their experience finish the match off when it mattered. Much is being talked about the Freddie Burns and Ben Youngs partnership, individually they both performed their positional duties extremely well and together they are gelling and developing that instinctive partnership which could be very potent for England as well as Richard Cockerill’s Tigers. Exeter’s losing bonus point will be important, but around Sandy Park there will be lingering a sense of, what if? Final Score Exeter Chiefs 20 Leicester Tigers 24

In the far North at Kingston Park as the Newcastle Falcons hosted London Irish. As we all know in tight games making your kicks at goal is essential and the home side's Juan Pablo Socino missed 15 points over the course of the match. Those 15 points would have given the Falcons their first win in 17 Premiership games, instead they must be content with a losing bonus point. 5 tries between the two sides and 3 from the Falcons showcased the fact that the new artificial pitch will stand them in good stead throughout the year and importantly winter however the win still eluded them. Brian Smith talked about the importance of starting their campaign and described his side in the following manner; "We’re going to get there. For the moment we’re a bunch of grinders who are working hard. When we get a bit of belief we can start to evolve our game." London Irish will be relieved to have come away with four points but will certainly need to raise their game against Saracens at home next weekend. Dean Richards knows that it was there for the taking, his diplomatic assessment was to protect his players however it will be hurting all with a Falcon on their chest tonight as 4 points don't come around too often. Final Score Newcastle Falcons 18 London Irish 20

Heading into the fixture between Wasps and Northampton Saints at Adams Park few outside of the Wasps’ camp believed that a home win was possible however the men in black and gold proved us all wrong. It was an enthralling battle, by far the best 3-3 first half that we have seen in a long time. It almost feels rude to showcase individuals from Wasps as it was a huge team effort to stifle the Northampton Saints and hold onto the win however Chris Bell’s physicality was phenomenal. Chris took on Courtney Lawes, Luther Burrell and indeed anyone who ran at him and won almost every time and in the back row Ashley Johnson showcased another skill in his box of tricks; intercepting and running in tries. It must be emphasised that Northampton did not play badly, were they at the dizzy heights of last Friday night? No, however they certainly played a huge part in a cracking game of rugby. Stephen Myler was his usual majestic self, Tom Wood worked himself into the ground and it was a tight, tight fixture. Jim Mallinder’s assessment as always was to the point and spot on; ‘I don’t think we played badly today, but we weren’t quite accurate enough’. George North’s try, not try, could have swung the game and naturally Saints supporters will feel aggrieved as it was very close to call, had it been allowed it could have been a different game, however Hartley and his side will analyse, focus and head to Kingston Park smarting. Wasps, well they will go into their London Derby against Harlequins fired up and ready to rumble!! Final Score Wasps 20 Northampton Saints 16

This weekend proved exactly what we all knew, that this 2014/15 season will be the most competitive and exciting one that we have seen in recent years. Unexpected wins and comeback kings it was quite the Aviva Premiership weekend wasn't it!?! 

View all the Out On The Full Photos from the weekend here

Out On The Full Meets: Matt Hampson

Engage is a word that will mean a lot to many of you reading this, it may remind you of years spent in the mud on a rugby pitch or it may remind you, like it does for me, of the book that tells the story of Matt Hampson. Engage is the word that in the blink of an eye changed Matt’s life forever and in spite of his life changing unfathomably he has inspired us all with this unrelenting positivity and selfless drive to assist others. As I’m sure you are aware that the The Matt Hampson Foundation is at the heart it and I was honoured to speak to Matt about the next goal that the Foundation has in order to continue to assist individuals across the country to follow his lead and ‘Get Busy Living’ in spite of serious injury. 

“The ultimate goal is to build a Rehabilitation Centre, it has always been the long term vision of the Foundation, my dream and we thought that it would be 10 years away however thanks to the support of some really crucial partners it is now a reality to happen much sooner.”

“One really important part of the centre will be that it is a place where those that are learning to cope with their lives following their injuries can come along, with their friends and families and share experiences and talk to each other. My vision is that there will also be physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and other alternative therapies too. It will be a place that we can help pave the way for their futures and really make sure they live productive lives and as we say Get Busy Living.”

As Matt mentioned the involvement of a key partner GRS that has propelled the Centre’s progress forwards and really allowed the team to focus on how to make it happen. It was a partnership that started, as many great ideas do over a drink in the pub that the Chairman of the Matt Hampson Foundation had with a friend and following a number of meetings or ‘productive drinking sessions’ as Matt called them the idea of hosting a Dinner was born;

“The dinner will be held in October in London, different construction companies from across the country will take tables at it and hopefully pledge in various ways to help build the centre. James Cordon has kindly agreed to be the host for the evening, the Foundation’s ambassadors and various celebrities are coming and I hope it will be a huge success.”

Today, Matt has been invited by Prince Harry HRH to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Invictus games, the games are exactly the type of event that the Matt Hampson Foundation promotes and wishes to see more of. On Thursday the Foundation is one of the chosen charities for the Global Brokers BGC’s Charity Day. BGC Partners' commemorates those lost on 9/11 by providing partners and to have the Matt Hampson Foundation as one of their beneficiaries is immense.  

Matt’s schedule is unrelenting, he is driven and focused on his goal, and these are the personal attributes that made him such a talented sportsman and a man that was tipped for great things in the Red Rose of England and the green of the Leicester Tigers. Matt continues to inspire us all, he is one of the strongest and most inspirational people that I have ever had the honour of meeting and speaking to and I would urge anyone reading that is involved in the world of construction or that knows someone that is to ensure that you are at the Get Busy Living Dinner this October.

All the key Matt Hampson Get Busy Living Dinner Details are here

James Cordon will host the Get Busy Living Dinner

Second Bite At The Cherry - Aviva Premiership Round 2 Preview

Full Round 2 Team News Here

Are you ready to do it all over again? I hope so because our second set of matches are fast approaching! After one of the most prolific starts to the Aviva Premiership we are in for a treat this weekend as teams aim to bounce back from defeats that they would rather forget or march on following impressive wins. Round 2 really needs no further introduction, so here is the full Aviva Premiership Round 2 preview;

The action kicks off under the Friday Night Lights at The Stoop as Harlequins welcome Saracens for what is, in my eyes, the clash of the weekend. Both sides delivered ‘half’ performances at Twickenham, each had 40 show stopping minutes and 40 minutes that weren’t as impressive. Harlequins will certainly have that Semi Final defeat in their minds and want to gain revenge on home soil however if the form book is anything to go by it will be tough as Saracens have won six of their last seven visits to The Stoop. The back row clash will be seismic whomever the respective Directors of Rugby decide to select, when you have Jackson Wray, Will Fraser, Billy Vunipola up against Luke Wallace, Chris Robshaw, Nick Easter you know what to expect; a break down and hits that bring tears to your eyes. Out back both sides have International quality talents capable of breathtaking rugby. If Harlequins are on their game Saracens will be tested and could be turned over however McCall’s squad’s consistency is famous and has the ability to take down any Premiership side on its day. I’m not calling this one, instead I’m going to sit on the fence and head to The Stoop to enjoy one hell of an Aviva Premiership battle underneath my beloved Friday Night Lights!

On Saturday The Rec opens its doors for the very first time this year as Bath host London Welsh. Bath’s first round performance delivered the four points necessary and pleased Head Coach Toby Booth who stressed after the game that ‘away wins are priceless’. On home soil they will certainly be confident after Welsh’s first round crushing at the hands of the Exeter Chiefs. Today London Welsh’s Winger Seb Stegmann stressed to me that Sunday’s performance ‘just wasn’t them’ and told me to expect ‘much more’ from the side this weekend.  Welsh’s focus must be to secure their defensive structure and up their tackle completion rate significantly or else a similar score line looms. Bath’s backline is potent, their forwards are bruising and with George Ford fresh and firing on as many cylinders as are highlighted on his side’s Dyson shirts there is no reason why Bath fans should be anything but confident. 

I expect that The Shed will be a nervous place prior to kick off this weekend as their side had one hell of a time it just a few days ago against the former Champions. Pride will play a huge part in this match at Kingsholm and I fully expect Gloucester to raise their game significantly against Sale on Saturday afternoon. Naturally, like London Welsh, there will be a huge focus on firming up their defense as well as really dominating at scrum time. A cohesive performance is the aim; the question is whether 7 days is enough time to be able to deliver that? If you are an optimist you will say yes, if you are a realist the answer is maybe. David Humprehys' has named an unchanged side and has entrusted his twenty three players with the task of turning things around at home. The visitors will bring a lot to the party, even without the injured Mark Cueto and Dan Braid, their line out proficiency is a huge asset with Hines and Paterson and so far I’m enjoying the Cusiter Cipriani partnership, even if we haven’t seen them in full flow yet. Gloucester have beaten Sale just once in their last six Premiership encounters and in all honesty a second win looks a difficult prospect, however with the power of The Shed and pride at stake, anything can happen.

The Exeter Chiefs were perhaps the surprise package of round one, after being deemed by many as very much a work in progress they fired out of the blocks against a struggling London Welsh outfit. Undoubtedly it was a great performance however the Leicester Tigers are a different kettle of fish and will be a strong test for Rob Baxter’s side. Leicester dusted off their cobwebs in front of 22,000 at Welford Road and made ‘the perfect start’ according to Richard Cockerill. Home wins were few and far between last season at Sandy Park and it is something that Captain Dean Mumm told me ‘really upset’ his team and is a focus to fix from the word go this season. It will be interesting to see how Exeter’s young centre pairing, Henry Slade and Sam Hill, front up against the experience of Anthony Allen and Manu Tuilagi. Slade and Hill, alongside Ewers were central to everything great last weekend and double try scorer Thomas Waldrom will relish the prospect at taking on his old side so early on in the season. Leicester’s fire power is of the Fijian variety as well as their International half backs; Ben Youngs and Freddie Burns. The Tigers will be a tough task for the Chiefs, however in a newly refurbished Sandy Park and coming off the back of such an impressive performance there isn’t a better time to take on Cockerill’s prolific side.

Adams Park is another stadium that will open its doors for the first time this competitive season as Wasps have the unenviable task of being the next side to face the Northampton Saints. Wasps’ performance at Twickenham was a frustrating one, for forty minutes they were off key, defensively and moving forwards however once they pulled themselves together it was impressive. Northampton well quite frankly they were sublime, they were dominant in every single aspect of the game and they looked totally at ease whilst doing so. From North''s hat trick to Wilson's sublime performance at full back they had it all and it will be a huge test for this new look Wasps side and if they give anything less an eighty minute performance it will be game over at Adams Park. Dai Young prefers Andrea Masi to Rob Miller and Tom Varndell slots in for Christian Wade after he is still shaken following a car accident this week. Jim Mallinder has announced an unchanged squad, from one to twenty three and Saints will march into town cool, calm and collected and it is up to Wasps to meet the challenge head on and really show what they are made of.

The Newcastle Falcons and their brand spanking new surface at Kingston Park welcome London Irish on Sunday afternoon for the final offering of the weekend. Irish, unlike many sides, had an advantage having their own artificial surface to train on at Hazelwood so the transition to this ‘new' surface shouldn’t be a factor in the game. Newcastle delivered a performance to be pleased with against the Tigers however it didn’t end their 16 Aviva Premiership match losing streak. London Irish didn’t really get into third or even fourth gear from an attacking perspective at Twickenham in Round 1 and relied on the boot of Shane Geraghty to deliver their losing bonus point. There is no doubt that the Falcons will have circled this game on the schedule as a ‘winnable’ fixture whilst Irish will be keen to show that there is clear daylight between them and their Northern rivals. Rounded performances will be king; Irish must keep Sinoti Sinoti quiet out wide and really start to penetrate the gain line hard if they are to succeed. Collectively the Exiles' experience is greater and if they play to their on paper potential they should leave Newcastle happy and with a victory. However the Falcons have their own point to prove and if their experienced players, the likes of Mike Blair and Phil Godman are on song it could be tighter than we all expect.

Now it is time to sit back and relax as we have 6 more matches, 480 minutes of rugby to enjoy. Welcome to the weekend and to Round 2 of the Aviva Premiership.