Last season the Newcastle Falcons took strong steps forwards in terms of their performances levels however the frustration for Dean Richards is that those steps didn’t always manifest themselves on the scoreboards.
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Throughout the 2014/15 campaign we saw the Falcons play with purpose and renewed vigour in attack. The back line scored 57 tries as opposed to just 23 the season prior and it was the manner in which those tries were built that was the most pleasing aspect of all. That said, 8 bonus point losses highlighted their ability to be matches but to not finish the job. Unquestionably part of getting over the final hurdle will be belief, for much of the season prior the Falcons hadn’t been in winning positions and therefore didn't have the experience of closing out matches. Winning is a habit and this is something that they have to develop over the course of the 2015/16 season.
Personnel wise the Falcons’ squad has had a bit of a mix up with a number of individuals arriving and leaving the club. Although the departing list is quite large, many weren't fully involved with match day squads so issues regarding gelling shouldn’t be present. The man at the helm is certainly happy with the format of his squad right now as he shared at the recent Aviva Premiership launch;
"I think if you look at our squad on paper I think that we are far stronger this year than at any other time. Whereas last year and the year before recruitment was difficult but you get a hangover from the year in the Championship and unless you just go full out and spend huge sums of money, which we don’t have, then you have a development process and you have a time constraint on it."
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In terms of signings the focus will be on the introduction of some key individuals; Mouritz Botha, Taione Vea, Mike Delaney and Marcus Watson. Mouritz is an industrious man, well known to all from his time at Saracens and add much to Falcons' second row. Taione Vea has big shoes to fill with the departing Kieran Brookes and must step up and the progression of both Marcus Watson and Mike Delaney will be of interest to all. According to Dean Mike has performed well in pre-season and still has plenty more to give. Marcus’ pace is phenomenal and of all of the transitions that have occurred from 7s I'm particularly interested to see how his goes.
Dean was clear on the steps required for this season although hasn't laid all of his cards on the terms in terms of their strategy;
"We just need to improve year on year and the big thing for us last year was to change our style of play - which we did and we were scoring lots of points but just not closing the games out. We lost far more games last year by less than 7 points than at any other time in the club’s history and that comes down to very small things. Now it is changing those small things around, flipping them and that will mean that we will not be losing by 7 points we’ll be winning by 7 points."
In terms of Falcons’ their focus is targeted and it is to ensure that they don’t let last season’s progress pass them by instead the side need to build again with purpose and belief and crucially start turning results. Their foundations are there and I'm looking forward to seeing Tom Catterick develop, being reacquainted with the electric feet of Sinoti Sinoti and enjoying the tremendous work rate that all bring in defence. ‘We’ll go well this year and we’ll surprise a lot of people’ were the final words of Dean Richards and personally, I hope that they do.
Players In - Chris Harris, Simon Hammersley, Sean Robinson & Daniel TemmPromoted from Academy, Micky Young from Bath Rugby, Mike Delany from Clermont Auvergne, Marcus Watson from England Sevens, Sonatane Takulua from Northland, Taione Vea from London Welsh, Jon Welsh from Glasgow Warriors, Nili Latu from NEC Green Rockets, Giovanbattista Venditti from Zebre, Paddy Ryan from Libournes, Mouritz Botha from Natal Sharks & Todd Clever from OMBAC
Players Out - Kieran Brookes to Northampton Saints, Mike Blair to Glasgow Warriors, Andy Saull to Yorkshire Carnegie, Ben Morris to Nottingham, Phil Godman (Retired), Chris York to Ealing Trailfinders, Dominic Barrow to Leicester Tigers, Andy Davies to Rotherham Titans, Mark Irving to Viadana, Rory Clegg to Glasgow Warriors, Lee Smith to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Oliver Tomaszczyk, Noah Cato, Jamie Helleur, Warren Fury, Sean Brown, Uili Kolo’ofai and James Christie (Released)
