A Sky Falcons Friday
After the stunning result against the weakened Barf side on Saturday (a term widely used by the media), the Exiles head to Kingston Park to take on Squeaky’s Falcons. The side should be full of confidence and have now been given a chance to show the rugby viewers that Irish can play some good rugby under Brian Smith.The Newcastle lads have had a seriously bad start to this campaign, a position they had not counted on being in at the start of the season. With the likes of the class of Burke, a rejuvenated Johnny and the battling summer signing in Finegan, the Falcons felt they may have a better start to the AG premiership than that achieved so far.
Last weekend’s defeat away to Gloucester 27 – 20, was their fourth defeat from the six games played so far. Their two home fixtures against Brizzle and Barf happen to be two of these four loses, Barf gaining a try bonus having been 16 – 8 down at half time, so they are after a win, and a win soon. Their only win has been away to the Saints at Franklins Gardens.
At Welfare Road, the Falcons did not get the rub of the green with the officials as Andy Goode’s conversion attempt drifted outside of the uprights by approximately a mile and half, only for the two points to be given. That night, the Tigers battered Wilkinson to a pulp, to the extent that he handed over the kicking responsibilities to Burke. The result has a hard fought 16 – 16 draw for the away side, but Squeaky was not best pleased with the officials!
With the absence of Charvis to the Welsh side, and Noon on England duty, they are a gnat’s foreskin light on the squad. With Charlton probably out with a fecked knee for the match on Friday, the head coach is struggling to get class on board; his place should be taken by Grindal.
May and Tait should be there to provide the line breaking from deep, but have struggled to get good ball from their pack. If given a chance, Tait especially can get tries.
Enter the man Johnny. He is definitely on the way back and taking the big knocks that his all-star billing seems to attract. He attempted to win the game at Kingsholm almost on his own. His points total of 15, including a try, from the 20 posted by the Northeast outfit fell short, but ensured a losing bonus to take back oop North with them. Any ill discipline from Irish will be severely punished with him and Burke as their two world-class kickers.
Squeaky would have targeted this game on Friday as both a ‘must win’, as well as a ‘will win’ due to him believing us Bogwog feckers are not worthy of his great empire. The ‘great’ man is regular on the anti-Irish bandwagon, insisting that our negative play warrants no place at his top table: the premiership. Read the fecking try count now Andrew!!!!!!
After the final day at theirs, he insisted that the Irish had come to spoil and be negative, a real swipe at a team staring at the real possibility of the dreaded ‘R’ word, but who had out-played his superstars for large periods of time. A few disappointing decisions in regards to awarding tries for LI denied us the win, but gave us the required losing BP to stay in the top flight.
Irish must go into this match with confidence high and a game plan to compete in the pack, an area the Falcons have struggled containing of late. More good ball from the forwards will go a long way to both impressing the viewers, but also get the back to back victories required of sides to be top six.
We must be wary of any Squeaky backlash and not rise to any intimidation that may be thrust our way. Keep to the plan and we can frickin feck the Squeaky feckmeister, if not, the points will stay there.
-- Master Scribe