Premiership
Walder: This can’t be a one-off
Friday 30 September 2022
Head coach Dave Walder spoke of his delight at Friday night’s bonus-point victory over Gallagher Premiership leaders Bristol Bears, saying it should become the norm rather than the exception.
Newcastle were 30-15 victors and took the full five thanks to Mateo Carreras’ last-minute score, Walder saying afterwards: “Last week at Worcester wasn’t an accurate version of ourselves and not a performance to be proud of, but we were much better tonight.
“We’d had a chat in the week about our attitude and wanting to put in that 80-minute performance, and when our starting fly-half pulled out on the day of the game it’s just one of those things where you’re up against it.
“The pleasing thing is we managed to come through it, and we stemmed the tide.
“There was a big spell when we got back to 15 men after two sin-binnings and we kept the ball just their side of the half-way line, and we really steadied the ship.
“It was one of those passages of play that a lot of people won’t remember because nobody scored or anything like that, but in terms of the key to winning the game I thought it was a really important defensive period for us.
“We kept control, got possession and built from there in what turned out to be a strong finish.”
Asked about the contribution of Carreras and his returning countrymen Matias Orlando and Matias Moroni, the head coach said: “Somebody asked during the week what you get from the two Matiases, and it’s a case of grit, determination and just that international class.
“You stick Mateo Carreras on the edge of that, or ‘their little friend’ as they call him, and he’s a tough little character.
“I thought those three epitomised why we were so good tonight, and it was their work off the ball as much as what they did when we were in possession. They did the small things well, as did a lot of the lads.”
Assessing the importance of the result and the Falcons’ future prospects, Walder said: “It was my first win since taking over, so I’m proud of that, and it’s important for the entire playing and coaching staff. It’s been a huge team effort to produce that performance, and the thing now is to make sure it’s not a one-off.
“We won’t get carried away, and we can’t because we’ve got Saracens at home next Sunday!
“We’ve beaten the league leaders tonight who have got an unbelievable squad, and then we’re playing another unbelievable squad next week. That’s just the standard of the Gallagher Premiership, but we’ll definitely take confidence from this and know that we can repeat it.
“This has to become the norm rather than the exception, and when we get our attitude right we’re a very dangerous team.”
Click here to book tickets for the visit of Saracens on Sunday October 9.
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
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Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
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Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
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