Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Welford Road against Leicester Tigers (kick-off 3pm).
Here’s what he had to say:
Newcastle Falcons reaction
- We have to manage key moments correctly and take opportunities when they come.
- We have intelligent players and lessons will have been absorbed and learnt but you have to finish the opportunities you create.
- It was frustrating but those margins are fine. If we do the little things right we will end up on the right side.
- It’s about learning lessons and accuracy is important in those conditions.
- All the lads are good ball players but concentration and focus has to be there all the time.
- The lineout is a collective effort and five things have to go right for it to work. Rory Duncan has done a great job with them. We came unstuck last weekend but it was very good in the first two games.
Leicester preparation
- It’s been a good week with good energy in training.
- Tigers will be a fantastic challenge. They are one of the oldest clubs around and Welford Road is a famous old ground.
- We’ll have to play well to get the opportunity to win again. It’s about us performing to the best of our ability.
- To come away with points it must be nothing less than a top-drawer performance.
- They’ve picked up since the first game and it could’ve gone either way against Wasps and that was with 14 men.
- They have a solid pack of forwards and plenty of experience in Dan Cole, Tom Youngs and David Denton.
- With George Ford and Ben Youngs in the half-backs, Manu Tuilagi, Jonny May and Telusa Veainu, they clearly have lots of threats.
- My approach is that we have to perform to the best of our ability. We must make good decisions and be accurate in execution in key moments.
Team news/injury news
- We have a few bumps and bruises but we will see where we are later in the week.
- Bryce Heem has been rested early this week but we are quietly optimistic that he will be fit.
- Niall Annett is not 100 per cent due to an ear infection.
- Ben Te’o is on the way back and has taken full part in sessions. He is fairly close to returning.
- Nick Schonert is fine and fit to play.
- Ethan Waller is in full training and we shall assess him.
- Wynand Olivier is not in full training yet but is not far off. The European games may be when he returns.
- Scott van Breda is making progress but needs to get his strength back. He has a test on Friday.
- Perry Humphreys is fine after a hamstring problem.
- Matti Williams is back in full training after a back issue.