Confidence and accuracy the keys for Delany

Tuesday 12 April 2016 Written by: Adam


The Kiwi fly-half and his team welcome the Exiles to Kingston Park in a 3pm kick-off, knowing that victory would go a long way to ensuring top-flight rugby for next season.

Delany, who joined the Falcons from French Top 14 and European Champions Cup finalists Clermont, said: “The confidence is there, it is just a matter of us working through our processes, getting that right and knowing the results will come on the back of it.

“I don’t want to make too big a deal out of this game, because to do so might see us go into our shells. We don’t want to tighten up, we just need to understand that the boys have done all the work during the week and that we can approach the game with confidence and accuracy in what we are doing.”

The former New Zealand All Black added: “People on the outside might be saying it’s a decider and all the rest of it, but we just have to put that to one side. The way we will win the game is by going through our processes rather than talking up the importance of it. Those external factors won’t be in our mind – it is just who wants it the most on the day and who delivers their game plan which will decide it.”

Delany is now back to full fitness after missing the middle chunk of the season with a knee ligament injury, the goal-kicking ace saying: “It was tough at the start, getting injured so early. When you’re playing a position where you need to tell people what to do, you need to earn your own stripes at the same time. That is even more difficult when you are out injured for a long time, but the boys have been great with me.

“We are a pretty good side and it is frustrating that we have not been getting the wins. We have been letting in too many soft tries but at times we have played really well. The Aviva Premiership is a brutal competition with no easy games, any team can win on any day, and you can’t allow sides any easy scores.

“I think we are a good, tight unit. We play good rugby and guys put a lot of pressure on each other for selection. We are quite unique geographically in that we are so far away from the other teams, it is just a matter of getting it to click on the day but we are trying every week, and I don’t think we are too far away.”

Delany was speaking in the Falcons’ official match-day programme. To read the full interview get your copy at Sunday’s game, available from sellers in and around the ground.

Tickets for Sunday’s 3pm kick-off are already selling well. To book call 0871 226 6060, visit Kingston Park stadium in person or [**CLICK HERE**][1] .

[1]: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/newcastle-falcons/details/event.aspx?itemref=2813