Falcons Prop has simple plan for Saturday
As Newcastle Falcons travel to Worcester to play the newly-promoted Warriors this Saturday Falcons Prop Rob Vickers says his team’s aim is simple.
“We want to go down to Worcester, play well and try to get the result. We were disappointed with last week of course, and we had to review, reflect and be honest about Exeter, but with that we’re now looking forward.”
“As you reflect on Exeter most of those problems were caused by us; if you’re making mistakes in both defence and attack you don’t give yourself much of a chance. But we know what went wrong was self-inflicted so it’s a case of getting ourselves right and knowing what our focus is.”
“But the nature of the game is that you have another week and a chance to put right what went wrong, so the focus all week has been on looking ahead, and on playing Worcester this weekend.”
Despite this weekend’s opponents being this season’s Aviva Premiership new boys, the Falcons know that Worcester, who beat Northampton Saints 13-12 on the opening day of the season, will be no pushovers.
“I think we’re expecting from Worcester what most people would; they’re fast with a strong pack and good running backs. Obviously they’ll be at home too where they have a huge fan base who will drive them on, so it’s up to us to be on our game and try to keep the crowd a little bit quieter to help us get into our stride on the field.”
Now in his tenth season with the Falcons, Vickers knows only too the challenge that not only Worcester but every opponent in the league offers.
“You can’t put too much store in last season because there’s not a great deal of difference between them and everyone else in the league; the Premiership is as balanced as it’s been in a long time this season and everyone is looking strong in most areas.”
One big difference this season is the extended pre-season thanks to a Rugby World Cup which has seen the Falcons one of many teams waiting until round four to have their full squads back together after duty.
“The long pre-season was fine for some of older guys because it gives the body time to recover, but it definitely created that feeling of just wanting to get out and play rugby. Now we have the boys back from international duty, and a lot of our injured guys back there’s very much a feeling that we want to play, and we want to play well.”
“It’s a long season, and while it hasn’t started quite as we’d wanted, there’s a long way to go and we know where we want to be and how we want to play so now it’s up to us to get there.”
