Outstanding back three hailed by Vickers
Newcastle Falcons prop Rob Vickers praised his back line colleagues in his post-match thoughts at the weekend, after his side shared the spoils with Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership clash at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Vickers and front row colleague Jon Welsh scored the only tries of the game, in conditions that saw good old fashioned forward play go a long way towards earning Dean Richards side two league points.
And while the score sheet provided the props with the glory, Vickers says the way the club’s backline operated, played a big part in allowing the front row to play a full eighty minutes and get those vital scores.
Vickers said: “Our backs, and in particular the back three were outstanding today. As a pack, if the backs are understanding the way the conditions are playing out, it makes it that much easier because you’re not chasing backwards and forwards constantly.”
With pick and drives and mauls to the fore in appalling weather shining the spotlight on the Falcons eight, Vickers was equally keen to highlight how the players will immediately turn their attentions to the visit of Saracens and the work on’s identified by the coaches.
“The way that Micky Ward and Scott MacLeod are, looking after the forwards at the moment, they’ll go through the game. The scrum and line outs weren’t perfect, it wasn’t too bad and yes it allowed us to launch, but we need to keep improving. Saracens have a big front row and a big pack again and yes, we’ll take heart from how we did against Sale but then we have to be better again next week.”
While the result earned the Falcons two points at a ground the hosts had won all their previous games this season, Vickers explained that there were conflicting thoughts following the full time whistle.
“It was a bit bitter sweet, to get two points on the road is wonderful but I think to outscore a team like Sale, two tries to nothing, it was quite frustrating as well. They have a great team with a big muscley pack, their set piece is good and the have very lively backs so to get two points, yes it’s pleasing but it’s also disappointing not to get the win”
