Putting right wrongs Falcons focus versus Saints
Newcastle Falcons centre Adam Powell says the team heads into this weekend’s Aviva Premiership Rugby match against Northampton ready to right the wrongs from their season opener against Gloucester.
With a week of introspection at a high penalty count, the squad are now fired up to take on the Saints.
“I think on the back of last week, everyone is desperate to get out on the pitch and to put some things right. I think that’s a good thing taking into the Premiership, every week is a new game and you have to get your head around what happened the previous week and get your head around it.”
With both sides looking for a first win in the competition this weekend, it is not a scenario that will put any demons into the thoughts of either team.
“It’s early days and we just want to get out there and play as well as we can play and try and get the win. Northampton will be the same.”
With Franklins Gardens out of action for the weekend as groundworks continue at the Saints home, the game will take place 20 miles south at MK Dons’ Stadium:MK a ground that Powell knows from his time at reigning Aviva Premiership champions Saracens.
Fresh from hosting three games in the Rugby World Cup, Powell is looking forward to the prospect of playing in fresh surroundings.
“It’s a good place, it’s a football pitch so it’s a good surface you always get a nice pristine carpet there. It’s a big stadium and hopefully there are a lot of fans there and a good atmosphere. Its nice to play at a different ground every now and again. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Northampton have a good crowd and we have a good group of loyal supporters who travel away so hopefully it will be a good crowd and a good game of rugby.”
That was certainly what was served up between the two sides the last time they met, with a thrilling eight try encounter displaying the Falcons attacking intents and skills. While the result went the way of the home side on that occasion, the Falcons performance showed, Powell says, what they will need to be in the game this weekend.
“It was a really good game, we let them come at us a little bit and if you do that against a team like Northampton then its tough. Late in the first half and the second half we really chucked the ball around and went at them and found a lot of holes.”
“We scored four tries and showed we can play a lot of rugby, so we have to do that again and have that confidence and not sit back and hope for the best, we have to take the game to them. “
