Richards Expects Accuracy Against Exeter

Saturday 04 October 2014 Written by: Adam


With a team showing minimal changes announced to face Exeter Chiefs, Newcastle Falcons’ Dean Richards has called for his players to show greater accuracy with the ball in hand during Sunday’s Aviva Premiership Rugby round five fixture (ko 3pm)

After missing out on points at Wasps a week ago through some defensive lapses and handling errors, the players and coaches have been working eliminate these ahead of hosting a team who are riding the crest of a wave in fourth in the table.

Speaking on Friday, Richards said “We’re looking for more accuracy with the ball in hand and a tightening of our defence on Sunday. Reviewing the game from Wasps in the analysis suite the players can’t believe we lost the game by the score that we did do and but for a couple of silly tries we gave away it could have been totally different.”

“We don’t need to make a fundamental change, its small things, but in a league like the Aviva Premiership, it’s the small things that make a big difference. This league is probably the hardest club league in the world that allows no room for error and we’re making a couple too many at the moment.”

With the focus on cutting out small errors, the team once again sees the vast majority of personnel retained and given the chance to build on the elements of their game that has seen the Falcons become a more potent attacking threat this season.

Richards said: “The team is very much unchanged for this week with the exception of Alex [Tait] coming in at Fullback and Noah [Cato] coming onto the left wing. Taity being back to fitness allows us to give Simon [Hammersley] a bit of a rest after having a good few weeks in the team.”

“Tom [Catterick] comes onto the bench and gets his chance as a result of playing very well in the A League on Monday nights and the rest of the team remains the same to the one we put out at Wasps.”

Looking at the visitors for Sunday, Richards is expecting Rob Baxter’s men to offer stern opposition as they look to cement their place in the top half of the table before the league breaks for cup action in two weeks’ time.

“Exeter are a very good side, in many ways they have the ideal set up with a lot of lads coming through the academy, in a way they are a model of what we want our setup at the Falcons to be, their probably three or four years further down the line to where we are at the moment.”

“They will be on top of their game on Sunday, they are flying high in terms of where they sit in the league and so the confidence of their players will be sky high too.”

“They come in with absolutely nothing to prove, having done that in the previous four games and knowing Exeter as I do, they will not take their foot off the gas or lose focus in any way, shape or form.”

Tickets for Sunday’s game are still available by clicking [here][1], calling 0871 2266060 or by visiting the Kingston Park box office in person.

Advance ticket prices remain in place until 12 Noon on match-day, when regular prices will come into force.

[1]: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/newcastle-falcons/details/event.aspx?itemref=2684