Newcastle vs Northampton at St James's Park

[Puja]

I'd forgotten that Newcastle were having their big game this weekend, but a google tells me that (as of last week) they've sold 21,000 tickets. Great work from them and hopefully Saints will be rubbish and let them win by a wide margin to bring some of that crowd back again.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

That was the figure a few weeks ago.....I think. They are hoping to at least go over 25k and get towards 30k.

[Digby]

It's worth a try. It's a weird stadium is St James, lots of empty spaces inside, so I wonder if not full just how empty it might look?

[Puja]

I would have thought >20k would be enough to make it feel busy no matter the stadium shape. Hopefully they've been sensible and sold in blocks so that it's all concentrated.

If they can get 30k, then that's a superb effort. I understand they've been working with the football team to shift tickets, which is a good move.

Puja

[Digby]

Once you inside you can see how much space there is between the blocks of seats, and it looks/feels like more space than one sees at other grounds. That maybe doesn't come across on TV hen every block of seats is heaving for the football team.

And of course there's also the concern your seat is one often used by a fat sweaty hairy topless geordie

I agree it's worth a try though, if they can keep 200-500 fans to keeping coming back it'll be a big step forward

[Mellsblue]

They are tying it in with Doddie Weirs charity, as well, and selling the usual charity shirt...... that looks suspiciously like the Newcastle football shirt.

[Digby]

I'd buy one if it didn't look like a football shirt, nice touch with the 5

[Tigersman]

All sold out anyway.

[Puja]

Newcastle Falcons team to face Northampton Saints (Saturday, 5.30pm, St James’ Park, live on BT Sport)

15 Simon Hammersley
14 Vereniki Goneva
13 Chris Harris
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Sinoti Sinoti
10 Toby Flood
9 Michael Young

1 Sam Lockwood
2 Kyle Cooper
3 Trevor Davison
4 Calum Green
5 Sean Robinson
6 Evan Olmstead
7 Will Welch (captain)
8 Nili Latu

Replacements

16 Scott Lawson
17 Rob Vickers
18 Scott Wilson
19 Will Witty
20 Ally Hogg
21 Sam Stuart
22 Joel Hodgson
23 Maxime Mermoz

[Puja]

15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Nafi Tuitavake
13 Rob Horne
12 Piers Francis
11 George North
10 Stephen Myler
9 Nic Groom

1 Campese Ma’afu
2 Mikey Haywood
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Api Ratuniyawara
5 Christian Day (capt)
6 David Ribbans
7 Jamie Gibson
8 Ben Nutley

Replacements:

16 Reece Marshall
17 Francois van Wyk
18 Jamal Ford-Robinson
19 Michael Paterson
20 Mitch Eadie
21 Cobus Reinach
22 Harry Mallinder
23 Ben Foden

[Tigersman]

HONESTLY COLLINS, LUDLAM AND HILL PLAY THEM.

[Adam_P]

Bizarre team selection from Saints... A lock at 6, a 6 at 7 and a 6/7 at 8. I'm happy Nutley is getting a start, but he's in the wrong position. No idea why Ludlam has fallen right out of favour, was getting played and doing well early in the season, then went out with glandular fever and I think since then he's had 1 game.

Don't understand Tuala over Foden based on current form either, or playing Tuitavake on the wing over Collins or Pisi. Good to see North can be bothered to play this weekend

[Puja]

It is bizarre, isn't it? Playing Nutley, Brookes, Myler, all of whom are off at the end of the season. Surely time to start investing in next season?

Puja

[francoisfou]

Newcastle could go a long way to secure that 4th spot if they win with a bonus point - and I believe they will, if Tigers slip up at home to Wasps.

[Adam_P]

It is bizarre, isn't it? Playing Nutley, Brookes, Myler, all of whom are off at the end of the season. Surely time to start investing in next season?

Puja

I don't think Nutley is off, is he? I remember him signing on again not too long ago. But yes, we need to be giving the young guys who will be here past this season game time now, as we will not get relegated and we won't get top 6. Mitchell, Grayson, Ludlam, Hill, Painter, Moon, Trinder, Collins, etc would all benefit from some first team minutes at this stage of the season leading into next

[Which Tyler]

Bizarre team selection from Saints... A lock at 6, a 6 at 7 and a 6/7 at 8.

Maybe they're taking cues from Eddie

[Mellsblue]

Approx. 27,000 tickets sold.

[fivepointer]

well done Falcons. Promises to be quite an occasion.

[Tigersman]

I want Falcons to lose but damn it i want them to win. This could really start the growth of the sport in the north.

Esp if the RFU decide to finally play some games up their.

[twitchy]

Some one actually had a meeting and decided that saints kit was a good idea.

[Tigersman]

That was pure class by goneva with the celebration.

[twitchy]

Sickener. Matevesi is a beast.

[Mellsblue]

Not the best advert so far. I was contemplating going this morning. Glad it didn’t.

[Mellsblue]

Sinoti’s footwork is ridiculous.

[Adam_P]

Not the best advert so far. I was contemplating going this morning. Glad it didn’t.

It's a lot better than the London game!