Glos V Falcons Challenge Cup SF Fri 7.45

[fivepointer]

2 well matched sides. Should be a competitive fixture. Graham starts for Newcastle and is a little lucky to escape a citing after last week.

Gloucester: Woodward; Marshall, Twelvetrees, Atkinson, Trinder; Burns, Braley; McAllister, Matu'u, Balmain; Slater (capt), Galarza; Ackermann, Polledri, Morgan.

Replacements: Hanson, Hohneck, Afoa, Clarke, Ludlow, Vellacott, Symons, Sharples.

Newcastle: Hammersley; Harris, Mermoz, Matavesi, Kibirige; Hodgson, Young (capt); Lockwood, Lawson, Wilson, Green, Robinson, Olmstead, Graham, Burrows.

Replacements: Socino, Vickers, Davison, Witty, Wilson, Stuart, Radwan, Penny.

[Puja]

2 well matched sides. Should be a competitive fixture. Graham starts for Newcastle and is a little lucky to escape a citing after last week.

Jesus - hadn't noticed he'd escaped completely scot-free (no pun intended). The random wheel of justice is spun again...

Ideally we want an English winner of this comp as the confluence of events means that it'd likely result in a 7th English qualifier for the ERC. Who do we think is the most likely to win the final from these two?

Puja

[Oakboy]

I can't really explain why but I find Newcastle more convincing than Gloucester when it matters. The collective power of the team unit just seems a greater force somehow.

[twitchy]

Newcastle in top form but glos at home, should be a cracker I reckon. Crowd should be in good voice in the sunshine as well.

[twitchy]

The ref got nailed.

[Raggs]

Glaws have some exciting players, but so much of their play seems to simply rely on size and power. Powerful carriers in the pack, 2 huge centres, and then an exciting back 3. Very effective of course, but not the most delicate, suspect it could get found out against the French sides in the champions cup.

[twitchy]

Newcastle missing goneva and sinoti.

[Puja]

I can't really explain why but I find Newcastle more convincing than Gloucester when it matters. The collective power of the team unit just seems a greater force somehow.

Newcastle are definitely playing well above the sum of their parts, but they don't have the quality of the teams around them. Hopefully they can make another good showing next season and start to get some higher quality imports in that some of the journeymen they have currently.

Having said that, Olmstead's been excellent at 6 the last few weeks.

Puja

[Gloskarlos]

33-12 says it all. Glos at home are a different proposition.

Bilbao here we come

[Banquo]

I can't really explain why but I find Newcastle more convincing than Gloucester when it matters. The collective power of the team unit just seems a greater force somehow.

...or...

great win for Glaws.

[fivepointer]

Glos the better side and good winners. Newcastle minus Sinoti and Goneva are not quite the same proposition.

Enjoyed some of Glos play in the backs. 12T looks a different player and Woodward is a strong running FB. Slater makes a real difference for them up front. Really solid, consistent performer. Too late for England?

[Oakboy]

I can't really explain why but I find Newcastle more convincing than Gloucester when it matters. The collective power of the team unit just seems a greater force somehow.

...or...

great win for Glaws.

Wrong . . . Again. I thought last night Gloucester were better than I thought they could be.

[Oakboy]

I can't really explain why but I find Newcastle more convincing than Gloucester when it matters. The collective power of the team unit just seems a greater force somehow.

Newcastle are definitely playing well above the sum of their parts, but they don't have the quality of the teams around them. Hopefully they can make another good showing next season and start to get some higher quality imports in that some of the journeymen they have currently.

Having said that, Olmstead's been excellent at 6 the last few weeks.

Puja

Maybe a higher AP position will do them more good?

[Puja]

I can't really explain why but I find Newcastle more convincing than Gloucester when it matters. The collective power of the team unit just seems a greater force somehow.

Newcastle are definitely playing well above the sum of their parts, but they don't have the quality of the teams around them. Hopefully they can make another good showing next season and start to get some higher quality imports in that some of the journeymen they have currently.

Having said that, Olmstead's been excellent at 6 the last few weeks.

Puja

Maybe a higher AP position will do them more good?

They don't seem to have signed many improvements for next season though. Mulipola's solid, but that's it. I have faith in Richards and Walder to keep getting a quart out of a pint bottle though and hopefully sustained success will make then more attractive to future signings.

Puja

[Digby]

I assume Falcons are already burning a lot of money they don't have, so more than Richards working with his squad someone needs to sign off on accepting losses as they are continuing, and even the losses getting worse

[Mellsblue]

They lose £2mil a year, I believe.

[Galfon]

Meanwhile Blues beating Pau puts Glaws into the 'Champs' Cup next year...that will bring a few extra bob their way..