Bates warns Falcons relegation is still a danger
Feb 13 2010 by Nick Purewal, The Journal
Backing his pack to go toe-to-toe with the Saints eight, Bates said it will be the tight exchanges and the midfield tussle too that determines the result, even if the pacemen secure the scores. “If we stop the Saints up front and through the midfield then they will struggle for ball,” Bates continued, “and that’s bound to be more important.
“Wingers are always going to score tries, and some of them are going to be easier than others – that’s their job but the team often has as much to do with the scoring as the wings themselves. When Northampton were up here we fell asleep for the first try and Ashton just ran it in, he didn’t create it, and the last try was just a crossfield after injury halted the game for a good while and the game was effectively over in any case.” Reiterating the belief that the earlier Saints defeat, and the Falcons’ win in the Midlands last season, will not affect the outcome today, Bates said the analysis his coaching team have provided for their players focuses on tactics rather than mentality.
“It’s been a largely tactical process rather than an emotional one,” said Bates. “There was nothing in it for us to pursue the defeat up here with any kind of need to avenge it down there.
“We’ve just got to use the information we gained from that game, keep learning the lessons and throw everything at them.”
Northampton Saints (3) v Newcastle Falcons (6)
Northampton can call on England duo Chris Ashton and Courtney Lawes after the wing and lock were released from Martin Johnson’s squad. Premiership player of the month Phil Dowson captains the side while Stephen Myler is preferred to Shane Geraghty at fly-half.
Newcastle recall captain Carl Hayman after he was rested for their recent LV=Cup matches. Saxons representatives Rob Vickers and Micky Young are also handed starts, as is fly-half Jimmy Gopperth.
Last season: Northampton 13 Newcastle 19, Newcastle 32 Northampton 22
Last six league matches: Northampton L W W W W W; Newcastle W W L L L W
Top points scorer: Jimmy Gopperth (Newcastle) 173, Shane Geraghty (Northampton) 146
Top try scorers: Charlie Amesbury (Newcastle) 2, Chris Ashton (Northampton) 9
