Jeremy Manning to take sting out of Wasps
Jan 1 2011 by Mark Smith, The Journal
JEREMY Manning's last kick of 2010 was the winning penalty against Exeter, and the Newcastle Falcons full-back will be hoping for similar results tomorrow at Wasps in the first fixture of the New Year.
The 25-year-old travels down to High Wycombe looking for a repeat of the 12-6 victory the Falcons claimed almost a year ago to the day, but the modest Kiwi is refusing to get carried away with his decisive contribution last time out.
“People say I won the game against Exeter, but I just about lost it for the team before that,” he said, referring to the injury-time penalty he struck in sealing a 26-24 European victory over the Chiefs two weeks ago in Galashiels.
“My first touch of the ball after coming on from the bench wasn’t the best, and it ultimately led to Exeter’s try. That doesn’t sit well in the back of my own mind even after kicking the winning penalty, because I know that the try came from my mistake. At least we finished the game on a high with retaining the ball for as long as we did, and in terms of the penalty it just so happened that I was the person down to take it.”
Manning’s vital contribution also saw him send over a booming 45-metre drop goal earlier in the piece, but the former Munster back admitted he thought it was a mis-cue at the time.
“We had an advantage coming from the referee so it was a bit of a shot-to-nothing, and I just thought I’d have a pop,” he said. “It turned out to be all right, but I felt when I hit it that it wasn’t actually a very good strike. I’ve seen it on the video since then, but when it left the boot it didn’t feel the best to be honest.”
Fresh from signing a new two-year contract to stay at Kingston Park, Manning keeps his place in the Falcons side from the game that never was - the twice-postponed home date with Leeds Carnegie.
The only change to the team from that selection sees Kieran Brookes in at tight-head prop as Euan Murray sits out on religious grounds, with the newly-signed Scotland international refusing to play on Sundays. That means a return to the twin-pivot system employed by head coach Alan Tait, with fly-half Jimmy Gopperth and fullback Manning offering a double-threat at first receiver.
“It gives us options, and it means we can chop and change depending on what game plan Taity wants us to play,” said Manning. “If he wants an extra kicker or an extra ball-player then I can be that man, or if he wants other strengths then he has guys in the squad that he can turn to for that.
“Myself and Jimmy try and split the field in two, basically giving the scrum-half two options for where he wants to pass the ball. That’s great because it gives me the freedom to do what I want when I get the ball at first receiver, and also it takes a bit of the strain of Jimmy’s shoulders if he has another ball-player on the field.”
Facing a Wasps side beaten just once in their past six outings, Manning said: “I played against them in the first game of the Middlesex Sevens back in August, and they had exceptional speed on the wings with the likes of David Lemi and Tom Varndell.
“Going down to London is never easy, but we just have to muscle up and get the job done. Wasps have a really grizzly old pack with plenty of experience. They’re not going to be shy by any stretch, but we have a lot of mobility upfront and we’ll want to move them around.
“We’re really upbeat about going on the road down there, we want to get the new year off to a great start and the boys are really up for it.”
NEWCASTLE FALCONS (v London Wasps, away, tomorrow 3pm): Jeremy Manning, Luke Fielden, Tane Tu’ipulotu, Luke Eves, Gcobani Bobo, Jimmy Gopperth, Micky Young, Grant Shiells, Matt Thompson, Kieran Brookes, James Hudson (captain), Tim Swinson, Will Welch, Redford Pennycook, Ally Hogg. Replacements: Matt Hall, Micky Ward, Tim Ryan, Filipo Levi, Mark Wilson, Jason Spice, James Fitzpatrick, Danny Williams.
