NEWCASTLE Falcons captain James Hudson believes his side can kick-start their league season this afternoon, as they make the Aviva Premiership trip to London Irish.
The 29-year-old spent three seasons as a player with the Madejski Stadium outfit before his Kingston Park move, and takes his current team down to his former home with desires on four vital points at the least.
“It’s a massive month for us, and there’s no hiding place from the position we’re in at second bottom in the division,” said Hudson, whose side surged through to the LV= Cup semi-finals last weekend courtesy of a 17-3 home win over Exeter.
“We can put the cup to one side now because we’re back into the league stuff, but I want the boys to remember that winning feeling, and how great it was to be rewarded for their hard work.”
The Exiles come into this afternoon’s encounter on the back of a 41-8 drubbing at Gloucester in Anglo-Welsh action last time out, and with a trio of their star players suspended as Chris Hala’Ufia, Delon Armitage and Faan Rautenbach all serve lengthy bans.
But Hudson urged caution for his side, saying: “I don’t think it’s ever a good time to play them down there, because they’ve got such a talented squad.
“That’s definitely one thing I will be impressing on the lads, because we need to be alert to the sort of threat that London Irish possess. We know like any side that results are what you are judged on, and Irish have struggled recently, but with the talent they have in their squad you have to be completely prepared.
“It’s a massive game for them too, even though their sights are probably set a little higher than ours in terms of league position. They will be determined to finish in the top-four play-off places, and to do that from where they are now they will have to win the majority of their home games between now and the end of the season.
“They do have a couple of guys missing, but the talent they have to come and fill in is exceptionally strong. It’s one thing saying Chris Hala’Ufia is suspended, but they have the Samoan national team captain in George Stowers to slot in there. They’ve got the depth, and even with key individuals suspended or injured, they’re still very dangerous.” On the back of jubilant scenes following last weekend’s LV= Cup triumph, the skipper took time to highlight the team spirit within the Newcastle ranks.
