Newcastle Falcons DoR Steve Diamond says basic errors are undermining his side’s progress as they prepare for a key Gallagher Premiership clash away to Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.
The Falcons make six changes for the trip to Sandy Park, where both sides are aiming for just their third league win of the campaign.
Diamond’s team defeated Exeter 24-18 at Kingston Park in October and are looking to complete a rare double over the Chiefs.
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Joe Davis (19) makes his first Premiership start at scrum-half. The former Barnard Castle School pupil has made 11 appearances this season and scored twice, and was recently capped by England at Under-20 level.
Connor Doherty replaces the injured Sammy Arnold at outside centre, with Ben Stevenson returning on the wing following a spell out. In the second row, John Hawkins and Sebastian de Chaves come in for the injured Philip van der Walt and Kieran McDonald.
Fixture
Gallagher Premiership
Exeter Chiefs
Newcastle
“The lads are aware of the significance of playing Exeter, with them being the next team above us in the league,” said Diamond.
“We’ve both won two games in the Premiership but they’ve picked up a lot of bonus points, which we haven’t, and that’s been the difference. We did well to beat them when they came up to Newcastle in the autumn, and we’ve got to do it again.
“Exeter look like they’re playing a bit more rugby in terms of moving the ball around, but just like us they’ve had a difficult year in terms of getting results. I’d expect it to be a fairly even contest, and if we’re in the mix going into the last quarter we need to be clinical in finishing them off.”
“We had 50 per cent territory and possession against a good Sale side, but errors cost us. Quality teams will open you up when you do that, and we’ll have to be at our best at Exeter to come away with the win.
“We’ve got a very simple game plan put together by the coaching staff and senior players, and when we implement it properly it works. What you can’t legislate for is three very basic defensive errors like we produced last weekend, and if you’re playing to a system then you’ve got to stick to it and make your tackles.
“Training has been good, and we’re not reactionary up here. We’ve got a process and a consistency to our preparation that we believe in, and we’re not going to throw all of that out of the window.”
NEWCASTLE FALCONS: 15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Alex Hearle, 13 Connor Doherty, 12 Max Clark, 11 Ben Stevenson, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Joe Davis; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Richard Palframan, 4 John Hawkins, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Freddie Lockwood, 7 Cameron Neild, 8 Callum Chick (c)
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Adam Scott, 20 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Kieran Wilkinson, 23 Oli Spencer
