Tall Order For Falcons

By Ridley
September 14 2002

Would you bet against Gloucester winning the League? I wouldn't. Leicester's defeat at Heywood Road ... following last week's hammering of Sale at Kingsholm .... must have shortened the odds considerably. But can we put a spoke in the West Country wheel?

If we do we'll have to do it the hard way. Gloucester have assembled a formidable pack ... and we haven't... yet. Richard Arnold returns in the back row to give us some steel,we're solid in the line out and have two excellent second rows.

But we're struggling in the front row with Hurter having to make way for Ward. So Peely, Brotherstone and Ward will be head to head with Vickery, Azam and co.

Gloucester will win ball all season and now, with Mercier and Henry Paul strutting their stuff not to mention Simpson-Daniel, they can do serious damage in the backs. They are also hungry for success.

We will be without Stephenson and with Botham at full back we look distinctly short of real pace.

It promises to be a real baptism of fire for Phil Godman who makes his first start. He will be at centre, with Noonie moving onto the wing, but its at fly half where his big future lies.

Rob's game plan for this season was to use Dave Walder to replace Jonny on his many international excursions. Joe Shaw was brought in from Saints to provide cover at full back and on the wing. But Dave's broken leg has put paid to that and its given Godman a quick promotion.

Unless he fails to live up to his clear potential, or gets injured, he will takeover the 10 shirt when Wilkinson is away. He has come on as replacement and looks sharp, eager and talented. Now he's on a very steep learning curve.

Rob is backing off the limelight these days and handling the interview role to Batesy who insists Falcons have a game plan to surprise Glaws.

Could it be that we will reverse traditional roles and kick for the corners?

Whatever the plan I think we will be lucky to keep the Gloucester winning margin below 20 points.