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Newcastle Falcons will be hoping to banish the memory of their last meeting with Stade Francais when the two sides clash on Friday night. - 04/12/2014 12:30
Newcastle Falcons will be hoping to banish the memory of their last meeting with Stade Francais when the two sides clash on Friday night.
What should have been one of the best days in Falcons’ history turned into a nightmare when they were hammered 48-8 by big-spending Stade in the quarter-final of the Heineken Cup in 2005.
In front of a capacity 49,000 crowd at the Parc des Princes, the Falcons had no match for the eventually finalists without stars such as Jonny Wilkinson and Colin Charvis.
But the Falcons will be hoping for a much better result this time around as they go into Friday’s fixture on a three-game winning streak in the Challenge Cup.
They are currently top of pool three and could extend their lead with a win over Stade, who have so far failed to shine in this season’s competition.
Falcons prop Kieran Brookes said: “Beating Bucharest was good and after beating Newport away the lads were ecstatic.
“Then seeing Newport beat Stade away, the boys are confident for our chances this weekend. We know if we play as well as we can we have the chance to come away with a win.
“They will be physical, intense and play of the cuff. Stade only a win off the top of the pool so we expect them to come here with all guns blazing so they can look to set themselves up for a big game in the return fixture next week.”
Brookes is among a number of young players in the Falcons squad who have benefitted from plenty of game time in the Challenge Cup.
But their experience will be tested to its limits on Friday against a Stade side that have only lost four pool games in the history of the competition.
“I like the European tournaments,” added Brookes. “It gives you the chance to play against players that you don’t see every week.
“I also think the nature of it means the games are less structured and players can play with a bit more flair and expression.”
Match Facts
- Newcastle are currently on a three match winning run in the Challenge Cup and have claimed victory in five of their last six in the tournament.
- Stade Francais have lost just four of their 36 Pool Stage games in Challenge Cup history (W32).
- Newcastle Falcons’ Chris Harris has made the most tackles of any player in the Challenge Cup this season, making 38 successful hits.
- Newcastle Falcons have scored more tries off first phase ball (5) than any other team in the tournament.
Newcastle Falcons Director of Rugby Dean Richards has admitted there is a lot riding on their crunch Kingston Park European Rugby Challenge Cup clash with Newport Gwent Dragons. - 14/01/2015 12:27
Noah Cato sealed a thrilling win 30-23 for Newcastle Falcons to inflict an historic defeat on Stade Francais Paris. Wing Cato pounced for the decisive score at the end of an entertaining clash at Kingston Park in which the lead changed hands four times in the second half.
Cato's try also secured a bonus point, following earlier tries by Chris Harris, Simon Hammersley and Sean Robinson. Their efforts kept the Falcons flying high at the top of Pool 3 in the Challenge Cup
.
But two-time finalists Stade Francais are facing a desperate struggle to stay in the competition after suffering two Pool stage defeat for the first time in European Challenge Cup history.
Three times Morne Steyn gave Stade the led in the north-east of England but the Falcons responded every time.
Steyn kicked the opening points of the game but Harris crashed through to score and then man of the match Tom Catterick combined with Alex Tait for Hammersley to grab Newcastle’s second.
Steyn kicked two more penalties before converting Julien Tomas’ try in the opening seconds of the second half to lead 16-14. Again Falcons hit back, this time through flanker Robinson from 25 metres. Steyn then converted a try by centre Krisnan Inu to put Stade 23-22 ahead on 60 minutes.
Yet having defended for their lives for long parts of the first half, the Falcons kept attacking after the break. The pressure told as Stade saw back-row Jonathan Ross and then centre Paul Williams binned for fouls and Catterick kicked a crucial penalty before Cato’s try.
Falcons withstood a ferocious late surge from the Parisians that went right to the final whistle but held on to maintain their unbeaten start to the tournament. Stade are now facing a shock early elimination after a second defeat in three games.
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