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Newcastle Falcons winger Dan Marshall says their European Rugby Challenge Cup clash with Lyon is a must-win game. - 16/12/2016 10:15
Newcastle Falcons will hope to keep up the pressure on the Ospreys at the top of Pool 2 when they travel to face Lyon in Round 3 of the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
The two sides are level on points behind the Welsh region going into the game in France, but Dean Richards’ outfit will be full of confidence given their impressive form in the English Premiership so far this term.
The Falcons flew into seventh domestically, punching well above their weight, with recent victories over Northampton and Harlequins showing the huge strides they’ve made in England.
Lyon, meanwhile, aren’t enjoying things as much in the TOP 14. In 11th place, they’ve won just four league games so far this season and were brushed aside at home by a Keelan Giles-inspired Ospreys in the previous European round back in October.
Newcastle, as a result, should go into the game as heavy favourites. Their five Premiership wins, plus one in Europe, have already seen them top the number of successes they had in the whole of last season, giving Richards every reason to be in buoyant mood ahead of the trip to eastern France.
“We’re back up there now, starting to win and beating good sides,’ said Richards. “We’re getting a bit of a buzz out of it and that’s bringing a lot of added interest.
“One of the things we talked about when I came to the club in 2012 was what people would like us to be remembered by in 20, 30 years’ time. We said we wanted to give it a go and if it doesn’t work it won’t be for the want of trying.”
While league survival in their respective countries is the priority for the two teams, back-to-back European meetings offer both the chance to reach the latter stages with the Ospreys still in pole position to top the pool.
Newcastle’s Argentine back Juan Pablo Socino said: “We would have loved another game in the Premiership but these European games will show how good the squad is.”
Newcastle Falcons' hopes of reaching the European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-finals were dealt a blow after Lyon cruised to a bonus-point 42-12 victory at the Matmut Stadium. - 09/12/2016 20:27
Newcastle Falcons’ hopes of reaching the European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-finals were dealt a blow after Lyon cruised to a bonus-point 42-12 victory at the Matmut Stadium.
The Falcons were flying after five minutes thanks to a Dan Team score, but the hosts rallied to go in at the break 21-5 ahead after tries from Sami Mavinga, Paul Bonnefond and Felix Lambey. Rob Vickers burrowed over after the break, but it was Lyon who finished the job thanks to hat trick hero Bonnefond and Augustin Figuerola.
Newcastle knew only a win would do after the high-flying Ospreys earned their third bonus-point triumph down the road in Grenoble. And they got off to the perfect start after four minutes. Alex Tait broke free in midfield and fed Temm who dummied past a defender to score at the corner. Brett Connon failed to add the extras but the Falcons held an early 5-0 lead.
But the hosts fought-back to hit the front after 12 minutes. The giant Lyon pack hammered at the Newcastle line before prop Mavinga, who drove over amongst a heap of bodies to score. Jerome Porical landed the conversion to edge his men in-front.
And things got worse for the Falcons after their dream start. Baptiste Couilloud went clean through and found Bonnefond on a perfect supporting line. The centre crashed over before Porical added the extras to stretch their lead. Felix Lambey then broke clear down the blindside to score a third converted try in the first-half.
But Dean Richards’ half-time team talk clearly made an impact as Newcastle soon narrowed the 21-5 gap. Fred Burdon charged downfield before being stopped just short, but Vickers was on-hand to crash over from close-range. Connon converted to make it 21-12.
However, Lyon finally got their bonus-point score when Bonnefond got his second of the game. The hosts drove a lineout close to the Falcons line before moving it to the outside centre, and he crashed over for the crucial fourth score. Figuerola crashed over before Bonnefond completed his hat trick to put the seal on a 42-12 triumph.
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