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The 3 things Richards looks for when unearthing Newcastle talent

(Photo by Bob Bradford/CameraSport via Getty Images)

Dean Richards has explained his three-pronged criteria when scouting potential recruits for Newcastle, the Gallagher Premiership club who this week celebrated having four players from the region called into the England squad by Eddie Jones. Whereas previously during the Australian’s tenure back-rower Mark Wilson used to be the sole Falcons pick for England Test duty, the club’s fortunes have been transformed in recent times. 

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Monday’s latest 34-strong squad picked by Jones featured the inclusion of a Newcastle-based quartet, a level of representation that was just one player less than the five which the chart-topping Leicester managed and it was on a par with the contributions Exeter, Northampton and Bath will give to the national team cause. 

It was July when Adam Radwan, the 23-year-old winger from Teesside, Trevor Davison, the 29-year-old prop from the city of Newcastle, Jamie Blamire, the 23-year-old hooker from Cumbria, and Callum Chick, the 24-year-old back-rower from Ponteland, all made their England debuts. 

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Chris Robshaw guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload

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Chris Robshaw guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload

At the time, Jones had enthused to RugbyPass about the forensic work being done by Richards towards getting a certain type of player to play consistently well in the Premiership. “Dean has got an uncanny eye to pick out talent,” explained the England boss. 

“They usually come through unusual pathways, not the usual way with (England) 16s, 18s, the 20s. They usually come through a more diverged pathway and he has got an eye for that talent. They have played consistently well and they are being rewarded for their performances.”

What does that ‘uncanny eye’ involve, though? Asked by RugbyPass, Richards outlined what he looks for when he goes out unearthing unheralded talent for Newcastle… and ultimately for England. “First of all whether they have got the physical ability, whether they have got the right mental approach and mentally whether they are able to take things in to carry out what is asked of them. It’s pretty simple really. 

“They don’t have to tick all three boxes. They might only tick two of the boxes, but if they tick one they will find it incredibly difficult unless they are just an unbelievable physical specimen in which case they would probably be a prop.”

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With Newcastle having started the season encouragingly with three wins from their five matches so far, there would have been an expectation that their best players would be involved in next month’s three-game England campaign. It meant there was no massive training ground celebration last Monday when Jones confirmed his latest squad. The reaction, though, was much different in the summer when the Newcastle contingent got its first call-up. 

“The biggest buzz was going into the summer series and the boys getting the call-up,” added Richards. “There was Sean Robinson as well and everybody was just delighted for them. It’s just a shame that Sean got injured when he did, otherwise the England boys would have seen a bit more of him. He has been exceptional as well this year.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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