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Wasps battle back from 12-point deficit to edge out Newcastle

By PA
Newcastle Falcons v Wasps – Gallagher Premiership – Kingston Park

Brad Shields and Tom West scored second-half tries as Wasps came from behind to claimed a 20-18 win at Newcastle.

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Trailing by 12 points at the interval, the visitors scored 14 unanswered points to condemn Newcastle to their third successive defeat.

The Falcons led 18-6 at the break thanks to tries from lock Marco Fuser and centre George Wacokecoke but they were perhaps fortunate to keep 14 men on the field after it appeared winger Mateo Carreras made contact with Josh Bassett’s eye.

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Brad Thorn speaks to media ahead of Reds clash with Force

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Brad Thorn speaks to media ahead of Reds clash with Force

However, two yellow cards in quick succession for Newcastle duo Greg Peterson and Michael Young in the second half opened the door for Wasps and tries from Shields and West clinched it.

The Falcons went ahead after just three minutes as Joel Hodgson, making his first appearance in six weeks, put over a simple penalty after Wasps collapsed a scrum.

Former Falcons playmaker Jimmy Gopperth levelled the game after 10 minutes with a simple penalty of his own for Wasps, who had most of the possession but struggled to do much with it.

The first try came after 14 minutes and it was the home side who went ahead through Fuser, who touched down following a catch and drive from a lineout.

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Hodgson added the extras and then a penalty midway through the half to extend Newcastle’s lead to 13-3.

Wasps were held up over the line with Bassett smothered in the tackle by Carreras and Tom Penny, with the TV cameras picking up a potential eye gouge.

Gopperth added his second penalty of the day but Newcastle scored again before half-time when an errant Gopperth pass was intercepted by Penny and the full-back raced down the right touchline, stepped inside and released centre Wacokecoke to score.

Wasps hit back in the second half when former England flanker Shields dived over from a metre out after a barrage of pressure eventually told.

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The introduction of Alife Barbeary also made a difference, with the number eight carrying hard and breaking tackles throughout the second half, while Wasps captain Joe Launchbury also impressed in his first game of the season.

The hosts began to feel the pressure when Peterson and Young were sin-binned for penalties on their own line.

Incessant pressure from the visitors, with their two-man advantage, eventually told after 63 minutes with prop West going over from close range. Gopperth added the extras to put Wasps ahead for the first time in the game.

Newcastle were never able to get going in the second half, as ferocious pressure from the Wasps line forced them into errors, and the visitors saw it out comfortably late on.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 1 hour 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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