Subscribe Feed (RSS)Noon previews EDF Cup cracker
October 20th, 2008 by admin0 | No Comments | Filed in EDF Energy CupNewcastle centre Jamie Noon has spoken of the determination in the Falcons camp to put right last week’s result in Brive, as they host London Wasps in Friday’s EDF Energy Cup encounter at Kingston Park.
Noon’s Newcastle side fell last time out in France despite matching Brive three tries to three, but in the aftermath the England centre revealed the focus from within the squad to regain winning ways.
“Playing away to a good side you want to be close and make sure towards the end of the game that you are in with a shout, so it was obviously disappointing to come away from Brive with nothing,” he said.
“In sport there is always an element of winning and losing games, and over the course of a season every team is going to make mistakes, but in terms of stringing the results together we know we’ve not quite been up to scratch. There have been good bits of games, but we are yet to do it for the full 80 minutes this season and I think lapses in concentration have cost us dear.
“We let ourselves down in vital areas in Brive, partly discipline and partly with our own personal skills, and we as players have to take responsibility for that. We are working hard in training, which is a given, and translating that in to the games is the key.
“It’s quite easy for people to blame the coaches after a defeat, but it’s the players who are out there on the pitch. You can’t expect the coaches to sort everything out for you during a game, it’s the players who are there making the decisions.
“Part of professional sport is having pride in your own personal performance, working on your skills to make sure they are at the best possible level for every game. There are lots of extras going on after training now, guys are taking that extra step to prepare themselves and I’m sure we will see a reaction against Wasps this Friday.”
Admitting it is “a bit strange” to be reunited with Tom May in the centres, Noon added: “It’s llike the old days, but it’s good fun and we’re gradually getting used to each other again.”
Turning attention to Friday’s visit of London Wasps in what promises to be a decisive game for the Falcons’ semi-final ambitions, Noon said: “This weekend is a great opportunity for us in the EDF Energy Cup, and despite our result in Newport we feel we are still very much alive in this competition and giving it a good fist this weekend with a strong team.
“Playing against Wasps is always tough, especially with the way they defend and the depth of quality they have, but I’m sure we will rise to the occasion because we all know how important it is to win games.
“Training has gone well so far, especially after getting the whole weekend off which is quite rare during the season.
“With playing Thursday and travelling all day Friday we had a full Saturday and Sunday at home with our families, and what that does is just recharge the batteries and ensures everybody comes in to training with a massive amount of enthusiasm.”
With two EDF Energy Cup home games in quick succession against Wasps on Friday and then Gloucester on November 2, the Falcons are offering fans a two-for-one ticket offer. Standing tickets are available for £20 to watch both games, with seating for just £40. To book, or for more information, call 0871 226 60 60.
Tags: EDF Energy Cup, Jamie Noon
