Alex Codling has questioned Newcastle’s strategic future after the club fell to an eighth successive league defeat.
Newcastle have played eight games in the Premier League so far this season and lost eight of them; The most recent was a 47-3 thrashing of Leicester on Sunday that left them bottom of the table.
Newcastle head coach Codling has expressed concerns about the make-up of the squad he has inherited, while insisting the spirit and work ethic of his players cannot be questioned following the defeat at Welford Road.
“I will never criticize the players for their spirit and unity,” said Codling, 50, who is spending his first season in the North East. “It’s a tough game and after 25 minutes we’re in a pretty tough situation. Difficult. I’ve never been in this position before. I hate losing. I take this more personally than anyone else.
“Newcastle have decisions to make around strategy because they have some really talented youngsters but it makes life difficult in the short term. That’s the bare facts of the business. I can’t sugarcoat it any other way but I can’t criticize the players.”
“Right now I’m just working week to week; I work 100 hours a week. This is a huge challenge, my job now is to try to raise morale again. Although it may be painful in the short term, in the long term the club has some really talented youngsters. Our challenge is that we don’t have the experience to let them go.
“You dust yourself in the dust and leave again. “It’s like a boxer, there’s only so many punches you can take, but you keep taking them and hoping at some point you land a blow.”
Asked if he had spoken to Newcastle’s managers about his future strategy, Codling said he had been “paid to coach”.
“I have great respect for the club, they have had to make difficult decisions on financial matters but ultimately when you are up against fully-fledged teams every week it becomes really difficult,” he added. “The difference this year is that the chance of facing teams in rotational international periods is gone and while that is good for rugby we are now facing completely stacked teams every week which makes life difficult. “It’s painful in the short term but hopefully good for our club in the long term .”
Leicester have turned a corner and will soon have Anthony Watson back
Leicester Tigers 47 Newcastle Falcons 3
The whispers before the game were that the curtain had been drawn on Leicester’s early season failure, and Newcastle’s bonus point demolition confirmed that.
The opponent was, of course, the Falcons, winless, stout but overpowering in all areas and bottom of the Premiership table, but that meant three league wins for Dan McKellar’s Tigers, who secured the four-try bonus. Perfect wind to fly them to Europe next weekend before half-time.
And the feel-good factor returned to Welford Road as Anthony Watson took part in the pre-match warm-up – perhaps due to the Baltic conditions. The England winger, who will miss the World Cup due to a calf injury, is closing in on a return to Leicester with Steve Borthwick’s support as the Six Nations are around the corner.
“Anthony should be ready to go next week,” McKellar said. “This period has been really good for him and allowed him to get his body into the best shape it’s ever been. The rehab coaches have done a great job with him and he’s a hard worker, a total professional. He’s in a position to come back and perform, which is exciting.” ”
Given the elements, the foundations of Leicester’s victory were always going to be laid by the Tigers’ brave team; It was not a day for ostentation and ostentation. Maul’s defense, especially in the first half, was magnificent; so does the impact attack, with three of the seven attempts coming from this area. Captain and Puma Julian Montoya set the example at hooker, while hat-trick hero Tommy Reffell – shades of Neil Back with his try-scoring exploits – and Jasper Wiese terrorized Newcastle’s collapse and tight defense from the back row. Dan Kelly has also shown much more form, which has seen him remain a stand-in as England’s inside center center and delve relentlessly into the heart of Newcastle’s midfield – a solidity not helped by the late withdrawal of England’s under-20 flight. -Half of Louie Johnson during warm-up.
“My favorite part of this performance was that it had Leicester Tigers written all over it,” added McKellar. “It’s our DNA from start to finish. “This is very pleasing.”
Reffell added: “He has been outstanding since returning from the World Cup and is challenging himself to become one of the best sevens in the world. There is no doubt he can achieve this if he continues to improve.”
The Falcons struck well in the opening 10 minutes, Brett Connon opening the scoring from the kick-off, but as soon as Reffell slotted into Leicester’s opener, the Newcastle dam burst. There’s no doubting the Falcons’ faith, but the sad and disturbing truth is that their roster – even barring injuries – is a grade below the rest of the league. Falcons head coach Alex Codling admitted as much after the game.
From Reffell’s opener the Tigers pressed Newcastle ruthlessly and the home side’s 23-point first-half lead came from four visits to Newcastle’s 22; One trial score was awarded each time. Reffell added his second with a nifty blindside strike and center Matt Scott picked out a very good line from Ben Youngs to flick out former Tiger Matias Moroni. Wiese burst in from close range to close out the half.
“We always dominate the first 10, 15 minutes,” Codling said. “It turns pressure into points and when you don’t do that it’s very difficult to get the momentum back. I will never criticize the players for their spirit and unity. It’s a tough game and after 25 minutes we’re in a pretty tough spot.”
Shortly after the break Reffell added his third from behind a strike as the game ended as a contest. The same goes for Newcastle, who sent winger Pedro Rubiolo to the sin bin for a mischievous, unarmed tackle on Jasper Wiese. Ollie Hassell-Collins did a great job of holding on to Solomone Kata’s difficult transfer and soon added Leicester’s sixth point, with Mike Brown adding a seventh. Also a shout out to Sara Cox, who was an excellent referee, albeit in a completely one-sided contest.
The win moved the Tigers into seventh place, above Bristol and just five points clear of play-off contention. After the struggles at the beginning of the season, the corner has turned. Now the mission turns to Europe; and we keep the momentum going.