HE’S SHEAR CLASS . . .
All the practice paid off for Vereniki Goneva at St James’ Park on Saturday — not just scoring another try for Newcastle, but in the way he celebrated it. The Fiji wing had been honing his Alan Shearer, onearm salute in the Falcons’ final training session last week and he was able to put it on public display when he touched down — which drew a Twitter response from Shearer himself. Maro Itoje feigned falling asleep after scoring for Saracens, in a mocking retort to his detractors. There was no need for it. If he had performed at that level for England, no one would have suggested he was worn out.