Hodgson focused on grabbing Euro play-off spot
JOEL Hodgson says Newcastle Falcons will not be sucked into playing helter-skelter rugby in tomorrow’s Aviva Premiership climax in Bristol - with a European Champions Cup play-off place up for grabs.
To make the play-offs Newcastle need to finish seventh in the league and hope Gloucester do not win the European Challenge Cup final – and the Falcons’ chances of ending up seventh hinge on home defeats for Northampton and Gloucester on a day of endless permutations.
Keen for his team to follow their own pattern rather than playing without a framework, Hodgson said: “There is a lot riding on it for us and there is the chance of achieving something which has not been done in 13 years in terms of qualifying for the Champions Cup.
“I see no reason why we cannot finish seventh.
“We have to put in a performance, which is all we can do, and we will do everything in our power to take care of the things we can control.
“Bristol know their fate in terms of finishing bottom but they have been dangerous and competitive all season and, with it being their last game in the Premiership and in front of their home crowd, they may look to throw the ball around a bit more.
“We have to stay disciplined, we have put a game-plan in place and we think it will work if we stick to it.”