Richards vents frustrations at EPCR as a depleted Falcons suffer Cup setback

NEWCASTLE Falcons’ director of rugby Dean Richards spoke of his frustration following his side’s 31-13 Heineken Champions Cup defeat at Edinburgh.

The Falcons were forced to start with a loose-head prop at tight-head and no No 17 following injuries to Logovi’i Mulipola, Trevor Davison and David Wilson, which all came after Tuesday’s European registration deadline.

The Falcons had a fit and available tight-head ready to play in the form of Jack Payne and made representation to tournament organisers EPCR to have him registered given the exceptional circumstances - but the request was not granted.

Richards said: “You lose three tight-head props in the space of 24 hours, you ask for dispensation to be able to deal with it and you are not allowed, so you have to play a loosehead on the tight. It is not like a left wing playing on the right wing or an inside centre playing outside centre – there is a safety issue there but they were not prepared to address it.

“That is what I was particularly disappointed with.

“Sam Lockwood and Sami Mavinga did well and I have to take my hat off to them.”

He added: “To be 13-10 up at halftime was almost a moral victory in itself but we knew it was always going to be a difficult second half.

“We are just disappointed with how the whole issue was dealt with but I am proud of the guys and we have another week to turn it round before we face Edinburgh next Sunday at our place.”

The Falcons’ boss (right) added: “Right up until an hour before kick-off we were saying to EPCR we have a contracted tighthead who is fit and is at the stadium and the alternative was playing a loose-head who a number of years ago had played a little bit of tighthead at a much lower level. Why is it allowed to happen?

“For the integrity of the game and the competition the boys said they would give it a go, and I respect them for that, but it is not a nice position to be in. “You would have thought common sense would have prevailed from the EPCR’s point of view.”