Real Cup of woe for frustrated Richards
NEWCASTLE Falcons’ director of rugby Dean Richards made no attempt to hide his frustration following yesterday’s Heineken Champions Cup 21-8 loss to Edinburgh at Kingston Park.
The defeat gives the Falcons a tough task in reaching the quarterfinals, Newcastle letting an 8-6 halftime lead slip.
“Without doubt it was a disappointing afternoon,” said Richards, whose four-game unbeaten home streak was brought to an end.
“At half-time we were ahead, like we were last week, but we did not build on it.
“We had an injury before the game with Calum Green being replaced by Glen Young and then we lost Johnny Williams, Nemani Nagusa and Glen Young during the first half.
“That does not help and we really needed a line-out caller - but Edinburgh were good on the day and deserved their victory.”
Richards added: “They took their chances better than we did and we just did not finish off our opportunities on the occasions where we cut them wide open.
“We probably had more clean breaks than they did but they were more clinical in making theirs count and you do not deserve to win when you cannot put your chances away.
“You cannot complain too much because Edinburgh deserved their win.”
HIs team now facing a difficult task to reach the last eight with two group games remaining, the Falcons’ boss added: “We are still alive in terms of qualification but we know it is going to be tough.
“We basically need Edinburgh to lose both of their games and us to win both of ours with bonus points and all we can do is just give it our best shot.
“To be honest I am thinking exclusively about Gloucester at home in the Premiership next Sunday and then the league games which follow that - but when the time comes to go to Montpellier we will assess the situation and put a plan in place.”
A cracking second-half display from Richard Cockerill’s side saw them turn the game around with tries from James Johnstone and Duhan van der Merwe. A wonderful try engineered by Vereniki Goneva and scored by Sinoti Sinoti had given the hosts their advantage at the break.
Edinburgh had much the better of the half but handling errors cost them dearly especially when scrumhalf Henry Pyrgos seemed on for a score, only for John Hardie to get one over on his former club with a vital turnover under the posts. Newcastle also blew a great chance when Goneva’s switch pass sent Tom Arscott surging out of his own 22 with Simon Hammersley in support and when the fullback was brought down on the Edinburgh 22 Newcastle made a mess of the recycled ball. Hammersley’s quick hands after a superb take of the box kick sent Goneva away and he put Sinoti in the clear on halfway, the winger outpacing Luke Hamilton for an 18thminute try.
Two Jaco van der Walt penalties in the 22nd and 32nd minutes, with one from Falcons’ fly-half Flood for the Falcons, made it 8-6 at the break.
However, Newcastle’s defence was shredded two minutes after the restart as Pyrgos chipped the defence and Johnstone raced through to take the bouncing ball one-handed and score under the posts. Van der Walt’s conversion put Edinburgh 13-8 ahead.
Pierre Schoeman went close from a line-out drive but the Falcons’ frailty at the scrum was exposed again when they conceded a penalty and van der Walt made it 16-8.
The hosts wasted a chance to get back into the game 10 minutes from time as a lineout was overthrown.
It allowed Edinburgh to work their way efficiently into the Newcastle half, van der Merwe going over in the corner to complete a wonderful move and end the scoring.
Without doubt it was a disappointing afternoon ... you do not deserve to win when you cannot put your chances away Dean Richards