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'It looked like this team hadn’t been coached for 6 weeks'

By PA
Connor Doherty of Newcastle Falcons reacts during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Newcastle Falcons and Leicester Tigers at Kingston Park on October 05, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Leicester Tigers attack coach Peter Hewat expressed his pride at his side’s performance after they scored seven tries to beat Newcastle Falcons 42-10 at Kingston Park.

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The Tigers were without head coach Michael Chieka due to a one-match ban and after a cagey start, they began to pull ahead and were leading 20-3 at half-time before earning the bonus point after the break.

They then rounded off a ruthless display with three further tries and Hewat admitted it was a pleasing performance away from home.

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He said: “Really pleased with the performance, to come away from home, particularly to come up here and get a bonus point win, really happy and proud.

“More so for the players, as I said at the start of the week, we asked our senior players to step up and I thought they drove the team this week.”

Leicester’s only real scare of the game came in the second half when they were suddenly reduced to 13 after Anthony Watson and Hanro Liebenberg were sin-binned in quick succession.

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Newcastle scored their only try of the game in that period through Callum Chick on his 150th appearance for the club, but Hewat praised the character in the team in navigating tricky spells.

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“I spoke to the boys after the game around just showing that ability to stay in the fight,” Hewat added.

“We went down to 13 and even at the back end of the game there we were defending our line and didn’t want to give in, that’s the character that we’re building here and I’m sure the boss would’ve been happy with what he saw.”

Hewat also hailed an “outstanding” performance from the younger players in the squad, including Joseph Woodward and replacement Will Wand, who scored a try on debut with a brilliant interception.

“I thought they were all outstanding,” he said.

“Someone like Woody, who’s only a young kid, I thought he showed real composure, he’s got time on the ball, he was a bit nervous early on, but that’s to be expected and I’m really proud of him.

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“Wandy coming on, defended really well under a little bit of pressure there, then the intercept try, I’m really happy for him.”

It was another tough night for Newcastle, who were handed their 24th straight defeat in the Gallagher Premiership.

They remain bottom of the table with three losses this season and Newcastle’s consultant rugby director Steve Diamond accepted responsibility for the defeat.

“I think for a side that hadn’t had a coach all week they were remarkable, it looked like this team hadn’t been coached for six weeks,” Diamond said.

“I’ve got to take responsibility for that performance, certainly didn’t see it coming.

“I think we’ve made some great strides over the pre-season and the last couple of games.

“Even though we’ve been competitive, I think tonight showed the gulf if we’re not on it mentally, and we weren’t on it for whatever reason.

“That’s the question I’ve asked the team. We’re not going to change the training week, we’re going to come in as normal, review it and try and get better at it.

“I think the performance was unacceptable from me right the way down to the kitmen tonight, we didn’t deliver for the sponsors, the supporters or the owner.”

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Comments

1 Comment
M
MB 180 days ago

I am really pulling for Newcastle to turn it around this season. I like what Steve Diamond has to say, I just hope it works!

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Comments on RugbyPass

I
IkeaBoy 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


“I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


“I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


“lol u really need to chill out”

Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

171 Go to comments
f
fl 4 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

171 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 5 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

171 Go to comments
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