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| Rob Andrew can only watch from the sidelines as the Falcons attempt to keep up their 100 per cent record |
| Warren Little |
| This Is The Big One – Andrew |
| 5 January 2005, 4:04 pm |
| By Pete Griffin |
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| Leinster travel to Bath Rugby while Newcastle Falcons’ Director of Rugby, Rob Andrew, has spelt out the test that awaits his side as they travel to Perpignan’s intimidating Stade Aime Giral on Saturday for what he believes is “the biggest game in our history.” |
A 19-14 Halloween victory at Kingston Park, courtesy of a try from 18-year-old back Mathew Tait, secured a win over the Catalans earlier in the Pool stages, but Andrew is well aware of the atmosphere that will greet his side.
“Perpignan are a fiercely proud team, and their supporters are exactly the same,” said the former England fly half, who is in his 10th season in charge of the Falcons, the longest reign of any current English top flight coach.
“The atmosphere they generate at their stadium can be very intimidating, but our travelling support was extremely vocal in our last Heineken Cup match, away to Edinburgh Rugby, and, with quite a few of our fans making the trip to France, it should make for a great occasion.
“I believe in this squad, and the confidence we’re showing at the moment is hugely positive. We’re going into big games like this relishing the prospect of them, and, while we respect every team we play against, we are not fearing anybody.”
Jonny Wilkinson marked his first start for the Falcons for 11 matches by scoring 20 points – including a last-gasp try – in the 30-29 victory over Sale Sharks on Sunday (January 2, 2005) that took the Falcons into fourth spot in the Zurich Premiership and now it is Perpignan, who are likely to pose a major threat with the ball in hand, who Andrew is concentrating upon.
“Our defence has been steadily improving recently, and it was that never-say-die attitude which saw us through in the games at Newport Gwent Dragons and Edinburgh Rugby,” he said.
As for what a victory in Perpignan would mean for the Falcons, Andrew added: “It would be a real signal of our ambition, and of where we are heading as a team.
“We’ve laid the foundation with the great start we have made in the competition, and a quarter-final place is within our grasp, but we’re up against two quality sides in the space of a fortnight with Newport Gwent Dragons visiting us Sunday week, and we know that we will have to get every part of our game working to come away with the win we need.”
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