Test of Character

Following two defeats by leading rivals for Premiership honours, Bath next face a test of character on Tyneside. The squad will be frustrated to have gained only two points from festive fixtures they could, and in the case of New Year’s Eve, should have won. To cap that mood, the New Year hangover is made harsher by front row injury worries. Nick Auterac is definitely ruled out, while Max Lahiff and Nathan Catt (who started the week at England’s training camp) need daily monitoring to confirm their fitness and Ross Batty looks unlikely to recover from his shoulder injuries in time for the Friday evening kick off. A chilly Kingston Park may not seem the most welcoming place to confirm a New Year’s resolution to ignite and sustain a winning habit. This season Dean Richards has dragged Falcons up and out of their default position in the relegation zone. At the halfway stage Newcastle stand 8th and look good value for it. They are 13 points clear of Bristol and 9 ahead of Worcester. They have also taken northern bragging rights from Sale whom they beat in the season opener. Winning 3 of their 6 home ties sees Falcons earning the hard to beat at home tag the Mancunians enjoyed for the past few years. Of the home matches lost this season they pushed Leicester and Wasps close, losing the two ties by an aggregate of only 5 points. Only Exeter have gained a comfortable margin on Tyneside. In the Rec meeting early in the campaign Bath ran in eight tries in racking up a huge 58-5 win. Falcons will be desperate to prevent a repeat and their recent four try performances against Harlequins and Wasps suggest they will harbour ambitions of victory. So, what sort of reception can Blackadder and his squad expect?