Attack will save Falcons – Tait

Falcons coach Alan Tait says the club’s attacking play must improve

Newcastle Falcons coach Alan Tait has told BBC Newcastle that improving his side’s attack is the key to avoiding relegation from the Premiership.

He said: “It’s the attack that gets you out of trouble in these Premiership games and it makes the good sides.”

The Falcons are two points ahead of Leeds Carnegie at the foot of the Premiership table with a game in hand – and the Falcons host Leeds on Saturday.

Newcastle have not scored a try for two successive weeks.

Tait added: “We just aren’t finishing off little breaks in play that give you that foothold in the game.”

Discipline has also been an issue, with forward Ally Hogg being sin-binned at crucial points in the last two games against Gloucester and Saracens.

But Tait said the team as a whole have to take responsibility for the defeats: “I don’t want to hear it anymore.

“I want Hogg to go with his fellow professional players and they can all have it out. I just want them all to stand up and say what they could have done better and what they’re doing wrong.”

But Tait is confident that his side have what it takes to avoid relegation: “We know where we are but we’ve got four home games now.

“The boys are going to have to pull together and do a lot of homework on their opposition and really pull out some results.”