Newcastle Red Bulls’ ‘character’ against Lyon will be pivotal against the Lions, says Alan Dickens

Last weekend’s 23-14 victory over last year’s runners up Lyon has given Newcastle Red Bulls the momentum they need to be competitive in this tournament.

Head coach Alan Dickens praised the whole club group for their efforts in making the result possible: “I was really pleased with the players, and the staff put a lot of hard work into the season, as has been well documented. We’ve not had the results that we worked hard for, but certainly on Saturday in Lyon: facets and areas of the game coming together. We certainly put a lot of our game on the pitch at important times on Saturday.”

Despite a yellow card later in the game, the side stayed strong, eventually scoring a double with only a few minutes to go, to close out for the win.

Dickens described: “The turning points are one of the most pleasing aspects of the game at the weekend, which there were a lot of, and I think one of the most pleasant ones was how we reacted after the yellow card.

“The yellow card was on 58 minutes, and then our response after that, the way we controlled the game, the way we controlled the tempo of the game. We didn’t give away one penalty in that ten minutes and we didn’t give away a point.

“So, to be away from home, we talked about how hostile certainly the crowd can get behind the home team, and I think for us not to concede and hold them out there was absolutely massive. And I think it certainly will encourage us, and the character that we show, that we can hold teams out, but then not just that: actually then capitalise and take our chances when we get on the front foot.”

The Red Bulls side on Saturday won eight penalties, all from the breakdown, with the back row alone winning more than half of them.

Tom Gordon and Tom Christie will both start Saturday’s game, whilst Amanaki Mafi has been moved to the bench to make way for Ollie Leatherbarrow.

Dickens mentioned: “We’ve got three players across the back row there that they’re really good once the ball’s on the floor. I think [Amanaki Mafi]’s got a lot of turnovers this year. It’s been highlighted that Tom Christie’s really good on the ground, and certainly last season I think Tom Gordon, up until he got injured around Christmas, he was the leading jackaler in the league.

“That worked in our favour at the weekend and they managed to get some vital turnovers at important times, which gave us control and allowed us to get field position.”

Red Bulls will host the Lions, a team that they have played only once before in the 2023-24 Challenge Cup campaign, where the South African side ran out as home victors.

Newcastle and Alan Dickens will look forward to the Challenge, as they hope to secure their place in the knockout rounds: “Since I last worked and coached in this competition, the South Africans have been at it. It kind of brings a new dimension to the ‘comp’ and one that we’re looking forward to this weekend. The way that South Africans play rugby: it’s abrasive, but equally they also want to play rugby, and if the time’s right, they’ll look to attack.”

Christian Wade will make his Newcastle debut this weekend, as he prepares for the Premiership campaign where he will look to match, and then beat, Chris Ashton’s try scoring record.

“He’s been on the training pitch [on tuesday]. He’s available to play. He’s already added to this group: his personality, his brilliance is infectious. So he’d be able for full training this week.”

15. Boeta Chamberlain, 14. Christian Wade, 13. Alex Hearle, 12. Cameron Hutchison, 11. Elliott Obatoyinbo, 10. Ethan Grayson, 9. Sam Stuart, 1. Adam Brocklebank, 2. Ollie Fletcher, 3. Richard Palframan, 4. Oscar Usher, 5. Finn Baker, 6. Tom Gordon, 7. Tom Christie (captain), 8. Ollie Leatherbarrow

Replacements: 16. George McGuigan, 17. Micky Rewcastle, 18. Murray McCallum, 19. Jamie Hodgson, 20. Amanaki Mafi, 21. James Elliott, 22. Brett Connon, 23. Harrison Obatoyinbo