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International wings Adman Radwan and Mateo Carreras, arguably the fastest double act in the Premiership, are being backed to deliver the world-class speed to give Newcastle a shock win over Saracens at Kingston Park on Sunday.
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Argentina wing Carreras delivered a brilliant try double to help Newcastle to a first victory of the season over Bristol who arrived in the North East as Premiership leaders but left to reflect on a 30-15 defeat based around the searing pace of the Falcons wings.
Radwan has recaptured the form that won him two caps for England a year ago that produced four tries , including a hat trick on debut against Canada. Head coach Eddie Jones added Radwan to this week’s three England training camp and he is now back returned to a Falcons side that now boats real Pumas Power with centre Matias Orlando joined in midfield by Matias Moroni a member of Leicester’s Premiership winning squad last season.
Orlando and Moroni will pose real problems for Saracens who thumped Leicester 51-18 and they will be tasked with getting the ball early into the hands of Radwan and Carreras.
So, which of the turbocharged wings is the fastest? “If you are talking about straight line speed then it would be Adam but when it comes to shorter bursts and the ability to maintain that when jinking and changing direction it would Mateo,” said forwards coach Micky Ward who played nearly 300 games for the club and famously wears shorts whatever the weather in the North East. “From the GPS read outs then Adam is the quickest but Mateo’s forte is that change of pace and angles.
“The two are great finishers and it is brilliant to have that pace and if you give them the ball you will get something from them. On our track (4G) and the way things are going these two are the best fit.
“Saracens have top end players and blew Leicester away in the second half and we have to hope it will be cold, wet and windy to play into our hands. Our attitude against Bristol was spot on and showed that we are a match for anyone. We want to be the first team that turns Saracens over this season by getting stuck into them.”
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The Falcons celebrated victory over Bristol with their team song “Blaydon Races” which Ward admitted was tough for Moroni to join in. “We haven’t had time to get him up to speed with Blaydon Races. Normally one person leads and we thought about getting Matias Moroni to do it but maybe by the Saracens match. The Argentine players do speak to each other in Spanish which is fine but when they communicate with the rest of the squad they switch to English. They have had lessons and they way they go between the two is outstanding.
“Matais( Moroni) did great last year winning the title and had just come back from playing against South Africa and has been getting up to speed with the moves by Zoom during the Rugby Championship.”
While Radwan and Carreras provide the rapier in Newcastle’s attack, the bludgeon is firmly held by hooker George McGuigan who scored 27 tries – most from short range – in all competitions last season and has already grabbed five to jointly lead the Premiership try table to take his total to 15 in 2022. McGuigan was also called up by England and is set to play a role in the Autumn test series with Saracens Jamie George ruled out with a foot injury.
Ward added: “We have been banging a drum for George for the last 18 months because of his form telling all the England coaches to look at him. Eddie saw him live against Bristol and then called him in. Technically, George is very good and has been around the block and at the back of the maul he knows when to break off and get those tries.
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“Jamie Blamire is also an outstanding hooker and has been helping us by playing in the back row.”
