Steve Diamond expresses disappointment over Newcastle's defeat to Montpellier

Newcastle director of rugby Steve Diamond
Newcastle director of rugby Steve Diamond
©PA

Newcastle Falcons’ journey in the EPCR Challenge Cup came to a disappointing conclusion as they fell to a 26-7 defeat against French giants Montpellier at Kingston Park.

Despite being level at 7-7 at halftime, the Falcons struggled in the second half, conceding three unanswered tries.

Head coach Steve Diamond attributed the loss to a lackluster second-half performance, stating: "The game summed up our European adventure this season, in that it was a pretty drab affair.

"We were right in the contest at 7-7 at half-time, but yet again we weren’t able to put anybody to bed."

Diamond highlighted several issues, including poor ball retention, faltering line-outs, and a decline in discipline. The team’s inability to maintain their first-half momentum proved costly against Montpellier’s powerful and disciplined squad.

"We’d only given away two penalties in the first half, but against a good side with big men we just couldn’t chop them low in the same way that we had been doing," Diamond added.

The Falcons’ Challenge Cup campaign saw defeats against Ospreys, Dragons, Pau, and now Montpellier. Despite the winless run, Diamond saw value in the experience, especially for younger players.

"It’s been a really good experience for a lot of the lads despite having not won a game. For me, it’s been valuable in terms of aiding my decision-making process regarding players for next season."

Diamond acknowledged the harsh realities of professional rugby as he evaluates players for retention. While some players have shown promise, others may not meet the club’s standards moving forward.

The Falcons’ injury woes continued with Ben Redshaw suffering a setback, further compounding the team’s challenges. However, Diamond emphasized the importance of recovery and preparation for their upcoming Premiership clash against Bristol.

"The lads will get three days to recover because we’ve got a good turnaround into next Sunday’s game at Bristol," Diamond said, reiterating that the Premiership remains the club’s top priority.

While their European adventure ends on a disappointing note, the Falcons are determined to regroup and focus on building momentum in the domestic competition.