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Tait vows to improve Newcastle`s defensive

Thursday 24th July 2008

Calling the defensive shots: Alan Tait

Newcastle's new assistant coach Alan Tait has spoken of the challenge facing him as he returns for a second spell at Kingston Park, having helped the Falcons to Premiership glory a decade ago as a player.

The dual-code Lions international was instrumental in the 1998 Premiership triumph with 18 starts that season, but having been installed on the club's coaching staff the hard-hitting and straight-talking Scot is now masterminding defensive strategy for the current crop.

Greeted by a stadium unrecognisable from that which he left nine years ago, Tait looked back to his own playing days in the North-East.

"I have absolutely fantastic memories of my time here, with a very special group of people and outstanding supporters," he said.

"I wish in those days we'd had the facilities and quality of pitch that these boys have, but looking back it was an exciting time to be involved with the club. Winning the Premiership at our first attempt was remarkable, no club has come close to doing it since, and we'd all love to bring those days back in the long run."

Capped as a youngster by Scotland, Tait then turned his hand to rugby league with Widnes and Leeds, where a glittering career in the 13-man code saw him win 16 caps for Great Britain before the lure of rugby union enticed him back.

"We had all been professionals for a number of years already and brought that mindset with us in to training, which rugby union had never had at the time. We got our rewards for the work we put in, and you obviously can't look past the fact it was just a quality group of players who worked hard," he said.

"(Today) the exciting thing at Newcastle is that I now have that daily contact with the players that you always dream of at international level."

"It was a very difficult choice for me to leave Scotland after eight years there, because we'd all invested so much in to it.

"I still believe that they will come good with the quality of players just about to reach their prime, and I'll take great delight in watching them progress to the next level over the coming seasons."

Now almost a month in to his new post at Kingston Park following Scotland's summer tour to Argentina, Tait spells out his mission statement in unequivocal terms, stating: "I take defence very, very seriously, because it's such a massive part of the modern game.

"Unfortunately Newcastle's record in defence has been very poor. Last season, if you discount Leeds who got relegated, we conceded the most tries and the most points in the league, and scored the least tries and the least points.

"Those are facts in black and white, you can't argue with them or make excuses. The supporters who pay their money every week can see it, we can't shirk away from it at all, but what we can do through a lot of hard work is put it right.

"The boys are putting that work in as we speak, with myself and Stuart Grimes joining the coaching team, and we will be making big changes to the way this team defends."

"I'm not just here as a dictator, but I can safely say that some of these lads are in for a shock.

"I've watched all the games from last season, some in person when I've snuck in to Kingston Park, and the rest on tape, and we will certainly be changing the way our defence operates.

Having experienced rugby on both sides of the border, he said of his new Guinness Premiership challenge: "What this tournament has over the Celtic League is the absolutely relentless week in, week out intensity.

"Don't get me wrong, this isn't a dig at the Celtic competition at all, but you just get the sense that the Premiership is a more full-on competition with extremely tough games every single week, and no let-up at all.

"Because of no relegation threat I think there is more expansive rugby played in the Celtic League, and you can see in Europe when the Celtic teams play the Premiership sides and throw the ball around, often the English defences start to panic and crumble because they're not used to that style of play.

"Many of the Premiership clubs are very set in their ways, but the law changes this season will have a big impact which I think is positive for the competition. More teams will come out and play rugby in England this season, and I think everyone involved in the game should be excited by that."

With new signings Adam Balding and Spencer Davey already in situ, and Tane Tu'ipulotu due over on November 1, Tait also reveals that the club's recruitment plans may utilise his extensive knowledge of the 13-man game as they look to finalise their squad for the big kick-off in September.

"Rob Andrew was very clever in bringing in rugby league players back over in the 90s, and if you can choose the right ones then I think they can make a big contribution in certain positions," he said.

"I'll make no secret about the fact we are actively looking to recruit from there at the moment. We are being really specific about the type of player we want and the position he will play, that process is ongoing right now and we are very encouraged by the response we've had."