What actions are planned to produce a more consistent level of performance next season, consistent for 80 minutes as well as from one game to the next?
- Best regards, Peter Wilkinson, France (born in Newcastle).

Consistency is the most important word in team sport and we, as a squad, talk about it daily.  The key to consistency in performance on match day is how you train.  We aim to train at pace, with precision and match intensity at every session.  Consistency will naturally occur as the individual and the team matures and develops.

John, wonderful innovation for the Q&A. Please explain the rationale behind the fluid backline adopted towards the end of this season, but more importantly why was this only introduced when the Internationals Taity, Jonny and Toby returned. Was it simply to promote offensive play and allow the three players on the field at the same time, as I can’t recall seeing any other professional team promote this freedom of play? Also, how do you feel the other members of the backline (primarily Noony and AN Other winger) integrate into this system as there have been times when they seem lost and unsure of positions to take up on the field. Many thanks in advance.
- Tetts, Ponteland RFC.

My rationale is very simple:  I want the best players on the pitch.  The vast majority of tasks carried out by backs are generic tasks (game understanding, tackle, kick, pass). I believe that a back line should consist of two genuine play-makers who should be at first and second receiver lots of times in the game with the rest of the backs playing outside or in behind first and second receiver.  I have tried to promote this way of playing all season and will continue as this causes the opposition a lot of problems when we attack with ball in hand.  This has only been picked up recently by the vast majority of the public and media because of Toby wearing number 11. I also believe that for certain moves and in certain situations in the game you have to play to your strengths, i.e. you would want the player most capable of carrying out a task to be in that position, hence again, there is some movement from the conventional ‘number on your back’ approach. What we work on every day mainly through playing modified games is the backs making good decisions around the ball based upon what is in front of them.  All backs need to be able to run, carry and beat defenders.  They all must possess good core skills and this is practised daily also.

Jonny Wilkinson or Carl Hayman. Straight choice... World’s best prop or world’s best 10? Decision time, hotshot!
- lebigmac69.

I would like both obviously, but unless Carl can goal kick it would have to be Jonny!

Given that we are likely to lose up to four backs for the duration of the World Cup and the Six Nations Championship, what contingency plans do you have in place in this particular area, so that we will be able to field a strong team at all times during the 2007-2008 season?
- Denis Wilson, Whitley Bay.

Losing good players at any time during the season is tough.  To lose four players from the inside backs does cause us planning difficulties. We have kept the services of Mark Mayerhofler for World Cup cover and I have full confidence in players such as Joe Shaw, James Hoyle, Tom Dillon.   We have signed Stephen Jones from the borders who can play fly-half or inside centre and has some experience at full back.  I am also considering spending some time in the summer and pre-season games on looking at Matt Burke, James Grindal and Gavin Beasley at stand-off. 

Are you planning on bringing any more big players to the club?
- Adam Bohill, Heaton.

We are always looking to upgrade. This is a tough time with the World Cup coming up soon, the market place is scarce and the price is inflated. We are very specific in our forward planning and are only looking at certain types of players as we move forward. You need to get the balance right and you need to get the right person.

What's your favourite dish at Due Dieci?
- Steve, Chester-le-Street.

I'm not that keen on Italian food but it would be pizza with a bizarre topping of ham, chicken, pepperoni, mushrooms and pineapple, washed down with diet coke (ice, no lemon) with a cheeky bowl of chips in the middle (to share).

As a local lad would you ever look at accepting another job in rugby? What if England offered you some sort of job with a nice title and snazzy free leather jacket?
- lebigmac69.

I am very happy here in the North East. I have two young children and with both sets of families close. I would like to coach the Barbarians (a proper Ba Ba’s team with world class players), I love the history, mystique and the freedom that they play with.

Rob Andrew had a public policy of not signing any French Players as he said he believed they didn't settle well in England. As many of the best European-qualified players are French do you have the same restrictive policy or are you prepared to sign the right player for the squad irrespective of where he comes from?
- TouchLine (name supplied).

Bonjour touchline, the player could come from the moon, if I thought that the player and the person would upgrade the squad I would sign him.

What is the worst part of the job. Would it be worth getting rid of the worst part if it meant giving up the best part of the job, and what is the best part?
- Geoff Penrice.

The worst part of the job is rugby politics, it drives me insane. Best part is the day to day coaching of the players and working with all the other coaches and playing department staff.

John, would you ever consider brining Wallsend’s Chris Thorman from rugby league to the Falcons? And if yes, which position would you play him?
- Regards, The Spence, Ian Spencer from Wallsend.
 
I haven’t seen him play for a while but what I remember of him he is very talented and would be more than capable of playing rugby union at a good standard. He would play 10 or 12 at Rugby Union.

Are you going to wear a different style hat next season - if so what style?
- Steve, Chester-le-Street.

Maybe a  cowboy hat. Reason being that my middle name is Wayne (oh yes). Anything to keep the crows nest warm.  

If you could arrange a pre-season friendly against any side in the world, union or league, which would it be?
- Steve, Chester-le-Street.

The Crusaders (they are the best team in the world) or Leinster to see our backs v theirs. 

For years we have had one of the smallest squads in the Guinness Premiership. What do you think the minimum number of full time senior players (i.e. not academy) needs to be?
- TouchLine.

That is a tough one, if all the players were available all the season the answer would be 35 senior players with 6/8 academy player capable of being on the bench. However with some of the players going away at certain time your squad needs to accommodate that. Our squad next season will be 38 senior players and 5/6 academy players pushing hard.