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| Beattie Relishing Second Coming |
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| 10 October 2008, 3:04 pm |
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| Newcastle flanker Ross Beattie makes his first home outing of the season on Saturday, reflecting on a career which sees him in his second spell at Kingston Park. |
Taking a much more philosphical approach to his seocnd stint in the North-East, the Scottish international says: “I left first time round because I felt I needed a new rugby challenge after breaking my neck, but they always say you don't know what you've got until you've lost it.
“That was definitely the case with myself and Newcastle, I was very happy to return to the club and glad now to be back fit and playing games.
“When you get told you'll never play again that does have a tendency to focus the mind a bit, so I'm thankful now that after a lot of hard work from the medical staff here at the club I'm fit again and looking forward to playing as much as I can.
“Making my comeback at Newport Gwent Dragons last week was really special, and I just love rugby. I'm so passionate about Newcastle Falcons, and making it work here.”
Lining up at blindside flanker against Spanish champions Cetransa El Salvador in Saturday's European Challenge Cup opener, Beattie said: “It's a game that on paper we should win and the boys have looked very sharp in training this week, but we know we have to be at our best to get the sort of start we want to set the tone for the whole 80 minutes.
“We want to put on a show for the fans, that's the least they deserve, and also it's a good test for us mentally to see if we can get a good start but then build on that and really put a side away with a big score.
“If you look at the All Blacks of old, no matter who they were playing they would always pound them relentlessly right until the final whistle, and that's a side to our game that we need to develop. We have a history of getting well ahead and then easing off a bit, so Saturday will be a big test in that regard.
“It's also a chance for some of the lads to put a real marker down going in to the Brive game next Thursday, and a big scoreline this weekend could really set the tone for that.”
With the next fortnight seeing European Challenge Cup matters enter the equation for the first time, Beattie added: “The European competition is a bit refreshing at the moment compared to the Guinness Premiership, where it seems that a lot of sides are trying not to lose rather than trying to win, if that makes sense.
“I think in Europe there is a bit more freedom to throw the ball around have a bit of a go, especially in games like this weekend, and it's good just to come up against different styles of rugby and to see what countries have to offer.”
Beattie's Falcons side will be sporting their pink charity kit (pictured) for Saturday's game, with £5 from every shirt sold going to Mencap. |
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