Gopperth expects Newcastle reaction to shock Leeds win

Gopperth was Premiership top points scorer last season

Newcastle Falcons fly-half Jimmy Gopperth believes Leeds' shock win against Gloucester last weekend should be a wake-up call to the squad.

The result meant Falcons slipped to within three points of Carnegie at the foot of the Premiership after losing 33-16 to Wasps at Adams Park on Sunday.

"It could be a blessing in disguise," Gopperth told BBC Newcastle.

"It can give us a bit of a hurry up and put a little bit of pressure on us to perform, this week is huge for us."

Sunday's defeat by Shaun Edwards' Wasps saw Falcons collapse in the final quarter of the match. Falcons were within three points of Wasps' tally with 11 minutes remaining, but finished the game 17-points adrift.

And following on from that loss is Friday's crucial visit of Sale, who sit eight points clear of Falcons in the Premiership in the battle to avoid the drop.

We've got to keep pressing, every game of rugby is 80 minutes, and if you only play for 70 you're not going to win

Jimmy Gopperth

"With 10 minutes to go [against Wasps] we were right in it, and then we slackened off and the score blew out," Gopperth continued.

"We showed when we lost out here to Saracens [15-13 defeat at Kingston Park thanks to a last minute Alex Goode penalty] that you can't take anything for granted, and when you get a lead you have to keep pressing as if you were behind or if the score was 0-0.

"We've got to keep pressing, every game of rugby is 80 minutes, and if you only play for 70 you're not going to win.

"But this week we're on our home patch, so there's no better atmosphere and hopefully there will be a lot of people coming to watch and it will be a good encounter."

Falcons struggle has come as a disappointment to the Junior All Black, who is in his second season at the club following his May 2009 switch from New Zealand Super 14 side Blues.

"It's disappointing because especially this year we've been playing a lot better rugby, the brand is better attacking wise," Gopperth continued.

"We just lack at key areas at times, with little things happening or taking our minds off the job at crucial times of the game.

"But then at other times anyone watching us would think we were at the top of the table.

"It's about getting a balance, and everyone's learning, we're a young team. The brand of rugby we're trying to play is the way forward, and as long as we can tighten up on the areas we're letting ourselves down in, then we can put the performance in."