Newcastle v Exeter: Premiership basement battle set to be a ‘humdinger’

Newcastle have not been helped by injuries and bad luck.

They could again go into the game without a recognised fly-half with Brett Connon and Kieran Wilkinson both out.

It means centre Ethan Grayson will deputise – as he has all season – at 10.

“That is a drama not having a 10,” admits Diamond. “Do we want to be a kick, run, pass team? Do we want to be a pass, kick, run team?

“You need your nine and 10 to put you round the field and that’s what we’ve not got.

“That is where the frustration comes from within the team, we can’t get ourselves out of the middle third of the field by any penetration.

“We’re not clinical enough and we’re not ruthless enough at not knocking people about.”

While Newcastle may not be ruthless, Exeter are likewise nursing the effects of not killing games off.

Had they not given away a try in the final seconds of their season-opener to Leicester or thrown away a 20-point lead with 15 minutes to go against Bristol Bears last week they would not be in this position.

But Baxter says Newcastle’s injury woes will not be his big focus.

“Talking about a team’s threats and a team’s dangers and strengths and weaknesses for this game, I’m not going to say it’s irrelevant,” he said.

“But the most relevant thing – and Steve Diamond will be very aware of this as well – is it’s going to be the team who get out the blocks and create an intensity in the game, but then who just stick at it the longest and hold a level of composure when it’s tight and when there’s pressure in the game.

“That’s the reality because we’re both going to be feeling it.”