Bates unfazed by 'high-pressure games'
Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:06
While he knows it is certainly not going to be an easy trip, Newcastle boss Steve Bates is confident his Falcons will 'raise their game' once again when they take on an in-form Northampton side at Franklin's Gardens this weekend.
The Franklin's Gardens fortress is quickly proving to be one of the toughest grounds in the Premiership to visit but Bates, searching for consistency from his troops, is confident they can get something from the game.
"Northampton are a very good side, a very settled one too, and they have great support at home," he said to The Journal publication.
"It's probably going to be a sell-out contest down there, they usually are, and the rugby public there always get right behind their team.
"But we're not worried by that, we'll take it in our stride and play our game.
"We've worked on a number of things with this Premiership return in mind, and now we have to bring all the different strands together and make sure we can compete in every area.
"They offer threats all over the field, they can come at you from any situation and we have to be able to do the same.
"However, it is funny because in the high-pressure games we have tended to fare much better this year, players often raise their game when the chips are down - but we need to be able to hit those heights consistently."
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