Veteran May still a chipper Falcon
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:44
Newcastle flyer Tom May insists his appetite for the game remains as strong as ever, as he looks forward to Sunday's Guinness Premiership opener against Sale Sharks at Kingston Park.
With over 200 Falcons appearances in more than a decade in the north-east, the honorary Geordie said he still plays with the same enthusiasm.
"It's my eleventh season of professional rugby, which makes me feel a little old, but I've still got the same enthusiasm as when it was my very first," said May.
"I'm probably in a pretty good position to comment on this year compared to previous ones, and what I can say is that this pre-season has been conducted very differently to what we have done before. It's been really good, very professional and the spirit among the squad is probably the best I've ever experienced.
"I think it's fairly well known that things weren't right off the field at times last season, we have made changes since then and I think the end result is that we have one group of people pulling in the same direction rather than little cliques here and there.
"The banter is fantastic, even the new boys are getting stuck in with a few chirps, and from a rugby standpoint we also feel like we're in good shape.
"On the fitness side with Sparks [Mark Wilkinson] this summer has been very different to what we have done previously, it's been hard work but I think the boys have got a lot out of it.
"With Alan Tait and Stuart Grimes joining the coaching team they have already changed a lot of things and made their own impact on what we do.
"We played a Super 14 team very early in to our summer, after just two sessions of rugby training, to get used to some of the new laws. We then went to Leeds and gave most of the squad a run before our final game saw a good win over a strong Racing Metro side over in France."
With the summer departures of international backs Mathew Tait and Toby Flood dominating some national headlines, May insists the current collective ethos more than makes up for any loss.
"Spencer Davey in the centres is a very different style of player to Toby, but he has made a big impression already and looks like he could be a great signing," he said.
"In terms of the backline we can put out I don't think Taity and Toby leaving has affected us that badly, and over the summer we have developed in to a really tight-knit group.
"I think what the Guinness Premiership has proven down the years is that if a team stays together and wears its heart on its sleeve, you can get results on a very regular basis. Perhaps last year we weren't as tight as a group of players, you could throw a few factors in to the equation for that, but all that stuff is in the past and we're all totally united now."
With the Falcons' name being among the bookies and pundits' tips to struggle, May put out somewhat of a challenge.
"Someone's got to be relegation favourites, and if the bookies think that's us then they're going to lose a lot of money, aren't they?
"Some people might use that sort of stuff as a motivation, but personally I don't really take any notice of it. These guys in the national press have a lot to say for themselves at times, but that's their job and I don't think anyone is too bothered what's written about us," he added.
With Sunday's opponents bringing a star-studded squad to the North-East, May expects a bruising encounter.
"If you look at the Sale squad on paper then you'd have to say it's one of the strongest in the league," he said.
"It will be a tough game against a very good side, no doubt about that, but as a group we're very confident in the work we've done and the game plan we take in to this match."
And with former Falcon Mathew Tait set to be in that number, May said he was looking forward to rubbing shoulders with his former teammate.
"I know plenty of the front five lads are looking forward to catching him at the bottom of a ruck, and I'll probably give him a bit of a dig in the ribs at some stage because he definitely deserves it!
"In all seriousness though, someone doesn't suddenly stop being your mate just because he moves jobs, but having said that I dare say some of the boys will back me up when I say I'm looking forward to tackling him," May quirked.
