Red-faced Falcons in dire need of investment

NEWCASTLE interim director of rugby Steve Diamond said his side’s “embarrassing” 75-28 mauling at the hands of Saracens shows how much investment is needed at the club.

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Diamond, serving a touchline ban, watched from the press box as his Falcons were put to the sword by rampant Sarries, who scored 11 tries at a sun-baked Allianz Park on Saturday.

Argentina flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez scored a hat-trick for star-studded Saracens, who had their three newly selected Lions in the starting line-up, with Ben Earl adding two and Theo Dan, Ivan van Zyl, Maro Itoje, Charlie Bracken, Tom Willis and Jamie George scoring the others.

Sam Stuart scored two tries for Newcastle with Freddie Lockwood and Ben Stevenson also on the scoresheet to earn the visitors a bonus point.