Published: Friday, 2nd January, 2009 12:40pm

Exiles hit by Tags injury

Comments (0) | Print | Email

LONDON Irish have been rocked in the lead up to Saturday's home clash against Newcastle Falcons with the news that star winger Sailosi Tagicakibau faces up to two months on the sidelines.

The Samoan sensation was forced off after 60 minutes of the Exiles' 16-13 loss to Saracens last weekend. And a scan has since confirmed that he has broken his arm.

This means that he will almost certainly miss the Exiles next four Guinness Premiership matches as the Reading-based side look to consolidate their place in the top four.

Irish will also definitely be without England lock Nick Kennedy, while his international team-mate Delon Armitage remains a major doubt at full-back.

The absence of Kennedy means that Bob Casey and James Hudson will battle with imposing Kiwi Mark Sorenson in the second row. The Falcons lock has stormed past Kennedy as the Premiership's top line-out winner in the last month and Irish will have to be on their guard against him.

Exiles head coach Toby Booth is hoping his side's defeat against Saracens - their first in 11 games - last weekend serves as a 'wake-up call' for the visit of lowly Newcastle.

High-flying Irish were knocked off the top of the Premiership by Eddie Jones' Watford-based outfit, but a bonus-point win against the relegation-threatened Falcons could see them return to the top of the pile.

Irish made hard work of their 24-8 win when they travelled to Tyneside six weeks ago. And Booth is refusing to take anything for granted for the return fixture against second-from-bottom Newcastle.

The rookie coach said: "Against any opposition, you are going to be in trouble if you play as averagely as we did against Sarries.

"What we saw last week (the 42-12 win over Gloucester) to this week were worlds apart. If we want to be where we are, in the top four come play-off time, then we are going to have to make sure we don't contribute to our own downfall.

"We go home with a losing bonus point - and a wake-up call going into the New Year."

Newcastle are still without long-term absentee Jonny Wilkinson, but inspirational Kiwi prop Carl Hayman is set to make only his third start of the season.

The Falcons have now gone six Premiership games without a win, but head coach Steve Bates remains upbeat. He said: "Although we haven't won either of our last two games I think the confidence we have gained in ourselves is absolutely crucial.

"We will now go to London Irish believing we can win down there."

Irish have won the last six matches between the two sides and have lost just twice at the Mad Stad in 2008.