NEWCASTLE Falcons' new forwards coach Peter Walton is relying on passion to lift the team away from the wrong end of the Guinness Premiership.

The burly former Scotland back row man was promoted from coaching the academy to take over from Ross Nesdale this week after last Friday's third successive home defeat by London Irish left the Falcons next to the bottom.

Walton played in the Newcastle team which won the title in 1998 and said: "There are only three of us left who were here at the start of professionalism - me, Rob Andrew and Richard Arnold. My heart is at this club and I don't want to go anywhere else.

"The players know they have to step up now. I have stamped a few of my own methods on training this week and tried to drive a lot more passion into the whole thing.

"The sessions have been lively with nobody holding back. I don't think it's a bad thing to have a bit of niggle in training as long as it doesn't get out of hand and the lads are really fired up for Sunday."

Walton has helped to develop seven of tomorrow's team in the academy, including debutant No 8 Jason Smithson.

The coach said: "Jason is an out-and-out No 8 and at the base of the scrum I would trust him with my life because he's as solid as they come. I have set our forwards the challenge of really having a go at this strong Saracens pack.

"Jason will look after our ball and give 100 per cent because he's a dedicated team player. I want us to be direct. I want to see forwards carrying the ball, but I don't want to see them dancing around in the back line.

"The likes of Robbie Morris and Andy Perry are great assets who have not been carrying the ball as much as they should. They need to hit the gain line head-on with the desire to go through players and take them backwards."

Saracens are captained by their No 8, the former Newcastle player Hugh Vyvyan, and Rob Andrew said of the hosts: "They have a big pack who stick the ball up their jumpers, like a lot of Premiership sides.

"They have gone back to scrummaging, kicking their penalties and putting teams under pressure and they have done well out of it.

"Taking a broader view that then translates to the national team when a lot of sides play that way, and I have said many times we prefer to play a different style. The key is to achieve parity up front, then we can hurt teams with our pace and width."

* Following the sell-out of last week's game against London Irish, Newcastle have brought forward their home match against Leicester by two days to Friday, February 24, with a 7.45 kick-off.