BRENT Wilson is confident a more disciplined approach will enable Newcastle Falcons to overcome an in-form London Irish side at Kingston Park tonight.

Having conceded a spate of second-half penalties as they lost at Exeter last weekend, despite having outscored their opponents by two tries to one, Newcastle’s players have spent the last five days brushing up their defensive technique at the breakdown.

Their failure to retreat sufficiently cost them dear seven days ago, and with the Exiles able to rely on the boot of the normally reliable Ryan Lamb, Wilson admits they cannot afford to make the same mistakes again.

“It’s about being clinical, especially at the breakdown, and making sure we’re onside, which is something the referees have been pretty tough on this season,” said the New Zealand flanker, who currently tops the Falcons’ try-scoring charts with four from his first three matches.

“We’ve just got to make sure we’re working hard on our discipline. In the Exeter game, we were a little bit lazy and not stepping back an extra foot, which we should be. We’ve got a strong defensive line, so we’ve got to make sure the little things aren’t penalised.

“Overall, we’re looking strong in that area, but it’s down to individuals to be a lot sharper round those points at the contact. It’s not a massive thing we need to address but we’ve got to keep on top of it and make sure we’re working extra hard to show the referees we’re making a real effort to get ourselves onside.”

Provided that happens, Wilson is confident Falcons boast enough of an attacking threat to trouble a London Irish team that secured an eye-catching win over Gloucester last weekend.

“We’ve already beaten Wasps at home and we have to take the positives from that game,” he said.

“We didn’t play too badly against Exeter, we just didn’t really have enough of the ball.

If we manage to get a lot more ball this weekend, we’ve got a real chance.”

Falcons head coach, Alan Tait, has made two changes to the side that lost at Exeter, with Scotland centre Andy Henderson and Samoan lock Filipo Levi returning to the starting line-up. Hooker Rob Vickers will skipper the side in the absence of James Hudson, who faces up to two months on the sidelines after injuring his hamstring in the South West.

“I plumped for Rob because his attitude in the last 18 months has been superb,”

said Tait.

“He works hard on his personal game and he’s grown into his position. He’s a big believer in this club. He wants it to be a force and wants the players to believe in themselves.

He’s a local as well, so that means something too.”

FALCONS: Tait, Bobo, Eves, Henderson, Amesbury, Gopperth, Young; Golding, Vickers, Ryan, Levi, Swinson, Wilson, Pennycook, Hogg. Replacements: Graham, Ward, Shiells, Townson, Welch, Pilgrim, Manning, Fielden.