Bristol vs Newcastle Falcons Prediction: Bears to put on a show

This game kicks off at 15:00 on Sunday afternoon at Ashton Gate in Bristol. A huge 35 points separates these two sides on the Gallagher Premiership table, with Bristol Bears currently in fifth place and Newcastle Falcons bottom of the table in 10th. In the current form table though, the gap between these sides grows, with Bristol on a four-game win streak.

Our rugby union expert Alex Cox has previewed Sunday's clash and shared his Bristol vs Newcastle Falcons predictions.

Team News 

Bristol

Pat Lam has only made two changes to the side that won at Kingsholm a few weeks ago and both are forced by injury.

Ellies Genge, Gabriel Oghre and Kyle Sinckler will line up in the front-row. With Joe Batley injured, Josh Caulfield steps into the second-row instead this week, and he’s joined by James Dun.

A powerful trio of Steven Luatua, Fitz Harding and Magnus Bradbury complete the pack.

Harry Randall will be full of energy as always from scrum-half and AJ MacGinty continues at fly-half. Those two in particular have contributed to Bristol's recent uptick in form.

James Williams and the excellent Benhard Janse van Rensburg will be in the midfield, with an illusive back-three of Gabriel Ibitoye, Siva Naulago and Max Malins – Falcons cannot kick aimlessly to those three and expect to get away with it.

Newcastle

With a growing injury list, Falcons have had to make a few changes to their side that lost to Leicester before the European break.

With Phil Brantingham and Murray McCallum out, it leaves a front-row of Adam Brocklebank, Jamie Blamire and Richard Palframan. Tim Cardall and Sebastian de Chaves will combine in the second-row and Philip van der Walt, Sam Cross and skipper Callum Chick will be the loose trio that may need to make a considerable number of tackles on Sunday afternoon.

Sam Stuart and Brett Connon will be the half-back pairing with Tom Penny at inside centre for the first time this season. Youngster Oli Spencer will be at outside centre for his second Premiership start.

Iwan Stephens and Adam Radwan will offer wheels on the wings and promising young talent Ben Redshaw moves back to his familiar position of full-back after having to fill in on the wing against Leicester.

Match Odds

Bristol are overwhelming favourites at 1/28 on Sunday, giving them an implied win probability of 96.6%, while Newcastle can be backed at 14/1 and the draw at 33/1.

Over 61.5 points @ 10/11

This reverse fixture earlier in the season up at Kingston Park finished 21-13 to Bristol, but I am expecting a very different scoreline today.

Good conditions are forecasted in Bristol, and they will run the ball for 80-plus minutes, with Randall taking quick taps throughout. Both sides are fresh after a few weeks off and the Bears have shown their ability to hit the ground running after a break with their recent results.

In their last three games, they’ve managed 33 points at Kingsholm, 52 points against the league leaders in Saints, and 57 against Bath – so plenty of signs that we can expect points today.

Find more Rugby Union Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights