Newcastle Red Bulls vs Exeter Chiefs Prediction: Wade can make Chiefs suffer up north

Newcastle are bottom of the pile going into Game Week 12, with just one league win so far, but there have been signs of encouragement for coach Stephen Jones in recent games.

Rugby Union odds

2-Way Handicap - Newcastle Red Bulls +11.5 @ 11/10

Newcastle Red Bulls vs Exeter Chiefs odds

Considering the league positions, it’s no surprise to see Exeter as the strong 1/5 favourites to win Friday’s game at Kingston Park.

Newcastle, who have just seven points after their first 11 matches, can be backed at 18/5 while the draw is available at 20/1.

Team News

Newcastle have recalled former England international Christian Wade to their starting XV for Friday’s clash, with the ex-Wasps and Gloucester winger just six tries away from a career century.

Jones has also made two other changes from the Red Bulls’ narrow defeat against Northampton last week, with centre Rhys Beeckmans and second-row Oscar Usher starting.

Newcastle have recently brought in Ben Healy on loan from Edinburgh and the fly-half will be among the replacements.

Having played the majority of the Six Nations for Wales, second-row Dafydd Jenkins is left out by Exeter to recover from his efforts with his national team.

Rob Baxter has been boosted though, by the return to fitness of Nick Lilley, who is included in the Chiefs XV for the first time since October.

There are six places and 33 points separating the two teams, but recent signs seem to indicate that the gulf isn’t as big as that would suggest.

Newcastle won their last home league game, which was back in January, with a 25-19 success over Gloucester.

After the Premiership Cup fixtures, the Red Bulls returned to league action last Saturday and there were more positives to take for the north-east outfit.

Newcastle lost by just a point at top-of-the-table Northampton, scoring four tries in that 28-27 defeat at Franklin’s Gardens.

Exeter have won seven matches in the Gallagher PREM, but it is worth noting that five of those victories have come at their home ground, Sandy Park.

The Chiefs have won two, lost two and drawn one of their five games on the road and none of those matches were settled by more than seven points.

Exeter have failed to score more than 26 points in each of their last four Premiership matches, while two of their last three meetings with Newcastle have been under the 11.5 target.

Rugby Union betting tips with Betfred Insights.