Exeter Chiefs vs Newcastle Red Bulls Prediction: Chiefs to demolish Newcastle

Newcastle Red Bulls will begin life after the departure of director of rugby Steve Diamond on Saturday (15:00, TNT Sports Extra) when they take on Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park in the Gallagher Prem.

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Exeter Chiefs vs Newcastle Red Bulls prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the showdown in Devon.

Team News

Exeter start with a front row of Will Goodrick-Clarke, Joseph Dweba and Josh Iosefa-Scott, while Dafydd Jenkins will skipper from the second row alongside fellow lock Andrea Zambonin.

Ethan Roots, Greg Fisilau and Ross Vintcent complete the pack, while Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner start in the half-backs.

Ben Hammersley and Henry Slade get the green light to start in the centres, while the Chiefs boast a dangerous back three of Paul Brown-Bampoe, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Dan John.

As for Newcastle, the Red Bulls go with Murray McCallum, skipper George McGuigan and Luan de Bruin in the front row.

Jamie Hodgson and Freddie Clarke start in the second row, while Cameron Neild, Tom Gordon and Amanaki Mafi make up the back three.

As for the backline, James Elliott and Brett Connon start in the half-backs, with Ethan Grayson and Connor Doherty in the centres.

Alex Hearle and Oli Spencer start in a back three that includes new signing and former British & Irish Lions star Liam Williams at full-back.

Exeter Chiefs vs Newcastle Red Bulls Odds

Exeter are the heavy 1/9 favourites to secure their first win of the season, while Newcastle are 6/1 to get off the mark this season.

A draw at Sandy Park is 22/1, while the Chiefs are 4/5 with a -5.5 handicap at the half-time whistle.

Exeter Chiefs -15 handicap @ 11/10

A 39-17 home defeat at the hands of Saracens proved to be the end of the line for Diamond at Newcastle after just one game of the Prem season.

Red Bull will bring in Neil McIlroy as a new sporting general manager, while Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has been recruited in an advisory role.

While the club have signed some big names in the form of Liam Williams and Christian Wade, who won’t feature on Saturday, it will take time for this Newcastle side to gel.

Exeter on the other hand, played some dynamic rugby to produce a stunning comeback to draw 33-33 at Northampton Saints last week.

Scoring four unanswered tries in the second half at Franklin’s Gardens, Exeter silenced a stunned home crowd in Northampton and this weekend it’s the home faithful at Sandy Park who will be wanting to witness some great attacking rugby.

With winger Feyi-Woboso impressing with his brace of tries against the Saints, the Chiefs have a superstar out on the flank.

Given the Red Bulls’ struggles in defence against Sarries, the Chiefs are well priced to cover the handicap.

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