Newcastle Red Bulls vs Saracens Prediction: Sarries to put Red Bulls to the sword

Newcastle will kick-start their new era as the Red Bulls in the Gallagher PREM when they play hosts to Saracens at Kingston Park on Friday night (19:45 BST, TNT Sports Extra).

Below are my Newcastle Red Bulls vs Saracens predictions, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the clash in the North East.

Team news

Starting with Newcastle, the Red Bulls go with a front row of Murray McCallum, skipper George McGuigan and Luan de Bruin.

Oscar Usher and Jamie Hodgson start in the second row, with Cameron Neild, Tom Gordon and Amanaki Mafi completing the pack. Sam Stuart and Brett Connon start in the half-backs, while Max Clark and Sammy Arnold will combine in the centres.

Alex Hearle, Oli Spencer and Boeta Chamberlain complete the Newcastle backline in the back three.

As for Saracens, Rhys Carre, Theo Dan and Marco Riccioni start in the front row, with locks Nick Isiekwe and Hugh Tizard in the engine room. Nathan Michelow, Andy Onyeama-Christie and Tom Willis start in the back row, with skipper Ivan van Zyl and Fergus Burke in the half-backs. Owen Farrell and Nick Tompkins will combine in the centres with Rotimi Segun, Brandon Jackson and Max Malins in the back three for the visitors.

Newcastle Red Bulls vs Saracens Odds

Newcastle are the 19/10 underdogs for Friday’s game, while Saracens are 4/9 to make the trip back to the capital with the victory.

A draw at Kingston Park is available at 18/1.

Saracens -7 handicap @ 21/20

Despite being involved in the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia, Farrell is back in Saracens black for Friday’s trip to the North East.

After a brief stint playing for Racing 92 across the Channel, Farrell is back home with the club where he started his professional career.

An experienced operator at inside centre, Farrell will play outside fly-half Fergus Burke, who got some good international experience on tour with Scotland over the summer.

There’s plenty of experience in this Saracens backline to cause Newcastle serious problems, and even though Maro Itoje and Jamie George are missing from the pack after their efforts with the Lions in Australia, there is enough grunt up front to overcome the Red Bulls.

Investment has been made in the squad at Newcastle, but new arrivals Christian Wade and Liam Williams have not been named in the matchday 23 to face Sarries.

It will take time for the fresh faces to gel with the existing squad in a time of great change at Kingston Park.

This is probably a good time to face Newcastle as they get their ducks in a row, and Saracens are good value to not only win, but cover the handicap in the process.

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