Gloucester vs Newcastle Falcons Prediction: Hosts to bring Falcons back down to earth

After the high of ending their 25-game losing streak at the Exeter Chiefs, the Newcastle Falcons might well be brought back down to earth when they face Gloucester in the Premiership on Saturday (15:00 kick-off).

Read below for my Gloucester vs Newcastle Falcons prediction and all the latest team news.

Having not seen their team win for 19 months at Kingston Park, the home crowd roared their Falcons side to an impressive 24-18 victory over an Exeter Chiefs side that look like a shadow of their former selves.

Getting back to winning ways at home is certainly a step in the right direction but getting wins on the road in the Premiership is a different thing entirely.

Gloucester put the Falcons to the sword when they last met at Kingsholm in May and Newcastle could well be in for a long afternoon down in the West Country.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, winger Christian Wade and fly-half Gareth Anscombe missed last weekend's trip to Leicester Tigers with minor injuries, but make returns to the starting XV.

Props Val Rapava-Ruskin and Afo Fasogbon also get the nod to start and join Jack Singleton, who retains his place after a 29-26 defeat at the Tigers last time out.

Charlie Atkinson joins Max Llewellyn in the centres, while the back-three is made up of Wade and Ollie Thorley on the wings and Josh Hathaway at full-back.

Rugby Union Odds

As for the visitors, winger Alex Hearle will make his first start for the Falcons in the one change from the side that beat Exeter.

Hearle will face his former club on Saturday, in a back-three that also includes fellow winger Adam Radwan and full-back Ben Redshaw.

Gloucester vs Newcastle Falcons Odds

Gloucester are the overwhelming favourites to claim the win on home soil at 1/20, while the Falcons are 17/2 to make it back-to-back wins after stunning the Chiefs in the north east.

A draw at Kingsholm is available at 28/1.

Gloucester -21 handicap @ 11/10

The last time these sides met in the Premiership was at Kingsholm in May and it was a day to forget for the Falcons, who left the West Country on the back of a 54-14 thrashing.

Newcastle have had just two away games since that defeat at Kingsholm, losing 28-14 at Harlequins and more recently 43-10 at Sale Sharks.

With the running rugby that Gloucester are playing at home, where they will look to pretty much go from anywhere on the paddock, Newcastle’s pack will have to put in a significant shift to get around the park this weekend.

After the high of ending that miserable losing run, it might be tough for the Falcons to reach those levels again on Saturday.

Having won by a 30-point margin in their last meeting with Newcastle, this attacking Gloucester side, with Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe pulling the strings, look capable of covering the -21 handicap on offer here.

Rugby Union Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.