Leicester Tigers vs Newcastle Falcons Prediction: Visitors’ woes unlikely to end

Leicester look to be getting things together under new coach Dan McKellar and can prepare for next weekend's Champions Cup visit of Stormers by running riot against Newcastle on Sunday.

The Tigers clearly struggled in the Australian's first few league matches in charge but their progress has accelerated since the return of their World Cup stars and they produced their best performance of the season in last Saturday's 38-20 win at Gloucester.

Newcastle again showed plenty of spirit in their 20-14 home defeat to Exeter, leading 14-0 at half-time but failing to score a point in the second half.

The Falcons have lost seven out of seven in this season's Premiership and their trip to Welford Road is unlikely to provide any respite.

Leicester have already beaten the Tynesiders this season, triumphing 60-7 in the Premiership Rugby Cup in September. A similar margin of victory may not be the outcome, but the hosts look to have way too much for their struggling visitors.

Match Odds

Leicester are just 1/22 to grab their third win in a row, with Newcastle 12/1 to break their duck for the season and the tie 40/1.

Team News

Leicester have made four changes from the win at Gloucester. Props Francois Van Wyk and Dan Cole both coming into the side, while lock Harry Wells also gets the nod.

Behind the scrum, Mike Brown starts at full-back against his former club, with Freddie Steward switching to the wing.

Former Leicester players centre Matias Moroni and lock Sebastian de Chaves start the match for Newcastle.

Youngster Louie Johnson is retained at fly-half and will be hoping to repeat his heroics of October 2022, when he successfully converted a touchline conversion to seal a 32-31 victory for the Falcons.

Leicester -22 @ 10/11

Anyone who has followed McKellar's coaching career, notably in Super Rugby with the Brumbies, will know that excitement is never far away.

The Tigers grabbed their first four-try bonus point of the season in the win at Gloucester and they will expect to grab a second against the worst defence in the league.

Newcastle have also scored fewer points than any other side in the division and boss Alex Codling looks to be wiping the slate clean by putting his faith in youth with a view to next season and the likelihood that relegation is not going to be an issue due to the situation in the Championship.

They have already lost by more than 22 points to both Saracens and Harlequins this season, and Leicester could be the latest side to go big.

Total Points 3-Way - Over 54.5 @ 11/10

If the Tigers cut loose, the points could pile up and Over 54.5 in the match is a tempting price.

That tally has been achieved in the pair's last four meetings in all competitions, including the Tigers' 45-26 Premiership win last January.

It also landed in Newcastle's two games before the defeat to Exeter and in Leicester's win at Gloucester.