Newcastle Falcons vs Leicester Tigers Prediction: Hosts set for another mauling

It’s been a tough Premiership season so far for the winless Newcastle Falcons and things won’t get any easier on Friday night (19:45) when they host title challengers Leicester Tigers at Kingston Park. Newcastle have lost all of their 13 games in the league so far this season and have only four bonus points to show for their efforts.

Leicester, meanwhile, are sitting in seventh place in the 10-team standings but are only five points off the Exeter Chiefs in fourth position. With a congested mid-table, the battle for the play-off places looks set to go down to the wire and Leicester can’t afford any mistakes when they head to the north east on Friday. Here are our Newcastle Falcons vs Leicester Tigers predictions.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, Newcastle have Elliott Obatoyinbo, Adam Radwan and Ben Redshaw in the back-three, with Cameron Hutchinson and Tom Penny forming the centre partnership.

Brett Connon and Sam Stuart will look to dictate play in the half-backs, in front of a back-row that consists of skipper Callum Chick, Sam Cross and Philip van der Walt.

Phil Brantingham, Jamie Blamore and Richard Palframan make up the front-row, while it’s Tim Cardall and Sebastian de Chaves in the engine room.

As for Leicester, the Tigers have been boosted by the return of Jack van Poortvliet to the No.9 jersey, with World Cup winner Handre Pollard outside him.

Solomone Kata and Matt Scott are the centres, with Ollie Hassell-Collins, Josh Bassett and Freddie Steward in the back-three.

James Cronin, skipper Julian Montoya and Will Hurd will pack down in the front-row, with locks Harry Wells and Kyle Hatherell in behind.

Handro Liebenberg, Olly Cracknell and Jasper Wiese complete the pack in the back-row.

Match Odds

Newcastle are the 13/5 underdogs to land what would be their first Premiership win of the season on Friday.

The Tigers are the understandable 1/5 favourites, while a tie on the night is available at 22/1.

In the winning margin market, Leicester to win by over 12 points is currently 10/11.

Leicester Tigers -14 handicap @ 11/10

The Tigers might well have revenge on their minds after losing 45-26 on their last trip to Kingston Park last year.

Since then, Leicester have put up big scores against the Falcons, winning 60-7 in the Premiership Rugby Cup and 47-3 in the league at Welford Road earlier this season.

Considering the rate Newcastle have been conceding points this campaign, Leicester might well get their revenge at Kingston Park with a big win.

The Falcons have conceded 410 points in 13 Premiership games at an average of 31.5 points a game.

With the attacking talent Leicester have on show and the kicking ability of fly-half Pollard, the Tigers could comfortably build a big score on Friday night.

The Tigers with a -14 handicap at 11/10 looks to be the way to go here.