Newcastle Falcons vs Sale Prediction: Sharks unlikely to suffer Falcons setback

Steve Diamond admitted there were "no positives" to take from Newcastle's 85-14 defeat at Bristol and says a big aim for Sunday's game against Sale will be "restoring pride in the shirt".

Opposite number Alex Sanderson both played with and was coached by Diamond at the Sharks. He has struck a more positive tone, praising his team's recent attacking intent but adding that they must win at Kingston Park if they are to make the play-offs.

The Falcons are yet to record a Premiership win this season and after beating Harlequins 37-31 in their last game, Sanderson's side should run out the comfortable winners of the 'Dimes Derby'.

However, after last weekend's misery at Ashton Gate, the hosts are backed to produce a much-improved performance.

Team News

The Falcons make five changes. Full-back Elliott Obatoyinbo, centre Matias Moroni and fly-half Rory Jennings are included in the backline.

Up front, prop Eduardo Bello anchors the scrum from tighthead, while Guy Pepper starts at openside.

There is also good news as scrum-half Jamie Elliott returns to the bench after a spell on the sidelines with a foot injury.

For Sale, scrum-half Raffi Quirke is rewarded for his strong showing off the bench against Quins by being drafted into the starting XV in Sanderson's only change to his run-on side.

Match Odds

Newcastle's task is illustrated by their sizable 11/1 odds to win at home, with the tie 28/1 and the Sharks as big as 1/33.

That suggests the handicaps are worth exploring, with the three-way set at 20/21 with Sale giving away a 20-point start. Meanwhile, the Sharks are 5/1 to win by 16-20 points, as they did in November's reverse fixture, a 40-22 victory.

Newcastle Falcons +16 @ 7/5

Newcastle were atrocious against Bristol and you can imagine there was a lot of soul-searching on the seven-hour coach journey home to the North East.

Diamond will have spent the week rebuilding his players' confidence and will relish facing a club for whom he made more than 300 appearances and coached for nine years over two spells.

He will also channel the good vibes of Newcastle's previous performances against the Sharks after they beat them in the Premiership Rugby Cup and triumphed in a friendly match before the league season resumed following the Six Nations.

The Bristol defeat was also an outlier in that Sunday's hosts' two previous losses since the season resumed had been by nine or fewer points.

Sale also have a poor record at Kingston Park, failing to win there since 2016, but their position in the play-off race means they must snap that streak by recording a third away victory of the season.

They started the weekend sixth in the table, three points off fourth-placed Bristol and are still to play Leicester and Saracens, who are also in the top-four mix.

With cold weather and rain forecast for Sunday, it could be closer than expected - the Sharks should win but are likely to be tested more than the odds suggest.

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