Newcastle Red Bulls vs Leicester Tigers Prediction: Tigers to run riot at Kingston Park

As focus switches from Test rugby back to the Gallagher Prem, a one-sided affair might well be on the cards as Leicester Tigers head to rock-bottom Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday night (19:45, TNT Sports 1).

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Newcastle Red Bulls vs Leicester Tigers prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the clash at Kingston Park.

Team News

Starting with the Red Bulls, Newcastle go with Adam Brocklebank, skipper George McGuigan and Murray McCallum in the front row, with locks Oscar Usher and Jamie Hodgson in the second row,

Freddie Lockwood, Tom Christie and Amanaki Mafi complete the pack, with Sam Stuart and Brett Connon combining in the half-backs.

Max Clark and Alex Hearle start in the centres, while Newcastle go with a back three of Oli Spencer, Liam Williams and Ethan Grayson.

As for Leicester, Nicky Smith, Jamie Blamire and Joe Heyes start in the front row for the Tigers, with Cameron Henderson and James Thompson in the engine room.

Skipper Hanro Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell and Joaquin Moro start in the back row, while Tom Whiteley and Billy Searle pair up in the half-backs.

Orlando Bailey and Will Wand start in the centres, while Leicester go with an electric back three of Ollie Hassell-Collins, Adam Radwan and Freddie Steward.

Newcastle Red Bulls vs Leicester Tigers Odds

Newcastle are the 9/2 underdogs for Friday’s game, while Leicester are the 1/6 favourites to head back to the East Midlands with the victory. A draw at Kingston Park is available at 22/1.

Leicester Tigers -16 handicap @ 13/10

Welcoming back their internationals, while also giving opportunities to some fringe players, Leicester look to have the balance right for this trip to a Newcastle side who have failed to claim a win in the Gallagher Prem so far this season.

After a disappointing Autumn Nations Series, in which Australia lost all four of their games against England, Italy, Ireland and France, Wallabies fly-half James O'Connor might well be happy to be back in a winning environment at Leicester.

The experienced playmaker will look to make an impact off the bench, while Searle is given an opportunity to impress from the off in the No.10 jersey.

Leicester are blessed with depth in their squad that Newcastle can only dream of in this stage of their development and it's hard to see the Red Bulls preventing the Tigers from earning their seventh-straight win over them in all competitions on Friday.

With Hassell-Collins, Radwan and Steward in the back three, Leicester have weapons in the wide channels that can hurt a Newcastle defence that have already conceded 222 points in their five Prem games so far this season.

Leaking an average of 44.5 points per game, it's set to be another long night for Newcastle and the Tigers are backed to cover the -16 handicap here.

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