Saracens v Newcastle Falcons Preview

With news coming from the RFU that Bill Sweeney is keen to implement a franchise-style league, we now face Newcastle at the StoneX. Entering the ‘do or die’ part of the season, it’s now or never for us if we want to qualify for the knockouts. It’s still mathematically possible for Newcastle to move off the bottom of the table — and very much possible for us to qualify — but it would require a lot to go right. The Falcons would need to win at least two of their last three games and take one bonus point or more, while also relying on Exeter to collapse in their final three fixtures. Newcastle have shown signs of improvement recently, losing by just a single point at home to Northampton and nearly pulling off an upset away to Exeter in late March. A win there would have marked their first away victory since November 2022, when they beat Gloucester at Kingsholm. Their last win? At Kingston Park… against us. Let’s hope they don’t do the double over us this season — that would be an embarrassing feat, making us the only team not to have beaten Newcastle in the Premiership. From our perspective, and after a deeply disappointing loss to Sale last weekend, we return to StoneX with a point to prove. Simply put, this is a must-win five-pointer.

Newcastle Falcons – Yet Another Season of Disappointment…

Newcastle have been struggling for some time. They finished bottom of the Premiership in both the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, and were second from bottom in 2021–22 — saved only by a slightly better points difference than Bath. Despite continued struggles on the field, their fanbase has grown, with a significant rise in season ticket sales. Off the field, the club is trying to build a more resilient culture and promote youth from their academy.

Defensively, the stats tell a grim story: Newcastle have conceded 80 tries over 15 matches this season — an average of 5.33 per game. With Steve Diamond currently suspended for abusing match officials, coach Alan Dickens will be tasked with rallying the team following their heavy defeat at Bath.

Key players such as Adam Brocklebank, winger Ben Stevenson, and veteran captain Callum Chick will be crucial in keeping calm and setting an example. The scrum should be a fascinating contest: Alec Clarey vs Brocklebank, and Rhys Carre vs Richard Palframan. I expect the likes of Maro Itoje, Theo McFarland, and Nick Isiekwe to apply significant pressure to their the lineout.

Saracens – Too Little Too Late, or the Start of a Miracle Comeback?

Our form lately has been increasingly patchy. Yes, the Six Nations period disrupted things, but other clubs also had players away and managed to maintain rhythm — something we’ve struggled with.

Unlike Newcastle’s defensive issues, our biggest problems lie in our attack and efficiency in the 22. A lack of momentum and creativity going forward has become glaring. At Sale, we only managed one converted try despite entering their 22 eight times — a clear sign our execution is falling short. Teams like Northampton, Bristol, Bath, and Gloucester seem to score tries for fun; for us, it’s been a grind.

Fergus Burke’s goal kicking is also a growing concern. With a success rate of 67%, it's far below the 85%+ we’ve come to expect from our former 10 Mr Farrell. This inconsistency is costing us points — 21 missed conversions out of 58 tries equates to 42 potential points left on the field in just 15 games.

Even more concerning was the scrum — it was dismantled by Sale’s front row last week. Injuries to Marco Riccioni and Fraser Balmain have hurt us badly at this late point in the season. We need to re-establish dominance there, win penalties, and protect our fly-half. It’s harsh to blame Fergus when he’s getting slow or scrappy ball from a pack under pressure.

Structure and Attack Match-Up

A few seasons ago, Newcastle and Saracens looked like they came from two different rugby galaxies. Saracens were the Premiership's polished, battle-hardened giants — built on smart recruitment, consistency, and a clear identity. Led by Jamie George and Maro Itoje, we played a well-drilled, high-pressure game built on control, precision, and clinical execution. Our 1/3/3/1 forward structure was simple but effective, consistently winning territory and setting tempo.

Today, both Saracens and Falcons are in transition. While Newcastle still lack the resources and star power, they've embraced a scrappier, hard-working identity. They're relying more on academy talent and grit. Under Diamond, there’s a focus on fundamentals and resilience, though it’s still a work in progress. Their structure is based on fighting for every metre, punishing opposition errors, and hanging in games for as long as possible.

What’s admirable about Newcastle is their refusal to go quietly. They’ve come close to some big upsets this season. But they often fall short due to a lack of bench impact and the stamina to last the full 80 minutes.

Expected Saracens Lineup

I’m expecting a strong reaction this week. It’s the penultimate home game of the regular season, and we need our big names to step up. A 6–2 bench split feels unnecessary against Newcastle — no disrespect to their pack, but they’re not as strong as Sale or Leicester. I’d like to see Alex Goode start at full-back for his composure, with Elliot Daly moving to outside centre. Having Nick Tompkins on the bench provides flexibility at 12 and 13, while Louis Johnson can cover both full-back and fly-half. Charlie Bracken deserves more minutes, especially with Ivan van Zyl looking sluggish around the breakdown lately. I doubt Bracken will start, but here’s my predicted Saracens XV:

1.        Rhys Carre
2.        Jamie George
3.        Alec Clarey
4.        Maro Itoje
5.        Nick Isiekwe
6.        Juan Martin-Gonzalez
7.        Ben Earl
8.        Tom Willis
9.        Ivan Van-Zyl
10.   Fergus Burke
11.   Rotimi Segun
12.   Olly Hartley
13.   Elliot Daly
14.   Tobias Elliott
15.   Alex Goode
16.   Theo Dan
17.   Eroni Mawi
18.   Harvey Beaton
19.   Theo McFarland
20.   Andy Onyeama-Christie
21.   Charlie Bracken
22.   Louis Johnson
23.   Nick Tompkins

A huge game that could make or break our season. While we still need other results to go our way, I have full belief in Mark McCall and his team to bounce back. Having had many underwhelming displays at the StoneX in recent times, this game needs to provide a reason for people to continue coming along and cheering the team we love so much. Come on sarries!