Saracens v Newcastle Red Bulls Prem Cup Preview
By saracensfan62
November 18 2025
And so we already find ourselves comtemplating the 4th week of the Premiership Cup competition, as we return to the StoneX for the first time in a while (since Sale at home in October I think) to welcome the Newcastle Red Bulls, formerly Falcons of course. Following on from their very impressive victory against Northampton at Franklins Gardens (a feat we ourselves haven’t achieved since early 2022) and our victory at the Stoop vs Harlequins, this clash could be crucial in determining the outcome of our pool in the cup.
Over the current season (from the Premiership’s own statistics), Saracens have significantly more points scored and tries than Newcastle: In the Premiership alone, Sarries have 199 points and 29 tries to Newcastle’s 70 points and 10 tries. Astoundingly in the last 20 fixtures between the two (in all competitions), Newcastle have won just 1 of them – last year at Kingston Park. We would have to go back to 2009 in the Guinness Premiership for the previous time Newcastle won this fixture. Waffle over, I shall return to the rugby.
Alen Dickens’ introduction to the Newcastle should help them bolster their attack. As a previous attacks and backs coach at Leicester and player for Northampton, Leeds, Saracens and Sale, he is well set to improve their structure and attack. To be honest the gap in attacking quality is quite significant between the two teams. It seems Sarries mostly can cut through defences with relative ease whereas for Newcastle it seems more effort.
Set-Piece Battle
Scrums – Saracens low, tight bind at scrumtime aims to hold stability rather than crush the opposition with power. I expect we will use the scrum to create quick clean ball for the backs to exploit. We may choose to go for Newcastle’s inexperienced tightheads early on, especially after the success of the scrum vs Quins. Newcastle on the other hand are hungry at scrumtime – they often aim to disrupt by angling in slightly and use the scrum to reset should things not be going to plan elsewhere in their game. I expect Saracens to have a significant advantage at scrumtime.
Lineouts – sarries have always been strong at the lineout. The return of the likes of Olamide Sodeke from England A will boost our prowess significantly. Harry Wilson seems to have adopted a strong role within the forwards already. I don’t think we’ve talked enough about how good he’s been of late. Brings so much physicality to the defence and attack. He is a nuisance for opposition in the lineout as well, constantly causing them problems by either intercepting or swimming through to defend. I expect sarries to favour use of the middle pod and for peel plays to form (as they have done a lot recently) and for our back rowers to act as secondary jumpers, as per usual with figures like Willis often being lifted. Newcastle will typically use front pod ball to secure possession and use double-movements such as dummy lifting to put off opponents. I expect us to have a slight advantage in this regard.
Maul – our maul has not been as effective this season compared to previous years. For a while, our maul was pretty undefendable (legally, that is) and teams struggled to contain us from 5m out. This season we seem to have dropped off a lot on that front. We were excellent at spinning the maul if the initial shove stalled. Newcastle are hit and miss (like us really!) at maultime, and will blitzt initially to try and disrupt before we can get set and get it moving. If we can withstand their initial shove, I expect our consistent power will prevail.
Newcastle typically do not travel well at all – I think it is Vicarage Road days (someone correct me if I’m wrong!) since they beat us at home. I hope it’ll be an entertaining match with plenty of flowing rugby on display.
Predicted Lineups
As we have our England ‘A’ returnees, I believe this is what the lineup could look like next week:
Saracens
- Alex O’Driscoll
- James Hadfield
- Marcus Street
- Toyo Adegbimile
- Olamide Sodeke
- Harry Wilson
- Nathan Michelow
- Tom Willis
- Gareth Simpson
- Louis Johnson
- Brandon Jackson
- Olly Hartley
- Sam Spink
- Angus Hall
- Max Malins
- Eoghan Clarke
- Lewis Young
- Harvey Beaton
- Kennedy Sylvester
- Reggie Hammick
- Charlie Bracken
- Luke Davidson
- Noah Caluori
Re. Question mark for 18, I have little to no idea which fit tightheads we currently have – Clarey is injured, Marco away with Italy for internatonals and Tuimauiga away with Samoa. We are certainly struggling for props once again!
As for the Newastle side, I expect they’ll go as full throttle as they can. It’ll likely be a similar side to the one they fielded vs Northampton.
Newcastle
- Adam Brocklebank
- George McGuigan
- Richard Palframan
- Oscar Usher
- Jamie Hodgson
- Cameron Neild
- Ollie Leatherbarrow
- Thomas Gordon
- Micky Stuart
- Brett Connon
- Alex Hearle
- Cam Hutchison
- Tom Moore
- Ethan Grayson
- Elliott Obatoyinbo
- Haime Faiva
- Murray McCallum
- Luan De Bruin
- Adam Scott
- Freddie Lockwood
- James Clark
- Max Clark
- Sam Waugh
Two excellent teams who will produce an entertaining encounter on Saturday afternoon I feel. Enjoy all those who are planning on attending and cheer loud for Saracens.
Also thank you Bard for pointing out earlier squad inconsistencies. I thought Harvey Beaton was still injured and didn't realise Tobias E had pulled up with his hammy in the Ampthill game. Corrected now.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:12:01:08:05:14 by Darraghgirl.
Newcastle put Saints to the sword last week so this will be a tough match. It’s amazing how we always seem to be short of props, can’t seem to get any luck there. I heard good things about Adegbemile from last time so hopefully we get to see more of him. Maybe a rest for Willis after playing 80 v Quins so he’s ready for Bath. Bard said Elliott pulled up in his last Ampthill match so Caluori likely to start unless we see Daly released from England.
I think NRB v Saints was pretty much their Prem team minus a handful of their top guys so we can maybe expect similar. The centre we had on loan is with them now.
Angus Hall should be in, Harvey Beaton warming up with the squad on Sunday so will presumably be in 23. Street did also go off at end leading to uncontested scrum, hopefully it was just cramp.
Not sure when Christian Wade arrives for them?
We have super squad depth when ALL our players are not injured and not on internationals. As soon as one or the other (or even worse, both) problems combine - we are in trouble
(My second time at the now StoneX, first time I remember a very long walk from a station. Just wanted to check there wasn’t a better way of doing it.)
I don't follow what the parking arrangements are, as I usually use public transport now, but call supporters services to book a parking space (some are at least 15 minutes walk away) or (better?) use the car park at Mill Hill Broadway station which always seems to have spaces, and then take the shuttle/bus.
Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade
🌻🌻🌻
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:11:20:22:10:56 by AP.
Alternatively "Just Park" has a number of driveway parking spaces closer to the ground, but they can be expensive.
AR1: Henry Pearson
AR2: Veryan Boscawen
No4: Calum Howard
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:11:21:14:02:20 by nedrichards.
Quote:Northumbrian13
Thanks for your help above!
I have sent you a private message.
The West Stand will be closed for this match, please enter through Gates A & C.
Please also be aware there is no shuttle service running. There will also not be matchday programmes or fan radios available.
Ninjafez - supporting Sarries and cleaning their signs since 2006!
Quote:Roger G
It's a match day so no local parking. I noticed the "next event" date on the parking signs last week. No idea about busses - sorry.
When we got to Mill Hill it actually showed the Next Event as 30 November 2025 so there was no Saracens CPZ today. Must have been a late change when they cancelled the Shuttle Buses. Wish the club was a bit clearer on this point.
As to the match some encouragement that there is growing strength in depth in a number of positions. Sarries were simply too fast and skillful for what was a limited Newcastle squad but in what became appalling weather there were some moments of high skill. My favourite moment was the try scored by our number 6 who seemed to turn on the pace and carve through their defence.
Hope that Newcastle player is OK. Puts my grumbles about parking into focus.
What was not enjoyable was standing in the rain waiting for a bus because there was no shuttles. I guess it wasn’t worth their while putting on a full service for such a pathetic crowd, but even so - maybe one or two would have been nice.
Quote:nicsue
Hope that Newcastle player is OK. Puts my grumbles about parking into focus.
Quote:Barnesy
BBC on the ball as usual reporting we've made the semi finals, small matter of 4 more games at the start of the Six nations before the semi finals
I saw that too. Had to recheck the fixture list make sure I hadn’t dreamt those games…
Hopefully better weather next week!
The BBC also had four different kickers getting the conversions, suspiciously looking like the try scorers converting their own score. They're all now credited to Johnson, but surely that really settles the BBC Chairman's resignation now?
Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade
🌻🌻🌻
The scrum went much better than expected, hats off to Beaton and O’Driscoll.
Hope the latter didn’t fail his HIA as we may need him on Sunday against Bath if Mawi isn’t fit.
Second game running Louie Johnson hasn’t been good off the tee and missed a kick to the corner. With Davidson looking promising he really needs to show he is the next man ready to step up.
Quote:nicsue
I too listened to Roger G and assumed no local parking. Agree that the Club should make it clearer. Would have made quite a difference to us today. (Will note this on our feedback form.....if we get one this week.)
Hope that Newcastle player is OK. Puts my grumbles about parking into focus.
Apologies to anybody I put off but, in my defence, it definitely said "Next Event 22/11" on the signs last week.
Quote:Second game running Louie Johnson hasn’t been good off the tee and missed a kick to the corner. With Davidson looking promising he really needs to show he is the next man ready to step up.[/quote
Rather harsh. He kicked 4/7 and missed one into the strong wind in the first half. with the other two being fairly wide.
On a separate issue, I'll be glad to get back to the East stand. Even in the posh seats at the back of the West stand we felt the rain although to be fair both wind and rain were pretty strong. Credit to the players for that performance in those conditions.
Us West standers were all relocated to the East stand yesterday and as you say when the wind is from the South West the rain can reach fairly far into the East stand.
We shall be back in the 1876 Stand for Bath!
Quote:Roger GQuote:nicsue
I too listened to Roger G and assumed no local parking. Agree that the Club should make it clearer. Would have made quite a difference to us today. (Will note this on our feedback form.....if we get one this week.)
Hope that Newcastle player is OK. Puts my grumbles about parking into focus.
Apologies to anybody I put off but, in my defence, it definitely said "Next Event 22/11" on the signs last week.
Thanks for clarifying - I will tell the Club what I think about their communications.