Sale Sharks vs Newcastle Falcons
5th March 2000hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick Draw
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 10/11 odds taken 01:05 GMT, March 4th, 2021
Sale Sharks claimed an excellent win over reigning champion Exeter last weekend to give themselves a nice boost.
The next challenge for them is going to be trying to build on that at home against Newcastle on the weekdays they look to secure more points in a tight top-four race.
Newcastle are firmly in that race as well after squeezing past Harlequins for a win in their last game.
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Sale Sharks Preview – Can Sale build some momentum?
Sale Sharks were nicely building some momentum in the Premiership until that was all undone by back to back defeats against Bath and Harlequins.
But they were back in the winning ways last weekend as they earned a 25-20 home success against Exeter.
That was a huge four points for them, keeping the Sharks in the top four and also seeing them avoid a three-match losing streak.
In the match outright for Premiership rugby betting on Friday, the home win for Sale is at 1/3 odds* (odds taken 01:05 GMT, March 4th, 2021 at Unibet).
Sale’s overall record in the top flight this season W7 LD and they are one of the few clubs to have not had a fixture cancelled this season.
Let’s take a close look at the home form of Sale this season to help get an indicator of which way this may go.
It has been a W3 L2 return from the Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium, the defeats happening in what were disappointing losses against Bath and Wasps.
Each of the five home games that Sale have played this season have been settled by a margin of nine points or less, regardless of the result.
So there’s probably not a wide-margin of victory in play here for the home favourites.
With that in mind even a Sale -7 looks a little bit risky at 10/11 in rugby betting* (odds taken 01:05 GMT, March 4th, 2021 at Unibet).
Especially as they are facing one of the league’s better defensive sides in the form of Newcastle.
Since the previous season’s campaign was started back up again in August last year, Sale have lost four league matches at the AJ Bell.
You would have expected a little bit stronger of output from them than that.
Sale have managed to claim only one win in their last five matches against Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership as well.
That lone defeat in the sequence happened in 2018 in Salford.
The Sharks perhaps believe that they are in a settled place in terms of personnel as they are only making two changes from last Friday’s win over Exeter.
Will the Sharks start building winning momentum again?
Newcastle Falcons Preview – Can the Falcons make it back to back wins?
The Falcons got themselves a narrow win last weekend as they found a way to edge past Harlequins at Kingston Park.
That saw them avoid falling to a three-match losing streak left them at W2 L3 in their last five.
So that was an important success for them in keeping in touch with the top four.
They have lost their last two away games, however, going down against Bristol Bears and London Irish.
Newcastle Falcons to win on Friday night is currently a quote of 12/5 in the rugby betting match outright* (odds taken 01:05 GMT, March 4th, 2021 at Unibet).
The Falcons have played the joint-fewest games in the Premiership this season, having had three fixtures cancelled.
They are W5 L3 from their eight fixtures played.
Current bottom side Worcester are the only team to have produced fewer points this season than Newcastle in matches.
The Falcons have an average of about 19.5 points scored per Premiership fixture this season.
They are on a +7 points difference for the season, which shows how much good work that they’ve done in defence.
The Falcons boast the fewest points conceded of all teams currently.
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Last weekend’s three-point margin victory over Harlequins last weekend on home soil, was their first win in any competition since beating Gloucester on January 9th.
Out on their league travels this season, Newcastle have played out to a W2 L2 record, the successes happening against Bath and Wasps.
The Falcons have scored at least 17 points in each of their four away games this season.
For rugby betting, the Newcastle +9 option that we found at 10/11 certainly pulls appeal* (odds taken 01:05 GMT, March 4th, 2021 at Unibet).
This is the first meeting between the teams since November 2020 when the Falcons claimed a two-point home win over Sale.
The Falcons are on a three-match winning streak against Sale in all competitions
Sale Sharks vs Newcastle Falcons Betting Advice
The last two Premiership meetings between these clubs have been settled in favour of Newcastle, by no more than five points.
Given that the Falcons have been pretty bullish in defence, for the most part, this season, we think that they get close.
Therefore the 10/11 Newcastle +9 handicap looks the way to go for this one* (odds taken 01:05 GMT, March 4th, 2021 at Unibet).
They should be able to cover that.
Key Facts – Sale Sharks vs Newcastle Falcons Betting Tip
- Sale Sharks have lost their last two league games against the Falcons
- Sale Sharks are W3 L2 at home this season in the Premiership
- Newcastle Falcons have suffered one defeat in their last five league fixtures against Sale
Sale has only just come out the other side of a little slump in form, just like the Falcons and the Sharks haven’t made AJ Bell a fortress in this campaign.
We expect the home win to come, but only a narrow one if it does.
Therefore for Rugby Premiership betting, the Sale Sharks 1-12 winning margin at 9/5 covers the bases nicely* (odds taken 01:05 GMT, March 4th, 2021 at Unibet)
The best betting odds for Sale Sharks vs Newcastle Falcons
Sale Sharks to win: 1/4 at Bet365
Draw: 22/1 at Bet365
Newcastle Falcons to win: 3/1 at Bet365
