Number Crunch: The Toon Test

THE FORM

Newcastle Falcons record in Gallagher Premiership Rugby this season is an even won two, lost two. The Falcons have lost just one of their last five home games at Kingston Park: 20-26 to Harlequins in Round One.

Bristol Bears only victory in their last five Gallagher Premiership Rugby was 25-20 at home to Bath on 1 October. The Bears have lost their last two away games in Premiership Rugby and have not lost three in succession on their travels since 2018/19.

Bristol have won their last four encounters with Newcastle since the Falcons 39-27 victory at Ashton Gate in May 2017. The Bears have been victorious on their last two visits to Kingston Park and have never won three in a row at the venue

THE NUMBERS

● Bristol Bears have won their last four Premiership games against Newcastle, after the Falcons had won their previous four matchups in the league. Newcastle’s last win against the Bears came back in May 2017 (39-27 at Ashton Gate).

● Bristol Bears have lost their two away games in the Premiership this season but haven’t lost more road games in succession in the top flight since January 2017 – February 2019 when they went on a 12-game losing sequence.

● Newcastle Falcons have won their two Premiership games in which they have conceded fewer than 20 points and have lost the two matches in which they have conceded 20+ in 2021/22; since the start of 2020, the Falcons have won eight of their nine games in which they have conceded fewer than 20 points and have lost 12 of the 14 in which they have allowed their opponents to score 20 or more (W2).

● Only Bath (15.3) have conceded more penalties per game than Newcastle in the league this term (14.5), while just two sides (Exeter, Harlequins) have conceded fewer than Bristol on average (11.5).