NEWCASTLE

Head Coach: Dean Richards Captain: Will Welch Ground: Kingston Park Capacity: 10,200

Can the Falcons trump last season’s top four finish? Their credentials as a new force will undergo forensic examination with Saracens, Leicester away, Exeter and Wasps in their first handful of fixtures, but Dean Richards looks prepared for the onslaught thanks to a few shrewd moves in the transfer market

Having already scored a major success by poaching last season’s joint top try scorer Vereniki Goneva from Leicester, he has repeated it by tempting prop Logovi’i Mulipola and hooker George McGuigan to leave Welford Road.

They are significant additions to an impressive pack in which lock Calum Green – another former Tiger – is one of the Premiership’s most consistent performers. Green’s work ethic is reflected throughout the Newcastle line-up. England blindside Mark Wilson is also a glutton for hard graft, while fellow flankers Gary Graham and captain Will Welch are from the same mould.

Newcastle are prepared to go the extra yard in defence, making more tackles last season than any team in the league bar Bath. This is encapsulated by their tearaway Tongan No.9 Tane Takulua, while flyhalf Toby Flood provides the tactical map. Add experienced hands like Josh Matavesi in midfield and finishers of the calibre of Goneva and Sinoti Sinoti, and Falcons look equipped to take another step forward.