The Falcons' talons are out for Cardiff Blues

People will be queuing up to see if Newcastle will begin their Challenge Cup campaign with the same gusto which they summoned to burst onto the scene in the Premiership. The Falcons face Cardiff Blues at Kingston Park and will fancy their chances of going one from one.

Cardiff are not at their best lately, having won just 3 of their 8 games so far in the Pro14. In last year’s Challenge Cup, the Welsh outfit finished second-last in Pool 5 above Italian club Calvisano.

Newcastle, by contrast, are flying high, having gained promotion into the English Premiership after hoisting the Greene King IPA trophy last season, and currently find themselves sitting pretty at second spot on the log with 3 victories from 3 successful games.

The Falcons’ last outing saw them wow the Premiership community as they despatched last season’s finalists Wasps 27-17 at the Ricoh Arena in a game which showed that they insist on being a real threat to whoever crosses their path.

Cardiff’s most recent result saw them fall to a 19-10 defeat to Glasgow Warriors at Rodney Parade. It was a closely contested game which may have gone either way, yet Cardiff simply could not seem to find a rhythm which would carry them to the finish with a winners’ tag intact.

All things considered, Newcastle would be a wise bet in this encounter.