Jamie Helleur takes the ball under pressure during Newcastle's victory over Wasps © Getty Images

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Matches: Saracens 25 - 5 Newcastle Falcons

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: Newcastle Falcons | Saracens

Fresh from their first win of the season Newcastle Falcons travel to Saracens in the Aviva Premiership on Sunday.

The Falcons claimed a narrow 15-10 victory over Wasps on Sunday with Jimmy Gopperth kicking five penalties, after Newcastle had lost their previous four matches. The win over Wasps was not enough to lift them off the bottom of the table but did put them level on points with Northampton.

In contrast Saracens have won four of their opening five matches and lost just won - to Wasps at Twickenham on the opening day of the season. Since then Sarries have hit their stride with victories over Bath, Worcester and Exeter as well as a thundering 50-25 victory over Leicester Tigers in a repeat of last May's Aviva Premiership Final.

Saracens - Player to Watch: Joe Maddock was in sparkling form for Bath two seasons ago but has yet to find the same rhythm to his game. Despite his ageing years, the Kiwi winger has the ability to terrorise even the most frugal of Premiership defences.

Saracens - Team News: Saracens bring in prop Deon Carstens, second row George Kruis, back row Andy Saull and wing Joe Maddock into the starting XV. The changes to the starting line-up mean that Rhys Gill, Mouritz Botha and David Strettle are all named on the replacements bench while Justin Melck has also recovered from a calf injury to be named in the matchday 23

Newcastle Falcons - Player to Watch: Central to everything that the Falcons do well is inspirational fly-half Jimmy Gopperth. After guiding Alan Tait's men to their first triumph of the season last time out, he will hope to be part of their second win in as many games.

Newcastle Falcons - Team News: Newcastle have made three changes to the side which beat Wasps last weekend with Chris Pilgrim starting at scrum-half while lock James Hall gets the nod at prop and Glen Townson comes in for skipper James Hudson, who begins his four-game ban.

Key Battle: Corne Uys is up against hot prospect Owen Farrell in the outside centre spot. While Farrell is relatively new to the position, Uys has had years of experience on South Africa's Highveld so expect the battle to be an enlightening experience for all involved.

Trivia: Sarries have not lost at Vicarage Road in the Premiership since Exeter were the visitors on October 30 2010.

Stats: Saracens have won the last five encounters between the two clubs in all competitions, whilst Newcastle's only victory at Vicarage Road since 2001 was 22-19 on December 30 2007.

Quote Unquote:

"The world is becoming increasingly smaller and well connected, and, as a club, we are committed to thinking big and creating major events that people want to watch. We look forward to proceeding with these exciting plans, expanding the footprint and commercial value of European rugby."
- Saracens' chairman Nigel Wray announces the Heineken Cup game in Cape Town

"I've been down there with very strong teams in the past with the likes of Carl Hayman playing and we still came away with nothing so it is a very difficult place to go. It will be a challenge for the coaches and the players but we have to be up for it. If you go to the champions you have to step up and perform and I am really looking forward to seeing some of the youngsters in action down there as well."
- Alan Tait is under no illusion to the threat that the champions pose

Prediction: Despite the Falcons returning to winning form last weekend, expect Sarries to overcome their Premiership rivals with ease in a commanding win