Into Europe Red Bull go

The European Challenge Cup takes centre stage for Newcastle Red Bulls for the next couple of weekends. This is a competition I'd really like to see Red Bulls attack and try and get to the knock out stage. From a city point of view Lyon is a cracking place to visit but on the pitch they won't want to lose at home.

Lyon, the great unknown

Lyon are currently sat in a very comfortable twelfth position in the Top 14 . By comfortable, I mean they're sixteen points clear of Montauban in thirteenth. They'll not be happy to be so low in the table but they're only eight points off fourth placed Stade Francais such is the competitive nature of the competition.

Lyon have named their team and have made changes from their narrow 22-20 loss in Bayonne last weekend. With any French team though you know it's going to be a difficult game at their home ground. They'll be steered round the pitch by Irish fly half Paddy Jackson. You know what you'll get with any French outfit, a strong scrum, probably a fair bit of throwing the ball around and the odd crazy thing thrown in!

Red Bulls go strong

Red Bulls have named a strong lineup for this one, which I'm a bit surprised about but also pleased. I thought this may've been a game they looked to rest some players in view of what's coming up between now and the end of January.

Up front Adam Brocklebank, George McGuigan and Murray McCallum start. Oscar Usher and Jamie Hodgson continue in the second row. The back row sees Tom Gordon, Tom Christie and Amanaki Mafi gear up for a big challenge. Freddie Lockwood is added to the growing unavailable list.

The backs see Sam Stuart and Brett Connon continue at half back. Max Clark has joined the unavailable list so Ethan Grayson and Alex Hearle form another new centre partnership. I'm wondering if this is an area Red Bulls are looking to strengthen given injuries and Stewart Moore's recall to Ulster. The wings see Oli Spencer and Harrison Obatoyinbo with Boeta Chamberlain at full back.

On the bench Ollie Fletcher, Connor Hancock and Micky Rewcastle cover the front row. Finn Baker covers the second row with Cameron Neild ready to come on in the back row. Simon Benitez Cruz is again on the bench, at some point I think he'll be due a bit of a rest as important as he is to this Red Bulls outfit. The bench is completed by Cameron Hutchinson and Stefan Coetzee.

Set piece importance

I say it every week but the set piece is going to be crucial. If Lyon get on top in the scrum then Paddy Jackson will kick penalties.

I'm hoping to see more from the Red Bulls attack, as I said last week at times it was like they ran out of ideas after a couple of phases. Over the coming weeks and months Stephen Jones will put his mark on the attack but it'd be good to see some improvement there.

But given the amount of unknowns about this Lyon side I think Red Bulls could get a win on French soil this afternoon.