European Challenge Cup Preview: Pool 3

Still very much all to play for in pool 3 with three sides still in contention for a place in the knockout stages. Newport Gwent Dragons have enjoyed one of  their most successful European campaigns and sit at the top with 16 points with Newcastle Falcons just a point behind them. French giants Stade Francais still remain in the hunt for a quarter-final place after a poor start to the competition but will need two wins from the final two games to have any hope of a place in the last eight. Bucuresti Wolves complete the group with the Romanian side still searching for their first win in the pool.

Newcastle Falcons host The Dragons on Saturday with the Falcons hoping to pick up a win to put them top of the pool. The Falcons go into this game on the back of a much needed win in the league after hammering bottom side London Welsh at Kingston Park. As for The Dragons they were unable to get the better over fellow Welshside Ospreys as they continue to struggle in the league. In the reverse fixture Newcastle were able to come away from Rodney Parade with the win and they will be hoping to do the double over the Welshside. However The Dragons away form has been quite good in Europe in recent times as they have won their last three games on the road which included a win in Paris against Stade Francais in round 2.

In the other game in the pool Stade Francais look to keep alive their hopes of a place in the knockout stages with a win against Bucuresti Wolves. Stade Francais have been inconsistent in  pool 3 but the same cannot be said for their league form with the Parisians second in the Top 14, and picked up another win last weekend hammering former champions Castres. Bucuresti travel to Paris on Saturday having lost their last five games in Europe and face a Stade side who will need to pick up five points from the game. Stade just about won the reverse fixture and Bucuresti will be looking to perform like they did on that day if they are going to have any chance of causing an upset.