Newcastle Falcons head coach Dave Walder is eager for his side to transfer their impressive recent form in the Gallagher Premiership to the EPCR Challenge Cup, where they have lost both matches so far.

The Falcons currently prop up Pool A after a 22-8 loss at Connacht Rugby in Round 1 and a 47-10 home thrashing by Cardiff Rugby in Round 2.

They now travel to Cardiff on Sunday with Walder hopeful his side can build on recent domestic wins over Heineken Championship duo Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers.

He said: “We were disappointed by how the two European games have gone so far, so we feel like we have a point to prove in that competition.

“We’ve had to manage players just with the injury situation the way it has been and our focus has been more on the league.

“Hopefully, this time round we will be able to go a little bit stronger – and we’ll need to because we’re playing against pretty much a full international team with the squad that Cardiff have got.

“We feel like we haven’t given a good account of ourselves in our two opening games and that’s definitely in the back of our minds.”