Leo Cullen’s Leinster host Welsh opponents for the second successive round in the GUINNESS PRO12 as the Newport Gwen Dragons come calling.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, October 3
LEINSTER (9th) v NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS (8th), the RDS, 2.30pm (live TG4)
Team News: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made two changes to the team that defeated Cardiff Blues 23-15 at the RDS last time out.
Lining out at tighthead prop, Martin Moore returns from injury for his first game since last April’s European Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon, while Isaac Boss makes his first start of the campaign at scrum half having come off the bench against Edinburgh and Cardiff.
The rest of Leinster’s starting line-up is unchanged with a back-three of Isa Nacewa, who also captains the side, and wingers Fergus McFadden and Garry Ringrose (pictured below). Noel Reid and Ben Te’o once again form the centre partnership with the aforementioned Boss partnering Cathal Marsh at half-back.
Michael Bent starts at loosehead prop, with Aaron Dundon at hooker and Moore (pictured below) on the other side of the scrum. In the second row Ross Molony makes only his second ever RDS start, with the vastly experienced Mike McCarthy beside him for his 54th Leinster appearance and 294th cap in professional club rugby.
In the back row, Ireland internationals Dominic Ryan and Jack Conan are once again joined by Josh van der Flier, who starts at openside following his man-of-the-match display against Cardiff.
James Tracy and Rhys Ruddock are included in a matchday squad for the first time this season. Ruddock is poised to make his first appearance for Leinster since last March when he played 80 minutes against the Scarlets.
Tickets for Saturday’s game are on sale from ticketmaster.ie and will be available from the ticket office on the Anglesea Road gate from 1pm.
Meanwhile, South African second row Rynard Landman will take on the role of captain for the Newport Gwent Dragons as they resume their PRO12 campaign in Dublin.
The men of Gwent travel to the RDS with high hopes having done the double over Leinster last season. Landman will lead the Welsh side after two weeks of training and preparations since their 13-0 win against Zebre at Rodney Parade.
Full-back Carl Meyer joins wingers Ashton Hewitt and Tom Prydie in the back-three. The centre pairing sees Ross Wardle and Adam Warren retain their positions, with Jason Tovey and Sarel Pretorius continuing at half-back.
One change in the front row sees hooker Hugh Gustafson selected alongside props Boris Stankovich and Brok Harris, and Nick Crosswell comes in to join skipper Landman in the second row. James Thomas and James Benjamin have been drafted into a back row completed by number 8 Ed Jackson.
LEINSTER: Isa Nacewa (capt); Fergus McFadden, Ben Te’o, Noel Reid, Garry Ringrose; Cathal Marsh, Isaac Boss; Michael Bent, Aaron Dundon, Martin Moore, Ross Molony, Mike McCarthy, Dominic Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: James Tracy, Peter Dooley, Jamie Hagan, Rhys Ruddock, Dan Leavy, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Cian Kelleher.
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: Carl Meyer; Ashton Hewitt, Ross Wardle, Adam Warren, Tom Prydie; Jason Tovey, Sarel Pretorius; Boris Stankovich, Hugh Gustafson, Brok Harris, Nick Crosswell, Rynard Landman (capt), James Thomas, James Benjamin, Ed Jackson.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Phil Price, Shaun Knight, Matthew Screech, Nic Cudd, Luc Jones, Angus O’Brien, Aled Brew.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Eddie Hogan O’Connell, Shane Kierans (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Jude Quinn (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Leinster to win: 2/9; Draw: 19/1; Newport Gwent Dragons to win: 7/2
Pre-Match Quotes: Dominic Ryan (Leinster) – “We have more respect for the Dragons. You also have a bit more venom in that you want to owe them one having been beaten twice by them last season.
“The home game hurt quite a bit. We pride ourselves on winning at the RDS and we lost to the Dragons, who at the time were quite far below us.
“Come the end of the season in a game like that, when you’re trying to get into the top four, it could have been the difference especially when you lose by a point.
“I think our set piece, our lineout and scrum need to be good, as the Dragons have a good scrum when they get it right. I think from the first two rounds of the PRO12, we need to get our discipline right. We gave Cardiff 15 points and Edinburgh as well, so we’re going to focus big time on it.”
Rynard Landman (Newport Gwent Dragons) – “Nick Crosswell got a yellow card in the first few minutes (against Leinster) last year, and I thought we couldn’t possibly play with 14 men against them. But we turned things around, our kicking game was great, we left nothing on the pitch, and got the win.
“They won’t underestimate us this time, but I think that was the same when they came to Rodney Parade with an even better side than in Dublin and we won again.
“We know it will be a tough game and they will have a strong side even though they are affected by World Cup call-ups. They’ve got depth and a big budget, but last season gives us confidence.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Leinster – Points: Isa Nacewa 22; Tries: Jack Conan 1; Newport Gwent Dragons – Points: Jason Tovey 18; Tries: James Thomas, Sarel Pretorius, Ed Jackson 1 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, September 8, 2012 – Leinster 45 Newport Gwent Dragons 25, the RDS
Friday, March 1, 2013 – Newport Gwent Dragons 19 Leinster 26, Rodney Parade
Friday, November 1, 2013 – Newport Gwent Dragons 19 Leinster 23, Rodney Parade
Friday, February 14, 2014 – Leinster 31 Newport Gwent Dragons 19, the RDS
Sunday, February 15, 2015 – Leinster 14 Newport Gwent Dragons 16, the RDS
Sunday, April 12, 2015 – Newport Gwent Dragons 25 Leinster 22, Rodney Parade
MATCH FACTS:
– Leinster’s only defeat in their last four GUINNESS PRO12 matches was 16-9 to Edinburgh at Meggetland in round 1
– The Leinstermen have lost only one home game in any competition since this weekend last year: 16-14 to the Dragons at the RDS in February
– The Newport Gwent Dragons began the new season by gaining a losing bonus point in Connacht, and then achieving a 13-0 victory over Zebre at Rodney Parade in round 2
– The Dragons have not won on the road since thy visited Treviso in March, while that victory at the RDS last season represents their only win away at any Irish province since September 2008
– The Dragons achieved their first ever season’s double over Leinster last season
This website uses cookies.
Read More