A repeat of last year’s 24-8 win at Rodney Parade would be just the ticket for Connacht as they make the return trip, hoping to beat the Dragons and maintain their presence in the top half of the GUINNESS PRO12.
GUINNESS PRO12: Sunday, February 22
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS (10th) v CONNACHT (7th), Rodney Parade, 4pm (live S4C/Galway Bay FM/deferred coverage TG4)
Team News: Head coach Pat Lam has made three personnel changes to his Connacht side that will face the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Sunday.
On his return from injury, Craig Ronaldson has been named to start at inside centre while Dave McSharry moves outside him and Danie Poolman switches to the right wing.
In the absence of the injured Kieran Marmion, scrum half John Cooney will partner Jack Carty at half-back.
There is just one change to the pack with George Naoupu making way for Eoghan Masterson at number 8. It will be the 21-year-old’s first start of the season.
Changes to the bench include the incoming Shane Delahunt, Finlay Bealham and Michael Kearney.
Meanwhile, prop Boris Stankovich will return to the Dragons team after recovering fully from an injury he sustained during November’s LV= Cup victory win over the Ospreys at Bridgend.
The 34-year-old is the only change to the team that defeated last year’s PRO12 winners Leinster, 16-14, at the RDS last weekend.
Full-back Jason Tovey retains his place in the back-three alongside wingers Tom Prydie and Hallam Amos, who was released from Wales camp this week to feature for the men of Gwent.
The centre pairing of Pat Leach and Jack Dixon also stays the same, as well as the half-back partnership of Dorian Jones and scrum half Jonathan Evans.
Loosehead Stankovich gets the nod to start and is joined by fellow prop Brok Harris and hooker Rhys Thomas. The second row pairing of Andrew Coombs and captain Rynard Landman remains in place, along with an unchanged back row of flankers James Thomas and Nic Cudd and number 8 Nick Crosswell.
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: Jason Tovey; Tom Prydie, Pat Leach, Jack Dixon, Hallam Amos; Dorian Jones, Jonathan Evans; Boris Stankovich, Rhys Thomas, Brok Harris, Andrew Coombs, Rynard Landman (capt), James Thomas, Nic Cudd, Nick Crosswell.
Replacements: Rhys Buckley, Phil Price, Dan Way, Ian Gough, James Benjamin, Richie Rees, Ashley Smith, Matthew Pewtner.
CONNACHT: Darragh Leader; Danie Poolman, Dave McSharry, Craig Ronaldson, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, John Cooney; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Nathan White, Quinn Roux, Aly Muldowney, John Muldoon (capt), Jake Heenan, Eoghan Masterson.
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Rodney Ah You, Finlay Bealham, Michael Kearney, George Naoupu, Ian Porter, Niyi Adeolokun, Tiernan O’Halloran.
Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Rhys Thomas, Sean Brickell (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Newport Gwent Dragons to win: 4/7; Draw: 16/1; Connacht to win: 7/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Pat Lam (Connacht) – “Despite last week’s defeat to the Scarlets, we remain in sixth place and a top six finish is still in our hands. However, we no longer have that safety net and the outcome of Sunday’s game is important for both sides.
“The Dragons will be brimming with confidence on their home patch after a big win (over Leinster) last week and we know the challenge we face.
“The guys worked extremely hard in what was a tough week’s training but that work needs to be reflected in 80 minutes of team work on the field on Sunday.”
Kingsley Jones (Newport Gwent Dragons) – “It’s fantastic that we got a win against the champions (Leinster) last weekend. I thought that we deserved the win.
“The real challenge for us is at Rodney Parade, we haven’t performed as well as we would’ve liked to have done there.
“Connacht are a very good team and a very serious outfit. I thought that they performed well for large periods of time against the Scarlets but still lost and they will be coming down to Wales again looking for a victory.”
Top Scorers – 2014/15 GUINNESS PRO12: Newport Gwent Dragons – Points: Tom Prydie 49; Tries: Richie Rees, Hallam Amos 3 each; Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 41; Tries: Kieran Marmion 3
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, March 30, 2012 – Newport Gwent Dragons 19 Connacht 27, Rodney Parade
Friday, November 23, 2012 – Newport Gwent Dragons 14 Connacht 3, Rodney Parade
Saturday, January 5, 2013 – Connacht 30 Newport Gwent Dragons 11, the Sportsground
Saturday, December 21, 2013 – Connacht 14 Newport Gwent Dragons 11, the Sportsground
Sunday, March 23, 2014 – Newport Gwent Dragons 8 Connacht 24, Rodney Parade
Saturday, September 6, 2014 – Connacht 16 Newport Gwent Dragons 11, the Sportsground
MATCH FACTS:
– The Newport Gwent Dragons’ only defeat in their last five fixtures in all competitions was 37-32 at home to Exeter Chiefs in the LV= Cup on February 1
– The Dragons have won just two of their last six home games in the GUINNESS PRO12 and have not beaten an Irish province at Rodney Parade since lowering the colours of Ulster in September 2013
– The Dragons did, however, end Leinster’s 21-game unbeaten run at the RDS in the PRO12 with their
victory last Sunday
– Connacht’s only win in their last five PRO12 matches was 24-16 over Munster in Galway on New Year’s
Day
– The westerners have not won away from home in the league since they visited Benetton Treviso on October 10
– Connacht have lost on their last four visits to Wales since winning this equivalent fixture at Rodney Parade last year
– The Dragons’ only victory in their last seven encounters with Connacht was 14-3 in Newport on November 23, 2012. Connacht have won on two of their last three visits to Rodney Parade
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