GUINNESS PRO12 Preview: Newport Gwent Dragons v Leinster

Having climbed above the Ospreys into second place, Leinster are looking to push on by completing a first season’s double over the Newport Gwent Dragons since the 2013/14 campaign.

GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, February 24

NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS (10th) v LEINSTER (2nd), Rodney Parade, 7.30pm

Team News: There is a welcome return to the Leinster team for Ireland internationals Fergus McFadden and Rhys Ruddock, while Carlow youngster Ed Byrne is also in line to make his long-awaited return after over two years out through injury.

Last Friday’s bonus point win over Edinburgh saw Leinster finish the game with 14 fit players, so it is no surprise to see Leo Cullen make four changes in the backs – plus two positional switches – and a further four changes in the pack.

Joey Carbery will make his first start at full-back for Leinster but the Athy native has played there a number of times during matches already this season – most recently against Benetton Treviso and Edinburgh.

Adam Byrne starts on the right wing, looking to add to his tally of nine tries in all competitions this season. On the left wing McFadden is back for his first appearance since October’s encounter with Cardiff Blues. Injury has restricted the Kildare man to only two games in total all season.

There is a new centre combination this week with Noel Reid and Zane Kirchner donning the number 12 and 13 jerseys respectively. A day after his 25th birthday, Jamison Gibson Park picks up cap number 21 at scrum half, with UCD’s Ross Byrne completing the half-back pairing.

Up front, Peter Dooley again lines up at loosehead prop with Richardt Strauss back to captain the side from hooker and Michael Bent featuring at tighthead for his 80th Leinster cap.

It is as you were in the second row with Ross Molony and Mike McCarthy joining forces, while Ruddock returns from a quad injury to start at blindside flanker. Meath man Peadar Timmins will make his first start for Leinster at openside having made five appearances off the bench to date, with Jack Conan continuing at number 8.

On the bench for the trip to Wales is young prop Ed Byrne who has made a remarkable recovery from two knee injuries. He has not played a competitive senior game for Leinster in nearly 28 months having suffered two knee injuries against Edinburgh in the PRO12 (October 2014) and then against Ulster in a pre-season friendly nearly a year later during his comeback match (August 2015)

Lansdowne’s Max Deegan is hoping to win his second cap off the bench, while St. Mary’s ace Cathal Marsh is in a senior matchday squad for the first time since recovering from a hand injury.

The Dragons v Leinster clash is not being broadcast on TV or radio, so the Leinster Rugby social media platforms will be the best source for up-to-date match information.

Meanwhile, following last Saturday’s hard-fought 14-9 defeat at Connacht, Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones has made two changes to the region’s starting line-up.

Full-back Carl Meyer returns to the back-three alongside wingers Adam Hughes and Pat Howard, and the 22-year-old Jack Dixon, who recently made appearances for Welsh Premiership side Bedwas, joins Tyler Morgan in the centre.

The pack, led by number 8 and captain Lewis Evans, is unchanged while the three new inclusions on the bench are Rhys Buckley, Matthew Screech and Adam Warren.

NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: Carl Meyer; Adam Hughes, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Pat Howard; Dorian Jones, Tavis Knoyle; Sam Hobbs, Elliot Dee, Brok Harris, Nick Crosswell, Rynard Landman, Ollie Griffiths, Nic Cudd, Lewis Evans (capt).

Replacements; Rhys Buckley, Thomas Davies, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Harrison Keddie, Sarel Pretorius, Angus O’Brien, Adam Warren.

LEINSTER: Joey Carbery; Adam Byrne, Zane Kirchner, Noel Reid, Fergus McFadden; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson Park; Peter Dooley, Richardt Strauss (capt), Michael Bent, Ross Molony, Mike McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock, Peadar Timmins, Jack Conan.

Replacements: James Tracy, Ed Byrne, Mike Ross, Hayden Triggs, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Cathal Marsh, Barry Daly.

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Claudio Blessano (Italy), Robert Price (Wales)

Match Odds (Paddy Power): Newport Gwent Dragons to win: 23/10; Draw: 25/1; Leinster to win: 1/3

Pre-Match Quotes: Ed Byrne (Leinster) – “I can’t speak highly enough of all my family really but (my brother) Bryan has gone above and beyond. There were bad days and he just knew what was needed. A small gesture sometimes.

“I think it says a lot for the quality of the province actually, how they look after their injured players. That goes for staff, coaches, players, whatever. Sometimes it’s a little pat on the back, a text here and there, going for a coffee. Little things that keep you going.

“Mick Kearney, Jack Conan, Sean O’Brien, Dave Kearney…and not just those lads but they’ve been through the injury mill too lately and they’ve been massively supportive. Being injured is the worst part of being a player but if you have lads around you that can empathise it can make it easier, but in Leinster that applies to everyone. They all row in behind you.

“I’m under no illusions about where I’m at and the lads have done really well so I can only do my best now in training and put the hand up. We have to keep driving on and keep the pressure on the Ospreys and on Munster (in the PRO12).

“We can’t afford to slip up in these games (during the Six Nations) to give ourselves the best chance possible of that top two finish. So we all know what’s ahead but we are all ready for that challenge.”

Jack Dixon (Newport Gwent Dragons) – “I’ve had a few good performances and some I’ve been a bit frustrated with. I feel like I’m picking up a bit of form again and looking forward to the weekend.

“Where I am now, I just want to get as much game time with the Dragons as I can and put in some good performances, and then reassess at the end of the season.

“Whoever Leinster put out they are a quality team. It’s going to be a big challenge but we’re looking forward to it. We’ve got a good home record this season and we’re confident on our own patch.

“Results haven’t really gone our way the last couple of weeks but we’re still confident. Leinster are coming over and we’re looking to put in a big performance.”

2016/17 TEAM FORM: Newport Gwent Dragons – Played 15, Won 4, Lost 11, 20 Points; L 29-8 v Ulster (away), W 11-6 v Zebre (home), L 20-16 v Munster (home), L 27-11 v Benetton Treviso (away), L 26-17 v Glasgow Warriors (home), L 31-27 v Scarlets (away), L 35-17 v Ospreys (away), W 21-16 v Connacht (home), W 27-19 v Edinburgh (home), L 28-15 v Leinster (away), L 27-16 v Cardiff Blues (away), L 10-0 v Ospreys (home), Won 26-8 v Benetton Treviso (home), L 45-17 v Munster (away), L 14-9 v Connacht (away); Leinster – Played 15, Won 12, Lost 3, 56 Points; W 20-8 v Benetton Treviso (home), L 33-25 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 33-20 v Edinburgh (away), W 31-19 v Ospreys (home), W 16-13 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 25-14 v Munster (home), W 24-13 v Connacht (home), W 33-10 v Zebre (away), L 38-29 v Scarlets (away), W 28-15 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), L 29-17 v Munster (away), W 22-7 v Ulster (home), W 70-6 v Zebre (home), W 40-14 v Benetton Treviso (away), W 39-10 v Edinburgh (home)

RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:

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
Saturday, October 3, 2015 – Leinster 37 Newport Gwent Dragons 13, the RDS
Friday, January 29, 2016 – Newport Gwent Dragons 23 Leinster 13, Rodney Parade
Saturday, December 3, 2016 – Leinster 28 Newport Gwent Dragons 15, the RDS

MATCH FACTS:

– The Newport Gwent Dragons have won just once in the last six rounds of the GUINNESS PRO12: 26-8 at home to Benetton Treviso on January 6

– The Dragons’ only defeat at Rodney Parade in the PRO12 since September came when the Ospreys were the visitors on January 1

– Leinster are the top try-scoring team in the PRO12 with 61 and have lost just once in any competition since November: 29-17 at Munster in the PRO12 on December 26

– The Leinstermen have won on three of their last five visits to Wales

– The last four meetings between the two teams have all been won by the home side on the day, while Leinster are going for a first season’s double over the Dragons since 2013/14