After a win and loss in the opening two rounds, Munster now set their sights on the Dragons and picking up back-to-back victories in Wales for the first time since November 2014.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, September 17
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS (7th) v MUNSTER (6th), Rodney Parade, 5.15pm (live Sky Sports 4 HD)
Team News: Director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has named his team for Munster’s GUINNESS PRO12 round 3 encounter with the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.
There are six personnel changes to the side that lost to Cardiff Blues last week, including the reintroduction of Ireland internationals Conor Murray and Keith Earls to the back-line, while two more Test-capped players, Donnacha Ryan and CJ Stander, also make their first starts of the season up front.
The selected team includes a number of new combinations with Jean Kleyn and Ryan packing down in the second row, Murray and Tyler Bleyendaal at half-back, and Dan Goggin and Earls in the centre – all starting alongside each other for the first time.
It is a case of as you were in the front row with James Cronin, hooker Niall Scannell and John Ryan starting together for the third successive round. Last week’s back-three of Ronan O’Mahony, Darren Sweetnam and full-back Andrew Conway remain in place as well.
Captain Billy Holland makes the positional switch to blindside flanker for the trip to Newport, with Jack O’Donoghue moving to the openside as Stander completes the starting pack at number 8.
Colm O’Shea has been named among the replacements and is in line to make his first appearance for the province if sprung from the bench.
A number of players will also take part in Ulster Bank League action today, including Robin Copeland, John Madigan, Darren O’Shea, Alex Wootton, David Johnston, John Andress and Peter McCabe.
Meanwhile, Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones has made five personnel changes and one positional switch to the team that beat Zebre 11-6 last weekend.
Carl Meyer returns to play after recovering from concussion against Ulster, featuring at full-back alongside wingers Hallam Amos and Pat Howard. The centre partnership sees Tyler Morgan retain his position with Jack Dixon also getting the nod. The half-backs, Nick Macleod and Sarel Pretorius, remain unchanged for the third week.
The front row sees two changes made as prop Sam Hobbs is named alongside Brok Harris. Hooker Rhys Buckley joins them in the starting line-up Rhys Thomas continues with his recovery after suffering a sore neck during the Zebre match.
Nick Crosswell and Rynard Landman continue together in the second row, and flanker Ollie Griffiths joins Lewis Evans and Ed Jackson in the back row.
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: Carl Meyer; Pat Howard, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Hallam Amos; Nick Macleod, Sarel Pretorius; Sam Hobbs, Rhys Buckley, Brok Harris, Nick Crosswell, Rynard Landman, Lewis Evans (capt), Ollie Griffiths, Ed Jackson.
Replacements: Darran Harris, Thomas Davies, Craig Mitchell, Cory Hill, James Thomas, Charlie Davies, Angus O’Brien, Adam Warren.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Keith Earls, Dan Goggin, Ronan O’Mahony; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Duncan Casey, Dave Kilcoyne, Brian Scott, Dave O’Callaghan, Conor Oliver, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Colm O’Shea.
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Claudio Blessano (Italy), Rob Price (Wales)
Television Match Official: Stefano Penne (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Newport Gwent Dragons to win: 13/5; Draw: 22/1; Munster to win: 1/3
Pre-Match Quotes: Andrew Conway (Munster) – “The Dragons cause problems to most team in competitions. They might lose a few away games when they don’t turn up or they might be missing a few internationals and that costs them.
“They’ve got Hallam Amos, Tyler Morgan who is now 13 for Wales, who is a really good player. When they lose that core group they struggle a small bit.
“When they’ve got them around, they really target the games the lads are playing in. Playing them at the start of the year is a good opportunity to play against a really good team.”
Shaun Connor (Newport Gwent Dragons) – “Munster have changed the way they defend and you can see that they have a South African in charge because they are very well structured and organised.
“They are the lowest passing team in the league in the first two games and probably the highest for kicks – their game is about putting pressure on and playing in the right areas.
“It’s effective for them and they try to get you in your half and squeeze you. We saw from the Scarlets game that when they get into your 22 they are very powerful and effective.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Newport Gwent Dragons – Points: Pat Howard 10; Tries: Pat Howard 2; Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 16; Tries: James Cronin, Ronan O’Mahony, Andrew Conway, Dave Kilcoyne 1 each
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Newport Gwent Dragons – Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, 4 Points; L 29-8 v Ulster (away), W 11-6 v Zebre (home); Munster – Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, 5 Points; W 23-13 v Scarlets (away), L 24-23 v Cardiff Blues (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, September 28, 2013 – Munster 23 Newport Gwent Dragons 9, Musgrave Park
Friday, November 29, 2013 – Newport Gwent Dragons 14 Munster 18, Rodney Parade
Friday, November 21, 2014 – Newport Gwent Dragons 12 Munster 38, Rodney Parade
Saturday, May 16, 2015 – Munster 50 Newport Gwent Dragons 27, Irish Independent Park
Sunday, December 6, 2015 – Newport Gwent Dragons 22 Munster 6, Rodney Parade
Saturday, March 5, 2016 – Munster 26 Newport Gwent Dragons 5, Thomond Park
MATCH FACTS:
– The Newport Gwent Dragons’ long unwanted winless run in the GUINNESS PRO12 ended with their 11-6 victory over Zebre at Rodney Parade last Friday
– The Dragons have not beaten an Irish province since a 23-13 triumph at home to Leinster last January
– Munster’s three-match winning run in the PRO12 was halted by Cardiff Blues in Cork last Friday evening
– The Munstermen were victorious at the Scarlets in round 1 but have not won successive matches in Wales since November 2014
– Munster have lost just one of their last six fixtures against the Dragons: 22-6 at Rodney Parade in this equivalent fixture last season
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