Ulster entertain Welsh opposition for the second week running, with director of rugby Les Kiss looking for his side to build on last Friday’s encouraging win over the Scarlets. “I don’t think it was a 10-out-of-10 from us but it’s a sign that we’re on the right track. It’s a good marker but there are work-ons,” he said, ahead of the visit of the Dragons.
GUINNESS PRO14: Friday, September 22
ULSTER (2nd, Con B) v DRAGONS (6th, Con B), Kingspan Stadium, 7.35pm (live BBC 2 Northern Ireland)
Team News: Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss has named his team for Friday night’s GUINNESS PRO14 clash with the Dragons at Kingspan Stadium.
Nick Timoney will make his first appearance of the season after being named at number 8, as in-form Ulster aim to make it four consecutive wins in the PRO14. Iain Henderson, who impressed on the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, is also set to play his first game of the campaign for the province after being named on the bench.
Timoney, who is a member of the Abbey Insurance Ulster Academy and featured prominently for the Ireland Sevens squad during the summer as they qualified for next year’s World Cup, will join Clive Ross and captain Chris Henry in the back row.
Tighthead Rodney Ah You and lock Robbie Diack are introduced to the front five alongside Kyle McCall, Rob Herring and Alan O’Connor, who produced a robust performance in last Friday’s encouraging home win over the Scarlets.
Darren Cave will make his first start of the season and will combine in midfield with last week’s man-of-the-match, Stuart McCloskey. Paul Marshall and Peter Nelson will form the half-back partnership.
Jacob Stockdale is retained on the left wing, with Tommy Bowe selected on the opposite flank, while Kiwi star Charles Piutau has recovered from a hamstring injury to take his place at full-back.
The Ballymena trio of John Andrew, Andrew Warwick and Matthew Rea will provide forward cover along with Henderson and Wiehahn Herbst. David Shanahan will offer a scrum half option from the bench, while Brett Herron and Robert Lyttle could make their seasonal debuts after being named among the replacements.
Tickets for the round 4 fixture between Ulster and Bernard Jackman’s Dragons – including in the Grandstand – are available from ulsterrugby.com/buytickets.
Meanwhile, following last week’s 21-8 win at home to Connacht, Dragons boss Jackman has made wholesale changes to his starting XV, with alterations in both the back-line and the forwards.
The selected back-three sees the return of Carl Meyer at full-back with Adam Hughes and youngster George Gasson on the wings. Newly-signed American centre Thretton Palamo will makes his debut for the Dragons, partnering the experienced Pat Howard in midfield.
The front row have all been promoted from the bench as props Thomas Davies and Lloyd Fairbrother are named alongside hooker Gerard Ellis. The second row sees Matthew Screech get the nod, pairing up with Rynard Landman, while Max Williams and Robson Blake get their first starts for the region a back row led by flanker and captain Ollie Griffiths.
Cardiff Blues scrum half Dane Blacker comes onto the bench for the Dragons after signing a short-term loan with Jackman’s side. The youngster has caps for the Wales Under-18s as well as starring for the Blues during the Singha Sevens tournament in 2016. He is joined among the replacements by Joe Davies and Dragons Academy prospect Lennon Greggains, who are also poised to make their PRO14 debuts.
ULSTER: Charles Piutau; Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Peter Nelson, Paul Marshall; Kyle McCall, Rob Herring, Rodney Ah You, Robbie Diack, Alan O’Connor, Clive Ross, Chris Henry (capt), Nick Timoney.
Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Wiehahn Herbst, Iain Henderson, Matthew Rea, David Shanahan, Brett Herron, Robert Lyttle.
DRAGONS: Carl Meyer; Adam Hughes, Thretton Palamo, Pat Howard, George Gasson; Dorian Jones, Owain Leonard; Thomas Davies, Gerard Ellis, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Rynard Landman, Max Williams, Ollie Griffiths (capt), Robson Blake.
Replacements: Rhys Buckley, Phil Price, Brok Harris, Joe Davies, Lennon Greggains, Dane Blacker, Angus O’Brien, Will Talbot-Davies.
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Ian Davies, Adam Jones (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Jon Mason (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ulster to win: 1/25; Draw: 50/1; Dragons to win: 13/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Wiehahn Herbst (Ulster) – “It’s good for us to go up against good opposition (like the Scarlets). That’s how you test yourself. Of course it’s good to get a victory like that. It was a really tight first half and for us to finish the game like that was really pleasing.
“But we’re not getting carried away, it’s the third game of the season and there are a lot of games to play. We have to work hard and improve week by week.
“We had a really good pre-season together and we worked through all the combinations. That’s really important, especially for a front row. It’s brilliant so far with Jono (Gibbes) and Aaron (Dundon). I really enjoy what they’re bringing to Ulster. It’s really good to get a fresh insight. It’s growing each week and hopefully that will continue.
“We respect the Dragons, they’re always a tough side. We have to do our basics and ensure are skills are up to scratch. There’s depth in their squad so we know it’s going to be difficult no matter who they send over to play. We focus on ourselves.”
Bernard Jackman (Dragons) – “We need to be consistent as a region and as individuals, and it’s my job as head coach to drive that consistency. We have changed the team up, if you look at the squad for the first three games it’s been pretty much the same group, bar a few injuries.
“At this stage in the season as a new coach and having new coaching staff, we need to be able to give everybody a fair opportunity. We did give 62 players an opportunity in pre-season and now they are going to get a chance to play in a PRO14 game and at a very tough place, and to go against a very good side we will find a lot out about them.
“We’ll have more experience in our squad on Friday night than we had against Connacht in terms of pro games played, but obviously they have to get up to speed quickly.”
Top Scorers – 2017/18 GUINNESS PRO14: Ulster – Points: John Cooney 28; Tries: Andrew Trimble, Jacob Stockdale 2 each; Dragons – Points: Gavin Henson 38; Tries: Hallam Amos, Elliot Dee 1 each
2017/18 TEAM FORM: Ulster – Played 3, Won 3, 13 Points; W 42-19 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), W 21-14 v Benetton Rugby (away), W 27-20 v Scarlets (home); Dragons – Played 3, Won 1, Lost 2, 4 Points; L 39-16 v Leinster (home), L 35-18 v Edinburgh (away), W 21-8 v Connacht (home)
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Saturday, November 1, 2014 – Ulster 23 Dragons 6, Kingspan Stadium
Saturday, March 8, 2015 – Dragons 26 Ulster 22, Rodney Parade
Sunday, November 8, 2015 – Dragons 12 Ulster 19, Rodney Parade
Friday, February 5, 2016 – Ulster 17 Dragons 15, Kingspan Stadium
Friday, September 2, 2016 – Ulster 29 Dragons 8, Kingspan Stadium
Friday, March 24, 2017 – Dragons 17 Ulster 27, Rodney Parade
MATCH FACTS:
– Ulster are one of only four sides in the GUINNESS PRO14 who have begun the season with three straight victories
– The Ulstermen have not lost in the Championship since a visit to the Ospreys in late April
– Ulster are unbeaten in their last nine PRO14 fixtures played in Belfast: a sequence that includes a 24-all draw with Cardiff Blues in round 19 last season
– The Dragons were the only Welsh region to emerge victorious during round 3 when they beat Connacht 21-8 in Newport to end a 14-match losing streak in all competitions
– The Dragons have not won away from home since a visit to Gloucester in the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup in April 2016, while their most recent triumph on the road in the PRO14 was in Treviso in March 2015
– Ulster have won their last four clashes with the Dragons since the Welsh region’s 26-22 victory at Rodney Parade in March 2015
– The Dragons have not beaten Ulster in Belfast since September 2008
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