Newport Dragons v Connacht:IT SEEMED like the end of the world for the home supporters last Friday night, or at any rate the end of their hopes for qualifying for next season's Heineken Cup. But Michael Bradley has attempted to keep some kind of even keel on the prevailing mood, vowing that Connacht will play better and starting this afternoon.
Bradley has recalled Liam Bibo, Niva Ta’auso, Miah Nikora and Conor O’Loughlin, with Frank Murphy – after an unusually awry game – and Ian Keatley making way at half-back. Troy Nathan is moved to the wing at the expense of leading try-scorer Fionn Carr.
Ta’auso’s dynamic ball-carrying and offloading has been badly missed in recent weeks and should sharpen their running game considerably. Much will hinge on how new signing Miah Nikora goes, for it transpires that he had suffered a bang on the head in missing three kicks on his debut against Cardiff.
However, the return of Ta’auso is offset by the loss of Ray Ofisa, who is ruled out through illness, and both of the Samoans must have had a very stressful time given the tragic events on their home island. Johnny O’Connor comes into the backrow.
“We know it will be a tough test against the Dragons but we are anxious to bounce back from last week,” said Bradley yesterday.
They meet an improved Dragons side who made Munster sweat for their bonus point a week ago. Welsh international lock Luke Charteris returns to captain the side following an eye injury while once-capped All Black scrumhalf Danny Lee makes his first start and centre Rhodri Gomer Davies returns from foot surgery for his first Dragons league game of the season. Backrow Hoani MacDonald has also come back from a shoulder injury to take a place on the bench.
Connacht did win here two seasons ago, but that remains the only away win in this fixture over the last five years and 10 fixtures.
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: M Thomas; A Brew, T Riley, R Gomer Davies, R Fussell; J Arlidge, D Lee; H Gustafson, S Jones, G Robinson, A Jones, L Charteris (Capt), D Lydiate, J Harris, J Bearman. Replacements: D Goodfield, N Hall, H MacDonald, L Evans, W Harries, S Connor, W Evans.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; L Bibo, N Ta’auso, K Matthews, T Nathan; M Nikora, C O’Loughlin; R Loughney, S Cronin, J Hagan, M Swift, B Upton, M McCarthy, J O’Connor, J Muldoon (capt). Replacements: D Murphy, B Wilkinson, A Browne, M McComish, F Murphy, I Keatley, A Wynne.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU).
Last three seasons: (06-07) Connacht 16 Dragons 9; Dragons 23 Connacht 0; (07-08) Connahct 22 Dragons 7; Dragons 11 Connacht 13; (08-09) Connacht 39 Dragons 17; Dragons 27 Connacht 14.
FORMGUIDE: Dragons: 23-6 v Ulster (h); 14-23 v Leinster (a); 30-19 v Garryowen (h), Munster 3-27 (a). Connacht: 12-19 v Ospreys (h); 13-62 v Edinburgh (a); 18-16 v Cardiff (h); 6-30 v Ulster (h).
Leading try scorers: Dragons: Aled Brew, Ashley Smith 2 each. Connacht: Fionn Carr 3.
Leading points scorers: Dragons: James Arlidge 27. Connacht: Ian keatley 32.
Betting (Paddy Powers): 1/8 Dragons, 25/1 Draw, 9/2 Connacht. Handicap betting (= Connacht + 12 pts) 10/11 Dragons, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Connacht.
Forecast: Dragons to win.
