Ulster to finally fire against Dragons

Ulster v DragonsTHE MORE elusive the first win, the longer Matt Williams is going to feel the pressure. Dragons at home for the traditional fiery Friday night fare in Belfast is probably a good place to start the Ulster renaissance.

Still, Williams has made three changes from the team that lost by a point last week. Paddy Wallace and David Pollack are ruled out because of injury, with Niall O'Connor moving to outhalf and veteran Kieron Dawson covering for Pollack at openside flanker.

Tom Court also makes a start at loosehead prop with Justin Fitzpatrick reverting to the bench.

Earlier in the week captain Rory Best remarked about how disappointed and angry Williams was and stated that what was said in the dressingroom afterwards would stay there.

The implication was some home truths were aired.

Dragons will also be smarting from their pasting by Munster last week and have not won on the road since January of last season.

To add to their woes, their last win at what was once the Ravenhill fortress was back in 2004.

"I know my team can win this game. We played some great rugby on Friday in Cardiff and the players' effort was spot on," said Williams.

"If we can repeat that effort and style of rugby and control our penalty count then I am confident we can beat the Dragons," he added.

He's not alone in thinking that and with greater discipline, Ulster surely have the quality to finally get off the mark.

ULSTER: C Schifcofske: A Trimble, D Cave, R Dewey, T Nagusa; N O'Connor, I Boss; T Court, R Best (capt), BJ Botha, R Caldwell, E O'Donoghue, M McCullough, K Dawson, R Diak. Replacements: N Brady, J Fitzpatrick, C Del Fava, T Anderson, C Willis, I Humphreys, B Cunningham.

DRAGONS: P Dollman, G Wyatt, R Sidey, A Smith, R Fussell; J Arlidge, W Evans; A Black, T Willis (capt), RM Thomas, A Jones, L Charteris, J Bearman, R Parks, G Webb. Replacements: S Jones, H Gustafson, A Brown, J Ringer, R Gomer Davies, J Tovey, T Isaacs.

Betting: To win Ulster 1-8; Dragons 9-2. Draw 25-1.

Referee: A Macpherson (Scotland).

Verdict: Home win.