Dragons Team to face Connacht

Daniel Evans, Will Harries, Pat Leach, Ross Wardle, Hallam Amos, Jason Tovey, Richie Rees, Owen Evans, Sam Parry, Francisco Chaparro, Andrew Coombs (c), Cory Hill, Lewis Evans, Nic Cudd, Toby Faletau.

Replacements

T.Rhys Thomas, Hugh Gustafson, Dan Way, Matthew Screech, Ieuan Jones, Wayne Evans, Steffan Jones, Ashley Smith.

Connacht lineup v Dragons

15. Robbie Henshaw
14. Gavin Duffy
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Dave McSharry
11. Matt Healy
10. Dan Parks
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Nathan White
4. Mick Kearney
5. Craig Clarke (captain)
6. John Muldoon
7. Jake Heenan
8. Eoin McKeon



Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Denis Buckley
18. Rodney Ah You
19. Andrew Browne
20. George Naoupu
21. Paul O’Donohoe
22. Jack Carty
23. Fionn Carr

Unavailable/Injured: Sean Henry, Michael Swift, Ronan Loughney, Willie Faloon, Mata Fifita, Frank Murphy, Craig Ronaldson, Danie Poolman, Tiernan O’Halloran, Miah Nikora, and Kyle Tonetti.

Close to our strongest available XV. Was expecting Lam to rest a few players. ? Muldowney still injured.

I think we've seen this year the depth of talent at the disposal of the Welsh Clubs, even with high profile names leaving wales for foreign contracts they have been able to replace them with talented younger players who have stepped up to the professional rugby game with ease. It's a real concern in Irish Rugby that even though the under age teams collectively do quite well individually they are nowhere near as talented as some of these young welsh and english lads.

For that reason I'm going with a Dragons win, as has been said already they are an improving team the last 12 months.

Dragons are much improved this year. I saw them in a couple of games notably against Scarlets and Leinster at home and they were impressive. They have also won up in Glasgow and performed quite well away to Munster so they have no fear on the road.

Having said that, as I said in the factfile there, they haven't won in Galway since 2004. For me this has to be a win. Toulouse away will live long in everyone's memory but after the initial euphoria I think everyone just wants that to be a stepping stone for the team to perform to potential on a more regular basis and start to get a move on in the league.

Rabo Direct Pro 12 Round 10
Connacht v Newport-Gwent Dragons Saturday 21st December 17.00

Just a week on from a home defeat to a star-studded Toulouse outfit, Connacht will be hoping to prove their away victory to the French giants 6 days previously was the start of a revival rather than yet another false dawn. A much improved Dragons side will prove a tough test buts historically this fixture has been kind to Connacht with Dragons not enjoying victory in the West of Ireland since 2004.

Dragons Stats
Founded: 2003
Ground: Rodney Parade
Capacity: 11,676
Captain: Andrew Coombs
Coach: Darren Edwards

Rabo Direct Pro12 League Position 2013/14: 7th P:9 Pts:19
2012/13: 11th Points:28
European Challenge Cup 2012/13: 3rd in Pool 3 Points: 13
Anglo Welsh Cup 2012/13: 3rd in Pool 1 Points: 8
Anglo Welsh Cup: 2013/14: 2nd in Pool 1 Points: 4

Recent Results
Begles-Bordeaux 32-13 Dragons (European Challenge Cup)
Dragons 40-24 Begles-Bordeaux (European Challenge Cup)
Dragons 14-18 Munster (Rabo Direct Pro 12)

Next Fixture:
Thursday 26th December 2013 17.00 Dragons v Cardiff @ Rodney Parade

Amlin Challenge Cup (Pool 2) (Current Standings)
Bath 18
Dragons 10
Begles-Bordeaux 9
Mogliano 0

Previous Meetings

Saturday 5th January 2013 Rabo Direct Pro 12: Connacht 30-11 Dragons

www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/2494.php

Friday 23rd November 2012 Rabo Direct Pro 12: Dragons 14-3 Connacht

www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/2386.php

Teams haven't been announced yet. I did a mini prep thread of sorts for the next three league games a few days ago.

Pointless observations;
Dragons got well bet in France, so despite being in reasonably healthy league form they're not stellar travellers right now. This will be their second away game in a row which means more air miles which might see them a little worse for wear.

I'd like to see Carty start with parks on the bench. I'd prefer to play Marmion this week then rest him the next but it depends on how sick he has been this week. He deserves a rest but this is the best chance of a win between now and the Zebre Heineken game. Otherwise any other changes should be based on who recovered best from the recent virus.

The latter.

Unusual that a thread hasn't been started on this by now. Hesitance to move on from the triumph against Toulouse? Or fear of a return to our Rabo form?