After three away Celtic League games on the bounce Newport Gwent Dragons face Celtic League table toppers Ulster at Rodney Parade on Saturday kick off 5.30pm.
The Dragons have made five changes to the team that lost to Leinster last weekend. In the back line centre Jon Bryant takes over from Sione Tuipulotu who moves to the replacements bench. Craig Warlow has recovered from a stomach upset to take his place at fly half after pulling out just before the Leinster game. Replacing Craig was Aled Thomas who made his competitive debut for the Dragons and this week moves to the replacements bench.
In the forwards Adam Black takes over from David Maddocks and in the back row there is a complete reshuffle with Jamie Ringer moving to blindside flanker, Jason Forster back at openside flanker and Richard Bryan at number 8.
“After a tough start to our Celtic League campaign with three away games in a row, it is nice to have a match at Rodney Parade and we are looking to make it a difficult place for teams to come and play,” commented head coach Paul Turner. “It was a tough ask to travel for three away games but I felt we could have got something out of all three. Obviously we did in Glasgow and could have and should have at the Ospreys and against Leinster. What it does show is that we have the make up of a talented squad with a lot of youngsters trying to push their way through. Having watched Ulster over the past couple of seasons and more recently two weeks ago in Cardiff they have threats all over the park. They have been together a while with experienced players in the team and we will be looking to make it a difficult evening for them.”
The Dragons are still without their Lions players Michael Owen and Gareth Cooper while Ceri Sweeney (groin), Richard Fussell (shoulder), Nathan Brew (groin) Peter Sidoli (elbow), Chris Anthony (shoulder) and Bryn Griffiths (foot) are all ruled out with injury. Ceri Sweeney has seen a specialist where it was decided he does not need an operation and if he continues to improve at the rate he is at present should be fit for The Dragons opening Powergen Cup match against Leicester Tigers next Friday night. Ulster sit at the top of the Celtic League and have travelled once already to Wales this season where they recorded a 22-25 victory over the Cardiff Blues, however, The Dragons have a good home record over Ulster a place where the Northern Irishmen have never won.
Dragons Team
Kevin Morgan, Gareth Wyatt, Hal Luscombe, Jon Bryant, Leigh Hinton, Craig Warlow, Gareth Baber, Adam Black, Steve Jones, Rhys Thomas, Ian Gough, Luke Charteris, Jamie Ringer, Jason Forster (c), Richard Bryan. Replacements Andrew Brown, David Maddocks, Andrew Hall, Rhys Oakley, Sione Tuipulotu, Aled Thomas, James Ireland.
Ulster:
Paddy Wallace, Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Kevin Maggs, James Topping, David Humphreys, Kieran Campbell, Justin Fitzpatrick, Rory Best, Simon Best (c), Justin Harrison, Matt McCullough, Neil Best, Neil McMillan, Roger Wilson. Replacements Paul Shields, Bryan Young, Rowan Frost, Campbell Feather, Reece Spee, Shane Stewart, Tyrone Howe.
