Newport Gwent Dragons travel to Kingston Park on Saturday buoyed by securing a draw against current Heineken Cup Champions London Wasps last weekend and are aiming to go one better against Newcastle.
“Saturday’s game was a real battle,” commented Dragons openside flanker Richard Parks. “It may not have been pretty but I think the spirit of The Dragons – grit, determination and hard work really shone through and while we would have liked the win we were pleased to have secured the draw. We now turn our attention towards Newcastle and are expecting another physical game. They drew with Gloucester last weekend leaving the pool wide open and on their home patch will be looking to secure a win to go top of the group. However, we travel with confidence, we have won away at Stradey Park and Murrayfield this season and are not daunted by having to travel away. The game will also prepare us for what awaits next week with what is probably one of the hardest away trips of them all, the Stade Amie Giral in Perpignan but that is next week and this week we are just concentrating on getting a result in the EDF Energy Cup.”
The Dragons have made a total of nine changes for the trip to Newcastle, four in the backs and five in the pack. Paul Emerick makes his first start of the season on the right wing in place of Gareth Wyatt, Gareth Maule comes in for Ashley Smith in mid field while Aled Thomas replaces Ceri Sweeney at fly half. Scrum half Andy Williams has recovered from his knee injury and replaces Wayne Evans.
Among the forwards, Hugh Gustafson makes his third start of the season in place of Adam Black while Ben Daly starts at hooker in place of Steve Jones. There is a new second row partnership with Andy Hall and Peter Sidoli replacing Luke Charteris and Michael Owen with Owen moving to No.8. Joe Bearman replaces Dan Lydiate at blindside flanker with skipper Colin Charvis moving from No.8 to openside flanker in place of Richard Parks.
Among the replacements Kieran Crawford is included in the match day 22 for the first time this season as are Jamie Corsi who has recovered from his back injury and Lewis Evans.
Speaking on the changes Head Coach Paul Turner said, “We have an intensive couple of weeks and we need to keep the squad fresh. It was a real physical performance on Saturday and conditions were difficult. We have a very competitive squad and some need game time. The side picked for the game against Newcastle looks a very good side and one capable of getting a result providing we are accurate in everything we do.”
Newcastle Falcons are in joint top spot in EDF Energy Cup pool A with Gloucester in this closest of all groups which produced two drawn games last weekend. The Falcons are unbeaten in their last three EDF Energy Cup matches since losing 5-28 at Sale in September 2006.
Newport Gwent Dragons are undefeated since Munster beat them 26-16 in the Magners League at Rodney Parade on 28 September. The Dragons have never won an away game in the EDF Energy Cup.
The two sides have met on two previous occasions in the 2004-05 European Cup with Newcastle winning both encounters: 10-6 at Rodney Parade and 25-17 at Kingston Park.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s game Aled Thomas said, “On a personal note I am relishing the trip north to Newcastle and playing against what is a very talented side. They have a number of promising youngsters in their team and an exciting backline. Up front they are very physical and it will be a real test for us. The group is still wide open with all four sides locked on two points making this weekend’s round of results crucial and we are aiming to get the win to put us in the position of qualifying for the semi final stages.”
Dragons Team
Martyn Thomas, Paul Emerick, Rhodri Gomer-Davies, Gareth Maule, Richard Mustoe, Aled Thomas, Andrew Williams, Hugh Gustafson, Ben Daly, Rhys Thomas, Andrew Hall, Peter Sidoli, Joe Bearman, Colin Charvis (c), Michael Owen.
Replacements
Kieran Crawford, Adam Black, Jamie Corsi, Lewis Evans, Richard Parks, Ceri Sweeney, Wayne Evans.
“Saturday’s game was a real battle,” commented Dragons openside flanker Richard Parks. “It may not have been pretty but I think the spirit of The Dragons – grit, determination and hard work really shone through and while we would have liked the win we were pleased to have secured the draw. We now turn our attention towards Newcastle and are expecting another physical game. They drew with Gloucester last weekend leaving the pool wide open and on their home patch will be looking to secure a win to go top of the group. However, we travel with confidence, we have won away at Stradey Park and Murrayfield this season and are not daunted by having to travel away. The game will also prepare us for what awaits next week with what is probably one of the hardest away trips of them all, the Stade Amie Giral in Perpignan but that is next week and this week we are just concentrating on getting a result in the EDF Energy Cup.”
The Dragons have made a total of nine changes for the trip to Newcastle, four in the backs and five in the pack. Paul Emerick makes his first start of the season on the right wing in place of Gareth Wyatt, Gareth Maule comes in for Ashley Smith in mid field while Aled Thomas replaces Ceri Sweeney at fly half. Scrum half Andy Williams has recovered from his knee injury and replaces Wayne Evans.
Among the forwards, Hugh Gustafson makes his third start of the season in place of Adam Black while Ben Daly starts at hooker in place of Steve Jones. There is a new second row partnership with Andy Hall and Peter Sidoli replacing Luke Charteris and Michael Owen with Owen moving to No.8. Joe Bearman replaces Dan Lydiate at blindside flanker with skipper Colin Charvis moving from No.8 to openside flanker in place of Richard Parks.
Among the replacements Kieran Crawford is included in the match day 22 for the first time this season as are Jamie Corsi who has recovered from his back injury and Lewis Evans.
Speaking on the changes Head Coach Paul Turner said, “We have an intensive couple of weeks and we need to keep the squad fresh. It was a real physical performance on Saturday and conditions were difficult. We have a very competitive squad and some need game time. The side picked for the game against Newcastle looks a very good side and one capable of getting a result providing we are accurate in everything we do.”
Newcastle Falcons are in joint top spot in EDF Energy Cup pool A with Gloucester in this closest of all groups which produced two drawn games last weekend. The Falcons are unbeaten in their last three EDF Energy Cup matches since losing 5-28 at Sale in September 2006.
Newport Gwent Dragons are undefeated since Munster beat them 26-16 in the Magners League at Rodney Parade on 28 September. The Dragons have never won an away game in the EDF Energy Cup.
The two sides have met on two previous occasions in the 2004-05 European Cup with Newcastle winning both encounters: 10-6 at Rodney Parade and 25-17 at Kingston Park.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s game Aled Thomas said, “On a personal note I am relishing the trip north to Newcastle and playing against what is a very talented side. They have a number of promising youngsters in their team and an exciting backline. Up front they are very physical and it will be a real test for us. The group is still wide open with all four sides locked on two points making this weekend’s round of results crucial and we are aiming to get the win to put us in the position of qualifying for the semi final stages.”
Dragons Team
Martyn Thomas, Paul Emerick, Rhodri Gomer-Davies, Gareth Maule, Richard Mustoe, Aled Thomas, Andrew Williams, Hugh Gustafson, Ben Daly, Rhys Thomas, Andrew Hall, Peter Sidoli, Joe Bearman, Colin Charvis (c), Michael Owen.
Replacements
Kieran Crawford, Adam Black, Jamie Corsi, Lewis Evans, Richard Parks, Ceri Sweeney, Wayne Evans.
