Newport Gwent Dragons Head Coach, Paul Turner has named a strong team to face the Cardiff Blues tomorrow in the Martyn Williams Testimonial.
Tom Willis returns to lead the side at the Cardiff City Stadium after sitting out the 33-20 loss to London Irish, while there is also a first run out for Wales summer tourist, Will Harries. On-trial David Bishop continues in the centre, and partners Tom Riley, after coming on for the injured Rhodri Gomer-Davies last weekend. With a number of injuries at scrumhalf, Jonathan Evans gets the nod at nine and he is partnered by Jason Tovey at 10. Up front there are places for Robin Sowden-Taylor and Scott Morgan both of whom moved from the capital city rivals in the summer, while Danny Lydiate is named on the bench.
Willis said: “Obviously we are looking forward to it. Any clash against our local neighbours is always going to be a big one and obviously it’s also nice to back Martyn Williams’ contribution towards the game. But despite having a testimonial tag to it I suspect both teams will take the game very seriously, it will be the last hit out before heading into the big season.
“I think it is important to remember that the outcome of Friday’s game doesn’t bare much in comparison to the two league games against them, it would be nice to come away with a positive result but ultimately a really positive performance from the team is what we are after.
“I wouldn’t be too disappointed if we lost our three pre-season games but beat Connacht in the Magners League opener next week, the league is the priority. The pre-season games are an opportunity to develop the Dragons’ style, familiarise new players into the squad and basically get a general pattern of play working effectively.
“From last week I think we need to improve our general synergy. I think individually players are generally executing skills very well, but it’s important for the team to gel effectively from 1 to 15. Another thing from last week is to be able to collectively adapt to conditions. The second half last week the conditions changed considerably with wind and rain. We probably failed to recognise that and didn’t play accordingly, so we need to learn those things from that particular occasion and apply it to other times we come across that sort of thing again.
“I thought Hugo Ellis had a massive game last week, a big work-rate and made a hell of a lot of hits; he really led from the front amongst the forwards. Scott Morgan, another of the new boys, continues to put his hand up. He is an experienced player and has a good work rate and it was fantastic to get Robin Sowden Taylor and Joe Bearman back out on the paddock after two injuries.”
Dragons Head Coach, Paul Turner, added: “It promises to be a great occasion for Martyn and we’ve respected that with the selection of our team. There are a few players just returning from a whole summer out with injury and more will hopefully be returning next week. Just like the Blues we are hoping we can stay injury free going through the penultimate weekend before the league commences. It will be a tricky game for both camps as we meet again in three weeks time at the same venue.
“Being a local derby it promises to be full blooded encounter. It will be an interesting evening and a fantastic occasion for Martyn.”
Newport Gwent Dragons side to face the Cardiff Blues. Kick-off 7.30pm, Friday, August 27.
15. MATT EVANS
14. WILL HARRIES
13. TOM RILEY
12. DAVID BISHOP
11 ALED BREW
10. JASON TOVEY
9. JONATHAN EVANS
1. HUGH GUSTAFSON
2. TOM WILLIS (CAPT)
3. BEN CASTLE
4. ADAM JONES
5. SCOTT MORGAN
6. JOE BEARMAN
7. ROBIN SOWDEN TAYLOR
8. HUGO ELLIS
REPLACEMENTS
16. STEVE JONES
17. NIGEL HALL
18. PAT PALMER
19. ALI MCKENZIE
20. ADAM BROWN
21. DANNY LYDIATE
22. LEWIS EVANS
23. JEVON GROVES
24. MATTHEW JONES
25. TOM COOPER
26 ADAM HUGHES
27. NICKY GRIFFITHS
28. MATTHEW PEWTNER
