Fit Dragons eyeing hat-trick
Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:07
Newport Gwent Dragons Head Coach Paul Turner has announced his Magners League team to face Leinster at the Royal Dublin Society on Saturday, welcoming several players back from injury.
The Dragons will be looking for a league hat-trick away from home this weekend following back-to-back victories over Ulster and Edinburgh in September.
Head Coach Paul Turner commented: "It has to be one of the most difficult tasks in the Magners League, to play last season's champions away from home but I'm confident that we travel following a good few weeks of training and an eagerness to build on our previous form in the Magners League."
He added: "I'd like to welcome Jamie Corsi back to the squad after a long period of injury and am also pleased that Rory Sidey is fit again for this weekend. The players have a big challenge ahead of them on Saturday and I'm looking for a huge performance in Ireland."
Australian Dragons centre Rory Sidey returns from a rib cartilage injury picked up in the Heineken Cup fixture against Bath away from home last month. He is thrilled to be back to fitness for the clash with Leinster this weekend.
"It's great to be back this week after injury. There's never a great time to get an injury but my timing was probably as ideal as possible with the four week break which has allowed me to recover fully.
"I'm eager to get back to good form this weekend and help the team to victory against Leinster and hopefully throughout the tough fixtures that await the Dragons through December and into the New Year."
In the Magners League last season, each side won its respective home game when the two teams met.
"This weekend a totally different side than that of last season will travel to Leinster and we will be confident that a victory is in our reach," said Dragons prop Adam Black.
"We've demonstrated consistency in our performances so far this season and we will be looking for a result on Saturday."
Dragons: 15 Phillip Dollman, 14 Gareth Wyatt, 13 Rory Sidey, 12 Marc Stcherbina, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Grant Webb, 7 Lewis Evans, 6 Joe Bearman, 5 Andrew Hall, 4 Hoani Macdonald, 3 Gethin Robinson, 2 Tom Willis (captain), 1 Adam Black.
Replacements: 16 Steve Jones, 17 Jamie Corsi, 18 Jamie Ringer, 19 Danny Lydiate, 20 Ashley Smith, 21 Shaun Connor, 22 Rob Lewis.
Date: Saturday, November 29
Venue: Royal Dublin Society
Kick-off: 17.30 GMT
Referee: Andy Macpherson (Scotland)
Touch judges: Michael Black (Ireland), Richard Kerr (Ireland)
TMO: Peter Ferguson (Ireland)
