Dragons seek redemption
Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:51
Thrashed by Connacht in the opening round of the Magners League, the Newport Gwent Dragons will want to redeem themselves at Rodney Parade on Sunday when they play the Glasgow Warriors.
Warriors beat Leinster 22-19 in Glasgow in the opening round while the Dragons came back from Ireland with their tails between their legs, dispatched 40-17.
Reflecting on the previous week's match, coach Turner said: “Although nobody at the Dragons wanted to be coming into Sunday’s game off the back of a defeat, we have to accept that Connacht played really well and that we were just not at the races. Nobody likes losing, but the manner of the defeat was unacceptable. We are all aware of the reputation we forged last season and every man out in Galway let himself down.
“Unfortunately last Saturday we had three players in the 22 that have had no game time at all during the summer because of injury and rehabilitation. Saturday was Danny Lee’s first game since the Scarlets match on New Year’s Eve. Added to that, guys like Joe Bearman, Will Harries, Luke Charteris, Gavin Thomas, Hugh Gustafson and Robin Sowden-Taylor have had relatively little game time.
“Having said all that, I'm happy with the way the players responded after the game and during the week. We are definitely looking forward to our first home game of the season.
In search of a remedy coach Paul Turner has made many changes, none enforced by injury, it seems.
Tall Luke Charteris keeps the captaincy but their are changes - many of them. Canadian Matt Evans comes in at fullback with last week's fullback Jason Tovey shifting the flyhalf as Matthew Jones drops to the bench while scrumhalf Danny Lee leaves altogether.
Tom Riley moves to outside centre in the place of Rhodri Gomer-Davies while Pat Leach comes in to inside centre. Wayne Evans is the new scrumhalf.
Nigel Hall is at tighthead in the place of Ben Castle and Danny Lydiate, up from the bench, and Gavin Thomas come into the back row in the place of Hugo Ellis and Joe Bearman.
There are changes on the bench as well.
Dragons: 15 Matthew Evans, 14 Will Harries, 13 Tom Riley, 12 Pat Leach, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Gavin Thomas, 7 Robin Sowden-Taylor, 6 Danny Lydiate, 5 Scott Morgan, 4 Luke Charteris (captain), 3 Nigel Hall, 2 Steve Jones, 1 Hugh Gustafson.
Replacements: 16 Lloyd Burns, 17 Pat Palmer, 18 Ali Mckenzie, 19 Rob Sidoli, 20 Lewis Evans, 21 Matthew Pewtner, 22 Nicky Griffiths, 23 Matthew Jones
Date: Sunday, 12 September 2010
Kick-off: 16.10 (GMT 15.10)
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Assistant referees: Sean Brickell (Wales), David Williams (Wales)
Television match official: Tony
Rowlands (Wales)
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