CONNACHT v DRAGONS Rodney Parade 5.05pm: IN ESSENCE Michael Bradley's team is playing for pride. Bottom of the table and really out of the running for a Heineken Cup place, Connacht, nonetheless, would take four points if they came their way, writes JOHNNY WATTERSON.
They are on 19 points to the Dragons’ 25, although the Welsh team have games in hand.
Connacht have made three changes and one positional switch ahead of tomorrow’s match. Ray Ofisa and Keith Matthews have overcome their injuries, which kept them out of last week’s game against Munster. Ofisa starts at number eight and Matthews inside centre.
Brian McGovern begins at tighthead prop, with Michael Swift partnering Andrew Farley in the secondrow, as Andrew Browne reverts to blindside flanker. In the absence of John Muldoon, Gavin Duffy captains the side.
CONNACHT:G Duffy (capt); F Carr, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, L Bibo; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, B McGovern, M Swift, A Farley, A Browne, J O'Connor, R Ofisa. Replacements: A Flavin, R Loughney, D Gannon, C Rigney, C O'Loughlin, A Dunne, T Nathan.
NEWPORT: J Tovey; G Wyatt, R Davies, A Smith, R Fussell; J Arlidge, W Evans; A Black, T Willis, R Thomas, H MacDonald, L Charteris, D Lydiate, R Parks, J Bearman. Replacements: S Jones, N Hall, L Evans, M Thomas, R Sidey, A Walker.
Referee:G Knox (Scotland).
Verdict: Connacht win.
