MAGNERS LEAGUE: Connacht v Dragons:CONNACHT NEED to grab the opportunity which tonight's fixture at the Galway Sportsground presents against a weakened Newport Gwent Dragons to post a vital Magners League victory.
Despite a strong home record, Connacht let slip a victory against Glasgow in their last outing in Galway with a 19-19 draw and coach Michael Bradley says this fixture – the first to be played on a St Patrick’s Day – is huge for his side.
Although this clash with the Dragons has usually gone to the home side, the Welsh side are travelling with a major amount of confidence after taking Munster’s scalp.
“They had an excellent performance against Munster, probably the best result they have had in the last couple of years,” says Bradley. “Having said that, this fixture has gone to the home side predominantly in the last three or four years, and obviously with our performance against the Ospreys three weeks ago and Glasgow last time, being disappointed in terms of not securing a win, this has become a huge game for us and we are treating it as such.”
Bradley has made five changes from the side which drew with Glasgow. Two are enforced, with scrumhalf Frank Murphy ruled out with a hamstring injury and hooker Seán Cronin in the Ireland squad. Conor O’Loughlin comes in at number nine and Adrian Flavin takes over in the frontrow.
Liam Bibo, Niva Ta’auso and Ray Ofisa also return from injury.
The Dragons are missing Luke Charteris and Dan Lydiate on Wales duty, but also have injury concerns in their front and backrows. As a result Newport captain Andrew Coombs has been called into the squad and backrow Toby Faletau has been released from the Wales under-20 squad to make his first start for the match.
The Dragons will be looking to utilise their talented backline in which wing Aled Brew was the star in their win over Munster, while in 20-year-old Jason Tovey they have an outhalf who, having scored 71 points in four games, will punish Connacht mistakes.
Coach Turner says: “Although these injuries are always frustrating, both for the players and coaching staff, we have players keen to step up for these games.
“As we have seen already this season in players such as Tom Riley and Will Harries, all of our squad members are ready to make the most of the opportunities they are given and I have no doubt that Andrew Coombs and Toby Faletau, in particular, will seize this chance with both hands.”
Still within touching distance of a top-four play-off, Turner’s side have plenty of incentive, but they have not won in Connacht since 2004. Bradley will hope Connacht can out-muscle the Dragons up front to maintain their strong home form tonight.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; L Bibo, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, F Carr; I Keatley, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, J Hagan; M Swift, M McCarthy; J Muldoon, R Ofisa, G Naoupu. Replacements: R Loughney, R Morris, B Upton, M McComish, K Campbell, M Nikora, A Wynne.
DRAGONS: M Thomas; W Harries, M Watkins, A Smith, A Brew; J Tovey, W Evans; H Gustafson, T Willis (capt), B Castle, R Sidoli, H Macdonald, T Faletau, G Thomas. G Webb. Replacements: S Jones, P Palmer, A Coombs, A Brown , T Riley J Arlidge, J Leadbeater.
