Despite sitting six places above the Dragons in the GUINNESS PRO12, Anthony Foley is expected a ‘very tough outing’ for his Munster side at Rodney Parade as they look to bounce back from their derby defeat by Connacht.
GUINNESS PRO12: Sunday, December 6
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS (9th) v MUNSTER (3rd), Rodney Parade, 2.30pm (live S4C/highlights TG4)
Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley has made ten changes to the team that lost to Connacht as his charges prepare to face the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade. Denis Hurley is named as captain and Niall and Rory Scannell will become the first brothers to start together for Munster in the GUINNESS PRO12.
Niall Scannell remains at hooker with Dave Kilcoyne and John Ryan returning to the front row, while Dave Foley resumes his partnership with Australian Mark Chisholm in the second row.
Two changes in the back row see blindside flanker Shane Buckley (pictured below) make his first start of the season with Dave O’Callaghan returning at openside and Robin Copeland retaining the number 8 jersey.
Tomas O’Leary continues at scrum half and the selection of Rory Scannell at number 10 for the first time in the current campaign completes an all-Dolphin half-back pairing.
Scannell is one of two Munster Academy players included for this weekend’s round 9 encounter with David Johnston starting alongside stand-in skipper Hurley for the second time this season.
Simon Zebo and Ronan O’Mahony return to the back-three on the left and right wing respectively with Argentina’s Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino switching to full-back. Having successfully rehabbed a quad strain, Kiwi Tyler Bleyendaal is named on the bench.
On the injury front, the province’s medical team reported positive results after Francis Saili’s scan for a calf strain this week. The All Black-capped centre is expected to return to training next week.
Meanwhile, Newport Gwent Dragons captain Rhys Thomas has returned to full fitness and will lead the Welsh side against the Munstermen.
The experienced hooker injured his foot against Zebre in September and will make his return for the Dragons this weekend. The 33-year-old has recently played in the British & Irish Cup for the Dragons Premiership Select side and joins five other personnel changes that have been made to the team.
The Dragons’ back-line remains unchanged from last week’s 32-13 loss in Edinburgh, with full-back Carl Meyer joining wings Tom Prydie and Ashton Hewitt. The centre pairing also receives the nod from the coaching staff as Adam Hughes and Adam Warren are selected again. The half-backs see one change made as out-half Dorian Jones is joined by scrum half Sarel Pretorius.
The front row has two changes made to it, as Boris Stankovich is joined by returning skipper Thomas and tighthead prop Brok Harris. Matthew Screech and Rynard Landman continue in the second row, and flankers Lewis Evans and Nic Cudd return to the back row where they are joined by Welsh Rugby World Cup star Taulupe Faletau.
The listed replacements show three changes, with Rhys Buckley, Ed Jackson and Charlie Davies joining Phil Price, Lloyd Fairbrother, Cory Hill, Jason Tovey and Ross Wardle as bench options.
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: Carl Meyer; Tom Prydie, Adam Hughes, Adam Warren, Ashton Hewitt; Dorian Jones, Sarel Pretorius; Boris Stankovich, Rhys Thomas (capt), Brok Harris, Matthew Screech, Rynard Landman, Lewis Evans, Nic Cudd, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Rhys Buckley, Phil Price, Lloyd Fairbrother, Cory Hill, Ed Jackson, Charlie Davies, Jason Tovey, Ross Wardle.
MUNSTER: Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino; Ronan O’Mahony, David Johnston, Denis Hurley (capt), Simon Zebo; Rory Scannell, Tomas O’Leary; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Dave Foley, Mark Chisholm, Shane Buckley, Dave O’Callaghan, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, James Cronin, Mario Sagario, Billy Holland, Jordan Coghlan, Cathal Sheridan, Tyler Bleyendaal, Gerhard van den Heever
Referee: Gary Conway (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Leighton Hodges, Daniel Jones (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Newport Gwent Dragons to win: 6/4; Draw: 17/1; Munster to win: 4/7
Pre-Match Quotes: Anthony Foley (Munster) – “We’ve got to earn the right to go over there and get a result. We know how tough it is to get a result at Rodney Parade, but that’s our goal and we need to put in a performance that’s worthy of a result.
“We’ve seen Irish provinces lose in Rodney Parade over the last year and we know ourselves how well the Dragons are supported there. It’s a tight-knit ground where the supporters are right on top of the referee and players, and that’s before you look at the quality players they have – the likes of Faletau, Landman and many more.
“They have some cracking young players. I remember seeing a squad of up-and-coming Welsh players last year and I think eight of the fifteen were Newport Gwent Dragons players. They have a very good squad who are very well coached and supported and this will be a very tough outing for us.”
Brok Harris (Newport Gwent Dragons) – “We just need things to click to give us the confidence that we are on the right path. We are desperate, they (Munster) are desperate after losing to Connacht and it’s going to be a cracker.
“Top sides have a great kicking game and don’t make unforced errors. It’s about finding the balance of when to run and when to kick.
“It’s even more important against the so-called bigger sides. If you make a mistake in their half you will be put back in yours and concede points. We have to apply a bit of pressure on Munster.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Newport Gwent Dragons – Points: Jason Tovey 58; Tries: Sarel Pretorius 3; Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 75; Tries: CJ Stander, Andrew Conway 3 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, September 22, 2012 – Munster 33 Newport Gwent Dragons 13, Thomond Park
Friday, April 19, 2013 – Newport Gwent Dragons 30 Munster 24, Rodney Parade
Saturday, September 28, 2013 – Munster 23 Newport Gwent Dragons 9, Musgrave Park
Friday, November 29, 2013 – Newport Gwent Dragons 14 Munster 18, Rodney Parade
Friday, November 21, 2014 – Newport Gwent Dragons 12 Munster 38, Rodney Parade
Saturday, May 16, 2015 – Munster 50 Newport Gwent Dragons 27, Irish Independent Park
MATCH FACTS:
– The Newport Gwent Dragons’ only win in their last six GUINNESS PRO12 outings was 19-12 at home to Benetton Treviso in round 5
– The Dragons were defeated by Ulster at Rodney Parade in round 7 which ended their five-game winning run at the venue in the league
– Munster suffered only their second reversal this season with their home loss to table-topping Connacht last Saturday
– Munster’s only defeat in their last five away games in the PRO12 was 25-22 at the Scarlets in round 5
– The Dragons have won just one of their last nine encounters with Munster: 30-24 at Rodney Parade in April 2013, while Munster’s record at the Newport venue in the league is an even won six, lost six
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