Last week’s eight-try triumph over Zebre got Ulster back into the top three in Conference B, and with pressure now coming from the Scarlets, Dan McFarland’s men need to respond by completing a season’s double over the second-from-bottom Dragons.
GUINNESS PRO14: Sunday, March 3
DRAGONS (7th, Con B) v ULSTER (4th, Con B), Rodney Parade, 3pm (live Premier Sports 2/DAZN/SuperSport 1)
Team News: Ireland back rower Sean Reidy, who was set to earn his 100th Ulster cap against the Dragons, has withdrawn from the squad due to a leg injury. Clive Ross will replace Reidy in the team for today’s round 17 clash.
Ross combines in the back row with Nick Timoney and Jordi Murphy, who is one of three changes to the side that secured a 54-7 bonus point win over Zebre last Saturday. The other two changes are at half-back, with Murphy’s international colleague John Cooney also released from Ireland duty, while Billy Burns returns to start at out-half.
Alan O’Connor continues as captain, alongside Kieran Treadwell in the second row, and the tight five is completed by Eric O’Sullivan, Martin Moore and hooker Rob Herring, who scored a hat-trick of tries in a memorable man-of-the-match performance for the Ulstermen last weekend.
The familiar duo of Darren Cave and Stuart McCloskey combine again in midfield, while Robert Lyttle, Robert Baloucoune and Louis Ludik will provide a mix of flair, raw pace and composure in the back-three. The trio all touched down against Zebre with Lyttle landing six conversions.
On the bench, Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Wiehahn Herbst, Ian Nagle and Matthew Rea will cover the forward options, with David Shanahan, James Hume and Peter Nelson providing the back-line cover for Ulster, who are currently fourth and looking to respond to the Scarlets’ win over Munster yesterday.
Meanwhile, Wales winger Hallam Amos returns to the Dragons team as one of nine changes from last week’s disappointing 57-7 defeat away to Benetton Rugby. Head coach Ceri Jones is targeting a much-needed victory in the region’s final game of the season in Newport.
A new-look back-line sees Josh Lewis, their top scorer in the league with 63 points, return at out-half, while Jordan Williams is selected at full-back and Dafydd Howells will play on the left wing. The midfield will see Jarryd Sage and Adam Warren join forces.
Three changes in the pack see call-ups for lock Joe Davies and back row duo Taine Basham and Huw Taylor. Harri Keddie moves to number 8. A changed bench includes Leon Brown, following his release from Wales’ Six Nations camp, while Josh Reynolds, Lennon Greggains and Max Williams and the fit-again Tavis Knoyle are also part of the matchday 23.
DRAGONS: Jordan Williams; Hallam Amos, Adam Warren, Jarryd Sage, Dafydd Howells; Josh Lewis, Rhodri Williams; Brok Harris, Richard Hibbard (capt), Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Huw Taylor, Taine Basham, Harri Keddie.
Replacements: Rhys Lawrence, Josh Reynolds, Leon Brown, Max Williams, Lennon Greggains, Tavis Knoyle, Jason Tovey, Tyler Morgan.
ULSTER: Louis Ludik; Robert Baloucoune, Darren Cave, Stuart McCloskey, Robert Lyttle; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Martin Moore, Alan O’Connor (capt), Kieran Treadwell, Clive Ross, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Wiehahn Herbst, Ian Nagle, Matthew Rea, David Shanahan, James Hume, Peter Nelson.
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Dan Jones, Gareth John (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Sean Brickell (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Dragons to win: 3/1; Draw: 14/1; Ulster to win: 1/4
Pre-Match Quotes: Dwayne Peel (Ulster) –
You cannot afford too many slip-ups going into the next couple of weeks. I think three or four points separating four teams, it is important to keep on winning. With Benetton playing Edinburgh, Munster travelling to the Scarlets and ourselves away to the Dragons, it’s an important big three games in the context of the league.
“We have to go (to the Dragons) positive and take this game for what it is, a massively important game for us. We realised that last week and we carried that (into the Zebre game) because, let’s be honest, every game from here on in is going to have to be treated the same way.
“We go away this week, we have a home game and then two away games on the spin after that so it’s a tough old run-in for us (in the PRO14) and we’re going to be focused for every game.”
Ceri Jones (Dragons) –
Over the last two months the performances have been of a certain level, with the exception of Clermont, which I have been pleased with. But I wasn’t pleased with last week (against Benetton) and we have addressed it.
“Ulster are very powerful and scored three driving maul tries against Zebre last week. That is an area we have been strong in, but we recognise the threat from them. They have played well lately so it is going to be tough. But we plan to go out there and put our best performance on the pitch.”
Top Scorers – 2018/19 GUINNESS PRO14: Dragons – Points: Josh Lewis 63; Tries: Jared Rosser 4; Ulster – Points: John Cooney 65; Tries: Rob Herring 6
2018/19 TEAM FORM: Dragons – Played 16, Won 4, Lost 12, 19 Points; L 21-17 v Benetton Rugby (home), W 27-22 v Isuzu Southern Kings (home), L 52-10 v Leinster (away), W 16-5 v Zebre (home), L 29-23 v Glasgow Warriors (away), L 23-15 v Cardiff Blues (home), L 36-18 v Ulster (away), L 33-12 v Connacht (away), W 18-12 v Edinburgh (home), L 59-10 v Leinster (home), L 19-16 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 23-22 v Ospreys (home), L 22-13 v Scarlets (away), L 8-7 v Munster (home), L 34-17 v Edinburgh (away), L 57-7 v Benetton Rugby (away); Ulster – Played 16, Won 9, Drawn 2, Lost 5, 44 Points; W 15-13 v Scarlets (home), W 30-29 v Edinburgh (home), W 28-7 v Isuzu Southern Kings (away), D 39-39 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), L 64-7 v Munster (away), L 22-15 v Connacht (home), W 36-18 v Dragons (home), W 15-10 v Benetton Rugby (away), L 29-12 v Scarlets (away), W 16-12 v Cardiff Blues (home), W 19-12 v Munster (home), L 21-12 v Connacht (away), L 40-7 v Leinster (away), Drew 17-17 v Benetton Rugby (home), W 8-0 v Ospreys (away), W 54-7 v Zebre (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, February 5, 2016 – Ulster 17 Dragons 15, Kingspan Stadium
Friday, September 2, 2016 – Ulster 29 Dragons 8, Kingspan Stadium
Friday, March 24, 2017 – Dragons 17 Ulster 27, Rodney Parade
Friday, September 22, 2017 – Ulster 52 Dragons 25, Kingspan Stadium
Friday, December 1, 2017 – Dragons 32 Ulster 32, Rodney Parade
Friday, October 26, 2018 – Ulster 36 Dragons 18, Kingspan Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– The Dragons have lost their last four fixtures since beating Timisoara Saracens at Rodney Parade in the European Challenge Cup on January 11
– The Dragons have lost three of their last five home games in the GUINNESS PRO14, while they have not beaten an Irish province at any venue since they defeated Connacht in Newport in September 2017
– Ulster are unbeaten in their last five fixtures in all competitions since losing at Leinster in round 13 of the PRO14
– Ulster have won their last two away games, at Leicester Tigers and at the Ospreys, but have not won three in-a-row on their travels since January 2016
– Ulster are unbeaten in their last seven encounters with the Dragons since the men of Gwent’s 26-22 victory at Rodney Parade in March 2015, a sequence which also includes a 32-all draw, the last time the sides met in Newport