DRAGONS TRAVEL WEST

Welsh Rugby Union | Club & Community Published 2:09 pm 13th Sep 2005 post

Jason Forster’s men were blown away back in March. The Dragons caught their opponents in unstoppable form as Lyn Jones’s side marched towards the Celtic League title with a 30-0 win.

Fortunes though appear to be changing for the Dragons as they sit third in the table following the arrival of new coach Paul Turner to Rodney Parade. Blindside flanker Jamie Ringer has recovered from a knee injury and resumes in the back row for the clash at the New Stadium, Swansea, alongside Forster and No. 8 Richard Bryan.

Winger Ben Breeze comes in for the injured Richard Fussell while Welsh international Luke Charteris replaces Peter Sidoli at lock. Turner will delay his decision on whether to play Ceri Sweeney at inside centre or fly-half until just before kick-off as the Dragons look to go top of the Celtic League. The Ospreys will be looking to make wholesale changes in personnel fresh from defeat in Munster.

“That was our worst performance for two years, but we’ll see what the character of the team is like against the Dragons,” said Ospreys skipper Barry Williams.

“There’s no doubt half the team will be fresh, so it’s up to the players coming in to put pride back in the jersey.”

The only injury absentee for the Ospreys is centre David Bishop following surgery on a broken kneecap suffered in Ireland.

Ospreys: tbc

Dragons:
K Morgan
G Wyatt
H Luscombe
C Sweeney / J Bryant
B Breeze
C Sweeney / C Warlow
G Baber
A Black
K Crawford
R Thomas
I Gough
L Charteris
J Ringer
J Forster (capt)
R Bryan