Brive mean business

“Our relationship with the European Challenge Cup has evolved this season,” said the international three-quarter. “Back in October, we were struggling in the Top 14 and we were battening down the hatches and concentrating on our top flight survival.

“A lot has changed at the club this season and although we are still struggling in the league, in the European Challenge Cup we are ‘in it to win it’ and the great performances we put in during the Pool stages, often missing several key players are being rewarded by the club in giving us everything we need to go as far as possible in this tournament.

“We are going into this game with seven weeks’ rest and one Top 14 game to get back into things. It’s pretty ideal preparation as one of the problems the French clubs have when playing against the Celtic teams is that they are far fresher than us so this levels the playing field a bit and we are certainly ready to play this game.

“Playing the Welsh has changed greatly since I met the international team playing for France. They have developed a really open style of play, moving the ball around and not being afraid to try things on the pitch. This will be a high tempo game from the Welsh side and a very physical game from ours so I think it’s going to be a great match.

“The competition in this tournament has been good this year and we are definitely looking to try and be en route for Newcastle or Clermont in a few weeks time.”

Newport Gwent Dragons: K Morgan (capt); G Wyatt, P Emerick, N Brew, A Brew; C Sweeney, A Walker; A Black, B Daly, L Harrison, I Gough, P Sidoli, C Charvis, J Ringer, M Owen

Replacements: S Jones, J Corsi, D Maddocks, L Charteris, N Fitsemanu, G Cooper, A Thomas

Brive: N Le Roux; F Boleavucu, L Valbon, S Hufanga, A Palisson; L Orquera, T Clark; P Lafond, J Djoudi, P Capdevielle, C Petre, C van Rensburg, S Azoulai (capt), A Maleyrie, D Chouly

Replacements: J Campo, P Toderasc, F Domingo, J Bonvoisin, J Pejoine, M Petitjean, S Bonetti

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)