Having faced Top14 giants Montpellier and Northampton Saints on successive days last weekend, they head to the home of the reigning English champions, Exeter Chiefs, this time out for a game that is bound to test them to the limit once again.
The two clubs are in the same Pool in the Anglo-Welsh tournament this season, although won’t actually play each other, and this time it will be the Chiefs who will be taking on the heavy duties. They have opted for a double-header of their own at Sandy Park with one team playing the Cornish Pirates at 1.30pm followed by a second game immediately after against the Dragons.
New Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman won’t have worried too much about the scores in the games in France and England last weekend – 40-15 in Aveyron and 71-21 at Franklin’s Gardens – but will be looking for more cohesion in his side this weekend and on Friday, when they meet Glasgow Warriors at Eugene Cross Park.
Wales wing Hallam Amos returned to action in Montpellier, Gavin Henson got a half of rugby under his belt at outside half and there were no injuries. Those were the among the positives taken by Jackman, along with a week spent with his squad in France.
One thing is certain, by time the Dragons kick-off their Guinness PRO14 campaign against Leinster on 2 September they will certainly be battle-hardened.
Newly appointed Dragons skills coach Barry Maddocks said: “We are looking for an improved performance in all areas from last week. The players’ attitude has been really good in training this week and they are excited for the game against Exeter.
“We are all looking at the little bits of growth every single day and this will be a good opportunity to see them in action.”
Dragons squad to face Exeter Chiefs:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Adam Hughes, 13 Adam Warren, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Angus O’Brien, 9 Charlie Davies; 1 Brok Harris, 2 Gerard Ellis, 3 Dan Suter, 4 Matthew Screech, 5 Rynard Landman, 6 James Thomas, 7 Nic Cudd, 8 Robson Blake.
Replacements: Luke Garrett, Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Max Williams, James Benjamin, Sarel Pretorius, Dorian Jones, Carl Meyer, Connor Edwards, Jarred Rosser, Will Talbot-Davies.
