Ty Morris’ men may still be sitting pretty in third place in the table, but having suffered so many long breaks in their playing calendar there is a worry they may be ring rusty as they prepare to pay-back the All Whites for their win at Newport Stadium back in September.
To make matters worse for Morris, Wales U20 win Oli Andrew will miss the game due to a hamstring injury, outside half Matt O’Brien is away on coaching duty with the Dragons in Italy and there is a doubt over former Dragons’ lock Rynard Landman.
“It has been a bit of a frustrating period for the players, and we’ve had to work hard to keep them energised with such long breaks,” said Morris.
“They are all itching to play again and try to regain the momentum we built with those two away wins before Christmas at Bridgend and Pontypool. When you are trying to build consistency and momentum into your team, lengthy playing breaks are a killer for a coach.
“The players have been playing two games in a row and then having a two-week break. It’s not great.”
Since losing 29-7 at Llandovery on 25 November, when they faced the league leaders, Newport have only played twice. They won 57-27 at Bridgend on 14 December and then 36-19 at Pontypool nine days later.
Saturday’s trip to St Helen’s will be their first game of the New Year, and a chance to stay in the dog fight for a top four finish.
“We’ve got three games in hand on second placed Ebbw Vale and two on top-placed Llandovery. There is a 16-point gap between us and the Drovers and were nine behind The Steelmen, but I’d much rather have points on the board than games in hand,” said Morris.
“There are a few who feel the top four is already sewn up, but that is definitely not the case. Anyone can beat anyone in this league and we know we can take nothing for granted in Swansea.
“We owe them one after they beat us at home on a day we put in a really disappointing performance. They took their chances and we didn’t – it was as simple as that.”
Jason Strange says getting his Ebbw Vale side back on track in the Indigo Premiership after defeat to Cardiff last weekend is more of a “mental than physical” challenge.
The Steelmen head ‘North’ to face RGC with Newport breathing down their neck for second place in the table. The Black & Ambers are nine points behind in third but have three games in hand.
“We should have been out of sight by half-time against Cardiff last weekend, but we couldn’t turn our pressure into points. We knew it was probably a 10-point wind and we didn’t make it count,” said Strange.
“Cardiff were much stronger than they had been in our two previous meetings and came on strong in the second half. We’re without three players on Wales U20 duty heading to Colwyn Bay, and it will be as much a mental battle as it will be a physical one when we play this weekend.”
Merthyr welcome Bridgend while Pontypridd will be hoping to put an end to their near misses when they host Neath at Sardis Road. Last weekend they lost by a point at table-topping Llandovery, having lost in similar fashion at Ebbw Vale in their previous outing.
