Newport Gwent Dragons host Leinster Rugby at Rodney Parade on Friday 24 February at 7.30pm as tenth welcomes second in the Guinness PRO12. The home side are without a win since early January having lost both recent away trips to Munster and Connacht while Leinster have won all of their last four games. What’s at stake? A win for the Leinstermen could send them top above the Ospreys depending on how they perform against the Scarlets. Dragons, who are level on points with Edinburgh, could climb above their Scottish rivals with a win should they slip up against Cardiff Blues. Newport Gwent Dragons Team News: Head coach Kingsley Jones has made two changes to the side that lost narrowly to Connacht in round 15. Full-back Carl Meyer comes into the back three alongside Adam Hughes and Pat Howard. Jack Dixon replaces Adam Warren in the midfield and will partner Tyler Morgan while half-backs Tavis Knoyle and Dorian Jones remain unchanged. Jones continues with the same eight forwards that lost to Connacht last time out. Leinster Team News: Leo Cullen has made eight changes to his Leinster side to take on the Dragons in round 16. Joey Carbery makes his first start for Leinster at full-back whilst there is also a welcome return to the starting side for Irish internationals Fergus McFadden and Rhys Ruddock. Noel Reid and Zane Kirchner start in the midfield with Ross Byrne at ten and Jamison Gibson-Park picking up his 21st cap for Leinster at scrum-half. In the pack, Richardt Strauss is back to captain the side from hooker with Peter Dooley and Michael Bent continuing at loose head and tight head respectively. Open side Peadar Timmins makes his first start for Leinster after just five substitute appearances, he will be joined by Jack Conan and Ruddock in the back row. Talking points: The visitors have made a host of changes, both personnel and positional. In last Friday’s game against Edinburgh, Cullen was forced into four changes before the break and saw his side finish with 14 men. The Dragons are the more settled side and will be relishing the chance to play at Rodney Parade for the first time since their latest win on January 6. Centre Jack Dixon admitted his side must put in a big performance if they are to down their Irish rivals. He said: “We’ve got a good home record this season and we’re confident on our own patch. Results haven’t really gone our way the last couple of weeks but we’re still confident. “Leinster are coming over and we’re looking to put in a big performance.” Key battle: Tyler Morgan v Zane Kirchner Morgan and Kirchner will line up against each other in the outside centre channel. The Dragon will be well aware of his opposite man’s counter attacking threat and will be tasked with nullifying the dangerous Springbok. Kirchner, usually a full-back, will have to alter his game and offer himself as a ball carrying threat in closer quarters than he is accustomed to. With Joey Carbery shifting to fullback, it is vital that Kirchner goes looking for the ball in a new midfield combination with Noel Reid. Key stat: The last four meetings between the two teams have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst the Leinstermen are going for a first season’s double over Dragons since 2013/14. Did you know? Dragons only defeat at Rodney Parade since September 2016 came on New Year’s Day when they were defeated by the now table-topping Ospreys. Newport Gwent Dragons to play Leinster: C Meyer; A Hughes, T Morgan, J Dixon, P Howard; D Jones, T Knoyle; S Hobbs, E Dee, B Harris; N Crosswell, R Landman; O Griffiths, N Cudd, L Evans Replacements: R Buckley, T Davies, L Fairbrother, M Screech, H Keddie, S Pretorius, A O’Brien, A Warren. Top points scorer: Angus O’Brien 86 pts Top try scorer: Pat Howard 4 Leinster team to play Newport Gwent Dragons: J Carbery; A Byrne, Z Kirchner, N Reid, F McFadden; R Byrne, J Gibson-Park; P Dooley, R Strauss, M Bent; R Molony, M McCarthy; R Ruddock, P Timmins, J Conan Replacements: J Tracy, E Byrne, M Ross, H Triggs, M Deegan, L McGrath, C Marsh, B Daly Top points scorer: Isa Nacewa 78pts Top try scorer: Adam Byrne and Rory O’Loughlin 6 each Match Officials – Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR ) Assistant Referee 1: Claudio Blessano (FIR) Assistant Referee 2: Robert Price (WRU) TMO: Non-televised match Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record: Played 27, Dragons won 9, Leinster won 18. At Rodney Parade, 7.30pm Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 63rd competition game) Assistant Referees: Claudio Blessano (FIR), Robert Price (WRU) Citing Commissioner: Paul Thomas (WRU)
