Connacht head coach Pat Lam insists it would be a mistake to underestimate Newport Gwent Dragons as the Irish province go in search of their first Guinness PRO12 away win since March. Lam has made five changes from the team that lost to Leinster last weekend, with star centre Bundee Aki joining Peter Robb in midfield. Stacey Ili – in his first Guinness PRO12 start since signing from Auckland – will appear on the wing while Caolin Blade comes in at scrum-half. Shane Delahunt, who scored a try off the bench against Leinster, gets the nod at hooker and Eoin McKeon is restored to the back-row. Despite the reigning champions’ recent woe on their travels, they have beaten the Dragons in their last seven encounters – not that Lam is placing his trust in statistics. “It’s always tough for us going over to Rodney Parade,” he said. “Even when we’ve been successful there, they were always hard-fought wins. Dragons, under Kingsley Jones, have changed their mind set in terms of how they like to play the game and they certainly use the ball a lot more. “It’s set up to be a good game of rugby but we have to remain focused on our own jobs. “Our mental preparation is vital, particularly in another short week where we are on the road for the third week in a row. It’s the last game before a two-week break in fixtures so, as a group, we are determined to right the wrongs from a disappointing performance last time out.” In Dragons’ team news, full-back Tom Prydie retains his position in the back three and is joined by wingers Pat Howard and Ashton Hewitt. The centre partnership remains unchanged with Sam Beard and Jack Dixon getting the nod. Fly-half Angus O’Brien returns from illness to replace Nick Macleod, and is joined in the half-backs by scrum-half Sarel Pretorius. The front row sees one change as loosehead prop Phil Price joins hooker Thomas Rhys Thomas and tight head prop Brok Harris. Nick Crosswell and Rynard Landman also retain their positions at lock, with the back row consisting of flankers Lewis Evans and Ollie Griffiths and No.8 Ed Jackson. The Dragons won last time out against Brive in the Challenge Cup and will be aiming to record successive victories at Rodney Parade for the first time since the New Year. And vice-captain Crosswell is aiming for a result in the Guinness PRO12 that finally matches the performance. “Connacht will be disappointed with a few of their performances coming off winning the Pro12 but they are dangerous with a really tight pack,” said the lock. “They do the basics well – they carry hard, clean our rucks hard and tackle hard. We are after every win we can get and know we have to dig deep. “Week in, week out we play some good rugby but haven’t got the results. We don’t make any excuses, we put our hands up to what we have lacked and where we’ve got to be better.” Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record: Played 26, Dragons won 9, Connacht won 17. At Rodney Parade, 7.15pm. Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 84th competition game) Assistant Referees: David Wilkinson (IRFU), Jason Bessant (WRU) Citing Commissioner: Jeff Mark (WRU)
