RUGBY:NATURALLY IN his first competitive start with the team, coach Eric Elwood will feel more anxious than usual as the Dragons come to the Sportsground and try to put a better shine on their Galway record, writes Johnny Watterson.
Despite finishing seventh in the table last season to Connacht’s last, the Irish side have won four out of their last five home games against the Welsh team.
Elwood’s hopes are to improve on previous coach Michael Bradley, who took the team on some wonderful journeys in the Challenge Cup but in the league finished at the bottom of the table for the last three seasons.
Scrumhalf Frank Murphy will captain the side in the absence of the injured John Muldoon, while fullback Gavin Duffy and hooker Seán Cronin make a return after summer tours with the national side.
New signing Ezra Taylor is included at number eight, while Robbie Morris and flanker Johnny O’Connor remain sidelined through injury.
Dragons arrive without captain Tom Willis, who has dropped out of the match-day squad, while Jason Tovey has moved back to fullback to accommodate Matthew Jones at outhalf.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; T Nathan, N Taauso, K Matthews, F Carr; I Keatly, F Murphy (capt); B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan, M Swift, B Upton, M McCarthy, R Ofisa, E Taylor. Replacements: A Flavin, R Loughney, R Sweeney, D Nolan, M McComish, C Willis, M Nikora, T O’Halloran
NEWPORT: J Tovey; W Harries, R Gomer-Davies, T Riley, A Brew; M Jones, D Lee; H Gustafson, S Jones, B Castle, L Chareris (capt), S Morgan, J Bearman, R Sowden-Taylor, H Ellis. Replacements: L Burns, P Palmer, A McKenzie, R Sidoli, D Lydiate, G Thomas, N Griffiths, D Bishop.
Betting: Connacht 4-9; Dragons 17-10; Draw 20-1
Referee: J Jones (WRU).
Verdict: Connacht win.
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