Dragons v Connacht: Guinness PRO12 preview

Connacht head coach Pat Lam

Boris Stankovich returns to the Dragons front row for their PRO12 match against Connacht at Rodney Parade in Bridgend on Sunday.

The 34-year-old, who has recovered from an injury picked up in the recent LV=Cup win over Ospreys, is the only change to the Dragons team that defeated last year's PRO12 table toppers Leinster at the RDS last weekend. 

Connacht head coach Pat Lam, meanwhile, makes three changes to his side, including a first start of the season to 21-year-old Eoghan Masterson at No 8. 

Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones has kept faith with full-back Jason Tovey, alongside wings Tom Prydie and Hallam Amos, who was released from the Wales camp.

Loosehead prop Stankovich joins fellow prop Brok Harris and hooker T Rhys Thomas in the front row. 

The replacements bench has one change with Phil Price replacing Stankovich. 

Coach Jones said: “It’s fantastic that we got a win against the champions. I thought that we deserved the win. 

“The real challenge for us is at Rodney Parade, we haven’t performed as well as we would’ve liked to have done there. 

“Connacht are a very good team and a very serious outfit. I thought that they performed well for large periods of time against the Scarlets but still lost and they will be coming down to Wales again looking for a victory.” 

Connacht, who defeated the Dragons 16-11 back in September in Galway, will have Craig Ronaldson returning from injury to start at inside centre while Dave McSharry moves outside him and Danie Poolman switches to the wing.

In the absence of Kieran Marmion, scrum-half John Cooney will partner Jack Carty at half-back.

Masterson is the only change to the pack replacing George Naoupu.

Changes to the bench include the incoming Shane Delahunt, Finlay Bealham and Mick Kearney.

Lam said: “Despite last week’s defeat to Scarlets, we remain in sixth place and a top six finish is still in our hands. However, we no longer have that safety net and the outcome of tomorrow’s game is important for both sides.

“The Dragons’ side will be brimming with confidence on their home patch after a big win last week and we know the challenge we face.  

“The guys worked extremely hard in what was a tough week’s training but that work needs to be reflected in 80 minutes of team work on the field on Sunday.”

Dragons: 15 Jason Tovey, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Pat Leach, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Jonathan Evans, 1 Boris Stankovich, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 3 Brok Harris, 4 Andrew Coombs, 5 Rynard Landman (c), 6 James Thomas, 7 Nic Cudd, 8 Nick Crosswell. 

Replacements: 16 Rhys Buckley, 17 Phil Price, 18 Dan Way, 19 Ian Gough, 20 James Benjamin, 21 Richie Rees, 22 Ashley Smith, 23 Matthew Pewtner. 

Connacht: 15 Darragh Leader, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Dave McSharry, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 John Cooney, 1 Denis Buckley, 2 Tom McCartney, 3 Nathan White, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Aly Muldowney, 6 John Muldoon (c), 7 Jake Heenan, 8 Eoghan Masterson.

Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Rodney Ah You, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Mick Kearney, 20 George Naoupu, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Niyi Adeolokun, 23 Tiernan O’Halloran.