London Irish v Dragons - Teams
London Irish can consolidate their position at the top of Heineken Cup Pool One with victory over the Dragons on Saturday.
Last Updated: 11/01/08 1:41pm
London Irish can consolidate their position at the top of Heineken Cup Pool One with victory over the Dragons on Saturday.
Peter Richards and Peter Hewat come into the starting XV in the two changes to the side that beat Sale 20-12 on January 6.
Delon Armitage moves into the centre alongside Shane Geraghty to accomodate Hewat at full-back, while Gonzalo Tiesi and Paul Hodgson drop to the bench.
"We have two remaining Pool matches and it is important that we win both if we are to stay in control of the Pool and progress to the play-off stages of the Heineken Cup for the first time in the club's history," London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith told the club's official website.
"The Dragons have been in good form in the Celtic League winning most of their games since we last played them.
"They will be confident and difficult opposition tomorrow."
Morgan out
The Dragons are without full-back Kevin Morgan for the trip to the Madejski Stadium.
Morgan injured his Achilles during the Magners League win over Glasgow on January 4.
Prop Rhys Thomas (ribs) and flanker Richard Parks (knee) are also both sidelined by injury.
Aled Thomas replaces Morgan at full-back, Gethin Robinson comes in for Thomas and James Harris is selected in place of Parks in the back-row.
Wayne Evans returns at scrum-half after serving a two-week ban for fighting, meaning Alex Walker drops to the bench.
London Irish: 15 Peter Hewat, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Delon Armitage, 12 Shane Geraghty, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Eoghan Hickey, 9 Peter Richards*; 1 Clarke Dermody, 2 David Paice, 3 Tongo Lea'aetoa, 4 Nick Kennedy, 5 Bob Casey (capt), 6 Declan Danaher, 7 Steffon Armitage, 8 Richard ThorpeReplacements: 16 Dan Murphy, 17, Danie Coetzee, 18 James Hudson, 19 Phil Murphy, 20 Tomas De Vedia, 21 Paul Hodgson, 22 Gonzalo Tiesi
Dragons: 15 Aled Thomas, 14 Richard Mustoe, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Wayne Evans; 1 Adam Black, 2 Ben Daly, 3 Gethin Robinson, 4 Andrew Hall, 5 Peter Sidoli, 6 Joe Bearman, 7 James Harris, 8 Michael Owen (capt)
Replacements: 16 Kieran Crawford, 17 Hugh Gustafson, 18 Adam Jones, 19 Lewis Evans, 20 Alex Walker, 21 Phil Dollman, 22 Gareth Wyatt
