Dragons v Cardiff Blues: European Challenge Cup preview
Saturday 4 April 2015 13:01, UK
Dale McIntosh has named an unchanged side as the Dragons host Cardiff Blues in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Easter Saturday.
The Dragons keep faith with the XV that helped them to their first bonus point victory away from home since 2004 at Treviso in their last match.
The win was the Men of Gwent’s second successive victory and should they see off Cardiff it would be the first time they have managed three on the trot this season.
The Blues are able to reintroduce Welsh international pair Sam Warburton and Gethin Jenkins to boost their pack as part of six changes to the starting line-up.
Dan Fish comes in at full-back, fresh from his time in Hong Kong with the Wales Sevens. Richard Smith starts on the wing and Argentine centre Joaquin Tuculet is also included.
Injury rules out Rhys Patchell (concussion) and Cory Allen (shoulder) while Lucas Amorosino and Tom Isaacs are ineligible.
The Blues are looking to return to winning ways in this Welsh derby after a 36-17 loss to Ulster last time out.
Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Jason Tovey, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Patrick Leach, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Jonathan Evans; 1 Phil Price, 2 T Rhys Thomas (c), 3 Brok Harris, 4 Andrew Coombs, 5 Cory Hill, 6 James Thomas, 7 James Benjamin, 8 Nick Crosswell.
Replacements: 16 Hugh Gustafson, 17 Lloyd Fairbrother, 18 Dan Way, 19 Toby Faletau, 20 Nic Cudd, 21 Luc Jones, 22 Tyler Morgan, 23 Rhys Jones.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Joaquin Tuculet, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Richard Smith, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Gethin Jenkins, 2 Matthew Rees (c), 3 Scott Andrews, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Lou Reed, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Sam Warburton, 8 Josh Navidi.
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Adam Jones, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Simon Humberstone, 23 Gareth Davies.
