Calvisano v Dragons: Teams
Friday 29 May 2009 13:22, UK
Friday is judgement day for Calvisano and the Dragons as they battle it out at for the final place in next season's Heineken Cup.
Centro Sportivo, Friday May 29, kick-off 8pm
Friday is judgement day for Calvisano and the Dragons as they battle it out at Centro Sportivo for the final place in next season's Heineken Cup. The Italian outfit missed out on qualification last weekend after falling short against Treviso, but a week on they get another bite at joining Europe's top cherries, this time against Welsh opposition. In team news, Calvisano coach Marc Delpoux has named international fly-half Luke McLean at full-back with Azzurri colleagues Matteo Pratichetti, Gonzalo Garcia, Paul Griffen, Alessandro Zanni and captain Leonardo Ghiraldini also starting. Ex-Wales international Peter Sidoli, who is now known as Piero after adopting his christened name, starts at lock against his old countrymen. Meanwhile, the lowest ranked Welsh team have recalled Hoani MacDonald and Ashley Smith after both recovered from injury in time for the trip. Elsewhere and Jason Tovey replaces Martyn Thomas at full-back while Japanese star James Arlidge comes in as Dragons' playmaker and Rory Sidey joins Smith in the centres. Calvisano: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Winston Mafi, 13 Matteo Pratichetti, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Gerard Fraser, 9 Paul Griffen, 8 Alessandro Zanni, 7 Aaron Persico, 6 David Dal Maso, 5 Cameron Treloar, 4 Piero (Peter) Sidoli, 3 Hoani Tui, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (capt), 1 Alistair Mckenzie.Replacements: 16 Benjamin Evans, 17 Tommaso D'Apice, 18 Valerio Bernabo, 19 Nicola Cattina, 20 Pino Patelli, 21 Giovanni Raineri, 22 Paolo Buso. Dragons: 15 Jason Tovey, 14 Gareth Wyatt, 13 Rory Sidey, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Lewis Evans, 7 Craig Hill, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Hoani MacDonald, 3 Rhys Thomas, 2 Tom Willis (capt), 1 Adam Black.
Replacements: 16 Steve Jones, 17 Nigel Hall, 18 Grant Webb, 19 Andrew Hall, 20 Alex Walker, 21 Aled Brew, 22 Martyn Thomas.
