Benetton Treviso v Newport Gwent Dragons: Guinness PRO12 preview
Sunday 29 March 2015 17:56, UK
Newport Gwent Dragons have made two changes to their starting line-up for Saturday’s Guinness PRO12 trip to the Stadio Monigo to face Benetton Treviso.
The Dragons were beaten on their last visit to Italy in round 16, but responded positively in their next outing against Ulster to claim only their fifth league win of the season.
Jason Tovey returns at full-back as the Welsh region seek their first success in Italy since February 2013, with internationals Tom Prydie and Hallam Amos named on the wings.
The other change sees Pat Leach back in the Dragons' midfield and he partners 20-year-old Jack Dixon, with the half-back partnership of Dorian Jones and Jonathan Evans unchanged.
There are five changes to the replacements' bench, which includes Wales internationals Tyler Morgan and Taulupe Faletau and U20 star Ollie Griffiths.
The Dragons face Welsh rivals Cardiff Blues in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals next week and director of rugby Lyn Jones wants his side to build momentum ahead of that key clash.
"The Blues have Ulster away and we have Treviso away, whoever does well will benefit the following weekend in the quarter-final,” said Jones.
“We are looking at Treviso to work on weaknesses in our game to ensure that we get it right against the Blues. We hope to ensure that we enter that game in the best possible state.
"Treviso have had a lot of good victories at home this season and we understand the challenge ahead of us."
Benetton Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Simone Ragusi, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Enrico Bacchin, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Alberto Lucchese; 1 Matteo Zanusso, 2 Davide Giazzon, 3 Rupert Harden, 4 Antonio Pavanello (c), 5 Corniel Van Zyl, 6 Marco Barbini, 7 Francesco Minto, 8 Mat Luamanu.
Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Romulo Acosta, 18 Matteo Muccignat, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Meyer Swanepoel, 21 Dean Budd, 22 Andrea Pratichetti, 23 Edoardo Gori.
Newport Gwent 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 Cory Hill, 6 James Thomas, 7 James Benjamin, 8 Nick Crosswell.
Replacements: 16 Hugh Gustafson, 17 Phil Price, 18 Dan Way, 19 Taulupe Faletau, 20 Ollie Griffiths, 21 Luc Jones, 22 Tyler Morgan, 23 Carl Meyer.
