Dragons Head Coach Paul Turner has announced a 26- man squad for Sunday’s home Magners League match against Glasgow (KO 4:10pm)
Captain Tom Willis is hoping to be declared fit for the Dragons first home game in the Magners season.
“Although nobody at the Dragons wanted to be coming into Sunday’s game off the back of a defeat, we have to accept that Connacht played really well and that we were just not at the races,” said Turner.
“Nobody likes losing, but the manner of the defeat was unacceptable. We are all aware of the reputation we forged last season and every man out in Galway let themselves down.
“Unfortunately last Saturday we had three players in the 22 that have had no game time at all during the summer due to injury and rehabilitation. Saturday was Danny Lee’s first game since the Scarlets match on New Year’s Eve. Added to that, guys like Joe Bearman, Will Harries, Luke Charteris, Gavin Thomas, Hugh Gustafson and Robin Sowden-Taylor have had relatively little game time.
“Having said all that, I’m happy with the way the players responded after the game and during the week. We are definitely looking forward to our first home game of the season.
Glasgow Warriors head coach, Sean Lineen, is hoping that his side can replicate the same kind of form on the road this season following their away record of four wins, three losses and two draws on the road to the inaugural Play-Offs last season.
But coming off the back of a rousing 22-19 victory over Leinster last weekend, Lineen has every confidence that the Warriors can continue their impressive form when they visit Rodney Parade.
“This is a huge game,” he said. “We had a good away record last season of four wins and two draws, but we’re travelling down to Newport and it’s going to be difficult.
“All six home teams won at the weekend so it’s going to form in terms of home advantage but it’s going to crack at some point and it would be great for us to do it against Newport on Sunday.
“Newport are going to be tough but it’s a good one to get after the high against Leinster.”
On the importance of starting the season with a win in front of the home support at Firhill, Lineen continued: “It was really important to get a win first up at home in front of the crowd. The new guys all did well and the subs were fantastic when they came on. It was great to see the smile on the players’ faces after the game.
“But it’s a long season and it’s my job to make sure we’re organised, prepared and motivated for the game ahead.”
The Warriors have made two changes to the starting XV that defeated Leinster last weekend, both of which are in the forwards.
Ed Kalman starts at tighthead prop in place of Moray Low who is named among the replacements whilst Canadian international Chauncey O’Toole, who joined the Warriors on a short-term contract this week, is named at blindside flanker in place of Ryan Wilson who drops out of the match-day 23.
The most notable inclusion on the bench is that of utility back Colin Gregor who is poised to make his return to frontline action following knee surgery at the end of last season.
Dragons: Matthew Evans, Will Harries, Aled Brew, Matthew Pewtner, Pat Leach, Tom Riley, Matthew Jones , Jason Tovey, Nicky Griffiths, Wayne Evans; Pat Palmer, Hugh Gustafson, Ben Castle, Nigel Hall Ali McKenzie, Aaron Coundley, Tom Willis, Lloyd Burns, Steve Jones, Luke Charteris, Adam Jones, Rob Sidoli, Scott Morgan, Danny Lydiate, Lewis Evans, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Gavin Thomas.
Glasgow Warriors 15 Bernardo Stortoni (capt) 14 DTH van der Merwe 13 Max Evans 12 Graeme Morrison 11 Federico Aramburu 10 Ruaridh Jackson 9 Henry Pyrgos 1 Jon Welsh 2 Fergus Thomson 3 Ed Kalman 4 Tom Ryder 5 Richie Gray 6 Chauncey O’Toole 7 Calum Forrester 8 Richie Vernon
Substitutes 16 Pat MacArthur 17 Moray Low 18 Ryan Grant 19 Aly Muldowney 20 Rob Harley/Chris Fusaro 21 Colin Gregor 22 Duncan Weir 23 Hefin O’Hare
