Newport Gwent Dragons Acting Head Coach Darren Edwards has named his team to face Glasgow Warriors at Firhill tonight.
There are three changes in the starting line-up from the team which triumphed over Aironi on Sunday. Adam Hughes comes back into the side on the wing, with Will Harries moving to full back as Martyn Thomas recovers from a hamstring strain. Ashley Smith returns to partner Tom Riley in the centre after a back injury kept him out of last weekend’s match, whilst Scott Morgan joins captain Luke Charteris in the second row, with Rob Sidoli moving to the bench.
Aled Brew will make his 22nd appearance of the season for the Men of Gwent, taking him level with Sidoli. Brew is on the verge of setting a new try-scoring record for the Dragons, currently tied with Gareth Wyatt on 29 tries apiece. Jason Tovey and Wayne Evans both start, with Mathew Jones and Mike Petri providing half-back cover. Matthew J Watkins is the other replacement back.
The powerful front row unit of hooker Lloyd Burns and props Phil Price and Dan Way have the chance to build on their impressive work in Italy last weekend, whilst the back row of Andrew Coombs, Lewis Evans and Joe Bearman all keep their places. Hugo Ellis and Steve Jones are on the bench alongside Hugh Gustafson and Ben Castle, who cover for Price and Way. Darren Edwards will miss the Wales Under 20s in Italy to be with the team in Scotland. The game will be the Dragons’ fourth encounter with Glasgow this season. The Warriors did the double over the Men of Gwent in the Heineken Cup, winning 23-16 at Rodney Parade last month and 21-13 at Firhill back in October.
The Dragons were victorious in the Magners League clash at Rodney Parade in September by 23 points to 11. Glasgow sit eleventh in the Magners League following their defeat away to Connacht last weekend. The Dragons are currently seventh, and a win would lift them considerably closer to Ulster, who are sixth.
Dragons: Will Harries, Adam Hughes, Tom Riley, Ashley Smith, Aled Brew, Jason Tovey, Wayne Evans; Phil Price, Lloyd Burns, Dan Way, Luke Charteris, Scott Morgan, Andrew Coombs, Lewis Evans, Joe Bearman.
Replacements: Steve Jones, Ben Castle, Hugh Gustafson, Rob Sidoli, Hugo Ellis, Mike Petri, Matthew Watkins, Mathew Jones
