Dogged Dragons aiming to douse Connacht’s fire

Connacht pitch up in Wales hoping to build on last week’s predictable sacking of hapless Zebre and add another five-point haul to their late-season ledger, filing a hopeful case for play-off inclusion.

Rodney Parade was once a graveyard for visiting teams but, sparkling intermissions aside – including an early mugging of an evolutionary Munster last term – it is usually their own hopes that are buried here. They can still talk a good game though.

“Connacht target certain games and we would be a game that I imagine they will try and target for five points. It is on us to prove people wrong and perform,” says head coach Dai Flanagan.

Connacht are on a nine-game winning streak against the struggling Welsh quartet, but their 22-12 lead in the head-to-heads allows for enough awkward history to remove any complacency.

“There’s enough to be concerned about with the Dragons to be honest,” admits head coach Pete Wilkins.

“Regardless of their position or wins and losses, they are a team that doesn’t go away. They certainly have a threat attacking from deep and they have a very effective kicking game as well.

“They can ping you in one area of the field and force errors from you. Over many seasons, they’ve always had a very good back-row. Their forward pack never takes a backward step.

“So when you transplant that to Rodney Parade, one of the toughest places to play rugby, we’ve got quite the challenge.

“It’s crucial for us to win to remain in control of our destiny and also to make sure the final three games – Munster into Stormers and Leinster – doesn’t become insurmountable. We will certainly target a win every week but this is a crucial bit of our jigsaw.”

Flanagan aims to hide a few of the pieces.

“I have been impressed with Connacht’s style of play. You can see the detail in their game, how well they keep the ball, run into spaces, and their shape.

“They are a very highly-skilled team and they have done a fantastic job as a coaching staff out there. They are a really pleasing team on the eye to preview because they play good rugby.”

Verdict: Connacht

DRAGONS: J Williams; R Dyer, S Hughes, A Owen, E Rosser; C Evans, Ri Williams; R Jones, E Dee, C Coleman; B Carter, M Screech; H Keddie, T Basham, A Wainwright. Reps: J Benjamin, R Martinez, L Yendle, G Nott, S Lonsdale, C Hope, Will Reed, Joe Westwood.

CONNACHT: T O’Halloran; S Jennings, T Farrell, B Aki, J Porch; JJ Hanrahan, M Devine; D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham; J Joyce, G Thornbury; S Hurley-Langton, C Oliver, C Prendergast. Reps: D Tierney-Martin, P Dooley, S Illo, O Dowling, J Butler, C Blade, C Forde, P Boyle.

REF: F Vedovelli (FIR)

Dragons v Connacht,

Live, RTÉ2/Premier Sports 1, 8.0