MAGNERS LEAGUE

News | Fixtures & Results | Tables

Preview: Dragons v Leinster

Thursday 08th May 2008

There are several changes to the starting Leinster line-up for the final Magners League game of the season at the Dragons on Friday.

In the backline, Chris Keane starts at scrum-half and partners Jonathan Sexton at half-back. Michael Berne partners skipper Brian O'Driscoll while Luke Fitzgerald joins Shane Horgan and Girvan Dempsey in the back three.

In the pack there are starts for Cian Healy, Brian Blaney and Stephen Knoop, with Devin Toner lining up alongside Trevor Hogan. Cameron Jowitt and Kevin McLaughlin both start in the back-row alongside Stephen Keogh who moves to number eight.

Bernard Jackman, Malcolm O'Kelly and Chris Whitaker are all named on a strong-looking bench.

Speaking ahead of Friday night's Magners League game in Rodney Parade, Leinster and Ireland 'A' out-half Jonathan Sexton said that the squad are determined to finish a positive season on a high.

"We're all delighted to have won the league title last weekend, but we're determined to use this success as a stepping-stone to go on and really challenge for the Heineken Cup," he said.

There was a lot of talk about that after the game, and that has to be one of our main goals from next season.

"It is important that we remain consistent in the Magners League, because if you look at it, the great sides like Leicester and Wasps win or compete strongly in their domestic competitions on a regular basis.

"It was great to beat Munster home and away, beating Ulster at home on St. Stephens' Day was a good feeling, but I suppose the one constant source throughout the campaign was in playing in front of big crowds in the RDS. I played in the Last Stand in Lansdowne Road and we had half the numbers at the home game against Munster, but twice the volume. It was just incredible. Hopefully the supporters and the fan-base will continue to be a major part of our success for many years to come.

"Highlights from last weekend? The whole day was a highlight to be honest. There was a fair bit of anxiety in the build up, personally speaking, because the level of expectation was so high, but thankfully we managed to put in a strong performance and the celebrations afterwards were really special.

"I have enjoyed the whole season. I know that I benefited from Gordon (D'Arcy's) absence but I really learned a lot playing alongside him and Felipe (Contepomi) at 12 as well as the likes of Brian O'Driscoll, Christian Warner, Mick Berne and Fergus McFadden over the season.

"It has been great to play alongside all the backs, and in that regard Whits (Chris Whitaker) has been a massive help. He is a top class performer and has so much experience because he has achieved virtually everything you can in the game. He's willing to give you tips and encouragement and that gives you a lift during training and in matches.

"Being left out of the Heineken Cup squad once or twice really drove me on. I was especially pleased to come back to play in the last few games after the thumb injury I sustained against Leicester in January, because I thought that my season was over at that stage.

"I'm pleased with how things have progressed over the last few months. I feel as though I have established myself a bit more in the squad, but you can't be complacent because with Isa Nacewa and other new signings coming in it will be up to all of us to knuckle down over the summer and try to kick on.

"I see Friday's game as a huge one because it will present players with a chance to stake a claim for next year. I see the Dragons game as a great opportunity to step up to the plate and try to give the coaches some more options.

"The Dragons are dangerous with ball in hand. A few of the tries that they conceded were from turnovers, but we were conscious in the build up to last weekend that we needed to guard against their attacking threat."

Meanwhile, Dragons Head Coach Paul Turner watched the Magners League champions overturn his Dragons in Dublin last weekend yet he is confident that the Dragons can be hugely competitive in the reverse of the fixture and throughout next season.

"The team were put under immense pressure by the Leinster team last weekend as they achieved their Magners League title yet a win at home against the Ospreys and the relief of a Heineken Cup qualification has undoubtedly lifted the players this week," said Turner.

"Leinster have announced a full strength squad who will be on a high following last weekend. The Dragons will have to be at their best this weekend and I'm sure if we receive the same support as we did against the Ospreys on Tuesday, this will lift the team for their final game of the season at Rodney Parade."

Colin Charvis will once again captain the Dragons team. there are fitness clouds hanging over both centre Rhodri Gomer-Davies and number eight Joe Bearman.

Form: Dragons' only win in their seven matches against the Irish provinces this season was 31-11 over Ulster at Rodney Parade on 6 October 2007. Magners League champions Leinster lost their last away game 13-15 at Murrayfield but have not lost successive matches on the road in the Magners League this season. Leinster have won their last five games against Welsh opponents. The two sides clashed in Dublin last Saturday with Leinster running out 41-8 victors. The Dragons have now won just one of their last six encounters with Leinster: 31-18 at Rodney Parade on 18 February 2006.

The teams:

Dragons: 15 Kevin Morgan, 14 Gareth Wyatt, 13 Rhodri Gomer-Davies/ Paul Emerick, 12 Phillip Dollman, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Joe Bearman/ Lewis Evans, 7 James Harris, 6 Colin Charvis (c), 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Andy Hall, 3 Patrick Palmer, 2 Steve Jones, 1 Hugh Gustafson.
Replacements: 16 Ben Daly, 17 Adam Black, 18 Adam Jones, 19 Lewis Evans/ Richard Parks, 20 Paul Emerick/ Gareth Maule, 21 Ceri Sweeney, 22 Alex Walker.

Leinster: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Michael Berne, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Chris Keane, 8 Stephen Keogh, 7 Kevin McLaughlin, 6 Cameron Jowitt, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Trevor Hogan, 3 Stephen Knoop, 2 Brian Blaney, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Bernard Jackman, 17 Ronan McCormack, 18 Malcolm O'Kelly, 19 Richie Leyden, 20 Chris Whitaker, 21 Christian Warner, 22 Gary Brown.

Date: Friday, May 9
Venue: Rodney Parade
Kick-off: 19:10 BST (18:10 GMT)
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU)
Touch Judges: James Jones (WRU), Gwyn Morris (WRU).
TMO: Huw Lewis (WRU).