| Looking ahead to the game Paul Turner commented, “After a gap of five weeks we have a tough game this weekend against Ulster who currently top the Celtic League table. However, we have been preparing hard for the match, the boys had a week off before having a week of intensive conditioning and fitness, a week of rugby and have had a week of preparing for the game. Last time out we gave what I thought was our best performance of the season, there was a real hunger about us and a determination to win the game. I expect us to show the same again on Saturday, Ravenhill is an intimidating place to play, however, our performances away from home this season have been good and hopefully we can turn those good performances and near misses into wins.”
The Dragons have named a 24-man squad for the game with Welsh Internationals Hal Luscombe and Ceri Sweeney included. Michael Owen and Ian Gough will sit out Saturday’s game following their Six Nations duties with Wales. Scrum half James Ireland is included for the first time this season following his recovery from a knee operation.
In the forwards Chris Anthony is named following his recovery from a shoulder operation and has been getting game time in the Principality Premiership. Luke Charteris has recovered from his shoulder injury that he sustained in December and has also been getting game time in the Premiership and last Friday played for Pontypool. While Rhys Oakley and Gareth Baber fresh from their experiences Down Under with the Wales 7s Commonwealth team are also named in the 24-man party.
Baber was Assistant Coach to the Wales 7s team and following an injury to fellow Dragons team mate Gareth Wyatt featured in a number of games. “It was a fantastic experience to play in the Commonwealth Games and very pleasing to do so well and finish fifth. Myself, like all the others gained a lot from participating in the multi games environment and enjoyed learning and gaining experience from other elite athletes. One of the highlights was an inspirational team talk to the squad from Dame Tanni Grey Thompson. It is now however, back to our core responsibilities and with our other representative players back an opportunity for us to get a valuable away win in our bid for Heineken Cup qualification.”
Dragons Squad
Aled Thomas, Gareth Chapman, Richard Fussell, Nathan Brew, Hal Luscombe, Ceri Sweeney, Jon Bryant, Craig Warlow, Gareth Baber, James Ireland, Adam Black, David Maddocks, Steve Jones, Andy Brown, Rhys Thomas, Chris Anthony, Luke Charteris, Bryn Griffiths, Peter Sidoli, Andrew Hall, Jamie Ringer, Jason Forster (c), Rhys Oakley, Shawn Van Rensburg.
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