Dragons fly half Shaun Connor will become the fifth player to lead the region this season as the side takes on Sale Sharks in the first round of the LV= Cup at Rodney Parade (Friday, 7:30pm)
“I’m really looking forward to tonight’s match and it’s a real honour to be captaining the team, “said Connor. “As the fifth captain the region has seen through injury and international duty, I have seen how the other guys have all stepped up so I’m well aware of what’s needed from me tonight. Having said that, the Dragons are a pretty easy team to lead – especially at the moment when everybody is working as hard as they can for each other and for the team.”
And although the injury problems at the Dragons have created some selection headaches, Connor is definitely the man for the job according to Head Coach Paul Turner
“I am confident that Shaun will do a great job as captain,” he said. “As a former 10 myself I know that it is a position of leadership. James Arlidge and Jason Tovey have the same qualities from acting as the lieutenant and controlling the game, so it’s not much of a step up to the captaincy.
“Although it is not ideal to have to change your leader so often, I think the more leaders and players taking responsibility we have on the pitch the better.”
The Dragons come into this game off the back of their first away win in any competition since January as they defeated Edinburgh at Murrayfield.
“It’s great to be coming into tonight’s game off the back of last weekend’s win,” said Turner “Sunday was one of the most courageous performances I have ever witnessed in my time at the Dragons and the win is a credit to the players who travelled, as well as the support staff who went up to Edinburgh and the great support we had in Murrayfield from the Dragons supporters.
Newport Gwent Dragons
Martyn Thomas, William Harries, Rhodri Gomer Davies, Matthew Watkins, Richard Fussell; Shaun Connor (C); Danny Lee;
Dan Watchurst, Duane Goodfield, Pat Palmer, Hoani Macdonald, Adam Jones, Lewis Evans, James Harris, Grant Webb
Replacements
Andrew Brown, Hugh Gustafson, Peter Bracken, Toby Falatau, Rob Sidoli, Alex Walker, Adam Greendale, Matthew Pewtner,
Sale Sharks
Nick Macleod, Ben Cohen, David Bishop, Lee Thomas, Marika Vakacegu; Charlie Hodgson; Richard Wigglesworth;
Eifion Roberts, Mahonri Schwalger, Jack Forster, Sean Cox, Dean Schofield, James Gaskell, Luke Abraham, Carl Fearns.
Replacements
Neil Briggs, Rob O’Donnell, Martin Halsall, Kristian Ormsby, Sisa Koyamaibole, Dwayne Peel, Mathew Tait, Oriol Ripol.
“I’m really looking forward to tonight’s match and it’s a real honour to be captaining the team, “said Connor. “As the fifth captain the region has seen through injury and international duty, I have seen how the other guys have all stepped up so I’m well aware of what’s needed from me tonight. Having said that, the Dragons are a pretty easy team to lead – especially at the moment when everybody is working as hard as they can for each other and for the team.”
And although the injury problems at the Dragons have created some selection headaches, Connor is definitely the man for the job according to Head Coach Paul Turner
“I am confident that Shaun will do a great job as captain,” he said. “As a former 10 myself I know that it is a position of leadership. James Arlidge and Jason Tovey have the same qualities from acting as the lieutenant and controlling the game, so it’s not much of a step up to the captaincy.
“Although it is not ideal to have to change your leader so often, I think the more leaders and players taking responsibility we have on the pitch the better.”
The Dragons come into this game off the back of their first away win in any competition since January as they defeated Edinburgh at Murrayfield.
“It’s great to be coming into tonight’s game off the back of last weekend’s win,” said Turner “Sunday was one of the most courageous performances I have ever witnessed in my time at the Dragons and the win is a credit to the players who travelled, as well as the support staff who went up to Edinburgh and the great support we had in Murrayfield from the Dragons supporters.
Newport Gwent Dragons
Martyn Thomas, William Harries, Rhodri Gomer Davies, Matthew Watkins, Richard Fussell; Shaun Connor (C); Danny Lee;
Dan Watchurst, Duane Goodfield, Pat Palmer, Hoani Macdonald, Adam Jones, Lewis Evans, James Harris, Grant Webb
Replacements
Andrew Brown, Hugh Gustafson, Peter Bracken, Toby Falatau, Rob Sidoli, Alex Walker, Adam Greendale, Matthew Pewtner,
Sale Sharks
Nick Macleod, Ben Cohen, David Bishop, Lee Thomas, Marika Vakacegu; Charlie Hodgson; Richard Wigglesworth;
Eifion Roberts, Mahonri Schwalger, Jack Forster, Sean Cox, Dean Schofield, James Gaskell, Luke Abraham, Carl Fearns.
Replacements
Neil Briggs, Rob O’Donnell, Martin Halsall, Kristian Ormsby, Sisa Koyamaibole, Dwayne Peel, Mathew Tait, Oriol Ripol.
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