Newport Gwent Dragons face Exeter Chiefs this Sunday in the first of a double header of games between the sides which could prove crucial in determining which sides are still in the mix to qualify for the Amlin Challenge Cup Quarter Finals as Pool 4 winners.
The Dragons will be looking to achieve the double over their Devon opponents, who are currently their closest challengers in Pool 4, to put themselves firmly in pole position going into the final 2 rounds in one of the most competitive pools in the tournament.
“We really enjoy the European occasions, and, when you look at our group it could be a Heineken Pool,” said centre Ashley Smith. “The Amlin Challenge Cup is a tough competition – it is just as tough as we found in previous years in the Heineken Cup.”
Over the same weekend Perpignan will be looking to keep up the pressure by following the lead of both the Dragons and Exeter and earning 5 points from each of their clashes with Italians Cavalieri Prato.
“Obviously we were disappointed not to make it into the Heineken Cup but at the start of the season we targeted the Amlin Challenge Cup.”
“We looked at the tournament and decided we were going to give it our all and try to qualify and reach the knock-out stages.”
Beating Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park this Sunday (11th December) would mark a significant stride towards that goal but the Dragons have recently found it hard going on the road, particularly in Europe.
“As coach Darren Edwards has said, we had struggled in previous years in the Heineken Cup so this gives us a chance to work hard in Europe, improve our form – especially on the road – and try to make some progress.”
“We could hardly have asked for a better start in Europe, to get a bonus point over in Italy and then to back that up with a home performance and win against Perpignan that was huge.”
“But that will mean nothing if we don’t carry that form on so we need to continue and that starts with two huge games against Exeter Chiefs.”
“And we know that is a pretty tough double-header for us. Exeter are doing very well in the English Premiership and have started well in Europe as well and put in a good performance out in France.”
“It is going to be a big old typical derby, England against Wales. We are in pretty close proximity so there should be two big, passionate crowds for the matches.”
“Whether those games are going to decide the group I don’t know but obviously we are going all out and it could put us in a good place if we win.”
The last time the Dragons were in the Amlin Challenge Cup was the 2006/2007 season where they beat English and French Opposition in the Pool stages, Bristol and Bayonne, and went on to reach the last four. They beat Brive 39-17 in the quarter-finals before going down 46-19 at eventual winners ASM Clermont Auvergne.
Fellow centre Phil Dollman was with the Dragons that season and played in the tournament and could now face some of his former team-mates.
“Phil is still down there and it would be great if he played,” said Smith. “He was here for a couple of years, is a top bloke and that would add something else to the match because since he went down there he has been very successful.”
