Newport Gwent Dragons kick off their festive period with a trip west to Stradey Park where they take on the Scarlets on Friday night, kick off 7.40pm.
With three Welsh derby games in the space of ten days The Dragons are aiming to put in three big performances and are boosted by the news that both Ben Daly and Joe Bearman are fit with Daly having recovered from a bicep injury and Bearman a hip injury.
Coach Paul Turner is well aware of the massive challenges that lie ahead for his squad commenting, "The Christmas period is one of intense pressure and physicality for the squad. We are in a better position to cope with the demands of this than last season as having learnt the lessons from a busy Christmas last year strengthened our squad in the summer. We played the Scarlets earlier in the season and it was one of the games of the season and one we should have won but it highlighted we are a force to be reckoned with. They will naturally be buoyed by their awesome win in Toulouse and we will have to match them in all areas of the game on Friday night. As for the Blues they did what we did in Thomond Park a year ago but in the end were killed off by an experienced Munster side and we are expecting a great game against them just after Christmas in front of a bumper crowd.
"Our trip to the Liberty Stadium against the Ospreys is another game for supporters to relish, it is a fantastic stadium to play at and they are doing very well in Europe. Our primary aim is to win all three games and we need to push our way up the Magners League table. We have to perform and it is a big test for us over Christmas. This is a key point in the season for The Dragons, the players know what's expected of them and they have to be up for the games against the other Welsh regions. Away at Stradey Park is a tough way to kick of our Christmas campaign, they are playing a great style of rugby and it is hard to get the ball off them. It is always hard to pick up anything down there but we aim to make it difficult for them. We want to reward our own supporters and give them some festive cheer, they have been good to us and we desperately want to reward them with wins."
The Dragons have never won at Stradey Park but travel on Friday night looking to secure their first win down there. The Dragons then welcome the Blues to Rodney Parade on the 27th December and last season it was the visitors who emerged victorious from a close match then it is a trip back down the M4 and to the Ospreys and despite last seasons tight game The Dragons were unable to win at the Liberty Stadium. With three games in ten days it is a big ask for The Dragons squad but the Men of Gwent are targeting the three games and looking to secure maximum points and push their way up the table.
"Our main goal naturally over the festive period is to win all three games but to do that we will have to put in consistent performances, something we have yet to achieve this season," continued Paul Turner. "Two of our three games are away from home which is a slight disadvantage but we hope that a number of our supporters will travel to cheer us on as a number did for our amtch last Saturday away to Bucuresti. Our home game against the Blues will be massive, a sell out crowd is expected and the whole squad would like nothing better than repaying our fans with a win. We have to secure wins if we are to move up the league and into the zone where we can secure Heineken Cup rugby for next season."
For the match against the Blues The Dragons will take to the field in orange in support of MS Cymru to raise awareness of the disease. A limited amount of shirts have been made for this fixture, 40 in total with some being auctioned and others raffled and all money raised will go to the MS society.
"The response has been fantastic," said MS Fundraise John Samuel. "we have had people from France, Spain and a couple from South Africa contact us. It has been tremendous and as we get nearer to the game the interest is rising."
Looking ahead to the Dragons games over Christmas, captain Kevin Morgan said, "It is vital we start off at Stradey Park on Friday night with a good performance. It is never an easy place to go and they will have their tails up after coming back from the dead in Toulouse on Saturday with a magnificent win. We will have to mix it with them on Friday night, the game against them earlier in the season was a fascinating encounter and one of the games that really stands out in the memory and our six minute lapse in concentration really let us down. We need to put in a good performance and if we do that on Friday night there is no reason why we can't secure our first win at Stradey Park. We then play the Blues at home in front of a bumper crowd and we would like nothing better than to repay our loyal fans with a victory. They have been fantastic all season and to get a victory over our nearest rivals and in front of the home fans would be superb."
Adam Black is due (if he features) to make his 100th appearance for The Dragons against the Blues next Wednesday he has started 70 games for the region and made 28 appearances as a replacement, he is also the leading try scorers among the forwards with 11.
For the team against the Scarlets coach Paul Turner has made five changes to the side who won in Bucharest last Saturday with Nathan Brew moving from the left wing to the right with his brother Aled slotting in on the left. Among the forwards Ben Daly comes in for Kieran Crawford having recovered from injury, Ian Gough replaces Peter Sidoli while there is a reshuffle in the back row with Colin Charvis moving from open side to blindside flanker, Michael Owen moving from 6 to 8 and Jamie Ringer comes in at 7.
Dragons Team v Scarlets
Kevin Morgan (c), Nathan Brew, Paul Emerick, Ashley Smith, Aled Brew, Ceri Sweeney, Gareth Cooper, Adam Black, Ben Daly, Lee Harrison, Ian Gough, Luke Charteris, Colin Charvis, Jamie Ringer, Michael Owen
Kieran Crawford, Jamie Corsi, Andrew Hall, Joe Bearman, Gareth Wyatt, Aled Thomas, Alex Walker
