Only a bonus point win will do! Dragons are in European Challenge Cup action at Rodney Parade this Friday night as the team tackles Enisei-STM in Round 6 aiming for a quarter-final place (kick-off 8pm).
Ahead of the game, we take a closer look at all the stats and information you need to know:
Pool 1: Dragons vs Enisei-STM
- Referee: Joy Neville (Ire)
- Assistant Ref: Nigel Correll (Ire) & Richard Kerr (Ire)
- Citing Commissioner: Peter Ferguson (Ire)
Match facts:
- Enisei beat Dragons when they first met in the Challenge Cup in 2016/17, since then the Welsh region have claimed victory in each of their four clashes.
- Dragons have won 14 of their last 17 home games in the Challenge Cup whilst Enisei are still searching for their first away win in the competition (L14).
- Enisei have the lowest tackle success rate (78%) this season and have also conceded the most penalties (66) and yellow cards (7).
- Dragons have made just 19 offloads, fewer than any other side, and Sam Davies (4) has accounted for more than 20% of them.
- Enisei duo Evgeny Elgin and Mikheil Gachechiladze are two of just three players to have played all 400 minutes to date.
Tournament Record:
Dragons: P64 - W36, D0, L28. Win Rate: 55%
Enisei: P29 – W4, D0, L25. Win Rate: 14%
Pools update:
Pool 1
No white smoke yet from this nail-biter with three clubs in the qualification shake-up going into Friday evening’s matches. It’s effectively a potential winner-takes-all between Worcester (15 points), Castres (18 points) and Dragons for top spot in the pool, while the Dragons will be guaranteed a quarter-final place if they manage a bonus-point victory against Enisei at Rodney Parade.
Pool 2
Pool winners, RC Toulon, will be expected to secure a home quarter-final when they meet Bayonne at Mayol on Saturday, however, the stakes are much higher for the Scarlets (14 points) who will need a win at London Irish – possibly with a bonus point – to have any chance of qualifying as a best runner-up.
Pool 3
Similar picture to Pool 2 with already-qualified, Bordeaux-Bègles, targeting a home quarter-final at Wasps on Saturday, while if Edinburgh register a bonus-point success against Agen at BT Murrayfield, they will qualify as a best runner-up ranked No 6.
Pool 4
Although pool winners, Bristol Bears, have already booked a home quarter-final, they will be focused on a highest possible ranking when they travel to Zebre on Saturday. Boosted by their away victory over Stade Francais in Round 5, if the Italians pull off a bonus-point victory, they could qualify as a best runner-up.
Pool 5
Plenty to play for here. Leicester are pool winners, and a victory at Pau on Saturday will guarantee a home quarter-final, but a win for Pau (15 points) will put them in the shake-up for a best runner-up place. Cardiff Blues (13 points) are also still in contention, and if they manage a bonus-point success over Calvisano at the Arms Park, and if Leicester do them a favour, then they could also go through as a best runner-up.
Can Dragons make the knockout stages in Europe? Find out when we face Enisei-STM in the final pool game of the European Challenge Cup at Rodney Parade on Friday (kick-off 8pm). Click HERE to buy tickets or call the Ticket Office on 01633 674990.
