Garvey is lined-up to play at tight head prop against the Welsh/Scottish
League leaders Llanelli at Rodney Parade on Friday night(kick-off 7.05pm)
for what is being described as the match of the season to date in Wales.
With Chris Anthony, Ian Gough, Andy Powell and Andy marinos having been
away with Graham Henry’s Welsh Six Nations squad this week, Newport Rugby
coach Ian McIntosh has been considering his options in the pack.
“We haven’t settled on the front five we will start with against Llanelli.
We have to assess the neck strain that Rod Snow has been suffering since the win over Newcastle and the physical demands that have been placed on our Welsh squad members,” said Newport Rugby team manager Jim McCreedy.
“David Pattison is standing by to replace Snow if required, while there
will be a straight choice between Garvey and Anthony at tight head prop and Mike Voyle and Gough in the second row.”
Marinos and Andy Powell have been named in the side, while Matt Pini returns at full back having missed his first match of the season against Newcastle.
His return to the No 15 jersey means Shane Howarth reverting back to outside half in place of Jason Strange.
Strange moves on the replacements bench along with the hat-trick hero from the Newcastle match, Matthew Watkins.
Watkins is replaced on the left wing
by fellow Wales A squad member Ben Breeze.
Llanelli currently lead the Welsh/ Scottish League table with 27 points from 12 games. Newport are in second place with 24 points from 10 matches, Neath sit in third with 21 points from 11 games.
If Newport win on Friday night they will go top of the table courtesy of a
better try count than Llanelli.
“It is going to be another big game for us and we are expecting another huge effort from Llanelli following their victory over Leicester in the
Heineken Cup last weekend,” said Newport Rugby coach Ian McIntosh.
“Tactically, they were very correct against us in their win at Stradey Park. They shut us down until the final few minutes.”
NEWPORT: Matt Pini; Matt Mostyn, Andy Marinos, Jon Pritchard, Ben Breeze;
Shane Howarth, Ofisa Tonu’u; Rod Snow/David Pattison, James Richards,
Adrian Garvey/Chris Anthony, Simon Raiwalui (captain), Mike Voyle/Ian
Gough, Peter Buxton, Jason Forster, Andy Powell.
Replacements: AN Other, Paul Young, Ian Gough/Mike Voyle, Joe Powell,
Matthew Watkins, Jason Strange, Dale Burn.
