The Dragons will be looking for a league hatrick away from home this weekend following back-to-back victories over Ulster and Edinburgh in September.
Head Coach Paul Turner commented: “It has to be one of the most difficult tasks in the Magners League, to play last season’s champions away from home but I’m confident that we travel following a good few weeks of training and an eagerness to build on our previous form in the Magners League.”
He added: “I’d like to welcome Jamie Corsi back to the squad after a long period of injury and am also pleased that Rory Sidey is fit again for this weekend. The players have a big challenge ahead of them on Saturday and I’m looking for a huge performance in Ireland.”
Australian Dragons centre Rory Sidey returns from a rib cartilage injury picked up in the Heineken Cup fixture against Bath away from home last month. He is thrilled to be back to fitness for the clash with Leinster this weekend.
“It’s great to be back this week after injury. There’s never a great time to get an injury but my timing was probably as ideal as possible with the four week break which has allowed me to recover fully.
“I’m eager to get back to good form this weekend and help the team to victory against Leinster and hopefully throughout the tough fixtures that await the Dragons through December and into the New Year.”
In the Magners League last season, each side won its respective home game when the two teams met. Dragons prop Adam Black commented:
“This weekend a totally different side than that of last season will travel to Leinster and we will be confident that a victory is in our reach. We’ve demonstrated consistency in our performances so far this season and we will be looking for a result on Saturday.”
Dragons team to face Leinster:
15 Phillip Dollman 14 Gareth Wyatt 13 Rory Sidey 12 Marc Stcherbina 11 Richard Fussell 10 James Arlidge 9 Wayne Evans 1 Adam Black 2 Tom Willis (Captain) 3 Gethin Robinson 4 Hoani Macdonald 5 Andrew Hall 6 Joe Bearman 7 Lewis Evans 8 Grant Webb
Replacements: 16 Steve Jones 17 Jamie Corsi 18 Jamie Ringer 19 Danny Lydiate 20 Ashley Smith 21 Shaun Connor 22 Rob Lewis
ends.
