The Welsh region can boast a 100 per cent record in the last eight of the tournament and are looking to maintain their successes of the past when they head to Ashton Gate to face the English Premiership play-off candidates.
DRAGONS EUROPEAN QUARTER-FINAL SUCCESSES
31 March, 2007 – Rodney Parade
Newport Gwent Dragons 39 – 17 Brive
HT: 24-7 Att: 7,112Dragons: K Morgan (captain); G Wyatt, P Emerick (A Thomas 62), N Brew, A Brew; C Sweeney, A Walker (G Cooper 53); A Black (D Maddocks 73), B Daly (S Jones 56), L Harrison (J Corsi 46), I Gough, P Sidoli (L Charteris 56), C Charvis, J Ringer (N Fitsemanu 63), M Owen
YC: C Charvis 54
Scorers: Tries: K Morgan 2, A Black, J Ringer, A Brew, Pen Try; Cons: C Sweeney 3; Pen: C SweeneyBrive: N le Roux; F Bolovucu (S Bonetti 54), L Valbon, S Hufanga (M Petitjean 71), A Palisson; L Orquera, T Clark; P Lafond (P Toderasc 55), J Djoudi (J Campo 55), P Capdevielle, C Petre, C van Rensburg, S Azoulai (captain), A Maleyrie (J Bonvoisin 43), D Chouly (F Domingo 46)
Scorers: Tries: S Hufanga 2, F Bolovucu; Con: L OrqueraReferee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Man of the Match: Michael Owen (Dragons)4 April 2015 – Rodney Parade
Newport Gwent Dragons 25 – 21 Cardiff Blues
HT: 10-14 Att: 8,119Dragons: J Tovey; T Prydie, P Leach (T Morgan 62), J Dixon, H Amos; R Jones, J Evans; P Price (D Way 73), TR Thomas (captain, H Gustafson 74), B Harris, A Coombs (T Faletau 11), C Hill, J Thomas (N Cudd 41), J Benjamin, N Crosswell
Scorers: Tries: H Amos, N Cudd, Pen Try; Cons: T Prydie 2; Pens: T Prydie, R JonesCardiff Blues: D Fish; A Cuthbert, G Evans, T Knoyle, R Smith; G Anscombe, L Williams; G Jenkins (S Hobbs 41), M Rees (captain, K Dacey 52), S Andrews (A Jones 57), J Hoeata (M Cook 52), L Reed, J Turnbull (E Jenkins 71), S Warburton, J Navidi
YC: L Williams 50
Scorers: Tries: L Williams, J Navidi, G Anscombe; Cons: G Anscombe 3Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Man of the Match: T Rhys Thomas (Dragons)9 April 2016 – Kingsholm
Gloucester Rugby 21 – 23 Dragons
HT: 11-12 Att: 10,501Gloucester: T Marshall; R Cook, H Trinder, Atkinson, S McColl; J Hook, G Laidlaw (captain); P McAllister (Y Thomas 63), R Hibbard (D Dawidiuk 58), J Afoa, T Savage, M Galarza, S Kalamafoni (G Evans 63), M Kvesic, B Morgan
YC: G Laidlaw 39
Scorers: Tries: B Morgan, S McColl; Con: G Laidlaw; Pens: G Laidlaw 3Dragons: C Meyer; A Hughes, T Morgan, A Warren (R Jones 61), H Amos; R Jones (A O’Brien 20), S Pretorius (C Davies 64); P Price (B Stankovich 77), E Dee, B Harris (S Knight 79), R Landman (M Screech 64), N Crosswell, L Evans (captain), N Cudd, T Faletau
YC: S Pretorius 22
Scorers: Try: C Davies; Pens: R Jones 5, C MeyerReferee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Man of the Match: Taulupe Faletau (Dragons)
“It’s a nice statistic and it doesn’t put any pressure on us. This team wants to write its own history and they are really excited about going to Bristol on Friday night,” said Dragons head coach Dean Ryan.
“We are really excited about going to Bristol on Friday night and we have prepared well. We need to play at this level to learn more ahead of our Heineken Champions Cup campaign next season.
“We have got some really big game players who are looking forward to playing against Bristol. Everyone wants to go there and give it a real go.”
Ryan will be selecting from a full strength squad which means there could be debuts for new signings Jamie Roberts, Greg Bateman and Jonah Holmes.
“There will be a rolling of the dice in selection. I don’t want there to be any ‘what ifs’ on Saturday morning,” added Ryan.
