The only negative is that Dai Flanagan’s men will be hosting a team that has reached the last two finals, the Stormers. Currently sitting in fifth place, six points off the top four, they will be desperate to bridge the gap to a home quarter-final place.
The recent announcements of changes to the back room staff for next season – Filo Tiatia is coming in as defence coach next season and Ryan Chambers is arriving from the Wales National Team to take over as head of performance – have been accompanied by new signings and departures.
Aussie lock Steve Cummins, Tongan back rower Solomone Funaki, Welsh international forward Shane Lewis-Hughes and Waratahs centre Harry Wilson will arrive in the summer, while Aki Seiuli, Sean Lonsdale, Sio Tomkinson, Lewis Jones, Corey Baldwin, Nathan Evans, Max Clark and Gonzalo Bertranou are all leaving.
There is a new chairman, co-owner Dai Wright, and new CEO, Rhys Blumberg. The stage is set for a new era at Rodney Parade.
Cai Evans will miss at least the game against the Stormers having broken a bone in his shin in the narrow defeat to Connacht. Fit again Angus O’Brien is ready to step in at full back if required.
“We need to be on it and I’m sure it will be a great spectacle for everyone who comes to Rodney Parade. The Stormers transition game is the best I’ve seen,” said Flanagan.
“When the game gets loose, they light up. If there’s a loose kick then lookout, if there’s a turnover then lookout, if there’s an opportunity to go from behind the posts then they are going.
“I’ve explained to the players this week that transition can be our biggest friend or our biggest enemy. With players like Rio Dyer, Jordan Williams and Chris Hollis, we enjoy transition play as well.
“If we can win those transitional battles, we can have a good day.”
