Preview - Dragons v Brive
The Dragons create history on Saturday when they play a European quarter-final game at Rodney Parade for the first time.
The Dragons are undefeated at home since September and will look to use their home advantage against a Brive team struggling this season in the Top 14. The two have never met before.
The Dragons also have a 100 per cent record over French teams at Rodney Parade having previously beaten Perpignan, Stade Francais and Castres, as well as Bayonne in the Chalenge Cup this season.
The Dragons welcome Nathan Brew back into the starting line up having recovered from a foot injury which kept him out of last week’s Magners League clash against the Scarlets.
Also back in the squad for the first time since September is hooker Steve Jones and he takes his place on the replacements bench.
Adam Black and Ben Daly have given The Dragons a massive boost having recovered from their leg injuries and both start in the front row.
Brive arrive boasting a big pack of forwards including Romanian international lock Christian Petre, while outside, the power and pace is supplied by Fijian Filimone Boleavucu. Directing play from fly-half is former Italy international Luciano Orquera.
Form: Both sides arrive into this on the back of a big break for Six Nations, followed by a difficult game, but Brive’s draw against Perpignan, rescued by a last-minute try from damien chouly, will have boosted morale. Nothing so boosting for the Dragons, who were comprehensively hammered by the Scarlets.
Dragons: 15 Kevin Morgan (c), 14 Gareth Wyatt, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Nathan Brew, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Alex Walker, 8 Michael Owen, 7 Jamie Ringer, 6 Colin Charvis, 5 Peter Sidoli, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Lee Harrison, 2 Ben Daly, 1 Adam Black.
Replacements: 16 Steve Jones, 17 Jamie Corsi, 18 Dai Maddocks, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Nic Fitisemanu, 21 Gareth Cooper, 22 Aled Thomas.
Brive: 15 Nicolas Le Roux, 14 Filimone Boleavucu, 13 Ludovic Valbon, 12 Suka Hufanga, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Tim Clark, 8 Rudy Cheron, 7 Alexendre Maleyrie, 6 Simon Azoulai (c), 5 Charl van Rensburg, 4 Christian Petre, 3 Pierre Capdevielle, 2 Jawad Djoudi, 1 Pierre-Philippe Lafond.
Replacements: 16 Julien Campo, 17 Petrisor Toderasc, 18 Fabien Domingo, 19 Jerome Bonvoisin, 20 Jean-Baptiste Pejoine, 21 Maxime Petitjean, 22 Sebastien Bonetti.
Date: Saturday, March 31
Venue: Rodney Parade
Kick-off: 15:00 (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Touch judges: Dave Pearson (England), Paul Dix (England)
Assessor: Douglas Kerr (Scotland)
Television match official: Laurie Bryant (England), Graham Highes (England)
