News

Preview: Toulouse v Dragons

Friday 05th December 2008

Colin Charvis has recovered from a thigh injury in time to start for the Dragons on a daunting trip to face French giants Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday.

The Dragons have a full squad to choose from, and Joe Bearman gets a chance to build on his burgeoning reputation at blindside flanker.

Pacy lock Hoani MacDonald also gets a start in the pack, while Marc Stcherbins and Gareth Wyatt provide the experience out in the backs.

"It's a big test and one we feel we're capable of meeting," Turner told the South Wales Echo.

"It's about going into the cauldron and performing. You've got to lay down your mark and gain their respect early. That's our intention. We have to be bold and technically good defensively.

"But that's what playing in this competition is all about."

The Dragons are very much alive in Pool Five of the Heineken Cup after beating Glasgow and picking up a losing bonus point in Bath in their opening two games, and will be looking forward to hosting the French giants in a week's time in what could be an awkward trip for Toulouse.

Turner also hinted that the Dragons could employ Lyn Jones as their attack coach on a permanent basis. The former Ospreys coach has been working on a consultancy basis at the Dragons since the departure of former backs coach David Rees.

"Lyn has got experience and won some titles," said Turner.

"You could do with a Lyn Jones in any coaching organisation.

"Lyn has come in to help with the attack on a consutancy basis until the end of the month and is doing a good job.

"Coaching is about improving the 'cattle' on the field and I feel Lyn can bring something to our party. His experience will be good."

Meanwhile, Toulouse have named an all-international matchday 22. You read correctly, every player both on the field and the bench has at least one Test cap.

The only significant change to the expected team is at number eight where Gr�gory Lamboley has displaced Shaun Sowerby. The South African is being give a rest, but is amongst the replacements.

Yves Donguy is injured so Maxime M�dard will start on the right wing. David Skrela and Jean-baptise Elissalde are also crocked but in Fr�d�ric Michalak and Byron Kelleher the half-back combination is as classy as one would like.

Pumas lock Patricio Albacete has an knee injury meaning France's record Test Cap winner, Fabien Pelous joins fellow French international Roman Millo-Chluski in the second row.

Form: Toulouse thumped second-placed Bayonne 32-11 in the Top 14 last week, with many of their stars on the bench. Guy Nov�s' side sits atop the French league and appears almost peerless in France at the moment. The Dragons have had most of November off, and fell 29-13 to Leinster last week as the cobwebs got blown off. Their display against Bath a month ago could be an inspiration though.

The teams:

Toulouse: 15 Clement Poitrenaud, 14 Maxime M�dard, 13 Maleli Kunavore, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 C�dric Heymans, 10 Fr�d�ric Michalak, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Gr�gory Lamboley, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Jean Bouilhou, 5 Roman Millo-Chluski, 4 Fabien Pelous, 3 Salvatore Perugini, 2 William Servat, 1 Dan Human.
Replacements: 16 Benoit Lecouls, 17 Alberto Vernet-Basualdo, 18 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 19 Shaun Sowerby, 20 Yannick Nyanga, 21 Gaffie Du Toit, 22 Florian Fritz.

Dragons: 15 Phillip Dollman, 14 Gareth Wyatt, 13 Rhodri Gomer Davies, 12 Marc Stcherbina, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Lewis Evans, 7 Colin Charvis, 6 Joe Bearman, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Hoani MacDonald, 3 Rhys Thomas, 2 Tom Willis (c), 1 Adam Black.
Replacements: 16 Steve Jones, 17 Gethin Robinson, 18 Daniel Lydiate, 19 Jamie Ringer, 20 Robert Lewis, 21 Shaun Connor, 22 Ashley Smith.

Date: Saturday, December 6
Venue: Stade Ernest-Wallon
Kick-off: 14:35 (13:35 GMT)
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)