BOSS Bernard Jackman says that the Dragons will go all out to give themselves a shot of a European Challenge Cup miracle by beating Bordeaux-Begles with a bonus point this afternoon.

The region welcome the French side to Rodney Parade (kick-off 3pm) needing a comprehensive victory to sneak into second place in Pool One and then for other results to go their way in their quest for the quarter-finals.

Bordeaux won 36-28 when the teams met at the Stade Chaban-Delmas last weekend, scoring five tries and ensuring the Dragons headed home for nothing to show for their spirited display.

However, Jackman’s men still have a sliver of hope and will be watching other scores come in with interest if they can turn the tables by romping to victory and leaving the Top 14 side pointless.

“There are a lot of low-scoring pools so there is a chance,” said the head coach. “The players know about the situation, we can’t control other results but let’s just go for the win with a bonus point first and then see.

“I know that I said after the game in Bordeaux that this was now a cup final without any big reward but I didn’t realise that the results would go the way that they did.

“Now we actually have a little chance and I have been involved in games in round six of Europe before when things have taken a sudden change at the last minute when you can be lucky or unlucky. Hopefully we can benefit from that.”

The Dragons are still down to the bare bones but Jackman is able to make four changes to the XV from last week’s narrow loss in the west of France.

Full-back Carl Meyer, a try scorer off the bench in Bordeaux, prop Sam Hobbs and blindside James Sheekey come in along with fly-half Gavin Henson.

The former Wales playmaker makes his first start since being dropped for an under-par display against Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day and his boss is looking for the 35-year-old to run the show.

“He’s done on his tackle technique and has got his head down and worked hard,” said Jackman. “We are looking forward to seeing him control things.”

If the Dragons do the job against Bordeaux to finish as runners-up behind Newcastle on 16 points then they need two other results to go their way if they are to sneak an away quarter-final.

Brive (12 points) and Worcester (15 points) clash for second spot in Pool Five (kick-off 2.30pm) and Jackman’s side could do with either a French win without a bonus or the Warriors only managing a solitary bonus.

The Dragons would need Sale (11), second behind Cardiff Blues, to fail to win with a bonus point in Toulouse (kick-off 5pm) in Pool Two.

If one of those results fails to come in then the Dragons have one last shot – London Irish (11) failing to win with a bonus at whipping boys Krasny Yar (kick-off 1pm) AND Stade Francais (13) failing to beat Edinburgh (kick-off 8pm) in Pool Four.

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