DRAGONS flanker Robin Sowden-Taylor will bolster a beefy Newport pack in today’s British and Irish Cup encounter at Worcester (kick-off 1pm), writes Chris Kirwan.
The ex-Wales number seven, who returns after suffering with a back problem, slots into a strong back row for his Black and Ambers debut.
Andrew Coombs is at number eight with Sam Waldron, who was the standout player when a Dragons Development XV went down to defeat at Sixways in pre-season, wearing the number six jersey.
Loosehead prop Dan Watchurst makes a timely return from a long-term shoulder injury to start in the absence of Dai Pattison, who is ill, while skipper Alex Jones returns from injury to partner Adam Brown in the second row.
On-loan Bath centre Tom Cheeseman combines with Scott Williams in a rugged midfield while wing Matthew Pewtner and full-back Alan Awcock make their comebacks from injury to add some firepower in the back three along with lively wideman Owen Broad.
Cross Keys fly-half Steffan Jones provides cover on the bench along with Dragons wing/centre Nathan Brew, whose sole appearance of an injury-hit season was in the win against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.
A late comeback against Leinster A at Rodney Parade bagged a pair of bonus points for the Black and Ambers in the pool opener and they need to get something from this afternoon’s game, which is live on S4C.
They travel to Plymouth next weekend and a top-two spot will be very much up for grabs if they can increase their two-point tally.
To do so they will have to put in a top performance against a Worcester side that is a mixture of youth and experience.
Understandably the Warriors, like Exeter last season, are concentrating on promotion to the Aviva Premiership but they still boast a strong 35-man squad.
They will be led this afternoon by ex-Leicester and Gloucester number eight Adam Balding and they also field first-teamers Tom Arscott, Oriol Ripol, Joe Carlisle and Jonny Arr. There will also be a familiar face in former Ospreys man Ed Shervington, who hails from St Brides Wentlooge.
Newport: A Awcock, T Cheeseman, S Williams, O Broad, C Wannell, J Evans, D Watchurst, Andrew Brown, G Robinson, Adam Brown, A Jones (captain), S Waldron, R Sowden-Taylor, A Coombs. Replacements: N Brew, S Jones, J Davies, D Way, A Ellis, A Frampton, R Jenkins.
Share