NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have selected Gavin Thomas at number eight in a bid to try and counter the contact area expertise of Ulster at Ravenhill tonight.

The 34-year-old is usually an openside but features alongside Jevon Groves and Darren Waters in a mobile back row for this evening’s RaboDirect Pro12 encounter.

The last time that Thomas, capped 24 times by Wales, has played at number eight was in September 2010 but he is relishing the prospect of going up against an Ulster side that thrive at the breakdown.

The last time the province played at Ravenhill they hammered Leicester 41-7 in the Heineken Cup, forced 17 turnovers and caused mayhem at the ruck.

Thomas said: “I haven’t played number eight for a long time but I am sure I will get used to it quickly, you have to when you play a good team like Ulster or you get exposed.

“The contact area is important in every game but it’s even more crucial against Ulster, who have clearly worked hard there and have players that are naturally good at the breakdown.

“We need to support each other tightly and do what is called ‘leaching’ when you hold your own player (when approaching the contact area when in possession) to make sure there are no gaps for them to get in and attack the ball.

“We need to be careful against this side and be on our game or they will be turning us over at will.” The experience of Thomas will be key alongside Groves and Waters, who get their chances because Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau are on Wales duty and Lewis Evans is sidelined by a calf injury.

Groves plays in his preferred position of blindside flanker after filling in as an emergency lock while Waters makes his first Pro12 start since signing from Pontypridd last summer.

Head coach Darren Edwards believes it won’t be through lack of effort if the 26-year-old former bricklayer, who has comfortably been Newport’s standout player in the Premiership, fails to grasp his chance.

He said: “We have seen potential in him and the only way to see whether that can be realised is by seeing him out on the pitch, not on the training field.

“He seriously wants to be a professional rugby player and the main ingredient for any sportsman is that attitude and desire to achieve.

“It is going to plan in terms of Darren's development, though he probably would have liked to be out there starting two months ago. He is ready to go and has a great mentor in Gavin alongside him.

“Similarly Jevon has been another success story and deserves the start in his rightful position of six.

“He is another player who is developing nicely and as a coach it is great to have someone that has been willing to play anywhere for us.

“After filling in as an emergency lock it's good to reward him with a start in his specialist position and let him show what he can do.”

Ballymena’s Jamie Smith starts his first Pro12 game for the Dragons on the right wing at the ground where he used to ply his trade.

Centre Ashley Smith captains the side on his return from the hamstring injury he suffered in the win against the Ospreys on January 6.


Ulster: A D’Arcy, C Gilroy, I Whitten, P Wallace, S Terblanche, I Humphreys, R Pienaar, C Black, A Kyriacou, J Afoa ((captain), L Stevenson, D Tuohy, M McCornish, W Faloon, R Diack. Replacements: N Brady, P McAllister, A Macklin, T Barker, A Birch, P Marshall, N Spence, S Danielli.


Dragons: M Thomas, J Smith, A Hughes, A Smith (captain), A Brew, J Tovey, W Evans, N Williams, S Jones, N Buck, A Jones, R Sidoli, J Groves, D Waters, G Thomas. Replacements: R Buckley, P Price, D Way, H Ellis, T Brown, J Bedford, A Tuilagi, L Robling.