Thomond Set For Dragons Duel
1st March 2016 By Munster Rugby
With only seven regular season games left for Munster in the Guinness PRO12, the race for League play-off and Champions Cup qualification is intensifying. Munster now hope to consolidate their Champions Cup qualifying slot when they host Newport Gwent Dragons this Saturday.
With Scarlets and Ulster losing last weekend, Munster had the chance to draw closer to the top four, and after bagging a hard fought win in Treviso, Anthony Foley’s men now lie within four points of the top four teams and within twelve points of table-toppers Connacht.
What’s more, the province also have a game in hand over three of the top four sides.
The Munstermen have lost their last three matches against Welsh regions since they overturned Cardiff Blues in Cork in Round 4. Suffering away defeats to Scarlets and Dragons in October and December respectively, on Valentine’s Day, Ospreys ended a twelve game winning streak for Munster at Irish Independent Park in Cork.
This weekend, Munster play their first game in Thomond Park since they comprehensively defeated Stade Francais in the Champions Cup. Foremost in their thoughts will be their 22-6 downing at Rodney Parade prior to Christmas, a game where Dragons put Munster to the sword after a series of missed opportunities and poor intensity from the visitors.
Munster will not want to repeat the same mistakes in front of the Thomond Park faithful, a ground where Dragons have not won since the 2003/04 season – the same season that Dragons achieved their one and only season’s double over the province.
Tenth placed Dragons have lost their last four fixtures since beating Leinster 23-13 at Rodney Parade in Round 13. The Dragons have lost all eight of their away games in the PRO12 this season whilst their only away victory over an Irish province since September 2008 was against Leinster at the RDS Arena in February 2015.
Munster v Newport-Gwent Dragons, Guinness PRO12 Round 17, Saturday March 5th at Thomond Park – KO 7.35pm.
Tickets from:
- Adult €;15
- Family €;30
- Junior €;7
Tickets can be purchased online here, from the Munster Rugby ticket Offices at Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park, or by calling 0818 719 300.
| Head To Head – Recent Guinness PRO12 Meetings | ||||||
| Venue | M | N | Munster scorers | Newport Gwent Dragons scorers | ||
| Rodney Parade | 24 | 30 | CJ Stander(T) Paddy Butler(T) Ronan O'Mahony(T) Ian Keatley(2C) Johne Murphy(T) | Ross Wardle(T) Tom Prydie(C/5P) Steffan Jones(T/D) | ||
| Irish Independent Park | 23 | 9 | James Cronin(T) Peter O'Mahony(T) JJ Hanrahan(2C/3P) | Kris Burton(3P) | ||
| Rodney Parade | 18 | 14 | Ian Keatley(6P) | Matthew Pewtner(T) Jason Tovey(D/2P) | ||
| Rodney Parade | 38 | 12 | Duncan Casey(T) Paddy Butler(T) Ronan O'Mahony(T) Andrew Smith(T) Robin Copeland(T) Ian Keatley(5C/P) | Geraint Rhys Jones(4P) | ||
| Irish Independent Park | 50 | 27 | CJ Stander(T) Conor Murray(3T) Ronan O'Mahony(T) Andrew Smith(T) Keith Earls(T) Ian Keatley(5C) Paul O'Connell(T) | Jack Dixon(T) Tyler Morgan(T) Jason Tovey(2C/P) Rhys Buckley(T) Ashton Hewitt(T) | ||
| Rodney Parade | 6 | 22 | Rory Scannell(2P) | Dorian Jones(C/D/3P) Jason Tovey(P) Rynard Landman(T) | ||
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 49th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Stuart Gaffikin, Jonathan Peak (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eddie Walsh (IRFU)
TMO: Simon McDowell (IRFU)
