In the Dragons' Eye - Opposition Preview - Munster

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Opposition view:

Munster

Quick facts

Pro 12 position: 1st

European position: 1st  

Stadium: Irish Independent Park

Capacity: 8,200

League form:

Munster returned to the top of the pro 12 after a tense 10-9 victory in Edinburgh last week. Munster were strong at the scrum in that match, but were put under pressure at times resulting in poor clearance kicks or ‘exits’, giving Edinburgh good field position from which to attack. Man of the match was Ross O’Mahoney, but Tyler Bleyendaal continued his good form this season and was superb in most facets of play.

The Munstermen have only suffered two defeats this season. These came away at Irish counterparts Leinster and at home in a 24-23 defeat to the Cardiff Blues.

European form:

Munster finished top of their pool to set up a home quarter-final against Toulouse. The province were in a tough pool, with Glasgow, Leicester and Racing 92 all featuring. Munster finished with 5 wins; a solitary defeat at Welfare Road their only blemish. Only 27 points were conceded at home during the pool phase. 

How to get to the stadium:

From the airport:

The stadium is located about 15 minutes away from Cork Airport. The Munster fans I spoke with advised me that it can be difficult to get a taxi in the build-up to the game, so pre-book a taxi to the stadium to avoid disappointment. Hailo, an app based taxi service,  can be downloaded on any smart phone and comes highly recommended by the natives.

From the city centre:

The city centre is located about 10 minutes from the stadium. Again, the taxi service Hailo can be used, but buses also go to the ground from St Patrick’s Street.  

Best place to eat and drink (inside the stadium):

There are 2 clubhouses at the stadium. The Dolphin Bar is in the north stand and Sunday’s Well is in the south stand.  Food outlets can also be found next to these clubhouses as-well as throughout the ground.

Best place to eat and drink (outside the stadium):

There is great debate amongst Munster fans as to which restaurant is the best in Cork. In Grand Parade in the city centre, the recommendations are The Fishwife and Hillbilly’s - Cork’s only Michelin star restaurant (you may want to remove any Dragons paraphernalia before entering – no Dragon hats!). Other options are available like Rossini’s and Clancy’s. Recommended pubs are The Mountain, Thomand Bar and The Evergreen. The closest pub to the stadium is 300m away and is called the Tory Top.

What the Munster fans think:

Danger men:

13 players have been called up to the Irish 6 nations squad and James Cronin is facing a lengthy spell on the side-lines. Despite this, the fans still have confidence in the players left to fill the void. The 3 to watch out for are Jaco Taute, Francis Saili and Niall Scannell.

Dragons danger men:

Pat Howard was mentioned by a few of the fans I spoke with. Having joined Munster on a 3-month deal in 2014, their fans understand what an asset he is. Cory Hill also picked up a few votes; with one fan describing him as ‘tough as nails.’ Rynard Landman and Tom Prydie were also mentioned.

Chances:

Munster’s fans think that the game will come down to defence and doing the basics right. Munster’s defensive stats are impressive, they haven’t conceded 4 tries in any game all season, which no doubt is a contributing factor to their being top of the pile in the Pro12. Despite notable absentees because of the 6 nations, the Irish province remain optimistic of victory.

Verdict:

Any away trip to Ireland is going to be difficult, but we can learn from the Blues who snuck away with a one-point victory there earlier in the season. Like that game, scoring early is going to be crucial. Any reason for the crowd to be quieter than usual will only aid the Men of Gwent. The Blues exposed Munster early on and caught them napping to lead by 7 at half time. Although the Red Army fought back, they were resolute in defence to get victory. 

In the encounter at Rodney Parade, Munster wasted a lot of opportunities and made errors which, if made again, need to be capitalised upon.

There is no easy time to play Munster away from home, but I would rather face them with them missing so many players than any other time of the season. The Dragons have won in Ireland as recent as last season, and we will need the spirit of that victory, not to mention more than a drop of good fortune, to do so again. As ever, yours truly, remains optimistic!

Prediction:

Munster 16 – 19 Dragons

Ryan Robinson – Dragons Community Ambassador

#SUFTMOG

In the Dragons' Eye - Opposition Preview - CA Brive

Opposition view

CA Brive

Quick facts

League position: 8th  

European position: 1st

Stadium: Stade Amédée-Domenech

Capacity: 13,979

League form

Brive have had a below par season. The old cliché of French sides not travelling well seems to be truer than ever, with the French club chalking up just 1 away league victory in their Top 14 campaign. That solitary away win came against moneybags Toulon. This, and their inability to beat the sides around them, leaves Brive dangling just above the relegation zone in eighth. Their home form, on the other hand, has been superb, suffering just the 1 defeat at the hands of Clermont Auvergne.

European form

Brive have the chance to secure top spot in the pool against the Men of Gwent after navigating tricky opposition in the pool so far.  Following the 37-16 drubbing at Rodney Parade, Brive went to Worcester and snuck away with a one point victory. Home and away victories then followed over minnows Enisei STM, before a win on French soil against Worcester last weekend. Those results leaves them top of the pool leading into this week’s contest, but the Dragons can still qualify if they win the game without Brive registering a losing bonus point.

In victory over Worcester last week, Brive utilised their driving lineout, and I would fully expect them to use this again. Brive will be looking to make it 3 from 3 in their home conquests against our proud Men of Gwent.

How to get to the stadium

From the airport

The Brive – Souillac airport is located roughly 12kms from the stadium. Our French counterparts work with ‘Car Delbos’ to provide transport for supporters to the stadium. These operate every 20/30 minutes up until kick-off. If you would like to find out about availability of this service, you can call 05.65.34.81.94 or email sophie@cars-delbos.com

From the train station

Located a little more conveniently, the Gare de Brive – la – Gaillarde station is only 2.5km from the stadium. You can walk to the stadium, but again, the club have organised transport with ‘Car Delbos’ to be running on match day to get supporters to the stadium. Schedules can be picked up from the tourist desk just inside the station.

Best place to eat and drink (inside the stadium)

Supporters are being advised to use the Café des Monédières at the stadium before the match.  About twice the size of the We Fight Any Claim family zone, it is an ideal place to meet and greet with the home team. Food and drink is also sold here.

Best place to eat and drink (outside the stadium)

The Stade Amédée-Domenech is situated in the epicentre of the city. I have been informed that you can get everything you could possibly need within a 10 minute walk of the stadium. The top picks from the Brive supporters are Café De La Poste and Café des Paris for traditional French cuisine. Numerous more English based restaurants and bars like Le Watson and Le Grillardin are located close to the stadium.

Danger men

I have been told from the Brive supporters to watch out for Gaetan Germain, Arnaud Mignardi and club captain Arnaud Mela. From our meeting at Rodney Parade, I would like to add in Thomas Laranjeira; who scored all of Brive’s points that day. Having also watched their victory at Worcester, Poutasi Luafatu and Johannes Snyman proved a difficult wall to break down and therefore Ashton and co. will have their work cut out to get past these.

What the Brive fans think

Dragons danger men

The Brive fans have spoken of a few players that they fear ahead of our European showdown. Firstly, try scorers from the game at Rodney Parade, Cory Hill and Rynard Landman, their ability on the field there for all to see. A little more surprising might be the inclusion of Craig Mitchell who received a few votes from the French fans I spoke with. Rhys Thomas was also mentioned. 

European hopes

I am told that before the start of the Challenge Cup, Brive targeted this competition. The Challenge Cup has presented the club a welcome distraction from a torrid league season. Brive are looking to replicate their French adversaries Montpellier winning of the Challenge Cup, and they will be up for this game – as most French teams are at home!

Chances

Despite their defeat at Rodney Parade, Brive’s fans are extremely confident of victory.  Since defeat at RP (and a convincing one at that), they have gone on to record victories over every other team. In round 5, Brive beat Worcester in France, setting up this tie for the top position in the group. With home advantage, Brive supporters expect the victory that would confirm their qualification for the knock out stages.

Verdict

Having seen Brive play on two occasions, I think we have a great chance. We’ve proven that we can go to France and win, with victories over Stade Francais and Pau in recent years, and we need to continue that tradition here.  In their win over Worcester, Brive exposed gaps in the Warrior’s defence after keeping the ball after several phases. It sounds simple, but if we can prevent those gaps occurring then I don’t think our opposition will have a plan B. Line speed will be key. In the fixture at Rodney Parade, the French club lost interest after an hour because we did not allow their big ball carriers to gain momentum.

Start quickly, keep the score board ticking over and the French fans will turn on their team, and we will have a good chance. Let’s not forget that both ourselves and Worcester put 3 tries past Brive. Theirs is a defence that does concede tries.

All this makes me optimistic of a first away victory of the year. Our future in the competition depends on it.

What the Dragons need to qualify

The Gwent region need to win by 4 points. Then, both teams will be level on points, but the Dragons will qualify having won both games against Brive. So it is either a win without Brive registering a losing bonus point, or a 5 point win in which we can afford Brive to gain one bonus point.

Prediction

Brive 17 – 26 Dragons

Ryan Robinson- Dragons community ambassador

#SUFTMOG

Men of Gwent, can you hear us?

Show the foe that you are fearless,

Into battle you will lead us,

DRAGONS will prevail!

SING!

Dragons 6 Nations Supporters Event - Wales vs England @ Rodney Parade

We have discussed with the Region the possibility of holding a live 6 Nation event at Rodney Parade, supported by Dragons Players.  The proposed format being planned would be pre match entertainment, a live showing of Wales v England, with the Bar open and food being served.  

During the event members of the Dragons Playing Squad would attend for a pre-match Q&A and mix with the Supporters, followed by the Supporters watching the live broadcast of the 6N Wales v England fixture together.

In order for us to ascertain whether this event would be something that the Supporter community would be keen on attending, could we request you submit your interest through the small form below, this will allow us to gauge numbers, and calculate whether this is something that we should try to arrange.

Dragons 26 - 8 Treviso

The Dragons got back to winning ways at Rodney Parade, where 14 points from Angus O'Brien, and Tries from Sarel Pretorius and skipper Lewis Evans seeing us home against a stubborn and determined Treviso side.

With conditions damp and windy, the Dragons intent to spread the ball was evident from the off, with a number of positive attacks breaking down with handling errors with a wet and slippery ball.  The pack once again played superbly in the conditions, following up on their strong performance against the Ospreys with an aggressive and determined performance against an opposition pack of 7 full internationals.

The opening try went to Treviso, where a poor kick in midfield was allowed to bounce, it evaded the Dragons defenders and allowed former Ospreys scrum half Tito Tebaldi to go over in the corner.

The Dragons responded with some good phase play, with Cory Hill very prominent, allowing quick ball for Sarel Pretorius to pick the ball at full pace and sprint over under the post for a good try.  Unfortunately Sarel followed this up by a 10 min sin-binning for deliberately knocking down a Treviso attack, but fortunately this did not cost the team during the period.

The second half that followed demonstrated another strong performance up front, and afforded Dorian Jones and Nic Cudd some game time in their return to fitness.  The forwards continued to show their superiority up front throughout this period, with a good rolling maul driving Captain Lewis Evans over for the Try that made the result safe.

Back to winning ways at Fortress Rodney Parade, and hopefully the following weeks will allow the team to build the momentum that was generated pre the Xmas period..  #SUFTMOG

 

Dragons: Carl Meyer; Tom Prydie, Tyler Morgan, Adam Warren, Pat Howard (Jack Dixon); Angus O’Brien (Dorian Jones), Sarel Pretorius; Phil Price (Sam Hobbs), Elliot Dee (Rhys Buckley), Brok Harris (Lloyd Fairbrother ), Nick Crosswell (Rynard Landman), Cory Hill, Lewis Evans (capt), Ed Jackson, Ollie Griffiths (Nic Cudd). 

Tries: Pretorius, Evans;

Cons: O’Brien, Jones;

Pens: O’Brien (3);

Drop-goal: O’Brien.

Treviso: Luke McLean; Andrea Pratichetti, Tommaso Benvenuti, Alberto Sgarbi (capt), Luca Sperandio; Tommaso Allan (Ian McKinley), Tito Tebaldi (Giorgio Bronzini); Alberto De Marchi (Federico Zani), Davide Giazzon (Ornel Gega), Matteo Zanusso (Tiziano Pasquali), Marc Fuser (Filo Paul), Dean Budd, Braam Steyn (Marco Lazzaroni), Marco Barbini, Robert Barbieri (Tommaso Iannone). 

Tries: Tebaldi;

pens: Allan.

Dragons 0 - 10 Ospreys

A game which will be remembered more for the pre-match drama than the action on the field, where the conditions of the pitch caused much consternation from the visitors.  Due to heavy rain, and the ongoing issue the team at Rodney Parade have supporting 3 teams on the surface, conditions were somewhat boggy underfoot, and proved to be the main factor of the ensuing 80 minute kicking battle.

The opening exchange saw the Dragons forwards performing very well in both scrum and lineout, two promising breaks by Ashton Hewitt and Tyler Morgan coming close, and the home team dominating possession and territory.  Unfortunately for the home team, the Ospreys got the first score, with a chip from Carl Meyer being well gathered by Habberfield, and an accidental elbow to Sam Beard's face resulting in a crucial missed tackle.  A great combination by Cracknell and Tipuric saw the later going over in the corner.

Another break from the Dragons resulted in a yellow card for the visiting Scrum Half Habberfield, for deliberately killing the ball after a quick tap penalty from Tavis Knoyle.  Unfortunately the Dragons got dragged back into a kicking duel for the majority of the 10 minutes they we against 14, and wasted the advantage.

With not much between the teams after this initial try, the game became increasingly scrappy, with the initial bursts from the Dragons becoming less frequent as the game went on.  A number of opportunities were squandered, with the guys working increadibly hard to get into field position, but maul turnovers, missed penalty kicks and dropped balls in the O's 22 meant the team unfortunately came aay with nothing.

With the mood dampened by the nature of the game, it was easy to forget the huge efforts made by a number of Dragons players, especially up front, where they more than matched their opponents.  It was fantastic to see Elliot Dee back in the fold, and back to his spiky best around the field, with his props Phil Price and specifically Brok Harris really standing out.  Nick Crosswell really shone, physical and stealing a number of O's line outs, and Ollie Griffiths continued to show just why he remains so highly rated by not only the Dragons Support, but the wider Welsh Rugby community.   Tipuric did well around the field, especially with his try, but Griffiths really performed at the breakdown.

As it proved, a game of fine margins, which leaves a sense of missed opportunity for Dragons Supporters.  Missed kicks at goal, big line-breaks not being capatilised on, and a number of kicks from hand going out on the full handed the impetus back to the visitors, and the brave attempts battering away at the Osprey's line at the end unfortunately proved too late to influence the final score.

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In the Dragons' Eye - Opposition Preview: Blues

Opposition view:

Cardiff Blues

Quick facts

Pro 12 position: 7th

Challenge Cup position: 2nd

Anglo Welsh position: 4th

Stadium: BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park

Postcode: CF10 1JA

Capacity: 12,125

League form

The Blues made a blistering start to the season, winning their first 4 matches including an impressive away win against Munster at Thomond Park. Since then, Wales’ Capital Region has seen their season has falter, with 5 defeats in 6 games leaving them outside of the Champions Cup places. Their last league win came in Treviso in early November.

European form

The Blues started their European campaign in fine form, registering two comfortable wins over Bristol and Pau in rounds one and two. They continued that run with an emphatic win over Bath earlier this month. A comprehensive defeat in the return fixture at the Rec has halted that run, and they are now tied with Bath on points at the top of their table, only behind on points difference. (Anyone for a knockout tie?)

Anglo-Welsh form

Two defeats against Exeter and the Ospreys see the Blues bottom of their group. They play Sale and Worcester when the competition resumes in February.

How to get to the stadium

In the extremely unlikely event that you haven’t been before, the BT Sport Arms Park is adjacent to the Principality Stadium. Unfortunately no trains are operating on Boxing Day, but bus services are running with a revised schedule, and we suggest checking local bus operators’ websites for details.  

Sadly the DOSC coach is sold out for this game.

Blues Danger Men

The Blues have spent well in the off-season, making good use of their backer's money to fill out their squad. Willis Halaholo joined from New Zealand super xv franchise the Hurricanes in October and will start in the centre alongside last year's import, Ray Lee-Lo. Both are classy players, and it was the latter's well timed run into a gap in a tiring Dragons defence that set up a last minute winning try for the Blues in the fixture at Rodney Parade last season. The Men of Gwent's all welsh midfield of Adam Warren and Tyler Morgan will have their work cut out for them!

Elsewhere, Nick Williams will hope to get the home side over the gain line, forming a bulky back row alongside Josh Navidi and Sam Warburton. The Dragons will need to take some of their good line speed shown at home and apply it in this game to stop the big man before he gains momentum. The tussle between Warburton and heir apparent, Ollie Griffiths, will also be a fascinating encounter.

We would like to extend our congratulations to Sam on his 100th appearance for his region, although of course we hope he is disappointed at the final whistle.

What Blues' fans think of us

Dragons Danger Men

A few were mentioned, but none more so than Rynard Landman and Ed Jackson - which is perhaps unsurprising given they tried, and failed, to sign the former. The boiler house is certainly an area where the Dragons are stronger on paper, with Cory Hill set to start alongside Rynard, forming a bulkier second row than their Blues counterparts.  

Realistic hopes for the match

Everyone is always going to be confident for a derby.

However the general consensus from the Blues fans is a close game with a home win. Never underestimate the Dragons though, we won the duel in pre-season ;-).

Season in review so far

The Blues fans are generally positive but a little disheartened at recent performances and results. Although very few have targeted the end of the season playoffs, many are optimistic of a Champions Cup place, which they have missed out on in recent seasons.

Verdict

Our recent record against the fellow Welsh regions is dire. However, records are there to be broken and I think we have a great chance here.

The last time we met our Blues counterparts on Boxing day, the game ended in a 23 – 17 victory for the Men of Gwent. Coincidentally, Tavis Knoyle scored for the Blues in that game. (Here’s hoping he does the same for us this time round.)

For us to win, we have to start quickly. The Blues have failed to overturn a single half time deficit at home this season, so a quick start is vital.

The Blues worst point return in league home matches this season is 15, so the Dragons will need to be dogged in defence. I am sure that a vocal support will inspire the team to do this.

Prediction

Blues 13 - 21 Dragons

Ryan Robinson – Dragons Community Ambassador

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

#standupfortheMenofGwent

Blues

M Morgan, A Cuthbert, R Lee-Lo, W Halaholo, T James, S Shingler, L Williams, R Gill, K Dacey, S Andrews, M Cook, J Down, J Navidi, S Warburton (captain), N Williams. Replacements: K Myhill, B Thyer, T Filise, J Hoeata, E Jenkins, T Williams, N Robinson, C Allen.

Dragons

T Prydie, P Howard, T Morgan, A Warren, A Hewitt, A O’Brien, T Knoyle, S Hobbs, R Thomas, L Fairbrother, C Hill, R Landman, L Evans (captain), O Griffiths, E Jackson. Replacements: E Dee, T Davies, B Harris, M Screech, N Crosswell, S Pretorius, D Jones, S Beard.

In the Dragons' Eye - Opposition Preview: Worcester Warriors

Opposition view: 

Worcester Warriors

Quick facts:

Premiership position: 11th

Challenge cup position: 4th

Stadium: Sixways Stadium

Postcode: WR3 8ZE

Capacity: 12,024

League form:

The Warriors have had an indifferent start to the season, with one win from their opening 10 fixtures which came in a narrow 11 – 9 win over Newcastle Falcons at Sixways. Another home defeat against Wasps last weekend means Worcester find themselves in 11th and facing a relegation dogfight with Bristol RFC. However, they can take some positives for their display against Wasps, with their scrum in particular causing the visitors problems.

European form:

The Warriors have paid the price for fielding youthful sides in Europe, with only 2 losing bonus points to show for their efforts.  A narrow home defeat to Brive in round 2 leaves the Warriors needing points against the Dragons before Christmas to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.

How to get to the stadium:

Sixways is conveniently positioned adjacent to J6 on the M5 with parking available at the ground and nearby. It is best to book parking in advance, and you can do this by calling the Warriors ticket office on 01905 459309. There are 3 train stations in Worcester with the main one heading straight into the town centre. Buses and taxis can be found in the city centre which operate to the stadium.

Atmosphere:

The ground was reasonably quiet for their home defeat to Brive in October. Dragons fans will expect to out sing the Warriors faithful to create an atmosphere reminiscent of Kingsholm in February. Men of Gwent, can you hear us? Show the foe that you are fearless….. ;-)

Best place to eat and drink (inside the stadium):

The main clubhouse is closed to away supporters but there are numerous food outlets in and around the stadium. The majority of these can be found in the east stand of the ground with plenty of seating space to sit and mingle with fellow supporters. A Cornish pasty, chips and a drink can be purchased for £8.

Best place to eat and drink (outside the stadium):

Warriors fans have suggested The Tything for a beer and this can be found 200 yards from Firegate St railway station. A number of food outlets, bars and restaurants are also nearby, with Warriors fans suggesting The Pheasant, The Bull or The Three Pears as the best places for food.

The Warriors danger men:

Ben Te’o and Chris Pennell starred as the Warriors slipped to defeat against Brive, and the Dragons will have a tough task defending these two strike runners. Tom Heathcote, if fit, will also cause problems for the Dragons. Also, as mentioned above, the Worcester scrum caused Wasps no end of trouble at the weekend, so Ceri Jones’ men will have to be on their game to ensure we win set piece ball.

What the Warriors think of the Dragons:

Danger men:

The fans at the Brive game highlighted Hallam Amos, Sarel Pretorious and Lewis Evans as three players that they fear ahead of our meeting at Sixways. (and rightly so - ed)

Realistic qualification hopes:

Scrum half Luke Baldwin said in his post-match interview against Brive that they could still qualify from the group. He admitted that the group may be out of their hands but felt 8 points against the Dragons can put them back in command.

Attack coach Sam Vesty echoed these views and said he couldn’t believe how they lost both previous games and challenged his side to win both ties against the Dragons.

Verdict:

The Warriors are there for the taking. Their main downfall in defeat to Brive, was their inability to capitalise on good attacking positions. Scrum half Luke Baldwin called on his side to be more clinical in attack and this was something that all Warriors fans would have agreed with. If the Dragons can put together a resolute defensive display, then they have every chance of winning. In terms of attack, the Dragons must be patient and error free, with Brive scoring after exploiting the holes in the Warriors defence that occurred after numerous phases.

Prediction:

Warriors 17 – 22 Dragons

Ryan Robinson – Dragons community ambassador

#standupforthemenofGwent

In the Dragons' Eye - Opposition Preview: Leinster

Ahead of our Pro12 fixture against Irish province, Leinster on Saturday evening (kick off 7.35pm), our man Ryan Robinson takes a look at our next opponents and gives some handy tips for those fans making the trip across the Irish sea.

Opposition view: Leinster

Quick facts

Pro 12 position: 2nd

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Champions Cup position: 1st

Stadium: Royal Dublin Society (RDS)

Capacity: 18,500

League form

Leinster have made a fantastic start to the Pro12 season and sit second in the table, having lost only twice in away defeats to Glasgow Warriors and the Scarlets. The defeat to Scarlets last weekend was preceded by wins over Zebre, Connacht and an emphatic victory over Munster. Leinster have a 100% home record in the league this season and it will be a tough game for the Men of Gwent.

European form

Leinster are also top of their Champions Cup group, with one win and one defeat so far. They find themselves in a difficult group, alongside Northampton Saints, French giants Castres and Montpellier. Qualification from this group would be a good achievement for the Irish province, despite their rich history of success in European competition.

How to get to the stadium

Bus:

There are several buses that go to the RDS stadium from across Dublin. Aircoach can be used to go directly from the airport to the stadium.  From the city centre, buses 4,7,8,18 and 46a all stop at the RDS.

DART system:

Short for Dublin Area Rapid Transit, it is a quick way to reach the stadium. Both Lansdowne Road and Grand Canal Dock stations are within a 5-minute walk to the stadium.

Car:

The stadium is located on the R118.  You can join this from Trinity College and drive for approximately 2km. Parking is available at the ground, for a small fee when you arrive. To check availability, you can call + 353 1 668 0866.

Best place to eat and drink (inside the stadium)

Credit: http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/supporters/laighin-out/

Credit: http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/supporters/laighin-out/

There is an official supporters bar at the stadium which welcomes away supporters. It is called the Laighin Out bar and has food and drink available as-well as Wi-Fi, big screens and on occasion, player interviews before and after the match.

There is also the Centurion Bar at the entrance to the Anglesea stand. Numerous food outlets can be found in the Grandstand and the Anglesea Stand.

Best place to eat and drink (outside the stadium)

Leinster fans have suggested Donnybrook Village as a good place to go before the game. It is a fifteen-minute walk from the stadium and contains chain fast food outlets as-well as independent bars and restaurants.

For something closer to the ground, there are the options of The Horseshoe House, The Bridge and Paddy Cullen’s all within 300m of the stadium.

Leinster danger men

Hard to say without knowing how many of their internationals will be rested following their heroic efforts in the Autumn Internationals. One would imagine that players involved in Saturday’s match against Australia are unlikely to feature against the Dragons, but Leinster still have incredible strength in depth with Isa Nacewa and Adam Byrne likely to cause problems. Other notable players pointed out from the Leinster fan base are Dan Leavy, Joey Carberry and Jamison Gibson- Park.

What Leinster fans think of the Dragons

Dragons' Danger Men:

Leinster fans highlighted 4 players that they think will cause them problems. These were Tyler Morgan, Ashton Hewitt, Rynard Landman and Sarel Pretorius (they clearly didn't see Ollie Griffiths' and Angus O'Brien's performances on the weekend). With these 4 in the side, we have the capabilities to take on anyone on their own patch.

Chances of winning:

Being unbeaten at the RDS since February last year means Leinster fans are rightly confident of their side winning again against the Dragons.

Verdict

Trips to Ireland are always difficult, but having said that, there are positives for the Dragons ahead of their duel in Dublin. The Gwent region were the last team to win at the RDS. We also did the double over Leinster last season and have won 4 on the bounce at home, with the team really settling in to their new style of play. A difficult side regardless of who plays, the Dragons have a lot of things going for them ahead of this match.

Prediction

Leinster 22 – 24 Dragons

Ryan Robinson – Dragons community ambassador

#standupfortheMenofGwent