The Dragons are coming
black_otter
By black_otter
December 7 2011
black_otter previews Sunday's Amlin cup match at Sandy Park
Chiefs v Dragons
This weekend sees the resumption of European rugby in the form of the Amlin Challenge Cup. We welcome the (Newport-Gwent) Dragons to Sandy Park on Sunday evening in what is sure to be a fearsome contest. Looking at the latest EuroTable [LINK], this is a contest between the 22nd best team in Europe and the 29th. Pool 4 is finely balanced after the first two rounds of matches:
1 - Dragons 9
2 - Chiefs 6
3 - Perpignan 4
4 - Prato - 0
Leaving the Dragons in pole position, with the Chiefs hot on their heels.
So what should we expect from our visitors on Sunday? Well, with nearly half a season of RaboDirect PRO12 (what a mouthful!) matches gone, the Dragons are languishing near the basement, with only Italian outfit Aironi below them. But the Dragons have suffered with key players being away with the Welsh squad during the world cup (hooker Lloyd Burns, blindside flanker Dan Lydiate, and no8 Toby Faletau, for example), and have since struggled with injuries (Luke Charteris, again, and Aled Brew, to name but two). However, expect them to be bolstered by finally resolving the recruitment of a Tuilagi brother, Anitele’a (or Andy), who may well feature in the centres, and the recent form of winger Tonderai Chavhanga, who boasts 4 caps for South Africa and an electric turn of pace (although he was subbed at half-time in the recent match against the Glasgow Warriors with a groin niggle).
And from the travelling support? Well, if the home support at Rodney (‘Dave’) Parade is anything to go by, expect Faletau wigs, chants of ‘Dragons, Dragons, Dragons’, and a ditty about ‘Knocking on’ to the tune of the Marseillaise! Passionate fans for sure.
And what will they be met with? Rob Baxter and co have the unenviable task of selecting a XXIII that will surely mix the first squad that has taken the Chiefs to 3rd in the premiership, and an additional group of players that have driven the Braves to pole position in the southern half of the A league table. Perhaps in some ways this is one of the biggest changes at Exe from last year, where we now have the depth and quality of squad to genuinely be able to handle campaigns on multiple fronts.
Oggy, oggy, oggy Chiefs, Chiefs, Chiefs
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Quote:black_otter
Rob Baxter and co have the unenviable task of selecting a XXIII that will surely mix the first squad that has taken the Chiefs to 3rd in the premiership, and an additional group of players that have driven the Braves to pole position in the southern half of the A league table.
I wonder if we might see our man (Phil Dollman) at 10 or at least on the bench to cover 10?
Hope the weather improves!
Come on you Chiefs
We all hope Dolly plays, top bloke and we were gutted he left us for you guys. Great to see he's done well