Celtic League Previews: Ulster's excellent early-season form that has seen them glide to the top of the Celtic League will have to be reproduced this afternoon as they face a tricky away assignment. The Dragons were not as bad last week as the final scoreline against Leinster (33-14) suggests as the Irish province tagged on a couple of late scores.
It was also the Welsh side's second game in four days. The Dragons make five changes to the team beaten by Leinster. Jon Bryant takes over from Sione Tuipulotu in the centre, the latter dropping to the replacements' bench. Craig Warlow has recovered from a stomach upset to take his place at outhalf.
Up front Adam Black is preferred to David Maddocks and in the back row there is a complete reshuffle with Jamie Ringer moving to blindside flanker, Jason Forster back at openside flanker and Richard Bryan at number eight.
Dragons coach Paul Turner admitted that he is looking forward to a home match. "After a tough start to our Celtic League campaign with three away games in a row, it is nice to have a match at Rodney Parade and we are looking to make it a difficult place for teams to come and play."
The Dragons are still without their Lions players Michael Owen and Gareth Cooper while Ceri Sweeney (groin), Richard Fussell (shoulder), Nathan Brew (groin) Peter Sidoli (elbow), Chris Anthony (shoulder) and Bryn Griffiths (foot) are all ruled out with injury.
Ceri Sweeney has seen a specialist where it was decided he does not need an operation and if he continues to improve at the present rate he should be fit for the Dragons' opening Powergen Cup match against Leicester Tigers next Friday night.
Ulster are without Paul Steinmetz (fractured jaw, six weeks) so Andrew Trimble moves to his preferred position of outside centre with James Topping coming in on the wing.
They have never won at today's venue but providing the pack manage to get some sort of platform it is a record that they can shrug off.
DRAGONS: K Morgan; G Wyatt, H Luscombe, J Bryant, L Hinton; C Warlow, G Baber; A Black, S Jones, R Thomas; I Gough, L Charteris; J Ringer, J Forster (c), R Bryan. Replacements: A Brown, D Maddocks, A Hall, R Oakley, S Tuipulotu, A Thomas, J Ireland.
ULSTER: P Wallace; T Bowe, A Trimble, K Maggs, J Topping; D Humphreys, K Campbell; J Fitzpatrick, R Best, S Best (capt); J Harrison, M McCullough; N Best, N McMillan, Roger Wilson. Replacements: P Shields, B Young, R Frost, C Feather, R Spee, S Stewart, T Howe.
Referee: M Changleng (Scotland).
Head-to-head: September 2003 (CL) at Ravenhill: Ulster 37 Newport Gwent Dragons 18; December 2003 (EC) at Rodney Parade: Newport Gwent Dragons 24 Ulster 15; January 2004 (EC) at Ravenhill: Ulster 22 Newport Gwent Dragons 0; February 2004 (CL) at Rodney Parade: Newport Gwent Dragons 27 Ulster 19; October 2004 (CL) at Ravenhill: Ulster 21Newport Gwent Dragons 28; February 2005 (CL) at Rodney Parade: Newport Gwent Dragons 13 Ulster 11.
Leading try scorers: Dragons - Jason Forster 2. Ulster - Tommy Bowe 2.
Leading scorers: Dragons - Craig Warlow 15. Ulster - David Humphreys 40.
Verdict: Ulster to win.
