Dragons	v	Saracens
Martyn Thomas	15	Chris Wyles
Aled Brew	14	Richard Haughton
Matthew Watkins	13	Rodd Penney
Ashley Smith	12	Adam Powell
Richard Fussell	11	Michael Tagicakibau
Jason Tovey	10	Glen Jackson
Wayne Evans	9	Justin Marshall
Hugh Gustafson	1	Kasiano Lealamanua
Steve Jones	2	Schalk Brits
Ben Castle	3	Richard Skuse
Adam Jones	4	Hayden Smith
Rob Sidoli	5	Mouritz Botha
Danny Lydiate	6	Wikus van Heerden ©
Grant Webb	8	Ernst Joubert
G Thomas	7	Jacques Burger
	Replacements
Duane Goodfield	16	Ethienne Reynecke
Aaron Coundley	17	Alex Brown
Pat Palmer	18	Carlos Nieto
Hoani MacDonald	19	Tom Ryder
Lewis Evans	20	Andy Saull
James Leadbeater	21	Neil de Kock
James Arlidge	22	Derick Hougaard
Aled Brew	22	James Short

Sunday 17:00, Vicarage Road, England… be there or be hungover watching it on the telly…

Dragons XV	v	Ospreys XVI
Martyn Thomas	15	Barry Davies
Will Harries	14	Kristian Phillips
Mathew Watkins	13	Sonny Parker
Ashley Smith©	12	Ashley Beck
Aled Brew	11	Shane Williams
Jason Tovey	10	Gareth Owen
Wayne Evans	9	Jamie Nutbrown
Ali McKenzie	1	Ryan Bevington
Steve Jones	2	Ed Servington
Pat Palmer	3	Adam Jones
Adam Jones	4	Andy Lloyd
Hoani MacDonald	5	Ian Evans
Gavin Thomas	6	Ben Lewis
Grant Webb	8	Tom Smith
James Harries	7	Steve Tandy ©
	Replacements
Lloyd Burns	16	Marc Breeze
Aaron Coundley	17	Craig Mitchell
Ben Castle	18	Cai Griffiths
Rob Sidoli	19	James Goode
Danny Lydiate	20	James King
James Leadbeater	21	Rhys Webb
James Arlidge	22	Mathew Jarvis
Richard Fussell	23	Tom Prydie

So we’ve got the O’s development squad heading over for a bit of a knock about. Not sure if that Tighthead or wing are any cop, but we’ll let Ali Mac and Will Harries show them how it’s done…

The obvious talking point in the Dragons team is Tovey getting his chance to play at 10 – let’s hope the pack can give him a platform to work from. A loss tonight would mean that our worst ever losing streak ever ever ever… so the pressure is on the team and Turner to crank it up a notch or two, but it’s also a time for tinkering and developing some players, for both teams.

Rumours that we’ve hired Carol Vordemann to keep an eye on how many of the Ospreys are on the pitch are, as yet, unsubstantiated.

Sorry, was washing my hair…

Dragons	v	Glasgow
Jason Tovey	15	Bernardo Stortoni
Aled Brew	14	Van der Merwe
Rhodri Gomer-Davies	13	Max Evans
Tom Riley	12	Rob Dewey
Richard Fussell	11	Thom Evans
Shaun Conner	10	Ruaridh Jackson
Danny Lee	9	Colin Gregor ©
Hugh Gustafson	1	John Welsh
Tom Willis ©	2	Fergus Thomson
Gethin Robinson	3	Ed Kalman
Rob Sidoli	4	Richie Gray
Luke Chateris	5	Dan Turner
Danny Lydiate	6	Calum Forrester
Lewis Evan	8	Johnnie Beattie
James Harris	7	Kelly Brown
	Replacements
Steve Jones	16	Pat MacArthur
Ali McKenzie	17	Kevin Tkachuk
Peter Bracken	18	Justin Va’a
Hoani MacDonald	19	Tim Barker
Mathew Watkins	20	James Eddie
James Leadbeater	21	Mark McMillan
James Arlidge	22	Dan Paaaaks
Martyn Thomas	23	Peter Murchie

So here we go again, back into Heineken cup action. Whilst we cannot qualify for the knock out stages of the cup itself, we can still qualify for the Amlin cup – as the runners up placed 3rd, 4th and 5th after the pool stages get entered in the bottom 3 slots in the 2nd tier competition. We’d still have to win both our games, preferably with a bonus point or two, and have other games go our way… Have a look here if you fancy a bit of maths homework: HERE

So we kick off the end leg of the competition away against Magners League leaders Glasgow – and Glasgow have picked a relatively weakened side, with Low, Morrison, Cusiter, Barclay & Kellock all left out, Dan Paaaaks on the bench (It’s not a spelling mistake, just getting practice in before his move to Kaaaaadiff, orrrii?), and Brown in the less-familiar 7 role. There’s still some pace and penetration in the backs, with the Evens brothers and Stortoni, present, mind, although Dan Parks has been pulling the strings for the side so far this season.

In the mean time, I’m off to pack my Shorts, swimming trunks and suntan lotion…. Glasgeee here we come…

I’m sure most of you have been keeping track of the injury situation that has blighted us this season, so here’s a quick round-up of where we are. Firstly the most recent news is that Mighty Joe doesn’t require the surgery that would have kept him out for the rest of the season, as was initially feared, and he will hopefully be fit and raring to go in 4 – 6 weeks.

The very good news is that Ben Castle, Wayne Evans, Ashley Smith, Alex Walker and centre Pat Leach, are all on the cusp of returning to action, with most hoping to be back in time for the game next week against Glawwwwsterr at Dave Parade, or soon after in the LV= cup.

Nigel Hall and Phil Price are both still sidelined, with Hall targeting the return to Magners League against Ulster at Ravenhill for his return.

Flippin cold it is see…

Apparently there were considerable doubts whether the pitch would be playable, and the Dragons would have difficulty getting to the flight out of Luton

As you’ll all know, we’ve got 15 players out of contract at the end of the season; well today they extensions started coming in. Aled Brew, Wayne Evans, Tom Riley and Martyn Thomas have all extended their contracts until the end of 2011/2012.
Aled has been everything we’ve expected him to be this season – god knows whythe blues and ospreys let him go, but there you are – we’re grateful, and another two years is great news.
Wayne has really upped his game this season as well, looking like a differnt scrum half to last season.
Tom Riley, right, is another player who had lost his way a bit at Cardiff, but is certainly coming good for us, and Martyn Thomas has started to come into his own as a running fullback inthe Kevin Morgan mould.
Players we are still waiting on include Richard Fussell, Tom Willis, RP favourite Steve Jones, Grant Webb, Duane Goodfield and Supergeth.
Motorpoint are also confirmed as the shirt sponsors for the next two seasons as well, and they’ve also agreed a naming deal for the family stand, althoughthe new name has not been revealed. I’m betting on “gerald”. I don’t know why, i just think it’s a nice name for a stand.
In case anyone missed the news that we didn’t bother to post on here (excerrrryyyyuse me? Blouse v Dragons item ? – Levi) in a timely fashion, Paul Turner has signed on for another two years, and Charv is confirmed as forwards coach for the rest of the season.

Dragons	v	Scarlets
Jason Tovey	15	Rhys Priestland
Aled Brew	14	Lee Williams
Tom Riley	13	Sean Lamont
Mathew J Watkins	12	Jonathan Davies
Richard Fussell	11	Andy Fenby
Shaun Conner	10	Stephen Jones
Danny Lee	9	Gareth Davies
Hugh Gustafson	1	Phil John
Tom WIllis ©	2	Ken Owens
Pat Palmer	3	Deacon Manu
Robert Sidoli	4	Lou Reedr
Luke Charteris ©	5	Dominic Day
Hoani MacDonald	6	Rob McCusker
Lewis Evans	8	David Lyons ©
Gavin Thomas	7	Jonathan Edwards
	Replacements
Steve Jones	16	Jamie Corsi
Ali McKenzie	17	Emyr Phillips
Adam Jones	18	Damian Welch
Grant Webb	19	Richie Pugh
Martyn Thomas	20	Dan Evans
Will Harries	21	Gareth Maule
Gareth Williams	22	Rob Higgitt

Sadly Neither Joe Bearman nor Dan Lydiate have managed to make it fit in time for this, one of the biggest games of our season in the context of the league. James Arlidge seems to have taken the hit for successive poor performances too. The good news is that Luke Charteris is back for the encounter – and it looks like the weather won’t freeze the game off!

It was also announced that Sir Colin of Charvis, Knight of the Turnover, has been installed as forwards coach til the end of the season with the imminent departure of Leigh Jones to Hong Kong (good luck for the future Leigh!)

Dragons	v	Blouse
Jason Tovey	15	Ben Blair
Aled Brew	14	Richard Mustoe
Rhodri Gomer-Davies	13	Tom Shanklin
Tom Riley	12	Jamie Roberts
Richard Fussell	11	Tom James
James Arlidge	10	Sam Norton-Knight
Danny Lee	9	Richie Rees
Hugh Gustafson	1	Gethin Jenkins ©
Tom Willis ©	2	T Rhys Thomas
Pat Palmer	3	Taufa’au Filise
Hoani MacDonald	4	Bradley Davies
Rob Sidoli	5	Scott Morgan
Joe Bearman	6	Sam Warburton
Lewis Evans	8	Xavier Rush
G Thomas	7	Martyn Williams
	Replacements
Steve Jones	16	Gareth Williams
Peter Bracken	17	Gary Powell
Adam Jones	18	Paul Tito
Grant Webb	19	Andy Powell
Will Harries	20	Gareth Cooper
Mathew Watkins	21	Ceri Sweeney
Gareth Williams	22	Gareth Thomas

Ho Ho Holy poo… Our injury problems have turned into a bit of a crisis! We’ve had to sign Gareth Williams, a young (21) scrum half from Harlequins (on loan from Neath), to cover the 9 shirt, with Wayne Evans, Danny Lee (Eh?) and Alex Walker, joining Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate, Ashley Smith, Ben Castle, Nigel Hall and Phil Price on the injury list.

On the plus side, Jason Tovey has been declared fit and raring to go. And of course, Paul Turner has re-signed for a further 2 seasons at the helm, and has mentioned that now his contract is secured, the Dragons are keen to move forward and secure further contracts with key players who are coming to the end of their current agreements.

Following the ground inspection this evening, tonights game has been postponed.

The match has been rescheduled for 1.35pm tomorrow, at Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli!!! (What? The Weather forecast is -1 and dry in Newport, but -1 and wet/snowing in Llanelli)

(And sorry I haven’t posted the team sheets up, but this is the first time I’ve been near a computer for a few days)