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There is already a huge amount riding on this Round 3 fixture after Newport Gwent Dragons and Bordeaux-Begles both lost to Bath in the opening two weekends of continental competition. - 04/12/2013 17:00
Newport Gwent Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones has urged his side to put their poor Guinness Pro 12 form behind them as they head to Paris for their European Rugby Challenge Cup opener.
Despite recruiting Wales internationals Lee Byrne, Aled Brew and Andy Powell during the off-season, the Men of Gwent have picked up just one win from their first six games of the season.
Heading to face Stade Francais first up in Pool 3 appears a daunting task given the run of results. But former Wales captain Jones wants his side to come out fighting.
He said: “We can’t be too down about things, we have to dust ourselves down and try and get a result. No-one is happy with how it is going. We are not having enough moments in the opposition 22 and we need that. It is my job to face up, front up and come in and believe we can go and get a result.
“Playing anyone away is tough, no-one says it will be easy. A lot of games are tough but hopefully we can work hard and get it right but control of the ball is massively important. We certainly need to be able to retain the ball higher up the field than we currently are.”
The home side have chosen not to register some of their big names for the tournament, with Sergio Parisse, Pascal Pape, Jules Plisson and Waisea Nayacalevu among those missing.
But Pierre Rabadan, handed the captaincy for this competition, has backed the Top 14 outfit’s fringe players to deliver on the continental stage.
He said: “You have to take this competition as an opportunity to give playing time to some different players and the pre-match speech will be very simple.
“The players involved, particularly the younger ones, will have to prove they are capable of what is expected at this level. That is the first step towards playing regularly.”
Match Facts
- Stade Francais Paris have made it past the group stage in each six editions of the tournament they have featured in.
- Stade chose to kick the ball from hand less often than any other side last season.
- The Dragons conceded the second most penalties per game in last year’s competition, conceding 14.5 on average.
- Stade Francais Paris’ Jérôme Porical made 524 metres in the Challenge Cup last season, only three players made more, he was also the top points scorer with 83.
Nic Cudd put the seal on a stunning shock victory for Newport Gwent Dragons at Stade Francais. - 18/10/2014 22:04
Nic Cudd put the seal on a stunning shock victory for Newport Gwent Dragons at Stade Francais.
Cudd dived over three minutes from time to not only seal a surprise win but clinch a bonus-point for the Welsh region.
Richie Rees and Rhys Thomas crossed in the first half when the Dragons were reduced to 14 men before Halam Amos and Cudd put Stade to the sword.
Stade have twice reached the Challenge Cup final yet in front of their own fans could still only manage one try, through Herman Bosman.
Vincent Mallet kicked five penalties to keep the game in the balance but the Dragons were ruthlessly clinical with every half-chance in a remarkable display.
That started when O’Brien kicked the opening points in the fourth minute though they lost captain Andrew Coombs to an early knee injury.
Mallet responded with four successive penalties, the last after Boris Stankovich was binned for a reckless high tackle on Nicolas Garrault.
Yet the 14 Dragons not only steadied the ship but stunned Stade with two unanswered tries.
Richard Landman broke clear from a stolen lineout. James Thomas followed, Tom Prydie straightening the attack before Rees stepped through to score.
Two minutes later and Rhys Thomas for their second. Byrne recovered O’Brien’s kick. Matthew Pewtner broke through and Ashley Smith found hooker Thomas unmarked out wide.
Mallet’s fourth penalty levelled the scores before half-time but against the run of play, Dragons caught Stade off-guard once again.
Amos burst off his wing and onto O’Brien’s pass, beating Morne Steyn and Krisnan to score from 40 metres out.
Stade’s response came through their pack that rolled up field before Bosman stretched out to score and Steyn converted.
But O’Brien responded with two more penalties before Cudd dived over late on as Dragons finished the stronger.
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