We must be at our best as fiery Dragons are on the up: Peel
AFTER spending so much of his career with the Scarlets, Ulster assistant Dwayne Peel is wholly familiar with making the trip to Newport and Rodney Parade.
With the province visiting the Dragons tonight (7.35pm), Peel shared his thoughts on the region who are enjoying something of a rebirth under former Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman and having been taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union.
With Lion Ross Moriarty joining next summer, and a push being made to bring in George North alongside him, there is a feelgood factor surrounding a side who have long been seen as Welsh rugby’s poor relation.
While results haven’t yet matched the mood — they’ve won just twice in the league but have played a disproportionate number of away games — Peel has been impressed by goings on at his former near-neighbours.
“Obviously the Dragons being taken over by the Welsh Union over the last couple of months has injected a bit of interest and buzz,” said the former scrumhalf.
“I think obviously Moriarty is a huge signing for them. He is a British Lion and a fantastic player, and if they are able to get North — I’m not sure what the situation is there — but it would be another good signing.
“They have invested in a lot of youth over the last couple of years and you can see it coming to the fore this year. They have mixed and matched their teams, week in and out really, but when they have been at home they have relied on home form.
“As I said, they have a lot of young players coming through the region, Gavin Henson is giving them a bit of direction at 10 along with Sal Pretorious at nine, those two in particular have led them around the park.
“They will be missing a number of Welsh internationals because Wales still have another game, but they will be tough and be dogged, especially at home.”
Ulster have brought back three Irish internationals for the trip, with Stuart McCloskey and Sean Reidy starting, while skipper Rory Best will be on the bench.
Two of last week’s three Academy debutants will get a second run out, but Aaron Hall is injured.
That means Greg Jones, who came off the bench last week, is in the starting line-up this time around, with Matt Dalton again on the bench.
Chris Henry is back from injuryandonthebench.