Henson back in line-up as Dragons bid for last eight

GAVIN Henson starts for the Dragons as they bid for a place in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup when they clash with Bordeaux-Begles in Newport today (3pm).

It’s not quite mission impossible for Henson and company but they need to win by nine or more points and secure a bonus point victory with the French outfit not picking up anything from their visit to Rodney Parade. That would result in the Gwent region finishing ahead of them in Pool One and being runners-up to Aviva Premiership club Newcastle Falcons at the end of the group stage.

It would give the Dragons a chance, albeit dependent on results elsewhere, of reaching the knock-out stage for the third time in four seasons.

For the Dragons to qualify, they need to pull off their side of the bargain and three of the following to happen:

Pool Four winners Edinburgh to be victors at Stade Francais;

London Irish to fail to get a bonus point win at Russian side Krasny Var and overturn an inferior points difference;

Sale Sharks not to get a bonus point win at Toulouse in Pool One;

Brive to keep Worcester Warriors pointless in Pool Five but fail to get a bonus point win and overturn an inferior points difference.

Coach Bernard Jackman has made four changes to the starting line-up beaten in Bordeaux with Carl Meyer returning at full-back, Henson at outsidehalf, Sam Hobbs at prop and James Sheekey in the back-row.

“If we make sure we tick the boxes we need to and if by hook or by crook the other results go our way, then excellent,” said Dragons coach Hendre Marnitz. TEAMS – Dragons: C Meyer; A Hewitt, A Warren, J Dixon, J Rosser; G Henson, S Pretorius; S Hobbs, E Dee, L Fairbrother, R Landman, C Hill (capt), J Sheekey, R Blake, A Wainwright. Subs: L Belcher, T Davies, G Ellis, J Davies, J Benjamin, D Babos, D Jones, P Howard. Bordeaux-Begles: G Cros; F Fuatai, P Uberti, M Talebulamaijaina, I Etcheverry; B Volavola, J Gimbert; S Taofifenua, A Pelissie, R Kovekalou, L Jones, J Marais (capt), M Tauleigne, L Houston, C Woki. Subs: F Dufour, T Paiva, L Tabidze, C Cazeaux, A Roumat, G Doubrere, C Schoeman, A Naqalevu.