HEINEKEN CUP: N-G Dragons v Glasgow Warriors , tonight, 7.30pm, Rodney Parade :BOTH SIDES lost their opening matches but the Dragons came within six minutes of beating Gloucester at Kingsholm, while Glasgow almost upset French giants Biarritz (18-22) at Firhill.
The teams met in September with Dragons winning 30-19. Former Connacht player, Peter Bracken, lines out in the Welsh side’s frontrow and their home advantage makes them favourites.
Glasgow have a dismal away record in this competition, with just two wins in 30 matches.
DRAGONS:M Thomas; A Brew, T Riley, A Smith, W Harries; J Arlidge, W Evans; P Price, S Jones, P Bracken; A Jones, L Charteris; D Lydiate, G Thomas, L Evans. Replacements: D Goodfield, H Gustafson, G Robinson, H MacDonald, R Sidoli, D Lee, R Fussell, J Tovey.
GLASGOW WARRIORS:B Stortoni; C Shaw, D McCall, G Morrison, T Evans; D Parks, C Cusiter; J Welsh, D Hall, M Low; T Barker, A Kellock; R Vernon, TBA, J Beattie. Replacements: P MacArthur, K Tkachuk, E Kalman, D Turner, C Gregor, H O'Hare, P Horne, K Brown.
Referee;R Poite (Fra).
Verdict:Home win.
Sale Sharks v Cardiff Blues, tonight 8pm, Edgeley Park (live on Sky Sports 1):THE SHARKS welcome back a host of star names to the team that lost 36-17 at Toulouse after coach Kingsley Jones picked an inexperienced side due to the five-day turnaround between their first two fixtures.
Cardiff, who were 20-6 winners over Harlequins, will be without a number of key players including Lions, Martyn Williams and Gethin Jenkins, as well as captain Paul Tito, Gareth Thomas, Prop John Yapp and lock Bradley Davis.
SALE SHARKS:N MacLeod; M Cueto, A Tuilagi, L Thomas, B Cohen; C Hodgson, D Peel; A Sheridan, M Jones, E Lewis-Roberts; J Gaskell, D Schofield [capt]; C Fearns, D Seymour, S Koyamaibole. Replacements: N Briggs, G Kerr, J Forster, S Cox, L Abraham, R Wigglesworth, M Tait, C Bell
CARDIFF BLUES:B Blair; L Halfpenny, T Shanklin, J Roberts, T James; S Norton-Knight, R Rees; G Jenkins, G Williams, F Filise; D Jones, S Morgan; S Warburton, R Sowden-Taylor, A Powell. Replacements: T Thomas, D Morris, G Powell, B White, R Williams, G Cooper, C Sweeney, R Mustoe
Referee:C Berdos (France)
Verdict:Home win
Perpignan v Northampton, tonight 8pm, Stade Aime Giral, (live on Sky Sports Red Button):REIGNING FRENCH Champions Perpignan blew their start against Treviso but have not lost at the Stade Aimé Giral in 15 matches – a record dating back seven years.
But Northampton travel to south west France on the back of a fine win over Munster. Although Jim Mallinder’s men won only once on the road in last season’s Guinness Premiership, their status as Challenge Cup holders and good start to the new season will mean they travel with confidence.
PERPIGNAN:J Porical; F Sid, D Marty, M Mermoz, J Candelon; N Laharrague, N Durand; P Freshwater, G Guirado, N Mas [capt]; R Alvarez Kairelis, R Tchale Watchou; G Britz, J Perez, H Tuilagi. Replacements: M Tincu, J Schuster, K Pulu, G Vilaceca, O Tonita, S Meyer, F Cazenave, C Manas
NORTHAMPTON: B Foden; C Ashton, J Clarke, J Downey, B Reihana; S Geraghty, L Dickson; S Tongauiha, D Hartley [capt], S Bonorino; C Lawes, J Kruger; P Dowson, N Best, R Wilson. Replacements: B Sharman, R Dreyer, B Mujati, I Fernandez Lobbe, M Easter, A Dickens, S Myler, C Mayor.
Referee:N Owens (Wales).
Verdict:Perpignan.
