Connacht turn to Nathan

Date Published: 18-Apr-2008

HOPE evaporated from the Connacht cause with last weekend’s demoralising defeat in Belfast and the reality is that Michael Bradley’s men have nothing but pride to play for when they take on Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade this evening (7.10 p.m.).

Even with two home games still to come against Welsh opposition, Connacht’s season effectively ended when they found it so hard to score against Ulster last Friday night. That 18-6 defeat has left the western province rooted to the bottom of the Magners League table, eight points adrift of both Ulster and the Dragons, a situation which is likely to deteriorate even further this evening.

The last seven ties between the Dragons and Connacht have gone the way of the home side, but Bradley’s men have not beaten a Welsh side away in almost three and a half years.

Bradley has made just one change from the side which came up short in Belfast, with New Zealand out-half Troy Nathan set to make his first start after spending virtually the whole season with Connemara in Division Three of the AIL.

Nathan came off the bench to replace Andy Dunne in the second half at Ravenhill and,………….