HEAD coach Paul Turner has hailed the return of talismanic back row forward Joe Bearman to the Newport Gwent Dragons team for the first time this year in tomorrow’s crucial Magners League clash against Edinburgh at Rodney Parade.
Bearman’s season has been severely restricted by a groin injury which required an operation and he has been limited to just six starts plus one appearance off the bench.
That was after a huge two seasons when he won the player-of-the-year trophy voted for by Argus readers and was on the verge of a place in the Wales squad.
“It’s good to see Joe back and keen for it, he’s been the form player for the Dragons for the past two seasons,” said Turner, who brings him back at blindside flanker with the highly promising Toby Faletau remaining at No 8.
“Toby is going to get better and better, but we were targeting the Edinburgh game for Joe two months ago and he’s made it though it was touch and go,” added Turner.
“He’s trained well this week and though he’ll be lacking match practice with the injuries to Dan Lydiate, Lewis Evans and Jamie Harris we felt it was worth rushing him back in.
“He’s actually lost a bit of weight, but he needs to knuckle down and take up Lydiate’s mantle.”
Bearman replaces Newport captain Andrew Coombs who has had a heavy workload for club and region in recent weeks and is on the bench against Edinburgh.
The only other change from the side beaten in Glasgow last time out is at inside centre where fit-again Ashley Smith returns in place of Tom Riley, who is on the bench along with scrum half Alex Walker, also absent because of injury for some time, and Cross Keys hooker Lloyd Burns who steps in with Steve Jones and Duane Goodfield both injured.
“Ashley is a key player for the Dragons, he’s got a good rugby head, he’s a good defender and valuable in attack as well,” said Turner.
“Alex returns, but we’ve got high hopes for Jon Evans, our academy and Wales Under 18s player who has been with Pontypool.”
The Dragons are chasing the double over fourth placed Edinburgh, themselves out to secure a play-off place though they haven’t won at Rodney Parade for four years.
If results go the right way this weekend the Dragons will clinch their place in the Heineken Cup next season by being sure of finishing third Welsh team in the league at worst.
If Cardiff Blues beat the Scarlets tonight the Dragons would need only a losing bonus point tomorrow, but if the Scarlets pull off a victory and the Dragons lose the gap between the east-west rivals will be down to six points with two games remaining.
“It’s going to be a good challenge for us, Edinburgh have got a good set piece and we’ll have to step up,” said Turner.
“If Mike Blair plays well Edinburgh play well, but I’m not getting into game and points watching, we need to play well and do something ourselves.”
At the time of going to press Edinburgh were still not sure how they were going to travel to the game because of the emergency situation which grounded all UK flights. But a spokesman confirmed, “We’ll be there for kick-off.”
Team: M Thomas, W Harries, M Watkins, A Smith, R Fussell, J Tovey, W Evans, H Gustafson, T Willis (captain), P Palmer, R Sidoli, L Charteris, J Bearman, T Faletau, G Thomas. Replacements: L Burns, B Castle, H MacDonald, A Coombs, T Riley, J Arlidge, A Walker.
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