Preview: Newport Gwent Dragons vs Treviso

Friday (19:15) 

Treviso travel to Rodney Parade on Friday in search of what would be a first win of the season for the Italian outfit. Their opponents, the Dragons, are also in desperate need of a win, with only an unimpressive victory over Zebre keeping them from being winless this season.

Treviso have been their usual selves so far this campaign- competitive at home, and desperate away. Two narrow defeats to Ospreys and Edinburgh at home bookend a 39 point capitulation against Ulster at Ravenhill in their last three matches. In fact, Treviso’s form for the whole of 2015 has been nothing short of shambolic, with the Italians currently on an 11 match losing streak stretching back to last season. Their last away win came in May 2013 against the Scarlets, and a repeat result of that match against the Dragons seems unlikely. They will be buoyed however by the return of Italian star Luke McLean, who starts at the unfamiliar outhalf position, partnered by Chris Smylie at scrumhalf in an all new half back pairing.

The Dragons also make a number of changes, with Luc Jones coming in at scrum half and Nick Scott returning to the wing position. In the pack, an all-new second row pairing of Matthew Screech and Cory Hill gets its first run out. The Dragons are unbeaten against Treviso in their last three matches, but it’s always a tight clash between these two, so expect it to be no different tonight.

 Last 3 meetings:

28/3/15 Benetton Treviso 17 - 32 Newport Gwent Dragons

28/9/14 Newport Gwent Dragons 33 - 15 Benetton Treviso

10/5/14 Newport Gwent Dragons 20 - 19 Benetton Treviso

Prediction: Newport by 6.