Dragons’ co-captain Ben Carter says his side is ready to go to France and do what no other side from Gwent has done and upset the odds to reach a European final.
Carter believes his team will be representing the whole of Wales when they take on Montpellier on Sunday 3 May (12.30pm) in the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final – the fourth time the Dragons have reached the final four.
Head coach Filo Tiatia has made six changes to the side that won in Parma against Zebre last time out. Wales wing Rio Dyer returns to the three-quarter line, along with Tongan international Fine Inisi is recalled. Scrum half Niall Armstrong is paired with Tinus de Beer at half back.
Hooker Elliot Dee is back up front alongside fellow Wales international Chris Coleman. The final change is a recall for back row Ryan Woodman who packs down at blindside flanker, while Wyn Jones and Harri Keddie boost the replacements bench.
“We’re really excited and we’re proud of our last couple of fixtures, how we’ve managed to earn another week in the competition. Now we’re looking forward to going out and hopefully having one of our best performances of the year,” said Carter.
“They’re a good side, we know that. Physically and set piece wise they’ll be strong, so it’s just about going out there with confidence, which I think we’ve done in the last couple of fixtures.
“Once we got some results we built some momentum, confidence and belief. Now it’s a question of keeping it up.”
After a Round of 16 win in Paris against Stade Francais and the quarter final triumph in Italy against Zebre, they now face their biggest challenge against a Montpellier side that has twice won this competition and who warmed up last weekend by beating Bordeaux-Begles 23-21 in Bordeaux to move into third in the table.
While they only had one player in the French squad that won the Six Nations title, 22-year-old second row Lenni Nouchi, they have a very powerful team. There are only four survivors from the side that won in Bordeaux last weekend in the starting XV, with Adam Beard coming into the second row.
There is no doubt the impact Tiatia has had on the Dragons players this season has made them a much tighter team and a much tougher outfit to beat. With seven wins and three draws in 22 games to date they are finally exchanging narrow misses for triumphs.
“We all really like playing for Filo and he’s created an environment that’s really positive. Everyone gets on really well with him,” added Carter.
“We feel like we’ll be representing the whole of Wales out in Montpellier and we’re just looking forward to going out there and showing what we can do. We’re now going out to places really believing that if we put in the level of performance that we know we can achieve, we can get results.”
After heartbreak in their three previous semi-finals, the last of those in Montpellier 10 years ago, the dream is to reach a first final.
“It’s exciting what is ahead of us and the boys are looking forward to this game, as they should be,” said Tiatia.
“I watched Montpellier play Bordeaux last weekend and they played well. They’ve got some big carriers and a very good mauling pack – they love getting in the 22 and being direct.
“They’ve got also backs that can strike from anywhere, so they’re a good all-round side. We understand the task ahead of us and we’re playing on their home turf.
“We are going into their town, we’re going to be in front of their crowd and their supporters, and they’ll be screaming against us.
“But we’re up for a challenge, we’re up for going over there and imposing our game. We’re looking forward to that.”
TEAMS
Montpellier: Tom Banks; Donovan Taofifenua, Auguste Cadot, Lennox Anyanwu, Melvyn Rates; Thomas Vincent, Alexis Bernadet; Baptiste Erdocio, Ricky Riccitelli, Valentin Welsch, Adam Beard, Tyler DuGuid, Marco Tauleigne, Alex Becognee, Lenni Nouchi (captain)
Reps: Lyam Akrab, Nika Abuladze, Mohamed Haouas, Yacouba Camara, Alex Masibaka, Tom Baraer, Domingo Miotti, Thomas DarmonDragons: Angus O’Brien (co-captain); David Richards, Fine Inisi, Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer; Tinus de Beer, Niall Armstrong; Rodrigo Martinez, Elliot Dee, Chris Coleman, Levi Douglas, Ben Carter (co-captain), Ryan Woodman, Thomas Young, Aaron Wainwright
Reps: Brodie Coghlan, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Seb Davies, Harrison Keddie, Morgan Lloyd, Fetuli Paea, Huw AndersonReferee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)