by Lestyn

Date: 1 January 2004

Owen Makes Return
Michael Owen will make his first competitive start since the injury that forced him out of Wales's World cup squad against Borders in Netherdale on Friday.

Owen has featured several times as a replacement already since October, but Mike Ruddocks desire to give all his squad game time before their Heineken cup run in which starts next Saturday at home to Stade Francais, the 22 Year old is lock replaces Ian Gough in a Dragons starting line up that also see's Percy Montgomery return to full back and Steve Winn replaces Andy Marinos in the centre. Hooker Steve Jones is ruled out along with Nathan Brew through injury. If the Dragons succeed where Cardiff and the Ospreys have failed by winning up in Gala, it would give their title hopes a big push in the right direction.

This week the Borders have been rocked by the news of Gregor Townsend signing for the Natal Sharks and will not feature for the district again this season. Key full back Tanner Villi who featured for the New Zealand Babarians last week has also been ruled, but through a hamstring injury. Languishing second from bottom in the Celtic League it would be easy to underestimate them, but so often in the past Welsh sides have fallen unexpectantly on Scottish soil.

Dragons Team
P Montgomery, G Arasa, H Luscombe, S Winn, B Breeze, L Jarvis, G Baber, A Black, P Young, C Anthony, M Owen, P Sidoli, J Ringer, R Beattie, J Forster (captain). Replacements: S Tuipulotu, A Marinos, R Jones, R Snow, K Crawford, I Gough, S van Rensberg.

Kick off 6pm.

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