By Peter Ryan
The Dragons will hit the road this weekend and travel to Northern Ireland to face Connacht.
Dai Flanagan’s side will be desperate for a win, as they have been playing some positive rugby recently but have failed to turn that into results.
They are coming up against a Connacht side that will be challenging to beat in front of the home crowd and will look for a big win to cement themselves in the playoff picture.
This game is vital for both teams, as a win could significantly impact their standings. The betting options for the match could interest people.
Connacht
Connacht is a team that flies under the radar in a stacked URC competition; they are not an elite team yet, but they seem to be there or thereabouts come playoff time.
The Northern Irish club sits seventh in the table and has put together some decent performances, considering they are struggling with injuries to key players.
Mack Hanson and Santiago Cordero have been on the sidelines, and their presence has been sorely missed in matches.
Cordero will line up on the wing and look to make an impact for his team. Bundee Aki will take to the field at the weekend before going on Ireland duty.
However, their attack remains a significant strength of their game. Improvements can be made on the defensive side, as their tackling hasn’t been at its best, with only a 78% tackle success rate.
Connacht will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing defeat to Leinster last time out. Peter Wilkins’ side will feel the Dragons game is a perfect opportunity to return to winning ways.
Dragons
The Dragons looked promising at the start of the season with a great win over the Ospreys at Rodney Parade.
The Welsh club has played some decent rugby during the opening stage of the competition. Flanagan probably feels his side could be further up the table, with most of their games being close contests.
However, game management has been an issue, which has cost them a few decent results. Fortunately for the Dragons, a wealth of experience returns from injury this weekend, with Aaron Wainwright and Cai Evans coming back into the fold.
Along with those players, they have the likes of Shane Lewis-Hughes and Rio Dyer. There is an abundance of talent in the team.
The Dragons have struggled to get over the line in close games, sometimes showing a lot of heart and desire to win and produce magic on the field.
Yet, there must be pressure building because they are not converting great play into results. Even though the last time they played an Irish club, they came up short against the mighty Leinster in Dublin, pundits and fans alike praised their performance.
That performance in Ireland would give them the confidence to get the job done in Connacht. The
Dragons have the potential to surprise, and this unpredictability adds an element of intrigue to the upcoming match.
The Bets
There are some interesting avenues to explore when considering betting options for the contest. The best bet seems to be for Connacht to win by more than 17 points because they have played some good rugby against the Dragons, who have shown a tendency to leak tries.
You can find value in it being a tight contest, with Connacht having a winning margin between eight and 14 points because, in recent games, the Dragons have shown they can give teams a real run for their money.
For those who love an underdog, it could be worth putting a couple of quid on the Dragons to pull off a massive upset for a long shot bet. The players returning from injury could provide the experience they need to capitalise on the excellent rugby they are playing.
Best Bet: Connacht to win by more than 17 points – 10/11
Value Bet: Connacht to win with a margin between 8 and 14 points – 7/2
Longshot Bet: Dragons to win – 11/1
