After winning their last ten games, the Black & Ambers will be severely tested when they face Ebbw Vale on Saturday. Both teams are aiming to finish in the top two of the Indigo Premier League to ensure a home tie in the league play-offs. Ebbw are having a good season and are in third place having lost only five of their nineteen games played. They also reached the semi-final of the Premiership Cup.
Newport will be trying to avoid the mistakes that were made in the second half of the last game. After cruising to a five try, thirty-three-point lead against bottom club Neath, they ended the game clinging on for a seven point victory with the Welsh All-Blacks scoring four late tries.
The coaching team makes several changes to the starting fifteen with Thomas Davies, Henry Palmer, Rynard Landman, Rhys Jenkins, Che Hope, Matt O’Brien, Jake Lloyd, Lloyd Lewis and Dai Richards coming in.
Newport: Thomas Davies, Henry Palmer, Garin Harris, Rynard Landman, Josh Skinner, Rhys Jenkins, Kyle Tayler, Ben Roach Captain, Che Hope, Matt O’Brien, Elliot Frewen, Jake Lloyd, Chay Foster-Smith, Lloyd Lewis, Dai Richards.
Replacements: Wade Langley, Josh Reynolds, Chris Davies, Elliot Ferriman, Josh Reid, Luke Crane, Lewis Bates, Iwan Pyrs Jones.
Kick-off: 2:30PM
Venue: Ciner Glass Community Stadium, Ebbw Vale