Joe Franchi: Ebbw Vale need best game to beat Llandovery
Ebbw, SRC Challenger Shield holders, crucially earned home advantage for the play-offs by finishing second in the regular season behind the Blue and Blacks.
Jason Strange's men were given a tough time by Carmarthen Quins in the quarters last weekend but got the job done 45-35.
Courtesy of a draw bracket that strangely puts first against third and second versus fourth, they now face a Drovers side who are hunting a third title on the spin and who beat them 39-7 in March's SRC Cup final.
Crucially, this time it's on Ebbw soil and that gives Franchi & Co a real shot avoiding the same fate as last season, when overpowered by Newport at Spytty Park in the last four.
THROW: Ebbw Vale captain Joe Franchi at the lineout (Image: NCR Photography)
'We had a good regular season when finishing second and want to go a bit better than last year by getting into the final, and then hopefully get some silverware,' said hooker Franchi, a Premiership title winner with the Steelmen in 2016.
'We have kicked on and are in a better place than last year after some good additions to give us an extra edge.
'We've played Llandovery three times already this season and are 2-1 up but we are under no illusions about what it will take.
'They are probably the best attacking side in the league so we will have to be on our mettle defensively.
'We back ourselves at home and our unbeaten run gives us confidence but I'd say it will take our best performance of the season to get the victory and move on to the final.'
It's fair to assume that Franchi will be at the heart of the effort against the Drovers after a remarkable try-scoring season.
The hooker has so far chalked up 25 scores – perhaps the 'Catch 'n' Kynes' that helped Ebbw to the title nine years ago will be renamed.
ANOTHER: Joe Franchi went over for a hat-trick for Ebbw against Carmarthen Quins (Image: NCR Photography)
'There's only one Ronnie Kynes! I'm driving the bus this year and we work so hard on our maul,' said Franchi.
'It's not just a case of sticking our heads in and seeing what happens, there is a lot in the process and the work has shown with the tries scored by me and Ieuan [Morris, his fellow hooker who is on 10].
'It's a great weapon and one that we will try to use on Saturday but you can't be one-dimensional at this stage of the season. We have other tricks up our sleeve but always have the lineout drive to go back to.'
Franchi's twin Dom returns to the XV at inside centre while full-back Morgan Richards and wing Ieuan Evans also start, with no changes up front.
Ebbw Vale: Morgan Richards; Ieuan Evans, Ethan Phillips, Dom Franchi, Ryan Gardner; Evan Lloyd, Gruff Tough; Luke Garrett, Joe Franchi (captain), Adam Williams, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Jack Pope, Sion Parry, Ryan Jenkins.
Replacements: Ieuan Morris, Morgan Williams, Adam Court, Cam Regan, Lewis Young, Rory Harries, Cameron Davies, Ewan Bowden.
Llandovery: To come
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