TAULUPE Faletau says famous French successes give Newport Gwent Dragons hope of stopping Montpellier's juggernauts in their European Challenge Cup semi-final.

The Dragons will head to the Top 14 title hopefuls' Altrad Stadium on Saturday, April 23 (kick-off 5.30pm UK time) after upsetting the odds to knock holders Gloucester out at Kingsholm last weekend.

The Rodney Parade region – the last Guinness Pro12 team standing in Europe – have been priced as 12/1 outsiders to lift the trophy in Lyon next month.

They will face a star-studded Montpellier squad featuring a glut of Springboks including Bismarck du Plessis, Pierre Spies and Frans Steyn, France aces Francois Trinh-Duc, Nicolas Mas, Julien Malzieu and Fulgence Ouedraogo, Australia's Jesse Mogg and Fiji back rower Akapusi Qera.

They are favourites for the tournament but the Dragons will travel to France buoyed by recent successes against Stade Francais in Paris and Pau at the foot of the Pyrenees when they stunned their fancied hosts with an expansive approach that not only won but earned bonus points.

"We've been out there and won a few games," said Wales number eight Faletau, who started in both those successes. "These are one-off games. We'll work hard, go out there and execute our game plan.

"The boys watched Montpellier's game (against Sale) quite keenly on Friday night and we know what the French bring, they are just massive, physical men.

"Just got to try and stop that and apply our game. It is possible to win but will be tough."

"We all know that the league hasn't gone as well as we'd expected but it's always good to be in a competition and the boys have something to play for," he continued.

"Gloucester was up there as the top game I've been involved with in the Dragons. The boys put a hell of a shift in and we were rewarded with the result.

"There was relief because we hadn't won for a while so to get the win away from home in a quarter-final, you've got to enjoy these moments."

Both the Dragons and Montpellier have six-day turnarounds from league fixtures in capitals before the semi-final, the French side taking on Stade Francais in Paris while Cardiff Blues is the destination for Faletau & Co on Sunday.

After seven defeats on the spin in the Guinness Pro12, six by under a score, the number eight hopes to benefit from a Gloucester bounce as they attempt to repeat last season's excellent win at the Arms Park.

Faletau said: "We will get a lot of confidence from it. We have been losing games narrowly, which has knocked our confidence and you don't really know what to do then.

"To finally get the win, training will be more enjoyable and the boys will be walking around with smiles on faces rather than moping around."