Jackman has made three personnel changes and one positional change to the team that narrowly lost out in the dying minutes to Benetton Rugby last weekend.
There is just one change in the backs as scrum-half Charlie Davies replaces Owain Leonard seeing Leonard named on the bench. The remaining changes have been made in the forwards as we see Luke Garrett given an opportunity in the front row, as he packs down alongside fellow prop Lloyd Fairbrother and hooker Elliot Dee. Lock Joe Davies is given the nod as he moves into the starting XV to join skipper Cory Hill in the boiler room, whilst versatile forward Rynard Landman moves into the back row to replace Harri Keddie, who has failed the return to play protocol. Landman is joined by flanker Aaron Wainwright and number 8 Lewis Evans.
Dragons stalwart, Lewis Evans believes that there are positives the team can take from the performance against Benetton last week.
“It was a rollercoaster of emotions in Treviso last weekend, but our second-half performance in the loss to Benetton does give us the belief that we can end our wait for a long overdue away win in the league,” explained Evans.
“We’ve stayed in Italy this week to prepare for tomorrow’s game with Zebre and it’s still hard to believe that we are still on a losing streak on the road in the Guinness PRO14.
“Going into the closing stages at Benetton we looked good but unfortunately we put ourselves in a position where a referee’s decision would have the final and unfortunately biggest impact on the game. However, if we play like we did in the second half then I am sure we can sign off with a win at Zebre before preparing for our last game of the season against the Scarlets at Judgement Day.”
Liam Belcher, Josh Reynolds and Dan Suter all provide the front row cover with Max Williams, Taine Basham, Owain Leonard, Adam Warren and Joe Goodchild completing the replacements bench.
Dragons team to face Zebre Rugby
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Ashton Hewitt, 13 Sam Beard, 12 Connor Edwards, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Charlie Davies; 1 Luke Garrett, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 4 Joe Davies, 5 Cory Hill ©, 6 Rynard Landman, 7 Aaron Wainwright, 8 Lewis Evans.
Replacements; Liam Belcher, Josh Reynolds, Dan Suter, Max Williams, Taine Basham, Owain Leonard, Adam Warren, Joe Goodchild.
Tickets are on sale now for Judgement Day VI from www.wru.wales/tickets, priced £10 for each seat in the ground with a £1-per-ticket online booking fee, as well as postage (Print at home e-tickets are also available), payable at the time of purchase.
