Argentine ace Rodrigo Martinez is among the returning players as Dragons RFC face a first-ever BKT United Rugby Championship clash at St Helen’s in Swansea on Saturday evening (kick-off 7pm).
Head Coach Filo Tiatia makes seven changes to the side that triumphed over Perpignan in Europe as the Men of Gwent play a first league fixture at the venue.
Martinez is part of a new-look front row as he packs down with Elliot Dee and Dillon Lewis.
Lock Seb Davies – this week recalled by Wales for the autumn – is paired with captain Ben Carter in the second row.
Barny Langton-Cryer moves into the back row to take the six jersey, while Shane Lewis-Hughes also has a positional change as he plays Number Eight.
Scrum half Rhodri Williams returns to play alongside Tinus de Beer.
Tongan centre Fetuli Paea starts the Round 4 fixture while countryman Anzelo Tuitavuki is named on the wing. Rio Dyer moves to full back.
Hooker Oli Burrows and props Jordan Morris and Chris Coleman are back amongst the replacements.
Tiatia said: “We have made a few adjustments to the team, and we are looking forward to the game.
“We played them two weeks ago and there are areas of our game we want to tidy up. There was also lots of good from us and it could have gone either way.
“It’s the first game at St. Helen’s which will be an occasion, so we are looking forward to going there and having a good contest. Both sides are hungry for points and derbies are special.
“This week the Wales squad was named and that is a big moment for several players. But now we ringfence it and we go to work again."
Dragons RFC: Rio Dyer, Jared Rosser, Fetuli Paea, Aneurin Owen, Anzelo Tuitavuki, Tinus de Beer, Rhodri Williams; Rodrigo Martinez, Elliot Dee, Dillon Lewis, Seb Davies, Ben Carter (c), Barny Langton-Cryer, Harry Beddall, Shane Lewis-Hughes
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Jordan Morris, Chris Coleman, Matthew Screech, Evan Minto, Che Hope, Jac Lloyd, Fine Inisi
Unavailable: Harri Ackerman, Levi Douglas, Eretara Enari, Wyn Jones, Robert Hunt, Harrison Keddie, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Angus O’Brien, Harry Rees-Weldon, Ryan Woodman, Thomas Young
We played them two weeks ago and there are areas of our game we want to tidy up. There was also lots of good from us and it could have gone either way...
