Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia is predicting “a good scrap” when his side takes on the Stormers in Cape Town in Round 13 of the BKT United Rugby Championship (Sunday, 22 March – 1,00pm)
The South African side is riding high in the URC table and will be looking to move up to second following Ulster’s home defeat Connacht earlier in the weekend.
Their 32-19 victory over the Bulls last time out ended a run of three successive URC defeats, one of which ended their run of seven successive home wins at the DHL Stadium. That was the 30-19 defeat to the Sharks.
The Dragons’ have to go back to their 28-5 home win over the Scarlets for their last win in the competition and have yet to win on South African soil. Their best result to date was an 18-18 draw against the Southern Kings in 2019.
While Tiatia has opted to rest Wales stars Ben Carter and Aaron Wainwright, he is able to welcome back Wales hooker Elliot Head. He is one of seven changes to the side that drew with Benetton lat time out and returns after a lengthy injury.
He will have a new loose head prop packing down with him in the front row as former Wales U20 prop star Jordan Morris makes his first start for the Dragons. Chris Coleman is the tight head.
The other change to the pack sees Harrison Keddie recalled at No 8, while behind the scrum the Tonga international Fetuli Paea makes his first start since October as he joins Aneurin Owen in midfield.
Cai Evans fills the No 15 jersey to allow Angus O’Brien to skipper the side from outside half. His half back partner will be Rhodri Williams, while wing Jared Rosser makes his first appearance since December.
“We know what’s coming. It’s a bit of a fortress at their stadium, they’re a proud nation, so it’ll be tough against the Stormers and a test we need to stand up to,” said Tiatia.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge and how we keep growing our parts of the game that we need to focus on.
“We have clear expectations of what we want to achieve while we are here. John Dobson has the same for Stormers in this game. So, it’s going to be a good scrap.”
TEAMS
Stormers: Damian Willemse; Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel (captain), Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Imad Khan; Vernon Matongo, JJ Kotzé, Neethling Fouché, Adré Smith, JD Schickerling, Deon Fourie, Marcel Theunissen, Evan Roos
Reps: André-Hugo Venter, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Sazi Sandi, Ben-Jason Dixon, Paul de Villiers, Hacjivah Dayimani, Stefan Ungerer, Wandisile SimelaneDragons: Cai Evans; Jared Rosser, Fetuli Paea, Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer; Angus O’Brien (captain), Rhodri Williams; Jordan Morris, Elliot Dee, Chris Coleman, Levi Douglas, Seb Davies, Ryan Woodman, Harry Beddall, Harrison Keddie
Reps: Brodie Coghlan, Wyn Jones, Owain James, Barny Langton-Cryer, Thomas Young, Niall Armstrong, Jac Lloyd, Fine InisiReferee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)