Joe Bedford will captain the side which contains a number of players who are making their comebacks from injury. Full Back Jamie Smith continues his return to fitness and starts this week after coming on as a substitute in last week’s win over Prato. Pat Leach (face) starts on the wing whilst Aaron Coundly (bicep) comes onto the bench as both make their Dragons comebacks after long term injuries.
The Dragons are looking to bring through a number of players like Sam Parry and Ieuan Jones with the view to them having more senior roles in the future. Sam Parry is a development player and has been involved in the Dragons squad over the last couple of weeks when he was called into their European Squad as injury cover. No.8 Ieuan Jones is in the Academy and has been impressing for Pontypool, he also started in the Dragons victory at London Wasps in the LV= Cup earlier in the season.
The game is also an opportunity to give some of the younger members of the squad like Steffan Jones, Lewis Robling and Jonathan Evans a chance for more first team game time.
Jevon Groves gets his chance to start in the second row for the Dragons whilst Cross Keys’ British & Irish Cup Quarter Final try scorer Dan Hodge gets a spot on the bench.
The Dragons beat the Ospreys at Rodney Parade earlier in January 21-20 and will be eyeing up a similar result to keep their LV= Cup hopes alive going into the final round of pool matches.
Newport Gwent Dragons
Jamie Smith, Will Harries, Andy Tuilagi, Lewis Robling, Pat Leach, Steffan Jones, Joe Bedford (c), Phil Price, Sam Parry (Newport), Dan Way, Royce Cadman (Bedwas), Jevon Groves, Hugo Ellis, Darren Waters, Ieuan Jones (Academy/Pontypool)
Replacements: Rhys Buckley, Aaron Coundly, Keiron Jenkins (Bedwas), Dan Hodge (Cross Keys), Josh Tyler (UWIC), Jonathan Evans, Luke Williams (Academy/Cross Keys), Geraint O’Driscoll (Pontypool)
