Darren Edwards has named his first team as Head Coach of the Dragons as the Men of Gwent take on the Ospreys at Rodney Parade on Friday (Rodney Parade, 7:05pm)
Will Harries steps in for the injured Martyn Thomas at fullback whilst Adam Hughes moves on to the wing and Ashley Smith returns at inside centre with an unchanged half back pairing.
Back row Gavin Thomas returns for his first start since the jaw injury he picked up earlier in the season and Andrew Coombs moves into the second row to replace the injured Luke Charteris
"It was a blow to lose Luke after last week’s game,” said Edwards “and obviously it isn’t ideal to have a back row player having to move into the tight five. But Andrew has played lock before and I’m confident that the team will pull together for today’s match.
“It’s not often that we can come into a home match looking to complete the double over a top 3 team but although today presents us with a lot of challenges, it also presents with an opportunity to make a little bit of history.”
15. Will Harries, 14. Adam Hughes, 13. Tom Riley, 12. Ashley Smith (c), 11. Aled Brew, 10. Jason Tovey, 9. Wayne Evans, 1. Phil Price, 2. Lloyd Burns, 3. Ben Castle, 4. Andrew Coombs, 5. Adam Jones, 6. Dan Lydiate, 7. Gavin Thomas, 8. Toby Faletau, 16. Steve Jones, 17. Dan Way, 18.Hugh Gustafson, 19. Lewis Evans, 20. Joe Bearman, 21. Matthew Pewtener, 22. Jon Evans, 23. Matthew Jones
Will Harries steps in for the injured Martyn Thomas at fullback whilst Adam Hughes moves on to the wing and Ashley Smith returns at inside centre with an unchanged half back pairing.
Back row Gavin Thomas returns for his first start since the jaw injury he picked up earlier in the season and Andrew Coombs moves into the second row to replace the injured Luke Charteris
"It was a blow to lose Luke after last week’s game,” said Edwards “and obviously it isn’t ideal to have a back row player having to move into the tight five. But Andrew has played lock before and I’m confident that the team will pull together for today’s match.
“It’s not often that we can come into a home match looking to complete the double over a top 3 team but although today presents us with a lot of challenges, it also presents with an opportunity to make a little bit of history.”
15. Will Harries, 14. Adam Hughes, 13. Tom Riley, 12. Ashley Smith (c), 11. Aled Brew, 10. Jason Tovey, 9. Wayne Evans, 1. Phil Price, 2. Lloyd Burns, 3. Ben Castle, 4. Andrew Coombs, 5. Adam Jones, 6. Dan Lydiate, 7. Gavin Thomas, 8. Toby Faletau, 16. Steve Jones, 17. Dan Way, 18.Hugh Gustafson, 19. Lewis Evans, 20. Joe Bearman, 21. Matthew Pewtener, 22. Jon Evans, 23. Matthew Jones
