South African prop Cebo Dlamini make his first start for Dragons RFC as they tackle Benetton Rugby in the EPCR Challenge Cup in Italy on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 5.30pm UK time).
Head Coach Filo Tiatia makes nine changes for the Round 3 encounter in Treviso as the Men of Gwent target knockout rugby.
Tighthead Dlamini makes his first start for the club up front while Levi Douglas and Matthew Screech are paired in the second row.
Ryan Woodman moves into the back row to play blindside while there is a return for Shane Lewis-Hughes in the Number Eight jersey.
Scrum half Rhodri Williams captains the side and full back Huw Anderson is also promoted to the starting line-up.
Centre Joe Westwood is back, partnering David Richards who moves from the wing, and fit-again wing Rio Dyer is also recalled to the team.
Wales international hooker Brodie Coghlan is a welcome returnee among the replacements.
Jordan Morris, Barny Langton-Cryer, Jac Lloyd and Morgan Lloyd – who could make his first appearance of the season are also named.
Tiatia said: “Benetton are at home and will be disappointed by the loss to Edinburgh over there. They are well coached too by Calum MacRae, who is a good man.
“We’re not at Rodney Parade so the challenge for us is making sure we prepare well and play well away from home. That is an objective of ourselves.
“Benetton are a physical side, so we’ve got to be on it in terms of winning collisions, being smart around where we see opportunities.
“They are also a strong defensive maul team, they haven’t conceded a maul try all season, so they’re well coached in that department.
“We have Benetton and then Newcastle at home. We are looking forward to these two fixtures.
“We’ve made a few changes and given an opportunity to players who have been working hard in the SRC and training well,” he added.
“We are trying to form competition in the group, which is important long-term and we need to get it right.”
Dragons RFC: Huw Anderson, Ewan Rosser, David Richards, Joe Westwood, Rio Dyer, Tinus de Beer, Rhodri Williams (c); Rodrigo Martinez, Oli Burrows, Cebo Dlamini, Levi Douglas, Matthew Screech, Ryan Woodman, Harry Beddall, Shane Lewis-Hughes
Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Jordan Morris, Robert Hunt, Barny Langton-Cryer, Thomas Young, Morgan Lloyd, Jac Lloyd, Aneurin Owen
Unavailable: James Benjamin, Chris Coleman, Seb Davies, Elliot Dee, Cai Evans, Harri Keddie, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Rhodri Jones, Dillon Lewis, Mackenzie Martin, Fetuli Paea, Jared Rosser, Aaron Wainwright
We’re not at Rodney Parade so the challenge for us is making sure we prepare well and play well away from home. That is an objective of ourselves...
