Wainwright and Carter return as Dragons face Lions

Aaron Wainwright will join Leicester Tigers at the end of the season [Huw Evans Picture Agency] Wales internationals Aaron Wainwright and Ben Carter return for Dragons for Saturday's United Rugby Championship (URC) match at play-off chasing Lions in Johannesburg (1430 GMT). Head coach Filo Tiatia has made seven changes to the side beaten by Stormers in Cape Town last week. Wainwright and Carter return from Six Nations duty to join the pack while flanker Thomas Young also starts.

Hooker Brodie Coghlan will make his 50th Dragons appearance and is joined up front by recalled prop Rodrigo Martinez. Niall Armstrong starts at scrum half while Tonga international Fine Inisi plays at outside centre as Dragons look for a first away league win for almost four years. Head coach Filo Tiatia's side were narrowly beaten 29-21 by Stormers but are looking for their first URC win since January and a first away league win since beating Scarlets in April 2022.

"Lions are a good side and they're also a smart team," he said. "They have different types of kicking plans. Because of the altitude, teams will try and defend the length of the kick, but they've got small, short, little dinks too.

They are a challenge. "They're big men, too, so the physicality won't be any different. We've got to get in the ground, and then it's about how we impose our game, and we need to be physical against them.