Dragons rest trio in revamped side for Bulls game
Dragons rest Wales number eight Aaron Wainwright and co-captains Angus O'Brien and Ben Carter for the URC home match against Bulls on Friday.
Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia is a former Ospreys number eight [Huw Evans Picture Agency] Dragons have rested Wales number eight Aaron Wainwright and co-captains Angus O'Brien and Ben Carter for the United Rugby Championship (URC) home match against Bulls on Friday (19:45 BST). Dragons have had two six-day turnarounds and plenty of travel in their European Challenge Cup victories against Stade Francais in France and Zebre in Italy, which has set up another away semi-final against Montpellier on 3 May. Tiatia has made eight changes to the side that beat Zebre as he looks to rotate and refresh.
"Every week around selection players are putting their hand up and playing well and we've got some debates," said Tiatia. "When you put the jersey on, you need to fill it up and play well and then hopefully you hold onto the jersey and get another opportunity. " Tiatia has given starting spots to Wales forwards Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones and Seb Davies.
Lock Levi Douglas returns, with Ryan Woodman switching to flanker to form a back-row trio alongside Harry Beddall and Harrison Keddie, who captains the side from number eight. Centre Fetuli Paea comes in for injured Aneurin Owen, wing Jared Rosser replaces David Richards and Cai Evans is named at full-back. Wales prop Dillon Lewis is line to return after six months out injured with a place on the replacements bench alongside fellow front-rower Rhodri Jones.
Bulls include a host of Springboks including Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetze, Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Handre Pollard and Canan Moodie. Patchell to join Pivac's Benetton coaching staff Dragons' semi-final dedicated to Gwent and Wales Europe on hold as Dragons return home Dragons have achieved a first European semi-final for 10 years but Tiatia says the Challenge Cup is on the backburner, with impending URC matches against Bulls and Zebre "We have parked it," said Tiatia. "We celebrated what we did in the weekend and then we're back on the horse in the URC.