Big guns in return for the Dragons

THE cavalry return for the Dragons in the shape of Ross Moriarty, Will Rowlands and Leon Brown for the United Rugby Championship clash with Cell C Sharks tonight (6.30pm).

All three Wales internationals start for the east Wales region as they look to end their South Africa tour on a positive note. Brown did appear off the bench against the Bulls last weekend but now he returns at No.3 in the run-on side in Durban.

Moriarty features at No.8 with Rowlands packing down at lock. Taine Basham is named among the replacements as the combative Ben Fry, who fronted up impressively against the Bulls, continues at openside.

There are nine changes in all from the team that lost 55-20 in Pretoria.

As well as Moriarty, Rowlands and Brown, Dean Ryan drafts Joe Davies and Greg Bateman into his starting line-up. Rhodri Williams and Josh Lewis take over at half-back, Jordan Olowofela starts on the wing and Ioan Davies comes in for only his second start of the season.

Lewis will be making his 50th Dragons appearance, while Rowlands will be looking to build on strong form in the Six Nations which saw him acclaimed as Wales’ best-performing player.

The Dragons haven’t won since October, a run spanning 11 games. Dragons: Ioan Davies, Jared Rosser, Adam Warren, Jack Dixon, Jordan Olowofela, Josh Lewis, Rhodri Williams; Greg Bateman, Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Joe Davies, Will Rowlands, Harri Keddie (c), Ben Fry, Ross Moriarty. Reps: Taylor Davies, Aki Seiuli, Mesake Doge, Huw Taylor, Taine Basham, Lewis Jones, Will Reed, Jordan Williams.