‘Unbelievable’ Dyer can give Dragons a boost, says Flanagan
DRAGONS boss Dai Flanagan says Rio Dyer “looks unbelievable” after returning from Six Nations duty with Wales.
The wing (pictured) was one of the few standout performers for Warren Gatland’s side during their Wooden Spoon campaign, playing every minute of the tournament and scoring tries against Scotland and France.
The 24-year-old was given a breather by Flanagan after returning “sore all over” but is now set to make his ninth club appearance of the season in the Dragon’s crunch match with Zebre tonight.
Feeling refreshed, Dyer is centre to his side’s hopes of climbing off the bottom of the URC table and his coach says he is “flying around the place” and raring to go.
“I’d be daft not to start him and it’s a nice attack plan - pass to Rio!” said Flanagan.
“He is a young man who played five 80 minutes for Wales and whenever he has been available for us, we have played him.
“Rio will go on the summer tour and will play the three games, if not the four.
“We’ve got a run-in when we will probably use him in the majority of games, so at some point we had to take him out.
He added: “Rio would be clocking up 30-plus games and that’s not healthy for anyone.
“He reported in sore all over last week so was a high risk but now he looks unbelievable.”
Dyer’s fellow Wales internationals Elliot Dee and Aaron Wainwright also return to Dragons’ starting side tonight.
Flanagan makes seven changes in all, with another Wales player, Ben Carter, also recalled.
Aneurin Owen is back in the centre and Jared Rosser comes in on the wing.
Veteran prop Dmitri Arhip could make his Dragons debut from the bench.
The former Ospreys and Cardiff player has joined on a short-term deal.
Dragons are bottom of the URC after last weekend’s gutsy home defeat to Bulls left them with two wins from 12 league games this season.
They have won just one of their last six URC matches, against Scarlets on 1 January.
Zebre are one place above their opponents in the table despite managing just one URC win this season.
They have Italy internationals Danilo Fischetti, Lorenzo Pani and Andrea Zambonin back in their starting side, while Luca Bigi is on the bench.
“It’s a big game because we need to win our home games,” said Flanagan.
“We must turn up to every game expecting to win, especially at Rodney Parade.”
Dee and Wainwright start having featured off the bench against Bulls, while Dyer is back involved at regional level having been rested last time out.
Dee takes over from Brodie Coghlan at hooker, while prop Yendle is in for Chris Coleman and Carter, who returned to action after a long-term hamstring injury last weekend, replaces George Nott in the second row.
Wainwright is at number eight as Dan Lydiate drops to the bench, while Jared Rosser, Owen and wing Dyer replace Corey Baldwin, Joe Westwood and Ewan Rosser.
“The boys are up for it,” Flanagan added.
“Everyone is excited and having a bit of a run of games at home as well is great. We want to put on the show.
“I thought we won a lot of first contact against a massive Bulls team. Not many teams have done that against them. Our first task is to repeat physically where we were last week.”
Dragons: Cai Evans, Rio Dyer, Steff Hughes (capt), Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser; Will Reed, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Elliot Dee, Luke Yendle, Ben Carter, Matthew Screech, Sean Lonsdale, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: James Benjamin, Rodrigo Martinez, Dmitri Arhip, George Nott, Dan Lydiate, Harri Keddie, Dane Blacker, Joe Westwood.
Zebre: Lorenzo Pani, Pierre Bruno, Franco Smith Jr, Fetuli Paea, Simone Gesi; Tiff Eden, Gonzalo Garcia; Danilo Fischetti, Giampietro Ribaldi, Juan Pitinari, Leonard Krumov, Andrea Zambonin, Davide Ruggeri, Iacopo Bianchi, Giovanni Licata (capt).
Replacements: Luca Bigi, Muhamed Hasa, Ion Neculai, David Sisi, Josh Kaifa, Alessandro Fusco, Jacopo Trulla, Guido Volpi.