Dee to make 150th Dragons appearance

WALES hooker Elliot Dee, right, makes his 150th appearance for the Dragons against Connacht on Saturday night (8pm KO), while fellow international forward Aaron Wainwright also comes into the side as head coach Dai Flanagan rings the changes following last week’s defeat to Benetton.

Flanagan said: “Connacht target certain games and we would be a game I imagine they will try and target for five points. It is on us to prove people wrong and perform.

“Being at home in front of our people is something we look forward to.”

As for ninth-placed Connacht, they will want to build on last weekend’s 54-16 romp against Zebre as they bid to break into the play-off zone.

Their coach Pete Wilkins commented: “Rodney Parade is always a tough place for visiting teams and we’re fully aware of the importance of us getting a win in the context of the overall season.”

Dragons: Jordan Williams; Rio Dyer, Steff Hughes (capt), Aneurin Owen, Ewan Rosser; Cai Evans, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Elliot Dee, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter,

Matthew Screech, Harri Keddie, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: James Benjamin, Rodrigo Martinez, Luke Yendle, George Nott, Sean Lonsdale, Che Hope, Will Reed, Joe Westwood

Connacht: Tiernan O’halloran; Shane Jennings, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, John Porch; JJ Hanrahan, Matthew Devine; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Gavin Thornbury, Shamus Hurley-langton, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast.

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-martin, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Oisin Dowling, Jarrad Butler, Caolin Blade, Cathal Forde, Paul Boyle.