Henson set for bench duty in Edinburgh clash
GAVIN Henson is set for only his second Guinness PRO14 appearance of the season after being drafted onto the bench for the Dragons’ PRO14 clash with Edinburgh at Murrayfield tonight (7.35pm kick-off).
The double Grand Slam winner, 37, damaged his knee in the opening match of the campaign against Benetton, but enjoyed an eye-catching comeback off the bench in the European Challenge Cup win over Timisoara Saracens last month.
Henson is preferred to former Edinburgh pivot Jason Tovey, who drops out of the match-day squad.
Wales Under-20s star Taine Basham will be hoping to transfer his outstanding international form to the regional stage after again being named among the replacements as Dragons caretaker coach Ceri Jones makes just two changes to the side that were edged out 8-7 by Munster at Rodney Parade last time out.
The 19-year-old, who has featured just twice in the competition this season, has been the shining light for Gareth Williams’s side in the opening two rounds of the Six Nations, crossing for a hat-trick of tries in Wales’ win over Italy last weekend.
Behind the scrum, Jarryd Sage comes in for Jack Dixon, while the versatile James Benjamin is called into a reshuffled back-row to make his first PRO14 start of the season.
With Nic Cudd sidelined by injury, Ollie Griffiths switches to openside and Benjamin starts at No. 8.
Richard Hibbard continues to lead the side in the absence of Wales squad member Cory Hill.
The Dragons are searching for their first away win in the PRO14 since March 2015, but face an Edinburgh side who have won their last 11 home games in all competitions.
For Edinburgh, Scotland backrower Magnus Bradbury returns from injury. Bradbury is one of eight internationals named in a home line-up which has been bolstered by the release of Darcy Graham, Chris Dean, Ben Toolis and Luke Crosbie from Gregor Townsend’s squad.
Dougie Fife; Darcy Graham, James Johnstone, Chris Dean, Duhan van der Merwe; Jaco van der Walt, Henry Pyrgos (capt); Pierre
Edinburgh:
Schoeman, Ross Ford, Pietro Ceccarelli, Fraser McKenzie, Ben Toolis, Magnus Bradbury, Luke Crosbie, Viliame Mata. Reps: David Cherry, Rory Sutherland, Murray McCallum, Callum Hunter-Hill, Ally Miller, Nathan Fowles, Simon Hickey, Juan Pablo Socino.
Dragons:
Jordan Williams; Jared Rosser, Tyler Morgan, Jarryd Sage, Will Talbot-Davies; Josh Lewis, Rhodri Williams; Brok Harris, Richard Hibbard (capt), Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Harrison Keddie, Ollie Griffiths, James Benjamin. Reps: Rhys Lawrence, Rhys Fawcett, Dan Suter, Lewis Evans, Taine Basham, Rhodri Davies, Gavin Henson, Zane Kirchner.
Referee:
Andrew Brace (Ire).