Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia has rested key players Aaron Wainwright, Angus O'Brien, and Ben Carter for the upcoming URC match against Bulls. The team is making eight changes to refresh after a demanding schedule.
Key points
Dragons rested key players for the Bulls match
Filo Tiatia made eight changes to the lineup
Match scheduled for Friday at 19:45 BST
Recent wins in European Challenge Cup
Upcoming semi-final against Montpellier on May 3
Mentioned in this story
Filo TiatiaAaron WainwrightAngus O'BrienBen Carter
DragonsBullsUnited Rugby ChampionshipEuropean Challenge Cup
Head coach Filo Tiatia on the touchline in a blue Dragons coats wearing an earpiece.
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.
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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."
Dragons, who lie 15th in the league with only Zebre below them, will return to Rodney Parade for a first home match since February.
Dragons are unbeaten in Newport since the end of November with four victories and a draw, with only five home games being staged in the past five months.
"The fans have been awesome," said Tiatia.
"They're so loud. Through all the games, not just this season, but last season and probably the last decade, the faithful have always turned up.
"What we're trying to achieve is making sure we put a performance together the fans are proud of.
"That's no different on Friday."
Dragons look for first win against Bulls
The Gwent region are trying to win three consecutive matches for the first time since December 2015, but have not been successful in the league since they beat Scarlets at Rodney Parade on New Year's Day.
Bulls have won their previous four matches against Welsh opposition and have won the quartet of previous games against the Dragons, who have never beaten this South African side.
Bulls are currently in the final eighth play-off place in the URC table.
"We know the challenge ahead of us with Bulls coming in," said Tiatia.
"They're a hot set-piece team, They're going to carry hard and be physical, they're going to try and whack you and we're going do the same."
How they line up
Dragons: C Evans; Rosser, Inisi, Paea, Dyer; de Beer, Armstrong; W Jones, Dee, Coleman, Douglas, S Davies, Woodman, Beddall, Keddie (capt).
Replacements: Burrows, R Jones, D Lewis, Screech, Young, M Lloyd, Ackerman, Anderson.
