FOUR Dragons have been handed starting roles in Wales’ autumn Test against Tonga on Saturday with two more among the replacements.
Warren Gatland has rung the changes for the third autumn international at Principality Stadium and opportunity knocks for hooker Elliot Dee, tighthead Leon Brown, blindside Aaron Wainwright and centre Tyler Morgan.
Dragons captain and lock Cory Hill is on the bench along with back row forward Ross Moriarty.
Dee and Brown start in the front row after cameos in the autumn opener against Scotland.
Wainwright was an unused replacement in that clash and is set for a first Principality Stadium cap after making his Test bow in the first Test win in Argentina last summer.
Centre Morgan will win his fifth cap, his last being against Samoa in the summer of 2017.
If all six get onto the field then they will match the regional record with the last occasion a Dragons sextet featured being in the 2005 win against Italy in Rome on the way to a Grand Slam when wing Hal Luscombe and Owen started with Morgan, Sweeney, Cooper and Gough among the replacements.
That tally matched the November, 2004 encounter with Japan in Cardiff when Luscombe, Sweeney, Cooper, Owen and Morgan were joined in the 23 by hooker Steve Jones.
Two weeks before that Luscombe, Charteris, Owen, Sweeney, Cooper and Jones played in the 66-7 success against Romania.
Gatland has made 14 changes to his XV with lock Adam Beard the sole survivor. Flanker Ellis Jenkins captains the side.
"We are looking forward to the challenge of Tonga. They had a great win last weekend against the French Barbarians and we know it is going to be a tough, physical challenge," said Gatland.
"We have spoken about creating depth and for us that is all about creating a squad that is full of first-teamers, everyone in the squad capable of starting.
"The boys this weekend have to put their hand up for the final match and put pressure on the players who started last weekend."
TEAM NEWS 🏴 @EllisJenkins_ leads Wales against Tonga, @SanjayWills wins his 50th cap, and @JonahHolmes24 makes his debut.
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) November 15, 2018
🔴 Prop @Wynjones2 yn dechrau dros Gymru am y tro cyntaf yn erbyn yr Ynyswyr. #HWFN #ForTheJersey pic.twitter.com/fpKCGjW900
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here