MARQUEE signing Sam Davies starts in the Guinness PRO14 opener at Munster tomorrow (kick-off 3pm) – and could be joined in making his Dragons debut by fellow fly-half Jacob Botica.
Wales international Davies will pull the strings at Thomond Park after heading east from the Ospreys in the summer.
As expected, the left-footer hasn’t had to wait long for a debut but Botica, son of former All Black Frano, could finally make his first professional outing in Limerick.
The 27-year-old was signed from RGC last season but failed to make an appearance. He gets his chance in the matchday squad in the absence of Josh Lewis, who has been hindered by a knee problem.
Dean Ryan sticks with the team that started in the encouraging five-try, 34-17 friendly win against the Scarlets for the tough trip to Thomond Park.
The director of rugby is forced into one change with lock Joe Davies coming in for Brandon Nansen after the Samoa international was injured in the opening exchanges of the success against the west Walians.
The Samoa forward left the field with his right arm in a makeshift sling and is set for a spell on the sidelines.
Combined with the absence of Wales lock Cory Hill after his World Cup anguish, that leads to a promotion to the bench for Max Williams after some impressive Celtic Cup performances.
Owen Jenkins, who scored a double against the Scarlets, is the second Dragons debutant on the right wing.
The 26-year-old former Cardiff Blues speedster joined the Dragons for the Celtic Cup campaign to build towards Wales duty in the World Rugby Sevens Series but has impressed the management.
Ashton Hewitt is on the other flanker and will make his first competitive appearance in 17 months after suffering a shoulder injury in Wales training ahead of the 2018 summer tour.
Brok Harris gets the nod ahead of Ryan Bevington at loosehead with Wales tighthead Leon Brown preferred to Lloyd Fairbrother on the other side of the front row.
Wales centre Tyler Morgan has been passed fit to be among the replacements after not featuring in pre-season because of a shoulder niggle while Ellis Shipp is preferred to Rhys Lawrence as hooker cover.
Munster: M Haley; D Sweetnam, R Scannell, T Bleyendaal, S Daly; JJ Hanrahan, N McCarthy; J Loughman, K O’Byrne, S Archer; F Wycherley, B Holland (captain); J O’Donoghue, T O’Donnell, A Botha. Replacements: D Barron, J Cronin, K Knox, D O’Shea, C Cloete, A Mathewson, L Coombes, J O’Sullivan.
Dragons: J Williams, O Jenkins, A Warren, J Dixon, A Hewitt; S Davies, R Williams (captain); B Harris, R Hibbard, L Brown, J Davies, M Screech, H Taylor, O Griffiths, L Evans.
Replacements: E Shipp, R Bevington, L Fairbrother, M Williams, T Basham, T Knoyle, J Botica, T Morgan.
Referee: Ben Blain (Scotland)
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