WALES international Taine Basham makes his first start of the season as Dragons travel to Cork to face reigning United Rugby Championship champions Munster tomorrow evening (kick-off 5.15pm).

Scrum half Rhodri Williams will also make his 100th appearance for the club as head coach Dai Flanagan makes 10 changes for the trip to Musgrave Park.

The Rodney Parade region are without 20 players, due to international call-ups and injuries, so a number of exciting young talents get the chance to impress.

The pack sees six new faces, with Basham playing at No 8 in the back row alongside Wales under-20s captain Ryan Woodman, who makes his first start for the club, and James Benjamin. Joe Davies comes into the second row alongside George Nott.

Props Rhodri Jones and Luke Yendle, who also makes his first ever start for Dragons, pack down alongside hooker Bradley Roberts up front.

Young fly half Will Reed makes his first start of the campaign – with Angus O’Brien moving to full back – and is paired with centurion Rhodri Williams.

Centre Jack Dixon and wing Corey Baldwin also win call-ups. The team is once again captained by Steff Hughes.

A new-look bench sees Aki Seuili step up for a first appearance this term, while prop Nathan Evans, lock Barney Langton-Cryer and back Ewan Rosser could all make their club debuts.

“We need to live in an environment where it’s about the next man up,” said Flanagan. “That's what this this week presents us.

“To build a squad you’ve got to give people experiences. Ideally you do it around the best group of players you have available, but sometimes your back is against the wall, you’ve got to come out swinging. That's the opportunity we have this week.

“We’ve got a few youngsters on show with points to prove and opportunities they want to take. It's a huge chance for us to test ourselves against the champions.”

Flanagan believes Munster offer the perfect model for the Dragons going forward.

“I think they’re something we can aspire to be,” he said. “They’re from a tough area in Ireland and their game represents them really well.

“If I was from Cork or Limerick, I would be proud to be represented by Munster. And that’s what we want to achieve here.

“We want Gwent people with mining backgrounds, with building backgrounds to be proud of the team. And Munster do that really well.

“They’re horrible to play against, if I’m honest, because they don’t go away.

“What [attack coach Mike] Prendergast has added to them is that they hold onto the ball for multiple phases and that will test our defence.

“Our defence has been pretty OK so far, but this will be a big test and it’s one we need to stand up to.”

Dragons: Angus O’Brien, Corey Baldwin, Steff Hughes (c), Jack Dixon, Ashton Hewitt, Will Reed, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Bradley Roberts, Luke Yendle, Joe Davies, George Nott, Ryan Woodman, James Benjamin, Taine Basham.

Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Aki Seiuli, Nathan Evans, Barney Langton-Cryer, George Young, Dane Blacker, Aneurin Owen, Ewan Rosser.

Munster: Shane Daly; Seán O’Brien, Alex Nankivell, Rory Scannell, Calvin Nash; Tony Butler, Craig Casey; Kieran Ryan, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan; Edwin Edogbo, Tom Ahern; Jack O’Donoghue (C), Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Scott Buckley, Mark Donnelly, Stephen Archer, Ruadhán Quinn, Brian Gleeson, Paddy Patterson, Jack Crowley, Ben O’Connor.