ARGENTINA scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou will make a rapid return for the Dragons when featuring off the bench in tomorrow’s United Rugby Championship clash at Connacht.
The 27-year-old started for the Pumas against Australia last weekend but will swap the Gold Coast for the west coast of Ireland.
Bertranou, who got back to the UK on Sunday and swiftly returned to training, is named among the replacements for the Dragons bid for a first win in Galway since the first season of regional rugby.
Director of rugby Dean Ryan makes six changes to the XV that was beaten 7-6 by Leinster in Newport on Sunday.
Rhodri Williams returns at scrum-half and Jordan Williams gets the nod at full-back while there are four changes up front with Wales flanker Ross Moriarty out with a knock that should only keep him out for one week.
Harrison Keddie replaces him at blindside and captains the side while Taine Basham starts at openside, with Ollie Griffiths passing his head injury protocols to be on the bench.
Lock Joe Maksymiw will call the lineout against his former side and Greg Bateman starts at loosehead.
Connacht make three changes to their side that hammered the Bulls 34-7 with starts for loosehead Matthew Burke, number eight Paul Boyle and wing Ben O'Donnell.
The hosts will be driven around the Sportsground by the experienced and lively half-back partnership of Ireland internationals Kieran Marmion and Jack Carty.
Connacht: T O'Halloran; B O'Donnell, T Farrell, T Daly, M Hansen; J Carty, K Marmion; M Burke, D Heffernan, F Bealham, O Dowling, U Dillane, C Predergast, J Butler (captain, P Boyle.
Replacements: S Delahunt, J Duggan, J Aungier, L Fifita, C Oliver, C Blade, C Fitzgerald, S Arnold.
Dragons: J Williams; J Holmes, J Dixon, A Owen, J Olowofela; S Davies, R Williams; G Bateman, E Dee, M Doge, W Rowlands, J Maksymiw, H Keddie (captain), T Basham, A Wainwright.
Replacements: T Davies, A Seiuli, C Coleman, J Davies, O Griffiths, G Bertranou, J Lewis, A Warren.
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