BOSS Dai Flanagan is confident that the Dragons have the back-row depth to cope with a gruelling season as Wales international Taine Basham closes in on a return.
The Rodney Parade club head to Leinster in the United Rugby Championship tomorrow (kick-off 7.35pm) with Basham in the mix for the Aviva Stadium fixture.
The Dragons must weigh up involving the Wales forward or giving him another week of training after he missed the season opener against the Ospreys because of summer tendonitis trouble.
They will be keen for the explosive ball carrier to be available for the block of three URC fixtures on the spin in Newport when the Sharks, Lions and Benetton are the visitors.
The Dragons’ back row selection problems led to a change in plan for Wales great Dan Lydiate, who made an impact off the bench in the dramatic 23-21 win over the Ospreys.
The 36-year-old is now a player-coach and the original intention was for him to focus on helping develop the club’s back rowers while being an emergency option.
However, Ollie Griffiths is no longer available after he was diagnosed with a tumour on his spin that will require back surgery.
He will be out ‘for the foreseeable future’ while Wales star Aaron Wainwright and Tonga international Solomone Funaki are sidelined with hamstring and knee injuries.
It is hoped that they will be back towards the end of the first block of the URC and Flanagan is comfortable with the numbers of back rowers he can call on.
“George Young is fit, Taine Basham is fit, Solomone Funaki isn’t too far away and nor is Aaron Wainwright,” he said, listing those that didn’t feature against the Ospreys.
“There are plenty of bodies to come in if and when they are needed, we are fine and don’t need to cover that area.
“We also have [academy prospects] Evan Minto and Owen Conquer, they were two of our standout players in pre-season and they are in and around us at training.”
The Dragons started against the Ospreys with a trio of Ryan Woodman, Harrison Keddie and Shane Lewis-Hughes with Lydiate coming off the bench.
Lock George Nott is also an option as a blindside with Australian second rower Steve Cummins also nearing a return from a hand injury.
Young, 22, will hope to push the seniors this season while Minto and Conquer will get plenty of game time in Super Rygbi Cymru.
The Dragons will be keen to avoid a repeat of last season when hookers James Benjamin and Sam Scarfe, both former back rowers, were fielded as emergency flankers.
The team for Leinster is named at midday.
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