Dragons to bring back Wales pair against Sharks in URC

The Rodney Parade club aim to bounce back from a 34-6 defeat at Leinster when they host the South Africans this weekend (kick-off 5.15pm).

The Dragons got their campaign off to a winning start when they stunned the Ospreys at the death but they are without a number of influential forwards for the encounter with the Sharks.

Back row forwards Aaron Wainwright and Solomone Funaki, hooker Elliot Dee and lock Steve Cummins are yet to feature in the opening rounds of the season.

However, tighthead Leon Brown is in line to return after being rested for Leinster and his fellow Wales international Taine Basham is poised for a first outing of the season.

DYNAMIC: Taine Basham is set to add some ball-carrying threat to the Dragons (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Head coach Dai Flanagan must weigh up the balance of his pack and decide how to reintroduce the dynamic back rower, who was troubled by tendonitis over the summer.

He could start with Basham, most likely at the expense of Ryan Woodman, or give him the role of impact sub.

The returns of two Wales internationals up front is a boost but the list of absentees now features lock Nott, who was brought into the XV for Dublin after making an impact off the bench against the Ospreys.

However, he suffered an injury to his right shoulder when carrying in the fifth minute and is waiting to learn the full extent of the damage.

He was replaced by Wales international Matthew Screech who will return to the starting line-up against the Sharks alongside Ben Carter, but the Dragons must weigh up who is their cover now that Nott is out and Cummins is waiting for the all clear from a hand injury.

Shane Lewis-Hughes, who has started life in Newport as a number eight rather than his preferred blindside due to injuries, is the front runner after featuring predominantly as a lock for Cardiff last season.

Woodman has also played as a lock for Newport RFC and Joe Davies is a more hefty option, although he hasn’t been selected for a competitive game since February.

The Rodney Parade club are hopeful that full-back Angus O’Brien will be declared fit for the first of three home games on the spin.

He was withdrawn from the XV in Dublin as a precaution after feeling tightness in his leg in the warm-up.

The Dragons will be underdogs against the Sharks but could take encouragement from their first-half display against Leinster, when the hosts led 10-6 at the break after being frustrated by their visitors at Aviva Stadium.

“We started so well and the target now is to play games at that level for the full 80 minutes,” said captain Carter.

“It’s about looking back and getting better, but the six-day turnaround was tough for us too. Physically we matched what we needed to, we showed that at the start of the game.

“But there are moments where we can be smarter discipline wise and that is our focus as we look to the Sharks fixture.”

The South Africans were stunned by a storming second half by Connacht in Galway, with the Irish province winning 36-30 after trailing 27-7 at the break.