THE Dragons must wait until the end of the month to get their Connacht performance out of their system in the United Rugby Championship, but several bright prospects have the chance to push for action.
The Rodney Parade club return for the second block of their season at Cardiff on Saturday, November 30, with interim head coach Filo Tiatia calling the shots after the exit of Dai Flanagan.
The Dragons have a key run of games in the URC and Challenge Cup after a frustrating start to the campaign in which strong displays failed to get the wins that Flanagan needed.
They will hope to have Wales number eight Aaron Wainwright and Australian lock Steve Cummins firing after injury blows limited their minutes in the first block while Tonga back rower Solomone Funaki should hunt a debut after a summer knee operation.
On the negative side, captain and lock Ben Carter faces a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury suffered on Wales duty with the extent yet to be revealed.
Tiatia and the rest of the coaching staff will mull over their senior options and some younger players can put themselves in the mix.
The Dragons play the first of their development fixtures on Saturday when they welcome the Scarlets to Rodney Parade (kick-off 2.30pm).
The academy coaching staff are in charge but Tiatia & Co will be watching closely as opportunity knocks in several positions.
Young forwards have to be more patient – and lock Nick Thomas and back rowers Owen Conquer, Ryan Jones and Evan Minto won’t be rushed in areas of strength – but some young backs have a chance to stake a claim…
MORGAN LLOYD
Rhodri Williams’ exploits in the first block means that he is on Wales duty this autumn but Dane Blacker’s form dipped after a promising start.
That means there is potentially a shot at getting the 21 jersey.
Lloyd and fellow bright prospect Che Hope profited from plenty of game time in the Premiership last season, but Hope is slightly behind after a summer ankle injury.
Lloyd played in pre-season, was travelling reserve in the URC and then got action with Pontypool in Super Rygbi Cymru.
The 22-year-old from Hollybush showed his talent with a very lively performance in front of the S4C cameras when Pooler beat Swansea.
He has made two Dragons appearances – against the Stormers and Ospreys last season – and should add to that tally in the next block, potentially as soon as the end of this month in Cardiff.
Hope should also appear in the coming months after returning with Newport in SRC, scoring against RGC at Spytty Park last time out.
HARRI ACKERMAN
Ackerman made a real impression when brought into the Dragons fold last winter, making a debut off the bench against Oyonnax and then getting a first start in the New Year's Day derby win versus the Scarlets.
The centre made five appearances but his rapid progress was ended by a broken leg suffered while captaining Wales against France in the U20s Six Nations.
Ackerman is nearing the end of his comeback trail and has a chance to provide some oomph to midfield.
With Steff Hughes off to Major League Rugby in America, the 19-year-old will put the pressure on Aneurin Owen for the 12 jersey.
“He is physically gifted and can do a bit of everything,” said attack coach Matt O’Brien about Ackerman, who he played alongside with Newport RFC.
“He has the ability to beat people with good footwork and offload while he can get out of situations where you don’t expect him to.
“Harri is very powerful and gives a bit of bang in defence and attack, he carries and collides, while he is extremely hard-working with attitude that is spot-on.”
Joe Westwood and Harry Wilson have shared the duties at 13 while former Wales centre Scott Williams has been training with the Dragons and could potentially earn a short-term deal to replace Hughes.
HUW ANDERSON
That Anderson was invited to get a taste of Test camp with Wales shows the promise of the former Wales Under-20s full-back.
The 20-year-old from Caerphilly was released from Six Nations camp in March to make his Dragons debut off the bench at Ulster and featured in pre-season against Hartpury, Bristol and Bath.
Angus O’Brien has established himself as the Dragons’ first-choice full-back ahead of Cai Evans and fringe figure Jordan Williams.
Anderson can put himself in the mix to be an option or even to get a proper introduction to senior level as a winger or back-three cover on the bench.
Rio Dyer and Jared Rosser are currently the senior starters on the wings while Ewan Rosser hasn’t really established himself and Ashton Hewitt is on the comeback trail from ruptured knee ligaments.
Oli Andrew, 21, has also been sidelined by a hamstring injury while Harry Rees-Weldon is also learning his trade in SRC with Ebbw Vale.
Anderson might be a 15 but he has played out on the wing for Wales Under-20s and could slot in there with his footballing skills, aerial ability and left boot.
WILL REED
Reed is no longer in the ‘young prospects’ category but he does have a big chance to change the story of the first block.
The 23-year-old from Cwmbran was the main man at 10 last season, playing in 20 of 21 fixtures with 16 of them as a starter.
However, the summer arrival of Lloyd Evans has meant he has been a fringe figure so far with outings off the bench against the Sharks and Lions.
The fly-half was sent out for game time with Newport RFC and needs to grasp his next opportunity.
Evans has been steady at the start of his Dragons career but hasn’t put in displays that leave Reed needing to do anything sensational to force his way in.
The playmaker has made 40 professional appearances and needs to show that competition can take his game to the next level.
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