Westy and Taylor start as Bash is back for Dragons

New loan signing Harry Taylor, Wales international Taine Basham and Joe Westwood all start as Dragons RFC face Ulster Rugby in the BKT United Rugby Championship on Saturday evening (kick-off 7.35pm).

Wales international Basham is released from Six Nations camp while new recruit Taylor is straight into match action as Head Coach Dai Flanagan makes seven changes to his starting line-up.

A new back line sees a recall for Will Reed to partner Dane Blacker. Angus O’Brien misses the game with an arm injury.

Westwood - who makes his first start for the club after two appearances off the bench - Corey Baldwin, and Ewan Rosser make up a new back three.

Argentine prop Rodrigo Martinez is named up front while there is a return for countryman Gonzalo Bertranou among the replacements.

George Nott is also recalled among the replacements while Harri Ackerman and Huw Anderson, who could make his senior debut, are also included after exploits with Wales Under-20s in recent weeks.

Fourteen players remain sidelined with injury, while five remain away on senior international duty.

“Ulster are a good team, especially at home. The Kingspan Stadium is a formidable place to go, but it's also a fantastic place if you get on top of them,” said Flanagan.

“There will be no fear in them. They’ve had a coaching change and usually that's when players are on high alert to impress.

“I'm sure we’ll see an excited, energetic, wanting to impress Ulster team and our job is to make sure we don't give them that opportunity. Control what we can control.

“We need to make them work extremely hard for anything they want, unlike Glasgow, and then capitalise on opportunities we get, unlike Glasgow."

On new loan signing Harry Taylor, Flanagan added: “Harry has been with us this week and he’s worked the house down. We're looking forward to seeing him in a Dragons shirt this weekend.

“We’ve had a good couple of weeks. We've integrated a few youngsters back into the senior environment from Wales Under-20s too.

“We've got a lot of youngsters and some experienced players coming back and having time with the group has been awesome. Putting the work in and really projecting forward to where we want to go.”

Dragons RFC: Ewan Rosser (Pontypool United RFC), Joe Westwood (Blackwood RFC), Steff Hughes (c) (Llanelli Wanderers), Aneurin Owen (Newport High School Old Boys RFC), Corey Baldwin (Llandeilo RFC), Will Reed (Cwmbran RFC), Dane Blacker (Ynysybwl RFC); Rodrigo Martinez (Los Tordos RFC), James Benjamin (Whiteheads RFC), Chris Coleman (Garndiffaith RFC), Sean Lonsdale (Rhyl RFC), Matthew Screech (Porth Harlequins), Dan Lydiate (Rhayader RFC), Harry Taylor (Chepstow RFC), Taine Basham (Talywain RFC)

Replacements: Brodie Coghlan (Newport High School Old Boys RFC), Aki Seiuli (Taieri Eels RFC), Luke Yendle (Caerphilly RFC), Barny Langton-Cryer (Cowbridge RFC), George Nott (Chester RUFC), Gonzalo Bertranou (Los Tordos RFC), Harri Ackerman (Newbridge RFC), Huw Anderson (Caerphilly RFC)

Unavailable (14): Oli Andrew (hamstring), Ben Carter (hamstring), Jack Dixon (knock), Lloyd Fairbrother (calf), Ollie Griffiths (knock), Ashton Hewitt (knee), Angus O’Brien (arm), Sio Tomkinson (neck), David Richards (hamstring), Bradley Roberts (back), Jared Rosser (knock), Jordan Williams (knock), Ryan Woodman (thumb), George Young (pec)

International (5): Leon Brown, Elliot Dee, Rio Dyer, Cai Evans, Aaron Wainwright (all Wales)