Jarvis returns to face Ospreys
Prop Aaron Jarvis will make his first Guinness PRO14 start of the season – and first start in the championship since March 2016 – as he lines up to face his former team Ospreys in the big Welsh derby at Rodney Parade on Sunday (kick-off 3pm).
Former Wales international Jarvis – who spent five seasons at Ospreys between 2011 and 2016 – will face his former region as the only change for the Dragons from the Cardiff Blues game before Christmas.
Jarvis replaces Lloyd Fairbrother in the front row, while there are call-ups to the replacements bench for Dan Suter and James Benjamin.
Centre Adam Warren hits a memorable milestone in midfield as he plays his 100th game in the Guinness PRO14 alongside Jarryd Sage as the Dragons stick with the same centre pairing. Tyler Morgan misses the cut, despite his return to training this week.
Interim Head Coach Ceri Jones said: “We have accepted the sanction that Lloyd (Fairbrother) has received after his red card and I’m sure Jarvy (Aaron Jarvis) will be looking forward to facing his old region.
“We know exactly what we are facing this weekend and the advantage of facing another Welsh region is that you know a little bit about their game already,” added Jones.
“The Ospreys are a good team and they showed that last weekend against the Scarlets.
“Sam Davies and his kicking game is huge for them, they have loads of power and a good defensive line.
“There are a lot of challenges to face, but we have to look at ourselves and the performance that we put onto the pitch last week, when we were dominant in a lot of areas.
“We are in a good place and phases of our play were outstanding with good ambition to play, we intend to go out there and do the same thing.”
Lloyd Fairbrother misses the match as he begins serving a three-week suspension, whilst fellow Props Leon Brown and Brok Harris are also ruled out due to injury joining the unavailable Ross Moriarty, Ollie Griffiths, Arwel Robson, Ashton Hewitt, James Sheekey, Tiaan Loots, Dan Babos, Lennon Greggains, Max Williams and Josh Reynolds on the sidelines.
Dragons (v Ospreys): Zane Kirchner, Jared Rosser, Adam Warren, Jarryd Sage, Hallam Amos, Josh Lewis, Rhodri Williams; Ryan Bevington, Elliot Dee, Aaron Jarvis, Brandon Nansen, Matthew Screech, Cory Hill (c), Aaron Wainwright, Harrison Keddie
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Gerard Ellis, Dan Suter, Lewis Evans, James Benjamin, Tavis Knoyle, Jason Tovey, Jordan Williams
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