Dragons v Connacht: Guinness PRO12 preview

Jason Tovey returns for the Dragons

Newport Gwent Dragons have made four changes for Thursday's PRO12 clash against Connacht at Rodney Parade.

There is a new half-back pairing as fly-half Jason Tovey returns to full fitness and is named alongside scrum-half Sarel Pretorius.

Nick Scott comes in on the wing in place of Hallam Amos who is on standby for Wales as Warren Gatland waits on the recovery of Gareth Anscombe and Dan Biggar ahead of Saturday's Six Nations clash with Scotland.

The back row has one change as Nick Crosswell is named at No 8 alongside flankers Ben White and Nic Cudd.

There are two changes on the replacements bench as Charlie Davies and Angus O'Brien join Rhys Buckley, Boris Stankovich, Shaun Knight, Cory Hill, James Benjamin and Geraint Rhys Jones. The coaching team have also named versatile back Ross Wardle in their extended matchday squad.

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Paddy Jackson's late penalty saw Ulster edge Newport Gwent Dragons 17-15, sending them top of the Guinness PRO12 table

Pat Lam has made three changes to the side that stunned Scarlets last time out.

AJ MacGinty will make his fifth start in a Connacht jersey this season, replacing the injured Jack Carty at fly-half.

Meanwhile, Bundee Aki shifts to outside centre to facilitate the introduction of Craig Ronaldson in the No 12 shirt and the only change to the pack sees Rodney Ah You come in to the front row.

Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Carl Meyer, 14 Ashton Hewitt, 13 Adam Hughes, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Nick Scott, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Sarel Pretorius; 1 Phil Price, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Brok Harris, 4 Matthew Screech, 5 Rynard Landman (c), 6 Ben White, 7 Nic Cudd, 8Nick Crosswell.

Replacements: 16 Rhys Buckley, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Shaun Knight, 19 Cory Hill, 20 James Benjamin, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Angus O'Brien, 23 Geraint Rhys Jones.

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Caolin Blade; 1 Denis Buckley, 2 Tom McCartney, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 George Naoupu, 5 Aly Muldowney, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 7 Jake Heenan, 8 Eoghan Masterson.

Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Eoin McKeon, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Peter Robb, 23 Rory Parata.