Connacht’s AJ MacGinty deputises for Jack Carty

Newport-Gwent Dragons v Connacht, Rodney Parade, 7.30pm TV: BBC Wales

USA outhalf AJ MacGinty will make his fifth start in a Connacht jersey as coach Pat Lam makes three changes for the match against Dragons. McGinty replaces the injured Jack Carty.

Bundee Aki moves to outside centre to facilitate the introduction of Craig Ronaldson with the only pack change seeing Rodney Ah You coming in to the frontrow.

Joe Schmidt has also released three players for the match, who will start on the bench but are certain to get a run. Prop Finlay Bealham, lock Ultan Dillane and Ireland scrumhalf Kieran Marmion come in for the round-14 clash.

“It’s great to have Kieran (Marmion), Finlay (Bealham) and Ultan (Dillane) back from Irish camp for this game but, given that they haven’t trained with us this week, they will add impact from the bench,” said Lam.

Dragons, who have beaten Munster and Leinster in Rodney Parade and lost to Ulster in Belfast last week, have lost to Connacht in their last six encounters.

Dragons director of rugby Lyn Jones has made two changes to the starting line up to the side that lost to Ulster. Nick Scott comes in on the wing, while Nick Croswell is named at number eight.

DRAGONS: C Meyer; A Hewitt, A Hughes, A Warren, N Scott; J Tovey, S Pretorius; P Price, E Dee, B Harris, M Screech, R Landman, B White, N Cudd, N Crosswell. Replacements: R Buckley, B Stankovich, S Knight, C Hill, J Benjamin, C Davies, A O'Brien, G R Jones.

CONNACHT: T O'Halloran; D Poolman, B Aki, C Ronaldson, M Healy; AJ MacGinty, C Blade; D Buckley, T McCartney, R Ah You, G Naoupu, A Muldowney, J Muldoon, J Heenan, E Masterson. Replacements: D Heffernan, R Loughney, F Bealham, U Dillane, E McKeon, K Marmion, P Robb, R Parata.

Referee: D Wilkinson (IRFU).

Verdict: Connacht.