Morgan misses Leinster clash

Wales U20 cap Martyn Thomas takes over the fullback spot in place of Morgan, who should have recovered from his injury in time for the Dragons European Challenge Cup semi-final against Clermont next Saturday.

However, the Dragons have received a massive boost with the news that prop Rhys Thomas is fit; he is included on the replacements bench for the first time since suffering a chest injury against Northampton last October.

Michael Owen takes over the Captain’s armband and features in a changed back row from the one that started against Edinburgh with Owen moving to No.8, Colin Charvis switching to blindside flanker and Jamie Ringer coming back in at openside flanker.

Other changes to the pack from last weekend sees Lee Harrison start at tighthead prop and Ian Gough back at lock in place of Peter Sidoli. The other change comes at centre with American international Paul Emerick having recovered from his knee injury that forced him to withdraw just before the game in Murrayfield.

On the replacements bench flanker Joe Bearman has recovered from his hip injury that has kept him out of the Dragons squad since New Year’s Eve.

Dragons: Martyn Thomas; Gareth Wyatt, Paul Emerick, Nathan Brew, Aled Brew; Ceri Sweeney, Gareth Cooper; Adam Black, Steve Jones, Lee Harrison, Ian Gough, Luke Charteris, Colin Charvis, Jamie Ringer, Michael Owen (Capt)

Replacements: Ben Daly, Rhys Thomas, Peter Sidoli, Joe Bearman, Richard Fussell, Aled Thomas, Alex Walker

Leinster squad: Chris Whitaker, Guy Easterby, Felipe Contepomi, Denis Hickie, Christian Warner, Kieran Lewis, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey, Stanley Wright, Reggie Corrigan, Will Green, Fosi Pala’amo, Cian Healy, Brian Blaney, Harry Vermaas, Owen Finegan, Trevor Hogan, Devin Toner, Malcolm O’Kelly, Kevin McLaughlin, Cameron Jowitt, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip

Referee: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)