Jones has made three changes to the side that were defeated by table toppers Munster last weekend, in Cork. This includes full-back Tom Prydie, who returns to the back three and is joined by wings Adam Hughes and Pat Howard.
There are no changes to the centre partnership as Tyler Morgan partners Adam Warren again this weekend, with the half-backs Dorian Jones and Tavis Knoyle also remaining unchanged.
In the front row, 22-year-old hooker Elliot Dee returns to the starting XV and is joined by props Sam Hobbs and Brok Harris. The second row also includes one change as versatile forward Nick Crosswell joins
Cory Hill has been released from the Welsh squad and has been named on the replacements bench for the match. He is joined by Darran Harris, Thomas Davies, Lloyd Fairbrother, Harrison Keddie, Sarel Pretorius, Angus O’Brien and Sam Beard.
Looking ahead to the match on Saturday, Dragons centre Adam Warren said; “Last year Connacht were brilliant and turned a lot of heads. Nobody expected them to win the league. This season maybe they have forced things a bit in their game, but when they get it right they score some good tries.”
He continued; “It’s a big game for us because they are only just above us
“Connacht is one of the places that teams don’t enjoy going but for us, it would be a great ground to get that away win to change things round for us.
“If we do that we can climb the table and put pressure on teams like the Blues above us by finishing the season strongly.”
Newport Gwent Dragons team to face Connacht
15 Tom Prydie, 14 Adam Hughes, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Pat Howard, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Tavis Knoyle; 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Brok Harris, 4 Nick Crosswell, 5 Rynard Landman, 6 Ollie Griffiths, 7 Nic Cudd, 8 Lewis Evans ©.
Replacements; Darran Harris, Thomas Davies, Lloyd Fairbrother, Cory Hill, Harrison Keddie, Sarel Pretorius, Angus O’Brien, Sam Beard.
