Dragons suffer European loss to Montpellier

European Challenge Cup: Dragons v Montpellier

Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport Date: Friday, 6 December Kick off: 20:00 GMT

Coverage: Live score updates on the BBC Sport website and app.

Taine Basham will make his 100th appearance for Dragons when they kick off their European Challenge Cup campaign at home to Montpellier on Friday.

The back row is one of only seven players who retain their place following last weekend's 31-23 United Rugby Championship (URC) defeat at Cardiff.

Scrum-half Morgan Lloyd, a replacement at the Arms Park, partners Will Reed in an all-new half-back pairing.

Australian Harry Wilson comes into the starting line-up at outside centre, while wing Ewan Rosser takes over the 11 jersey.

Props Josh Reynolds and Dmitri Arhip, along with hooker James Benjamin, were due to make an all-new front row, but Arhip was ruled out late through illness with Chris Coleman packing down at tight-head prop.

Lock Joe Davies is recalled to partner Matthew Screech, with the final change in the back row where blindside flanker Ryan Woodman slots in alongside Basham and Wales number eight Aaron Wainwright.

Montpellier are ninth in France's Top14 league having won four and lost seven games this season. They are twice-winners of the European Challenge Cup having lifted the trophy in 2021 and 2016 when they overcame Dragons in the semi-final.

Dragons are bottom of the URC having lost all six games since winning at home against Ospreys on the opening day of the season.

Friday's game at Rodney Parade will be the second match in charge for Dragons interim head coach Filo Tiatia.

"It's going to be a special night with a lot of players getting an opportunity and the first chance to play in this competition," said former New Zealand number eight Tiatia.

"French teams play differently to what we are used to in the league so the players are looking forward to it and the challenge.

"Montpellier are a physical team, abrasive, with a big forward pack. They are strong at set-piece, an impressive team, we so have got to be clinical to stop them and play our own game."

Dragons: Angus O’Brien (capt); Rio Dyer, Harry Wilson, Aneurin Owen, Ewan Rosser; Will Reed, Morgan Lloyd; Josh Reynolds, James Benjamin, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Ryan Woodman, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Sam Scarfe, Aki Seiuli, Luke Yendle, George Nott, Barny Langton-Cryer, Dane Blacker, Cai Evans, Jared Rosser.

Montpellier: Julien Tisseron; George Bridge, Thomas Darmon, Arthur Vincent (capt), Madosh Tambwe; Aurelien Barreau, Alexis Bernadet; Enzo Forletta, Lyam Akrab, Mohamed Haouas, Florian Verhaeghe, Tyler DuGuid, Nicolas Martins, Youssouf Soucouna, Marco Tauleigne.

Replacements: Vano Karkadze, Luca Tabarot, Wilfrid Hounkpatin, Jules Veyrier, Alex Becognee, Ryan Louwrens, Thomas Vincent, Christa Powell.

Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU)

Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron & Christopher Allison (SARU)

TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)