Lydiate makes Dragons return against Ospreys (From Free Press Series)

Lydiate makes Dragons return against Ospreys

12:50pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in Sport By Chris Kirwan

WALES star Dan Lydiate will make his long-awaited Newport Gwent Dragons comeback against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow evening.

The blindside flanker has not played since breaking his ankle against Edinburgh on September 28.

He was not named in the squad on Tuesday with head coach Darren Edwards stating the 25-year-old had a hamstring injury.

Yet he has made a miraculous recovery to start in the back row with captain Lewis Evans moving to number eight.

Ross Wardle, who has signed a professional contract after impressing with Bedwas, makes his RaboDirect Pro12 debut on the left wing.

Wales star Andrew Coombs starts in the second row while fellow Six Nations title winner Toby Faletau is on the bench, Their presence will be needed because the title-chasing Ospreys are fully-loaded.

Fly-half Dan Biggar, hooker Richard Hibbard, tighthead Adam Jones, locks Alun Wyn Jones and Ian Evans and openside flanker Justin Tipuric.

Ospreys: R Fussell, T Habberfield, J Spratt, A Beck, T Isaacs, D Biggar, K Fotuali’I, R Bevington, R Hibbard, A Jones, A W Jones (captain), I Evans, J King, J Tipuric, J Thomas. Replacements: S Baldwin, D Jones, D Arhip, L Peers, G Stowers, R Webb, M Morgan, B John.

Dragons: D Evans, A Hughes, P Leach, J Dixon, R Wardle, S Jones, W Evans, O Evans, S Parry, N Buck, A Coombs, A Jones, D Lydiate, N Cudd, L Evans (captain). Replacements: H Gustafson, P Price, D Way, I Nimmo, T Faletau, J Evans, W Harries, H Amos.