NEWPORT Gwent Dragons Premiership Select boss James Chapron has called on his side to pose more questions with ball in hand against Yorkshire Carnegie this afternoon.

The Dragons welcome the English Championship high-flyers to their training base in Ystrad Mynach in the British and Irish Cup (kick-off 3pm).

On Sunday they produced a spirited performance when beaten 20-17 by Carnegie in Pontefract, their tries coming from flanker James Benjamin (2) and lock Henri Williams.

Academy chief Chapron has named an unchanged side for today’s return fixture and wants a repeat of that determination but with more attacking threat.

“While our defence last week was resolute, it wasn’t as competitive as we’d like it to be,” he said.

“Our set piece was decent and we are working on being more accurate in wider channels to keep onto the ball for longer.

“We have to put them under more pressure because they had 67 per cent possession, so we were lucky to only concede three tries. You can win a game with that little ball.”

The Dragons feature four players who have played regional rugby this season – former Wales prop Craig Mitchell, lock Joe Davies, number eight Robson Blake and fly-half Arwel Robson. Openside Benjamin captains the side and will be keen to impress the watching senior coaching staff as he continues his return from a fractured leg.

Cross Keys’ Josh Prosser starts at full-back, Newport’s John Lavender gets the nod at loosehead and Bedwas’ Andrew Waite is in the back row while Bargoed wing Dai Evans is on the bench.

Carnegie, who are second in the English Championship with 10 wins from 11 games, are a point behind Pool Five leaders Ealing Trailfinders.

The Dragons need to win all remaining games to stand a chance of making the quarter-finals after having to settle for a bonus point from all three encounters so far.

They travel to Ealing in January before welcoming Bedford to Bedwas’ Bridge Field.

All Dragons Season Members and all Premiership club season ticket holders can get into the match for free while tickets are available on the gate costing £10 for adults and £5 concessions.

Dragons: J Prosser, J Goodchild, B Nightingale, C Edwards, P Lewis, A Robson, O Davies, J Lavender, E Shipp, C Mitchell, J Davies, M Williams, A Waite, J Benjamin (captain), R Blake. Replacements: D Harris, K Bale, C Coleman, H Williams, N Hudd, O Leonard, D Evans.