And we're off.. Lloyd Evans gets this first Welsh derby of the new season underway

We're about to kick off so here's a reminder of the starting line-ups.

Dragons: O'Brien; Dyer, Westwood, Owen, Rosser; Evans, Blacker; Martinez, Coghlan, Brown, Carter (capt), Screech, Woodman, Keddie, Lewis-Hughes.

Ospreys: Walsh; Morgan, Watkin, Williams, Conbeer; Edwards, Morgan-Williams; Thomas, Lake, Botha, Ratti, Beard, Morgan (capt), Tipuric, Morris.

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU

Assistant referees: Mike English (WRU), Ben Connor (WRU)

TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Dan Evans
Former Wales, Ospreys and Dragons fullback on Radio Cymru

The Ospreys last year showed where they want to be and the minimum for them will be reaching the top eight again - along with a run in Europe.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Perhaps one of the best signings of the summer was by Dragons who have brought Filo Tiatia to Rodney Parade as defence coach.

The former All Black back-row was an absolute beast as a player and was twice a league winner with Ospreys.

Now he's trying to stop them in their tracks.

It's going to be interesting to see what impact he has on these young Dragons.

Mind you... looking at the shape of him, I reckon he could still do a job on the pitch.

I tell you what Gareth, let's hope it's half the game we saw here at Rodney Parade last night. It was a corker.

Wales Women beat Australia for the first time thanks to Kate Williams' 82nd-minute winning try.

Let's hope these teams will be inspired.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Gareth Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales at Rodney Parade

Let us hope this game is a more rousing affair than Cardiff's underwhelming 22-17 victory against Zebre last night.

Welsh rugby needs a rousing start to the season. Hopefully that comes at Rodney Parade today.

Richie Rees
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

There's definitely a dynamic change in Ospreys with Mark Jones going in there last year and making an impact last year.

The decision has been made that Toby Booth that he has nine months left on his contract with the team but I guarantee there's something bubbling in the background if an opportunity comes up.

Ospreys have a fantastic squad particularly around the pack.

This will be Toby Booth's final season as Ospreys head coach after both parties agreed to part ways next June.

Booth told Scrum V his squad deserved transparency following the surprise early announcement.

Richie Rees
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

Dragons always do alright against Ospreys, particularly at Rodney Parade but I do think it's a tough one today.

It will be interesting to see how they nullify Ospreys today and here's hoping from a Dragons perspective that they have a better season to last year.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales lock Adam Beard has been passed fit to start the season here in Newport.

Beard is joined in the Ospreys starting side by fellow Wales internationals Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, James Ratti and Owen Watkin.

Former captain Justin Tipuric packs down in the same back row as new skipper Jac Morgan.

Beard missed Wales' summer programme because an ankle problem, but his return is a welcome boost with James Fender and Rhys Davies still on the injured list, while Will Griffiths, Ben Warren, Kieran Hardy and Keelan Giles are also sidelined.

Wing Ryan Conbeer makes his competitive debut against Dragons after leaving Scarlets last season.

Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, James Ratti, Adam Beard, Jac Morgan (capt), Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Lewis Lloyd, Steffan Thomas, Math Iowerth-Scott, Huw Sutton, Harri Deaves, Luke Davies, Phil Cokanasiga, Max Nagy.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Dragons coach Dai Flanagan hands debuts to new signings Shane Lewis-Hughes and fly-half Lloyd Evans.

Lloyd, who arrived from Gloucester, takes over at fly-half with fit-again Angus O'Brien moving to full-back and Lewis-Hughes starts at number eight having joined from neighbours Cardiff.

Dragons also have a new captain in lock Ben Carter while Dan Lydiate is among the replacements Dan Lydiate after Taine Basham withdrew on Friday morning with a niggle.

Dragons start the season with 13 players on their injury list including Aaron Wainwright, Elliot Dee and Ashton Hewitt as well as new signings Steve Cummins and Solomone Funaki.

Dragons: Angus O'Brien; Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser; Lloyd Evans, Dane Blacker; Rodrigo Martinez, Brodie Coghlan, Leon Brown, Ben Carter (capt), Matthew Screech, Ryan Woodman, Harri Keddie, Shane Lewis-Hughes.

Replacements: James Benjamin, Rhodri Jones, Luke Yendle, George Nott, Dan Lydiate, Rhodri Williams, Harry Wilson, Ewan Rosser.

Good afternoon and welcome to Rodney Parade on this opening weekend of the United Rugby Championship.

And what better way to kick things off than with a Welsh derby?

Ospreys were the flag-bearers of Welsh rugby last season on their way to the knockout stages of both the URC and Europe.

But they have lost their two league games here at Rodney Parade - it's actually three if you include last season's friendly.

So Dragons know exactly what it takes to get one over these Welsh rivals.

Kick off is looming so let's take a look at the teams.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency