Scrum half Rhodri Williams is hoping Dragons can start 2020 on the front foot – with a big opening month in the Guinness PRO14 and European Challenge Cup.
Dragons are back on home soil against Ospreys in a huge Welsh derby on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) – aiming to make it back-to-back wins at Rodney Parade in the league.
Dean Ryan’s men then face the final two group games in Europe – against Castres and Enisei-STM – as they bid to make the knockout stages.
And Williams - who captained Dragons over the festive period - is looking forward to the prospect of a big start to the New Year.
“It’s going to be nice to go back and play at Rodney Parade. It’s 15 v 15 and we have to get things in order,” he said, looking forward to Ospreys.
“We’d like to get another result against Ospreys, especially at home, but we don’t want to pile too much pressure on ourselves all on one game.
“We’ll come in Monday, analyse, put the work in on the field and hopefully get things right for Saturday.
“We’ve put ourselves in a good place in Europe, especially with those back to back Worcester games and the first two rounds.
“We are in a good place in Europe too so we’ll take Ospreys as it comes and then switch our focus back to Europe and get some good results in those.”
Williams is also hopeful Dragons can take the lessons of the narrow derby day defeat to Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day as they bid to return to winning ways.
He said: “It was a tough game, credit to Blues for getting the result, but it was a typical derby day. A one score game, and they came off better off.
“The result shows the progression we’re making,” he added. “After going 10-0 down early on, probably in the past we would have dropped off.
“It shows there’s belief in the squad to come back into the game and to pull it back towards the end is a credit to the boys.
“Everyone is now looking forward to the Ospreys game,” he added. “If you look at their squad, they have quality players, so it’s going to be another tough game and again another derby day.
“I don’t like to looking at who is favourites, it’s another tough game and we have to get things right our end and hopefully we can do that.”
Watch Rhodri and the Dragons when Derby day returns for the opening game of 2020 as we welcome Ospreys to Rodney Parade on Saturday (kick-off 3pm). Click HERE to buy your tickets and join us for more top Guinness PRO14 action.
If you look at their squad, they have quality players, so it’s going to be another tough game and again another derby day....
