Forwards Coach Luke Narraway wants Dragons to challenge Scarlets and show they have learnt the lessons of Boxing Day defeat as the region looks to launch 2021 on the front foot.
The weather dominated the opening derby game of the festive season against Cardiff Blues as torrential rain and swirling winds battered Rodney Parade.
Dragons were edged out 13-12 after what Narraway concedes was a disappointing final quarter of the Guinness PRO14 match.
And now he wants the squad to respond as they travel to Parc y Scarlets on New Year's Day (kick-off 5.15pm).
“The conditions made it tough,” he said. “Gale force winds going down the pitch and the rain coming in, it was more about playing the conditions than potentially playing the opposition.
“Entertainment is an opinion I guess. Myself and Mefin (Davies) had a lot to look at with line-outs and scrums, so I thought it was a great game of rugby.
“For 60 minutes we were good value, but there were a few things we were lacking in the last 20 minutes and a few penalties given away.
“We gave them some easy field position which eventually gave them enough opportunities in our 22 to take the game.
“It is something we have spoken about and we will be working hard to get it right and in order for the Scarlets game.
“Hopefully we will be concentrating on playing the Scarlets rather than the conditions.”
Dragons won two out of three derby games last season over the festive period as Scarlets and Ospreys were beaten on home soil while Cardiff Blues edged a tight tussle in the capital.
However, Narraway insists expectation is not something that now sits heavy on the shoulders at Rodney Parade – instead striving to get better remains the focus.
“We want to be a team that continues to learn, continues to grow and with that we want to win rugby matches,” he said.
“We were two from three last year and we still have two to play so anything is possible.
“We are going against a very good Scarlets team, we know that, but hopefully we can learn our lessons from Cardiff Blues and we can go out there and pose them some questions.”
We are going against a very good Scarlets team, we know that, but hopefully we can learn our lessons from Cardiff Blues and we can go out there and pose them some questions...
