Boss Dean Ryan admitted a failure to control Edinburgh’s speed of ball and a disappointing opening quarter had ultimately cost his Dragons as they lost 30-14 in the United Rugby Championship at Rodney Parade.
After a four-week break without action, Dragons were back on home soil for the Round 6 clash with the Scots.
But it was to prove a frustrating evening as Edinburgh claimed a bonus point win after a lightening quick start playing into a strong wind.
“I don’t think we ever got their speed of ball under control,” said Ryan.
“To lose the amount of ground and the tries that were scored in that first 20 minutes into a wind wasn’t acceptable. That allowed them to control the second half.
“It was actually more difficult to play with the wind, as I was chatting to Mike (Blair) afterwards, than everyone thought. But that still doesn’t excuse it.
“Fair play to Edinburgh, there is a pace and accuracy that they can play at, but we have got to find solutions to a game that is going that fast against us.
“We have all been sat down for four weeks trying to work out how to come back, but so have they and they’ve had guys in Test matches as well.
“They deserve credit for getting it right in that first 20 or 30 minutes. We need to challenge ourselves and ask questions of why we didn’t.
“We put too much pressure on ourselves,” he added. “They shouldn’t get 12 points up as easily as that into a strong wind – that is the reality of it.
“We gave some penalties away where we should have been taking possession and making the most of it.
“If you don’t take advantage in that period then it is going to be difficult into a wind in the second half.
“We need to talk honestly on Monday and ask questions why we didn’t get that right.
“People have got to challenge themselves about how they arrive and what they thought the game was going to be in that first 20 or 30 minutes because we didn’t get it right.”
Meanwhile, Ryan issued an update on back row Taine Basham and centre Jack Dixon after they were both taken off in the first half in Newport.
“Taine failed an HIA after a head collision in a ruck and Jack has an elbow issue so we will find out more in the next 24 hours,” added Ryan.
