Prop Greg Bateman is targeting a complete performance as the Dragons prepare to take on Welsh Rivals Cardiff Rugby at the Arms Park on Saturday afternoon, 5:15KO.
The Men of Gwent will be looking to bounce back from Friday night’s defeat against a physical DHL Stormers at Rodney Parade.
Dean Ryan’s men matched the South Africans for majority of the game in Newport, but the Stormers managed to claim victory thanks to two Leolin Zas tries in the final quarter.
Bateman, who has appeared in all four Dragons URC games this season, admits he was proud of his colleagues and their physicality on Friday night.
But the former Leicester Tigers front row believes Dragons are a young squad that continue to learn but admits they need to be a little more accurate during games.
“It was tough but we stood there toe to toe for a good 50/60 minutes with one of the better teams in the world” said the Frimley born forward.
“I’m incredibly proud of us for large parts of that game and we are learning how to put our game on teams and I think we did that for a portion of the first half” he said. “It was a very difficult second half and we are learning all the time.
“I think we are a more physical side now, it is certainly one of the areas we now pride ourselves on.
“We are a team that can go at it and it is a pleasure to be part of and I think what we need to do is learn how to be a bit more accurate with that and turn that into points.”
The Men of Gwent will look to invade the Arms Park on Saturday afternoon and leave with the victory in the final URC game ahead of the international break.
Dragons will be without six of the pack that started against the Stormers due to international call ups and Bateman believes there are players ready to make the step-up in their absence.
But the 32-year-old admits it will be all about consistency for Dean Ryan’s men heading into the game and trying to impose their game on their Welsh regional rivals.
“The great thing about rugby is you get the opportunity in a week’s time to put things right and have another go at it and we are all really looking forward to it. We will lick our wounds, get back together on Monday and get ready to go” said Bateman.
“We have got lads here that definitely deserve their chance and they will want to be putting their hands up when the boys are away.”
He continued “Cardiff are a good side and there are some really good sides in the competition and for us it’s about concentrating on our game.
“There wasn’t a lot of chat about the Stormers in the week leading up to that game, it was all about us and imposing our game on them and I think we did for a large portion of that game.
“I think we just want to be more consistent across all areas, I think our set-piece was excellent for a large portion of that game but we slipped off towards the end so it will be about how we can put our game on Cardiff.
“We just need to make sure we maintain that early level right until the end, it’s just ensuring we are consistent across all areas for the full eighty minutes.”
