Head Coach Dai Flanagan insists his evolving Dragons are ‘not far away’ and just need more belief - after derby day heartbreak to Cardiff Rugby in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
For the second successive home game the Men of Gwent suffered late anguish.
After the drama of Pau in Europe came a cruel late loss to the local rivals as a try from Corey Domachowski with the final play saw Dragons lose out in front of a sold-out Rodney Parade.
“We needed to be a bit cleaner. We didn’t control some of the controllables, and the 14 points just before half-time killed us, leaving us with a lot to do,” said Flanagan.
“We controlled so much of the game, and we are not far away, but we are not close enough.
“I think we just need some belief. If these boys believed that they would win a lot more games and we just need to keep banging the drum.
“We are a pretty good team full of tough players who are really smart, we just have to start believing.
“These boys are good rugby players, and I am not sure they believe it, so it’s important that we tell them more consistently how good they are.
“They pull together when the chips are down, and they stay in games that we don’t deserve to stay in.”
Cardiff led 14-11 at the interval despite a try from Rio Dyer before a late burst, courtesy of a score from captain Harri Keddie and the boot of JJ Hanrahan, saw the home side lead.
However, Domachowski powered over for Cardiff’s bonus point and left the Dragons to reflect on a missed opportunity ahead of their New Year’s Day trip to Scarlets.
“I am not a big outcomes person. Don’t get me wrong, outcomes hurt, but I am very process-driven and there is lots in our game to really be proud of in how we have evolved,” said Flanagan.
“The easy part of the journey is the start; the tougher part is when you are getting closer to finishing performances.
“We have got to be better emotionally because there is a line and we crossed it a couple of times. We must be better at how we thrive in the chaos of a derby.
“But it was a full house at Rodney Parade, and I told the players that we must be doing something okay if they want to watch us play. It’s important that we keep doing that.”
I think we just need some belief. If these boys believed that they would win a lot more games and we just need to keep banging the drum...
