Lock George Nott is adamant Dragons RFC head into the New Year on the right track and ready to turn heart-breaking losses into narrow victories.
Nott, 26, will hoping to be involved when the Men of Gwent travel west to face Scarlets on New Year’s Day at Parc y Scarlets (kick-off 5.15pm).
The north Walian impressed on his return from injury in the BKT United Rugby Championship encounter with Cardiff Rugby on Boxing Day.
But it was another case of what might have been for Dragons after they were edged out on the final play for the second successive home game.
Those results followed two narrow defeats in the league in South Africa and a draw in Europe to Lions.
Nott acknowledges the last five games could easily have harboured different results – but believes a local derby in Llanelli to kick-off 2023 could be the perfect tonic to get back to winning ways.
“The Scarlets game has come at a perfect time,” said Nott. “The boys are already riled up for it and the perfect way to get over a disappointing loss is to go out and rectify it the week after.
“It’s another Welsh derby and we couldn’t ask for a better fixture to put the wrongs right from Cardiff.
“As a club we’ve had a few tough years and we have improved a lot over the last six months but it’s just hard to flick that switch to get the confidence and belief to win those games,” he added.
“It’s coming. I can say hand on heart that we are getting better week on week. It will come, it’s just a matter of time and soon you will see a Dragons side that will put those games to bed.”
Nott will compete with the likes of Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Sean Lonsdale and Huw Taylor for a start at Scarlets - while teenager Ryan Woodman made his first team debut earlier this month.
And he has revealed how much he is enjoying the battle for a jersey.
"There is genuine depth and quality across the whole squad, I have been really impressed since joining because there is nobody here just making up the numbers,” said Nott.
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It’s coming... I can say hand on heart that we are getting better week on week... It will come, it’s just a matter of time and soon you will see a Dragons side that will put those games to bed...
