Back row Ross Moriarty insists he is enjoying his rugby this season at Dragons under Head Coach Dai Flanagan – after recently celebrating a major milestone at the club.
Wales ace Moriarty made his 50th appearance in the recent European clash with Emirates Lions.
The 28-year-old has featured in all but two games this season with his 16 appearances the must he has clocked up in one campaign for the Men of Gwent.
Moriarty recently sat down with Scrum V to assess his own form and spoke about how he is enjoying his role at the club under the guidance of Flanagan.
“It’s been really good with Dai,” said Moriarty. “He’s a young and enthusiastic coach.
“He was down at Scarlets working with them and he has joined us this season and made an impact.
"He’s got a positive mindset of how he wants to play the game. It’s open and it is exciting.
“Obviously we haven’t had some of the results we’d have liked. But we have come so close so many times. It’s cracking that final bit.
“Everyone wants results immediately in sport and there will be pressure on Dai to get results, we know that.
“But I don’t think he will go away from the foundations of how he wants to play the game.
“The way he is coaching is good for the team we have got.
“It’s a pretty young team - I think our oldest player is 31. We have a young team, lots of youngsters and Academy talent coming through.
“There is a good learning for them and next season we can hopefully put it all into practice.”
Moriarty concedes he is often now surrounded by a number of younger players in the Dragons RFC pack.
But he simply smiles at suggestions that he is now one of the senior figures – instead planning to make an impact in his own way.
“I’m 28 and I guess I have played quite a bit of rugby,” he admitted.
“Players like Ryan Woodman, the captain of the Wales Under-20s, is a back row or second row and he is a good boy.
“He’s played a couple of games for us and, although I don’t see myself as an older player, I know I can help him and give him confidence.
“I’d just tell him what is the worst that can happen. When we go out on the pitch, we have a good time, and we hope to get a good result.
“This season I have really enjoyed my rugby,” added Moriarty.
“You put the results aside, I really feel like I’m enjoying playing for the Dragons and getting back to what I know I can be.
“I’ve had a bad run of injuries the last few seasons. Two slipped discs, ankle reconstruction, shoulder reconstruction and concussions.
“It had been a bad spell, but I hope I’m through that patch and I’m back on it.”
Watch Moriarty and the Dragons tackle Connacht at Rodney Parade on Saturday, March 3 (kick-off 7.35pm). CLICK HERE to buy tickets or call 01633 670690 during office hours.
He’s got a positive mindset of how he wants to play the game... It’s open and it is exciting....
