Young hooker Brodie Coghlan admitted it was a dream to get this first start for Dragons RFC – but acknowledges the hard work is still ahead of him and the squad as the final block of fixtures looms large.
Dragons Academy product Coghlan started the 42-28 defeat to Glasgow Warriors in the BKT United Rugby Championship at Rodney Parade after impressing off the bench in the last six weeks.
“I’ve always wanted to play for Dragons since I was little, so it is an honour to get my first start,” said the 22-year-old.
“It was not the result we wanted, but I felt at times we proper fronted up and the set piece was strong.
“There are just a few areas of the game that we need to work on and be better at.
“How you start sets the tone for the game. We have got to be better at that and not giving away easy tries.
“Last week (against Lions) we didn’t start well and we know, after the second half, if we had it would have been a different game.
“We’re so tight, especially as a forward pack, and we will get there.”
Dragons now have a short break from fixtures before a daunting trio to undefeated league leaders Leinster in mid-February.
And Coghlan expects the hard work to only intensify on the training field before a date in Dublin.
“It’s going to be a tough two weeks now and we need it,” he added.
“We need to get competitive in training, because if you don’t have that you can’t build, so I am excited for it.
“I haven’t experienced games like Leinster away yet. Going there is all about your mindset.
“We’ve got to back ourselves. The ability is there, and I don’t doubt us at all that we can do it.”
We need to get competitive in training, because if you don’t have that you can’t build, so I am excited for it...
