Boss Dai Flanagan has dismissed the notion that the pressure is off in the BKT United Rugby Championship clash with Leinster – insisting: ‘We've got to start believing… and start performing.”
The Men of Gwent welcome back all five of the club’s Wales World Cup stars – Elliot Dee, Taine Basham, Dan Lydiate, Aaron Wainwright and Rio Dyer – for the game on Sunday (kick-off 1.15pm).
Leinster arrive as heavy favourites having won the last 12 meetings and having recalled five internationals themselves.
But Flanagan believes his team should not accept the underdogs and play with confidence and belief.
“There is an expectation on us - we are at home and have already lost two home games,” said Flanagan.
“We can't just accept that Leinster are coming to town and we are underdogs.
“We have announced a good team and it's not acceptable to say 'Leinster are good, we've got nothing to lose'.
“It's about time that we turned the corner and said 'we are a pretty good team'. We've got to start believing that and start performing.”
Reflecting on the first two games on home soil, Flanagan added: “We do feel disappointed that we have let people down because it was such a good pre-season with a real buzz.
“We couldn’t win the games that we needed to and I just hope people stick with us, support us and come out in their droves to back us.
“In the first two games we didn’t do much wrong, we just didn’t do much right. We were neutral and that cost us because we didn’t execute with the chances that we had.”
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We have announced a good team and it's not acceptable to say 'Leinster are good, we've got nothing to lose'...
