Head Coach Dai Flanagan spoke of his pride for his free Dragons as they took the shackles off and defeated 14-man Ospreys 20-5 in the BKT United Rugby Championship at Rodney Parade.
Tries from Bradley Roberts and Rio Dyer saw the Men of Gwent win on home soil for the first time since October 2022.
And Flanagan was delighted with his team as they put the pressure to one side – after four league defeats – and played with freedom and expressed themselves.
“The emotion is pride,” said Flanagan. “I asked the group to take the shackles off this week because we looked like we were playing within ourselves.
“I told them to ignore results. Let everyone else talk about that.
“We had a great meeting with the leadership group and players about the process and I was really proud of that tonight.
“I know we had the red card, but we moved the ball and we dominated with our speed and tempo. I was really pleased.
“Winning is a habit and so is losing,” he added. “The boys wanted to express themselves and get a good result.
“We talk about pressure and the players read everything that is said. It’s naïve to think that they don’t.
“They are a tough changing room, they are good and hard people, and they want it so much and are so desperate for success. It is nice that we can give a little back.“
Dragons now jet to South Africa to face Hollywoodbet Sharks and Emirates Lions and Flanagan believes his team can go in high spirits.
He said: “We’ve always looked forward to South Africa with the good weather and the fast tracks. We can look forward even more now.
“If we can produce the attacking performance we produced tonight, and are more accurate, we can score points.
“I thought our defence showed up well, although with the red card we didn’t have too much defending to do.
“It’s an opportunity for us to go there and go after teams. “I won’t get carried away,” he added.
“I don’t get too high or low, I am fortunate with the support network around me and family, that I can’t get carried away.
“Ben Carter had a hamstring so we will look at him for South Africa. We will take 29 players, train out there, and it’s important we get some work done.
“This can spring us forward into Europe and the derby season.”
They are a tough changing room, they are good and hard people, and they want it so much and are so desperate for success. It is nice that we can give a little back...
