Hooker James Benjamin insists Dragons must relish the challenge and play with confidence as they head to reigning BKT United Rugby Championship holders Munster Rugby on Saturday (kick-off 5.15pm).
The Men of Gwent hit the road for the first time this campaign as they play at Musgrave Park.
Dai Flanagan’s men will face a stern test in Cork as they look to bounce back from a narrow and frustrating derby day defeat to Cardiff Rugby.
“It’s a tough test but we will go there and throw everything at it to try and put our imprint on the game,” insisted Benjamin.
“We’ve got high standards and want to go there with confidence and believing we can put a really good performance in.
“It’s been gutting because both games so far have been tight and on a knife edge but unfortunately, they have fallen the other way.
“The battle for us now is to stay positive and keep believing we can get on the right side of things, which I am pretty sure we will.”
Benjamin – now converted to a hooker - impressed in the Cardiff clash as he was pushed into the back row early on after an injury to Sean Lonsdale and the late withdrawal of Dan Lydiate.
“I had the heads up and we always practice scenarios in training and did throughout pre-season,” he said. “A lot of us were ready to cover the back row, including [centre Jack] Dixon!
“It did take away some of the options that we had prepared for in the week, but we just had to problem solve. Up front we did well with the scrum and lineout maul, which we could have got more from.”
Reflecting on his switch to hooker in recent years, Benjamin now feels like a fully-fledged member of the front row and added: “I am a bit heavier now, and I felt that in the back row on Sunday! You can’t be too light in the front row.
“You need some weight and power behind you, so my diet changed and so did my training programme, but I am used to it now.
“I do feel like a hooker now because, originally, I didn’t really have enough games at any level so felt I lacked that bit of experience.
“With the help of Newport RFC at the end of last season, the odd Dragons appearance and then a good pre-season, I feel much more confident. Now I just want to keep putting my hand up for the team.”
It’s a tough test but we will go there and throw everything at it to try and put our imprint on the game...
