Head Coach Dai Flanagan believes his ‘hurting’ Dragons will channel their frustrations at the opening weeks of the season the right way when they face reigning champions Munster this weekend.
The Men of Gwent jet over to Cork to face Munster at Musgrave Park eager to record a first win of the BKT United Rugby Championship season after narrow home losses to Edinburgh and Cardiff.
Flanagan concedes there has been a sobering mood around the squad after the manner of the derby defeat.
But he has now challenged his team – who will miss seven players on Wales duty - to respond as they face the champions.
“It’s a place that hasn’t won much for a long time and you can feel the pain in the group these last two weeks,” he said.
“There is a real hurt in the group and that is quite sobering, it shows how much every individual here cares about the place and each other.
“We must use that hurt. We have a six-day turnaround to go to Munster, the reigning champions, who we haven’t beaten out there in many years and they don’t lose at Musgrave Park very often.
“It’s a great challenge for us and one I am sure we will meet head-on.
“We’ll rotate the team, we have to with a six-day turnaround away from home, after two physical games. They weren’t the prettiest games, but they were physical and we have lost players through it.
“We’re now excited to get back out on the field. Sometimes that is the only way you can put some wrongs right.
“Our reflection is that we have been very neutral so far this season. We haven’t done much wrong, but we haven’t done much right. It’s hard to win games at this level living that way.”
Flanagan also believes his players are feeling the pain with increased expectation from within the squad.
“You look at some of the characters in the group and know they want to do better,” he said.
“We have people here who have been here a long time who care passionately about the club. People like Ollie Griffiths, who I know didn’t play last week, but he is hurting.
“Then people like Dane Blacker who has come in to make an impact who are disappointed by certain things.
“The club is stable now. We have a foundation. But it is over to us to improve on the field.”
We’re now excited to get back out on the field. Sometimes that is the only way you can put some wrongs right...
