Interim Head Coach Filo Tiatia has urged the entire squad at Dragons RFC to grasp opportunities ahead of the Christmas and New Year period – as they bid to keep European hopes alive this weekend.
The Men of Gwent make the long journey to the north east of England to take on Newcastle Falcons on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 3.15pm) eager to record a first win of the season in Europe.
Dragons opened the EPCR Challenge Cup season with a narrow 18-14 defeat to Montpellier on home soil and go into the game this weekend at Kingston Park needing a result to move up the Pool 2 standings.
And Tiatia wants his players to take the chance to impress as the battle for derby day places over the festive period heats up.
“We will give more opportunities to some players who have earned them through playing for clubs and rewarding them for their performances in our A games,” said Tiatia.
“It’s really about trying to form competition moving into the Christmas period and into the New Year.
“The message is that everyone needs to be on it and be sharp when the opportunities come to be picked.
“We need them to be ready to go, the chances are there, and we are watching everything – in meetings, the gym, behaviours that we are looking for and their attitude in how they prepare. We are casting a sharp eye on everyone.
“We understand that we have been short in a couple of games, and we have to keep building on the things that we are not nailing,” he added.
“We had eight or nine moments in the second half that we failed to take against Montpellier and need to be better this weekend. We need to stay alive in the competition.”
We need them to be ready to go, the chances are there, and we are watching everything – in meetings, the gym, behaviours that we are looking for and their attitude in how they prepare. We are casting a sharp eye on everyone...
