Coach Dan Lydiate believes Dragons A will need to step up their performance another level when they face Ospreys Development in a friendly at St Helens on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3pm).
The club’s best young stars – plus a sprinkling of senior pros on the return Super Rygbi Cymru aces – shone brightly last weekend as they romped to an 11-try 73-21 success over Scarlets.
With the BKT United Rugby Championship on a break until later this month, the next generation of talent from the Men of Gwent now face a trip to Swansea.
And Lydiate – who has been helping with coaching the squad during this two-week spell – is excited for the challenge they face down west.
“It was nice for the younger boys to have a run out and we had a couple of boys that haven’t had much game time and a few from SRC who stepped up a really performed well for us last weekend,” he said.
“We scored 11 tries so that is always a good day at the office, but it’s a different challenge this week coming up against the Ospreys.
“We want to improve on the performance. Everyone has bought into what we are doing, got involved from day one, and there was good chemistry. Everyone played with a smile on their faces.
“Ospreys will be well drilled, and we need to step up our performance this week. I dare say they will have some senior boys back too, so it will be a good test for us.
“Ospreys normally have a good crowd for games like this and hopefully we’ll have a few fans too so it will be a good game to watch.
“You always want to finish a block like this with a good result, but it is all about building that performance throughout the week,” he added.
“It’s a good chance for the youngsters to put their hands up and show what they can do.
“We want to see Academy players coming through and getting to wear that Dragons jersey.”
The two-week block of friendly games has presented another opportunity for Lydiate as the former Wales back row combines playing with coaching this season.
“The first six games of the season I have been involved on four occasions with the senior team, but the coaching staff have been very supportive to help me coach within the first team also,” he stated.
“I’ve been getting involved now with the A team and taking more leadership on the defensive role.
“It’s been a massive learning curve for me, but the support network around me has been good and the boys have been buying into what we have put in place.
“It is an interesting mix,” he smiled. “I get a few jokes from the players who say: ‘don’t say anything, the coach is coming’.
“To be fair, the boys have been good. I’ve just got to make sure that what I am coaching the players I am doing myself.
“It is easy to stand up at the front of meetings and say you need to do this and that, but when I am out on the field, I need to be accountable as well.
“I am enjoying it. It is a tough role to be in, but I am looking forward to the future now and so I am dipping my toes into it.”
It is easy to stand up at the front of meetings and say you need to do this and that, but when I am out on the field, I need to be accountable as well...
