Fit again back row Taine Basham has vowed Dragons RFC will keep firing as they continue a big period on home soil.
Wales international Basham marked his first appearance of the season with an all-action man-of-the-match performance in the tense 33-30 defeat to Hollywoodbets Sharks.
The BKT United Rugby Championship games keep come thick and fast with Emirates Lions the visitors to Rodney Parade this Sunday (kick-off 2.30pm) before Benetton Rugby arrive on October 19.
And Basham is eager to be at the centre of the action after recovering from a tendinitis issue to storm back into the picture.
“It’s great to be back fit and get my first 80 of the season, having missed pre-season games,” he stated.
“It is a big period for us with three back-to-back home games. We have some physical teams coming and we went toe-to-toe with Sharks at the end.
“We have a very good Lions team touring and then Benetton the week after. We need to stay in the moment, make the right decisions. That is the difference between winning and losing.
“Everyone knows when they come to Rodney Parade they are up for a fight but it is then small moments when we need to stay composed, myself included, to get home wins.”
Basham admitted the game with Sharks had ultimately come down to small margins as the South Africans snatched the victory deep into injury time.
“We pride ourselves on Rodney Parade not being an easy day for anyone who comes here, it is never a walk in the park,” he said.
“We always put the effort in at Dragons, we spoke in the week about fighting on the line and we did that. Sadly, we conceded at the end, but I can’t fault the effort.
“It’s narrow margins. We can’t dwell on it. We need to look at the next job, but also learn because you’ll never get better if you don’t.
“That felt like a step forward from last week (against Leinster) and we can get better.”
On a personal level, Basham was delighted to be back at the heart of the action, and he spoke about the battle to now nail down a starting spot for the club.
“I’m glad to blow the cobwebs off and be back into it for such a big period,” he smiled.
“It was a hard pre-season thanks to Ryan Chambers. I’ve been to Turkey and Switzerland camps with him before so I knew it would be hard.
“It was up there with the hardest I’ve done, but I’m glad to be back 100 percent now and firing into these next few games.
“Harri (Keddie) has been outstanding the last couple of weeks, he was unfortunate to be ruled out of the Sharks game, but we push each other on here,” he added.
“We are all fighting for the jersey, you are not given it, you must earn it, and hopefully I’ve put myself forward now.”
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We have a very good Lions team touring and then Benetton the week after... We need to stay in the moment, make the right decisions. That is the difference between winning and losing...
