Centre Aneurin Owen believes Dragons RFC have the foundation to their game to turn narrow defeats into victories - if they can start nailing the ‘small moments’ in games.
Owen has been a mainstay of the midfield in the opening weeks of the new BKT United Rugby Championship season and impressed in all the games on home soil.
But after the epic late victory over Ospreys, it has been back-to-back games when the Men of Gwent have just been edged out by South African opposition.
“We are getting close and feel like we are doing good stuff,” he stressed. “The squad is in a good place mentally because we are in games but it’s just those small moments.
“Hopefully we can turn these results around because we feel that we have a good foundation to our game – our forwards have been excellent, and we have some exciting backs.
“This season I feel that we are much fitter than previous seasons and the accuracy is starting to come, it’s just those small moments.
“Everyone in this group – players, coaches, staff – is working hard to get those wins and we feel that we are not far away. We just need to stay tight.
“There have been so many positives in the last four games but it’s just marrying it with being precise in those key moments.
“We will take the learnings for a six-day turnaround and go again to try and get the result because it’s about winning, we know that.”
Owen – who has now played 54 games for Dragons – has been a shining light in the opening four weeks of the campaign and was once again a constant threat in the narrow loss to Lions.
And the 23-year-old Dragons Academy graduate believes his game is continuing to grow.
He said: “I am really loving the game time that I am getting, even if it’s frustrating that we haven’t quite been on the right side of the results. I really love playing for this team.
“In attack I am looking to get my hands on the ball as much as I can and I’m not afraid of the contact and trying to give go-forward.
“Defensively I have done a lot of work with Filo (Tiatia) and he has been class. He has a big presence and demands a lot, but he has also been great for the culture and bringing people together.
“Our defence has improved massively since last season, and we are getting better every week.
“The biggest thing with Filo is that I don’t want to let him down whenever I play.”
Owen will hope to be involved again this weekend as Benetton Rugby arrive at Rodney Parade in the league as a spell of three successive home games ends.
It could also be a Rodney Parade swansong for the soon to depart Steff Hughes and Owen has paid tribute to his impact at the club.
“Steff has been great off the field with leadership and the way that he has brought the team together and he has been a great player as well,” he stated.
“Good luck to him while the rest of us will keep driving each other on, we still have lots of competition.”
Tickets for all BKT United Rugby Championship home games are on sale – click HERE to buy online or call the Ticket Office team on 01633 670 690 during office hours. Season Memberships for the 2024/25 campaign remain on sale NOW! Click HERE to buy today and make the best savings!
Everyone in this group – players, coaches, staff – is working hard to get those wins and we feel that we are not far away. We just need to stay tight...
