Full back Angus O’Brien is eager to keep building momentum in his own game and continue to boost Dragons RFC after playing a starring role in his comeback clash.
O’Brien made his long-awaited return on home soil in the epic BKT United Rugby Championship derby win over Ospreys.
The 30-year-old – now on 91 appearances for the Men of Gwent – endured a torrid 23/24 season as injury restricted his involvement.
But the Caerleon-born back was a prominent figure on his return as Dai Flanagan’s men launched the new campaign with a last gasp victory.
“It’s good to back,” he smiled. “It was a very frustrating season last year, coming back, getting injured, coming back, getting injured. But that’s rugby.
“I broke my arm, had surgery, and then rebroke the same arm just further down. Not ideal, but it's all good now. I had a few niggles in pre-season, but I’m 100% now.
“I’m so happy to be back and it was a great first game back, beating Ospreys at home, and the way in which we won was amazing.
“The last two times we’ve beat the Ospreys at home I wasn't playing,” he added.
“I also saw that we hadn't won our first league game since 2013, so it’s great that all the hard work of preseason came together and the way we won is such a big confidence booster for the boys.
“Fighting right to the death is massively positive and a big confidence boost, knowing we can be in the fight, and we can go on and get the result. It was massive for us as a group.
“You’ve got to enjoy that victory from the weekend. But we've got a massive challenge ahead of us now this weekend against Leinster.”
Despite an opening day win, O’Brien admits it has been a week of striving for improvements at Ystrad Mynach.
“There are areas we need to improve, we know that, so it’s straight back on the job and a great opportunity for us at Leinster to try and build some momentum,” he stressed.
“We’ve got a real good group of boys and coaches, and we know there's more challenges ahead, but it was a great way to start the league campaign.
“We’ve been on the wrong side of those results over the years. Losing games at the death is tough.
“To be on the other side last weekend, to know we can go to the 84th minute, or whatever it was, was big. We went through 25 or 26 phases, all stuff we've been working on, in that 22.
“The forwards were outstanding, the pick and go game, and then to get over the line at the end. It was awesome.”
The impressive surroundings of the Aviva Stadium are next up for Dragons as they visit a power-packed Leinster side in Dublin.
“I’ve never played at the Aviva Stadium, but the boys that have say it's an unbelievable stadium,” revealed O’Brien.
“We’ve just got to go out there and be confident, put our game plan on them and enjoy it.
“Leinster have got kickers right throughout their back line, both right foot and left foot. We're aware of that, and I'm expecting a lot of kicks, and I’ve just got to do my job.
“The aerial battle is a massive part of the game. So many teams are competing for the ball in the air.
"It's something we've got to be confident at, you've got to practice every single day, because it's such a big part of the game. It's one I enjoy, and I’ll keep growing.
Fighting right to the death is massively positive and a big confidence boost, knowing we can be in the fight, and we can go on and get the result. It was massive for us as a group...
