Head Coach Filo Tiatia urged his Dragons to learn from a difficult end to the BKT United Rugby Championship derby day defeat to Ospreys.
The Men of Gwent lost 57-24 to play-off chasing Ospreys with the home side running in a number of tries in the final quarter as a young Dragons side battled away at Swansea.com Stadium.
“We want to be so much better than what we showed in that last 20 minutes,” said Tiatia.
“I know deep down in my heart that the players, when they stay connected and play for each other, they are a good side.
“We played against a good Ospreys side and in the last 20 minutes they found gaps, exploited it and scored points. We are disappointed with how we finished.
“The first 45 to 50 minutes we were competitive, but we dropped off.
“I thought our tactics of trying to move Ospreys in that first half worked and we were in the game.
“The young group came on for the last 25 minutes, and we lost shape defensively and the chemistry of connecting.
“That is where we are at with our young players. It is another opportunity to keep learning and keep pushing at this level. The learning for us is how do we stay in the match.”
Tiatia also had words of praise for Dan Lydiate who played his final game on Welsh soil before his playing retirement at the end of the season.
“Dan put in another massive shift. He has a lot of time for the Ospreys and the Dragons so it was a special day for him,” he added.
“I’m really proud of his effort. A great turnover to get us in the game on the far edge. He played well.”
I know deep down in my heart that the players, when they stay connected and play for each other, they are a good side...
