Dragons RFC end their block before the 2025 Six Nations at home to Munster Rugby on Saturday evening - a game where they will be without a number of experienced players.
With Aaron Wainwright, Elliott Dee and Rhodri Williams getting call-ups to Warren Gatland’s squad, they join an unavailable list which features a number of Dragons’ most experienced individuals.
Co-captain Angus O’Brien and Wales international Cai Evans are the latest to join this unavailable list which also features fellow co-captain Ben Carter as well as vice captains Harri Keddie and Matthew Screech, along with the experience of Steve Cummins and Rhodri Jones, plus the likes of Oli Burrows, Josh Reynolds and Luke Yendle.
That is without forgetting Leon Brown and Ollie Griffiths who were both forced to retire this season due to injury.
That extensive list offers an opportunity for others to shine with the likes of Nick Thomas, Evan Minto and Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths all making their debuts across the Christmas period, plus there have been first starts for Barny Langton-Cryer and Huw Anderson.
Injuries to O’Brien and Evans, leave Lloyd Evans and Will Reed as the only fly-half options in the current senior squad, with Academy 10 Harri Ford called up to Wales U20s.
Reed started last weekend against Lions and now Evans gets his shot at home to Munster.
“It's unfortunate for those two, [O’Brien and Evans], they’re obviously great players,” said Evans. “Gus is a big leader in the team, but it means there's opportunities for me and it’s kind of exciting going forward.”
“It’s been a pretty tough season, I would have liked to have played better but I need to stick in there and finish strongly. “I feel there’s more to come from me because I haven’t played to the level I want to be at, but I am optimistic and ready to finish the season well.
“It’s been tough with the results but we are a tight group and need to work even harder to get better and hopefully get the results.”
With Rhodri Williams having an injury over Christmas and now in Wales camp, there have been plenty of opportunities for young scrum-halves Morgan Lloyd and Che Hope, with both impressing this season.
“There are lots of really young and exciting players getting opportunities,” said Evans. “It’s about giving them the chance to express themselves and show what they have got.”
“The two nines have done really well so far, Che and Morgan are different players with their own strengths and they will only improve from time in the saddle.
“Hopefully I can take a bit of pressure of them so that they can do as well as they can.”
One asset in any fly-half’s armoury is their game management, something which will be crucial to get right in order to beat 2022/23 URC champions Munster.
“There is always a balance,” said Evans. “We want to be an exciting and attacking team but game management is key, especially against Munster.”
“They are a very organised team so we will have to be clever in how we play and smart in managing the game.
“There's a time and a place to attack and we need to make good decisions. Sometimes you get it wrong, but we need to try to put pressure back on Munster.”
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They are a very organised team so we will have to be clever in how we play and smart in managing the game...
