Dragons got the job done and then some on Friday night as a superb second half display secured all five match points for the Men of Gwent at Rodney Parade.
A brace for Rio Dyer, plus tries for Brodie Coghlan, David Richards and a penalty try, along with eight points off the boot of player of the match Angus O’Brien paved the way for a convincing win.
Dragons will now wait for the result of Perpignan v Lions tomorrow, knowing that unless there is a freak high-scoring draw with both sides scoring four tries, then they will be in the draw for the next round.
Club co-captain O’Brien felt his side had done all they can to be in the knockout stages.
“We’ve given ourselves the best opportunity to go through and we’re really excited to play in Europe, we will give it everything,” said O’Brien.
“All we had to do tonight was win and we've done that, five points on the board and what will be will be.
“You never know what could happen, but we’ve put ourselves in the best possible position and that’s all we can do.”
Dragons’ run of home wins extended to four with Friday night’s win, a run that began in December with a comeback victory in Europe against Lyon.
Now Dragons are hoping to continue their European campaign into the next round.
“Going through would be massive for us,” said O’Brien.
“We haven't been there the last few years, we've come up short and I think the group deserves this.
“We've worked extremely hard and had some good performances, some good wins and it’d be massive for the group just to be in those latter stages of Europe, that's where everyone in the circle wants to be.
“We want to be competing for things and Europe is something else for us to compete for.
“So fingers crossed that goes our way tomorrow and we'll give it everything.”
O’Brien was also full of praise for his back three companions, Dyer and Richards who both crossed for tries during the match.
“Rio’s amazing. He’s got that X-factor, him and Dai [Richards] tonight were outstanding and it makes my job a lot easier,” said O’Brien.
“Rio playing with confidence is what we need, beating people one v one, lighting it up, it’s great.
“You can see that in him, he’s confident and when he’s confident he means business so long may it continue.”
Once again, Rodney Parade was rocking and O’Brien was sure to pay tribute to the crowd’s role in ensuring his side made it four wins in a row at home.
“It's not a nice place to come for away teams, but it's amazing as a home player,” said O’Brien.
“Throughout my time here, they've been amazing and it’s nice that we’re paying them back with some wins.
“That'll make them cheer louder, that'll make them come back happier and that's all we can ask for, they’ve been outstanding for us and they always have been.
“I'm just chuffed that, as a local boy a Newport boy, paying back to the fans with the scoreboard.”
We've worked extremely hard and had some good performances, some good wins and it’d be massive for the group just to be in those latter stages of Europe, that's where everyone in the circle wants to be...
