Hooker Elliot Dee acknowledges the driving line-out has already become a huge weapon across the BKT United Rugby Championship season – after filling his boots to soar to the top of the try scoring charts.
Dee has scored five tries in three games this season with a late leveller at Benetton followed by two tries against both Scarlets - when he was named man of the match - and Ospreys.
The power of the driving line-out was evident at Rodney Parade on Friday against Ospreys and the source of seven of the 10 tries scored in Newport under the lights.
"It was a weapon at the end of last season and working hard at the things you are good at usually pays dividends," said Dee. “
We’ve got a very competitive squad. Our unit sessions with the starting team against the rest is setting us up nicely for the rest of the week.
“I’ve just been lucky enough to dot a few down on the back of the hard work from the boys.”
The new enforcement of laws - players from the defending team must detach and go to the back when they move past the ball, meaning fewer disruptors – has seen a rise in driving lineout scores.
"It definitely gives the attacking team an advantage, as soon as you slip up the side you have to get out of there now,” added Dee.
"It's hard to stop because you are retreating to the back and it gives a second or two of less weight [for the defending team]. It's a good rule, and it's good for the game."
Reflecting on the Ospreys defeat, Dee added: “We are gutted to lose, and it was sickening at the end.
“It was a game we could have won. They won the game and we lost it.
“Their pack was big and heavy, and we maybe didn’t move them round as much as we wanted to and the game was a little bit stop start.”
Dee’s own form has been a huge positive in the opening weeks of the new season for the Men of Gwent.
And Head Coach Filo Tiatia is pleased with the way the Wales international has approached his work.
“Elliot has worked hard on parts of his game. We have some young guys here who are kicking the door down for the number two shirt and we have had numerous conversations,” said Tiatia.
“He has an opportunity to keep growing parts of his game and he has worked hard. I am enjoying watching him play and lead.”
And Dee believes his new approach to the game and ‘travelling light’ has already shown its worth.
“I am enjoying turning up for work. I am proud to be from Gwent and to play for the Dragons – I am really enjoying it,” he concluded.
“As you got older it is easier to travel light and this is a game of rugby with 30 blokes on the field. It’s really important, but you also learn it is not the most important thing in life.
“I turn up and try to do my job as best as I can. Try not to worry too much about things and try and perform for the team.”
We’ve got a very competitive squad. Our unit sessions with the starting team against the rest is setting us up nicely for the rest of the week...
