“Didn’t really capitalise on the opportunities”- 5 talking points: Interim Dragons Head Coach Filo Tiatia reacts to the Welsh Derby defeat at the Arms Park 

Dragons RFC fell to their 19th successive defeat against Cardiff Rugby in a scrappy United Rugby Championship match against. You have to go back to Boxing Day 2014 when the Dragons last tasted victory in the Welsh Capital, and for the opening 30 minutes, Tiatia’s men were well in the game but at crucial times failed to capitalise on their chances. This was the game’s story for the ‘Men of Gwent’ as the hosts turned the game on its head either side of halftime.

Tries from Alex Mann, Harri Millard, Callum Sheedy, and Rey Lee-Lo secured victory for the Blue and Blacks who now sit in fourth place in the URC. However, there was a spirited comeback from the visitors as replacements Morgan Lloyd and Aki Seiuli scored late on.

Still, it was too little too late as Cardiff recorded a 31-23 victory. This result now means the Dragons have sunk to the bottom of the URC after Zebre Parma’s 22-17 win over the Ospreys. 

1: “Didn’t really capitalise on the opportunities”- Tiatia admits that his side failed to capitlise on Cardiff’s slow start.

The Dragons were up 9-3 in the opening half hour, but you can argue that it should’ve been more as Captain Angus O’Brien missed two very makeable kicks early in the game. However, that lead didn’t last long as replacement Mann powered his way over after ill discipline from the visitors as that opened the door for the Blue and Blacks to get into the game. 

“Dissapointed, we built a lot of pressure and momentum in that first half. Didn’t really capitalise on the opportunities. And, yeah, I think the biggest learning is the players need to accelerate where we’re at, just around the learning when there’s momentum and, yeah, just missed opportunities, said Tiatia.

“I really enjoyed the fight back, the character, and some of our young guys that come on, got an opportunity, they sparked a bit of life in the Dragon and we’re chasing the game, but part of that learning is that we just can’t chase the game and we just got to make sure that we poke our nose through the gaps and we build momentum and build the scoreboard.”

2: Standout performer, 22-year-old Morgan Lloyd who made a significant impact. 

Lloyd who’s been playing a lot this season for Pontypool RFC in Super Rygbi Cymru, came onto the pitch on 54 minutes in replacement of Rhodri Williams. 10 minutes later, the replacement showed a brilliant show and go as he blitzed through the hosts defence for his first ever Dragons try. 

“Well, there’s a lot of high points, but he was certainly one,” said Tiatia. 

“Rhodri (Williams) was very good at nine as well. And I think some of the young guys that got an opportunity to come on, you could see some of the potential.”

3: 19 consecutive wins now for the Blue and Blacks, does that affect the mentality of the Dragons?

The last time the Dragons had tasted victory over the Blue and Blacks was back in 2015 when they won in the Challenge Cup Quarter finals under Lyn Jones who is now the head coach of Netherlands Rugby. That day back in April 2015 saw as they were known then Newport Gwent Dragons record a 25-21 victory, but have yet to repeat that fate. Tiatia’s men get another shot at Cardiff on Boxing Day when they return to league action after Europe. 

Tiatia said: “I don’t think so, the past is the past. 

“I think we can learn from the past and we don’t get stuck there. And, yeah, congratulations to Cardiff. They finished on the right side of the ledger, but I think for this young group, we’ve got an exciting opportunity just to keep building, keep improving.

“There we some good moments in the game, we just got to have more of them.” 

4: Frustration in the 22 not to take the points, which was the same story of the first block for the Dragons. 

“Look, I think the players are learning and look, I’m going to keep encouraging them to take the points, when on offer,” added Tiatia. 

“And as a skill set that we just need to keep working on. The decisions that they are making on the field, I’m pretty happy with it. It’s just when we do have our foot on their throttle or on the stroke, it’s how do we make sure that we maximise it and get points. 

5: Attention turns to Top 14 side Montpeillier in Europe with a quick six day turnaround. 

Dragons begin their European Challenge campaign as they host Montpellier Herault Rugby, on Friday at Rodney Parade. The French side sit in ninth place in the Top 14 and will come into the encounter on the back of a tryless game against Bordeaux Begles where they lost 9-6 to the second-place side. 

“The French are unpredictable and will be interesting to see what team they bring to Rodney Parade next Friday. It’s a short turnaround and yep, we’re looking forward to that challenge. They’ve got some very good players, interesting style, with the way they play,” said Tiatia.

“So, again, we’ve just got to keep learning.

“I think every game it doesn’t really matter the size of the man or the dog or however you want to frame it, but I think it’s just around the mentality of competing and competing at their best and being the best version. 

“We’ve done a lot of work around when we play against bigger teams, we’ve just got to be more clinical around our technique, but also just whatever our mass is,” Tiatia concluded.