THE Kingsholm post-match tunnel was a lot different to the one at Murrayfield almost a year earlier; this time the mood of the Newport Gwent Dragons players didn’t match their blue jerseys.

They had smiles on their faces rather than glazed looks as they clapped off their opponents before heading back out onto the Gloucester pitch to celebrate a famous European win with their supporters.

South Wales Argus:

A large travelling contingent outsang ‘the Shed’ and their celebrations would be heard long into the night, although a 12.45pm kick-off may have meant an evening. I’m sure some had that sober Sunday morning repeat viewing of Match of the Day with the odd pang of déjà vu.

Players posed for celebration shots with photographers on the pitch then posted selfies from the changing room afterwards.

Taulupe Faletau attempted to see his friends and family but was mobbed by supporters, signing autographs and smiling for pictures.

The South African trio of Rynard Landman, Sarel Pretorius and Brok Harris mirrored the West Indies’ ‘champion dance’, albeit a rather more cringeworthy effort than that of the ultracool Chris Gayle and stylish Dwayne Bravo.

The smiles were as big as they had been after the previous season’s stunning wins against Stade Francais, Newcastle and Cardiff Blues; joy made all the greater by it being in front of such a big travelling support.

Given that the Dragons are on a streak of seven defeat on the spin in the Guinness Pro12, the players deserved their moment in the West Country sun.

Yet now the dust has settled, such an afternoon adds to the frustration of what has been an incredibly challenging 2015/16. It shows what they are capable of.

The league has been as grim as Europe has been wonderful.

A tally of four Pro12 victories from 19 fixtures is unacceptable and losing bonus points – a Celtic League record of 10 – have provided little consolation. Lump a wad of cash on 0 on a roulette table and the ball falling the neighbouring 32 won’t soften the blow.

There is some mitigation; Hallam Amos and Tyler Morgan have made a huge difference since returning from injury and the likes of Jack Dixon, Andrew Coombs, James Thomas, Ollie Griffiths and Tom Prydie would have made a huge difference had they not been sidelined for the majority of the campaign.

But even with that list of absentees, the Dragons should have done better.

We can all see their potential and that’s what makes the underperformance all the more painful. Supporters are fed up at not getting closer to the light at the end of the tunnel year on year.

There have to be more afternoons like Saturday. The Dragons have it in them in one-off games and provide the odd excellent performance to provide hope but need to find consistency if they are to close the gap.

We’ve been told by the management team that they treat the imposters of triumph and disaster the same but the Kingsholm upset ensured a more convivial reception for chief executive Stuart Davies and Kingsley Jones at Monday night’s Q&A with supporters at Rodney Parade.

They outlined their plans for the future and it was made clear that without a whopping budget they are concentrating on the retention of bright young talent with the hope that they can break the cycle.

It was telling that when launching their push for fresh investment the Dragons used Amos and Morgan on the photoshoot, trying to catch the eye of possible backers by showing that two of Wales’ most exciting prospects are on the books.

It was a way of saying: ‘we’ve got the potential, help us make the next step’.

To make that next step the potential needs to be supplemented with quality and on that front the three other regions appear to be pressing ahead.

There have been no earth-shattering signings (although I feel loosehead Sam Hobbs is a good recruit) and none are in the offing.

The Dragons have a whopping big Faletau-shaped void in their squad for 2016/17 but if they can have a bit more luck with injuries and if youngsters can progress then it will be a much better campaign.

But if we are to enjoy occasions like Kingsholm on a regular basis then the board’s push for investment to supplement the exciting talent needs to bear fruit.

South Wales Argus:

THE following statement is in no way meant to put down the Dragons’ performance at Kingsholm but boy were Gloucester awful last weekend.

Cherry and Whites didn’t look like a happy bunch (nearby watering holes were full of talk of bust-ups in the camp) and they had little in their expensively-assembled armoury to actually trouble the men from Rodney Parade.

James Hook was loose, Richard Hibbard was outplayed by Elliot Dee, the excellent Matt Kvesic failed to thrive and barring Henry Trinder their three-quarters (admittedly deprived of Billy Twelvetrees, Jonny May and Charlie Sharples) looked like they’d be more at home in the English Championship.

Perhaps we have an inferiority complex when it comes to teams from the Aviva Premiership and Top 14; we have a tendency to build them up and presume there’s no chance of victory.

It works the other way and I have no doubt that Gloucester expected to roll over their Welsh visitors with ease. They thought that they would just smash the Dragons up front and stomp all over them on their way to a 16th successive Challenge Cup win and a place in the semi-finals.

It was similar at Newcastle last year; the Falcons underestimated their visitors and left themselves with far too much to do in the second half.

Gloucester and Newcastle are two cities not exactly associated with English arrogance but they had a haughty attitude more associated with a Twickers toff when it came to the Dragons.

‘It’s all about us, not them’ is a familiar soundbite from rugby players but you sometimes get the impression that opponents just highlight Taulupe Faletau as a dangerman, perhaps Amos and Morgan as well, then dismiss the Dragons.

Let’s hope World Cup-winning coach Jake White makes that mistake in Montpellier a week on Saturday but with a final in Lyon looming it’s unlikely that the Dragons will profit from being patronised.