THIS weekend Newport Gwent Dragons will attempt to end an annoying trend leading into yet another defining December.

Next month is a key one with a vital double-header against Worcester in the European Rugby Challenge Cup and two chances to end unwanted streaks in the Guinness Pro12.

They travel to Leinster looking to end an 18-game losing run away from Newport while on Boxing Day they make the short trip to Cardiff to hunt a first league derby success since winning in the capital on the same date two years ago.

It could be argued that defeats at the RDS, Sixways and Arms Park would not be the end of the world but a win or two (three would be greedy) could really give the season a shot in the arm given the encouragement that we have seen on the well-trodden turf of Rodney Parade.

The Dragons have produced just one shocker in Newport this season and that strangely meant the most deflating post-match feeling came after a win, when Zebre were beaten in round two of the Pro12.

There was feistiness in the losses to Munster and Glasgow – oh, that familiar lament about the small margins – and those performances have no doubt played their part in the current hot streak on home soil.

The differing manner of the three victories has been pleasing.

Brive in the Challenge Cup was the best display of the season with five tries and an excellent final quarter against a strong French side.

Connacht in the league was nervy with the boot on the other foot; this time it was the visitors that came strong at the death only for the resilient Dragons to hold on 21-16.

The Scarlets in the Anglo-Welsh Cup was professional to an extent. They made hard work of it but were pretty comprehensive winners thanks to an experienced bench and a red card to the visitors’ Jack Condy.

Punters haven’t had an awful lot to grumble about at Rodney Parade and fingers crossed they won’t be muttering as they head to the exits on Sunday evening.

And here’s the annoying trend that provides a note of caution about the time of year when decorations are being located in the loft and wacky office japesters are dry cleaning their festive jumpers.

In both 2014 and 2015 the Dragons had excellent Decembers with a clean sweep in the former (Bucharest twice, Zebre and Cardiff Blues) and three from four in the latter (Munster and Pau twice).

But two years ago they signed off for November with a loss at Glasgow while last year they were turned over by Edinburgh.

That 32-13 humiliation in the Scottish capital was on November 27… the Dragons can ill afford such a lamentable performance on the same date this time around, and it’s highly unlikely there will be one.

Confidence is growing in the camp thanks to their Rodney Parade exploits and they head into this weekend’s game as narrow favourites.

There are some nice selection headaches, particularly at hooker, back row and midfield, while they are playing some nice rugby and it’s not just flimflam from inside the camp about the desire to have a more enterprising approach.

Pat Lam was full of praise for the Dragons’ more ambitious intent with ball in hand when he conducted his post-match interviews in the Rodney Parade press room at the start of the month and last year’s Pro12 coach of the year was saying kind words to the Irish media, not merely playing a PR game to the Argus.

This week Rhys Thomas, who’s seen plenty in the game of rugby, stated that there is a feeling that the small jigsaw pieces are coming together and keeping their home streak is vital if they are to enjoy another big December and avoid being a jumbled mess heading into the New Year.

Slowly but surely the Dragons are building and a signing off for November with a success over Scots will give reason for cautious optimism leading into a busy block of fixtures.

South Wales Argus:

YOU only remember the result of a final unless it’s an absolute thriller… and it’s fair to assume that Saturday’s clash between Wales and South Africa won’t be a dazzling affair as they battle for the esteemed, ahem, Prince William Cup.

It will be blood and thunder between two teams who have spluttered in November, the hosts having recorded two uninspiring wins to go with an Australian hammering while the Springboks are in crisis after an abject 2016.

Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards was the one to label it a cup final (several times, in fact) at a press conference on Monday but it’s naïve to think that folk will only remember the outcome at Principality Stadium.

Doubts have been creeping in over some time about whether things have gone stale under the current coaching regime and the past month has done little to dispel them.

It was two years ago that Edwards was in spikey mood at a press conference when it was suggested that the woeful record against southern hemisphere sides was putting Warren Gatland under pressure.

That was in the week building up to the much-needed but rather dour 12-6 win against South Africa in Cardiff and a repeat is essential for caretaker boss Rob Howley.

But even if Wales end the autumn with three from four there have to be questions about whether the talent of this crop of players is being maximised.

They are a gifted and experienced group but are spluttering on the Test scene. That cannot be put down to a collective ‘bad day at the office’.

If Wales claim the scalp of the Springboks on Saturday then it deserves to be lauded given that just two Welsh teams have beaten them before.

But such a success wouldn’t lead to the questions posed after the meetings with the Wallabies, Pumas and Brave Blossoms no longer being pertinent.

Sporting organisations love a review but ‘a win’s a win’ must be banned when the Welsh Rugby Union sit down in the coming weeks.

The Six Nations presents an opportunity for Wales with a Rome date followed by England in Cardiff then Murrayfield.

“International rugby is all about winning,” tweeted injured scrum-half Rhys Webb after Japan but, after plenty of European success in recent years, there now has to be style as well as some substance.