COMPETITION has been fierce in the back row throughout my time at Newport Gwent Dragons but it shows that with a few injuries we can get a thin on the ground very soon.

Taulupe Faletau has left for Wales duty in the Six Nations and his fellow number eight Ed Jackson suffered a hamstring injury in training this week, joining Ollie Griffiths, James Thomas and Andrew Coombs on the sidelines.

That leaves me, Nick Crosswell, Nic Cudd and James Benjamin as the fit specialist back rowers, backed up by lock Rynard Landman, and I was struggling a bit earlier in the week with a bit of a sore shoulder and after a whack to the leg.

It just goes to show that a position of strength one week can suddenly become an area where you are stretched.

I suppose it is the nature of the job these days – and when it rains, it so often pours with the Dragons! Last year we had a similar situation with centres and then second rows, going from plentiful to minimal in a matter of weeks.

Rugby is a physical game full stop and every position gets tested with the front rowers suffering from sore necks while the contact area and the back row goes hand in hand.

Niggles and bangs are inevitable and that's where having strength and depth comes in handy with the ability to manage players and keep them fresh while also having real competition for places.

I guess that comes with investment and I am sure Lyn and Kingsley would like a few more players available to them so that they could have a bit more rotation at a time of the season when squads can easily feel jaded.

But these situations can also present opportunities for young players and it's up to them to grasp any chances that come their way.

I look back to when I was coming through and there were the likes of Colin Charvis, Joe Bearman, Michael Owen and Jamie Ringer and it was almost a waiting game to get the opportunity, and then you have to take your chance.

Harrison Keddie, who is with Wales Under-20s at the moment, and Josh Skinner have been training hard with us and they will want to impress if they can a chance.

The rest of us need to shine against Leinster tonight because we head into the Guinness Pro12 game on the back of a tough defeat to Sale in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

We've made it through to the quarter-finals but now face an away game at Gloucester after losing heavily in Salford.

It was just like Edinburgh in the semi-final last year when the good work to get to that stage was forgotten because we ended on such a sour note.

This time we haven't been knocked out of the tournament but it is a shame as it does feel that we have tainted a really good effort to make it through a tough group containing Sale, Castres and Pau, three strong sides.

It was a defeat that hurt badly but we can't afford to dwell on it with another big game coming up against Leinster.

It's good to be back at Rodney Parade. We look forward to playing there – I like playing at home in particular – and we know that we have to put in a big performance against a side who are also hurting.

Leinster got similar treatment to us when thrashed 51-10 at Wasps in the Champions Cup and their coaches will also be looking for a response.

They have obviously lost a fair few players to Ireland duty for the Six Nations and have some injuries as well but we know from experience not to underestimate them. Leinster's success in the past has come from having a strong squad, not just a strong XV.

A few of us have heading back into the classroom recently and will be combining our rugby preparation with homework after enrolling on an Institute of Leading and Management course.

I'm doing it to help with my work with LIFE Education around the schools of Gwent as well as in my coaching career while it will benefit Ross Wardle's work as a pharmacist.

Aled Brew, Rhys Thomas, Rynard Landman and Sarel Pretorius have also joined up and it should ensure we keep the brain cells busy over the next year or so.

It will be a bit manic cramming it all in but you can't underestimate the importance of preparing for life after rugby.