THE Anglo-Welsh Cup gives a chance for the next generation to experience senior rugby and it will be interesting to see how our young duo Leon Brown and Harri Keddie go at Leicester tomorrow.

They will be involved in our tournament opener in Leicester after being released from the Wales squad, who they have been training with to help in the preparations for their autumn internationals.

I managed to grab a quick word with Harri at training to ask him how he was finding things and what it was like and the first word he said was “intense”. It’s short and sharp with Wales – every minute counts and that’s what we have got to aspire to at the Dragons.

It will be interesting to see how Harri, who has played for us a few times, and Leon, who is set for his debut, go at Leicester and what they have learned from being in the international environment.

The coaches have freshened up the team but there is still plenty of experience in it and the Anglo-Welsh is really important for us because it can help improve our strength in depth.

Squads ensure success, not teams. Those coming into the XV will be determined to prove their point and take their opportunity.

It’s always good for coaches to have some selection headaches and having a few players fighting out for start spots is vital, as has been shown out wide.

We’ve lost Hallam Amos after he suffered a shoulder injury playing against Australia and it’s a blow to be without him because, as I’ve said before, he has been the form winger in Wales.

However, we are in a good position with Ashton Hewitt, Pat Howard and Tom Prydie fighting it out for starting spots and showing good form, with all three playing their part in a really good win against Connacht last week.

I had to watch the boys finish the job after being forced off in the second half with yet another calf injury; it was frustrating to go off when we felt comfortable and I’d have loved to have helped close out the game.

In the end we had to work hard to secure the win and it was a deserved one against a strong Connacht side.

It was a team performance with everyone playing their part and was just the sort of positive that we’ve needed. It was important to not only put the display in but get the win and I don’t want to jinx things, but it could be a big moment for us.

I’m not playing in Leicester but, even though there are a few changes, it’s important we maintain the standards we set against Connacht.

South Wales Argus:

IT was nice to catch up with a couple of familiar faces this week when having breakfast with Jason Tovey and Aled Brew at Gaffacino's in Ystrad Mynach.

I’ve known ‘Tov’ since he first joined the Dragons seniors at training as a 17-year-old and he has had to grow up a bit by living away from home in Edinburgh.

A change has done him the power of good and the same can be said for Brewy, who has been putting in some brilliant performances for Bath. It just goes to show that if you are happy off the field then it can transfer to on it.

After playing with them for so long it was good to catch up over another quality breakfast with Gaffacino's being a firm favourite with us Dragons boys.

They actually come into our training base to provide us with our porridge, poached eggs, tuna and what not.

An army marches on its stomach and the fine details matter – hopefully the Gaffacino's breakfasts will provide us with another one per center to help us on the pitch!