Five things we learned from Newport Gwent Dragons v Glasgow

1: 22 failure (again)

Sorry to be repeating myself every week, but the Dragons are failing to show a cutting edge when close to the enemy line.

The term ‘red zone’ was coined in American Football, a sport where coaches talk about the difficulty of punching things into the end zone as things get more claustrophobic and frenetic.

The Dragons are being hindered by an inability to think clearly when close to that white line with an infuriatingly high error count meaning they all too often leave without three points, let alone five or seven.

They could do with a figure like Glasgow’s Josh Strauss to add some oomph but those already on the books need to improve their decision-making under fatigue and pressure. That is something that is hard to replicate on the training pitch in Ystrad Mynach.

2: Spirited second half opening

The way that the Dragons came out firing after their half-time oranges should give them reason to believe against the Scarlets next Saturday night.

The score by Sam Hobbs was exactly the sort of approach that is needed in the 22 – patience was shown, good decisions were made – while the Jack Dixon try was wonderful with Nick Macleod, Sam Beard and Hallam Amos setting the scene for an excellent power finish by the centre.

That they didn’t hold the lead for long was a disappointment, and Matthew Screech made a defensive howler to let prop Alex Allan race over, but the double showed the Dragons do have it in them.

3: Dangerous Dixon

The young centre from Newbridge is a wonderful talent but needs to take his game up another level if he is to break into the Wales squad on a regular basis.

He was up against a terrific player in Scotland’s Mark Bennett but led the charge for the Dragons with some typically strong runs (12 carries for 48 metres, according to ESPN) and trademark sturdy defensive work (eight tackles) while his finish was majestic.

Dixon knows that he needs to work on his handling and ‘cuter’ skills but the 21-year-old gives direction to his side and physicality to go along with the more elusive Tyler Morgan, Hallam Amos and Ashton Hewitt.

4: Back row quandary

Kingsley Jones is a former back rower and he will need to think long and hard about what to go with in Llanelli in his former position.

I believe that flanker Ollie Griffiths, who has had a few minor niggles, is a must if fit while Lewis Evans was terrific against Glasgow at number eight, carrying hard, smashing Warriors runners and also showing nice handling skills to shift the point of attack.

Nick Crosswell, blindside against the Scots, provides value for money as an overseas player – he is reliable, durable and versatile.

Openside Nic Cudd is excellent at the breakdown but not as valuable with ball in hand while number eight Ed Jackson made a strong start to the season with his carrying.

Harri Keddie is also in the mix after enjoying a first Rodney Parade outing in regional colours against Glasgow while James Thomas is another option.

My personal choice? Evans-Griffiths-Jackson, but it’s a nice position to be in.

5: Savvy Scots play the ref 

Last season then director of rugby Lyn Jones had a gripe about the Warriors’ charge down tactics being dangerous, risking injuring the scrum-half’s standing leg.

This time is was head coach Kingsley Jones feeling that the savvy Scots had been able to get away with murder at the contact area by Cardiff-born Irish official Andrew Brace.

“Every time Glasgow made a tackle the players were coming out of our side of the breakdown,” said Jones.

“It was only a second or so and it very smart on Glasgow’s part but I’m afraid it was too little bit quick for the ref and he didn’t grasp it.”

Rugby will always lead to gripes about refereeing but the Dragons have to also take some ownership on the field and deal with such things.

The roughhouse days are gone given the amount of cameras but there are still ways and means.