ROBIN DAVEY SAYS: Worst could be behind Dragons

12:14pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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IT could be, it just could be that the first green shoots of a real recovery are appearing for Newport Gwent Dragons at the end of what has been another roller coaster season.

There is nothing like going out on a winning note and after a dismal run of eight games without a win (seven defeats and a draw) the Dragons suddenly closed the season out with back-to-back victories.

They beat an admittedly way below strength Ospreys team, though none too convincingly, then they positively shot out of the blocks with an electrifying performance against a Leinster team who had thrashed them the week before to clinch the Magners League title.

Where on earth did that come from? Why on earth didn't the team show that kind of form earlier? Just a couple of questions that went up after such a terrific performance.

Four tries and a bonus point in 20 minutes against the champions, who would have believed it? Not only that, but it was the fastest bonus point of the season by any team ... from the Dragons, who had previously had difficulty crossing the whitewash at all.

Andrew Hall, Phil Dollman, Luke Charteris, all giving by far and away their best performances of the season.

More promise from Jason Tovey, more excellence from Colin Charvis. Was Brian O'Driscoll on the field?

Obviously that has give real cause for optimism as the team break up, disappear on holiday while some leave for good and then the basis of next season's team regather for pre-season - bolstered by the arrival of a few New Zealanders.

Sounds good doesn't it? On top of that the Dragons have just announced a new frontline sponsor, the best sponsorship they've had, a two year-deal worth six figures a year. So someone out there has faith in them!

And then there is the Rodney Parade redevelopment into a £40m, 15,000 seater stadium with state-of-the-art facilities including a badly needed training barn, while the whole site will be rebuilt, worth a total of £100m.

Planning application has now gone in and given that all parties have been working together and that the council have thrown their weight behind it there is no reason to believe it won't all go ahead.

The first brick could even be laid before the end of this year, with the first phase due to be completed by 2010 taking in the family stand and Argus Terrace areas.

The actual rugby won't be affected because it's a phased development, and in fact three teams will be playing at Rodney Parade while work is carrying on - the Dragons, Newport and Bristol, who are ground sharing while the Memorial Stadium is being redeveloped.

So neutrals here who want to see some of the best players and best teams in the world will be able to watch top derbies involving Bristol, Bath and Gloucester, Mike Ruddock's reviving Worcester and Wasps and Leicester.

So, dare I say it, those green shoots of recovery are indeed in evidence and those who are saying the Dragons will still be the Cinderellas of Welsh rugby are being unduly pessimistic.

The Dragons, in fact, ended up only narrowly behind the Ospreys and Llanelli Scarlets and would have ended up ahead of them had it not been for the bonus points system. Some Cinderellas!

I have been among the Dragons' biggest critics and mid-season felt they were even headaing for oblivion, but you have to believe now that the worst could be behind them and the future is far more positive.

On the national front the season has been even more incredible, from the depths of the World Cup exit to the heights of the Grand Slam, all in six months.

It was all doom and gloom there, too, back in October when Wales shambolically crashed out of the World Cup at the hands of Fiji and coach Gareth Jenkins was sacked almost on the spot. But he was replaced by Warren Gatland who brought Shaun Edwards on board in a double master stroke, and the progress of the team shocked even them.

They were anticipating a mini-revival for sure, but even they could not have expected Wales to go all the way to the Triple Crown and Grand Slam, with the likes of Shane Williams, Martyn Williams and skipper Ryan Jones the lynchpins.

Now Wales face the challenge of taking on world champions South Africa in their own back yard, and unfortunately have been hard hit by injuries with both scrum halves Mike Phillips and Dwayne Peel ruled out by injuries as well as Martyn Williams, Gavin Henson and Lee Byrne.

That's a pretty hefty withdrawal list and at the same time it appears that the Springboks have resolved their internal difficulties so players of the calibre of Bryan Habana and Bakkies Botha will be available.

So it's going to be a tall order for Wales, especially as the two Tests will be played at altitude as well. But it says something for the state of the game here now that the Springboks are at least wary and that Wales travel in some confidence.

You wouldn't have said that at the turn of the year, and nor would you have said that prospects for the Dragons would take a turn for the better as well.