THE Dragons endured a 49-6 hammering at Munster in the Guinness PRO14 on Friday. Here are five things from the Cork clash…

1: No positives

This season has provided some encouragement even if results haven’t gone the Dragons way, but there was nothing good to come from Cork.

Players were given the chance to impress but nobody did. Not one individual was able to leave the field thinking that their stock had risen.

At least they have the chance to put it right in the Anglo-Welsh Cup against Northampton on Saturday because injuries and Wales calls means this is all that Bernard Jackman has at his disposal.

The under-23s have an excuse but there are a handful of senior figures who need to show some leadership at Franklin's Gardens.

2: Basics go wrong

The Dragons want to play an expansive style under Bernard Jackman but it still starts up front.

The front five was without Wales hopefuls Leon Brown, Elliot Dee and Cory Hill while loosehead/tighthead Brok Harris was on the bench.

It showed with the lineout wobbling throughout and scrum marched back. There was just no platform to play off.

3: Power game

Munster were without the likes of Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander and Tommy Donnell but could call on Robin Copeland, the former Cardiff Blues number eight who ran amok.

The Irish province consistently won the battle of the gain line and the Dragons pack looked incredibly lightweight. It was a struggle to make the gain line on every carry.

Perhaps that’s understandable given the back row injury crisis that led to youngster Aaron Wainwright and new boys James Sheekey and Ben Roach getting a crack in one of the toughest of venues.

However, expect some incomings at Rodney Parade next season to add more bulk to the pack.

4: Learn from it

‘Learn the lessons’, cue roll of the eyes after banal rugby speak.

It’s one thing when the saying is applied to someone with a number of games under their belt but another when it’s regarding a player at the start of their career.

Right from the off Munster piled the pressure on Wales Under-20s full-back Will Talbot-Davies and wing Jared Rosser with their kicking game.

Wainwright and Sheekey were hammered by the strong running while lock Joe Davies was put under the pump then fly-half Arwel Robson came off the bench late on for a first game in the PRO14.

Munster away is an unforgiving place and the younger players in the squad were given a harsh lesson. Hallam Amos is all the better for tough experiences in the past, his burgeoning teammates need to follow his lead.

5: A welcome break… but then Dublin

The focus is elsewhere for the next fortnight and few people will give two hoots what happens in the Anglo-Welsh Cup against Northampton (away) and Scarlets (home).

While the Dragons want to win, it is a tournament that isn’t quite as intense and allows the squad to take stock a little.

Some batteries need to be recharged, some niggles need to be shaken off, some players have to start their comeback trail. Others need to impress.

Then after Franklin’s Gardens and Rodney Parade in the development competition comes the Royal Dublin Society in the PRO14 and a tough encounter with Leinster on the eve of Wales’ Test against New Zealand.

I’d love to be proven wrong but I can’t see the Dragons winning in the Irish capital.

However, they need to be much, much better at the RDS than they were at Musgrave Park so that they can return to Newport and clashes with Ulster, Enisei-STM and Newcastle with a spring in their step.

Injuries mean that the squad won’t differ greatly from the one that took to the field last night.

Players need to improve, and improve quickly. A repeat of Cork in Dublin is not acceptable.