THE defence stats spoke for themselves in a nightmare 2017/18 for the Dragons in the Guinness PRO14: played 21, conceded 672, tries against 94.

In each and every away game the Rodney Parade region's hosts helped themselves to a four-try bonus while Leinster and the Cheetahs left Newport with five points (as Edinburgh did Ebbw Vale and the Scarlets did Principality Stadium).

The Dragons were too soft, they shipped points too easily, they compounded mistakes, they bad choices, they were too passive.

When things go wrong it is inevitable that the heat will go on the coach and defensive guru Hendre Marnitz would have wanted the season to end sharpish when things were getting ugly post-Bordeaux-Begles in January.

The South African was appointed by Bernard Jackman last summer but was a victim of the Dragons firstly being hit by a glut of injuries and then placing such a heavy emphasis on youth.

It isn't fair to simply point the finger at Marnitz; the assistant was in the firing line thanks to his boss Jackman's decision to give teenagers a taste of pro rugby in a transitional year.

Nonetheless, the Dragons were frequently a shambles in defence last season and the consolation from those painful heavy defeats is that things can only get better on 2018/19.

The defensive struggles led to a summer coaching hunt, an ill-fated one that must have chipped away at the confidence of Marnitz.

The Dragons wanted to bring Shaun Edwards in as a consultant, working alongside Marnitz in a similar role to the one he did at Cardiff Blues last season where Richard Hodges was his protégé.

It seemed a done deal in May when Wales boss Warren Gatland talked about his defence coach working with both the Rodney Parade region and the Ospreys.

A few months later and the west Walians confirmed the rugby league legend's appointment, and that he would be working exclusively with them.

That leaves the Dragons picking up the pieces and after last week's loss to Northampton Jackman lamented their inability to afford the services of Edwards.

It's a situation that Rodney Parade chiefs will point to as proof that there is no Welsh Rugby Union favouritism at work, yet the saga is a slight embarrassment.

Surely Jackman knew what he had left in the pot before going after Edwards? The Wiganer was never going to work for a pie and a packet of mint balls.

They chased Edwards, failed to get him and now they will put their faith in a defence coach whose confidence must have taken a dent.

Jackman was swift to point out that the plan was for Edwards, arguably the best defence coach in the world, to work with Marnitz and not to replace him.

Outwardly Marnitz would have been welcoming the chance to work with someone who has been at the top of the Test game for a decade, and was hugely successful in club rugby before that, but inwardly he must have felt that the hunt was a sign his bosses have doubts over his ability to call the shots.

But I suppose that's professional sport and now it's up to the pleasant, polite and smiley South African, who makes a mockery of Spitting Image's 1980s ditty, to prove himself in his second season.

Thankfully, he has more tools at his disposal and the Dragons are going to have a bigger emphasis on defence and being nastier.

When the wheels came off in February, March and April, how Marnitz must've wished he had Nic Cudd out in the middle rather than on the treatment table.

The openside is a firefighter, a flanker who has made a career out of saving the day when his team is at peril in their 22.

After losing Cudd for the entirety of 2017/18 and Ollie Griffiths being limited to just 11 games, the Dragons will hope to have more jackal threat this term.

Not only that but they have brought in three players with the ability to change the momentum in a game.

Frequently last season it was a matter of time when the Dragons were pinned in their 22; if teams held onto the ball and stayed patient then they were sure to earn a five or seven-point reward.

Now they will hope that back row forward Ross Moriarty, Brandon Nansen or Richard Hibbard – along with usual suspects Griffiths and Jack Dixon – can come up with a big hit.

But the main change has to be the mindset, the Dragons have to foster the hunger for defence of a Shaun Edwards team without the man himself.

Marnitz doesn't come across as a bawler, he doesn't seem to have the intimidation factor of the stern Edwards (a man who is actually engaging and polite despite his gruff appearance).

The South African needs his players to take real ownership of the defence, for the likes of Griffiths, Dixon, Aaron Wainwright, Nansen, Joe Davies, Brok Harris to bring the intensity and discipline.

The Dragons have higher hopes for this season and want to dish out a few bloody noses.

After the botched bid to bring in Shaun Edwards, it would be terrific if Marnitz is the man to get the defence snarling. If he isn't then no doubt there will be another summer hunt for a coach in 2019.