BERNARD Jackman believes the Dragons’ Wales contingent could have helped earn a consolation from their Guinness PRO14 trip to Glasgow – but that he has to use his stars wisely.

The Rodney Parade suffered a 35th successive league loss on the road when they were downed 29-13 at Scotstoun Stadium.

Centre Adam Warren scored their try and defensive spirit meant that they were in with a chance of a losing bonus until the Warriors’ fifth try with three minutes left.

Jackman left captain Cory Hill and his fellow Wales internationals Ross Moriarty and Ollie Griffiths at home in order to keep them fresh for Saturday’s derby with Cardiff Blues in Newport.

The head coach has no regrets despite feeling they would have made a big impact in Glasgow.

“If you put them in the side then there would have been a cracking chance of getting a bonus point,” said Jackman.

“But it’s a case of longevity and keeping the rest of the squad involved; it was important that Nic Cudd got another chance, that Tavis Knoyle got a game, that Brandon Nansen got a start, we needed to rotate the props.

“The challenge for us is to be able to go away from home and get points while rotating the squad a little bit without the vast changes of last season.”

The Dragons were hammered 52-10 at Leinster in round three but pushed the Warriors harder without reward.

“We put a massive effort in, I am really proud of the shift that the players put in,” said Jackman.

“In the last couple of minutes we were in touch of a losing bonus point and we just needed to get down there and force something. That’s big progress from Leinster, when we were well beaten.

“I am really proud of the effort and we have got way more depth this year. We made Glasgow work for it and that’s the challenge for us – to be hard to beat first before we start winning away, particularly somewhere like Glasgow, a formidable side with a great record.

“We made it difficult for them but it was a game would should have got a losing bonus from. That’s disappointing but there were definitely positives.

“We wanted to make progress from Leinster and we definitely did at a difficult place to come. We defended much better.”

Hooker Richard Hibbard faces a fitness race to be fit for the Blues clash after injuring his knee attempting to make a tackle in the opening stages while the initial prognosis is that fly-half Arwel Robson will face longer out with an ankle injury.

Rhys Lawrence, a summer signing from Ealing Trailfinders, could be Elliot Dee’s back-up at the heart of the front row while Jacob Botica, who arrived from RGC, has been pulling the strings for the A team in the Celtic Cup.