CHRIS KIRWAN: Moriarty has to lead charge to glory in Dragons' derby

Losing to Benetton wasn't a disgrace – the Italians are dark horses for the Guinness PRO14 play-offs – but the performance was a shambles.

"The harsh reality is that we didn't turn up," admitted lock Hill. "Individually we weren't good enough and our big players didn't step up, me included. We are buzzing to put that right."

They did just that, getting the win against Southern Kings in round two, but it will be much, much harder to right the wrongs if Cardiff Blues are celebrating in Newport on Saturday night.

This weekend is massive for the reign of Bernard Jackman with the derby presenting a golden opportunity for some tangible proof of progress.

It has been 21 games of misery since the Dragons last won against a Welsh rival in the PRO14 and they didn't get long to bask in the glory of that Boxing Day, 2014 success in the capital as the Blues swiftly turned the tables on New Year's Day.

Derbies are meant to be tense, nip and tuck encounters yet 12 defeats of that nightmare streak have been by a double-digit margin.

Last season's encounter with the Blues in Newport was one of the closer games, Jackman's side fighting back from 22-3 down to 22-17, but this time there is no margin for error, no consolation from being plucky.

This is a big chance to get the punters on board; supporters come through the turnstiles when a team is winning and the attendances this season have been disappointing (even the 'tickets sold' figures have been a little underwhelming).

After the pain of last season, fans want to see progress and they want big wins to celebrate, not just hard-fought successes against the likes of Southern Kings and Zebre.

To achieve that the Dragons have to be well-drilled but they also need their big players to produce the goods.

Hill is now an established Wales player and has to put in a performance to stay ahead of the fit-again Jake Ball next to Alun Wyn Jones, Elliot Dee has to buzz around with the energy that earned him the right to be Ken Owens' deputy last year, Ollie Griffiths needs to repeat his recent heroics and earn autumn selection.

The Dragons will badly miss the injured Hallam Amos and Ashton Hewitt, players who transform their back line, and need Rhodri Williams and Jordan Williams to provide a bit of magic.

But the main man who needs to stand tall is Ross Moriarty – a genuine stellar talent who has made a solid if unspectacular start to life at Rodney Parade.

The back rower has made an impressive 56 tackles in three games but is yet to run amok with ball in hand like he has with Wales. He has carried, and carried hard, but without being devastating.

Naturally it is up to 14 other Dragons to provide the opportunities but Saturday is an occasion when we need to see Moriarty channel the spirit of Sergio Parisse.

The Italy legend's ego means that he has to be the main man, he is desperate to be the hero, running back clearance kicks, trying the miracle pass and having the freedom to play his own game.

That won't be the case with Moriarty but he has arrived on a bumper contract, not far off 10 per cent of the total budget, to make the differences in big games.

Not since Taulupe Faletau have the Dragons had such a figure who can drag the rest of the team with him.

Moriarty's throwaway, and frankly ridiculous, comment about rugby "going soft" on BBC's Scrum V led to the Dragons number eight withdrawing from media duties on Tuesday.

Their stellar signing didn't play a part in the drive to sell a few more tickets for Saturday but he can put a few more bums on seats in weeks to come by leading the Dragons to a win that would make a big statement.

Moriarty can do that by being as brutal as ever, providing bang for his buck and showing that professional rugby still isn't anywhere near soft enough for the bodies of normal folk.

WHEN operating on a relatively meagre budget it would be negligent for a region to miss out on Premiership prospects, but the gambles all add up.

The Dragons have never been shy of taking a punt on club players, with mixed results.

Lock/flanker Andrew Coombs and hooker Lloyd Burns were incredible successes, going on to play for Wales, flanker James Thomas is currently a valuable member of the squad while wing Mike Poole was a cult hero only to be scuppered by injuries.

That fate was also suffered by combative flanker Darren Waters, while fitness also prevented forwards Ashley Sweet and Robson Blake from really having a go at their long shots after being given deals by Kingsley Jones.

Blaming the regions for a player not being picked up despite their exploits in the Premiership is easy but the situation can complex.

Would a teacher risk leaving a good job for a one-year punt as a professional rugby player? Other individuals actually like the work-life balance of the Premiership, picking up pretty hefty pay packets for two training sessions and a game a week.

There are a few rough diamonds out there but it is tough coming into a professional environment with increased demands on training and conditioning, plus the analysis work.

The Dragons have taken a couple more punts this season on centre Tiaan Loots and fly-half Jacob Botica after they led the charge for RGC.

It's low risk but there are only so many players that can be carried in a squad until it's deemed that their combined salaries add up to an established pro.

There can be value – although it is becoming harder to bridge the physicality gap as a forward – and the Dragons are doing their due diligence.

"We're always looking," said head coach Bernard Jackman after being asked about links to Merthyr's Kyle Evans.

"We're constantly looking for players who are performing well and some of it is for next year and some of it is for the year after. We're just trying to keep a tabs on who's out there.

"Kyle would be one of 10 or 11 players in the Premiership that we're actively tracking but that's all it is.

"I think that's just smart recruitment. You have to know what's out there. There’s nothing concrete, it’s just good business to be tracking people.”

If a player has not been given a crack, there's usually a reason for it. If they do want to be a pro then it’s up to them to keep knocking at the door and prove the scouts wrong.