Maddocks: Dragons have to get game-breakers in play

The Rodney Parade region have made a steady start to the season with victories against Zebre and Glasgow and losses to the Irish trio of Munster, Connacht and Leinster.

They travel to Edinburgh on Friday with the task of inflicting a first home loss of the campaign on Richard Cockerill's side.

Four of the Dragons five games have taken place in testing wet conditions and seven of their 13 tries came against Zebre in dry Parma.

They scored a cracker of a consolation through Owen Jenkins with the final play in last Friday's 50-15 loss to Leinster in Dublin and the challenge is to pose more of a threat.

"I'm from west Wales so I want to play the game expansively and get the ball in hand as much as possible," said Maddocks.

"Boys like Sam Davies, Ashton Hewitt, Jordan Williams want the ball in their hands and we need to get it to them as often as we can, because they can do things that you can't coach and have that ability to do things from nothing.

"It was raining against Glasgow but it was pleasing that at half-time we talked about the edges of rucks and then got it to Ashton, who went right up to the sticks from a break and then we scored.

"Ashton is a talented individual and is one of the players in the backline who can create from nothing. It's the same with a couple of others – when given half a chance they can cause some damage."

Maddocks arrived from Bath in the summer of 2018 to work under Bernard Jackman and then was assistant to caretaker boss Ceri Jones in the second half of last season.

Now he is working under former England forward Dean Ryan, who is keen on his management team developing the decision-making of the players.

"It's always different and this is my third boss in two years! Every one has brought something different and Dean has a new slant on stuff," said Maddocks.

"He very much wants the boys to take ownership and take responsibility, it's up to us as coaches to lead and guide them to the best that we can.

"We've had a couple of falls but all Dean asks is that we learn from them, that the guys improve and implement what they have learnt in future games."

The Dragons end the first block of the PRO14 at Murrayfield before going into European Challenge Cup encounters with Castres (home) and Enisei-STM (away).

Maddocks believes there is reason for encouragement from a solid start to life under Ryan.

"We have played pretty much all teams from the play-offs early doors," he said. "Munster, Connacht, Glasgow and now Leinster and Edinburgh.

"We knew that it was going to be a tough opening block but Dean has driven the message in training that as long as we keep learning that's ok."