NEWPORT Gwent Dragons coach Chris Anderson, pictured, insists he will do it his way on the opening day of the new rugby season.
The former Australia rugby league coach has to wait eight days before his new team get into action against Cardiff Blues.
But the Celtic League season starts tonight with Neath-Swansea Ospreys taking on Munster at St Helen's, and champions Llanelli Scarlets facing Borders at Galashiels.
Anderson will take a close look at the Blues in their match against Leinster in Dublin on Sunday, but he insists he is not going to change his style now.
The Wales management have this week called for an integral approach involving the national team and the regions.
But Anderson insists on standing outside the square and defends his lifelong rugby league background. "I'm not critical of them, but I've done it my way for the last 25 years," he said. "They've got their way of doing things and I've got mine.
"I don't want the regions to be all doing the same thing, there's different ways and we can all learn from one another.
"I'm trying to get my own house in order first. I come from a different background and there's more than one way of skinning a cat.
"There are 12 rugby league teams in Sydney and they all train a bit differently. But there's not a right way and there's not a wrong way, there's different ways.
"People are always a bit suspicious of someone with new ideas because it's out of their comfort zone, they are not used to it."
Anderson can't wait for the real business to start after putting the players through his training regime regardless of the Dragons' three friendlies.
"I'm looking forward to it, it's what we're here for. The pre-season is all bull, now the business starts, we'll take no prisoners from here," he said.
"It's what we're all about, we've had a hard pre-season, which is part of the method in my madness. We've been doing good, hard training, putting the jelly beans in the jar, we'll take them out as we go along.
"We've controlled the games pretty well, but we've had a couple of defensive hitches and we've got things to work on. But we're getting there, it's a different sort of fitness.
"The win against Ulster was good for the squad and for me, it showed the dividends from the work we did." Anderson will give the squad the weekend off, indulging in his favourite pastime of golf before getting down to his first real selection, on which he refuses to be drawn.
He accepts there will be strong competition for places in some positions, but says: "The players will sort it out themselves."
l Percy Montgomery is due back in this country next Thursday after his exploits for South Africa this summer. l The Dragons are enhancing their training facilities by adding to their gymnasium at Rodney Parade.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article