Rio Dyer: Dragons desperate for derby delight versus Ospreys

The Rodney Parade club could do with a United Rugby Championship upset against their friends from the west (kick-off 5.15pm) after four defeats on the spin to start the season.

Dyer has scored in all three encounters with the Ospreys in Newport with a try in a Rainbow Cup defeat either side of stunning league wins.

The 23-year-old from Rogerstone announced himself with a superb display in 2020 after a late call-up to the XV, scoring a late try to level the scores before Adam Warren’s even later winner, then last season he was a key figure in the 32-25 triumph.

Dyer showed fast feet with a superb finish and then picked off a pass before racing away for a double at the death.

SCORE: Dragons winger Rio Dyer bursts through against the Ospreys (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“With the intercept, I just saw it in the air and it was a nice moment when I got my hand to it,” said the speedster, whose score was timely given the Dragons were down to 13 men and just seven points up.

“Getting a big win at home, there’s no better feeling, especially in a derby. It was a special time for everyone.

“We want to give the fans what they want. They come out in the rain, the snow, the cold to come watch us and giving back to them the results is important.”

Dyer will be tasked with providing a cutting edge for the Dragons, although the winger is in something of a try drought.

Rio Dyer in action for Wales at the World Cup (Image: Press Association)

He finished last season with three scoreless games, failed to cross in eight outings with Wales then didn’t get a sniff against Leinster in the rain when back on club duty last Sunday.

That doesn’t tell the whole story and Dyer has created plenty of problems with ball in hand on the international scene.

“It’s not just about tries. It’s defending and chasing kicks, not just the glitz and glamour,” said the World Cup star.

“I'm always trying to get in the game, I'm trying to score tries because that's what every winger wants to do, but it's not everything.

“I want to score tries, but it's a team game and you put the efforts in for the team. If a try comes, it comes, you are just looking for work as much as you can.

“Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't, it's just going out and looking for the work rather than being individual.”

Dyer is now the Dragons back who is highlighted by opposition defences after his international exploits.

He has also grown into a bigger figure at his club – “it’s more about trying to find my voice a little bit more now” – but there is still a desire to add to his game after making strides over the past year.

“Every day I'm trying to learn something new, that's the main takeaway, because I’m still a young player,” said Dyer, who profited from the intensity of the World Cup experience.

“There's still a lot to learn and at international rugby you can see that with people who've probably played 50-plus games.

“You can be found out so whether it is at Dragons or there, you learn every day. I love that, it’s part of rugby, and it's all about seeing what I can get better at and trying to perfect everything.”