DEWI Lake is in exalted company after joining Ospreys legends Mike Phillips and Dan Biggar in being rattled by Rodney Parade.
The Dragons started their United Rugby Championship season majestically after burgling the spoils 23-21 in their derby against the Welsh Shield holders in Newport.
It was a result that looked highly unlikely when this summer’s Wales captain headed to the away dugout with his side leading 21-13 and in control.
With a grin on his face, Lake made a gesture to those on the Riverside Terrace that they are full of talk.
As a thrower to the lineout, the hooker should be more aware of the perils of going early and it turned out to be a clanger.
Lake’s name was being chanted after the final whistle by Dragons fans who were still in shock after seeing their side steal the spoils 23-21. He was rather more sheepish.
It should have been an Ospreys win courtesy of tries by centre Keiran Williams and wing Ryan Conbeer and 11 points from the boot of Dan Edwards.
Instead, it was the Dragons that claimed four points thanks to a cracking team try that was finished off by flanker Harri Keddie in the first half and replacement tighthead Luke Yendle’s score at the death, with Lloyd Evans slotting the simple match-winning conversion.
Here are the talking points from a thrilling derby at Rodney Parade…
FIGHTING TO CHANGE THE SCRIPT
For much of the afternoon it looked like a ctrl-V from last season would be order of the day for match reports.
The Dragons had their moments but were outplayed in the second half and the familiar theme of 2023/24 looked set to continue in the final quarter.
Make no mistake, the Ospreys should have killed this game off.
They failed to extend their lead beyond eight points after Conbeer’s score early in the second half and should have exploited the Dragons’ indiscipline.
That eventually led to James Benjamin being shown yellow by novice ref Ben Breakspear (who had a pretty good game), with the hooker a victim of others’ indiscretions totting up.
The 10-minute spell proved to be a pivotal one for the Dragons and they not only held firm but went on the attack as 80 approached.
A wise decision to take three points got them in bonus-point territory and helped them get towards 15 versus 15, then they got away with missing touch with a penalty.
From then on it was cool, calm decision-making as they hammered away at the line for Yendle – who will be keen to climb from fourth in the tighthead pecking order – to come up with the biggest moment of his career.
It is just one win but it was so important in terms of changing the mood.
Not since 2013 had the Dragons won their season opener and we all recognise that there are only so many realistically winnable games in the URC.
What do we want from the Dragons this season? Improvement in terms of wins and points, because we all know that the budget makes it tough to change the league position.
They won three times last season and are repeating last year’s win against the Ospreys means at least three more have to be found.
The belief that this success brings gives them a real shot at claiming some more scalps when the Lions, Sharks and Benetton come to Newport.
Meatloaf comes to mind for that block of games on home soil – ‘Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad’.
MORE TO COME
The pleasing thing about the win is that it gives the Dragons a platform for the season when they have so much more to come.
That is in part due to personnel issues and there will be much more dynamism in the 23 when Aaron Wainwright and Taine Basham return from injury, Basham possibly on Friday in Dublin.
Tongan back rower Solomone Funaki could as well if he lives up to the ball-carrying hype after signing this summer.
That being said, flanker Harri Keddie was relentless for the Dragons and was rewarded for a lovely supporting line when taking Matthew Screech’s offload for the first-half try.
The 28-year-old is a grafter and tough defender but there were also moments when you would have been forgiven for thinking explosive Ollie Griffiths was on the field because of the white scrum cap.
The Dragons showed flashes with ball in hand and Rio Dyer was given more chances to run than he was last season while his fellow wing Jared Rosser was also hungry for work.
Fly-half Lloyd Evans will improve after a few too many errors while trying hard to impress on debut but looks to be a good decision-maker and his half-back partner had a good afternoon.
Dane Blacker was a flop in 2023/24 and tried too hard at times to spark his season into life but he looks fitter and sharper. This was a lively display to build on.
There was also an impressive cameo from Aussie centre Harry Wilson, who carried impressively, showed good footwork and was prominent in the final play.
FREE HIT
The victory means that the Dragons can go and relish their Friday night date with Leinster when few will expect them to leave the Aviva Stadium with anything to show for their efforts.
Flanagan surely has to rotate his squad and hold something back for the three Rodney Parade fixtures on the spin against the Lions, Sharks and Benetton.
However, he will also be keen to build on the feel-good factor and players won’t want to hand their jersey to teammates.
Rhodri Williams, Harry Wilson, Steff Hughes, Rhodri Jones are starting contenders plus Steve Cummins and Taine Basham if fit enough.
The Dragons must have a real crack in Dublin but also show the same tenacity displayed against the Ospreys when backs were against the wall, something that was sorely missing on the road last season.
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