IT says a great deal about the strength in depth of Newport Gwent Dragons in certain positions that Hoani MacDonald is struggling to secure a place in the side.

The New Zealander, a Maori international, was one of the successes of the team last season whether at lock or blindside flanker.

In fact, he missed only two of the 21 games the Drgons played after his arrival at the end of October, impressing with his line-out ability, ball handling skills and general mobility.

But he injured his shoulder in the process and an operation during the close season meant he made a delayed start, by which time the two positions he occupies with equal ability were pretty much filled.

At lock the Luke Charteris-Adam Jones partnership was complemented by the arrival of former Wales player Rob Sidoli via Bristol and Cardiff Blues while at blindside Dan Lydiate was really establishing himself.

“I can hardly get a look-in,” he admitted this week ahead of tonight’s Heineken Cup game against Glasgow at Rodney Parade.

“The locks are all playing well and Dan is playing out of his skin. Tom Willis is a really good captain who leads by example, very professional and keeping everyone in the same direction, but everyone respects Luke who leads by example as well and doesn’t leave anything out on the field.”

MacDonald doesn’t believe the presence of a number of New Zealanders in Wales is having any adverse effect, in fact, he says it’s helping.

“I guess the reason why we’re here is to bring something different to the table,” he said. “I like the atmosphere here, everything is gelling and it creates a rugby atmosphere which is why I play the game, the noisier the better and if anyone gets intimidated by that they shouldn’t be out on the paddock.

“But it’s been different from what I’ve experienced back home. Here it’s a more forward orientated game, there’s not as much throwing the ball around and the whole home game thing is a different philosophy.

“When you play away, if you get a losing bonus point you’ve done pretty well, I’ve heard this with other competitions that the home games are the bankers and the away games are the bonus point ones, whereas I’ve never gone in thinking we were going to lose.

“But it’s really good seeing how other teams operate. Gloucester last week was a lot different from when we last played there (he watched it as a spectator as he had only just arrived in the UK).

“I think we’ll be in for a tough day at the office when we play Glasgow in the Heineken, but if we keep things going to plan we’ll be fine.

“But our exit strategy and our kicking game needs to be right or we’ll put ourselves under a lot of pressure.

“Glasgow is a massive game, we know we lost an opportunity last week which was most unfortunate, but I still think we can do quite well in the Heineken Cup.”