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'With the current resources we've got, we're struggling to cope at this level'

Dean Ryan (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Dragons Director of Rugby Dean Ryan says the WRU owned region isn’t resourced well enough to compete in the United Rugby Championship.

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Last night Glasgow Warriors claimed a relatively comfortable 5-try victory over the Dragons in Scotstoun, with Glasgow back row Ryan Wilson saying they were targeting the game as a potential 5-pointer going into it.

Ryan left the RFU for the Dragons in 2019, having previously worked with the region as a rugby consultant in 2012.

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    In his first season the Dragons the Newport side won five games in the league, equalling their 2018/19 tally and they made it six wins in 2020/21 season. However, fortunes have taken a major dip in the inaugural URC, with just a single win to their name so far this season.

    “I don’t think we can hide away from it – with the current resources we’ve got, we’re struggling to cope at this level of game,” Ryan told Premier Sports following the defeat to Glasgow. “At the start of the season when we had everyone on deck but now we’ve lost a few, we’re finding that difficult.”

    “I don’t think effort is something that’s really up for questioning.

    “We were well beaten in the first half hour of the game again and it was a challenge for us to stay together in that second half because we could implode trying to get back into it.”

    The Welsh side made seven changes to the matchday squad ahead of their visit north, but Ryan seemed to suggest some of their personnel were simply outmatched.

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    “As always, we’ve got to try and support this group. The current resources we’ve got at the Dragons, the strategy that gives us those resources means that we have to put some guys out there who it is right up against.

    “My job is to keep that stable and keep supporting them, and I will do that. I didn’t think we were that close today.”

     

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    P
    PM 31 minutes ago
    Why Henry Pollock's x-factor could earn him a Lions Test start

    Nick,

    I am a long suffering England fan, who has had to endure watching 4 years of dull rugby, poor selections and painful defeats. Steve Borthwick talks about GPS and picks squads by numbers and then we put in a poor performance on the pitch - it’s been a consistent trend.


    Something changed in the Six Nations and we totally changed our style (literally overnight) and played some really good footie, which finally felt like positive rugby for a change.


    Genge has regained his pore-Covid form and is looking back to his best and is head and shoulders above Porter.


    Chessum has had a good year and hasn’t played a poor International game this season.


    Tom Curry was outstanding in the 6 Nations but they have been playing him at 6, wheras he is better at 7 and is lethal at the breakdown.


    Tom Willis was brought into the starting team at 8 and has been one of the best England players over the last year, who should have been on this Lions tour at 8. Earl had his best game since 2020 last week - not sure 1 game warrants Lions selection over a poor combination side and he is certainly second choice for his club 7 country behind Willis.


    Pollock will be a good player but like all young emerging players, he is inconsistent and can go quiet in games, which is why Curry should be the starter at 7. He brings energy to games, which is why he is good from the bench but there is an argument to say he is the 5th best England openside (Curry x2, Underhill & Earl are currently better) but will improve over the next 5 years. We just need to stop the media building him up for a fall, let him play and develop and you will see a sensational Henry Pollock for the Lions in 4 years time.


    Lions will be too powerful over 80 mins, so doesn’t really matter who they pick. Just please don’t put too much hype on Pollock. His 20 mins of International rugby going into this tour were positive but the media caused a frenzy and no other player would be selected on this basis.


    Let’s enjoy the rugby and give Pollock the space and time he requires.

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    LONG READ Why Henry Pollock's x-factor could earn him a Lions Test start Why Henry Pollock's x-factor could earn him a Lions Test start