By Simon Thomas
Dragons coach Dai Flanagan said he was “super proud” of the character his players showed to secure a final play 23-21 URC victory over the Ospreys at Rodney Parade.
The game seemed done and dusted when the visitors led 21-13 three minutes from time with their opponents down to 14 men following a yellow card for hooker James Benjamin.
But Flanagan’s charges made light of their numerical disadvantage as they dug deep to earn a penalty which new fly-half Lloyd Evans slotted to set up a grandstand finish.
Then, in the 84th minute, replacement prop Luke Yendle burrowed over after a succession of forward carries, with 13-point Evans slotting the match-winning conversion from in front of the posts.
Dai Flanagan has revealed the secret inspiration behind Dragons' remarkable last-gasp win over Ospreys – boxing great Joe Calzaghe.#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/Ihk9jUoQXR
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) September 22, 2024
It was the first time the Dragons had claimed a victory on the opening weekend of the league season since 2013 and the celebrations both on and off the field were suitably euphoric.
Flanagan commented: “I thought the character to pull it back was excellent and it’s something we can really build on. I am just super proud of the group.
“The game looked like it was going away from us, but we had a clear plan.
“The problem solving and having the clarity in what we needed to do in that last play, that is real maturity from us.
“We spoke in the week about going 12 rounds. I might have to change that to six rounds, because I don’t think I can go through that again!”
https://twitter.com/PremSportsTV/status/1837523255801888793
Ospreys coach Toby Booth said: “We grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory.
“I thought we were the better team and I don’t mean any disrespect by that.
“When you get somebody on the canvas, you have to knock them out and we didn’t do that.”
Ospreys full-back Jack Walsh – the Player of the Match – added: “There’s a sense of frustration. We controlled most of the match pretty well, but we just didn’t close it out.
“Our accuracy at the end let us down. The Dragons are a quality side and if you give them easy territory, they are going to take it and they made us pay.”
https://twitter.com/PremSportsTV/status/1837486430735511987
Turning to the other Welsh teams, fly-half Callum Sheedy produced a BKT URC Man of the Match display on his competitive debut for Cardiff, setting up the opening two tries in the 22-17 bonus point victory over Zebre at the Arms Park.
Coach Matt Sherratt said: “I thought Callum started really well with two assists. In a fairly hectic part of play, he looked pretty cool. Time kind of stood still a little bit and he picked the right option. He showed some moments.”
As for the Scarlets, they came tantalisingly close to a memorable victory over Benetton out in Treviso.
https://twitter.com/BBCScrumV/status/1837869463527391403
With just two minutes to go, they led 20-15 thanks to a superb solo try from teenage centre Macs Page and a lineout maul touchdown from South African flanker Jarrod Taylor.
But, after incessant pressure from the hosts in the dying minutes, Fijian wing Onisi Ratave crossed for his second try, which presented fly-half Jacob Umaga with the opportunity to win the game.
But Umaga’s touchline conversion went to the left of the posts and it was honours even at 20-20, with a draw being the least Dwayne Peel’s Scarlets deserved for their stirring effort.
https://twitter.com/S4CRygbi/status/1837589487141994739
