Gavin Henson is excited by the first taste of Dragons derby “niggle” against fiercest rivals Cardiff Blues at a packed Rodney Parade.
After joining the Dragons from Bristol last summer the Fly Half has already gone up against two of his former sides, Blues and Ospreys this season.
However, defeat in Cardiff back in October means Bernard Jackman’s men are still chasing a first league derby win since a success in the capital three years ago and Henson says the atmosphere is ramping up in training ahead of the festive clashes.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been involved in them, so it’s nice to be back home,” said Henson, who played at full-back for the Blues against the Dragons in the 2011 festive derby at Cardiff City Stadium.
“The Blues is a massive one for this region, there’s a bit of niggle there and I can gauge that from the boys already.
“That’s the big one for us, we are looking forward to that one and then it’s nice to have the Ospreys at home as well (on New Year’s Eve).
“We’ve played against them away and hopefully we can learn from the mistakes and how we let ourselves down and put it right.
“I remember Swansea v Llanelli and they were great days, so I am looking to this one and seeing what the Rodney Parade crowd will be like. They have been great all season so far so with a full house it will be amazing.”
Henson is no stranger to Welsh derbies having plied his trade for three regions and knows the importance of keeping cool in the heat of such battles.
In 2002 he was dismissed for throwing Garan Evans into an advertising hoarding while playing for Swansea in their heavy defeat at Stradey Park.
He said: “I don’t have a very good track record going back to the Swansea v Llanelli days when I had my red card!
“These days I am older and a bit wiser, so hopefully I can keep a calm head and steer us in the right direction.
“You don’t want it to boil over but you want that edge to it, we all love that side of it with big hits going in and a bit of niggle.
“But the big thing for us is the result. We probably let ourselves down at the Arms Park and the Liberty Stadium, so hopefully we can put that right.”
Henson has already triggered a second year at the Dragons by passing the 10-game mark and he has impressed with some classy displays yet he believes there is still more to be seen from him in a Dragons jersey.
“I feel there is a lot more to come from me, I need to put in an 80-minute performance. It’s coming,” he said.
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