Boss Dean Ryan insisted his Dragons had to be critical of themselves after a series of missed opportunities against champions Leinster Rugby.
Dragons lost 35 -5 on the opening night of the new Guinness PRO14 season and Ryan was quick praise the hosts for a clinical show.
But by comparison he admitted there had been ‘open and honest’ in the away dressing room after spurned chancces ensured the game at the RDS was not closer on the scoreboard.
“I don’t think I’ve come here very often and been disappointed we missed an opportunity,” said Ryan.
“We had four or five line-outs on the five-metre line and came away with nothing which is credit to Leinster, but that’s exactly where we need to be better.
“If you stay in a really physical game and make it difficult for Leinster to take their chances, you have to take your own. That’s the lesson that will come out of today.
“There will be lots of positive messages, but we have to be critical of ourselves. We’ve been pretty open and honest about it in the changing room.
“I love their effort and the fact they threw everything physically into the game as that was right out of our comfort zone,” he added. “There is no doubting that.
“I’m always proud of them and I don’t set any targets about where they should be. Of course, we want to be better and if we’re going to do that the players have to solve some things themselves.”
Reflecting on the challenge his team faced from Leinster, Ryan added: “I think it was exactly what we were expecting. It was a level up in terms of pace, especially after the yellow card (to Jamie Roberts).
“There were some things we’ll need to look at and the physicality was enormous, but I thought we got to grips with things in the second half.
“We’ll come away from this disappointed with ourselves. If we want to test ourselves at this level we have to be better.
“I don’t think it’s just the line-out,” he insisted. “It’s about coping under pressure. That’s what we want to do and we have to be better.
There will be lots of positive messages, but we have to be critical of ourselves. We’ve been pretty open and honest about it in the changing room...
