New prop ace Mesake Doge is loving life at Dragons – and believes his own battle with Leon Brown can bring the best out of the star duo.
Fiji international Doge made the move to Dragons in the summer from Brive and has quickly become a firm favourite with supporters in Newport.
The tighthead prop has clocked up six appearances so far – and has already bagged three tries – for the Men of Gwent after settling into his new surroundings.
And the 28-year-old, who lines up against Perpignan tonight back in France, is full of praise for his new home and eager to now bring success to Rodney Parade.
“I am settling in well and I am liking it in Newport - I live about ten metres from the ground,” he joked.
“It has times when it comes alive, but I also like the chilled vibe and it can be quiet. I am liking it very much in Newport.
“As a squad, we would like to win more,” he added. “We are not here to just participate, as a team we are here to try to win games.
“It hasn’t been easy, coming back from the autumn games, there has been a break and a break of momentum too with the boys. We are picking it up again.
“I love it here at the Dragons, the boys are good, and the coaching staff are really pushing us. Eventually we are going to rise up and get into that top level again.”
Doge and Wales international Brown have battled for the number three jersey in recent weeks, with the Fijian ace getting the nod later this evening at Stade Aime Giral.
And Doge is a firm believer that the pair can push each other to new heights.
He said: “Everywhere I go I love a challenge, so we are pushing each other.
“We are both international tightheads and playing at the same club, so pushing each other is the main goal. We can get the best out of each other rather than trying to just compete.
“I am trying to help him because he is younger than me and to show everything that I could for him to learn.
“He is doing certain things that I can learn off him too, so it is a pretty exciting challenge.”
Doge continued his own personal rich vein of from last weekend as he again crossed the whitewash – this time against Glasgow Warriors.
However, he laughs off any talk of being a natural born try scorer.
“I have been lucky,” he smiled. “The boys have been doing all the hard work to get me to the five-metre. I’m just fortunate to just get the ball over the line.
“The boys have been grinding - I’m the lucky one who gets to score!”
Doge admits he does not care who does the scoring tonight, as long as Dragons emerge with a vital win to kick-off the European bin in style.
And after a two-year spell with Brive, Doge has a crucial insight into the mindset of the French side.
“You know going into it that it is going to be a more direct game, they will have more focus on the set pieces,” he said.
“There are going to be a lot of big men running towards you, not so much into spaces but more looking to match the forwards.
“There is going be some sore bodies, but it will be a challenge the boys are ready for.
“I have never actually played at Perpignan,” he added. “In the two years I was at Brive they were in PRO D2, and they were coming back up.
“When I moved to the Dragons they finally came back up. I haven’t played there yet but I’m looking forward to it.”
I love it here at the Dragons, the boys are good, and the coaching staff are really pushing us. Eventually we are going to rise up and get into that top level again...
