Boss Dean Ryan challenged his Dragons to get smarter in order to take back control of games after they were beaten 24-10 by DHL Stormers at Rodney Parade.
Dragons had led the United Rugby Championship clash at the break courtesy of a try from full back Josh Lewis and the boot of Sam Davies.
But the South Africans roared back in the second period and after dominating large periods of territory a brace of tries from Leolin Zas saw them wrap up the victory.
Ryan praised the manner in which his side went toe-to-toe with a physical Stormers outfit and for rolling the dice late on trying to snatch a draw before the visitors broke away to seal the win.
However, he admitted that for the second time this season on home soil his side had needed to break a period of dominance for the opposition.
“We struggled to get any platform in the second half after going in at half-time feeling if we kept the multi-phase game going then they were struggling,” he said.
“They spent all their time trying to slow the game down and keep us down. That second half they got us locked in and we couldn’t break that cycle.
“When we did get chances, I always felt we were trying to snatch at them, rather than take those moments with a bit more patience.
“We are disappointed. What I wanted was a win and we had a strong position to go on and win that.
“It’s been two games now, with Ospreys also, when we have got to be smarter about how we break that cycle when it goes against us.
“I liked us and how we played,” added the Director of Dragons Rugby. “It doesn’t always come with good outcomes, but we were physical.
“Who would have thought when they introduced the Stormers that the Dragons would have them on the rails at half-time.
“That is where we are. There is massive disappointment in the changing room, but we have got to keep working to get smarter.
“We’ve got to work out how we break that cycle and how we take control of games like this when we are in it.
“People won’t want us to play fast, they will want to slow it down. We have got to challenge referees to speed the game up.”
There is massive disappointment in the changing room, but we have got to keep working to get smarter...
