Boss Dean Ryan has hailed the form of inspirational captain Harri Keddie – insisting the back row ace is leading from the front on and off the field.
Keddie was once again a star performer and leading light in the European Challenge Cup defeat to Gloucester at Rodney Parade.
The 25-year-old led for metres carried with 85 from 11, beat six defenders, put in 12 tackles, set up one try and scored another.
And his performances – not just last Saturday – have been highlighted by Director of Dragons Rugby Ryan who has been impressed by the way Keddie has moved his game on.
“He has been incredible for weeks. He was man of the match by some way against Gloucester,” said Ryan.
“He has the highest work rate of the side every week but he is starting to be smarter about how he uses that.
“I don’t think that he chases the game as he did in the past – he tried to look for work rather than being smarter.
“We spoke about letting the game come back to him and we are seeing the dividends with him getting the ball in open space more often.
“We have never worried about star names here,” added Ryan. “They must come up and match what he (Keddie) has been doing and Ollie Griffiths was another one that set the bar high.
“If he was fit then there might be a situation where not all our current Wales internationals would be in.”
Dragons now play six games in the United Rugby Championship run-in with a double-header against the Scarlets over the next fortnight.
And Ryan has revealed he is hopeful wing Ashton Hewitt could yet feature after a year out with a serious knee injury.
“Ash is getting there. We’ve got to get that right because it’s been a long wait and it’s not as easy route back,” added Ryan.
“We have to be patient and see how he progresses, but it will be great for us to have him back because we have lost a lot of strike power in Ashton.
We spoke about letting the game come back to him and we are seeing the dividends with him getting the ball in open space more often...
