Taylor Davies aims to silence the Munster crowd at Thomond Park on Saturday night and strike a blow for the hooker’s union.
The Dragons front rower will be looking to help Dean Ryan’s side gain a second away win of the season in the United Rugby Championship.
Dragons have won on Irish soil already this season - a hard-fought victory away to Connacht in October - and Taylor believes they are capable of producing another shock in a match that is live on S4C on Saturday night.
To do so, the details of the visitors’ game will have to be spot on against a Munster side who have won seven of their 10 league matches and lay fourth in the table with a game in hand on those above them.
Securing the nuts and bolts of the game plan will include a smooth functioning line-out.
And that is nothing new for Davies, who has had to get used to performing more regularly in front of big, hostile crowds since his loan move from the Scarlets last summer.
“As a hooker, when you’re about to throw in, you do get a lot of sledging,” smiled Davies.
“Sometimes it’s from players and sometimes from fans. You hear voices and often you don’t even know where they’re coming from. You just block it out.
“Everyone knows how Munster like to play and get the crowd behind them. They are very physical and like to dominate the set-pieces. It will be a big challenge.”
The 26-year-old is likely to feel the heat – and the volume - from the good folk of Limerick on Saturday evening.
It will certainly be noisier than on his last trip to one of Europe’s most intimidating grounds with the Scarlets last season, when the stands were empty because of Covid restrictions.
His previous visit, the season before, was also memorable for the wrong reasons as a torn hamstring ended his day’s work after just 90 seconds.
Davies is now hoping for better fortune this weekend and yet more valuable experience.
At the Dragons, he has already played nine times this season and believes the increased exposure to regular rugby has developed his game.
“I am enjoying the experience of being with the Dragons,” he said.
“It’s been great to have a different perspective on playing and a different style. It’s been different to what I was used to at the Scarlets and particularly the amount that I’m playing.
“At the Scarlets, I was tending to play only when the internationals were away. I have also learned a fair bit, technically in terms of scrums and line-out.
“Dean Ryan wants us to play in a positive way and it’s the way I want to play, with the ball in hand.
“There is a still a positive feel at the club, even though we haven’t won many games. The brand of rugby he wants to play will eventually be successful, I’m sure.”
S4C – Saturday: 5.00pm, Clwb Rygbi – Munster v Dragons.
Live coverage from Thomond Park of the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Dragons. English commentary available. K/O 5.15pm.
Dean Ryan wants us to play in a positive way and it’s the way I want to play, with the ball in hand...
