Ryan calls for fast start to shake off quarantine rust

PREVIEW… Benetton v Dragons Today. Kick-off 4pm, Stadio Comunale di Monigo

By ROB COLE

THE DRAGONS are back after a two week period of Covid quarantine and director of rugby Dean Ryan is hoping they will be neither hesitant nor stale.

He certainly can't afford for his side to be either in Italy against a Benetton Treviso side that will be similarly reduced by international calls.

With only one win from four games to date in Conference A the Dragons are already 30 points behind the unbeaten leaders, Leinster.

Having missed two weekends of action, as well as a fortnight of training, Ryan is hoping the relief of getting back to normal will carry his team through what is going to be a very tricky 80 minutes.

“This time the lockdown
has been really difficult,”  Ryan said. “We were looking to get some momentum and then we found ourselves being quarantined at home, which was difficult for everyone.

“There was a feeling of relief coming back in and now everyone just wants to get back to playing. This week has been trying to get back to some form of normality.

“Everyone is fit and raring to go but there is a real danger that we return and are a bit hesitant. I'm hoping the enthusiasm will help us override that and any feeling of staleness.

“We know that on the horizon are the Heineken Cup matches and the return of players from international duty, so it's a crucial period for us. We need to build a bit of momentum to take us into Europe and the Christmas derby matches.”

Having been beaten by three of the four Irish provinces in their recent matches, Ryan, right, has asked his players for a better start to their games forward.

Against Ulster they had con-ceded bonus point by a the break and conceded four tries in Leinster within 55 minutes.

“When played the Irish sides we conceded very quickly and it became difficult to stay in a contest. We've got to be more competitive at half-time,” he added.

Ryan has given a vote of confidence to the team that played in the last game against Munster, with the only change coming on the bench.

Joe Maksymiw and Jared Rosser are drafted into the replacements and Ashton Hewitt will make his 50th appearance.

Pipped at the death by the Ospreys in Swansea last weekend, when they lost 24-22, the Italians will be hoping to avoid a clean sweep by the Welsh regions and looking for their first win of the season.