Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan believes dealing with the fall-out from the Dean Ryan situation will do him good in the long run.
Flanagan continues to lead all rugby matters at the region, with director of rugby Ryan absent amid reports that he is being sacked from his job. The 36-year-old former fly-half, who came on board from the Scarlets in June, has taken on the responsibility for all duties, fronting up to the media, as well as preparing the team for games. He was the man in the spotlight again today as he appeared at the Dragons’ press conference ahead of this weekend’s URC meeting with the Sharks at Rodney Parade.
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Before the session began, he made it clear he would be giving very similar replies to any questions on the Ryan situation and that he wouldn’t be able to say any more than he did last Sunday, when he guided the region to a memorable 23-17 victory over Munster. But he did answer all the questions put to him and gave something of an insight into what the past ten days or so has been like for him.
“I have never role-played this in my head, if I am honest. I am quite an optimistic individual. I see the good in things because that’s how I believe you should see things,” he said.
“There is a special bunch of people here who are really connected and fight for each other quite hard. That’s what is exciting me. Personally, every day is a learning day, as the saying goes. Some days you learn a lot more than others. I am quite level headed and I have tried to be composed and consistent around everything I have done. I am sure, in due course, this will do me good.”
Reflecting on last Sunday, he said: “It was a big learning curve for me personally. Leading on many fronts during the day, with you guys in the media, personally with the group, but also the club and the region itself.
“It was a really good opportunity for me to learn and to see what the future could be for me if one day it goes that way.”
Outlining the current situation at the region, he said: “I am leading all rugby matters, the same as last week.”
Asked if he expected the situation regarding Ryan to be resolved soon, he said: “The club will make a decision in due course and make a statement. I’m here to talk about the game on Saturday and the game just passed.”
The situation with Ryan developed after he publicly berated the Dragons players following the 44-6 loss to Edinburgh in their opening game of the URC season, questioning their work-rate and desire.
Asked about those comments, Flanagan said: “No-one has really spoken about that, which is superb. As a group, the actions they have given are as if we are just ploughing on. The players have been superb. They have gathered round each other.
“We are all emotional after games in certain different ways and some of us have got to stand in front of the camera.”
Speaking more about the victory at home to Munster last weekend, Flanagan said: “It was quite an emotional day around Rodney Parade for many people, the first home win for a long time.
“It showed me what Rodney Parade should be. One thing we do in Gwent better than anyone else, I firmly believe, is we work, we fight for each other. If you look at the mining and steelwork background, people from this area are tough and we need to be tough. I like to think teams come here from now and know we are tough.
“We have shown what we can do. Nobody did it for us. We turned up, we fronted up, we took our opportunities when we needed to and showed a style of play that’s hopefully going to suit us going forward.”
Flanagan says the challenge now is to back up that display when the Sharks from Durban role up in Newport on Saturday evening.
“I heard someone say after the Munster game that it can’t be a World Cup final and we need to make sure we repeat where we were emotionally. It’s our home, Rodney Parade is our home and we’ve got to go and represent that,” he said.
“There is a belief in the group that the potential is here. We showed that on Sunday and we’ve got to replicate it as much as possible. We have got to become consistent. We don’t want it to be a flash in the pan. There is too much quality in this place for it to be a one off. As I’ve said from day one, the people here excite me. They are good people and good pros.
“The boys have been good this week. Obviously there’s a bit of a spring in our step, but there’s also an understanding that we need to get better week by week.”
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