 Dragons attack coach Lyn Jones was formerly Ospreys head coach |
Lyn Jones is confident that the Newport Gwent Dragons have a bright future ahead of them, after they secured a Heineken Cup place via a play-off. The Dragons won 42-17 at Italian side Calvisano on Friday night to take the 24th and last Heineken place on offer. Jones, who will now take up a role at an Abu Dhabi school, has been the Dragons' attack coach since January. "It's a region with a lot of promise, there's lots of ability, it's a big region with... ambition," Jones said. "They can go places but everyone has to buy into that then, if you aim high you finish high but it all starts at the top and works its way down. "Certainly there's a lot of promise, they've got something unique in Gwent which is a unique spirit and it reminds me a lot of the spirit that used to be involved in rugby in the good old days." Former Ospreys head coach Jones believes that although the Dragons have perennially been the fourth-best of the four Welsh regions, they are poised to challenge the Scarlets, Blues and Ospreys.  | I'm pleased, I've been here a short time and I'd like to think I've helped in some small way |
That is even more vital now as governing body European Rugby Cup has announced that from next season there will be no Heineken Cup play-off for the lowest-placed Welsh team in the Magners League - who will automatically play in the second-tier Challenge Cup "We're pleased, I'm pleased, I've been here a short time and I'd like to think I've helped in some small way to see Gwent achieve their goals - which is European rugby next year," Jones added. "They've got to prove that again next year and finish above the Blues, the Ospreys or Llanelli to become the third, or second, or best Welsh region. "Certainly that's not going to happen overnight and it's going to take at least three years to get there. "But the quicker you have a plan, the quicker you start working at it and believe that you can get there then the quicker you get there." The Dragons had fallen behind early at the Centro Sportivo San Michele after Calvisano fly-half Gerard Fraser had stroked over a penalty. | 606: DEBATE |
But the Welsh soon took a grip and dominated the remainder of the match, with Richard Fussell, Luke Charteris, Ashley Smith, Adam Black - twice and Rory Sidey all crossing for tries. "We came out here, we did a professional job, our discipline was good and our accuracy was good," Jones said. "We scored six converted tries and I think anyone has got to be pleased with that. "There's always the chance [of losing], we've been out here [Italy] before and slipped up. "They're an enthusiastic bunch at Calvisano and they can play, they want to play, but our game... was accurate and they had too many mistakes in their game."
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