Bernard Jackman's team were unable to topple the Ospreys with their squad of Wales internationals proving too powerful against a young Dragons team, but the Head Coach looked to the positives of his team's efforts and the players due to return from injury in the New Year.
"We showed more physicality and more endeavor than we did against the Blues, but Ospreys are probably a better side," said Jackman.
"I cant be too critical, we made a couple of mistakes that cost us, for instance under high balls that we didn’t deal with and they scored. Plus we didn’t get the dominance at set piece that we have liked, so we need to be more accurate around line out and scrums."
Much has been made of the Dragons early transfer business with the likes of Hibbard and Moriarty set to join for next season and Bernard backed up this strategy of adding more power to the Dragons game.
"We need to bring in bigger, stronger and more powerful athletes that can play the game in the dry and in the wet. We had a very young back row today who did well up and against quality opponents. They could bring on Paul James off the bench, which just shows the difference in budget and squad depth.
"If you look at the big name internationals that Alun Wyn, Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar play and they don’t get injured, so our recruitment will help us bring in robust guys that can play international and regional rugby regularly.
"Leon Brown, Brok Harris, Ollie Griffiths, Tyler Morgan, Hallam Amos and Zane Kirchner, were all missing today so we were young and light."
Jackman admitted he was keen to welcome back players from the injury list to boost the squad in the new year and welcomed Jarryd Sage's debut, as he is a player the coaches like the look of in training.
"We’ve put pressure on our medical team to get players back. And in January we will get the likes if Zane Kirchner, Tyler Morgan and Harrison Keddie back after they just missed out on this block of fixtures. But unfortunately we are still losing people with Hallam now injured.
"Sam Beard and Carl Meyer returned today, but they felt it a bit and probably weren’t as match fit as they need to be, so they felt it a bit, but they will improve next week."
Amos confirmed in an interview tonight shown on the big screen that he hoped to return before the 6 Nations and his head coach backed up the optimism and summed up his thoughts at the start of a new year.
"Hallam has a high ankle strain, so we are waiting to see if we can rehab this without needing an op. It’s the same injury as Tyler but not as bad. It doesn’t look as bad as Tyler’s injury so hopefully we can get him back before 6 Nations.
"There’s always something to play for. Babos and Arwel Robson have come through in a lot of game time and Jarryd sage made his debut tonight. The squad has good character and we just need to get a bit more power."
The Dragons face the Scarlets at Parc Y Scarlets next week and then back to back games with Bordeaux with the next home game against the French opponents at Rodney Parade on 20th January, 3pm.
