Dragons can push for URC play-offs – Dale MacLeod

Dragons, who kick off at Ulster on Friday (20:05 BST), will hope to change the record when playing four of their first six URC games in Newport.

The only way is up, and MacLeod sees no reason why they shouldn’t set lofty targets.

“We haven’t talked too much about what lies ahead but, if I am being me, we are going to qualify for the top eight,” said the New Zealander, despite Dragons finishing 39 points behind eighth-placed Scarlets last season.

“I believe if you look at some of the games that were lost last year, they were in a position to win them and it was inexperience or injuries [that cost them].

“We have been very diligent around workloads and making sure we are not breaking boys, the medical team are doing a great job and Filo is leading the off-field stuff really well.

“We’ve got a really good plan and are really focused on where we want to get to.

“If we show the growth we have shown in the last month then I am confident that we can do something that will surprise a few people.”

Dragons spent most of last season without a specialist defence coach after Tiatia was promoted to the top job when Dai Flanagan left in November.

MacLeod was confirmed as their new man at the start of May and went to watch his future team in South Africa in their penultimate game of a draining campaign.

Dragons, predictably, suffered defeat to Stormers in Cape Town when the hosts ran in three of their seven tries in the closing stages.

“Even if they didn’t get a result, I could see that they had a lot of intent and I am massive on a thing called ‘MEE’ – Mindset, Effort, Energy,” said MacLeod.

“I would never question what I have seen in pre-season, we just have to play a bit smarter and change a few things.

“The boys are really coachable and want to get better. They work hard every day, so I can’t ask for much more and I am excited about it.”