DRAGONS coach Shaun Connor says centre Jack Dixon can take inspiration from his Herculean effort against Connacht to get back to the form that earned him a Wales call-up.

The 22-year-old from Newbridge was to the fore in the Rodney Parade region’s excellent 21-8 victory last Friday that ended a nightmare 14-game losing streak.

Dixon played a leading role in attack to help the Dragons earn a 21-3 half-time lead, sparking the move that ended with wing Hallam Amos’ try of the season contender, and then he was to the fore in defence after the break.

With the injury-hit hosts having a makeshift back line, the centre took control and made an incredible 23 tackles - seven more than his nearest rival in the PRO14 chart for round three.

Connacht talisman Bundee Aki carried the ball 27 times but the powerhouse centre from New Zealand, the league’s MVP in 2016, couldn’t shake off Dixon.

It was a morale-boosting performance from a prospect who has endured a couple of tough campaigns.

He played just three times in 2015/16 after suffering a career-threatening kidney injury on his return from being a member of the Wales training squad for the 2015 World Cup and last season he struggled for form.

Backs coach Connor wants the Connacht display to help spur Dixon on to recapture the form that caught the eye of Warren Gatland and led to many tipping him as a successor for Jamie Roberts.

“Jack was outstanding, not just in defence because he carried hard and made the gain line,” said former fly-half Connor.

“Some of his cover defence was outstanding – Bundee Aki is probably one of the best attackers in the PRO14 and Jack dealt with him.

“It has taken him a while to recover from the kidney injury of a few years ago but if that performance doesn’t give him confidence then nothing will.”

The Dragons now go in search of another Irish scalp in the Guinness PRO14 with a formidable challenge against Ulster in Belfast on Friday (kick-off 7.35pm).

They will be huge underdogs at Kingspan Stadium and the management have already said that they are going to give opportunities to players who have been kicking their heels on the sidelines so far this term.

The success against Connacht put smiles on faces but the Dragons have quickly moved on with Belfast followed by the Southern Kings in Newport, a game they should be targeting.

“It’s important to celebrate victories but we are fully aware that Connacht was a small step on a long process,” said Connor.

“We saw some building blocks but we are also fully aware that there is a lot more hard work to do.

“I felt that the intensity of our training was reflected in that performance but we still need to up that intensity so that we can perform for 80 minutes.”

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