Losing is not an option for Dragons, says skipper Lewis Evans (From Campaign Series)
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Losing is not an option for Dragons, says skipper Lewis Evans
8:00am Friday 28th September 2012 in Sport
By Chris Kirwan
READY FOR BATTLE: Dragons captain Lewis Evans knows the importance of tonight’s showdown
DRAGONS v EDINBURGH (Tonight, KO 7pm)
SKIPPER Lewis Evans says victory is “non-negotiable” tonight as Newport Gwent Dragons try to stop the rot against Edinburgh at Rodney Parade.
The Dragons have failed to add to the five points earned on opening night against Zebre and have dropped to 10th in the RaboDirect Pro12 table.
Last time they played on their own patch they produced a woeful performance in defeat to Cardiff Blues that sapped the morale and hope from their supporters.
Combined with fruitless trips to Leinster and Munster, it means they have no margin for error tonight if they are to harbour hopes of qualifying for next season’s Heineken Cup.
There is reason for cautious optimism courtesy of their record against Edinburgh, who have not won at Rodney Parade since 2006.
But the heat is on because failure to continue that winning streak would leave the hosts’ season in tatters before September is out.
“A win is non-negotiable, simple as that,” said Evans, who returns at openside flanker after being benched for last weekend’s loss to Munster.
“The Blues game was essential and we didn’t perform as well as we wanted to. It led to questions being asked of individuals and it is a case of manning up or being found out.
“This is a massive opportunity to rectify previous errors and we need to get back on track and build some momentum.
“Do the basics right and hopefully the game plan will work and we will come away with a good performance and, more importantly, the win.”
The heat is on for the Dragons to get the win and the captain is also under pressure to produce a performance that keeps the number 7 jersey.
He comes back in for Jevon Groves, who is on the bench despite a mightily impressive display at Thomond Park last week.
“When they announced the squad I didn’t know whether I would be starting,” said Evans.
“Jevon has performed admirably, just as Darren Waters did before he unluckily got injured.
“Nic Cudd has come in as well and just from training you can see what his qualities are so I can’t rest on my laurels.
“The whole squad is under pressure and one or two bad performances will lead to the chop.”
Comments(6)
high x boy
says...
11:04am Fri 28 Sep 12
Robert Shillabeer
says...
11:46am Fri 28 Sep 12
Gareth
says...
11:50am Fri 28 Sep 12
It would have been nice to see the interview go this way:
“Losing is not an option.”
“So what happens if you lose?”
“We are not going to lose. However, the boys have had a chat. We know how little words mean, so if we lose, we will ask the fans, via the South wales Argus forum, what they would prefer: either we donate 20% of week’s wages to a local charity; or we pay for a ticket to the next game for everyone who writes in. After all, we know that this club is all about the fans and they have stuck with us through thick and thin. If we can, in some small way, show fans that we understand their pain, then we agree it’s well worth it.”
Loose Ed
says...
1:09pm Fri 28 Sep 12
The press release that is being carried in the alternative Welsh press details
Lewis Evans having a go at Toby Faletau
saying he was dropped last week and not recovering from injury as stated by the coaching staff.
Unfortunately for Evans he will never be the player that Faletau is, I also thought that a good captain would be trying to inspire not make silly remarks in the press, as the old saying goes "better to
let people think you're a fool,than to open your mouth and prove it !"
gwentfan
says...
4:59pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Bad choice has captain.
SWBorderer says...
8:29am Fri 28 Sep 12
I take it that as losing is not an option this time that it has been previously.
Quit the talking and get on the pitch and show us some action.