COMBATIVE hooker Brodie Coghlan has been urged to follow the lead of Wales legend Ken Owens as he prepares for another outing with the Dragons.
The 23-year-old is set to feature in the United Rugby Championship encounter with Ulster in Belfast on Saturday night (kick-off 7.35pm).
With Elliot Dee away with Wales and Bradley Roberts sidelined by injury, Coghlan and James Benjamin will share the duties at the heart of the front row.
The Dragons suffered a miserable evening when beaten 40-7 in Glasgow last time out but Coghlan made an impression after an early introduction from the bench.
The front rower is notoriously feisty on the training pitch and kept scrapping until the bitter end at Scotstoun Stadium when making his 16th appearance for the Dragons.
“What's not to like about Brodie? He is making the most of his ability, he works extremely hard from Monday to Friday and will get every ounce out of his talent,” said head coach Dai Flanagan.
“We saw that in Glasgow – he is a tough, Gwent man who doesn’t take a backward step.”
Flanagan worked with Owens at the Scarlets and believes the former Wales and Lions hooker is the perfect role model for Coghlan, who went up against the 37-year-old in Llanelli last season.
“He needs to build his game on what Ken Owens built his on,” said Flanagan. “If you said there was one Welsh hooker who Brodie could model himself on then it's Ken.
“He is destructive as a carrier, when he hits mauls they end. Ken has been a superb asset for Welsh rugby and I am sure Brodie will be the same for the Dragons.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here