Dale MacLeod believes Dragons will need to produce their best performance of the season against Montpellier in Europe – but has backed the Men of Gwent to produce in the semi-final showdown.
Dragons head to Septeo Stadium to face the high-flying Top 14 outfit on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 12.30pm UK time).
Filo Tiatia’s men travel in high spirits after the league away victory over Zebre to face a French side who are also in fine form.
And MacLeod has outlined the size of the challenge for Dragons as they look to claim a final spot in Bilbao.
“Montpellier are good right across the park. It’s an exciting challenge because you know they are going to test us everywhere,” MacLeod told the Scrum V podcast.
“They can play to width, they’ve got good edge attack, they can go up the middle and they’ve got big forwards. They’ll go through the front door and kick it down.
“They are a very good side and they beat Bordeaux at the weekend and that’s no mean feat. It’s going to be a big challenge.
“We’ve got to turn up and meet them, and we’ve got a plan around how we’re going to do that.
“We’re under no illusions - it’s a massive challenge,” he added.
“But we went to Stade Francais when they were top three so there is no reason why we can’t go there and do it.
“We know it’s going to take our best effort of the season, and I back the boys to get up and give it a good crack. This is what knockout rugby is about and it’s a semi-final.
“They are one of the best teams in Europe, but we will go with the right attitude and we’re not going over to make up the numbers. We go to win and we’ll see how it plays out.”
Reflecting on the league win over Zebre and upturn in fortune this season, MacLeod has praised the squad for uniting and all getting on the same page.
“I look at the win against Zebre in the league as probably our biggest growth,” he said.
“We played ugly, but we came away with a win and some of the boys said we would have lost that game 10 times out of 10 the last few years. That’s great for us.
“Our capacity to play deeper in games is better. The boys have worked hard on their fitness and the S&C team’s done a great job.
“For me coming in, when I arrived it was as simple as getting everyone on the same page and seeing the same thing and heading in the same direction.
“We all hold each other accountable, and we have expectation on what it looks like every time we go out. We try to get better every day and it’s working for us as a group.
“We have a good bunch of lads who are very coachable and I think Filo has done a great job with our leadership group and they’ve all grown.”
We know it’s going to take our best effort of the season, and I back the boys to get up and give it a good crack. This is what knockout rugby is about and it’s a semi-final...
