Head Coach Filo Tiatia praised the mentality of his Dragons as they battled back to claim a deserved opening day draw with Benetton in Italy.
Tinus de Beer, Fine Inisi and Elliot Dee – with a crucial try two minutes from time - saw the Men of Gwent rally superbly in the second half at Stadio Monigo.
A late difficult conversion attempt from De Beer thumped the post and bounced clear as Dragons came close to a victory that the second half show had merited.
And Tiatia reflected on a game where his Dragons had been forced to dig deep and mount a thrilling fightback to claim two points.
“We gave a lot of opportunities to Benetton at the start of the game,” said Tiatia.
“We gave a lot of possession and territory, and they scored a couple of tries from mauling and ill-discipline. Discipline is critical and staying in the game.
“The mentality for the boys to stay in the fight was good. We fought hard, we defended well and we took our chances. We have just got to be a little bit more clinical.
“I’m not sure on the knock on (for the disallowed try), I didn’t see it that way, so the game could have gone either way.
“Sometimes to win games it is left on kicking opportunities, but it has hit the post.
“It could have been, but instead we take the draw and move on.”
The mentality for the boys to stay in the fight was good. We fought hard, we defended well and we took our chances...
