It’s been a tough couple of weeks for Newport Gwent Dragons. We asked flanker Richard Parks how he’s coping…
What you been up to?
We’ve had a couple of days off, I’ve been doing a bit of Christmas shopping to try and forget about the last couple of weeks.
With defeat to Treviso topping it off, it has been tough…
Well, I think the last couple of weeks has shown where we are as a team. Before the season started we said that being in Europe was a fantastic opportunity and would prove to be a good marker of where we are. And that marker’s been accurate. We went to the wire against Perpignan to prove that on our day we can take on any side. We actually then played some good rugby against London Irish – but we would have a few good phases then knock the ball on get turned over and end up conceding a try. We need to eliminate the mistakes that are costing us games, I believe we’re losing games rather than being beaten by sides if that makes sense.
The Treviso defeat must have been hard to take?
As a team we’re bitterly disappointed, we let ourselves down. Taking nothing away from Treviso, they’re a good side and, as we’ve seen with the national team, their rugby is progressing. But I would say that the Dragons expect to beat them, no disrespect, but we set our standards. Looking at the video this week and it just seems like we’re our own worst enemy, we tried things we shouldn’t have tried – particularly with our offloading game – and we paid the penalty. Treviso are no mugs.
What have been your targets for the season?
Personally, to get myself back in map internationally after my year in France. I really enjoyed being in France but I didn’t really get out of it what I wanted – I didn’t get enough rugby. The selection policy was a bit antiquated and while they’re a fantastic club, I’m really grateful to Paul [Turner] for the opportunity to come back to Newport. I’m thoroughly enjoying my rugby now and hopefully I can achieve what I want here.
What do you mean by antiquated?
I don’t know how to explain it really, but Perpignan are renowned as thriving on a bit of drama here and there. I don’t want to bad mouth the club, but personally I expected to play more rugby and I was told would be looked at even though the captain was a flanker… But sometimes in business it happens, I’m just over the moon to come back to Newport…
Did you feel you had something to prove against Perpignan?
People asked me that before the game but I just don’t feel like that. I put myself under pressure every week to prove myself but the whole revenge and grudge match thing doesn’t factor.
What do you think makes the Dragons different?
I think the Dragons have got something special that’s different from other Welsh regions. We’ve got a team ethos here that is sacred to us. It’s important to me that I perform here and not every club has the atmosphere that we have. It’s a fantastic squad and, while the outsider might look at us differently, we’ve got a lot of exciting young talent mixed with really experienced players so it’s a nice blend.
Is it hard for Dragons with such a limited budget?
Well, I think it’s very easy for a lot of weaker people to blame their circumstances or their environment for their performances but I don’t think we do that at Newport. We’re very proud of the fact we’re nurturing local players whereas other regions are playing big money foreigners at the expense of good Welsh players. Look at Cardiff with Robert Sidoli and Paul Tito – Tito is fantastic, but I also think Sidoli is…
When we played Perpignan we fielded a completely Welsh 15, we only had two non-Welshman in the whole squad. Everybody was eligible to play for Wales and we should be proud of that, that was the whole point of the regions. But now all of a sudden the regions have this fascination that foreign players are better than Welsh – which is rubbish to be honest with you…
So you think it’s detrimental to the game?
I think if you have the right players in the right position, it can only add to your side. I think when Newport had Gary Teichmann, it had a massive impact on the club, the same with Todd Blackadder at Edinburgh.
All I want is for Wales to be successful nad I just think we’ve got this obsession with signing foreign players for the sake of it.
So what’s next for the Dragons?
Our target now has to be next game, which is Cardiff on Boxing Day. We know that we can mix it with the best in Europe and we know that we can score tries against anyone and we know when we have to defend we can, but we have to put together the complete performance all in to one game. Then we need to get the consistency – and these are goals we can achieve which will then let us progress up the Magners League.
And for yourself? A few caps presumably?
I believe I was quite close recently for the Test against South Africa, but hopefully Warren Gatland will be true to his word and everyone will have the slate wiped clean and there will be no favourites.
What do you think of his appointment?
I think his pedigree speaks for himself. I just really hope that he and the Welsh Rugby Union are true to their word and everyone has an
equal chance of making the cut.