Ceri Jones

Dragons caretaker coach Ceri Jones. Pic: Simon King/Replay Images.

Dragons Coach Ceri Jones Says Clermont Gulf Is Not All About Cash

Dragons head coach Ceri Jones insists the region cannot plead poverty as an excuse for their European campaign ending in embarrassment.

The region suffered a humbling 49-7 home defeat to Clermont Auvergne on Friday night as their European Challenge Cup endeavours ended with a whimper.

The final Pool One game was a procession for the French club at Rodney Parade as the Dragons leaked seven tries and managed only one in reply.

It was a defeat that will re-open the debate about financing since Clermont are renowned for having one of the biggest budgets of any club in Europe, but Jones insisted the disparity in resources cannot be offered as an excuse for such a poor display from his team.

“Yes, they have got a very big budget, bigger than most people’s, but we are not using that as an excuse. We need to be better than that,” said Jones, who has been confirmed in the job until the end of the season.

“We aspire to work toward teams like Clermont because they are quality and they showed that tonight, but we are under no illusions that we have got to get better.

“Our recent form and performances in the Guinness PRO14 have been decent, but we are not going to write off this performance either.

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“We must look at it and pick the bones out of it. Some of our first up defence was not good enough. They have some powerful men but we can’t drop off tackles like that.

“We need to address that and address that quickly. We need to be much more accurate.”

Clermont scored first-half tries through Pato Fernandez, Alexandre Fischer, Paul Jedrasiak and a brace from wing Remi Grosso.

In the second 40 the Dragons stemmed the tide, but Peter Betham’s try and a second from Jedrasiak completed the scoring.

Clermont fly-half Fernandez kicked seven conversions for a 19-point haul as Jordan Williams grabbed a late Dragons consolation.

“We weren’t accurate enough,” added Jones. “Our lineout wasn’t accurate enough, we went to the corner three or four times and we got nothing which you can’t do against quality opposition.

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“Defensively we slipped off first up tackles too many times in that first half.

“When we had Aaron (Wainwright) off the field they got in behind us they showed they are a quality team.

“The accuracy in our play wasn’t where it needed to be and when you are playing quality opposition you are going to struggle.

“We’ve been proud of our performances recently, but that wasn’t where it needed to be.”

 

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