Tell me my fate coach Ceri asks Dragons
DRAGONS interim head coach Ceri Jones is eager to learn his fate ahead of crunch talks with the region’s board.
The former Harlequins and Wales prop has overseen a radical upturn in form since the departure of Bernard Jackman – including a first Welsh derby victory for four years – to lift the gloom at Rodney Parade.
He will sit down with chairman David Buttress and the other members of the Dragons heirachy this week to find out if he will be given the chance to audition for the job until the end of the season, or whether a new permanent head coach will be appointed.
“We’re looking forward to having some clarity,” said Jones. “We had to get through this vital period with games against Leinster, Clermont and the derbies, they were all huge games.
“We’ll get this Scarlets games out of the way and then have two weeks in Europe when we can sit down with the board and see which direction they want to take the region.
“There has been a lot of juggling of roles and long hours put in, but none of us mind when it is yielding results for the team.”
Jones has introduced tactical tweaks, like switching Cory Hill to blindside flanker, which have yielded positive results.
They conceded only two tries in the games against the Blues and Ospreys, compared to 17 in Jackman’s final two games in charge.
“I have a really good leadership group who have a mix of experience and youth and they have been great in telling me how they feel the best way forward is,” Jones added.
“The levels of performance are growing week in week out. We’ve gone out there with our backs to the wall and put in performances and we’re growing from that now.”