Kingsley Jones: Dragons coach urges side to use their intensity

Newport Gwent Dragons are ninth in the PRO12 table

Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones wants his side to use their intensity from the end of their defeat by Leinster during their busy festive fixture schedule.

The Welsh region lost 28-15 to Leinster but scored two second-half tries to reduce the deficit.

They face Worcester away and at home in the European Challenge Cup before playing Ospreys and Cardiff Blues.

"At the start of the season we struggled to finish," Jones said.

"Can we start against Worcester next week with the same intensity as we finished against Leinster? That's the challenge for us going into next week.

"Once the scoreboard gets to 15 or 20, it gets very difficult so we need to be in the ascendency in the first 25 minutes rather than on the back foot."

Despite maintaining good form at home, the defeat by Leinster means the Dragons have lost all five of their Pro12 games away from home this season and Jones knows his side have a huge task ahead of them.

"It's a big four weeks for us, including Leinster we asked ourselves if we can win five games. That's a big challenge for any team," he told BBC Wales Sport.

"We've got four games coming up, two in Europe which is huge for us and if we win those two we should be through.

"Can we do it? I think we're on the verge of putting in some good performances and getting some wins. let's hope it's the next four weeks and we have a nice Christmas."

Meanwhile full-back Carl Meyer travelled back with the team on Sunday having been kept in overnight in hospital as a precaution after an accidental knee-to-head collision with Leinster's Adam Byrne.