Scrum time can help Leon Brown become a Wales star

The Dragons prop started the summer as an outsider for Japan, fourth tighthead in the pecking order with Warren Gatland likely to take Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis and Samson Lee to Japan.

When the management opted for just two specialist tightheads, with loosehead Wyn Jones as the emergency cover, Brown’s chances got even slimmer.

Missing out, with Francis and Lewis the chosen ones, will still have hurt but the 22-year-old old from Maesglas should prosper from his gruelling summer in the Test squad.

Brown is a terrific prospect and has all the tools to be in the Wales front row for many years, but he just needs games.

At the moment he is being taught harsh lessons in front of big audiences, the latest coming against Ireland what we thought at the time was a chance to put the pressure on Lee for the third spot.

Brown, who was given a tough first start by Georgia’s beefy pack in 2017, was shown yellow shortly after coming off the bench.

There were questions about whether he was being fairly refereed by Romain Poite but there will always be jiggery-pokery, and it’s time out in the middle that helps props learn to adapt and thrive when the referee is not on their side.

Brown’s oomph around the park has never been up for debate but now he needs plenty of scrums to develop in the dark arts.

Gatland mentioned the importance of durability, especially after opting for just five props, when revealing why Rob Evans and Samson Lee had missed out.

The same goes for Brown, who has suffered from plenty of injury misfortune to limit him to 11 appearances in 2017/18 and 13 last season.

Racking up 20 games in the coming campaign would do the bright prospect the world of good, helping him on the way to securing a spot for France in four years’ time.

THE MOODS contrasted starkly at Rodney Parade last Friday, caution in the afternoon and wild optimism in the evening.

Before the Dragons launched two of their three new kits just before 3pm, new boss Dean Ryan spoke to members of the press.

The former England number eight, while still in his suit after a board meeting and before he changed into shorts and t-shirt to oversee an open training session, adopted the same tone that he has since heading through the door.

The director of rugby has been shrewd since taking the helm, avoiding big promises and ambitious targets in public.

There have been no loud declarations about overtaking their three Welsh rivals, slow and steady progress has been the promise from Ryan.

Right and measured decisions rather than swift and reactive decisions has been his mantra.

Ryan has been around the block and it shows; it is possible to have lofty ambitions while still dampening immediate expectations.

That will buy him time but the new boss must learn from the last boss and ensure that there is progress in his first campaign.

We just want to the Dragons to be better and to make the most of a squad that, as shown by the wins against the Ospreys and Scarlets last season, has potential and should certainly be performing better than they have done for a number of years.

Supporters are realistic about what can be achieved in Year One of the Ryan era… yet perhaps it was down to a 180-day absence of regional rugby at Rodney Parade that let to some getting a little carried away on Friday night.

The Dragons XV beat Munster 36-10 in Newport, scoring six tries and playing some lovely rugby.

There is no doubt that it was a hugely encouraging evening and a game to show why the Celtic Cup is for the next generation of professional players rather than the old British and Irish Cup for clubs.

It was a night that showcased the work being done by the academy with the Dragons playing at pace with attacking intent, cutting nice angles and running good support lines.

It showed the potential of classy centre Aneurin Owen, rapid wing Rio Dyer and the elusive James McCarthy and Carwyn Penny, while lock Max Williams looks in good shape and put himself about impressively.

The performance put smiles on faces but the nature of the victory led to over-excitement with judgements being made without accounting for the quality of opposition.

Of course any win over a side wearing Munster red should be cherished but the Irish province looked rather greener and a lot less cohesive than their Dragons counterparts and included 12 All-Ireland League players.

Thankfully Ryan and his coaches aren't as impulsive as those that suggested – tongue in cheek one hopes – fast-tracking the Dragons youngsters into the first team on the evidence of 80 minutes of daring rugby.

Perhaps the young guns will get the occasional chance in the PRO14 but the director of rugby's job is to develop them in the right way and at the right time, rather than flinging them in too soon.

His answer was telling when asked about ones to watch out for in the coming campaign: "With youngsters I won't tell you that, because I don't think that it helps them."

Right from the off Ryan is not a man for the hyperbole.

That might be frustrating for those of us chasing lines for the back page but it's just what is needed.