Ruddock shields Turner from Dragons heat

Worcester and former Wales coach Mike Ruddock believes under-fire Paul Turner is still the best man to take the Dragons forward despite the slow start to the season.

Worcester and former Wales coach Mike Ruddock believes under-fire Paul Turner is still the best man to take the Dragons forward despite the slow start to the season.

Speaking to the BBC, Ruddock said it was important that people stayed patient while the squad, featuring several new signings, took its time to gel together, and that three games within one week was not the easiest time for that to happen.

“Paul is a very experienced, top quality coach and a good guy,” said Ruddock, who also took charge of the Dragons before his tenure with the Welsh national side.

“If he gets the support and time he needs he will deliver at the Dragons.

“But there is a lot of catching up to do, they can't match what a team like the Ospreys has overnight.”

The Dragons suffered a heartbreaking defeat at home to the Scarlets, in a match they had bossed but failed to hold on to the lead they had built up.

“It was a difficult opening week for all the Welsh regions with three matches in one week,” continued Ruddock.

“The Dragons were away in Munster for the last of those – that's a massive task for any side, but particularly one like the Dragons that is just coming together.

“Things would have been so much different for them if they had just held on against the Scarlets.

“They were superb in the first half of that game, they fronted up and showed the spirit you expect from the men of Gwent.

“But the Scarlets had a much stronger bench for the last 15-20 minutes.

“Even so, if they had not given away that penalty at the end they would have won against a very strong Scarlets side, then peoples' views would have been a lot different.”