Dean Ryan reckons the Dragons have unearthed a new “superstar” in wing Rio Dyer after their derby victory over the Ospreys.
Adam Warren’s late try sealed a remarkable 25-18 Guinness PRO14 win at Rodney Parade, but was Dyer – a youngster first thrust forward as an 18-year-old by former coach Bernard Jackman – who caught the eye.
Head coach Ryan saw his team led 10-8 at half-time after prop Leon Brown responded to a try by his Wales team-mate George North.
The Ospreys got their noses in front through young centre Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler early in the second half – and looked set to win for the first time since October.
However, Dyer crossed in the 76th minute and was swiftly followed over by replacement centre Warren to claim victory for the hosts.
Wales Sevens player Dyer was a late call-up after Ashton Hewitt was ruled out with a calf injury.
The 20-year-old impressed throughout and Ryan said: “I just said to him, ‘I’ve got a feeling you’re going to be a superstar, I can see two or three tries in you.
“He had been training for Ashton across the week but not necessarily in the belief that he was going to play.
“Rio probably knew 24 hours ago (that he was going to play), and today for certain, but he is full of that confidence that young men have.
“We’ve just got to keep working with him, because we always knew that going forward (with the ball) he is outstanding.
😱 RIO DYER IN THE CORNER!
🐉 @dragonsrugby draw level!
📺 18-18 in the final minutes on Premier Sports 1 pic.twitter.com/T9sCk5RfOl
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) January 4, 2020
“They came after him a bit and he did a really good job to just hold his own, stay in the contest and wait for his chance. He did that really well.
“We also recognise that he is a young man and he also has lots of things to work on.”
It might have an entirely forgettable encounter had it not been for the late drama which gave the Dragons victory and only served to reinforce the point that Ospreys have simply forgotten how to win.
As if losing an 18-13 lead and shipping two tries in the last five minutes to slip to defeat wasn’t bad enough, the side rock bottom of the Guinness Pro14’s Conference A with just one victory all term also lost Wales stars Justin Tipuric and George North to lower leg injuries.
“My early indication is they are not serious,” said Ospreys forwards coach Carl Hogg. “Justin has an ankle injury and I’m not too sure about George. That game was a mirror image of our season — we are lacking composure and execution to get over the line and have to be more clinical.”
For 75 minutes both teams produced an awful encounter — one punctuated by a lack of basic skill as well as a poor refereeing display from Andrew Brace. But in the dying moments Ospreys somehow served to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as Dragons tries from man of the match Dyer and Warren sent the home crowd wild and left the Ospreys players crestfallen under the posts.
Tipuric and North will be assessed with the start of next month’s Six Nations in mind. Should they miss Wales’ opener with Italy on February 1 it would be a big blow to head coach Wayne Pivac.
This was North’s first regional appearance of the season — one he marked with a try — while captain Tipuric was outstanding in making 18 tackles.
The Dragons have shown signs of recovery under Dean Ryan and this was their seventh win in 14 matches in all competitions. It came despite the late withdrawal of Wales lock Cory Hill due to illness.