KINGSLEY Jones is confident that the Newport Gwent Dragons pack will avoid another mauling at the hands of Connacht at Rodney Parade on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 4pm), writes Chris Kirwan.

The Dragons were thrashed 24-8 by the men from Galway in last season's corresponding fixture with the Irish province bagging a bonus point thanks to three tries from their driving lineout and another from a scrum.

The front row of Owen Evans, Hugh Gustafson and Bruce Douglas was hauled off en bloc after just half an hour but the region has made huge strides in their tight game this season, especially when using their own lineout drive as an attacking weapon.

"It wasn't a good place to be last year. We were very poor," said head coach Jones.

"We had given the players a week off leading into the preparation for that game (because of a break for the LV= Cup knockout stages) and I am not sure that was the right thing to do because we looked rusty and we looked shell-shocked.

"The game will be won and lost against Connacht in the forwards, they bring a big scrum game and a big driving game.

"There's more to them now and they can play a wide game as well, but the answer lies up front. I'd like to think we've improved there and we need to make sure we've got parity up front at least."

The Dragons are in form and have won eight of their last 11 games, the last being a stunning 16-14 win against champions Leinster in Dublin.

Connacht, meanwhile, are fresh from a 32-14 thrashing at the Scarlets and have lost their last four league encounters away from the Sportsground.

Jones said: "Psychology is huge in sport. Experience teaches you that you can't be complacent but why did Chelsea lose to Bradford?

"It's just one of those things and we have to raise our game on Sunday and play with the intensity and freedom that we did in Leinster.

"As much as it was important to enjoy the victory in Dublin, and it's a great marker for us, we have to win on Sunday."