Lewis Evans admits Newport Gwent Dragons must show a huge improvement in the set-piece if they are to get the better of Zebre in the RaboDirect PRO12.

The Dragons were given a torrid time up front by Connacht last weekend in a match they lost 24-8.

Defeat saw the Dragons slip to ninth in the RaboDirect PRO12 table with Cardiff Blues, Treviso and Zebre the only teams below them.

And flanker Evans knows they must show a marked improvement across the board if they are to avoid a repeat of their toils against Connacht.

“We have a stigma attached to us and teams are going to go for it in the set-pieces against us. But we can’t run away from that, we have to address the problems and respond,” he said.

“What happened against Connacht was a shock to the system and any player who slept well on Sunday night is not in the right job after that performance.

“We have creaked in the scrum for a lot of the season, but in the seven years I have been here, that was the worst day at the lineout.

“All the players were pretty nervous coming back to training this week but we didn’t have the riot act read to us. Lyn just immediately addressed the problems and made people accountable.

“Every player is liable to put in a good performance for this region, especially at Rodney Parade, or you’re not picked.”

Zebre's only victory in their last five RaboDirect PRO12 matches came against Cardiff Blues in Parma two rounds ago. Zebre are attempting to win back-to-back home games for the first time in their history.

Newport Gwent Dragons have also won only one of their last five PRO12 contests: 24-23 at home to Glasgow in round 15. The Dragons’ only away victory in the competition since they visited Zebre last year was when they beat Glasgow at Scotstoun on November 22.
The Welsh region have won all three previous encounters with Zebre but only won by the narrowest of margins, 14-13 on their only previous visit to Stadio XXV Aprile in round 16 last season.

Dragons head coach Lyn Jones said: “We’ve had issues in our tight play all season but the rest of our game has been far better than other teams.

“The whole squad is embarrassed by some of the skill levels and decision making against Connacht. As coaches we need to step up and the players need to step up, because what we saw on Sunday would struggle to beat Bedwas.”

At Stadio XXV April, 4pm local time (3pm UK & Ireland). Live on Sport Mediaset.

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU, 54th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Giuseppe Vivarini, Elia Rizzo (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Marco Dordelli (FIR)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)