**We start today’s Media Watch in Wales, where Dragons defence coach Simon Cross has spoken about his excitement at working with a talented young squad.** The former Edinburgh captain was working for **Dragons** on a part-time basis last year, combining the role with being head of rugby at Royal Grammar School Worcester, but can now focus on the job full-time. And the 39-year-old, who had to retire from rugby at the age of 29 due to knee injuries, [has told the South Wales Argus](https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/18580299.coach-cross-relishing-chance-get-teeth-dragons-defence/) that the sky’s the limit for Dean Ryan’s men. “Aaron Wainwright still doesn’t even know how good he can be while we haven’t really started with where we can get Taine Basham,” said Cross. “Richard Hibbard and Aaron Jarvis, two of the elder statesmen, are constantly asking how they can get better. “There is Joe Davies, who nobody ever talks about. I don’t think that I have seen a second row hit people that hard. “I’ve never worked with a 13 as talented and consistent in defence as Adam Warren. Matthew Screech, Harrison Keddie, Ollie Griffiths, the list goes on. “I am so excited about working with this group and we’ve just got to keep driving and pushing to help make them better.” Meanwhile, **Munster** are stepping up their preparation for the Guinness PRO14 resumption – where they first face rivals Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on August 22 – and are hopeful that one new signing will be fit to play in the game. Springboks centre Damian de Allende arrived from Japan with a groin problem but [the Irish Independent is reporting that he could well recover](https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/munster-rugby/munster-hoping-springbok-signing-damian-de-allende-will-be-fit-for-debut-in-leinster-opener-39365357.html) in time to face Leinster. The Independent also reports that although Tadhg Beirne, John Ryan, Keith Earls, Calvin Nash and Dave Kilcoyne are currently nursing knocks, they will also be ready for the trip to Dublin, but the prospects for full-back Mike Haley and centre Dan Goggin are less positive.
