The Men of Gwent have only won once in the league in 2014 – against Glasgow back in February – and Coombs is desperate to buck the trend when they take on an Italian side who currently sit two spots below the ninth-placed Dragons in the RaboDirect PRO12.
Coombs and co slipped to a 23-19 home defeat at the hands of Edinburgh last Thursday but the Wales lock insists the team are improving and will learn lessons in finishing from the defeat to the Scottish side.
“We’ve got to take more points when we’re in the opposition 22,” said Coombs, who has played 16 times for the Dragons this term.
“Credit to Edinburgh, they had two chances and scored twice. We’ve got to work harder on that part of our game before Treviso. We went back to the training ground and worked hard after the defeat to Connacht, but I still think we’re building and getting better with every game. The boys can’t wait to go again against Treviso.
“I’m disappointed because we worked so hard and only got one point from the Edinburgh game. Sometimes you deserve more but don’t get it and that was a classic example of it.”
The arrival of director of rugby Lyn Jones heralded an upturn in fortunes at Rodney Parade in the autumn but things haven’t progressed quite so smoothly since Christmas.
Coombs admits that it’s been a disappointing time of late but he is convinced better things lie around the corner.
“We’re taking every game as it comes and our target is to get above Edinburgh. We’ve only taken three points from the last three games, which is not good enough. But we’re heading in the right direction,” added Coombs.
“We started the season really well but it’s been pretty tough since Christmas. We played some big sides in the Amlin Challenge Cup which knocked our confidence, and we haven’t been able to get it back. It’s starting to come back now and we’re targeting four wins from the last four games.
“Bringing in Duncan Bell has helped us massively. He’s had an impact on the younger players like Elliot Dee who is flourishing next to him. We need more of it next year with Ian Gough, and it will be a blessing to have some experience in the pack.”
