Alun Wyn Jones’ side have long become used to being the big fish in the small pond of Welsh regional rugby and not even a 14th successive win over their three nearest neighbours will make their season.
Bragging rights over their closest rivals is nice for the fans, but as far as Wales and British & Irish Lions lock Jones is concerned there are much bigger fish to fry in European rugby.
“Judgement Day is a great thing for Welsh rugby. Bragging rights are brilliant, but we need to get into the European Cup quarter and semi-finals to make our season a relative success, as well as competing domestically,” said Jones
“Its nice to be winning locally, but it’s a potential problem in Wales, valuing that run.
Would we take that run or would we take a Heineken Cup semi-final? It would be the semi-final.
“People may read into that and say that we’re happy to lose. I’m not saying that,but we want to win on the biggest stages.”
The Ospreys have secured their place in the new European Rugby Champions Cup next season and are still in the hunt for a RaboDirect PRO12 play-off spot. They currently sit in fifth place, four points behind Glasgow Warriors who have played a game less than Jones’ men.
The 78 cap lock is hoping to build on their crucial home win against Leinster last time out with victory over the Dragons to stay on course for a play-off spot.
“Leinster came to the Liberty hoping to put us completely out of the play-off race. Fortunately they weren’t able to do that, but Munster’s loss to Glasgow was a shot in the arm that we didn’t really want,” said Jones.
“We know that the Dragons have had a couple of tough run outs in the last few games, so it’s a case of not slipping up and not giving them the scalp they want to get their season back on track.”
