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URC top scorer Dee is enjoying life as he puts rugby into perspective
For Elliot Dee, who tried out the machine, rugby these days is all about enjoying yourself and not thinking about things.
The Dragons RFC Prostitute certainly seems to be enjoying life considering how he started the season.
He is the leading scorer in URC with five, having demonstrated his expertise at the back of the lines which are such a big weapon in the game at the moment.
At 32, the 56-capped Wales international is approaching his veteran stage and appears to be making the most of every minute.
Injuries have limited him to 24 outings for his region over the past three seasons, but now he’s fit, firing and delivering the goods, with one man-of-the-match award already in the bag.
He has played a significant role in the Dragons’ positive start to the campaign – which has seen them win two and draw from their first four matches – and he will once again be a key figure in Saturday’s BKT URC derby clash with Ospreys at Saint Helena.
Given his fine form, there was some surprise at his omission Wales squad for the Nations Championship.
But Dee will just put his head down and get on with it, having learned to put the sport in perspective.
“At the end of the day, it’s a game of rugby played by 30 guys on the field,” said the Newport-born forward.
“It’s really important, but it’s not the most important thing in life.
“I just try to show up and do my job the best I can and not overthink things and try to perform for the team.
“I enjoy coming to work. I’m proud to be from Gwent and to play for the Dragons.”
“We talk a lot about doing it for the people in the stands and for our families in the stands.”
All of Dee’s five league tries have come from close range, including back-to-back braces in the derby against Scarlets and Ospreys.
“We really worked on it in the preseason,” he said.
“That was our little weapon at the end of last season. Working hard at the things you’re good at usually pays off.
“We have a really competitive team and our units are really good. Our starting team versus the rest of the squad sets us up well for the weekend.
“I was lucky enough to put a few things on the back of the boys’ hard work.”
The start of the season has seen plenty of driving line attempts amid new World Rugby guidelines on defenders swimming around the side of the maul.
“I think it definitely gives the team an advantage offensively,” Dee said.
“As soon as you roll and slide off the side, you have to get out of there, so it’s hard to stop.
“You get behind and it gives a second or two less weight and teams capitalize.
“I think it’s a good rule. It was certainly effective at the beginning of the season.”
The Dragons head to Swansea this weekend to take on an Ospreys side playing their first game at their newly refurbished home St Helen’s.
For the visitors, it will be a revenge mission as they lost 38-31 to the Ospreys at Rodney Parade in Round 3, with the lead changing hands multiple times.
“The guys were really exhausted. It was sick. It was a game we could have won,” Dee said.
“Fair play to the Ospreys, they won that game and we lost it. There were chances for both teams to pull away and they did.
“Their pack was big and heavy and maybe we didn’t move them as much as we wanted to. The game was a bit stop-start. We didn’t capitalize on our opportunities. “But fair play to them, they played really well. They did what they do best and they came out on top.”
Dee will be a key man for the Dragons as they head west and coach Filo Tiatia is full of praise for his efforts.
“Elliot has come back from a few issues and has been working really hard on parts of his game,” he said.
“I really enjoy watching him play and lead.”
The Dragons will travel to Swansea buoyed by their 29-14 win over the Europeans Challenge Cup home win Perpignan last weekend, with Dee coming on as a half-time substitute to help overturn the interval deficit.
