A TURBULENT week for the Dragons ended with a seven-try defeat to French Top 14 leaders Clermont Auvergne, but there were signs of hope for the region’s next head coach.

Playing for the first time since Bernard Jackman was shown the exit door at Rodney Parade five days earlier, the Dragons briefly threatened to cause a massive shock before the hosts went clear late on.

In the cold light of day this was a third successive loss by more than 40 points, however, the visitors’ performance showed much improvement from the Leinster and Northampton horror shows.

Having captain Cory Hill, Elliot Dee, Ross Moriarty, Aaron Wainwright and Tyler Morgan back helped the Dragons’ cause no end – there were 13 internationals in all in the matchday squad.

Hill and his men went into the European Challenge Cup Pool One clash with a backs-to-the-wall attitude, determined to show they are better than this season’s results suggest.

After everything that had gone on in the build-up to the game, the last thing the Dragons needed was to concede an early try, but that’s exactly what they did.

Only five minutes were on the clock when flanker Judicael Cancoriet crossed and Scotland scrum-half Greig Laidlaw kicked the first of his seven successful conversions.

Stade Marcel-Michelin, as rugby fans know, can be one of the most intimidating arenas at the best of times for a travelling side, so giving the home supporters a reason to cheer not long after the kick-off would put any visiting team on the back foot.

Try number two, after a Josh Lewis penalty put the Dragons on the board, followed on 19 minutes through Apisai Naqalevu, and at this stage the cricket score many predicted looked possible.

But Hill and co were having none of it and hooker Dee popped up with a try to narrow the gap.

Soon after, though, the French crowd were on their feet for a third time, and on this occasion it was Australian winger Peter Betham touching down.

Cancoriet doubled his tally for the afternoon five minutes later to secure a bonus point for Clermont, and at 28-10 ahead the hosts seemed set to run away with it.

However, the Dragons dug in and Wainwright went over on the stroke of half-time.

The first score of the second half was always going to be crucial, and it went to Clermont thanks to skipper and France international Fritz Lee.

Both sides cancelled each other out during the next 20 minutes, before replacement scrum-half Rhodri Williams produced a fine solo effort to reduce the deficit to 35-24.

But 60 seconds later and Clermont had extended their advantage with Fijian Naqalevu getting his second try.

The Dragons, who can’t qualify for the quarter-finals, will now switch their focus to Guinness PRO14 derbies against the other Welsh regions over the festive period.

Substitute Charlie Cassang added a seventh on 76 minutes to make absolutely sure of the victory.

Clermont: I Toeava; P Betham, A Naqalevu, W Fofana, R Grosso; C Lopez, G Laidlaw; L Uhila, Y Beheregaray, M Simutoga, P Jedrasiak, S Vahaamahina, A Iturria, J Cancoriet, F Lee (capt).

Reps: J Ulugia, E Falgoux, S Falatea, S Timani, M Lemardelet, C Cassang, P Fernandez, D Penaud.

Tries: Cancoriet (2), Naqalevu (2), Betham, Lee, Cassang; Cons: Laidlaw (7)

Dragons: Z Kirchner; A Warren, T Morgan, J Dixon, H Amos; J Lewis, T Knoyle; R Bevington, E Dee, A Jarvis, B Nansen, M Screech, C Hill (capt), A Wainwright, R Moriarty.

Reps: R Lawrence, G Ellis, N Thomas, H Taylor, J Benjamin, R Williams, G Henson, J Williams.

Tries: Dee, Wainwright, R Williams; Cons: Lewis (3); Pen: Lewis

Referee: Tom Foley (England)