NEWPORT Gwent Dragons deserve so many plaudits for getting to the semi-finals of a European competition for the first time - but it still can't and mustn't paper over the cracks.

The Dragons have been unsung, unheralded and written off. But how the squad and coaching staff have risen to the occasion and defied almost insurmountable odds to reach the lofty stage of a European semi-final.

They can hold their heads high, they have punched above their weight and they have shown attributes which many bigger clubs/regions would envy, and even seek to emulate.

The Dragons have had the least representation of any of the regions in the Welsh team, they are struggling to avoid being the fourth placed side and they are in the second tier of the two European competitions.

But they continue to make their mark with those key attributes - teamwork, spirit, camaraderie, fighting spirit, guts and a never-say-die attitude. Really they have worked wonders.

They have beaten the then leading English team, they have won in France for the first time and now they have reached a European sem-final for the first time.

All noble efforts considering they have the smallest squad and the least amount of investment, certainly of the eight teams still left in the two European competitions, and most of the rest as well.

Despite being one of the poorest teams/regions with the least financial backing, now they have to take on one of the wealthiest in their own back yard.

For Clermont Auvergne, the Dragons' semi-final opponents, are backed by Michelin, among others, and they have a league of nations team with internationals and other players from New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Italy, Fiji and Canada, as well as from France, of course.

And Wales captain Stephen Jones recently spent two seasons with Clermont, with great success and thoroughly enjoying his time there.

Yet before they even get to grips with the French aces, currently second in their league, the Dragons have to go to Edinburgh and entertain leaders Leinster in the Magners League.

Coach Paul Turner is worried in case some of his key players, like Kevin Morgan and Colin Charvis, get injured, let alone Adam Black, for in some positions the depth is either paper thin or non-existent.

In fact, Turner, who must take a great deal of credit for getting the Dragons to where they are, says they could be dead men walking' if a heavy toll is taken on them in the next few weeks.

And with big game following big game, with all the big hits going in during these matches, the Dragons are on a bit of a wing and a prayer. It can't all go belly up now.

But that is precisely the risk when the region exists on basically a shoestring compared with many others. Turner knows the score, he's a Gwent man and he can see what's needed whether that's beyond his duties as coach or not.

Turner is desperate for new investors to get on board with the Dragons and for a new stadium to be built elsewhere in place of Rodney Parade, which former England star John Scott described in his Welsh newspaper column as a crumbling relic'.

There are people out there of considerable wealth who are interested in the Dragons, and a few people in charge ought to listen more attentively than they have so far.

A new stadium and new investment is not outside the bounds of possibility.

Sure, a few people might have to step aside, but what is the important issue here? Individuals or the Dragons? A group of people or the future of rugby in south-east Wales?

So while the Dragons are performing minor miracles in making it this far, that's not the whole story by any means.

The team can go to France for the semi-final without the burden of expectation, because few will expect them to get anywhere. And that is precisely the them against us' attitude the Dragons will relish.

But that attitude can only take you so far, about as far as they've got. They can't take that next step without major investment in terms of money, facilities and a ground. The situation could even get considerably worse before it gets better. For if French and English clubs carry out their threat to boycott Europe, not only would we lose pulsating knock-out games like Llanelli Scarelets against Munster and Leicester against Stade Francais, but the finances would plummet even further.

The loss of European money through the Welsh Rugby Union via sponsorship and television would amount to around £300,000.

There is no way that kind of money could be made up at the Dragons and already recruitment has been pretty limited considering that Ian Gough, the Brew brothers and Gareth Cooper are leaving.

Rivals, on the other hand, are carrying on at a rare old pace, notably the Ospreys with the impending arrival of Ian Gough and Mike Phillips to go with the likes of Justin Marshall, and the Blues with Gareth Thomas' signing.

No sign of backing off there. But the Dragons? Someone, somewhere has got to listen and take note soon. It's no good issuing long statements, it's action that's needed.