CANADIAN international Connor Braid will be looking to steer Doncaster Knights to a third successive victory for the first time this season in Saturday’s British & Irish Cup Pool 8 clash against Llandovery at Castle Park.
The 22-year-old has yet to finish on the losing side since linking up with the Championship strugglers for the rest of the season.
Capped four times for his country, Braid told The Star: “I’m equally comfortable playing full-back or fly-half, but I prefer playing fly-half and I think Canada want me at 10 as well. I made my debut at full-back but I’ve played the other three games at fly-half.
“There are a lot of similarities but I think you are more involved at fly-half in terms of game management. I get to run the ball a bit more at full-back but I can control the game a bit more in the No 10 shirt.
“I enjoy kicking the ball - it’s one of the parts of my game when I’m playing fly-half. But playing full-back, especially with Doncaster, I’m more of a second layer of attack and generally my first option would be to look to run the ball.
“It’s been a good move joining Doncaster. There are some awesome guys here and the facilities are excellent.
“I thought everybody would be feeling down and out when I first came here considering the club’s league position but everyone was pretty chipper because they know that they are not a bad team.
“The team was bottom of the table before the Jersey game, but they aren’t a bottom of the table team by any stretch of the imagination.
“I was surprised to find myself put straight into the starting line-up against Jersey but I was happy to help out and try and get the boys off the foot of the table.
“There was obviously a bit of pressure because it was such an important game for the club, but I enjoyed it.”
As well as playing under new Knights boss Clive Griffiths for Canada against the Maori All Blacks last month, Braid has previously played under him in club football.
“I trust Griff and I’ve got massive respect for him as a coach,” he said. “Having worked with him I know how he likes to play.
“One of the big things he brings to the group right now is clarity. He shows how to do it, how it works and why you do it. He’s not tried to change too much - though he’s bought in things that are specific to him.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s game, Braid said: “I think being on a better field will help us; it was heavy down there. Having beaten them away we’ve got to be looking to beat them at home.
“They were okay as a team, but we didn’t play that well on the day and if we can put a solid performance together then I think we could probably beat them pretty heavily.”
Victory for Knights would see them take over top spot.