Gwent Dragons 2015/16 thread

[dragon4life]

First topic message reminder :

3 in Wales squad that would have been 4 if tyler was fit

[The Saint]

Each team unloaded the bench, though our 2nd half displays must still be of great concern for Lyn.

[dragon4life]

Saint-Harris played in the currie cup final for western province about 4 weeks ago. Played in every game in that I think so was just chucked straight into the dragons team without much of a rest

[Guest]

Good result. Would say that is probably our first choice front five starting, so hopefully we have a bit of confidence from so many driving lineout tries

Very concerned by the drop off in performance second half, changes or not. Boys should've been buzzing after going 48-0 up after HT and kept the momentum going.

[The Saint]

Rev, do you think that lock jersey is Hill's? Is he better than Goughy? I've always rated Hill mind, watched him since U20s and I was always astounded at the fact Blues ignored him. I just haven't really seen him play this season. Is he a big guy? He was pretty lean when in the white and black of Ponty.

[Guest]

It's Hill's or Screech's, I think. I would say Screech from the start of the season, but now I personally think Hill has it. They're all going to rotate though, I guess (bar Landman).

[maestegmafia]

Well done Dragons, he'll of a performance being reported in the papers today. Missed the game unfortunately but great result.

[VinceWLB]

You have to wonder what was the point the Dragons had playing the likes of Landman, Stankovich, Harris.. who have played a lot of rugby already this season.
A win in that fashion in this competition isn't going to impress anyone.

[wayne]

You have to wonder what was the point the Dragons had playing the likes of Landman, Stankovich, Harris.. who have played a lot of rugby already this season.
A win in that fashion in this competition isn't going to impress anyone.

Vince, I've posted on our Topic, what did they gain from this game against the team that was put out and to put it succintly. SFA.

[Guest]

Dragons gain a fair bit actually. Bit of momentum for a start, given that wins have been pretty rare this season. A knowledge that we don't need to keep relying on off form players like Brew (as an example). Players like Hill, Wardle, Morgan given crucial playing time and Brok Harris eased into our playing squad.

But yeah, Dragons gain sweet FA.

[wayne]

[quote="Risca Rev"]

But yeah, Dragons gain sweet FA.[/quote
I'm glad you agree with me

[Guest]

Somebody has to

[VinceWLB]

Dragons gained a knee injury to one of their most important player, Stankovich

[glamorganalun]

This is the risk you take fielding some of the best plsyer in a nothing game unless there is strength in depth. Looks an impressive first half for the Dragons, I suspect they went to sleep in the second half.

[Guest]

Dragons gained a knee injury to one of their most important player, Stankovich

How long is he out for? He could've got injured in training if he hadn't have played or could easily pick up an injury early v Munster, so you can't wrap players in cotton wool.

[dragon999]

could be 1 week,could be 8 - Lyn Jones said yesterday

[dragon999]

This is the risk you take fielding some of the best plsyer in a nothing game unless there is strength in depth. Looks an impressive first half for the Dragons, I suspect they went to sleep in the second half.

Bench cleared, two yellows & took foot off gas

[glamorganalun]

Thanks for that, I read the weather also helped.

[Guest]

Phil Price was part of a strong scrum at Quins, so I'm not too worried if him or even Owen Evans have to play. Loose head is not really an issue for us, as welcome as Boris is. Plus you get more round the park from Price.

[dragon999]

Price is a class loose head & favoured by the coaches so agree with you!

[dragon4life]

Evans was strong in scrum against stade and Price was good in scrum against quins so no problems at loosehead

[dragon4life]

And against munster sam hobbs got the better of the munster TH so thats saying something

[The Saint]

Harris to LH this week?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

O'Brien left out of the squad but apparently not because of injury. I'm not sure that's particularly clever. They sent him back to Cross Keys because it was only Low-Value Cup games coming up, so it's a bit odd to reward Dorian Jones for good performances in said Low-Value Cup. Unless O'Brien's been poor for Cross Keys, I don't know.

[dragon999]

Angus went off with concussion against Newcastle, not sure what the protocol is now for that, but it is a hot topic at the moment so maybe this might be an issue?

[Guest]

Angus wasn't great against Newcastle, so I think Lyn has sent him back to Keys for development personally. Not the greatest example of man management. He is starting for Keys tonight. I am not overly enthused by Dorian playing ten tonight.

[dragon999]

Dragons really struggling - is it time for Lyn & Kings to go?

[Guest]

It's not looking got for them is it? We put out a pretty strong team but got pumped. Did you go to the game? I wasn't there. Only going on the scoreline. Looks bad.

[dragon999]

Yes Griff - first half boys did relatively well but were unable to cross the line.Second half was without doubt the worst 40 minutes of rugby i have seen in a very long time if ever, Munster tore us a new one, we were just not at the races what ball we did get we kicked away very badly. Munster scored seemimgly at will through great tactical kicking by Keatley & a driving lineout we were powerless to stop. Embarrassing! That said, well done Munster you taught us a lesson in foward play & tactical nous

[dragon4life]

Coaches need to go. Awful game plan.

[dragon999]

You may be right, Dragons are better than that second half showing

[Luckless Pedestrian]

It's hard to defend that second-half performance. Munster upped their game, but even so, that was just rank poor. The tries from the driving lineout were too easy for them, it was like going back to last season against Connacht. It just seemed inevitable. And Munster's try at the start of the second half came (indirectly) from a chargedown, which was depressingly familiar.

Positives: Rhys Jones at full back played better than Lee Byrne has for us this season in my opinion; Hallam ran the ball back rather than skying it and made ground every time; Lewis Evans didn't put a foot wrong and must be sick and tired of being on the losing side; Tyler Morgan looked sharp when he had the ball but should have been in midfield where he would have seen more of it.

'No excuses,' the Joneses said at the start of the season; I'm looking forward to hearing the latest ones.

[bedfordwelsh]

I have backed the Jones' boys most of the way but like others on here now serious questions need to be asked as to whether they are up to the task/right men for job etc?

I have always liked both coaches and the one thing I thought Kingsley would bring is being a Gwent (Ebbw) boy then it would help the Region spread more through Gwent.

However if they go who will come in? Could we afford any real big names and could they do anymore with what they got, I think we have recruited relatively well but they don't seem to be responding or the coaches cant get best out of them.

There were rumours before the season linking Shane Howarth with us which I thought would be great but could he do the head coach role or should he come in as an additional coach etc etc.

[VinceWLB]

Ouch this is a pretty embarrassing defeat from the Dragons, told you guys putting 50 points on the Ospreys academy boys means Poopie

[Guest]

Ouch this is a pretty embarrassing defeat from the Dragons, told you guys putting 50 points on the Ospreys academy boys means Poopie

I still don't agree with you Vince. To say that winning a match, any match, rather than losing it is pointless is just poor logic. The only other outcome would have been losing against the ospryes (or drawing I suppose) - I just can't see how that is better than winning.

[dragon999]

I get where Vince is coming from - Read a lot this week about Dragons rolling maul & defence of, so did Munster & they put the improvement right in perspective - it's ok to do it against a young inexperienced Osprey side but Munster are a totally different kettle of fish, our coaches & players know that & should do the talking on the field not in the press.

[The Saint]

The problem is Welsh rugby, it needs addressing from the bottom up instead of the top down. And no, that does not mean bringing back old clubs, sorry to disapoint.

I'm fairness, it was a good Munster team. They possibly have better depth than the other 3 right now, that's a result of the Penney legacy. So until the infrastructure is sorted, we'll always be chasing irish tails.

[Allty]

lJ is not a good coach and has been out of his depth for many seasons at different clubs.

[VinceWLB]

Ouch this is a pretty embarrassing defeat from the Dragons, told you guys putting 50 points on the Ospreys academy boys means Poopie

I still don't agree with you Vince. To say that winning a match, any match, rather than losing it is pointless is just poor logic. The only other outcome would have been losing against the ospryes (or drawing I suppose) - I just can't see how that is better than winning.

My point was that it was useless for the Dragons to play such a team against the Ospreys, they lost a player through injury and it would appear it didn't even served them well as preparation for the Munster game if yesterday result is anything to go by.

[Guest]

Ouch this is a pretty embarrassing defeat from the Dragons, told you guys putting 50 points on the Ospreys academy boys means Poopie

I still don't agree with you Vince. To say that winning a match, any match, rather than losing it is pointless is just poor logic. The only other outcome would have been losing against the ospryes (or drawing I suppose) - I just can't see how that is better than winning.

My point was that it was useless for the Dragons to play such a team against the Ospreys, they lost a player through injury and it would appear it didn't even served them well as preparation for the Munster game if yesterday result is anything to go by.

Such a team? As has been pointed out we only had about 3-5 first choice players (depending on your opinion). The rest were squad players - either 2nd or 3rd or perhaps even 4th. As also pointed out the O's had a similar number of match day squad players. I agree that playing our best team would have been slightly pointless, but then we didn't so.

[The Saint]

Ouch this is a pretty embarrassing defeat from the Dragons, told you guys putting 50 points on the Ospreys academy boys means Poopie

I still don't agree with you Vince. To say that winning a match, any match, rather than losing it is pointless is just poor logic. The only other outcome would have been losing against the ospryes (or drawing I suppose) - I just can't see how that is better than winning.

My point was that it was useless for the Dragons to play such a team against the Ospreys, they lost a player through injury and it would appear it didn't even served them well as preparation for the Munster game if yesterday result is anything to go by.

Such a team? As has been pointed out we only had about 3-5 first choice players (depending on your opinion). The rest were squad players - either 2nd or 3rd or perhaps even 4th. As also pointed out the O's had a similar number of match day squad players. I agree that playing our best team would have been slightly pointless, but then we didn't so.

Kind of renders his point pointless then doesn't it Griff. Also, don't see how that game disrupted preparation, we've been trying to cope with a fairly high injury record all season.

[VinceWLB]

12 players that started against the Ospreys (counting Stankovich as he would have 100% sure been in the 1st 15) started yesterday, my point still stands as the Dragons played almost their best possible team in a meaningless LV cup game while the likes of Ospreys and Munster were resting their players.

Was merely pointing out terrible players management from the coaching team.

[The Saint]

Was that why they lost?

[VinceWLB]

Certainly not given the huge scoreline difference but could be food for thoughts after the Dragons' capitulation in the 2nd half.

[The Saint]

That's been going on all season as well. It's a fundamental flaw that needs addressing fast. It's a culmination of bad coaching and poor execution by the players.

[Guest]

Lyn Jones strikes again. Watch his pack get mullered by Glasgow and then send the same one out to face a side who will undoubtedly target us in the scrums. Why not pick Phil Price at loose and Brok at tighthead?

[The Saint]

Seen your angry comments on Facebook Rev, . I think most fans would echo your thoughts. Lyn obviously sees the Romanians as a push over, I'm not so sure that he should see it that way. Also, after the home loss to Falcons surely we'd need maximum points from each game, because at the end that's what it could come down to.

[bedfordwelsh]

Any reports on how the game went today, seen the result which was good to get the winning bp but we play etc

[Guest]

Started poorly and they started very well, as the 10-0 start would suggest. When we started playing a bit and getting some phases going, we scored. Our driving lineouts were pretty impressive. He conditions and pitch were terrible. Much better result than I expected. Thought we would struggle, but bar the first quarter we were comfortable.

Brok Harris got penalised three times pretty early scrummaging. I would suggest either he plays three next game or is dropped, as it was a worry. He was lucky the tighthead he was up against had to go off, as did their 7 who was getting around the field a bit whilst he was on.

[bedfordwelsh]

Guess its the old 'wins a win' adage. Good to hear the lineouts went well lets hope we can do the double next week and then in the New Year go up the Toon and get something ready for Stade at home.

[Guest]

Getting the BP was key. I think it'll come down to BPs in this group. I agree that getting something, anything, at Newcastle should be the aim. Don't think it'll be easy though. They're on a bit of a roll and dispatched us fairly easily/comprehensively at home.

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