Dragons Season Thread - 2019/20 aka Year 1 of the new 5 Year Plan

by Stone Motif Sun 30 Dec 2018, 11:19 pm

RiscaGame wrote:A good win for Dragons. Wonder if George North might get banned this week for more shethousery. Guy is turning into a dirty get down there.

Wasn’t too convinced by the subs we made, but they turned out to be wise choices. That includes Tovey steadying the ship and kicking the winner and surprisingly Suter being solid in the scrum.

It's an amazing win given the Ospreys dominance. If they'd have made the right calls our luck would have run out I think.

by mikey_dragon Mon 31 Dec 2018, 1:08 am

With a crap coach and halfbacks you aren’t going to make the right calls. We’ve got rid of the crap coach at least, but would still like to see a good head coach come in next season.

by Pot Hale Mon 31 Dec 2018, 2:50 am

Good win for Dragons. 12 games in and 4 wins on the board. As good as three of the last four years.

Wins against Kings, Zebre, Edinburgh, and Ospreys so far. Can they pick up more wins in next few rounds during 6 Nations?
Scarlets A
Munster H
Edinburgh A
Benetton A
Ulster H

by Brendan Mon 31 Dec 2018, 8:49 am

Good win. Bit of confidence goes a long way and the players seem to be not giving up. Fist win in 4 years against a Welsh team with a good attendance is a great way to finish the year

by Stone Motif Mon 31 Dec 2018, 9:09 am

Pot Hale wrote:Good win for Dragons. 12 games in and 4 wins on the board. As good as three of the last four years.

Wins against Kings, Zebre, Edinburgh, and Ospreys so far. Can they pick up more wins in next few rounds during 6 Nations?
Scarlets A
Munster H
Edinburgh A
Benetton A
Ulster H

Ulster don't generally seem to play well in Newport. Would fancy us to limit teams more playing away with our new game plan of let them have the ball and scramble like hell in defense, couple of BPs from Edinburgh and Treviso as well maybe?

by Stone Motif Mon 31 Dec 2018, 9:12 am

mikey_dragon wrote:With a crap coach and halfbacks you aren’t going to make the right calls. We’ve got rid of the crap coach at least, but would still like to see a good head coach come in next season.

Sam Davies is not crap, the side contained AWJ and Tipuric who no doubt read the riot act at half time, and they have a better coach than they've had for the last six years of annual double victories over the Dragons.

by Stone Motif Mon 31 Dec 2018, 10:33 am

RiscaGame wrote:Well, it’s possible George North will be missing the game against us. Looked very much like a shoulder to the head of Gareth Davies. I assume the TMO was happy with it, but it seemed like it was to the head to me, which is a red.

Got to have a week or two off after yesterday, surely?

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Dec 2018, 10:39 am

I didn't see it at the time, but it looks like North knew exactly what he was doing. He's lucky Dee got back up.

I was thinking at half time that we'd led the Blues at half time earlier in the season, and then hardly played in the second half. I had a sinking feeling when Tipuric went over, and I didn't see Sam Davies missing at the end. We squeaked it in the end, but what a relief. I'm always amazed by the noise the 'Hazell' stand can produce.

I'm quite looking forward to the trip down to Llanelli on Saturday now - but just watch, they'll have ironed out the creases just in time!

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Dec 2018, 10:40 am

RiscaGame wrote:Oh and Kirchner played well enough too. Sorry for doubting you Ceri.

Some of his kicking was excellent, along with being as solid as you'd hope from a former Springbok. He might be a good signing after all!

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Dec 2018, 11:10 am

Chris Kirwan wrote:After 23 doses of misery, the Dragons had ended the hoodoo and it was a victory based on tenacity in defence.

Wing Jared Rosser and Elliot Dee scored tries but the spoils were earned by the spirit, desire and organisation without the ball.

Wales internationals Aaron Wainwright and Cory Hill led the way while the unsung duo of Jarryd Sage and Adam Warren played blinders in midfield.

The Dragons are so often the plucky losers but this time they sneaked home to give caretaker boss Jones, holding the reins after the sacking of Bernard Jackman, his finest moment in coaching.

This was the region playing as their supporters demand; they know that they aren’t world beaters, they know that the squad lacks depth but they expect fight, fight and more fight.

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17326642.dragons-23-ospreys-22-after-23-doses-of-misery-derby-hoodoo-is-ended-amid-late-drama-at-rodney-parade/

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Dec 2018, 11:12 am

I don't quite understand how a team can be better organised after the head coach and defence coach have gone. Too many cooks?

by Stone Motif Mon 31 Dec 2018, 11:15 am

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I didn't see it at the time, but it looks like North knew exactly what he was doing. He's lucky Dee got back up.

I was thinking at half time that we'd led the Blues at half time earlier in the season, and then hardly played in the second half. I had a sinking feeling when Tipuric went over, and I didn't see Sam Davies missing at the end. We squeaked it in the end, but what a relief. I'm always amazed by the noise the 'Hazell' stand can produce.

I'm quite looking forward to the trip down to Llanelli on Saturday now - but just watch, they'll have ironed out the creases just in time!

The Ospreys are over-hyped. They play some good stuff out wide but particularly since Webb left don't have anyone in the middle of the field who can stop the defence from just fanning out like we did yesterday. Not sure the plan will work against better teams and especially those like the Scarlets who have forwards that can carry of sorts (albeit pick and go handling types) and always the chance Cawdor will pull one of his highlight reel performances against us. He can be wound up though, I'd starve Wainwright and Moriarty all week and tell them a certain crap west Walian scrum half capable of moments of utter brilliance has all the leftover roast babies in Llanelli his pockets.

by **RiscaGame** Mon 31 Dec 2018, 11:16 am

Just watched it back. Ceri definitely made his subs at the right time, as a few of our players were out on their feet.

I’ve seen that S4C highlighted what North did twice too. To be honest, it doesn’t really bother me what happens to him now, but it is annoying that he should’ve had at least ten minutes off yesterday and was perhaps fortuitous to even be playing anyway, so we haven’t gained what we should have from two pieces of his foul play.

Atmosphere was good. Great roar for the Rosser try. I complained about the in game music, but I seemed to be enjoying Daft Punk after that score Rolling Eyes

by Stone Motif Mon 31 Dec 2018, 11:46 am

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I don't quite understand how a team can be better organised after the head coach and defence coach have gone. Too many cooks?

Same amount of cooks now more or less, just less sh7t ones I guess

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/17326830.dragons-desire-in-defence-showed-how-much-derby-win-meant-captain-hill/

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Dec 2018, 11:57 am

I haven't seen either of the Scarlets' derby games, but one of the criticisms has been how poor they've been in the backs, which is a real surprise. So on the one hand things clearly aren't quite right down there - and I know they've had injuries, but haven't we all - but on the other, you'd think they won't be poor three weeks in a row.

I went down to the game last January and it was a total schooling. They were a different class then.

by Pot Hale Mon 31 Dec 2018, 1:03 pm

Stone Motif wrote:
Pot Hale wrote:Good win for Dragons. 12 games in and 4 wins on the board. As good as three of the last four years.

Wins against Kings, Zebre, Edinburgh, and Ospreys so far. Can they pick up more wins in next few rounds during 6 Nations?
Scarlets A
Munster H
Edinburgh A
Benetton A
Ulster H

Ulster don't generally seem to play well in Newport. Would fancy us to limit teams more playing away with our new game plan of let them have the ball and scramble like hell in defense, couple of BPs from Edinburgh and Treviso as well maybe?

Possibly. Of course, ye have Kings and Cheetahs in South Africa to come - given their inept performances to date, there might be a win there too.

Finishing with 6 wins - maybe 7 - would be a good result do you think?

by Stone Motif Mon 31 Dec 2018, 2:33 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I haven't seen either of the Scarlets' derby games, but one of the criticisms has been how poor they've been in the backs, which is a real surprise. So on the one hand things clearly aren't quite right down there - and I know they've had injuries, but haven't we all - but on the other, you'd think they won't be poor three weeks in a row.

I went down to the game last January and it was a total schooling. They were a different class then.

They can fix that in part by putting HP back at 12

by Stone Motif Mon 31 Dec 2018, 2:34 pm

Pot Hale wrote:
Stone Motif wrote:
Pot Hale wrote:Good win for Dragons. 12 games in and 4 wins on the board. As good as three of the last four years.

Wins against Kings, Zebre, Edinburgh, and Ospreys so far. Can they pick up more wins in next few rounds during 6 Nations?
Scarlets A
Munster H
Edinburgh A
Benetton A
Ulster H

Ulster don't generally seem to play well in Newport. Would fancy us to limit teams more playing away with our new game plan of let them have the ball and scramble like hell in defense, couple of BPs from Edinburgh and Treviso as well maybe?

Possibly. Of course, ye have Kings and Cheetahs in South Africa to come - given their inept performances to date, there might be a win there too.

Finishing with 6 wins - maybe 7 - would be a good result do you think?

It would, but would be equally likely for us to go to SA and get prison shamed big time twice

by mikey_dragon Mon 31 Dec 2018, 6:42 pm

Stone Motif wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:With a crap coach and halfbacks you aren’t going to make the right calls. We’ve got rid of the crap coach at least, but would still like to see a good head coach come in next season.
Sam Davies is not crap, the side contained AWJ and Tipuric who no doubt read the riot act at half time, and they have a better coach than they've had for the last six years of annual double victories over the Dragons.

by mikey_dragon Mon 31 Dec 2018, 6:44 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:
RiscaGame wrote:Oh and Kirchner played well enough too. Sorry for doubting you Ceri.

Some of his kicking was excellent, along with being as solid as you'd hope from a former Springbok. He might be a good signing after all!

Never seen him play bad from 15, he just got injured early on for us.

by Valleyboy Tue 01 Jan 2019, 12:40 pm

What did George North do? I watched the game but missed this

by **RiscaGame** Tue 01 Jan 2019, 2:26 pm

https://twitter.com/m2ahr/status/1079456986067070977?s=21

That. If you watched it on S4C, they replayed it more than once. If you watched it on premier, they didn’t apparently.

by Valleyboy Tue 01 Jan 2019, 3:29 pm

Thanks for the link

by **RiscaGame** Tue 01 Jan 2019, 6:59 pm

No probs. I suspect nothing will come of it, but having watched how he was reacting to players standing in his way before that, I think his intent is clear.

Like I said, Dragons won’t benefit from it now, but from a Welsh point of view I hope he is spoken to, because it’s two needless things he has done in the past two games now.

by maestegmafia Wed 02 Jan 2019, 10:20 am

Great game by the dragons, really starting to come together, still some good players on the sick note list too

by munkian Wed 02 Jan 2019, 11:41 am

All this talk of 'first derby win in blah blah' always seems to miss us knocking Cardiff out the Challenge cup in 2015...

by **RiscaGame** Wed 02 Jan 2019, 12:40 pm

That was a good day. Should have more early kick offs like that.

by munkian Wed 02 Jan 2019, 12:48 pm

RiscaGame wrote:That was a good day. Should have more early kick offs like that.

First time I've ever drank Prosecco in the Riverside Tavern Very Happy

I'm gutted this game was on a Sunday before NYE - I would've gone otherwise.

by **RiscaGame** Wed 02 Jan 2019, 1:59 pm

Yeah, the timing wasn’t great. Certainly could’ve done without another drinking day myself, as it turned out.

Have to wait and see whether I fancy a beer down the Wild West this weekend now.

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri 04 Jan 2019, 10:16 am

Rumours that Ken Owens is going to start at number 8 for the Scarlets. Their back row injury list really is something.

by munkian Fri 04 Jan 2019, 10:19 am

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Rumours that Ken Owens is going to start at number 8 for the Scarlets. Their back row injury list really is something.

He'd actually be a tidy fit there.

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri 04 Jan 2019, 10:23 am

Elias is decent, but I don't know what their third hooker is like.

Where's ScarletSpiderman when you need him?

by **RiscaGame** Fri 04 Jan 2019, 12:00 pm

He would be useful in cannon balling off the back of the scrum. Would be quite something to see, if true.

by munkian Fri 04 Jan 2019, 12:02 pm

RiscaGame wrote:He would be useful in cannon balling off the back of the scrum. Would be quite something to see, if true.

Hes a good carrier and jackler. Ospreys missed carriers against us, I don't think the Turks will.

by munkian Fri 04 Jan 2019, 12:07 pm

Morgan comes into the starting line-up and is part of six changes made by interim Head Coach Ceri Jones for the league encounter.

Centre Jack Dixon makes a return to partner Morgan in midfield while Adam Warren moves to the wing with Jared Rosser ruled out through injury.

Scrum half Tavis Knoyle and full back Jordan Williams are also named and will face their former region.

Changes up front see hooker Richard Hibbard and prop Dan Suter called up, with Aaron Jarvis playing at loosehead. Ryan Bevington misses the game with concussion.

Wales Under-20 international prop Chris Coleman and lock Joe Davies are named among the replacements.

Coach Ceri Jones said: “You only have to look at the Scarlets record over the last few seasons, particularly at home, to know the size of the challenge we face. We will not underestimate how difficult a task it is.

“They had a poor performance by their own high standards against Cardiff Blues, but they will come out as a wounded dog and wounded dogs like to bite.

“The Scarlets are a top side with quality all the way through their squad. But we are full of confidence, given the performance against Cardiff Blues and result against Ospreys.

“We showed against Ospreys that we can be combative at the right time. We maybe didn’t have as much territory and possession as we wanted, but we stuck to the game plan.

“Now it’s about consistency and making sure we are always at the right level. That is the challenge for this squad.”

Lloyd Fairbrother misses the match as he serves the second game of a three-match suspension. Ashton Hewitt, Brok Harris, Leon Brown, Ollie Griffiths, James Sheekey, Ross Moriarty and Arwel Robson also remain on the sidelines.

Dragons (v Scarlets): Jordan Williams, Adam Warren, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Hallam Amos, Josh Lewis, Tavis Knoyle; Aaron Jarvis, Richard Hibbard, Dan Suter, Brandon Nansen, Matthew Screech, Cory Hill (c), Aaron Wainwright, Harrison Keddie

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Gerard Ellis, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, James Benjamin, Rhodri Williams, Jason Tovey, Zane Kirchner

by munkian Fri 04 Jan 2019, 12:10 pm

SCARLETS: Johnny McNicholl; Ioan Nicholas, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Paul Asquith; Dan Jones, Kieran Hardy; Rob Evans, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Josh Helps, David Bulbring, Ed Kennedy, Dan Davis, Ken Owens (capt).

Reps: Marc Jones, Wyn Jones, Werner Kruger, Tom Price, Tom Phillips, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Steffan Hughes, Tom Prydie.

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri 04 Jan 2019, 12:17 pm

It's a shame for Rosser after last week, and we could do without that injury to Bevington given the Scarlets' front row. But otherwise our pack is still pretty hefty.

It's a bold move swapping Jordan Williams for Kirchner, but I like it. It's an attacking move.

by munkian Fri 04 Jan 2019, 12:26 pm

Could be a tidy game.

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri 04 Jan 2019, 12:29 pm

From a poster on Scarlet Fever:

'Our back five are going to be in for a real arm wrestle. The Dragons have a big back row. Why ken at 8?
Is Philips that far off, that we have to play a hooker at 8.
Not looking forward to tomorrow, no pace on the wings and a lightweight pack.'

by munkian Fri 04 Jan 2019, 12:32 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:From a poster on Scarlet Fever:

'Our back five are going to be in for a real arm wrestle. The Dragons have a big back row. Why ken at 8?
Is Philips that far off, that we have to play a hooker at 8.
Not looking forward to tomorrow, no pace on the wings and a lightweight pack.'

Brave for going on Scarlet Fever, hope you've had your jabs Very Happy

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri 04 Jan 2019, 12:37 pm

Just keeping an eye on things Whistle

by **RiscaGame** Fri 04 Jan 2019, 12:52 pm

I think we could’ve gone a bit stronger and really had a go at them. It doesn’t make sense to bench Kirchner after last week, unless we are planning on running a lot and then I don’t mind Williams starting.

Great to see a lock on the bench. Think we will need him, if we have to make prop changes.

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri 04 Jan 2019, 2:07 pm

RiscaGame wrote:I think we could’ve gone a bit stronger and really had a go at them. It doesn’t make sense to bench Kirchner after last week, unless we are planning on running a lot and then I don’t mind Williams starting.

Great to see a lock on the bench. Think we will need him, if we have to make prop changes.

That must be what it is. Maybe he thinks they're a bit wobbly at the moment and this is the way to capitalise on it. There's a lot of footballers in the backs now.

Oh, I just noticed Jarryd Sage has disappeared. Injured, or just left out? Seems harsh if it's the latter.

by **RiscaGame** Fri 04 Jan 2019, 4:10 pm

The Argus explains the selection better. But some of them are due to players having knocks, but they have a couple of weeks off (in effect), with two dead rubbers on Europe (especially next week).

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri 04 Jan 2019, 5:00 pm

It's quite disconcerting reading some of the posts on Scarlet Fever. They're not that confident at all. I can't help feeling it'll be all the worse if they beat us now, given it's being painted as such a golden opportunity.

We need to keep our heads tomorrow, even (or especially) if we have a handy lead. I'm worried about Keddie and Nansen in particular.

by **RiscaGame** Fri 04 Jan 2019, 7:54 pm

We’ve been made to be favourites against Scarlets teams before, even in lesser comps and don’t succeed. Surely they could’ve loaned somebody if they were that desperate? They’ve helped us, so why couldn’t we have loaned them Basham or something? That’s a genuine question btw.

by munkian Mon 07 Jan 2019, 10:14 am

Why would we loan them Basham to play us when Griffiths and Moriarty are both injured ?

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 07 Jan 2019, 10:26 am

Well what a flat game that was. We had the odd five-minute spell, but that was it. As someone else has said, a better side would have put 40 points on us.

by munkian Mon 07 Jan 2019, 12:11 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Well what a flat game that was. We had the odd five-minute spell, but that was it. As someone else has said, a better side would have put 40 points on us.

I disagree, our defence and commitment were fantastic - we were just massively outclassed by their front row and our lineout was poor. We had no platform to launch from.

by **RiscaGame** Mon 07 Jan 2019, 12:20 pm

munkian wrote:Why would we loan them Basham to play us when Griffiths and Moriarty are both injured ?

Because he isn’t being used by us still. It doesn’t matter now anyway.

Yeah, I didn’t bother to watch the game back yesterday. Be interesting to see what we can put out on Friday, to rest players etc.

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