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

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

First topic message reminder :

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 Fri 05 Jul 2019, 3:56 pm

Looks like I got the Tom James call right, saying that he would go elsewhere. I pictured it being Ospreys over Scarlets though. Also the extra money requested by DR is supposedly 300K, which could be the price of one good player up front if we’re lucky, but just waiting to see which Worcester reject he next brings in. #sameol

by Stone Motif Fri 05 Jul 2019, 9:21 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:Looks like I got the Tom James call right, saying that he would go elsewhere. I pictured it being Ospreys over Scarlets though. Also the extra money requested by DR is supposedly 300K, which could be the price of one good player up front if we’re lucky, but just waiting to see which Worcester reject he next brings in. #sameol

Waste of a good opportunity to compensate for a lack of front five carriers with heavy backs.

The £300k has already been spent. On Brok Harris, amongst others.

by Guest Fri 05 Jul 2019, 9:51 pm

Twitter was awash with outrage about the Dragons request for a ‘hand out’, as you can imagine. Good old PhillBB leading the charge to be crowned the most offended poster on Twitter. Lots of stuff about ‘rewarding failure’, ‘conflict of interest’ (WRU/Dragons relationship), etc. Nice to see Buttress correcting Phil on some claims though!

by Stone Motif Fri 05 Jul 2019, 10:06 pm

The Oracle wrote:Twitter was awash with outrage about the Dragons request for a ‘hand out’, as you can imagine. Good old PhillBB leading the charge to be crowned the most offended poster on Twitter. Lots of stuff about ‘rewarding failure’, ‘conflict of interest’ (WRU/Dragons relationship), etc. Nice to see Buttress correcting Phil on some claims though!

I can only imagine the apoplexy. I mean, it's not as if the other three regions agreed the loan is it?

by Guest Fri 05 Jul 2019, 11:01 pm

Stone Motif wrote:
The Oracle wrote:Twitter was awash with outrage about the Dragons request for a ‘hand out’, as you can imagine. Good old PhillBB leading the charge to be crowned the most offended poster on Twitter. Lots of stuff about ‘rewarding failure’, ‘conflict of interest’ (WRU/Dragons relationship), etc. Nice to see Buttress correcting Phil on some claims though!

I can only imagine the apoplexy. I mean, it's not as if the other three regions agreed the loan is it?

Exactly. All above board and agreed as far as I can see/read. There was one poster trying to claim some sort of fraud picard

by Stone Motif Sat 06 Jul 2019, 12:17 am

The Oracle wrote:
Stone Motif wrote:
The Oracle wrote:Twitter was awash with outrage about the Dragons request for a ‘hand out’, as you can imagine. Good old PhillBB leading the charge to be crowned the most offended poster on Twitter. Lots of stuff about ‘rewarding failure’, ‘conflict of interest’ (WRU/Dragons relationship), etc. Nice to see Buttress correcting Phil on some claims though!

I can only imagine the apoplexy. I mean, it's not as if the other three regions agreed the loan is it?

Exactly. All above board and agreed as far as I can see/read. There was one poster trying to claim some sort of fraud

There's a lot of other regional fans out there soiling themselves over the thought that the ground redevelopment might be a success and we drag ourselves up to level pegging, pun intended.

by Pot Hale Sat 06 Jul 2019, 3:26 pm

When is this thread going to change to Dragons 2019/20 - Year 3 of the 3 year plan?

Standards must be kept...

by **RiscaGame** Sat 06 Jul 2019, 4:46 pm

Surely we are in year one of the five year plan now. That three year one was all Bernard’s and didn’t Buttress change it to a five year plan anyway? Wink

by Pot Hale Sat 06 Jul 2019, 4:53 pm

RiscaGame wrote:Surely we are in year one of the five year plan now. That three year one was all Bernard’s and didn’t Buttress change it to a five year plan anyway?

Ooh, decisions, decisions. Good call

by Guest Sat 06 Jul 2019, 7:43 pm

Who changed the title?! Surely we need a new thread instead? I’ll get on to it.

by maestegmafia Sat 06 Jul 2019, 8:12 pm

The Oracle wrote:Who changed the title?! Surely we need a new thread instead? I’ll get on to it.

Sorry just trying to please the posters..!

Let’s keep this thread running.

by Guest Sat 06 Jul 2019, 8:19 pm

maestegmafia wrote:
The Oracle wrote:Who changed the title?! Surely we need a new thread instead? I’ll get on to it.

Sorry just trying to please the posters..!

Let’s keep this thread running.

Really? The OP is about an Ospreys game. Ah, maybe that’s why Wink

by mikey_dragon Mon 08 Jul 2019, 3:32 am

Stone Motif wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:Looks like I got the Tom James call right, saying that he would go elsewhere. I pictured it being Ospreys over Scarlets though. Also the extra money requested by DR is supposedly 300K, which could be the price of one good player up front if we’re lucky, but just waiting to see which Worcester reject he next brings in. #sameol

Waste of a good opportunity to compensate for a lack of front five carriers with heavy backs.

The £300k has already been spent. On Brok Harris, amongst others.

Are you sure? The Harris re-signing was announced before DR’s request for extra money, at least that’s how I read it.

by mikey_dragon Mon 08 Jul 2019, 3:36 am

The Oracle wrote:Twitter was awash with outrage about the Dragons request for a ‘hand out’, as you can imagine. Good old PhillBB leading the charge to be crowned the most offended poster on Twitter. Lots of stuff about ‘rewarding failure’, ‘conflict of interest’ (WRU/Dragons relationship), etc. Nice to see Buttress correcting Phil on some claims though!

The guy is a complete nut, highly delusional. He blocked me on Twitter after I called him out being wrong - we were connected for a while so I used to get see it first hand. Several times I’ve proved him wrong about Cardiff’s coach and backwards season on here and Twitter, which is why he’s staying away. No need to thank me.

by Stone Motif Mon 08 Jul 2019, 8:21 am

mikey_dragon wrote:
Stone Motif wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:Looks like I got the Tom James call right, saying that he would go elsewhere. I pictured it being Ospreys over Scarlets though. Also the extra money requested by DR is supposedly 300K, which could be the price of one good player up front if we’re lucky, but just waiting to see which Worcester reject he next brings in. #sameol

Waste of a good opportunity to compensate for a lack of front five carriers with heavy backs.

The £300k has already been spent. On Brok Harris, amongst others.

Are you sure? The Harris re-signing was announced before DR’s request for extra money, at least that’s how I read it.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/reason-dragons-received-extra-300000-16513582

by **RiscaGame** Wed 17 Jul 2019, 1:20 pm

Round 1
28/09/2019 15:00 Munster Rugby v Dragons Thomond Park

Round 2
05/10/2019 18:00 Zebre Rugby Club v Dragons Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

Round 3
11/10/2019 19:35 Dragons v Connacht Rugby Rodney Parade

Round 4
26/10/2019 15:00 Dragons v Glasgow Warriors Rodney Parade

Round 5
01/11/2019 19:35 Leinster Rugby v Dragons RDS Arena

Round 6
08/11/2019 19:35 Edinburgh Rugby v Dragons BT Murrayfield

Round 7
30/11/2019 17:15 Dragons v Zebre Rugby Club Rodney Parade

Round 8
21/12/2019 17:15 Dragons v Scarlets Rodney Parade

Round 9
26/12/2019 15:00 Cardiff Blues v Dragons Cardiff Arms Park

Round 10
04/01/2020 15:00 Dragons v Ospreys Rodney Parade

Round 11
15/02/2020 19:35 Dragons v Benetton Rugby Rodney Parade

Round 12
22/02/2020 19:35 Glasgow Warriors v Dragons Scotstoun Stadium

Round 13
29/02/2020 17:15 Dragons v Toyota Cheetahs Rodney Parade

Round 14
20/03/2020 19:35 Ulster Rugby v Dragons Kingspan Stadium

Round 15
28/03/2020 15:00 Scarlets v Dragons Parc y Scarlets

Round 16
11/04/2020 19:35 Dragons v Ulster Rugby Rodney Parade

Round 17
18/04/2020 15:00 Ospreys v Dragons

Round 18
24/04/2020 19:35 Dragons v Leinster Rugby Rodney Parade

Round 19
09/05/2020 14:00 Toyota Cheetahs v Dragons Toyota Stadium

Round 20
16/05/2020 16:00 Isuzu Southern Kings v Dragons Nelson Mandela Bay

Round 21
29 May Dragons v Cardiff Blues Rodney Parade

by **RiscaGame** Wed 17 Jul 2019, 1:21 pm

Not the easiest of starts, first up.

by Luckless Pedestrian Wed 17 Jul 2019, 2:09 pm

It's not an easy run of games at all. Then again, if this season is going to be an improvement, than we need to be winning matches like Zebre away and Connacht at home.

I can't believe we're actually getting the Scarlets at home - properly at home - in the league again. It's been years!

by **RiscaGame** Wed 17 Jul 2019, 2:41 pm

Yes, I will look forward immensely to that.

by LordDowlais Thu 25 Jul 2019, 9:39 am

Former Wales and England internationals Geraint Lewis and Luke Narraway have joined the coaching setup at the Dragons.

Are you all happy with these appointments ?

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 25 Jul 2019, 9:54 am

Just for the Celtic Cup, isn't it?

by LordDowlais Thu 25 Jul 2019, 10:08 am

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Just for the Celtic Cup, isn't it?

Yes from what I can gather, do the regions usually do this though, have separate coaches for different competitions ?

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 25 Jul 2019, 10:11 am

I'm pretty sure they do, same when it was the B&I Cup.

I don't know what Narraway's done coaching wise, but wasn't Geraint Lewis involved in the under-20s or something before? Either way, our back row should be decent with those two in charge!

by Guest Thu 25 Jul 2019, 10:53 am

The Celtic Cup will involve development teams or A teams won’t it? So they'd need a separate set of coaches as they’ll be going to different places on different weekends.

by Guest Thu 25 Jul 2019, 11:01 am

Just to add, I think I remember reading somewhere that the point of the new Celtic Cup/Regional A/Regional U23 teams was also to develop upcoming (local) coaches too, so this might explain these appointments and the differentiation between the Dragons senior coaching team.

by **RiscaGame** Thu 25 Jul 2019, 11:30 am

We've had separate coaches for our Academy for as long as I can remember and these are pretty good appointments, to support and develop young coaches Matt O'Brien and Sam Hobbs.

by Stone Motif Fri 16 Aug 2019, 2:49 pm

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/17842086.dragons-release-centre-loots-make-move-usa/

Yet more compelling evidence of players who have starred at premiership level really making their mark in the prO'14. When will we learn to mine this untapped resource more effectively?

by **RiscaGame** Fri 16 Aug 2019, 5:05 pm

Yeah, it was a waste. I expect Botica to follow soon enough too.

by **RiscaGame** Fri 23 Aug 2019, 10:27 am

Pretty favourable start for us, with a winnable home game (assuming Castres show little interest) and a very winnable away game before the big double header.

Round one: Castres (Rodney Parade) – Saturday, November 16 (kick-off 3pm)
Round two: Enisei-STM (Kuban Krasnador Stadium) – Friday, November 22 (kick-off TBC)
Round three: Worcester (Sixways) – Saturday, December 7 (kick-off 3pm)
Round four: Worcester (Rodney Parade) – Friday, December 13 (kick-off 8pm)
Round five: Castres (Stade Pierre Fabre) – weekend of January 10
Round six: Enisei-STM (Rodney Parade) – Friday, January 17 (kick-off 8pm)

by Stone Motif Fri 23 Aug 2019, 10:38 am

RiscaGame wrote:Pretty favourable start for us, with a winnable home game (assuming Castres show little interest) and a very winnable away game before the big double header.

Round one: Castres (Rodney Parade) – Saturday, November 16 (kick-off 3pm)
Round two: Enisei-STM (Kuban Krasnador Stadium) – Friday, November 22 (kick-off TBC)
Round three: Worcester (Sixways) – Saturday, December 7 (kick-off 3pm)
Round four: Worcester (Rodney Parade) – Friday, December 13 (kick-off 8pm)
Round five: Castres (Stade Pierre Fabre) – weekend of January 10
Round six: Enisei-STM (Rodney Parade) – Friday, January 17 (kick-off 8pm)

Dean Ryan popular up Worcester way

by Guest Fri 23 Aug 2019, 3:25 pm

Dragons are playing Connacht currently in the Celtic Cup. Seems a strange time to play as most people will be in work?! 12-12 at halftime. Dragons currently 19-17 up. A lovely first try of the season by us. Nice flowing running rugby and finished by James McCarthy.

Updates and the try:

https://twitter.com/dragonsrugby?lang=en-gb

by **RiscaGame** Fri 23 Aug 2019, 6:20 pm

Nice try, fair play. Good to see them having a go, especially away. Bit disappointing to ultimately lose to a charge down try (points difference wise anyway).

Might have a look later at the difference between the two games squad wise from this season and last.

by Guest Fri 23 Aug 2019, 9:15 pm

A good ding dong of a game, back and forth, by the looks of it. Switched off after my earlier post to do some work Sad

But yes, ultimately disappointing to get the draw.

Good to see the players taking it up to the line and drawing the man in that try. Only simple and basic but they were running straight lines, fixing the opposition before releasing, catching one defender out of position in the line and then exploiting the space with a bit of pace out wide. One of my pets hates is seeing the ball shipped along the line without even thinking about drawing the defenders in, and the defence can just fan out and snuff out the attack with ease. More of that attacking prowess please Dragons!

by Stone Motif Fri 30 Aug 2019, 7:23 pm

Gwent: now officially in Ospreylia

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/17871534.new-look-ryan-39-s-dragons/

by mikey_dragon Fri 30 Aug 2019, 8:57 pm

The A team played recently. Are max Williams and joe Davies seriously the best locks we can find around the region? No wonder we’re bad.

by **RiscaGame** Fri 30 Aug 2019, 11:30 pm

I wasn’t overly keen on the home shirt, as I thought the number of sponsors showing up in grey didn’t do it any favours, whereas on the blue try don’t look as bad.

Having seen the explanation that the black and grey is to represent the coal and steel heritage from our area, I don’t have a problem with it at all now. Well done. Plus that amber was always divisive Wink

by Guest Sat 31 Aug 2019, 9:42 pm

Decent win for the A team against Munster A today. 6 tries and a 26 point winning margin. Good stuff.

Dragons 36 - 10 Munster

by **RiscaGame** Sun 01 Sep 2019, 3:32 am

A team are looking pretty slick.

by Stone Motif Sun 01 Sep 2019, 9:04 pm

Interesting thread over on Gwlad, guy who obviously knows his front row sh7t makes a very good and worrying argument that Leon Brown can't make it as a decent TH.

by Guest Sun 01 Sep 2019, 9:26 pm

Brown has certainly seemed to struggle a lot in the few international game he’s played. I think it was him who was under all sorts of trouble against Georgia when they nearly beat us, and I think he ended up going off injured or concussed and uncontested scrums? Or something like that.

What’s the theory on Brown’s inability to make it?

by Stone Motif Sun 01 Sep 2019, 10:03 pm

The Oracle wrote:Brown has certainly seemed to struggle a lot in the few international game he’s played. I think it was him who was under all sorts of trouble against Georgia when they nearly beat us, and I think he ended up going off injured or concussed and uncontested scrums? Or something like that.

What’s the theory on Brown’s inability to make it?

Biomechanical disadvantage. Too tall - narks up his ability to reset his feet when he gets into bother in the scrum.

by Guest Sun 01 Sep 2019, 10:22 pm

Stone Motif wrote:
The Oracle wrote:Brown has certainly seemed to struggle a lot in the few international game he’s played. I think it was him who was under all sorts of trouble against Georgia when they nearly beat us, and I think he ended up going off injured or concussed and uncontested scrums? Or something like that.

What’s the theory on Brown’s inability to make it?

Biomechanical disadvantage. Too tall - narks up his ability to reset his feet when he gets into bother in the scrum.

Is he especially tall for a prop? Wiki has him at 6’2”. Seems about normal these days I think. Was it Carl Hayman who was pretty tall (and good). 6’4”. But I guess it’s other things as well as height that could be working against Brown.

I’m no scrummaging expert so won’t pretend to know about the biomechanics of it! But I’d persevere for a bit longer. He’s only 22 and must have got this far by standing out against others at age grade levels, so he must have had something others didn’t. He’s now coming up against more experienced players and perhaps being found out a bit. But certainly something to watch. Would a change to LH be any better for him?

by Stone Motif Sun 01 Sep 2019, 11:08 pm

The Oracle wrote:
Stone Motif wrote:
The Oracle wrote:Brown has certainly seemed to struggle a lot in the few international game he’s played. I think it was him who was under all sorts of trouble against Georgia when they nearly beat us, and I think he ended up going off injured or concussed and uncontested scrums? Or something like that.

What’s the theory on Brown’s inability to make it?

Biomechanical disadvantage. Too tall - narks up his ability to reset his feet when he gets into bother in the scrum.

Is he especially tall for a prop? Wiki has him at 6’2”. Seems about normal these days I think. Was it Carl Hayman who was pretty tall (and good). 6’4”. But I guess it’s other things as well as height that could be working against Brown.

I’m no scrummaging expert so won’t pretend to know about the biomechanics of it! But I’d persevere for a bit longer. He’s only 22 and must have got this far by standing out against others at age grade levels, so he must have had something others didn’t. He’s now coming up against more experienced players and perhaps being found out a bit. But certainly something to watch. Would a change to LH be any better for him?

No nor me, back row was the furthest forward I played. Kyle Sinckler was the example picked out in the thread, similar dap to Leon but only 5.10.

Did he ever dominate anyone at u20? Thinking about it if memory serves he was an impact sub really, never really started ahead of Dillon Lewis just came on as a carrier once the game had opened up.

By reference, Lewis is 6', as is Aaron Jarvis. Fairbrother is 5'9". I wonder?

by mikey_dragon Mon 02 Sep 2019, 3:28 am

Dan Cole is 6’2, Jannie Du Plessis is 6’3. Both are still playing at TH and playing well. If being too tall is the issue then Wales could be in a bit of bother, with 6’3 Rhys Carre expected to be the next big thing.

by Stone Motif Mon 02 Sep 2019, 11:03 am

mikey_dragon wrote:Dan Cole is 6’2, Jannie Du Plessis is 6’3. Both are still playing at TH and playing well. If being too tall is the issue then Wales could be in a bit of bother, with 6’3 Rhys Carre expected to be the next big thing.

Neither of them tight heads are as top heavy as Leon is either mind, which is the other thing noted in the thread about his body shape. You do wonder why he's failed to kick on, I know he's had injuries but he's also had plenty of regional chances plus time in the Wales camp to improve his scrummaging.

by Stone Motif Mon 02 Sep 2019, 11:06 am

Here's the thread

http://nugwlad.freeforums.net/thread/11935/leon-brown

by mikey_dragon Mon 02 Sep 2019, 8:10 pm

Interesting, I'm not really clued up in biomechanics or the dark arts of the scrum. One person there suggested he could switch to LH. It's not just Browns upper body, he has huge legs too. Perhaps he could try losing some weight? Gats recently commented how they had to help Carre lose weight, and he plays on the LH side.

When it comes to front row, a person's build can be very important for some. Fairbrother isn't a world beat but I always thought his build gave him a good advantage. If a conversion to LH doesn't work for Brown perhaps a switch to No.8 is on the cards...

by mikey_dragon Mon 02 Sep 2019, 8:15 pm

Stone Motif wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:Dan Cole is 6’2, Jannie Du Plessis is 6’3. Both are still playing at TH and playing well. If being too tall is the issue then Wales could be in a bit of bother, with 6’3 Rhys Carre expected to be the next big thing.

Neither of them tight heads are as top heavy as Leon is either mind, which is the other thing noted in the thread about his body shape. You do wonder why he's failed to kick on, I know he's had injuries but he's also had plenty of regional chances plus time in the Wales camp to improve his scrummaging.

Injuries and some bad coaches. We rarely seem to develop a top flight prop. Still, other guys have managed to flourish despite Dragons' amateur set up. Gatland liked Brown because he's massive but he won't be around after the RWC, and LB didn't make the squad anyway. I'd say the next two season are make or break for him.

by Guest Tue 03 Sep 2019, 10:19 am

Here's the tries from the Dragons A vs Munster A match. I've already read posts elsewhere knocking this as just B teams, nothing to read into it, etc., etc. But whatever. There are some lovely moves here that take a lot of work and training to be able to pull off. Some real zip to the backs play which is great to see. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for the senior team too, although I appreciate that they have separate coaching teams so maybe not. With Ryan as DoR though I'd like to think everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet and there is some cross fertilization and collaboration between the two squads:

https://twitter.com/dragonsrugby/status/1168546862397296643

by Stone Motif Tue 03 Sep 2019, 1:26 pm

The Oracle wrote:Here's the tries from the Dragons A vs Munster A match. I've already read posts elsewhere knocking this as just B teams, nothing to read into it, etc., etc. But whatever. There are some lovely moves here that take a lot of work and training to be able to pull off. Some really zip to the backs play which is great to see. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for the senior team too, although I appreciate that they have separate coaching teams so maybe not. With Ryan as DoR though I'd like to think everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet and there is some cross fertilization and collaboration between the two squads:

https://twitter.com/dragonsrugby/status/1168546862397296643

Look a team very confident with what they were doing and in their decision making, two things I can't really say applied to the seniors since the days of Paul Turner.

by Sponsored content