The Battle of Dave Parade - Dragons v Blues

First topic message reminder :

Looking forward to this game on friday, should be good. We were convincingly beaten last season at Dave, i just hope that the players have learned much needed lessons. We can't just turn up at DP and expect a win (maybe when we play at home ) so we need to turn up.

I hope we introduce our WC players as starters and not off the bench, they need to get straight in to the game and get stuck in. Rather than trot on after 60, no point in that.

I'm optimistic that the boys returning might galvanise the blues and we do have the quality to win, but the Dragons treat their home matches against us and the Ospreys as the biggest of thier season...so we have to front up.

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Rhys Thomas
3. Tau Filise
4. Deiniol Jones
5. Bradley Davies
6. Michael Paterson
7. Josh Navidi
8. Xavier Rush

9. Lloyd Williams
10. Ceri Sweeney
11. Tom James
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Casey Laulala
14. Richard Mustoe
15. Chris Czekaj

That's the team i would pick, Deiniol because he offers more in the ruck and mauls that Tito does and with a pack the dragons, with the fans behind them, will be fired up to take it on up front. For me, Tito offers less in this area than DJ.

Gone for Lloyd Williams to start over Richie Rees, RR had a decent game last week but LW will be pretty confident over how the WC went and him v wayne evans would be a pretty good battle.

Sweeney to start. This is probably the one game of the season where Sweeney actually performs, didn't start last year and look what happened Games against the Dragons at Dave are never going to be territorial, kicking games because the match is physical and loose a lot of the time. So Parks' kicking game isn't really needed, Dave is a tight ground and as i said, the games between these two are usually quite attacking affairs and not the type where kicks for territory are needed much.

Finallly, i've gone for Mustoe on the wing. Cuthbert got injured in the last match and it looked like one which could keep him out so i haven't put him up for selection. Mustoe is dependable, quick around the park and gets stuck in. I could have put Czekaj on the wing and Fish at full back but i feel, definsively, Mustoe is better than Fish and with 1/2p out for a few weeks, Czekaj covers full back.

Dragons fans, who are you expecting to start this match? Hopefully the evening will be a nice, dry one so we can get the expansive game that these matches usually are.

manofgwent wrote:Nigel Owens has the final say and apparently he's not turned up yet.

Look in dark corners, closets and cupboards... he will be there somewhere...

I've still not left the house. The ref still hasn't turned up. Gareth Llewelyn said it'd be a miracle if it goes ahead. Just saw pictures on Wales today and it doesn't look good.
Hurry up and decide. If it is on, I'll have to run to make kick off!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b016ylf4/Scrum_V_Live_2011_2012_Warriors_v_Ospreys/

If it goes ahead this might be the link online. the game is wrong but the information is correct.

BBC Wales News said the match is a washout. Dragons website saying nothing yet....

Most of the Dragons staff will be in the club house and will only know the game is off when they take their seats and there is no teams on the pitch!

Half of them wont realise there is no game anyway since they will be so drunk!

Aparently Faletau won't get of the pitch unroll he's alloud to play!

... Any info? Standing in the cold apparently waiting for the celitc mannor crew to come n help save the pitch. Let us in, at least we could get a beer n a program n the club could make some money...

The camera mans down from his podium

I'm watching this live on BBC Wales news. There is no chance of this game going ahead. It'll be a miracle if it does....

Standing in a queue outside new stand-not open yet.ppl sayin nigel owens was stuck in traffic so hasnt taken a decision yet.some mutterings of it being delayd 30mins,others that its cancelld

Wotevers happenin theres a shed load of water on the roads around newport

Typical game for me to choose as a neutral

Speaking to a few unfortunate mates who've taken the chance, they've told everyone to go in the club house. Obviously thousands can't fit in there. They aren't being told anything. Poor effort.

Owens was sat in traffic. If it's on there will have to be a delay. I'm a season ticket holder and am still at home.
Apparently houses have been flooded in the area.

There is a pump coming from the Celtic manor. I'm leaving for the match.

Almost to ticket office and hopefully sum solid info

Nigel's there now. Jebus that IS waterlogged!

Kick off expected 7:45pm.

Cari wrote:Nigel's there now. Jebus that IS waterlogged!

Kick off expected 7:45pm.

Wooop

Is it on tv yet? The bbc sport streams isnt working :/

Ultimately it's down to the ref and coach if they think it's dangerous for the players or not. Apparently the groundsmen have made a lot of progress clearing it. Hopefully they will kick off later.

It's on Scrum V and they are hoping for 19.45 kick IF game goes ahead...

Yes Scrum V started at 7pm - they're just chatting and talking to people down on the pitch.

https://www.facebook.com/newportgwentdragons

I'm keeping an eye on the Dragons face book page.


Scrum V
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/default.stm

Apparently if the game does go ahead, it'll still be sh*tty conditions to play in. Could make an interesting result that. OK Nigel says the surface water is a problem. They're aiming for a 7:45pm kick off. Nigel says he'll give it another ten minutes or so before calling it. He's concerned about player safety.

Nige says it's looking good at the moment. Will check again in 5/10 mins.

Is it just me or is the bbc stream not working?

wales606 wrote:Is it just me or is the bbc stream not working?

Mine isnt working at the moment either, im trying to find a different one.
will let you know if i find one

AlynDavies wrote:

wales606 wrote:Is it just me or is the bbc stream not working?

Mine isnt working at the moment either, im trying to find a different one.
will let you know if i find one

thanks

Now the Cricket season is over I reckons the E (&W)CB should loan out the blotters from Sofia gardens to Blues and Dragons to help get games on in these kind of conditions.

just sayin....

AlynDavies wrote:

wales606 wrote:Is it just me or is the bbc stream not working?

Mine isnt working at the moment either, im trying to find a different one.
will let you know if i find one

I found one, type twomintpork1 into google.

There's a huge queue outside to get in as well. So if they call it, they'll have time to let everyone in.

wales606 wrote:

AlynDavies wrote:

wales606 wrote:Is it just me or is the bbc stream not working?

Mine isnt working at the moment either, im trying to find a different one.
will let you know if i find one

I found one, type twomintpork1 into google.

Cheers mate.
I feel sorry for the Dragons if this game is called off, apparently the only tickets left were north stand ones, it would be of been a almost sell out!

Nice pitch !

According to ticket office nige owens is inspectin the pitch

Why don't they get the fire brigade down there to pump the water away?

the players are on the field and it looks ok to me.

AlynDavies wrote:

wales606 wrote:

AlynDavies wrote:

wales606 wrote:Is it just me or is the bbc stream not working?

Mine isnt working at the moment either, im trying to find a different one.
will let you know if i find one

I found one, type twomintpork1 into google.

Cheers mate.
I feel sorry for the Dragons if this game is called off, apparently the only tickets left were north stand ones, it would be of been a almost sell out!

BBC one is now working

He is Priest - he was on telly just now stood by the big pool. I suppose it depends if they think they can clear the surface water before kick off.

Wales606 - but the rugby's on BBC 2 Wales.

Cari wrote:Wales606 - but the rugby's on BBC 2 Wales.

The BBC one (one being the BBC stream) is now working

I like Sweeney's bucket of sand to practice kicking.

wales606 wrote:

Cari wrote:Wales606 - but the rugby's on BBC 2 Wales.

The BBC one (one being the BBC stream) is now working

Jebus that was a blonde moment! Sorry Wales!

Cheers cari,they beta decide soon as itll take 20mins to get everyone in

That's a serious amount of surface water in the in goal area at one end. Apparently Nige has said 8:00 pm kick off now and is checking with the coaches that they are all ok with it.

Maybe an 8.00 kick off..

Cari wrote:

wales606 wrote:

Cari wrote:Wales606 - but the rugby's on BBC 2 Wales.

The BBC one (one being the BBC stream) is now working

Jebus that was a blonde moment! Sorry Wales!

Its ok.

8pm kickoff now! - Coaches have to agree though - cant see either disagreeing though.

8 o'clock kick off folks!

One of my mates is outside in the queue and he's fuming. They've no idea what's going on.

Just in! 8pm Kick off agreed with coaches, in principle, provided the swimming pool end...sorry in goal area is cleared.

Cari wrote:Why don't they get the fire brigade down there to pump the water away?

Just tip a couple of pints of beer on it, the season tickets holders will be on it like a shot!

Breadvan wrote:Just in! 8pm Kick off agreed with coaches, in principle, provided the swimming pool end...sorry in goal area is cleared.

Mixing rugby and water polo....could work.

AlynDavies wrote:

Cari wrote:Why don't they get the fire brigade down there to pump the water away?

Just tip a couple of pints of beer on it, the season tickets holders will be on it like a shot!

ouch

wales606 wrote:

Breadvan wrote:Just in! 8pm Kick off agreed with coaches, in principle, provided the swimming pool end...sorry in goal area is cleared.

Mixing rugby and water polo....could work.

I wouldn't complain about seeing some of them in skimpy speedos...