Dragons v Scarlets, 30.12.2011 k.o 7.05pm

Scarlets face a daunting task heading to Rodney Parade with only a 4 day turnaround after their hard fought derby win over the Ospreys.

The Scarlets have been training with two seperate 22's leading up to first the Ospreys and now the Dragons match, with many fringe players now getting a chance to prove themselves.

Scarlets team: 15 Dan Newton, 14 Viliame Iongi, 13 Adam Warren, 12 Gareth Maule (capt), 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Stephen Jones , 9 Rhodri Williams, 1 Phil John, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Deacon Manu, 4 Sione Timani, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 8 Kieran Murphy.

Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Iestyn Thomas, Peter Edwards, Lou Reed, Richie Pugh, Gareth Davies, Aled Thomas, Daniel Evans.

George North and Mat Gilbert travel to Rodney Parade as 24th and 25th men.

Damien Welch and Liam Williams not considered due to injury, and Tavis Knoyle is not playing on medical grounds that he needs an operation early in the new year to stabalise a shoulder joint.

The Scarlets have not had an away win in the Pro12 this season.


Dragons Team: Martyn Thomas, Tonderai Chavhanga, Adam Hughes, Lewis Robling, Aled Brew, Jason Tovey; Wayne Evans; Nathan Williams, Lloyd Burns, Nathan Buck, Adam Jones, Rob Sidoli, Danny Lydiate, Gavin Thomas (c), Toby Faletau.

Replacements:
Steve Jones, Phil Price, Dan Way, Jevon Groves, Lewis Evans, Joe Bedford, Andy Tuilagi, Will Harries.

The Dragons make only one change on the bench to the side that faced the Blues. The Dragons will be determined to put an end to their current 5 match losing streak and provide the supporters at Rodney Parade with a first home win in the Pro12 since the end of September.

Turnbull is back

Hi Dreamer - not sure which of us posted this first but to make it easier I'll delete my thread before anyone posts on it.

oh I can merge it, sorry Priest I did check!

ah you are too quick for me, can't see your article anywhere.


I reckon Tovey is going to target our back three all day long, especially Iongi. Really happy to see Maule and Warren get starts again though, two of our more underrated players I feel.

No worries - I checked as well, I think we were both writing at the same time and posted just after each other.

There was no comments on mine so no point merging.

Looks a very much 2nd string but I'm excited to see how Warren and Maule do in the centre and Timani and Day in the 2nd row - just a shame that Liam Williams is injured and North isn't considered as I think this would be a great game for him to find some form.

I heard a pitch side interview with Stoddart some time in the last few weeks that he reckons he'll be back in March and he's working hard with the physio.

Agree Dreamer - our back 3 is def the weak point it's I was hoping that one of Priestland, North or Lamont would be playing there. I think Ionghi is promising but really needs to improve his positioning.

Iongi is very raw, bags of talent but a heck of a lot to learn. Bit like Chavanga in that respect I guess.

North is going as a back up replacement so maybe there will be a last minute change?


And that's great news on Stoddart, would be amazing if he could get back playing this season.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/16308646.stm

as an outsider, looking in, that selection looks very weak. I think Nigel Davies looked at 2 options

A) go all out to beat the Dragons in a potential 10 pointer and maybe open up a 19 point gap over them (albeit with the Dragons having a game in hand) and realistically secure HEC qualification already. Downside the team is stuffed for the games against Northampton & Castres and they miss out on the knockout stages of either Amlin or HEC

B) gamble on losing to the Dragons but with a LBP and no TBP for the Dragons. This would still leave the Dragons 11 points behind in the table . Upside 1st XV is fresh and can get the points in the HEC pool to make the knockout stages of either Amlin or HEC. Downside - the Scarlets could get nothing, Dragons a TBP and they are then only 9 points behind with a game in hand

and he has put the house, car, cat & dog on B. I wish the Scarlets all the best and hope they can qualify for the knockouts

As a Dragons fan I haven't got much confidence in a home win unfortunately. In the past I'd always think that way away from home but would be full of confidence at home. However, as has been mentioned elsewhere there seems to be something missing at home this season. The siege mentality, steely determination, backs against the walls, fighting every inch for a win in front of the home support seems to have gone. Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh, but we're playing at home like we play away, I.e. with a bit of a soft underbelly. I, like many other Dragons fans, were hoping that we could maintain the home ferocity, bottle it as a potion, and have a sip before away games so we could get some wins on the road. The opposite had happened and we're taking form on the road back home with us.

So, it fills me with dread to welcome the Scarlets to RP with their silky back line moves and much improved set piece. Hopefully a crowd approaching a full house will provide a great atmosphere to make our players raise their game, otherwise I think the Scarlets will come away with a relatively easy win. Yes, I am being negative but I'm also a realist and I've got nothing this season to base any optimism on (bar a good win against an arguably disinterested Perpignan team in the ACC).

See Pete, I don't think our team is actually all that weak though. Our back 3 is, but that's about it.

Our front row should match the Dragons, I think we have the edge in the 2nd row. Back row definitely in the Dragons' favour, especially as Turbull will be in his first game back for months, but Edwards and Murphy especially have been in good form.

Otherwise I think we're okay, and we've got players like Iestyn to call on from the bench. I'm actually pretty happy with the strength in depth we've got - which is a weird feeling for a Scarlet!

Is Priestland injured or rested ?

Rested I would assume Maes. Which sounds a bit funny considering Monday was his first start in the Pro12 this season!

Hope you're right Dreamer - could be a long night in my house if you're a wrong

I hadn't heard any news that he was injured, there is a few viruses going around, lots of nasty coughs down the supermarket earlier.

Great to see Turnbull back.

Interesting to see Warren at 13 and Maule at 12 when i thought they usually played the other way round?

Also nice to se Murphy get a run at 8. Good player there...! will have his hands full with a good Opposition though...!

Ha, I can just imagine Penfro!

Am missing the first half of this one myself, gutted about that

Maes - I think all the centres for the Scarlets are pretty interchangable. I know Foxy and Scott change it up quite a bit depending on the attacking/defending formation at the time, so I'll expect more of the same form Darth and Warren.

True, the Scarlets backs are all very interchangeable, particularly noticable when you have Priestland and Jones on the pitch, North enters at center, Priestland at first receiver then full back out wide, the centers swap... All good, all very Brazilian football-esq...

MAES - from the Scarlets web site "Not available for selection through injury include: Damian Welch, second row (fractured finger), Liam Williams, wing (minor ankle sprain). Tavis Knoyle (scrum-half) " I think Priestland is 'resting' as his shoulder still needs to be 'managed'

Priestland was on twitter this morning saying how he had a good training session, so i doubt he is injured if he is involved in training.

Looking forward to the game it will be my first visit since the new stand.

Serious question here now. South Wales and especially Cardiff/ Newport are forecast a lot of heavy rain tomorrow from 12 onwards. Is the pitch going to able to cope??

I flippin hope so i have nearly a three hour drive, i hope they have the sense to call it off by 5pm

either that or have fire engines on standby, view!

or at least have more than a few kids with brooms trying to brush the water off the pitch.

rugbydreamer wrote:Serious question here now. South Wales and especially Cardiff/ Newport are forecast a lot of heavy rain tomorrow from 12 onwards. Is the pitch going to able to cope??

MONSOON

Yep more organization wouldn't go a miss along with a new pitch with good soak away an under heating for next season.

You pays your money and you takes your choice

UK WEATHER Light Rain
BBC (Click Friday) Heavy Rain
[url=http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/tomorrow.asp?zipcode=NP19 0UU]METCHECK[/url] Light Rain
MET OFFICE Heavy Rain

But at least they agree on the rain part.

well, going by how wrong recent weather reports have been - clear skies it'll be then?

The scarlets may be weakened, but our front 5 have been sooo poor lately that the dragons will do well to win this. I think Nigel Davies believes that the team he has selected will still be good enough. It'll be a tense affair and if rains predicted, I'm thinking this could be a stinker of a match.
It'll come down to the odd penalty. The dragons owe the fans a performance, otherwise attendances will drop off massively.
Never mind. We play the little minnow ospreys the following week and that game is always a gimme!!!

Is it sacrilegeas a Dragon's fan to get a seat in the swanky new stand ?

I've been slumming it in the terraces both sides of the pitch and fancy spoiling myself

I haven't a scooby who will win this - we are all other the shop at the moment. If we win it may well be the catlyst we've needed - if we lose - well... its just ANOTHER loss.

Munkian.
Stay in the terrace for this one. You'll miss the banter in the new stand.
Treat yourself for a lesser game.

manofgwent wrote:Munkian.
Stay in the terrace for this one. You'll miss the banter in the new stand.
Treat yourself for a lesser game.

My stingy Polak friend has got us NORTH terrace 'seats'

Thats where the bl**dy Turks will be !

At least you'll be among quality people munkian!

Sooooo,,,,anyone from here going ?

not me, getting a train back home West on Fri evening, very gutted I'm missing this one, absolutely loved the fixture last season.

munkian wrote:Is it sacrilegeas a Dragon's fan to get a seat in the swanky new stand ?

I've been slumming it in the terraces both sides of the pitch and fancy spoiling myself

I haven't a scooby who will win this - we are all other the shop at the moment. If we win it may well be the catlyst we've needed - if we lose - well... its just ANOTHER loss.

Munkian, me and the boys have Hazell Terrace tickets since inception and Newport RFC days. However, the HT has been a nightmare since the new stand. Too full, even for the Italian games to the point where you can't get out for a beer or p*ss. We then found out that you can pay £5 to upgrade to the Bisley seats which we did for the Exeter game. We felt guilty at the time, walked in with heads bowed, avoiding eye contact with everyone. However, we had a great time mainly due to the fact that you can get a beer and back to your seat in under 2 minutes. No word of a lie. Atmosphere was a bit lacking, but it was a Sunday night and a low turnout. The new stand is like a mini Millenium stadium in that the toilets are indentical and the bar and food court setup running the length of the stand are very similar. Plasma screens by the bar too so you don't miss the action.

In the true spirit of research we've upgraded again for the Scarlets game to see what it's like with a bigger crowd!

Mate I'm green, never send a cheapskate to buy tickets ! I'll treat myself another time !

I really wanted to go - but got a 2,500 word assignment to do for work which I've put off over Christmas so will be watching it on telly while I have a break instead of going down.

Yep im going.

I'm going too. Gonna make a day of it. I'll need to sink a few, just to numb the pain when our first scrum goes back 10 yards.
It's gonna be dour, but we have to win.

Well if i get rained off work i will set off after lunch if not i have to do job thou if the weather is dry so in that case i will be arriving around kick off.

rugbydreamer wrote:either that or have fire engines on standby, view!

They tried to utilise the fire engines last time, but apparently there wasn't enough to pump off the ground as such because it was less than a foot.

View, undersoil heating etc would be nice, but I'd rather see our ground completed first. We aren't exactly rolling in it. Organistation wasn't an issue either, as it was flash flooding which was a bit out of the blue. They tried running through plans, but there was no way that the pitch would have been cleared.

It would be great for you guys attending to get an early decision, but sadly it's a league game (so no deadline to play like Europe), understandably with a capacity crowd they had to try and keep the game on and I would be surprised if it rained like that again for a long time anyway.

Anyway, bit disappointed with that Scarlets side to be honest. If I was a casual fan wanting to buy a ticket on the day, I wouldn't bother my arris now. I'm sure it's not a bad side, but people would rather see internationals. I don't see the harm in rotating a few maybe and having a few on the bench.

Anyway, I predicted Dragons by 4 on Sportguru (more out of blind optimism) but I would be pretty gutted if we lost to that side at home. No disrespect, but really we should be looking to be pretty unbeatable at home.

ah I didn't know that about the fire engines from last time Rev, cheers for explaining


As a Scarlet, I would have loved us to have played more of our stars (or at least Georgie, he really needs game time for us), but with a 4 day turnaround that's pretty difficult, and almost impossible for us really. We've got Glasgow next week and then the 2 big Heineken fixtures so guess that's really going to be in Nige's mind.

I think if the Dragons front up like they did against Perpignan, and stop making silly errors in the 22 when they are attacking, they could really hurt the Scarlets tonight. They aren't far off clicking, not even away from home, so they could deffo get a good win tonight.

Have gone for the Scarlets by 5 though. Thats more out of optimism that Maule and Warren are going to click back in straight away, after neither having started together for us for ages.

We must win this game to get us back on track after 5 losses and with what is obviously a weakened Scarlets side we have a great chance.

Front row needs to front up as they always need to do, cut out the silly errors and penalties and if we do get into a decent lead then lets not let them back in.

Pity Morgan not playing as would have loved to see him and Toby go head to head.

SCARLETS supremo Nigel Davies believes his second-string side are strong enough to defeat the Dragons.

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2011/12/30/nigel-davies-confident-second-string-scarlets-can-beat-dragons-at-rodney-parade-91466-30030964/#ixzz1i0ZhqIAm

Alot has been made about this being our second string side. But if you look at it objectively it not a bad side at all. We have feilded sides far worse than this in the HEC in the past few season

SS - tis a more experienced side then the one we put out against the O's on Monday

15 Dan Newton,
14 Viliame Iongi,
13 Adam Warren,
12 Gareth Maule (capt),
11 Andy Fenby,
10 Stephen Jones ,
9 Rhodri Williams,

1 Phil John,
2 Ken Owens,
3 Deacon Manu,
4 Sione Timani,
5 Dominic Day,
6 Josh Turnbull,
7 Johnathan Edwards,
8 Kieran Murphy.

Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Iestyn Thomas, Peter Edwards, Lou Reed, Richie Pugh, Gareth Davies, Aled Thomas, Daniel Evans.

I have put the players who were regular names in the match day 23s from last season in bold, and players who are either new signings or in their first season or two in italic. I think that goes to highlight that it is not exactly a weakened team in the way most would think.

Kieran Murphy looks like a good prospect.