They still don't get it.

The Fraggles* lost a game last night at home which could see them 12th of the Pro 12. They had their first XV starting. Tovey and Hughes are goal kickers and both got injured. They had no replacement outside half on their bench. Why? Steffan Jones had played for Cross Keys Monday. Unless he was injured, so what? He's their second choice 10, so he should either not have played for Keys or been put on the bench anyway. These are professional players, a game and a half in four days should be no bother, Dom Day did it and he looked the Scarlets best forward. But the bigger question is this, if Jones wasn't available, is there really, REALLY, NO OUTSIDE HALF GOOD ENOUGH TO WARM A BENCH AND COME ON TO KICK A FEW KICKS PLAYING FOR THE FRAGGLES PRINCIPALITY CLUBS?

This is what being a region is all about. They are called 'feeder' clubs (and not because they like American Indy bands) for a reason, the clue is in the name.

Mind you the Scarlets are not beyond criticism, Iongi looks average, not bad, but really worth denying homegrown players regional game time for? I don't think so. The same goes for Sioni Timpani.

Come on guys, basic business, when cash is tight you have to spend it WISELY and maximise your assets.

* my autocorrect threw that up the first time, it's stuck with me.

Feeder are actually welsh as opposed to American. Tut tut sir.

Glas, if you did just a tiny bit of research you'd realise that Lewis Robling, the player who moved to 10 from 12 last night, is an outside half who has been promoted from Newport RFC in the premiership. He fits all of the criteria that you ask for. What else can we do? He just had a very, very bad night with the boot.

Was Steffan Jobes injured, if not how do you explain his absence? Does Robling kick for Newport? After two misses why didn't they go to the corner? Come now Griff blaming the youngster is papering over the cracks.

Willy - American STYLE then

I'm not blaming the youngster I'm explaining that we are promoting from within, in true regional style. You're accusing us of not doing that. Apologise man!

Just to add that another outside half that the Dragons region produced was on the pitch last night, but was playing for the Scarlets! (Aled Thomas).

The interesting fact for me is how many of the Scarlets starting 15 last night would get into that Dragons team?

The two props maybe, Turnbull if he played 7, but he didn't look fit last night. Maul possibly, but the Dragons let him go.

So if the Dragons had better players in 12 of the 15 positions, how did they lose?

PS
Don't blame it on the 4 missed kicks because Scarlets also missed 3, so if every kick went over the Scarlets still win!

Robling is a product of the u20's signed up by the Fraggles and farmed out to Newport. You'll have to do better than that before I appologise

Lack of intensity and will to win. Also a lack of patience or direction on the field from an inexperienced youngster at 10 probably didn't help.

And thanks for Aled Thomas, thought he was ace last night

Even the best have a off day but Robling needs to get out of the habit of having that don't care smirk look on his face each time he missed.
Nerves or not it does not look good when he does that.

Glas a du wrote:Robling is a product of the u20's signed up by the Fraggles and farmed out to Newport. You'll have to do better than that before I appologise

Robling came through the ranks playing for the local village side (Caerleon in Newport) then into the academy, plays his rugby with Newport RFC for the last few years, then promoted to the Dragons squad. That is NOT 'farmed out', that is a clear progression pathway from grass roots to regional rugby.

This whole thread is a criticism of the Dragons for not being a region and promoting a fly half from within. With Tovey, Steffan Jones and now Lewis Robling all coming through the regional ranks in the last 3 seasons I ask you why do you say that we are not acting like a true region and bringing players through?

I thought that was a bit strange Cymroglan.

Griff, pull the other one. Bedwas, Newport, Ebbw Vale, Cross Keys and not one of them with an outside half you could call up?

You still haven't said why Jones wasn't on the bench.

Glas a du wrote:I thought that was a bit strange Cymroglan.

Griff, pull the other one. Bedwas, Newport, Ebbw Vale, Cross Keys and not one of them with an outside half you could call up?

You still haven't said why Jones wasn't on the bench.

Because he isn't ready. It's not really hard to grasp. He's been given starts and hasn't been doing it. So Robling has been givne a shot at competing with Tovey. Where's the issue?

Ebbw Vale? If there was a good flyhalf at Ebbw, I'd suggest he'd be playing Premiership level at least already.

Glas a du wrote:I thought that was a bit strange Cymroglan.

Griff, pull the other one. Bedwas, Newport, Ebbw Vale, Cross Keys and not one of them with an outside half you could call up?

You still haven't said why Jones wasn't on the bench.

We did call up a fly half: Robling. It's just that he had a shocker. But don't accuse us of not calling one up when we did.

Robling has been in the squad for the past few games, part and parcel of the set up.

Then again if you're happy, who am I to interfere?