Dragons v London Irish Friendly

First topic message reminder :

The Dragons have named a nice strong side for their last pre season friendly against the Irish at Dave tonight. Few players still out injured with the likes of Evans, Smith, Harries, Chavanga and Bedford (thank god) on the side lines.

Team

Daniel Evans, Matthew Pewtner, Adam Hughes, Pat Leach, Tom Prydie, Steffan Jones, Wayne Evans, Phil Price, Steve Jones, Nathan Buck, Ian Nimmo, Andrew Coombes, Dan Lydiate, Darren Waters

Replacements from

Sam Parry, Nathan Williams, Dan Way, Jevon Groves, Tom Brown, Jonathan Evans, Lewis Robling, Jack Dixon, Hugh Gustafson, Aaron Coundley, Tim Ryan, Hywel Stoddart, Ieuan Jones, Mike Poole, Andy Tuilagi, Ross Wardel


Will be good to see the new boys Evans, Prydie and Nimmo go and hopefully Toby and Dan have had a good rest and hit the ground running

We had a quality attacking back 3 last season but they were always on the back foot. Dan Evans could make a big difference with his monster boot. Thomas is a great runner but his kicking game isn't great whereas Dan can ping it from 22 to 22 and Prydie could develop into a very good player. He looks so comfortable on the field.


Last chance to see the dragons train today 12.30-2 over Dave Parade.

Where the devil it "Ryan" our new prop?

I was really impressed with Dan Evans. He's always shown glimpses of real quality, but he's been really hit and miss for the Scarlets (what I've seen of him, anyway). He strikes me as being a confidence player and it could be that what he needs is the faith of the coaching team and a run in the side. It could be the making of him.

youngugns - Dan will IMO be getting mentioned in 'name your welsh squad' threads for the AIs and 6Ns provided he gets the game time with the Dragons. He is a lovely counter attacker, and also has a reliable boot too (and yet another goal kicking option for your backline).

with edwards playing coombes and nimmo in the second row against the irish. Also with the backup of last seasons player of the year sidoli, adam jones & groves as back up - will the dragons not be looking to bring in another lock? have they finished their recruitment for the summer?

pioden gorllewin wrote:with edwards playing coombes and nimmo in the second row against the irish. Also with the backup of last seasons player of the year sidoli, adam jones & groves as back up - will the dragons not be looking to bring in another lock? have they finished their recruitment for the summer?

I believe that there will be no more signings but also on the squad list is Josh Tyler a highly rated second row playing premiership in the region & there is also another one but his name escapes me

Will Harries be dropped and Dan Evans walk into the team?

Dan Evans played really well against Irish - Will has yet to regain the form we know he is capable of so he needs to step up if he is to get a regular starting place imo

dragon999 forgot about josh tyler. he's an athletic unit who has plenty of potential. seems like theres a fair bit of depth in the squad. the competition for places can only be a good thingfor the dragons.

pioden gorllewin wrote:dragon999 forgot about josh tyler. he's an athletic unit who has plenty of potential. seems like theres a fair bit of depth in the squad. the competition for places can only be a good thingfor the dragons.

agree - also i detect a change in attitude which i think after last season is most welcome

Evans will be first choice at 15. I hope harried will be in contention for acting spot rather than at fullback where I think he struggles.

If the rumours are to be believed, Harries doesn't want to play fullback now. The way I see it, is Evans and Prydie are rightly first choice (and they add great kicking options). I believe Chavhanga will be the other winger personally.

He was very solid at full back during the long time he had to deputise there.

Will Harries will be competing with Tondi for the right wing mainly I reckon. Unexpected call up to the Wales training squad at the end of last season may help him get back the form that took him to New Zealand. Think he'll get plenty of time on the pitch tho. As much as I like Poole and Pewtner they are both made out of glass and I'm not sure either quite have it at regional level.

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/9885496.Waters_blow_for_Dragons/

gutted for the fella he looked good at the end of last season and now in pre season. thought this could have been a really good year for him. hope he recovers quickly & the dragons aren't cursed with injuries this year.

Sh/t.

Horrible , for him and the squad. We will be walking wounded 4th game in at this rate

Gutted for him. Like you say, he was looking really good. It was difficult to tell when he came off how badly he was injured and whether it was just a precaution.

We'll miss Adam Hughes, but at least he's not expected to be out all that long.

I wonder if they will transfer another player in ? Dont have yo spend alot, not that we could anyway

Time to give Rob Nash a call I reckon.

Gutted for Darren but this was what I meant about how difficult it is to step up from semi pro to pro level. That's Burner Poole Pewter Cadman and others and now Waters who have come up through the Prem ranks and been constantly injured. There is no denying the talent of these players but you cannot put muscle on your bones and ligaments. Darren Edwards alluded that it takes a year to get a semi pro player up to the physical standard of the pro league due to the huge increase in the speed and physicality of the game. Yes it is a hard contact sport and injuries are to be expected but there is a long list of Prem players now who have turned out for the Dragons and been seriously injured.

Not always though Stone, there have been a few U20 players making the step up to pro rugby, sometimes even to international level. All the Wales players of various ages and abilities seem to be getting injured a lot anyway.

I think that's exactly the difference though. A lot of the under 20's breaking through are young guys who have been developing into the demands of being a pro player from a young age and arrive on the scene conditioned to the demands. They've grown into it if you like. That is something it is impossible to do in your mid to late twenties onward. The guys being turned out by the academies now are a different breed to the amateur player maybe not in ability but physically they're miles ahead.

It's been time to give Nash a go for ages. He's a good leader and a natural openside.

Hughes is a big blow if he's missing the blues game. He's nailed on at 13 and we don't really have a replacement. Leach/Tuilagi look better at 12 IMO.

Stone Motif wrote:I think that's exactly the difference though. A lot of the under 20's breaking through are young guys who have been developing into the demands of being a pro player from a young age and arrive on the scene conditioned to the demands. They've grown into it if you like. That is something it is impossible to do in your mid to late twenties onward. The guys being turned out by the academies now are a different breed to the amateur player maybe not in ability but physically they're miles ahead.

Its a sign of the times, when I was helping out a youth side near to where I live we had one lad who was exceptionaly better than everyone else, when the district team came knocking we soon saw how the other side worked, it is a far cry from my school days I can tell you, then the Blues came along to take a look at him and it all went up a notch again, not only did this young kid of about 15 yrs old have to totaly change his diet, they gave his parents a shopping list of what he should be eating and gave them an exorcise list of the things there son should and should'nt be doing in his spare time, not only has the kid got to put in a lot of commitment but the parents have to as well, they were only telling me not so long ago that their shopping bill is almost double as they have to buy no salt and organic foods to help him train, then theres his suppliments and travel costs, also it is not all a bed of roses for the kids either, gone are his macdonalds and other fast foods, when his freinds are all out enjoying themselves he is stuck in or doing his exorcise regime, I tell you, now that there is a future to be had in rugby you have to be very, very commited to it. This is the difference to somebody who's been trained from a young age to be a pro, and somebody who has always been good but did not make it until later on in life.

I'll be overjoyed if he proves me wrong and it's been a while since he played for the Dragons but Rob Nash has struggled a bit when he's played before. Putting semi pro players in at open side is always going to be a worry for me as I said above. It's one of the most physical positions on the pitch. If we can bring in someone gnarly to back up Lewis that would be best imo.

Bit gutted to hear about Waters needing knee construction work and will be out most of the season, he will be a big loss for the Dragons during the AI's and 6N. Wish him luck and recover quickly.