Gwent Dragons 2015/16 thread

[PhilBB]

First topic message reminder :

I don't need to address anything, I am one fan with an opinion the same as you and any other fan.

Sure, but here I am trying to understand your opinion yet, sadly, you won't address a key element of it.

Previously you wrote: "Only sad, narrow minded parochial people stuck in the amateur era mindset would see gwent as something in direct competition to newport." so I wrote a detailed, honest and clear answer as to why that insult is misplaced.

It's misplaced because one club is carrying all of the risk but with only 50% ownership.

Do you think it fair that one club carries all of the financial risk, without total ownership, for a "Gwent" team? Sure, you don't need to address the question but, in all fairness, it will speak volumes if you don't address it.

[Cardiff Dave]

"Brown was turned away at the turnstiles, having been warned by fax earlier in the day that he would not be made welcome."

Anyone got a copy?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/celtic/1875586.stm

[Stone Motif]

"Brown was turned away at the turnstiles, having been warned by fax earlier in the day that he would not be made welcome."

Anyone got a copy?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/celtic/1875586.stm

Still the top method of telecommunications in Ebbw Vale to this day

[Cardiff Dave]

"Brown was turned away at the turnstiles, having been warned by fax earlier in the day that he would not be made welcome."

Anyone got a copy?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/celtic/1875586.stm

Still the top method of telecommunications in Ebbw Vale to this day

Temperamental things those fax machines.
Makes me wonder whether he actually got the message to sod off. Could have gone straight to the pub if he'd known I spose and we wouldn't have witnessed the unpleasantness at the turnstiles. There we are. Great telly though.

[bedfordwelsh]

No way is it, that still far to modern for Ebbw folk

[Guest]

Lyn the Lip has come out with yet another example of how not to inspire confidence in him as a coach/DoR:

"European Challenge Cup: Lyn Jones cannot explain Dragons success.

Newport Gwent Dragons boss Lyn Jones admits he "hasn't got a clue" why European competition brings the best out of his side.

Dragons have often been the lowest-ranking of Wales' four professional teams.

But they completed a double over French side Pau to finish top of European Challenge Cup Pool Two, having reached last season's semi-finals.

"I haven't got a clue. I just don't know how we do it," said Jones."


How about trying to attribute it to the sheer hard work and determination of the players in training, and the tireless work of the coaches, in trying to improve and grow as a group. Saying he has no clue suggests he doesn't have any confidence in the coaching his team do with the players, the structures in place or any confidence in the players themselves! Sounds like finger in the air stuff to me. At least he could say something like 'the hard work is paying off'.

Would it be fair to suggest that as Lyn the Lip has admitted that he doesn't know how the Drags win, he doesn't know how they lose either?

No.

[GavinDragon]

Just hasn't got a clue full stop.

[Cardiff Dave]

Lyn the Lip has come out with yet another example of how not to inspire confidence in him as a coach/DoR:

"European Challenge Cup: Lyn Jones cannot explain Dragons success.

Newport Gwent Dragons boss Lyn Jones admits he "hasn't got a clue" why European competition brings the best out of his side.

Dragons have often been the lowest-ranking of Wales' four professional teams.

But they completed a double over French side Pau to finish top of European Challenge Cup Pool Two, having reached last season's semi-finals.

"I haven't got a clue. I just don't know how we do it," said Jones."


How about trying to attribute it to the sheer hard work and determination of the players in training, and the tireless work of the coaches, in trying to improve and grow as a group. Saying he has no clue suggests he doesn't have any confidence in the coaching his team do with the players, the structures in place or any confidence in the players themselves! Sounds like finger in the air stuff to me. At least he could say something like 'the hard work is paying off'.

Would it be fair to suggest that as Lyn the Lip has admitted that he doesn't know how the Drags win, he doesn't know how they lose either?

No.

Can I therefore safely deduce from the above that he knows how to lose, but not how to win?
Or am I talking complete and utter Lyn?

[Stone Motif]

Lyn the Lip has come out with yet another example of how not to inspire confidence in him as a coach/DoR:

"European Challenge Cup: Lyn Jones cannot explain Dragons success.

Newport Gwent Dragons boss Lyn Jones admits he "hasn't got a clue" why European competition brings the best out of his side.

Dragons have often been the lowest-ranking of Wales' four professional teams.

But they completed a double over French side Pau to finish top of European Challenge Cup Pool Two, having reached last season's semi-finals.

"I haven't got a clue. I just don't know how we do it," said Jones."


How about trying to attribute it to the sheer hard work and determination of the players in training, and the tireless work of the coaches, in trying to improve and grow as a group. Saying he has no clue suggests he doesn't have any confidence in the coaching his team do with the players, the structures in place or any confidence in the players themselves! Sounds like finger in the air stuff to me. At least he could say something like 'the hard work is paying off'.

Would it be fair to suggest that as Lyn the Lip has admitted that he doesn't know how the Drags win, he doesn't know how they lose either?

No.

Can I therefore safely deduce from the above that he knows how to lose, but not how to win?
Or am I talking complete and utter Lyn?

Some bullocks about needing to score X amount of points per match

[Cardiff Dave]

No way is it, that still far to modern for Ebbw folk

What about Cwm?

[Guest]

You forgot to mention KPI's, Stone

[bedfordwelsh]

No way is it, that still far to modern for Ebbw folk

What about Cwm?

lol, god even the cwm people only go there cos they have to

[Stone Motif]

You forgot to mention KPI's, Stone

Yeah he can FRO with those

[Guest]

[Cardiff Dave]

No way is it, that still far to modern for Ebbw folk

What about Cwm?

lol, god even the cwm people only go there cos they have to

Should shift Cwm to St Fagans, The Museum of Welsh Life as it used to be known.

[munkian]

Dragons team to face Castres

Carl Meyer, Ashton Hewitt, Adam Hughes, Adam Warren, Hallam Amos, Jason Tovey, Sarel Pretorius; Phil Price, Elliot Dee, Brok Harris, Cory Hill, Rynard Landman , Lewis Evans, Nic Cudd, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Thomas Rhys Thomas, Boris Stankovich, Shaun Knight, Matthew Screech, Ed Jackson, Charlie Davies, Angus O’Brien, Nick Scott.

[ScarletSpiderman]

That's a pretty handy looking side. You can tell its a Dave, seeing as Tovey is in to start.

[munkian]

That's a pretty handy looking side.  You can tell its a Dave, seeing as Tovey is in to start.

Dorian injured for 10 weeks.

Just need Tyler and Dixon back now, and Crosswell.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Munk, meant he usually fails to get to France.

With the two kids back in the centre, and Dorian pulling the strings you will have a feirce side.

[munkian]

Munk, meant he usually fails to get to France.

With the two kids back in the centre, and Dorian pulling the strings you will have a feirce side.

Ah, got you

I hope so !

[munkian]

Castres: G Palis, S Sivivatu, T Combezou, R Cabannes (captain), D Smith, F Fontaine, J Seron, S Taumoepeau, M Rallier, L Martinez, C Samson, B Desroche, Y Caballero, I Diarra, M Babillot. Replacements: J Beziat, K Wihongi, E Sione, A Bias, T Hannoyer, R Wulf, R Lamerat, B Urdapilleta

[mikey_dragon]

I actually think we have a decent bench for once. I'm still not sold on Price, thoughts?

[munkian]

I actually think we have a decent bench for once. I'm still not sold on Price, thoughts?

He does have the odd solid game. I thought he did well against Pau.

[mikey_dragon]

Hope he does well against Castres too, I can't really recognise any of their players apart from wing and on the bench.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I can't believe it's forecast to be dry tomorrow evening. It seems like it rains every time we've got a game on a Friday.

[munkian]

I can't believe it's forecast to be dry tomorrow evening. It seems like it rains every time we've got a game on a Friday.

[Guest]

I can't believe it's forecast to be dry tomorrow evening. It seems like it rains every time we've got a game on a Friday.

True. Just as well we've got a nice weekend forecast with all three teams hosting games.

Tough welcome back for Amos facing Sivivatu. Personally, I would've started Screech (who I thought one of the coaches had talked up recently), Griffiths (more attack minded), Jackson at 6 and I would go for Fairbrother on the bench instead of Shaun Knight.

[GavinDragon]

Snowing I thought?

Can't get excited by this game. If we lose; we lose. If we win, Lyn gets a reprieve. No win situation.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I'll take snow over rain!

[Guest]

Landman tweeted a pic with dry all weekend. My iPhone says wet tomorrow. Brilliant.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I knew I'd jinx it.

[Guest]

Have Castre come into a bit more money lately? I know they're pretty well off in comparison to us, but just looking at their squad on Wiki and some of the names I recognised (sorry, I don't really know many of the French boys!) - Sivivatu came over last season from Clermont and Wulf (Kiwi) and Smith (Samoan) are still listed as Toulon players when you click on their pages, so I guess transferred recently? 3 quality players all on quick succession. All wings funnily enough! Tidy spending power!

[munkian]

Snowing I thought?

Can't get excited by this game. If we lose; we lose. If we win, Lyn gets a reprieve. No win situation.

Ignore Lyn enjoy the win !

[Cardiff Dave]

Lyn the Lip in action;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y05HOgQjCmc

[Cardiff Dave]

Shocking play from Lyn to look for...
Knocks the ball out of his own OH's hands and later has his attempt at a try line clearing kick charged down.

[Guest]

Lyn the Lip in action;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y05HOgQjCmc

Is that the good old glory days everyone is harking back to???

[Cardiff Dave]

Lyn the Lip in action;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y05HOgQjCmc

Is that the good old glory days everyone is harking back to???

Dunno. Cardiff Arms Park clearly rammed to the hilt though. Standing on the steps even.

[mikey_dragon]

griff, you not at the game? I finished work late before you ask... I got in the Potters for about half 6 straight from the grind - contemplated it as I was eager for rugby action and more beers, but didn't want to go on my own .

[Guest]

Wife working a late shift tonight so I'm home with the kids

[Guest]

Bonus point win for us, and no LBP for Castres. Hooray!

[Coleman]

Congrats again guys! You're a different team in Europe. Very good win!

[mikey_dragon]

Pleased with that, even though we can't seem to score more than four tries. Sale kept on and got a BP win away to what looked like a weaker Pau than we faced. We're away to them next up and the winner will top the group. Nervous much...

[GavinDragon]

why the frack can we not play like that in the league so fracking frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[maestegmafia]

Good win for the dragons... Looking forward to catching the highlights later on

[Guest]

http://snpy.tv/1UVrRMi

I gather they don't show this on S4C, but I think this is harsh to disallow. Apparently he didn't refer it to the TMO (I thought he did)?

Fitzgibbon was dire tonight. Really bad. Had to get bailed out by the Tmo to give the red, bottled another yellow and missed so much. He should've got a grip of Castres earlier, as they were very ill disciplined and I'd love to show him what a back foot is.

Anyway, good win. Being critical, we should've stuck forty on them given the position we were in at HT. The first try we conceded was very soft too. But good to see our intent to attack for the first half and last twenty. But it just frustrates me that come Leinster in two weeks, we will revert to Lyn's league tactics.

[Guest]

Why do we play two different ways? It doesn't make sense! Is Simons else coaching the cup squad?!

Well done boys

[Cardiff Dave]

Why do we play two different ways? It doesn't make sense! Is Simons else coaching the cup squad?!

Well done boys

Maybe your team is targeting Europe. That's what Cardiff often did. Half @rsed in the Magners, but much better in the HEC.

[Shifty]

Good win for the dragons... Looking forward to catching the highlights later on

I just downloaded the Ospreys and Dragons games off Partidos, the Dragons had a brilliant game. They did brilliantly in attack, though Castres defense was just as impressive. There does seem to be some real idiots in French rugby at the moment though. that clown Georgian open side in the Ospreys game and some of the penalties that Castres gave away are off the chart.

[Stone Motif]

Why do we play two different ways? It doesn't make sense! Is Simons else coaching the cup squad?!

Well done boys

Maybe your team is targeting Europe. That's what Cardiff often did. Half @rsed in the Magners, but much better in the HEC.

No maybe about it. What ever you think of Lyp he's arguably right if he's thinking there's more chance of us winning RCCII than there is of us finishing in the top half of the PrO'12. Not that either scenario is particularly likely.

[Cardiff Dave]

Why do we play two different ways? It doesn't make sense! Is Simons else coaching the cup squad?!

Well done boys

Maybe your team is targeting Europe. That's what Cardiff often did. Half @rsed in the Magners, but much better in the HEC.

No maybe about it. What ever you think of Lyp he's arguably right if he's thinking there's more chance of us winning RCCII than there is of us finishing in the top half of the PrO'12. Not that either scenario is particularly likely.

Agreed.
Also, I bet the players can sense a chance at grabbing some Euro silverware too.

[wayne]

Well done Dragons, great win, keep it going next week

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