Newport Gwent Dragons 2016/17 thread

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu Aug 04, 2016 2:29 pm

First topic message reminder :

Seeing as no one else has set one up, I thought I'd start a 2016/17 season thread for the mighty Dragons.

The Dragons website doesn't have a straightforward list of the squad members, so the best I can do is a link to the page:

http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/Teams/Squad/Dragons

Fri, 05 Aug 2016 Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404 Parc Erias, Colwyn Bay F
Fri, 12 Aug 2016 Cardiff Blues Rodney Parade, Newport F
Sat, 20 Aug 2016 Ealing Trailfinders CCBC Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach F
Fri, 26 Aug 2016 Exeter Chiefs Rodney Parade, Newport F

Fri, 02 Sep 2016 Ulster Kingspan Stadium, Belfast GP12 BBC N Ireland
Fri, 09 Sep 2016 Zebre Rugby Rodney Parade, Newport GP12
Sat, 17 Sep 2016 Munster Rodney Parade, Newport GP12 Sky Sports
Fri, 23 Sep 2016 Benetton Rugby Treviso Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso GP12
Fri, 30 Sep 2016 Glasgow Warriors Rodney Parade, Newport GP12 BBC Two Wales

Sat, 08 Oct 2016 Scarlets Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli GP12 S4C
Sat, 29 Oct 2016 Ospreys Liberty Stadium, Swansea GP12 S4C, Sky Sports

Fri, 04 Nov 2016 Connacht Rodney Parade, Newport GP12
Sat, 12 Nov 2016 Leicester Tigers Welford Road, Leicester AWC
Fri, 18 Nov 2016 Scarlets Rodney Parade, Newport AWC
Sun, 27 Nov 2016 Edinburgh Rugby Rodney Parade, Newport GP12 S4C

Sat, 03 Dec 2016 Leinster Royal Dublin Society, Dublin GP12 S4C
Mon, 26 Dec 2016 Cardiff Blues Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff GP12 BBC Two Wales

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 Ospreys Rodney Parade, Newport GP12 BBC Two Wales
Fri, 06 Jan 2017 Benetton Rugby Treviso Rodney Parade, Newport GP12
Sun, 29 Jan 2017 Newcastle Falcons Rodney Parade, Newport AWC

Sat, 04 Feb 2017 Gloucester Rugby Kingsholm, Gloucester AWC
10/11/12 Feb 2017 Munster Thomond Park, Limerick GP12
17/18/19 Feb 2017 Connacht The Sportsground, Galway GP12
24/25/26 Feb 2017 Leinster Rodney Parade, Newport GP12

3/4/5 Mar 2017 Glasgow Warriors Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow GP12
24/25/26 Mar 2017 Ulster Rodney Parade, Newport GP12

7/8/9 Apr 2017 Zebre Rugby Stadio XXV Aprile, Parma GP12
Sat, 15 Apr 2017 Scarlets Rodney Parade, Newport GP12
28/29/30 Apr 2017 Edinburgh Rugby Murrayfield, Edinburgh GP12

Sat, 06 May 2017 Cardiff Blues Rodney Parade, Newport GP12

by mikey_dragon Sat Oct 15, 2016 2:32 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:Again AOB came on and his impact was negative - so it should be clear to those who said otherwise that I was right, again.

RiscaGame wrote:I've read people say Angus did well when he came on.

wayne wrote:Risca, listened to part of your game on the way home from the Liberty last night and the commentators said a number of substitutions really came off and one of those was AOB

mikey_dragon wrote:Cobblers... I can't see what he did well tbh... are some dragons fans in danger of becoming Turks with all this chat?

Mikey, different people can hold different opinions. It's part of life. Don't get so worked up about it.

I'm fine with it, even if the opposing opinions are wrong Smile

. It's you who usually can't handle my opinion which is why you often behave like a little bitch.

by mikey_dragon Sat Oct 15, 2016 2:35 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:They were packed full of Georgians but gained the upper hand on the likes of Harris and Davies so that's a bit of a worry for me.

Yes, those Georgians are notoriously weak scrummagers.

Who said otherwise? It's a worry for me as this is supposedly our best scrum unit, yet it's been bettered by most/every team we've played this season regardless of who they put out against us. If you aren't concerned about that then you likely have low/no expectations. Good luck.

by mikey_dragon Sat Oct 15, 2016 6:42 pm

PSXV lost to BB 46-33. The aim was to come away with some thing which they did by scoring 4 tries.

by **RiscaGame** Sun Oct 16, 2016 2:54 am

To be honest Mikey, you remind me of how some people used to be about Jason Tovey. You'll only highlight Angus' negatives from a game and seem a bit overly critical about him. Just comes across as having an agenda then, sadly.

by mikey_dragon Sun Oct 16, 2016 11:02 am

RiscaGame wrote:To be honest Mikey, you remind me of how some people used to be about Jason Tovey. You'll only highlight Angus' negatives from a game and seem a bit overly critical about him. Just comes across as having an agenda then, sadly.

I just think his negatives outweigh the positives. I don't have an agenda it's just annoying to see people talk up average players - I'm sure you know by now it seems to be the thing to do in Wales (especially west wales). Some are sounding like Turks trying to talk up RP and now Patchell. You didn't see the game so there's no point in me asking you to highlight what he did well. As I said his first actions when he came onto the field was a kick-off straight to touch and more missed kicks at goal. He improved upon last week because he didn't stupidly run into forwards get isolated and then turned over - but if that's considered a positive then there's no hope for any of us.

by Guest Mon Oct 17, 2016 10:44 am

Dragons sign Tavis Knoyle! Not sure what I make of that. Could be better. Could be worse. I'm on the fence!

by mikey_dragon Mon Oct 17, 2016 11:00 am

Griff wrote:Dragons sign Tavis Knoyle! Not sure what I make of that. Could be better. Could be worse. I'm on the fence!

Unbelievably shoite signing. Fuming with this.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon Oct 17, 2016 11:03 am

He can't be any worse than Luc Jones.

by mikey_dragon Mon Oct 17, 2016 11:27 am

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:He can't be any worse than Luc Jones.

I've watched him since the start of his career and while he showed early promise he never kicked on. The only people who rate him are turks and they rate just about everyone who's played in their team. He wasn't able to hold a place at Glaws or Cardiff since then - I find that he's too slow around the field and too slow at passing. He's probably on par or worse than Luc Jones. Terrible, terrible signing - it's like we're pick to picking up rejects when I thought those days were over.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon Oct 17, 2016 11:34 am

I'm not bowled over by the signing either, but it could be worse. Do I think 'it could be worse' is acceptable? No, I don't - but that's where we are at the moment. We're not an attractive proposition for players, and we don't pay enough to make it worth their while.

by munkian Mon Oct 17, 2016 11:47 am

Again, our priority should be ball carrying forwards - like, y'know, an actual no8 or a lock.

by mikey_dragon Mon Oct 17, 2016 11:55 am

You're both correct but this signing is just a waste of time, because I'm willing to argue there are better No.9s in the region. Now I don't know for certain but I'd bet that the lad who started for the PSXV is a better player. Knoyle's problem is that he tries to play like Mike Phillips but has the capabilities of Aled Davies (other Scarlets lad) - so I'm astonished at how such a poor scrum-half at this level can still get a pro contract.

by munkian Mon Oct 17, 2016 12:06 pm

The bigger issue is still not addressed - if we don't get new owners soon then we'll go into liquidation.

by LordDowlais Mon Oct 17, 2016 12:28 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:You're both correct but this signing is just a waste of time, because I'm willing to argue there are better No.9s in the region. Now I don't know for certain but I'd bet that the lad who started for the PSXV is a better player. Knoyle's problem is that he tries to play like Mike Phillips but has the capabilities of Aled Davies (other Scarlets lad) - so I'm astonished at how such a poor scrum-half at this level can still get a pro contract.

Dragons let Jonathan Evans go to Bath, who has now been signed by Scarlets, he is twice the player Tavis Knoyle will ever be. More miss management from the pro region in Gwent. Rolling Eyes

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon Oct 17, 2016 12:29 pm

If a player wants to leave, and you make him the best offer you can and he still says no, you can't force him to stay.

by LordDowlais Mon Oct 17, 2016 12:31 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:If a player wants to leave, and you make him the best offer you can and he still says no, you can't force him to stay.

The question that should be asked is, why was he so eager to leave in the first place ?

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon Oct 17, 2016 12:34 pm

Dowlais, why ask the question when you know the answer?

by LordDowlais Mon Oct 17, 2016 12:37 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Dowlais, why ask the question when you know the answer?

I do not know though, I honestly don't. All I can assume is he left because of miss management and lack of ambition by the region. Of course, I could be miles away with that though.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon Oct 17, 2016 12:40 pm

You're a young, ambitious scrum half playing for a side that loses more games than it wins. Just across the border there's a club with money to spare playing some cracking rugby. Their backs coach used to be your backs (then head) coach. Where would you rather play?

by LordDowlais Mon Oct 17, 2016 12:48 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:You're a young, ambitious scrum half playing for a side that loses more games than it wins. Just across the border there's a club with money to spare playing some cracking rugby. Their backs coach used to be your backs (then head) coach. Where would you rather play?

So tell me then, why did he leave ? To follow his backs coach ? To play in a better side ? If it is the latter, then that is down to miss management surely ?If so the board need to show more ambition. I am sure I read somewhere that Faletau would have stayed at Dragons if they put and extra 25 grand on top of what he was offered, come on, in this day and age, that was well worth it to keep a player of his ability, perhaps if they had done that, Jonathan Evans might have chosen to stay as well, and you would not have to sign cast offs like Tavis Knoyle, thus you start retaining your better players, and the results start changing.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon Oct 17, 2016 12:50 pm

Sorry for repeating myself, but you seem not to be getting it: If a player wants to leave, and you make him the best offer you can and he still says no, you can't force him to stay.

by LordDowlais Mon Oct 17, 2016 12:53 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Sorry for repeating myself, but you seem not to be getting it: If a player wants to leave, and you make him the best offer you can and he still says no, you can't force him to stay.

I know. I get that.

But what I am getting at, is why he wanted to leave. Even when he was getting the best offer he could. There must have been other reasons why his mind was made up. Also, he went to Scarlets next, did Dragons approach him at all ?

by mikey_dragon Mon Oct 17, 2016 1:09 pm

munkian wrote:The bigger issue is still not addressed - if we don't get new owners soon then we'll go into liquidation.

Can we get bailed out, or do we need to change our kit colour to Scarlet for that to happen?

by mikey_dragon Mon Oct 17, 2016 1:11 pm

LordDowlais wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:You're both correct but this signing is just a waste of time, because I'm willing to argue there are better No.9s in the region. Now I don't know for certain but I'd bet that the lad who started for the PSXV is a better player. Knoyle's problem is that he tries to play like Mike Phillips but has the capabilities of Aled Davies (other Scarlets lad) - so I'm astonished at how such a poor scrum-half at this level can still get a pro contract.

Dragons let Jonathan Evans go to Bath, who has now been signed by Scarlets, he is twice the player Tavis Knoyle will ever be. More miss management from the pro region in Gwent.

It certainly wasn't mismanagement on our part. Evans was getting a lot of game time and developing into a very good No.9 - I think he might have been badly advised by his agent? It's a silly decision to go to Bath and be third or fourth choice when you were already on the verge of first choice at your home team. I'm not sure if he'll kick on at the Scarlets as they seem to love their average 9s like Aled and formerly Knoyle. I'd have him back here in the blink of an eye.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon Oct 17, 2016 1:59 pm

LordDowlais wrote:He went to Scarlets next, did Dragons approach him at all ?

Now that I don't know. Although this would have been when Lyn was at the helm, and he wouldn't have wanted Luc to storm off to his room.

by LordDowlais Mon Oct 17, 2016 2:03 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:
LordDowlais wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:You're both correct but this signing is just a waste of time, because I'm willing to argue there are better No.9s in the region. Now I don't know for certain but I'd bet that the lad who started for the PSXV is a better player. Knoyle's problem is that he tries to play like Mike Phillips but has the capabilities of Aled Davies (other Scarlets lad) - so I'm astonished at how such a poor scrum-half at this level can still get a pro contract.

Dragons let Jonathan Evans go to Bath, who has now been signed by Scarlets, he is twice the player Tavis Knoyle will ever be. More miss management from the pro region in Gwent.

It certainly wasn't mismanagement on our part. Evans was getting a lot of game time and developing into a very good No.9 - I think he might have been badly advised by his agent? It's a silly decision to go to Bath and be third or fourth choice when you were already on the verge of first choice at your home team. I'm not sure if he'll kick on at the Scarlets as they seem to love their average 9s like Aled and formerly Knoyle. I'd have him back here in the blink of an eye.

I think he left because he was seeing players like Faletau leaving, yes probably had bad advice off his agent, but when you see the best players leaving it must be a real downer, especially if reports are to be believed, that £25,000 extra a year would have kept him. Let's be honest, Martin Hazel, Tony Brown and Will Godfrey more than likely make more than that in interest per day between them. £25,000 could have been a tax write off for them.

by LordDowlais Mon Oct 17, 2016 2:05 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:
LordDowlais wrote:He went to Scarlets next, did Dragons approach him at all ?

Now that I don't know. Although this would have been when Lyn was at the helm, and he wouldn't have wanted Luc to storm off to his room.

So perhaps it was mismanagement then ? By Lyn Jones, and the people who allowed Lyn Jones to do it ?

by LordDowlais Mon Oct 17, 2016 2:06 pm

Oh, by the way, congratulations on your win against Brive. Yahoo

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon Oct 17, 2016 2:06 pm

We've sacked Miss Management, Dowlais. She was a f*cking liability.

by LordDowlais Mon Oct 17, 2016 2:15 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:We've sacked Miss Management, Dowlais. She was a f*cking liability.

by mikey_dragon Mon Oct 17, 2016 2:35 pm

I can't believe how many people on social media think this is a good signing...

by munkian Mon Oct 17, 2016 3:17 pm

There would be equal amounts on twitter moaning if we hadn't signed him.

by mikey_dragon Mon Oct 17, 2016 3:29 pm

munkian wrote:There would be equal amounts on twitter moaning if we hadn't signed him.

I'm not sure what they think we would have missed out on? Silly people.

by GavinDragon Mon Oct 17, 2016 8:06 pm

Travel to and back from the Ospreys and entry for £25

http://www.dragonssupportersclub.com/away-travel/

by LordDowlais Tue Oct 18, 2016 8:12 am

What a gem of a deal that is £25 all in, at last, something positive is being done at Dragons.

by GavinDragon Tue Oct 18, 2016 8:21 am

Hope to build a nice little away following LD. The Scarlets game was a good laugh.

by munkian Wed Oct 19, 2016 10:40 am

Can anyone tell me what time the Gulag select XV game kicks off UK time ?

by GavinDragon Wed Oct 19, 2016 2:26 pm

3pm their time, so 12 ours....I think

by GavinDragon Wed Oct 19, 2016 2:27 pm

9am UK time rather

by **RiscaGame** Wed Oct 19, 2016 4:02 pm

Seems to be a lot of confusion over the time haha. Latest I've seen on dragons supporters page is 1100?

by **RiscaGame** Wed Oct 19, 2016 4:03 pm

Looks like it's going to be a big tombola spin for Saturday regardless.

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri Oct 21, 2016 12:28 pm

Chris Kirwan wrote:Nick Crosswell will captain Newport Gwent Dragons as they attempt to avoid a European Rugby Challenge Cup banana skin in Russia tomorrow afternoon.

The Dragons will bid to follow up their stunning 37-16, bonus-point win against Brive when they take on Enisei in Krasnodar (kick-off 1pm).

Head coach Kingsley Jones makes nine personnel changes to his XV with starts given to lock Crosswell, who skippers the side in the absence of Lewis Evans, wing Pat Howard, centres Sam Beard and Jack Dixon, fly-half Angus O’Brien, props Phil Price and Lloyd Fairbrother, openside Nic Cudd and number eight Harri Keddie.

Adam Warren moves from midfield to the wing while former Wales scrum-half Tavis Knoyle is set for his Dragons debut off the bench.

The Russian side have lost just one home game – to Connacht – and last week added Worcester to their scalps of Newcastle and Brive.

They are forced into one change to the XV that beat the Warriors with influential Bears centre Dmitri Gerasimov missing out after being cited for a dangerous tackle in Moscow.

Enisei field a side packed with Russia internationals while they are captained by Latvia lock Uldis Saulite, who packs down next to Moldovan international Maxim Gargalic.

They include Georgia centre David Kacharava, who has played in two World Cups and won 95 caps, and New Zealander Thomas Halse, who played for London Irish last season.

Enisei: R Gaisin, I Kurashov, D Kacharava, T Halse, D Simplikevich, I Kushnarev, A Shcherban, A Polivalov, S Selskii, I Zykov, U Saulite (captain), M Gargalic, M Gachechiladze, V Orlov, A Rudoi. Replacements: S Magomedov, V Morozov, E Pronenko, T Ghadgiev, J Baranovs, K Uzunov, A Mikhaltsov, V L Krasylnyk.

Dragons: C Meyer, P Howard, S Beard, J Dixon, A Warren, A O’Brien, C Davies, P Price, R Buckley, L Fairbrother, N Crosswell (captain), R Landman, J Thomas, N Cudd, H Keddie. Replacements: D Harris, T Davies, C Mitchell, M Screech, C Hill, T Knoyle, GR Jones, A Hewitt.

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri Oct 21, 2016 12:34 pm

Katie Vizard wrote:The front row has two changes as hooker Rhys Buckley is joined by props Phil Price and Lloyd Fairbrother. The second row sees Nick Crosswell, named as Captain alongside lock Rynard Landman, with a new look back row which includes flankers James Thomas, Nic Cudd and number 8 Harri Keddie.

FFS. We're not Glasgow, we don't have co-captains.

Commas aren't for decoration.

by Stone Motif Fri Oct 21, 2016 1:54 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:
Chris Kirwan wrote:Nick Crosswell will captain Newport Gwent Dragons as they attempt to avoid a European Rugby Challenge Cup banana skin in Russia tomorrow afternoon.

The Dragons will bid to follow up their stunning 37-16, bonus-point win against Brive when they take on Enisei in Krasnodar (kick-off 1pm).

Head coach Kingsley Jones makes nine personnel changes to his XV with starts given to lock Crosswell, who skippers the side in the absence of Lewis Evans, wing Pat Howard, centres Sam Beard and Jack Dixon, fly-half Angus O’Brien, props Phil Price and Lloyd Fairbrother, openside Nic Cudd and number eight Harri Keddie.

Adam Warren moves from midfield to the wing while former Wales scrum-half Tavis Knoyle is set for his Dragons debut off the bench.

The Russian side have lost just one home game – to Connacht – and last week added Worcester to their scalps of Newcastle and Brive.

They are forced into one change to the XV that beat the Warriors with influential Bears centre Dmitri Gerasimov missing out after being cited for a dangerous tackle in Moscow.

Enisei field a side packed with Russia internationals while they are captained by Latvia lock Uldis Saulite, who packs down next to Moldovan international Maxim Gargalic.

They include Georgia centre David Kacharava, who has played in two World Cups and won 95 caps, and New Zealander Thomas Halse, who played for London Irish last season.

Enisei: R Gaisin, I Kurashov, D Kacharava, T Halse, D Simplikevich, I Kushnarev, A Shcherban, A Polivalov, S Selskii, I Zykov, U Saulite (captain), M Gargalic, M Gachechiladze, V Orlov, A Rudoi. Replacements: S Magomedov, V Morozov, E Pronenko, T Ghadgiev, J Baranovs, K Uzunov, A Mikhaltsov, V L Krasylnyk.

Dragons: C Meyer, P Howard, S Beard, J Dixon, A Warren, A O’Brien, C Davies, P Price, R Buckley, L Fairbrother, N Crosswell (captain), R Landman, J Thomas, N Cudd, H Keddie. Replacements: D Harris, T Davies, C Mitchell, M Screech, C Hill, T Knoyle, GR Jones, A Hewitt.

WTF happens if Josh Widdington gets clattered in the first minute? GR ap Nepotism to 15, Meyer to 10?

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri Oct 21, 2016 2:16 pm

I suppose so.

by Guest Fri Oct 21, 2016 3:05 pm

I can see us losing this one. They dispatched Worcester at home last week. OK, not a full strength Worcester, but still...

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri Oct 21, 2016 3:15 pm

When you hear 'nine changes' you think it's going to be a really weak side, but looking at it, it's not bad at all.

by GavinDragon Fri Oct 21, 2016 5:07 pm

I think it is a bananna skin. Really wouldnt be surprised if we lost this.

Rhys Jones would go to 10 if sideshow Bob gets injured.

by Stone Motif Fri Oct 21, 2016 7:20 pm

GavinDragon wrote:I think it is a bananna skin. Really wouldnt be surprised if we lost this.

Rhys Jones would go to 10 if sideshow Bob gets injured.

You still here? Thought the jolly boys outing to Krasnodar would have set off by now

by **RiscaGame** Sat Oct 22, 2016 5:56 am

We deserve to lose. There's no logic to making big changes at once again, especially after a rare win last week.

GR Jones backing up at ten shows how much of a joke the Nepotistic Gwent Dragons have become. I know Crosswell is a backrow, but it's still a waste having two locks on the bench as well.

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