Newport Gwent Dragons 2016/17 thread

[Luckless Pedestrian]

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

[Stone Motif]

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.

There's a sort of logic to the FR and 3/4s but the back five of the pack looks like it was selected with a dart board

[Stone Motif]

17-12 down at the moment according to the BBC - sounds like it's going well then.

[RiscaGame]

Yeah HT. Think some have found a Russian stream, Stone

[Stone Motif]

Yeah HT. Think some have found a Russian stream, Stone

Might do a DOSC and give this one a miss. Read some comments on Gwlad that their pick and go is making us do our collective Diddy men routine again, and the kids birthday party I'm at won't be down for the kind of language that sh1t provokes in me, let alone when the online 'let's recruit a couple of Russian forwards' feckwittery fires up after they beat us.. Top marks to Kingsley for picking a lightweight starting pack it would seem.

[RiscaGame]

Thought Gwlad had gone?
Yeah I gather we were playing it all wrong first half. Argus think we are tactically spot on this half though.

[RiscaGame]

Restarts again a mare.

[Cardiff Dave]

http://www.enisei-stm.ru/

[Cardiff Dave]

Try to the Soviets.
Newportski trail 31-18 with 5mins to go.

[mikey_dragon]

So it's turning out to be another convincing loss, mostly in part due to KJ and his rather odd rotation policy. Twice he did it when we played the Italians away from home and ended up losing badly. Now today, with no disrespect to the Russians who keep on getting scalps, he rotated again and we end up getting stuffed by a team of minnows, again. If he can't learn from his own stupidity then surely the honorable thing to do is resign?

[Cardiff Dave]

Ouchski!

[dragon4life]

Lots of their tries were from pick and go, we were shocking in defence every try was soft. I don't understand why he didn't play the same team as last week. The tactical subs are all bizarre taking Landman off after 50 and bringing GR Jones on with 10 mins left when we were within a try

[Cardiff Dave]

Yeah HT. Think some have found a Russian stream, Stone

Might do a DOSC and give this one a miss. Read some comments on Gwlad that their pick and go is making us do our collective Diddy men routine again, and the kids birthday party I'm at won't be down for the kind of language that sh1t provokes in me, let alone when the online 'let's recruit a couple of Russian forwards' feckwittery fires up after they beat us.. Top marks to Kingsley for picking a lightweight starting pack it would seem.

Half a league, half a league......

[Stone Motif]

http://nugwlad.freeforums.net

Thought Gwlad had gone?
Yeah I gather we were playing it all wrong first half. Argus think we are tactically spot on this half though.

I guess the plan was to get bummed back to Gwent in the second half then...

[Stone Motif]

Lots of their tries were from pick and go, we were shocking in defence every try was soft. I don't understand why he didn't play the same team as last week. The tactical subs are all bizarre taking Landman off after 50 and bringing GR Jones on with 10 mins left when we were within a try

The whole thing is a disaster in planning. I knew this would be a bumming the minute Pinky unveiled his master stroke of getting the players straight off a bus/plane to play the match, just so as not to spend any more money.

[RiscaGame]

That's farcical yeah. I can't say I'm surprised though.

[mikey_dragon]

KJ: "We failed to deal with their body heights in particular and also their kicking game which was excellent. Their kicker didn't miss a goal."

I don't get it, were they too short or too tall?

[Stone Motif]

KJ: "We failed to deal with their body heights in particular and also their kicking game which was excellent. Their kicker didn't miss a goal."

I don't get it, were they too short or too tall?

Being as he was wittering on about how short our front row were, I'm guessing too tall

[Cardiff Dave]

KJ: "We failed to deal with their body heights in particular and also their kicking game which was excellent. Their kicker didn't miss a goal."

I don't get it, were they too short or too tall?

Bigger boys mun.
Praps in future, KJ should have a stand-in for the media stuff.

[Stone Motif]

KJ: "We failed to deal with their body heights in particular and also their kicking game which was excellent. Their kicker didn't miss a goal."

I don't get it, were they too short or too tall?

Bigger boys mun.
Praps in future, KJ should have a stand-in for the media stuff.

Just the media stuff?

[mikey_dragon]

KJ: "We failed to deal with their body heights in particular and also their kicking game which was excellent. Their kicker didn't miss a goal."

I don't get it, were they too short or too tall?

Being as he was wittering on about how short our front row were, I'm guessing too tall

Yet he selected them. The guy is mad.

[Guest]

Out of the 6 starting front rowers between the two sides only 1 was noticeably different: The Russian tighthead at 6'6". The rest of the starters were similar around 5'11" - 6'1" according to their profiles on Euro rugby cup website. But actually, I remember a discussion on here a few years back about how too much height can be a disadvantage to props as they're more 'hinged' at the hip when facing shorter props. They can't get down as low and are essentially putting their backsides in the air and aiming their torsos downwards. Or something like that. Plus, with his hooker and LH being 5 or 6 inches shorter than him then that can't be easy for him to get down and bind together with his front row buddies. It would all be a bit lopsided.

Not sure about the substitutes though. Didn't look it up. But sounds more like excuses from KJ to me.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

The saddest thing about this is that there'll be zero repercussions.

[GavinDragon]

Out of the 6 starting front rowers between the two sides only 1 was noticeably different: The Russian tighthead at 6'6". The rest of the starters were similar around 5'11" - 6'1" according to their profiles on Euro rugby cup website. But actually, I remember a discussion on here a few years back about how too much height can be a disadvantage to props as they're more 'hinged' at the hip when facing shorter props. They can't get down as low and are essentially putting their backsides in the air and aiming their torsos downwards. Or something like that. Plus, with his hooker and LH being 5 or 6 inches shorter than him then that can't be easy for him to get down and bind together with his front row buddies. It would all be a bit lopsided.

Not sure about the substitutes though. Didn't look it up. But sounds more like excuses from KJ to me.

Either way it is not really good enough - despite their result vs Worcester at sixways the weekend before. Kills any momentum following the Brive game.

[Cardiff Dave]

KJ: "We failed to deal with their body heights in particular and also their kicking game which was excellent. Their kicker didn't miss a goal."

I don't get it, were they too short or too tall?

Bigger boys mun.
Praps in future, KJ should have a stand-in for the media stuff.

Just the media stuff?

Stuart Davies?

[RiscaGame]

He's too busy checking the Hazell toilets

[Luckless Pedestrian]

The centre partnership remains unchanged as Jack Dixon and Adam Warren retain their positions, whilst there is a change in the back three at fullback as Tom Prydie steps in alongside wings Pat Howard and Adam Warren.

Brilliant.

[GavinDragon]

Ha, you're just going looking for it now

Strong side though

[Luckless Pedestrian]

F*ck Katie Vizard, how about this?!

'Wales wing Hallam Amos has boosted Newport Gwent Dragons by committing to at least two more years at Rodney Parade.

'The 22-year-old from Cross Ash was out of contract at the end of the season but has penned a fresh national dual contract with the Dragons and the Welsh Rugby Union.'

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/14829987.Wales_ace_Amos_pens_fresh_Dragons_deal/

Yes!

[munkian]

I have mixed feelings about this. I want Amos to reach his full potential, I don't think he will with our current coaching setup.

[mikey_dragon]

Strong side though

Apart from positions' 2 and 9.

[munkian]

Tavis did alright, needs a haircut though

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I'm more annoyed about Rhys Thomas starting. We can forget about creating anything on our own throw.

[munkian]

Aye, little other choice ATM

Hes got to be retiring soon ?

[GavinDragon]

I think Buckley was doing fine.....but my god we need Dee back soon

I would have started with Griffiths too

[munkian]

I like Cudd mind. He'll tackle and jackle his heart out - then bring on Griffiths

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Buckley was doing fine.

[munkian]

Some fine gent has created a new thread for the match, just sayin

[GavinDragon]

I like Cudd mind. He'll tackle and jackle his heart out - then bring on Griffiths

Genuinely think he has been less effective in turning the ball over this season.....still tackles like a dog.

I think we lack ball carriers in front 5 as it is, so I prefer Ollie.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Some fine gent has created a new thread for the match, just sayin

I created one at lunchtime, then I spotted yours, so I deleted mine.

[munkian]

Some fine gent has created a new thread for the match, just sayin

I created one at lunchtime, then I spotted yours, so I deleted mine.

Hah, fairy nuff.

[RiscaGame]

Would've kept Buckley, started Griffiths over Cudd and Warren over Dixon, with Hewitt on the wing.

[Cardiff Dave]

He's too busy checking the Hazell toilets

And no doubt, also monitoring the waves lapping up against the Bisley promenade.
Reminds me of CAP's sandy beach.

[Guest]

Ahh, the Hazell Terrace toilets. There's nothing quite like the steam of another mans p*ss in winter entering your nostrils while you innocently stand their holding your breath and praying you can hold it until you get outta there! Wee weeing against a Black and Amber breeze block wall. I miss those bogs

[Cardiff Dave]

Ahh, the Hazell Terrace toilets. There's nothing quite like the steam of another mans p*ss in winter entering your nostrils while you innocently stand their holding your breath and praying you can hold it until you get outta there! Wee weeing against a Black and Amber breeze block wall. I miss those bogs

Entering the Argus prefab bog twas an eerie adventure. Swayed in the wind. Sloped too.

[Guest]

Ahh, the Hazell Terrace toilets. There's nothing quite like the steam of another mans p*ss in winter entering your nostrils while you innocently stand their holding your breath and praying you can hold it until you get outta there! Wee weeing against a Black and Amber breeze block wall. I miss those bogs

Entering the Argus prefab bog twas an eerie adventure. Swayed in the wind. Sloped too.

Yeah, when I say I miss the Hazell bogs they haven't gone anywhere. They're still there. I'm just over in the 'posh' side now in the Bisley Stand with 'posh' bogs. Gone is the Argus terrace and the prefab bog, replaced by nicer toilets and a concourse (is that the right word?!) that looks eerily like the Millennium Stadium set up IMO. Just very much smaller.

[mikey_dragon]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37839875 McLeod out for 2 months, so now we have to rely on fly-halves incapable of coping with rugby at this level.

[munkian]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37839875 McLeod out for 2 months, so now we have to rely on fly-halves incapable of coping with rugby at this level.

Nothing new there then. Its a strange new feeling hoping Dorian is back soon.

[mikey_dragon]

Within two weeks apparently, as is Dee.

[munkian]

Dee supposedly back for Friday - from the bench I'd imagine

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Dragons: T Prydie, P Howard, S Beard, J Dixon, A Hewitt, A O’Brien, S Pretorius, P Price, R Thomas, B Harris, N Crosswell, R Landman, L Evans (captain), O Griffiths, E Jackson. Replacements: R Buckley, S Hobbs, L Fairbrother, M Screech, N Cudd, T Knoyle, GR Jones, A Warren

Connacht: T O’Halloran, N Adeolokun, B Aki, P Robb, S Ili, J Carty, C Blade, JP Cooney, S Delahunt, C Carey, Q Roux, A Browne, E McKeon, J Heenan, J Muldoon (captain). Replacements: D Heffernan, S Meunargia, D Robertson-McCoy, J Cannon, J Connolly, C McKeon, S O’Leary, C Kelleher

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