Hairsprays v Clarts & Strongbowmen 29/10/16 1500

by munkian Fri 28 Oct 2016, 12:13 pm

Ospreys

15 Dan Evans

14 Keelan Giles

13 Ben John

12 Ashley Beck

11 Eli Walker

10 Josh Matavesi

9 Tom Habberfield (Capt)

1 Paul James

2 Scott Baldwin

3 Dmitri Arhip

4 Lloyd Ashley

5 Adam Beard

6 Dan Lydiate

7 Olly Cracknell

8 Joe Bearman

Replacements - Sam Parry, Gareth Thomas, Ma'afu Fia, Rob McCusker, Scott Otten, Brendon Leonard, Jonathan Spratt,Dafydd Howells.

Players missing through injury - Tyler Ardron (thumb), Hanno Dirksen (knee), Jeff Hassler (Achilles), Sam Underhill (shoulder) and Owen Watkin knee with Dan Baker, Dan Biggar, BBBD, Sam Davies, AWJ, James King, Nicky Smith, Rory Thornton, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb away with TW.

Newport Gwent Dragons

15 Tom Prydie, 14 Pat Howard, 13 Sam Beard, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Adam Warren, 10 Nick Macloed, 9 Tavis Knoyle; 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Thomas Rhys Thomas, 3 Brok Harris, 4 Nick Crosswell, 5 Rynard Landman, 6 Lewis Evans ©, 7 Nic Cudd, 8 Ed Jackson.

Replacements: Rhys Buckley, Phil Price, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Ollie Griffiths, Sarel Pretorius, Geraint Rhys Jones, Ashton Hewitt

Players who are unavailable for selection: Cory Hill (Wales), Tyler Morgan (Wales), Hallam Amos (Wales), Harri Keddie (Wales), Leon Brown (Wales), Elliot Dee (Ankle), James Benjamin (Ankle), Ashley Sweet (Chest), Bryce Morgan (Concussion), Adam Hughes (Concussion), Dorian Jones (Groin), Carl Meyer (Groin), Charlie Davies (Hamstring), George Gasson (Knee), Joe Davies (Neck/ Shoulder), Lloyd Lewis (Shoulder), Angus O’Brien (Sick).

by wayne Fri 28 Oct 2016, 12:41 pm

munkian wrote:Ospreys

15 Dan Evans

14 Keelan Giles

13 Ben John

12 Ashley Beck

11 Eli Walker

10 Josh Matavesi

9 Tom Habberfield (Capt)

1 Paul James

2 Scott Baldwin

3 Dmitri Arhip

4 Lloyd Ashley

5 Adam Beard

6 Dan Lydiate

7 Olly Cracknell

8 Joe Bearman

Newport Gwent Dragons

15 Tom Prydie, 14 Pat Howard, 13 Sam Beard, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Adam Warren, 10 Nick Macloed, 9 Tavis Knoyle; 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Thomas Rhys Thomas, 3 Brok Harris, 4 Nick Crosswell, 5 Rynard Landman, 6 Lewis Evans ©, 7 Nic Cudd, 8 Ed Jackson.

Replacements: Rhys Buckley, Phil Price, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Ollie Griffiths, Sarel Pretorius, Geraint Rhys Jones, Ashton Hewitt

Players who are unavailable for selection: Cory Hill (Wales), Tyler Morgan (Wales), Hallam Amos (Wales), Harri Keddie (Wales), Leon Brown (Wales), Elliot Dee (Ankle), James Benjamin (Ankle), Ashley Sweet (Chest), Bryce Morgan (Concussion), Adam Hughes (Concussion), Dorian Jones (Groin), Carl Meyer (Groin), Charlie Davies (Hamstring), George Gasson (Knee), Joe Davies (Neck/ Shoulder), Lloyd Lewis (Shoulder), Angus O’Brien (Sick).

Munkian our replacements if you want them are Sam Parry, Gareth Thomas, Ma'afu Fia, Rob McCusker, Scott Otten, Brendon Leonard, Jonathan Spratt and Dafydd Howells.
We are taking one hell of a chance with Scott Otten covering the back row and McCusker the 2nd row.

Our players missing through injury are Tyler Ardron (thumb), Hanno Dirksen (knee), Jeff Hassler (Achilles), Sam Underhill (shoulder) and Owen Watkin knee with Dan Baker, Dan Biggar, BBBD, Sam Davies, AWJ, James King, Nicky Smith, Rory Thornton, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb away with TW.

I think this could be a very close game, you have a definite edge balance wise in the back row, and could even extend to the back 5 especially if we have to fetch on our 2 replacements, how it could have been oh so different if Joe Schmidt was our National Team coach or if we had Ardron and Underhill available.

by wayne Fri 28 Oct 2016, 12:47 pm

Munkian who are the Clarts? I've heard of the Dregs, intrigued now.

by Guest Fri 28 Oct 2016, 1:01 pm

Safe clart.

by munkian Fri 28 Oct 2016, 1:58 pm

Cheers Wayne - updated.

by GavinDragon Fri 28 Oct 2016, 4:38 pm

Shouldn't it be Clarts & Bowmen?

by munkian Fri 28 Oct 2016, 4:44 pm

GavinDragon wrote:Shouldn't it be Clarts & Bowmen?

Sorted

by GavinDragon Fri 28 Oct 2016, 4:48 pm

by wayne Fri 28 Oct 2016, 4:52 pm

munkian wrote:
GavinDragon wrote:Shouldn't it be Clarts & Bowmen?

Sorted

Sorry I'm obviously of the wrong generation, didn't understand Griff's answer earlier either, this has confused me even more, is it to do with Newport?

by munkian Fri 28 Oct 2016, 4:54 pm

wayne wrote:
munkian wrote:
GavinDragon wrote:Shouldn't it be Clarts & Bowmen?

Sorted

Sorry I'm obviously of the wrong generation, didn't understand Griff's answer earlier either, this has confused me even more, is it to do with Newport?

Yes mate, local urban lingo - see GLC

by GavinDragon Fri 28 Oct 2016, 4:55 pm

Yes Wayne, clart is generally a term given to Newportonians.

I included Bowmen, as in the Monmouthshire Bowmen who fought in the battle of Agincourt, so we also represent the Gwent part of our name. However, Munkian hijacked it by putting Strong in front of it to make it a double homage to the capital city of the kingdom formerly known as Gwent - the little rascal.

by wayne Fri 28 Oct 2016, 5:06 pm

Thanks Munkian and Gav. I'm just a SOS. Smile

by GavinDragon Fri 28 Oct 2016, 5:14 pm

This should be a close game....but a combination of us being poor and whitehouse being worse makes me think otherwise

by **RiscaGame** Sat 29 Oct 2016, 8:42 am

I don't think it's going to be close. They're depleted and still strong.

by Stone Motif Sat 29 Oct 2016, 12:25 pm

GavinDragon wrote:This should be a close game....but a combination of us being poor and whitehouse being worse makes me think otherwise

Swansea's Ben Whitehouse will surely have his homer default well and truly set tonight. We've no chance.

by mikey_dragon Sat 29 Oct 2016, 4:55 pm

Nothing close about it. Teams are finding Ospreys game plan difficult to deal with this season. As I alluded to the other day it seems their entire squad is capable of playing at this high intensity so you wouldn't think they were without a host of players today - that's very impressive so fair play.

I haven't seen much of the game as I was out but, Giles and Ashton future Wales wingers? Whistle

by Stone Motif Sat 29 Oct 2016, 5:07 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:Nothing close about it. Teams are finding Ospreys game plan difficult to deal with this season. As I alluded to the other day it seems their entire squad is capable of playing at this high intensity so you wouldn't think they were without a host of players today - that's very impressive so fair play.

I haven't seen much of the game as I was out but, Giles and Ashton future Wales wingers?

by wayne Sat 29 Oct 2016, 9:20 pm

Sorry Dragons fans, but what a drubbing that was, considering the team that we put out I expected a close result, with us pulling away in the last quarter, your defensive systems seemed to work for the first quarter but after that it was one way traffic, and only because of white line fever it could have been a lot more.
Josh Matavesi has solved our 3rd choice fly half problem, very assured with a box full of tricks to hand, have to say what a performance from Joe Bearman for a man of his age he was outstanding, Olly Cracknell also had a very fine game, we dominated the scrums when we had a full compliment on, the only blemish was Dmitri's yellow card, many around me didn't think it was worthy of even that, but I did, if anything I thought it really inspired him when he came back on.
What can you say about Keelan without going too far over the top? His work rate never mind his strike rate is top class, I was really disappointed that the Dragons never brought Ashton Hewitt on until it was miles too late, it would have been nice to see the two of them on the field at the same time for a considerable amount of time.

by maestegmafia Sun 30 Oct 2016, 8:45 pm

Stone Motif wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:Nothing close about it. Teams are finding Ospreys game plan difficult to deal with this season. As I alluded to the other day it seems their entire squad is capable of playing at this high intensity so you wouldn't think they were without a host of players today - that's very impressive so fair play.

I haven't seen much of the game as I was out but, Giles and Ashton future Wales wingers?

What did you find so funny???

by munkian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 9:36 am

wayne wrote:Sorry Dragons fans, but what a drubbing that was, considering the team that we put out I expected a close result, with us pulling away in the last quarter, your defensive systems seemed to work for the first quarter but after that it was one way traffic, and only because of white line fever it could have been a lot more.
Josh Matavesi has solved our 3rd choice fly half problem, very assured with a box full of tricks to hand, have to say what a performance from Joe Bearman for a man of his age he was outstanding, Olly Cracknell also had a very fine game, we dominated the scrums when we had a full compliment on, the only blemish was Dmitri's yellow card, many around me didn't think it was worthy of even that, but I did, if anything I thought it really inspired him when he came back on.
What can you say about Keelan without going too far over the top? His work rate never mind his strike rate is top class, I was really disappointed that the Dragons never brought Ashton Hewitt on until it was miles too late, it would have been nice to see the two of them on the field at the same time for a considerable amount of time.

Yeah, I fell Ashton should have come on at around 60 mins - I despair at our coaching teams selection and replacement decisions.

Baldwin didn't look happy to come off. Im happy that Dee should be available next week, this really should be TRT's last season with us.

by mikey_dragon Mon 31 Oct 2016, 9:39 am

His last game, I hope.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 10:33 am

TRT isn't the only dead wood in our squad, but without investment, it's not guaranteed that the players coming in to replace them will be any better. That's the sad truth of it. Investment = better coaches and better players.

The Ospreys were missing however many players and we could still barely give them a game. What a miserable life being a Dragons supporter.

by munkian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 11:02 am

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:TRT isn't the only dead wood in our squad, but without investment, it's not guaranteed that the players coming in to replace them will be any better. That's the sad truth of it. Investment = better coaches and better players.

The Ospreys were missing however many players and we could still barely give them a game. What a miserable life being a Dragons supporter.

Hard work isn't it ? I really just go to games now to see my mates who still live in Newport - there is so little progression from the team that is hard to actually follow them.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 11:07 am

There have been a few spells this season where we've looked half decent, but we can never sustain it over a full 80 minutes. Really that's been the case for years, so where's the progression?

I don't think you can fault the players' effort, but if they're not as good as their opposite numbers, and they're not being coached as well as their opposite numbers, then you're going to win very few games.

by munkian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 11:17 am

True.

Who would you cut from the squad ?

by True Raven Mon 31 Oct 2016, 11:21 am

Found it baffling that Knoyle started over Pretorius. An ex super rugby player benched for a guy who gets passed around the regions and could barely get a becnh spot for the mighty Blues.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 11:25 am

I know he's been injured, but Tom Prydie really added nothing on the weekend. I don't think he's done much since he joined us really, and now we have better back-three options. Rhys Jones clearly needs to go, he's stealing a living.

by wayne Mon 31 Oct 2016, 11:25 am

Let me just say 2 things in particular impressed me with you lot on Saturday, with this new injury to Fonotia and the brittleness of especially Ashley Beck can we borrow Sam Beard for a couple of months, thought he handled himself very well. Can you not play him and Tyler together?
Sorry don't rate Dixon at all, he is just a poor mans Jamie Roberts.
The second thing was your gang of supporters, who never gave up from first minute to last, pleased for them to get those 2 tries near the end, nothing more than they deserved.
It must be hard at the minute to support them, but please don't give up on them, we need 4 if not 5 Regions, I just wish you could sort out your contractual issues with the WRU, that is satisfactory to both sides and the sooner the better.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 11:28 am

wayne wrote:It must be hard at the minute to support them

It's been a blydi long minute!

by munkian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 11:30 am

Dixon is off form but used to be a very solid player, especially in defense. Morgan is a bit off form too unfortunately.

I will very prob re-new season ticket, it just gets hardwer every year

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 11:31 am

True Raven wrote:Found it baffling that Knoyle started over Pretorius. An ex super rugby player benched for a guy who gets passed around the regions and could barely get a becnh spot for the mighty Blues.

Charlie Davies had been starting the last few games, with Pretorius coming on. It was the other way round for a long time, and Pretorius was a bit too frantic from the off, and didn't control the game that well. But then Kingsley decides to promote Knoyle over the pair of them, which must be great for morale. Rolling Eyes

by mikey_dragon Mon 31 Oct 2016, 11:45 am

KJ has carried on with Lyp's oddball selections, there is just no explanation for him doing so. As I said I missed a lot of the game but I'm assuming Knoyle was exceptionally poor (which I already knew) as Pretorious was on the field by the time I tuned in, along with the game being well and truly over. Knoyle is a poor No.9 and it was a terrible signing to be making.

I don't think Dixon has been off form or that poor lately at all, if anything he's been one of the best performers. It's Morgan who has been off form yet he somehow finds his way in the Wales squad. Beard and Warren have done really well for us at centre so far, as has Howard on the wing.

As for Ospreys, well it's hard not to admire them with the way they're playing this season. Brad Davis has made an immediate difference but they mostly have the same players they have done for the last 3 years so credit to them and the rest of the coaching staff. I've said it before but I think Gibbes has a hand in that as the forward pack has always been very efficient except for sometimes struggling at the set-piece.

by munkian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 12:03 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:
True Raven wrote:Found it baffling that Knoyle started over Pretorius. An ex super rugby player benched for a guy who gets passed around the regions and could barely get a becnh spot for the mighty Blues.

Charlie Davies had been starting the last few games, with Pretorius coming on. It was the other way round for a long time, and Pretorius was a bit too frantic from the off, and didn't control the game that well. But then Kingsley decides to promote Knoyle over the pair of them, which must be great for morale.

Davies has a hamstring injury.

Players who are unavailable for selection: Cory Hill (Wales), Tyler Morgan (Wales), Hallam Amos (Wales), Harri Keddie (Wales), Leon Brown (Wales), Elliot Dee (Ankle), James Benjamin (Ankle), Ashley Sweet (Chest), Bryce Morgan (Concussion), Adam Hughes (Concussion), Dorian Jones (Groin), Carl Meyer (Groin), Charlie Davies (Hamstring), George Gasson (Knee), Joe Davies (Neck/ Shoulder), Lloyd Lewis (Shoulder), Angus O’Brien (Sick).

We were missing players too.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 12:08 pm

Fair enough, I didn't know that.

by **RiscaGame** Mon 31 Oct 2016, 12:12 pm

We aren't missing players of the class that the Ospreys were though.

Still believe that Warren and Beard is our best centre partnership currently.

by munkian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 12:12 pm

Im not excusing the result but thats a lot of players missing for a small squad.

The Mcleod injury is worrying.

by munkian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 12:13 pm

RiscaGame wrote:We aren't missing players of the class that the Ospreys were though.

Still believe that Warren and Beard is our best centre partnership currently.

Yes but its all relative though isn't it ?

by mikey_dragon Mon 31 Oct 2016, 12:17 pm

munkian wrote:
Luckless Pedestrian wrote:
True Raven wrote:Found it baffling that Knoyle started over Pretorius. An ex super rugby player benched for a guy who gets passed around the regions and could barely get a becnh spot for the mighty Blues.

Charlie Davies had been starting the last few games, with Pretorius coming on. It was the other way round for a long time, and Pretorius was a bit too frantic from the off, and didn't control the game that well. But then Kingsley decides to promote Knoyle over the pair of them, which must be great for morale.

Davies has a hamstring injury.

Players who are unavailable for selection: Cory Hill (Wales), Tyler Morgan (Wales), Hallam Amos (Wales), Harri Keddie (Wales), Leon Brown (Wales), Elliot Dee (Ankle), James Benjamin (Ankle), Ashley Sweet (Chest), Bryce Morgan (Concussion), Adam Hughes (Concussion), Dorian Jones (Groin), Carl Meyer (Groin), Charlie Davies (Hamstring), George Gasson (Knee), Joe Davies (Neck/ Shoulder), Lloyd Lewis (Shoulder), Angus O’Brien (Sick).

We were missing players too.

The only ones in that list who would be in consideration for the first team squad, and I have to used this term loosely given KJs selection policy, is Hill, Morgan, Amos, Dee, Meyer and Davies. I can't see what difference it would have made if they were available.

Worrying news about McLeod as his stand-in AOB is very poor.

by munkian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 12:19 pm

And as I said, the difference between us losing 6 first team choices and other teams missing them is huge as our depth is so much poorer.

by mikey_dragon Mon 31 Oct 2016, 12:24 pm

I agree to an extent, but I just don't see how it made a bit of difference to us and in this fixture, when taking into account how these players have performed as part of the team over the season. I don't think Ospreys are far superior. They're squad on this day was a little better but their far superior coaching made the difference.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 12:36 pm

They probably would have won anyway, but at least two of the Ospreys' tries came from bad refereeing decisions. The penalty against Sam Beard right at the end of the first half was incorrect, and Matavesi's pass was forward for Keelan Giles's first try. (The players were telling Ben Whitehouse it was forward, but as if he was going to ask the TMO when it risked showing he was wrong!)

As I say, they'd probably have won anyway, but take away those 14 points, the match stays tighter / is actually a contest for longer, who knows.

by True Raven Mon 31 Oct 2016, 12:46 pm

There was no chance of that game staying close when the Dragons pack was getting demolished the entire game. I dont think ive ever seen Bearman that effective

by munkian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 12:48 pm

Agreed.

by mikey_dragon Mon 31 Oct 2016, 1:22 pm

I alluded to all our front-row combo's being ineffective a couple weeks ago when people were heaping lots of praise on Harris - it fell on deaf ears. We need so much squad and staff re-jigging it's unreal. I realize this won't happen any time soon btw, unless some fella wants to give us millions of pounds and not get anything back.

by munkian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 1:25 pm

Well done Mikey, you won the internets, have a virtual cookie.

by mikey_dragon Mon 31 Oct 2016, 1:38 pm

munkian wrote:Well done Mikey, you won the internets, have a virtual cookie.

Not sure why you've come out with this silliness, it's a bit like your random and angry outburst the other day. It is a shame however, that people refuse to listen when you point out something blatantly obvious - yourself for example.

by munkian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 2:34 pm

Not really a shame is it ? You're just a sad individual trying to score meaningless points on an increasingly insignificant messageboard.

But again, apologies for correcting you.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Oct 2016, 2:38 pm

True Raven wrote:There was no chance of that game staying close when the Dragons pack was getting demolished the entire game. I dont think ive ever seen Bearman that effective

I did say you probably would have won anyway. I said it twice!

by mikey_dragon Mon 31 Oct 2016, 3:05 pm

munkian wrote:Not really a shame is it ? You're just a sad individual trying to score meaningless points on an increasingly insignificant messageboard.

But again, apologies for correcting you.

It's a shame for you because you don't listen.

When did you correct me?

by wayne Tue 01 Nov 2016, 9:21 pm

Daimitri Arhip cited for an infringement in this match,and was yellow carded for the infringement by the referee and endorsed by the TMO, but Dan Lydiate who did practically the same thing gets away with it totally. What a load of B0LLOCKS.

The pundits on Scrum V, Jiffy in particular said it was only worth a penalty, but probably he'll get banned for 2 weeks with a reduction because of previous good behavior and remorse. He will probably miss our next game on Friday away to Munster. furious

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