Dragons Season Thread 2017/18 - New Beginnings

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

Too early?!  Never mind.

So, big changes are afoot at Dave Parade.  There's been loads of arguments about the best way forward, the pros and cons of regional v club rugby, and I'm sure there'll be many more to come.  But what's done is done and, for now, we have a pro team at Dave Parade to support next year.  A few weeks ago even that was in jeopardy.  So moving forward...

Ownership:
So the WRU has taken over the reigns.  I'll add updates here as and when we know them, but the formal split from Newport RFC should mean 'cleaner' or more straightforward to understand revenue streams.  

Pitch:
A new one is being laid as we speak.  This original pitch has been part and parcel of the problems at RP for a number of years.  A BBC report showed it to be up there as the most used pitch pro pitch in the UK.  Something had to be done.  A fully synthetic pitch was mooted and preferred by some, a al Blues, Saracens, Glasgow, et al.  However, FA rules state that football clubs cannot play on these surfaces (probably since the AstroTurf days of Luton Town, etc.).  So it looks like a compromise has been agreed with a 4g semi-synthetic pitch, like those used by many football clubs, Swansea City/Ospreys, Millennium Stadium, Aviva Stadium, Twickenham, Murrayfield, Cardiff City stadium, etc.  A weave of synthetic fibres and real grass meaning it's easier to maintain, less prone to weather damage, but still sort of like the real thing.  This will be a real move forward and should improve the product on the field.  A bit.

Personnel:
New coach - Huw Jackman.  Comes with a good reputation for hard work and attacking rugby.  Good stuff.
Gavin Henson - I'm happy with this.  Despite his knockers, so to speak, he is still a classy club player and performed well in the English Prem with Bristol, when not injured.  Which is the crux of the issue.  Hopefully we can keep him fit for an extended run of games.
Zane Kirchner - On paper a quality player but as with a lot of good players, when they are in the twighlight of their careers and join a 'lesser' club more often than not they do not perform as expected.  Let's hope he is an exception to the rule.  Did Jackman and Kirchner play together at Leinster?


Transfers In:

Bernard 'No Pudding' Jackman - coach
Gavin Henson
Zane Kirchner

Transfers Out:
Shaun Knight
Nick Crosswell
Tom Prydie
Geraint Rhys Jones
Darren Harris
Craig Mitchell


New Badge:

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I'm sure the usual suspects will complain that we've signed James Sheekey from Cardiff instead of Morgan Allen, who's off to Ealing instead. Personally I just want us to have the better player.

[Cardiff Dave]

I don't know why some of those posters bother on the Argus website, their comments are always critical regardless of the content of the article. If they dislike the Dragons that much, what are they doing reading and commenting all the time? What do they get out of it?

Ewe shewer you don't know why?
Considering your team is now owned and controlled by a Cardiff based outfit, it must come as no surprise to you that some feathers are, to put it mildly, very much still ruffled down your way. Shewerly? That's the truth though isn't it? Feel free to correct me if i'm wrong.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I understand that some - and it is some - Newport RFC supporters hate the Dragons and want them to fail (regardless of the consequences to Newport RFC of that failure). What I don't understand is why some of them troll every article about the Dragons. I don't see the point of that.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Falcons: S Hammersley, A Tait, M Mermoz, T Flood, A Radwan, J Hodgson, S Stuart; R Vickers, B Sowrey, T Davison, W Witty, S Robinson, M Wilson (captain), G Graham, R Burrows.

Replacements: J Blamire, A Brocklebank, S Wilson, G Young, W Welch, R Dawson, C Cowell, C Harris.

Dragons: W Talbot-Davies, A Hewitt, J Rosser, A Warren, G Gasson, A O’Brien, S Pretorius; L Garrett, L Belcher, L Fairbrother, J Davies, M Screech, A Wainwright, O Griffiths (captain), J Benjamin.

Replacements; G Ellis, T Davies, B Harris, R Landman, J Thomas, O Leonard, G Henson, P Howard.

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/15595092.TEAM_NEWS__Dragons_make_nine_changes_for_Falcons_test/

[RiscaGame]

Strange selection. I didn't know Rosser could play 13. Backrow pretty lightweight with (in effect) three 7s on there?

[Stone Motif]

Strange selection. I didn't know Rosser could play 13. Backrow pretty lightweight with (in effect) three 7s on there?

Gonna be a rough afternoon for the front five...I can see why he's done it, try out combinations and continued sort the wheat from the chaff.

[Guest]

Strange selection. I didn't know Rosser could play 13. Backrow pretty lightweight with (in effect) three 7s on there?

And Rosser's against Falcons new boy and French international Maxine Mermoz  Baptism of fire.

I fear a humping here

[Cardiff Dave]

Newport on the scoreboard I see and the premiership select lot advertised as Newport Dragons. Marvelous.

[RiscaGame]

Strange selection. I didn't know Rosser could play 13. Backrow pretty lightweight with (in effect) three 7s on there?

Gonna be a rough afternoon for the front five...I can see why he's done it, try out combinations and continued sort the wheat from the chaff.

I get that aye. Getting a losing bonus pretty good result too.

[Guest]

Yep, I commented on the Falcons thread that I felt that was a good result. Have to hang my head in shame for predicting a humping. Kudos to the wider squad players for stepping up and putting in a very decent shift.

[Guest]

Newport on the scoreboard I see and the premiership select lot advertised as Newport Dragons. Marvelous.

What's your point?

Old habits die hard I suppose. People called the Millennium Stadium the 'Arms Park' for years, just as people still call it the Millennium Stadium when it's not called that any longer. People take a long time to adapt. Sh*t happens. Sh*t changes. Not sure why it gets your knickers in a twist.

[Stone Motif]

Strange selection. I didn't know Rosser could play 13. Backrow pretty lightweight with (in effect) three 7s on there?

Gonna be a rough afternoon for the front five...I can see why he's done it, try out combinations and continued sort the wheat from the chaff.

I get that aye. Getting a losing bonus pretty good result too.

Yep overall progress - sounds like we had a pasting up front but kept ourselves in it by fashioning a few tries. How very Turkish of us.

[munkian]

Newport on the scoreboard I see and the premiership select lot advertised as Newport Dragons. Marvelous.

What's your point?

Old habits die hard I suppose. People called the Millennium Stadium the 'Arms Park' for years, just as people still call it the Millennium Stadium when it's not called that any longer. People take a long time to adapt. Sh*t happens. Sh*t changes. Not sure why it gets your knickers in a twist.

Seemed to be a huge issue for some Blues fans

[Geordie]

It wasn't much of a game really. Dragons probably had more of the territory in the first half but neither team really did anything of note.

Second half Dragons (sorry ive been calling them Newport as well) came blasting out and I thought they were going to run away with it. But then we just kind of worked our way back in to the game without doing anything of note again.

Your Fly half got MOM and he did play well. Personally I thought Gary Graham our 7 should have got it. But it is what it is.

[munkian]

It wasn't much of a game really. Dragons probably had more of the territory in the first half but neither team really did anything of note.

Second half Dragons (sorry ive been calling them Newport as well) came blasting out and I thought they were going to run away with it. But then we just kind of worked our way back in to the game without doing anything of note again.

Your Fly half got MOM and he did play well. Personally I thought Gary Graham our 7 should have got it. But it is what it is.

Cheers for this Geordie - I was following the game via the Falcon's twitter feed. Sounded proper end to end stuff in the 2nd half.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

It wasn't much of a game really. Dragons probably had more of the territory in the first half but neither team really did anything of note.

Second half Dragons (sorry ive been calling them Newport as well) came blasting out and I thought they were going to run away with it. But then we just kind of worked our way back in to the game without doing anything of note again.

Your Fly half got MOM and he did play well. Personally I thought Gary Graham our 7 should have got it. But it is what it is.

Good on him. He has his detractors and he's not the finished article, but it could be that he'll pick up what he's missing from Henson in training.

Top points scorer in the league last season too, if I'm not mistaken.

[LordDowlais]

Yep overall progress - sounds like we had a pasting up front but kept ourselves in it by fashioning a few tries. How very Turkish of us.

Strange thing to say, as the Turks very seldom get battered up front these days. In fact, they probably have the best set of forwards in the Pro14 at the minute.

[munkian]

Yep overall progress - sounds like we had a pasting up front but kept ourselves in it by fashioning a few tries. How very Turkish of us.

Strange thing to say, as the Turks very seldom get battered up front these days. In fact, they probably have the best set of forwards in the Pro14 at the minute.

Not if you watched their last two games (one admittedly against Toulon)

[LordDowlais]

Not if you watched their last two games (one admittedly against Toulon)

I thought Scarlets had more than parity in the scrums against Toulon, also the line out went well. Scarlets even got a penalty or two during scrum time and disrupted the line out. Off the top of my head:-

Jake Ball
John Barclay
Tadgh Beirne
Will Boyde
David Bulbring
James Davies
Ryan Elias
Dylan Evans
Rob Evans
Wyn Jones
Werner Kruger
Samson Lee
Ken Owens
Emyr Phillips
Lewis Rawlins
Aaron Shingler

Sorry If i have missed anyone. But there are a good set there.

[Geordie]

The Dragons winger was a right handful...small lad with electric pace. He scored a try.

I don't think it was a game for players to be judged on though

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Bordeaux put 50 points on Enisei on the weekend. I'm still worried about our game there though, after last season.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

The Dragons winger was a right handful...small lad with electric pace. He scored a try.

I don't think it was a game for players to be judged on though

He's a good player, Ashton Hewitt. He doesn't know when he's tackled. His defence is better than you'd think, too.

[Geordie]

Is he young? Where is he in regards to the Welsh set up?

[Stone Motif]

Yep overall progress - sounds like we had a pasting up front but kept ourselves in it by fashioning a few tries. How very Turkish of us.

Strange thing to say, as the Turks very seldom get battered up front these days. In fact, they probably have the best set of forwards in the Pro14 at the minute.

As a footballing pack yes but to suggest they don't struggle against heavy packs is absurd, look at the Ospreys game and you can see how a very limited but heavy 8 can drag them into a dogfight which stifles heir gameplan. There's not many Scarlets who would start for Leinster, Ulster or Glasgow up front.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Is he young? Where is he in regards to the Welsh set up?

He was called up to the Wales squad for the tour to New Zealand in 2016, but he got injured - and he missed the second half of last season with concussion-related issues. So he's been on the radar.

[LordDowlais]

Yep overall progress - sounds like we had a pasting up front but kept ourselves in it by fashioning a few tries. How very Turkish of us.

Strange thing to say, as the Turks very seldom get battered up front these days. In fact, they probably have the best set of forwards in the Pro14 at the minute.

As a footballing pack yes but to suggest they don't struggle against heavy packs is absurd, look at the Ospreys game and you can see how a very limited but heavy 8 can drag them into a dogfight which stifles heir gameplan.  There's not many Scarlets who would start for Leinster, Ulster or Glasgow up front.

I would wager that Leinster, Ulster or Glasgow would rip your arm off if you offered them Ken Owens, Samon Lee, Rob Evans, James Davies, Tadhg Beirne, Aaron Shingler or Jake Ball to name a few.

[Stone Motif]

Yep overall progress - sounds like we had a pasting up front but kept ourselves in it by fashioning a few tries. How very Turkish of us.

Strange thing to say, as the Turks very seldom get battered up front these days. In fact, they probably have the best set of forwards in the Pro14 at the minute.

As a footballing pack yes but to suggest they don't struggle against heavy packs is absurd, look at the Ospreys game and you can see how a very limited but heavy 8 can drag them into a dogfight which stifles heir gameplan.  There's not many Scarlets who would start for Leinster, Ulster or Glasgow up front.

I would wager that Leinster, Ulster or Glasgow would rip your arm off if you offered them Ken Owens, Samon Lee, Rob Evans, James Davies, Tadhg Beirne, Aaron Shingler or Jake Ball to name a few.

That's because you hopelessly overate Welsh players.

[LordDowlais]

That's because you hopelessly overate Welsh players.

Tadhg Beirne is not Welsh.

Anyway, you are wrong, Scarlets pack does not get a pasting up front anymore. Lets just leave it as that.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

They haven't played the Dragons yet

[LordDowlais]

Well, there is that LP.

[Stone Motif]

That's because you hopelessly overate Welsh players.

Tadhg Beirne is not Welsh.

Anyway, you are wrong, Scarlets pack does not get a pasting up front anymore. Lets just leave it as that.

Don't ever come.on here again and accuse people of not debating anymore Dowell. Anyway, you are wrong is something my son would say. Admittedly he's brighter than a carpet salesman from Merthyr but still. I'm not wrong, the Scarlets use their handlers and runnerd in the forwards to keep the ball alive and avoid a pitched battle. Do provide some evidence if you feel my assessment is wrong, "you are wrong" won't cut it.

[LordDowlais]

What ever.....

You see as soon as you start with petty insults, it shows you are struggling...

I have watched enough rugby to know, that a pack of forwards, that contain the international front row, and a Welsh international second rower, and two international flankers do not get pasted up front no matter how they like to do the fancy stuff as well.

You agian are showing your bitterness towards anything outside of Newport/Gwent.

[Cardiff Dave]

Newport on the scoreboard I see and the premiership select lot advertised as Newport Dragons. Marvelous.

What's your point?

Old habits die hard I suppose. People called the Millennium Stadium the 'Arms Park' for years, just as people still call it the Millennium Stadium when it's not called that any longer. People take a long time to adapt. Sh*t happens. Sh*t changes. Not sure why it gets your knickers in a twist.

I don't wear knickers anymore mun. A mere onlooker now who points and sniggers/sighs, whichever is appropriate.
Anyway, crucial meeting at CAP today to decide where to build more flats and office space in the capitol, I believe.

[Stone Motif]

What ever.....

You see as soon as you start with petty insults, it shows you are struggling...

I have watched enough rugby to know, that a pack of forwards, that contain the international front row, and a Welsh international second rower, and two international flankers do not get pasted up front no matter how they like to do the fancy stuff as well.

You agian are showing your bitterness towards anything outside of Newport/Gwent.

I don't struggle remotely with any of your output. It's infantile at best, so forgive me for sinking to your level. The Welsh international pack, which includes two Welsh international front rows and three international lock forwards, regularly get pasted by their opponents. You know less about rugby than our five year old as well as being less able to 'debate'. I actually think it's a good way for Welsh teams to play, and was admiring Jackman for trying to implement something similar, being as we hardly ever produce international quality front five forwards.

[Geordie]

From the game on Saturday there appears to have surfaced a pic of Ollie Griffiths putting his fingers in Rob Vickers eyes.
At one stage in the game Rob went mental, and there was a scuffle which is very unlike him. I wonder if that had something to do with it.

Havent seen the pic yet but if its legit, might be investigated. Although no one seems to have mentioned anything about it..??

[munkian]

From the game on Saturday there appears to have surfaced a pic of Ollie Griffiths putting his fingers in Rob Vickers eyes.
At one stage in the game Rob went mental, and there was a scuffle which is very unlike him. I wonder if that had something to do with it.

Havent seen the pic yet but if its legit, might be investigated.  Although no one seems to have mentioned anything about it..??

Not heard anything myself. Won't be cited now as the official time period has passed.

Mad that Louw hasn't been cited for his way over the top ruck stuff on the weekend.

Rokodugni's try saving 'tackle' was BS too - blatant head shot - should have been a yellow and a penalty try.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

From the game on Saturday there appears to have surfaced a pic of Ollie Griffiths putting his fingers in Rob Vickers eyes.
At one stage in the game Rob went mental, and there was a scuffle which is very unlike him. I wonder if that had something to do with it.

Havent seen the pic yet but if its legit, might be investigated.  Although no one seems to have mentioned anything about it..??

I really would like to think that it was accidental. Ollie Griffiths isn't that kind of player at all. But it's the first I've heard of it, and I haven't seen any footage.

[munkian]

From the game on Saturday there appears to have surfaced a pic of Ollie Griffiths putting his fingers in Rob Vickers eyes.
At one stage in the game Rob went mental, and there was a scuffle which is very unlike him. I wonder if that had something to do with it.

Havent seen the pic yet but if its legit, might be investigated.  Although no one seems to have mentioned anything about it..??

I really would like to think that it was accidental. Ollie Griffiths isn't that kind of player at all. But it's the first I've heard of it, and I haven't seen any footage.

Same here.

[munkian]

Boom

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/louw-cited-for-alleged-eye-gouge/

He'll bring some decent biltong and get a 6 weeks knocked off mind.

[mikey_dragon]

If Griffiths did do that I’m very relieved he escaped punishment... A few months out at this point in his career would be detrimental to his future, as I believe with the current injuries he can force his way into that Wales 23. Hewitt and Amos have a good chance too now that North is out; unless of course Guffbert is back in the mix....

How do Newcastle fans rate our starting locks performance?

[Geordie]

To be perfectly honest Mikey, it wasn't much of a game at all to judge anyone.

Aside from your 10 and our 7, it was all a bit of a meh affair.

The two wingers facing each other Ashton Hewitt for you and Adam Radwan for us both showed glimpses of serious pace, and potential.

[Cardiff Dave]

Gatland's getting excitations....

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/15600796.Warren_Gatland__Rising_Dragons_more_attractive_to_quality_transfer_targets/

[Guest]

Gatland's getting excitations....

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/15600796.Warren_Gatland__Rising_Dragons_more_attractive_to_quality_transfer_targets/

Sounds very positive. Good stuff.

This bit confuses me a bit though:

“The pleasing thing is that with the Union taking over they will have an increased spend on the salary cap which is equal to the other regions for next year, which means he has some money at his disposal to strengthen the squad as well."


I'm guessing we can't get more funding than the other regions, due to the RSA. So the question is: where did the funding go under the previous owners? Why do we now have an increased spend? Was the WRU funding (for tv monies, competition monies, access to players, etc) being spent on things it shouldn't have been? I always thought this was the case but others thought not. Being channeled in part into Newport RFC and the stadium, was my theory.

[Cardiff Dave]

Gatland's getting excitations....

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/15600796.Warren_Gatland__Rising_Dragons_more_attractive_to_quality_transfer_targets/

Sounds very positive. Good stuff.

This bit confuses me a bit though:

“The pleasing thing is that with the Union taking over they will have an increased spend on the salary cap which is equal to the other regions for next year, which means he has some money at his disposal to strengthen the squad as well."


I'm guessing we can't get more funding than the other regions, due to the RSA. So the question is: where did the funding go under the previous owners? Why do we now have an increased spend? Was the WRU funding (for tv monies, competition monies, access to players, etc) being spent on things it shouldn't have been? I always thought this was the case but others thought not. Being channeled in part into Newport RFC and the stadium, was my theory.

Something for the ChumV gang to chat about perhaps.

[munkian]

Something for PhilBB to investigate, he's continually trolling Bernard Jackman about it.

Hes also demanding David Buttress release the account to him

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Of course he is.

[Cardiff Dave]

Must've spent a sizeable wedge already on the new pitch, new advertising hoardings and new state of the art scoreboard.

[munkian]

Must've spent a sizeable wedge already on the new pitch, new advertising hoardings and new state of the art scoreboard.

About the same cost as the Blue's percussion arrangement.

[Cardiff Dave]

Must've spent a sizeable wedge already on the new pitch, new advertising hoardings and new state of the art scoreboard.

About the same cost as the Blue's percussion arrangement.

It's free to bang the boards at CAP, mun.

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