Dragons Season Thread 2017/18 - New Beginnings

[munkian]

First topic message reminder :

Their backs. Wow.

Jackman really can't settle on a hooker mind.

Just saw Simon Thomas tweet Leon Brown has suffered a second concussion. If that's so, I wonder if that means the first wasn't really dealt with properly?

Are you sure ? I've read it that he suffered a concussion so he hasn't been picked INCASE he suffers another.

[Cardiff Dave]

North's heading East, I hear.
Does that mean the South becomes West?

[RiscaGame]

Good question.

Robin Davey has said we are announcing somebody Friday, so
I assumed it was him all along. Can’t imagine who else we have signed at the moment.

[Cardiff Dave]

Interested in this 16 team prem suggestion. Think i've had it with the pro scene. Dominated by politics and property developing.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Good question.

Robin Davey has said we are announcing somebody Friday, so
I assumed it was him all along. Can’t imagine who else we have signed at the moment.

I heard we've signed a prop, but that might be an emergency loan kind of thing.

[RiscaGame]

Ah right. Wonder who that could be.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

From Worcester, apparently.

[RiscaGame]

Every time we get somebody from Worcester, I wish it was Josh Adams or Sam Lewis

[Cardiff Dave]

From Worcester, apparently.

Sauce?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Every time we get somebody from Worcester, I wish it was Josh Adams or Sam Lewis

I thought they had a Georgian prop who was half decent, but there was no sign of him on their website.

[Cardiff Dave]

Every time we get somebody from Worcester, I wish it was Josh Adams or Sam Lewis

I thought they had a Georgian prop who was half decent, but there was no sign of him on their website.

Cheggerz?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Yes that's right, we've signed the late Keith Chegwin.

[Cardiff Dave]

Yes that's right, we've signed the legend Keith Chegwin.

Swapped.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

'Head coach Bernard Jackman has described Harri Keddie’s decision to sign a new Dragons deal as a huge boost for the Rodney Parade region.

'Back-row starlet Keddie, 21, put pen to paper on a fresh contract that will keep him with the Men of Gwent for the next three seasons.

'Keddie joins Joe Davies, Jack Dixon and James Benjamin as well as Welsh internationals Leon Brown, Elliot Dee, Ollie Griffiths and Cory Hill in extending his stay at the Dragons.'

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/15825568.Boost_for_Dragons_as_Keddie_pens_fresh_deal/

[RiscaGame]

Great news about Keddie.

Was just about to look at their props, funnily enough.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Just read the Argus write-up of the Bordeaux game, sounds like we played well, albeit in defeat. And Chris Kirwan wouldn't say it was a good performance if it wasn't!

[LordDowlais]

So Dragons are signing a Merthyr boy then.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Apparently so! Have you seen him play?

[LordDowlais]

Apparently so! Have you seen him play?

Yes, when he played for Ebbw, I never thought he would make it to this level, but fair play to the kid, in all honesty though he did not get much of a look in at Bath, but he was always better than his peers at Welsh prem/championship level. He also helped Ebbw Vale win the prem, and he was picked up by them whilst Merthyr were down the division.

Put it this way, he is better than Dorian Jones, in my opinion.

[mikey_dragon]

Never heard of him to be honest, it seems like another wasted signing. After a lot of talk of improving the squad depth, the front 5 in particular, we sign another backline player who is third/fourth choice at their team - at least he's been playing pro rugby I guess unlike some others. If we don't get serious about improving the squad then next season we'll be right where we are now.

I see Scarlets have also said they are actually interested in North. I never did believe Pivac when he said they weren't in the market or something along those lines. I think he'll go back there. Good choice for him and Scarlets.

[ScarletSpiderman]

The fail are linking Josh Adams, with a contract buyout, with a move to the Dragons for next season.

Josh Lewis is a pretty tidy player, from what I saw of him at PYS during his time with us. He isn't going to be a quality Europe level player, but he is not going to let you down in the Pro14. Id say he is probably on a par with O'Brien.

[RiscaGame]

I can see one of the pro teams doing that, given the new ruling and if he gets a Team Wales cap, I suspect he will be keen to move too. Maybe Worcester would be willing to not hinder his international ambitions, but if not I’m sure we could offer Pat Howard in exchange.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Dragons: C Meyer, A Hewitt, A Warren, J Dixon, J Rosser, G Henson, S Pretorius, S Hobbs, E Dee, L Fairbrother, R Landman, C Hill (captain), J Sheekey, A Wainwright, R Blake. Replacements: L Belcher, T Davies, G Ellis, J Davies, J Benjamin, D Babos, D Jones, P Howard

Bordeaux-Begles: G Cros, F Fuatai, P Uberti, M Talebula, I Etcheverry, B Volavola, J Gimbert, S Taofifenua, A Pelissie, P Ravai, L Jones, J Marais (captain), M Tauleigne, C Woki, L Houston. Replacements: F Dufour, T Paiva, L Tabidze, C Cazeaux, A Roumat, G Doubrere, T Schoeman, A Naqalevu.

Referee: Tom Foley (England)

[munkian]

Tidy team

[Stone Motif]

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/15867199.Dragons_boss_Jackman__We_d_pull_out_all_the_stops_for_Faletau_but_second_row_bruiser_is_top_priority/

Now you're talking my language Bernard

[RiscaGame]

Good team from us, for sure. They seem to be a little weaker too, so we have to target the win. I am not holding out much hope for the BP we need, nor to beat them by the required amount. It will all be moot anyway, as even if every other result went our way, I can’t see London Irish losing in Krasny Yar (or however you write it).

[Stone Motif]

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/15891562.Dragons_duo_Keddie_and_Kirchner_to_return_at_Saracens/

I hope we're not rushing this pair back in a pointless fixture to, you know, just get injured again.

[munkian]

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/15891562.Dragons_duo_Keddie_and_Kirchner_to_return_at_Saracens/

I hope we're not rushing this pair back in a pointless fixture to, you know, just get injured again.

They don't seem to have been rushed at all ? Plus any win on the road would do wonders for morale.

[Stone Motif]

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/15891562.Dragons_duo_Keddie_and_Kirchner_to_return_at_Saracens/

I hope we're not rushing this pair back in a pointless fixture to, you know, just get injured again.

They don't seem to have been rushed at all ?  Plus any win on the road would do wonders for morale.

How do you know? Are you the team doctor?

[munkian]

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/15891562.Dragons_duo_Keddie_and_Kirchner_to_return_at_Saracens/

I hope we're not rushing this pair back in a pointless fixture to, you know, just get injured again.

They don't seem to have been rushed at all ?  Plus any win on the road would do wonders for morale.

How do you know? Are you the team doctor?

Yes, are you ?

[Stone Motif]

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/15891562.Dragons_duo_Keddie_and_Kirchner_to_return_at_Saracens/

I hope we're not rushing this pair back in a pointless fixture to, you know, just get injured again.

They don't seem to have been rushed at all ?  Plus any win on the road would do wonders for morale.

How do you know? Are you the team doctor?

Yes, are you ?

Clearly not, hence my post

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Leon Brown hoping to be back for the Glasgow game:

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/15897811.Concussion_nightmare_nearly_over_for_Dragons_prop_Brown/

I'm not saying we would have won the derby games if we'd had everyone fit, but it's such a shame that we were so depleted for them. Ho hum.

[RiscaGame]

Yeah, we really need close to a clean bill of health for judgement day, so we can have a good crack at Scarlets.

[Stone Motif]

Yeah, we really need close to a clean bill of health for judgement day, so we can have a good crack at Scarlets.

Yep, if we're gonna get prison romance, may as well dress up in our prettiest underwear

[RiscaGame]

[Cardiff Dave]

Yeah, we really need close to a clean bill of health for judgement day, so we can have a good crack at Scarlets.

Yep, if we're gonna get prison romance, may as well dress up in our prettiest underwear

Oh Mr Rigsby.
Be able to buy a million quids worth of the stuff soon, I hear. A smashing blouse each too no doubt.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

What the f*ck is this all about?!

'Former Springbok Zane Kirchner will make his return from injury in the unfamiliar position of fly-half in the Dragons’ Anglo-Welsh Cup clash at Saracens tomorrow.

'Gavin Henson is rested, Arwel Robson is injured and Kirchner is selected ahead of Angus O'Brien and Dorian Jones.

'Harrison Keddie also makes his return from four months out in a strange position, captaining the side from openside rather than his usual blindside or number eight.'

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/15900007.TEAM_NEWS__Springbok_Kirchner_makes_shock_return_at_fly_half_for_Dragons/

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Sounds like O'Brien's going to the Scarlets.

[RiscaGame]

Strange isn’t it. It’s really showing Angus what he thinks of him, for a start. Wouldn’t have hurt him to play Dorian otherwise.

This game would’ve been good to have given further exposure somebody like Taine Basham at 7 too.

[Cardiff Dave]

What the f*ck is this all about?!

Reckon i'm on 40 WTFs a day now.
Doc says I should pack 'em in.

[LordDowlais]

Sounds like O'Brien's going to the Scarlets.

Is he making way for Josh Lewis perhaps ?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Well someone will be making way for Josh Lewis, obviously.

[LordDowlais]

Well someone will be making way for Josh Lewis, obviously.

I would have kept Angus O'Brien over Dorian Jones though.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I've always thought O'Brien was a handy player. But then I'm not a professional coach.

[LordDowlais]

Seems an odd choice to make.

[RiscaGame]

I've always thought O'Brien was a handy player. But then I'm not a professional coach.

There’s only really one choice that they could make, given that Dorian has another year on his contract and Angus doesn’t sadly. I like him too, but Jackman clearly doesn’t. That said, Jackman doesn’t really seem to like Dorian either, but he will have to run down his contract first.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

As long as this Josh Lewis is at least as good as O'Brien, then it's not so bad. But it will be tough if he flourishes at Parc y Scarlets.

[RiscaGame]

I suspect he will do well down there.

[mikey_dragon]

AOB will improve under Pivac, Angus must think so too if he’s going there to be 3rd/4th choice - possible 5th as Parkes and Asquith are seen as fly-half cover and are much better players, although not neccaersaily better at 10. I’m not sure if AOB would have gone anywhere with us, I just hope for his sake it doesn’t prove to be a costly career move like Jonny Evans, and he was doing well with Dragons.

[Guest]

A nice article here with David Buttress. Talks about long term plans at the Dragons (not just the 2 or 3 year plan Jackman talks about). I know talk is often cheap and could be seen as keeping shareholders and fans happy but something about this guy I've seen in other interviews gives me the sense that he's genuine. Talks some sense. Fingers crossed. The anti-regional fans won't like the sound of it though, probably.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jan/25/the-breakdown-dragons-rugby-union?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

[mikey_dragon]

I see Kirchner is at fly-half again, is he any good there? Keddie back to No.8. Hewitt at full back.

Is anyone still upbeat about next season? I have to admit I'm not. We aren't recruiting the right players to supplement Griffiths, Keddie, etc. They'll still be on the back foot if we don't 'shore up' that front 5.

Any truth in the Josh Adams rumour? We really don't need another back 3 player.

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