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.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I'm less upbeat than I was. And I tend to be optimistic without good reason when it comes to the Dragons.

[Guest]

I was, then I wasn’t, then I am again after reading that link I posted a couple of posts again. Perhaps I’m just gullible!

[Cardiff Dave]

The "Wagons" now, shewerly.

[Guest]

We beat Wuss! Freakin’ A! Only Welsh team to win tonight. Good times.

[Guest]

The "Wagons" now, shewerly.

Say whaaa?

[Cardiff Dave]

The "Wagons" now, shewerly.

Say whaaa?

"Region on the Road" mun.
Wagon train heading for Ebbw soon, I understand.

[Guest]

The "Wagons" now, shewerly.

Say whaaa?

"Region on the Road" mun.
Wagon train heading for Ebbw soon, I understand.

Gotcha now. Yep. Spreading the love and standing arm in arm with our reeeeeegional bruvvas from the top to the bottom of the Gwent valley, and everywhere in between. Feel the love, Dave, feel the love.

I’m all for it.

[Cardiff Dave]

The "Wagons" now, shewerly.

Say whaaa?

"Region on the Road" mun.
Wagon train heading for Ebbw soon, I understand.

Gotcha now. Yep. Spreading the love and standing arm in arm with our reeeeeegional bruvvas from the top to the bottom of the Gwent valley, and everywhere in between. Feel the love, Dave, feel the love.

I’m all for it.

Bon chance. Bit risky though. Hope you don't end up just eating each other like the kebab gang.

[Stone Motif]

The "Wagons" now, shewerly.

The Dwagons , now shewerly?

[Cardiff Dave]

The "Wagons" now, shewerly.

The Dwagons , now shewerly?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

'Wales duo Hallam Amos and Tyler Morgan return to the Dragons XV for tomorrow’s Guinness PRO14 clash with Glasgow at Rodney Parade (kick-off 7.35pm) while international prop Leon Brown will make his comeback from the bench.'

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/15970965.TEAM_NEWS__Wales_trio_Amos__Morgan_and_Brown_back_for_Dragons__clash_with_Glasgow/

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Good article here:

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/15963816.CHRIS_KIRWAN__Hill_climbing_the_ladder_can_change_Dragons_perception/

[Stone Motif]

Can someone explain the Kirchner at 10 experiment to me please? Cheers

[Guest]

Can someone explain the Kirchner at 10 experiment to me please? Cheers

Yes, well it’s because of the way.... ummmm......sort of like......well...... actually no, don’t think I can explain it. Sorry!

[RiscaGame]

Jackman seems to be in the mindset of anyone bar Henson, at the moment.

Just because it might've worked in the LV, doesn't mean it will against a good team (even without their internationals). It also means to keep this experiment going, we have to play players like Rosser on the wing.

[RiscaGame]

Good article here:

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/15963816.CHRIS_KIRWAN__Hill_climbing_the_ladder_can_change_Dragons_perception/

Yes it was a good read.

[munkian]

Jackman seems to be in the mindset of anyone bar Henson, at the moment.

Just because it might've worked in the LV, doesn't mean it will against a good team (even without their internationals). It also means to keep this experiment going, we have to play players like Rosser on the wing.

From all account he bossed it at 10.

[RiscaGame]

I gather aye. That's why I'm trying not to seem too doubtful about it But I am not really a fan of Rosser, which is why I'd rather him play at 15. I'd rather Meyer at 15 than Rosser on the wing too (assuming he isn't injured).

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I agree that Rosser hasn't done much to warrant a run in the side other than being fit and available. I haven't seen him do much with the ball and he's definitely suspect in defence (I remember Paul Marshall's try for Ulster).

[Cardiff Dave]

Like these new blue plaques with rearrangeable letters.
Flowery tw@ts.

[RiscaGame]

An injury update finally here

Who is the centre they mentioned (Tom Hoppe)? I’ve never heard of him.

[munkian]

An injury update finally here

Who is the centre they mentioned (Tom Hoppe)? I’ve never heard of him.

]

Young Newport player, was in the Wales U18 squad I think ?

[RiscaGame]

Ah right, cheers.

[Cardiff Dave]

Anyone know if there's a Welsh regional/domestic rugby, Monopoly type board game in existence? If there isn't, there should be. Hours of fun for friends and family.

[munkian]

Anyone know if there's a Welsh regional/domestic rugby, Monopoly type board game in existence? If there isn't, there should be. Hours of fun for friends and family.

Where's the Cardiff ground ? Old Kent road ?

[Stone Motif]

Anyone know if there's a Welsh regional/domestic rugby, Monopoly type board game in existence? If there isn't, there should be. Hours of fun for friends and family.

Where's the Cardiff ground ? Old Kent road ?

You spelled Old Kent Road wrong, particularly in the context of Cardiff

[TightHEAD]

At this rate it will be Bute Park.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Anyone know if there's a Welsh regional/domestic rugby, Monopoly type board game in existence? If there isn't, there should be. Hours of fun for friends and family.

Advance to Affinity. Collect 200 Twitter followers.

[Cardiff Dave]

Anyone know if there's a Welsh regional/domestic rugby, Monopoly type board game in existence? If there isn't, there should be. Hours of fun for friends and family.

Where's the Cardiff ground ? Old Kent road ?

Leckwith Road more like. Not CCS but the adjacent athletics stadium thingy.
Or Sardis. Who knows?

[Cardiff Dave]

Anyone know if there's a Welsh regional/domestic rugby, Monopoly type board game in existence? If there isn't, there should be. Hours of fun for friends and family.

Advance to Affinity. Collect 200 Twitter followers.

Go directly to EXP.
Do not pass Dave.
Flush £240,000,000 into the Usk.
Do not tell Pooler.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Dragons: H Amos, J Rosser, T Morgan, J Dixon, R Dyer, Z Kirchner, D Babos, S Hobbs, L Belcher, L Fairbrother, J Davies, R Landman, L Evans, A Wainwright, H Keddie (captain). Replacements: E Shipp, G Ellis, L Brown, H Williams, L Greggains, S Pretorius, A Robson, C Edwards.

Benetton: I McKinley, L Sperandio, T Iannone, L Morisi, M Ioane, M Banks, T Tebaldi, M Zanusso, T Baravelle, T Pasquali, M Lazzaroni, I Hebst, A Sgarbi (captain), M Barbini, W Douglas. Replacements: H Faiva, F Zani, C Traore, M Fuser, F Minto, G Bronzini, M Zanon, A Bronzini.​

Referee: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/16001026.Jackman__Teenage_Dragons_speedster_Rio_will_be_grand_on_PRO14_debut/

Puntastic!

[RiscaGame]

Ioane (who was brilliant last week) against Rosser worries me. I am not expecting much from this.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

It depends how we defend - second half against Glasgow, or first.

[mikey_dragon]

Is Kirchner good at fly-half? If that's the case then the North and Adams rumours make more sense, particularly if Rosser's defence is as bad as made out.

[RiscaGame]

He did well in the LV, not so well at all last week. I don’t think he will be any good, but then he’s flavour of the month at the moment.

[Guest]

Another embarrassing display so far, except for the first 5 minutes or so.

Kirchner has missed everything with the boot.

Every player seems to get the ball stood still.

[Guest]

Just doing everything to hand Benetton the game now. Ffs.

[Guest]

Some harsh decisions against Benetton today too. They can feel aggrieved. That one looked like a try to me.

[Guest]

Congrats to Benetton, but what an absolute f***ing shambles.

Lots of people said this was another false dawn, a lot of blarney from Jackman, etc. I sided with Jackman and liked the words from the chairman. But I feel so deflated now. I know we can’t change everything from day one as you need to see our contracts. But the new pitch (much of the new hope was based on this) is now not much better than the last ‘thing’ they used to play on. A few months and it looks toast. Plus the whole renaissance is based on attracting players to the club. We’ve got a few already signed but it’s going to be difficult attracting more players playing like that.

False Dawn. Much worse than her friend Terrible Barbara

[Steffan]

Dropping the Newport-Gwent bit helped then?

[RiscaGame]

Jackman is an idiot. I’ve been saying enough that Kirchner isn’t a ten and it has been proven correct. It is all well and good ripping it up in a Mickey Mouse comp, but this is something else and we have no right to try these things in the league, even against a team that literally got off a bus to play us and who were missing internationals.

I’m not sure Ebbw Vale has enough beer for next week. I can only hope some of our better players like Henson and James Benjamin come back in, especially after the result Edinburgh are coming off.

[Guest]

Benetton had 20 players missing apparently

[SecretFly]

These Italian sides.... whatever the pointed shortcomings of their opponent sides.... are getting Cocky! Two wins over the weekend. Connacht never looked like they had anything like enough smarts to shake off a savvy and determined Zebre.

You can blame the opponent sides but then that's a bit of an insult too. Benetton, five consecutive wins.

[Guest]

These Italian sides.... whatever the pointed shortcomings of their opponent sides.... are getting Cocky!  Two wins over the weekend.  Connacht never looked like they had anything like enough smarts to shake off a savvy and determined Zebre.

You can blame the opponent sides but then that's a bit of an insult too.  Benetton, five consecutive wins.  

It's all about the manner of the victory and context too though, Fly. If Benetton had come out playing awesome rugby and just smashed us off the park then I'd accept that. But we were 10-0 up, should have been 14-0. Possibly 17-0 as we had a penalty too that we either missed or turned down. And then Kirchner went on a 1 man rampage to give them the game, giving them an easy charge down try! It was one of those games where you could say we helped them win, rather than them winning it with good play. Although I appreciate that always seems a condescending way to describe things.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Can’t believe I’m saying this, but give Jackman until the end of next season before getting too down about things.

The result this weekend (and a fair few this season) have not been ones that you want to remember, however he has inherited a squad. The signs of a new beginning are there with the signings for next season. I know it’s hard to do, but just ride out this season. And then see how things look with the new look squad before judging too harsh. Otherwise it’s easy to end up in a similar boat to the blues, constantly changing the coach, when there are other factors at play.

[Guest]

I know, I know.  Just feeling deflated.  Jackman asked us to do that too, and said it was about getting through this year before he's be able to offload some and bring in new.  You'd just like to think that if this new coaching team was decent then they'd be able to at least show some improvement with the squad that we've got.  Otherwise, if it's all about improving due to better funds and better players then Kingsley could have done that as he was also unable to make the current squad play better!

Not feeling the revolution love at the minute.

[Guest]

Just to add: I really don't know what's gone on behind the scenes regarding our 10s. Such a slap in the face for actual 10s when Kirchner is asked to play there, repeatedly, and hadn't played since school. And then shows he's not very good there. Plus Arwell Robson just sat on the bench. FFS.

[RiscaGame]

I don’t overly rate Angus or especially Dorian, but to say they are behind the curve (or whatever he said) after Kirchner has just done that is a bit much. He also states Henson and Robson are our first choice tens, but then left them on the bench till it was too late in two successive weeks.

I know next season should be better, but then other teams will have strengthened further and our squad will have to gel, despite Bernard saying they will be ready to go.

I agree Jackman should be judged on his own squad, but he also should take huge criticism for promising a strong December and not delivering and for this ten experiment. I feel sorry for the likes of Paul Turner and Kingsley now for the flack they got off journos, whilst Jackman gets nothing. Whilst Kingsley was bad for giving his son a leg up into professional rugby, at least he realised a ten should be a ten.

[Stone Motif]

Just to add: I really don't know what's gone on behind the scenes regarding our 10s.  Such a slap in the face for actual 10s when Kirchner is asked to play there, repeatedly, and hadn't played since school.  And then shows he's not very good there.  Plus Arwell Robson just sat on the bench.  FFS.

This really. Yes it's an inherited squad but starting a guy who hasn't played ten for two decades with a teeny bopper at 9 in the p1ssing down rain isn't doing Jackman any favours.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Agnus is on the move, and if assume Dorian is also one of those for the chop. So I can understand the thought of why both with using him. It’s not like titles or Euro-qualification are on the line, just use who will be there next season.

That said no excuses for not using Robinson or Henson when they are fit to bench, they should start

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