Dragons Season Thread - 2018/19 - aka Year 2 of the 3 Year Plan

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

So we made it to the end of the 2017/18 season.  We've seen/endured the first year of Bernard Jackman's plan.  I think most of us have been through a rollercoaster of emotions, similar to previous seasons but perhaps even more so this season given the new injection of life and investment into the Dragons.  First there was the hope - the new coaches, some new players, the new pitch, new chairman, new cash injection.  Then we started to stumble - it's all down to the new coach and getting used to the new systems, we said.  Then came the face plant and the realisation that this trend was going to carry on for the whole season - a couple of wins in the league, a few in Europe, a lot of spankings, not many losing bonus points.  Very poor return.  The hope turned to despair and BJ's methods were being questioned.  Then the hope comes again with the announcement of new signings ('stellar' signings, compared to previous years!) and the assurance that the 1st year of the plan was always going to be difficult and that year 2 would be the one to judge BJ on.....  

So.......on to year 2 (2018/19).  Where are we?  What are our expectations (realistically)?  What's the best team we can put out on paper and how competitive will it be?  For a number of years we've been stuffed in the league so seem to try to get some solace from a decent showing in the Euro 2nd tier comp.  However, should we forget about Europe and try to put all of our focus on the league?  I think so.

Transfers - we've lost more than we've gained, although the quality of the transfers in could/should be better than those leaving.  But I'm worried we'll be thin on the ground when the inevitable injuries hit.

Players In: = 14
Jordan Williams from England Bristol Bears
Rhodri Williams from England Bristol Bears
Ross Moriarty from England Gloucester
Rhodri Davies from England Rotherham Titans
Richard Hibbard from England Gloucester
Huw Taylor from England Worcester Warriors
Josh Lewis from England Bath
Ryan Bevington from England Bristol Bears
Aaron Jarvis from France Clermont
Dafydd Howells from Wales Ospreys
Tiaan Loots from Wales RGC 1404
Jacob Botica from Wales RGC 1404
Rhys Lawrence from England Ealing Trailfinders
Brandon Nansen from France

Players Out: - =21
Sarel Pretorius to South Africa Southern Kings
Phil Price to Wales Scarlets
Scott Andrews to Wales Neath
Luke Garrett to Wales Neath
Adam Hughes retired
Pat Howard to England Ealing Trailfinders
Rhys Buckley to Wales Bargoed
Barney Nightingale to Wales Bargoed
Keagan Bale to Wales Bargoed
Angus O'Brien to Wales Scarlets
Nicky Thomas to Wales Scarlets (return from short-term loan)
Dorian Jones to France Angoulême
Charlie Davies to England Northampton Saints
Lloyd Lewis to Wales Pontypool
Sam Beard to New Zealand Canterbury
Sam Hobbs released
Thomas Davies released
Liam Belcher released
Ashley Sweet released
Robson Blake released
Carl Meyer released

I'll try to update the Ins and Outs as we go.

[Guest]

Unfortunately Leinster have gone for the wanky team announcement video

Vidge-yo? Wos tha?

[Guest]

I’m still not sold on Jack Dixon for the Dragons. Love him to prove me wrong but I just find him very below par. Sure he offers something in defence and can jackal and steal a few turnovers. But Dragons are crying out for a line breaker (clean, not through the man) and someone with a bit more creativity to bring our exciting backs into the game. He needs to have a stormer this season to change my opinion (not that mine is worth much of course!). Just think the games moved on a bit from the bosh merchants at 12.

[munkian]

He didn't used to be a bosh merchant

[Stone Motif]

He didn't used to be a bosh merchant

He isn't. At the risk of going all Shaun Holley, he's ran more metres than most of his fellow three quarters in the first two games and passed almost as much as he's ran. He also tackles more than most of our tight five, which is where the problem is. The idea of a creator who can manipulate space for his fellow backs is what's dated, very few players now can do this. What creates space is decoy runners particularly those from.tight five forwards who can carry effectively in heavy traffic from a central pod. If anything, Dixon has to be in because he can play this role to an extent whereas our forwards can't.

[munkian]

Tidy analysis

[Guest]

He didn't used to be a bosh merchant

He isn't. At the risk of going all Shaun Holley, he's ran more metres than most of his fellow three quarters in the first two games and passed almost as much as he's ran. He also tackles more than most of our tight five, which is where the problem is. The idea of a creator who can manipulate space for his fellow backs is what's dated, very few players now can do this. What creates space is decoy runners particularly those from.tight five forwards who can carry effectively in heavy traffic from a central pod. If anything, Dixon has to be in because he can play this role to an extent whereas our forwards can't.

Nice rebuttal! Dunno then. Maybe he's just one of those players that doesn't do it for me.

I should add that I'm obviously picking on him a bit. It's not like we've got 14 world class players starting and he's letting the side down. I agree that he's probably doing some of the work of the forwards. I guess it's just that centre has always been my favourite position and he's not (for me) setting the world on fire at centre. Plenty of others in our team not setting the world on fire too though!

[mikey_dragon]

Dixon and Morgan have looked below par for a while and most of our good attacking play comes from the back 3. That doesn't look to have changed this season. Dare I say it, a coaching issue? Both guys started out as very promising teen-agers.

[Stone Motif]

Just checked again, v Kings he ran 16, carried 50 metres (gaining more than Tyler Morgan and Dafydd Howells put together. Without Lewis's length of field try he'd have probably beat all three. He passed ten times. Lewis only passed 17 balls himself. JD made 11 tackles, more than any of the tight five bar Cory Hill and only a few less than Wainwright (13) and Griffiths (14). He made almost as many metres as our entire starting tight five put together (53), but those tight five made 30 odd carries between them. Our much lauded back row only clocked up 58 metres between them. Dixon isn't the problem.

[RiscaGame]

Cuddy set to face Leinster according to Evans

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/16860414.lewis-evans-return-of-the-clamp-a-timely-boost-for-dublin/?ref=eb

Nice piece from Evans.  Interesting to hear that Cudd played for Bargoed on the weekend against Newport.  I thought Bargoed was in another region (Blues possible) and therefore not one of the Dragons clubs?  Or maybe we share parts of Caerphilly with Blues?

Caerphilly has always been ours, hasn’t it? I remember Darren Edwards doing a coaching session for Senghenydd before a cup final. Bargoed is in ours too.

[Stone Motif]

Stat of the day - as a team, we've offloaded a grand total of 20 times this season. Almost as many as Leinster managed in a single match yesterday. Why? Because we have no carrying forwards on the shoulders of the ball player who can take a short pass and keep momentum going. Our starting tight five collectively ran the ball 25 times yesterday gaining 4 metres. The replacements fared little better despite a much better share of possession - 21 runs, 19 metres gained (15 via Mr Nansen). Harris, See, Screech, Hibbard and Brown all gained less metres with the ball than Lloyd Fairbrother, who at least managed one.

[Guest]

That’s atrocious Stone. That is blatantly a result of the coaching and game plan rather than player ability. Even against a top side like Leinster and being in a poor side like Dragons, you know that a player such as Brown or Hibbard could easily carry 25m on their own under a different game plan.

[Stone Motif]

That’s atrocious Stone. That is blatantly a result of the coaching and game plan rather than player ability. Even against a top side like Leinster and being in a poor side like Dragons, you know that a player such as Brown or Hibbard could easily carry 25m on their own under a different game plan.

It's unusual for Dee not to make a few yards but that's the point I guess, so few of them offer any real threat they don't suck in any defenders and make space. I'm guessing Bernard knows this, hence his kick to the right areas rhetoric pre season. In fairness, line out is going OK and we can't have lost the ability to drive a line out over night, but if that's the plan (and it's a legitimate one) I don't get why Josh Lewis isn't drilling it down field every time?

[Stone Motif]

Watching the game back and given the opposition, the second twenty of the first half is the best I've seen us play in a long time. Limited but dogged. Totally fell apart once down to 14 men, Moriarty's shoulder was stupid but if that's a yellow so was the neck roll on Cudd. Leinster on a different planet in terms of athletic ability and skill.

[mikey_dragon]

You need locks who are a little fast and over 116kg if you hope to do any explosive carrying. NZ teams had Nansen playing at 6 because they can unearth these guys and coach them to play rugby to a good standard. I said elsewhere it's now clear we still need some of these locks, wherever they are, along with a more consistent/less injured fly-half and a new coaching team. Blues have a slightly better squad than us and Ospreys is much better, but both will be held back by poor coaches. Again. This seems to only happen in Wales where we keep repeating this BS cycle?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Watching the game back and given the opposition, the second twenty of the first half is the best I've seen us play in a long time. Limited but dogged. Totally fell apart once down to 14 men, Moriarty's shoulder was stupid but if that's a yellow so was the neck roll on Cudd. Leinster on a different planet in terms of athletic ability and skill.

When one of the best teams in Europe is at home to one of the weakest (in the big three leagues), it's always likely that the better side will win with something to spare. That's not defeatism, that's realism. The difference this season is that it appears we were dogged, as you say, for a lot longer. I'm not sure it's reasonable to expect more than that, given that we're inferior to Leinster on every level.

In addition to playing at our absolute best, we need superior opponents to have an off day, which is a) unlikely, and b) largely out of our hands.

[munkian]

Irish teams have a budget of around 8 million - this doesn't include their centrally contracted players.

Its mental, the league needs a salary cap but also needs a minimum salary spend to make it vaguely competitive.

[VinceWLB]

Irish teams have a budget of around 8 million - this doesn't include their centrally contracted players.

Its mental, the league needs a salary cap but also needs a minimum salary spend to make it vaguely competitive.

Totally agree with that, lets look at the Cheetahs, the way they got their best players poached is appalling. Now they are possibly the worst team in the league..

[munkian]

Dragons and the other lower league teams need to spend more but the top teams need to be monitored on their spending.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

It's not just a question of budget - if you spend wisely and get the coaching side of it right you can get so far. But it's clearly a major factor.

[munkian]

Its a major factor in getting a decent coach in the first place

[Stone Motif]

Changes for Saturday? I'm tempted to start Nansen as he's the only one who looks like he can win a collision consistently. Also been underwhelmed by Rhodri Williams at 9 after a promising pre-season.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I think that's fair to say about Rhodri Williams. Maybe a gentle reminder in the week that he's not guaranteed a start rather than dropping him to the bench.

Jared Rosser for Amos is an easy one.

[Stone Motif]

I think that's fair to say about Rhodri Williams. Maybe a gentle reminder in the week that he's not a guaranteed starter rather than dropping him to the bench.

Jared Rosser for Amos is an easy one.

Yep straight in. Nic Cudd performed well Saturday but I'd still start Griffiths. He can't chase a game for us single handed.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

It's must win again on the weekend. We're away to Glasgow after that, then the Blues come to town.

[Guest]

We’ll be the only team so far NOT to beat the Blues by a late score at the end of the match!

[RiscaGame]

I think that's fair to say about Rhodri Williams. Maybe a gentle reminder in the week that he's not guaranteed a start rather than dropping him to the bench.

Jared Rosser for Amos is an easy one.

I want Knoyle or somebody to start, as I believe Rhodri is playing to instructions box kicking and delaying playing the ball. I guess that’s the only way to see if it’s true or not. If Rhodri wasn’t playing as he’s being told to, then I suspect Bernard might’ve benched him by now anyway.

Rosser for Amos otherwise yes and Griffiths for Cudd, seeing as we possibly aren’t on damage limitation this week. Maybe Robson for Lewis at ten. Relatively happy with Nansen on impact.

[profitius]

Irish teams have a budget of around 8 million - this doesn't include their centrally contracted players.

Its mental, the league needs a salary cap but also needs a minimum salary spend to make it vaguely competitive.

That would weaken the league.


Where's all the WRU money going? They make more than the IRFU.

[Guest]

We got pumped by the best team out of 5 whole countries who comprise the league. Away from home too. And we had a good showing for much of the first half. I think this week will be a lot different and we’ll get a decent win.

Bernard must have worked his magic on me, but I’m feeling much more optimistic than I did after the Benetton and Kings games

[Guest]

Irish teams have a budget of around 8 million - this doesn't include their centrally contracted players.

Its mental, the league needs a salary cap but also needs a minimum salary spend to make it vaguely competitive.

That would weaken the league.


Where's all the WRU money going? They make more than the IRFU.

The regions are separate entities to the WRU (accept the Dragons to a certain extent). In Wales it’s a bit more like in England than it is in Ireland. The union isn’t so happy to just give over its money to private business!

[Stone Motif]

I think that's fair to say about Rhodri Williams. Maybe a gentle reminder in the week that he's not guaranteed a start rather than dropping him to the bench.

Jared Rosser for Amos is an easy one.

I want Knoyle or somebody to start, as I believe Rhodri is playing to instructions box kicking and delaying playing the ball. I guess that’s the only way to see if it’s true or not. If Rhodri wasn’t playing as he’s being told to, then I suspect Bernard might’ve benched him by now anyway.

Rosser for Amos otherwise yes and Griffiths for Cudd, seeing as we possibly aren’t on damage limitation this week. Maybe Robson for Lewis at ten. Relatively happy with Nansen on impact.

I'd go along with this. The box kicking was particularly painful having nicked the odd line out from the champs. Why not kick for the corners?

[RiscaGame]

I’ll probably get proven wrong, but I struggle to see somebody with an eye for the line like Rhodri being so ponderous etc, without reason.

[Stone Motif]

I’ll probably get proven wrong, but I struggle to see somebody with an eye for the line like Rhodri being so ponderous etc, without reason.

I can understand why dogmatic, under pressure coaches like Jackman get scared to give up the ten yards the ball needs to go back for the ten to leather it, so favour the box kick as it generally leaves you with better field position. But when you're outclassed like that and struggling to get the ball I can't see why players don't adjust. We breed them thick in Wales but Cory Hill has captained his country to a series victory in Argentina, he at least seems to have the brains to see when something's not working and readjust.

I agree we look overcoached but then if Bernie O had such a strong blueprint for the way he wanted the team to play, he's fecked that from the off by going stamp collecting for Welsh exiles in the off season rather than recruiting players that could implement that plan. He's doubled down on haphazard recruitment by then giving them an arbitrary game plan they either can't understand or can't play.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I'm sure there's a Welsh scrum half who's good at box kicking, but I can't think of one. Gareth Davies isn't. Rhys Webb is worse. They're almost always either too short or too long, even though it's something you can practise 'til the cows come home.

Lloyd Williams used to be half decent, didn't he?

[munkian]

I'm sure there's a Welsh scrum half who's good at box kicking, but I can't think of one. Gareth Davies isn't. Rhys Webb is worse. They're almost always either too short or too long, even though it's something you can practise 'til the cows come home.

Lloyd Williams used to be half decent, didn't he?

There's very few that are decent for any nation, Youngs is poor too, Murray probably a bit  better.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Conor Murray's a much better kicker all round - I think. I can't remember the last time I saw him play!

Wigglesworth is probably one of the best, but he doesn't have much else going for him or he'd have won more caps.

[Guest]

Murray was lauded for his box kicking a year or two ago if memory serves. 'Best in the world' I think.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Leon Brown is set to miss the Dragons' must-win Guinness PRO14 clash with Zebre on Saturday – but his fellow Wales tighthead Aaron Jarvis is poised his debut after a miracle recovery from injury.

Brown struggled with a shoulder injury in the build-up to last week’s clash with Leinster in Dublin and was only fit enough to make a brief cameo as back-up to Lloyd Fairbrother.

The 21-year-old, who won three caps last autumn, is expected to sit out the round four meeting with Zebre at Rodney Parade after Jarvis, a summer signing from Clermont Auvergne, made an unexpectedly swift recovery from a torn bicep suffered in pre-season.

“Leon is 50/50 but Aaron Jarvis is possibly back and is doing his return to play protocols and contact preparation. He could feature instead and ideally it will be him to give Leon a bit of time,” said head coach Bernard Jackman.

“Aaron is four weeks ahead of schedule – he is really meticulous in his rehab and is really good pro. He has shocked everybody with how quickly he has come back from a bicep rupture.”

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/16886693.wales-prop-jarvis-set-for-dragons-debut-after-rapid-recovery/

[munkian]

We are having to play James Benjamin at centre for our 'A' game against Munner due to our latest injury crisis

[prop_lyd]

Just in Cardiff airport with them now. Lewis Evans travelling too but not named. Is he coaching?

[munkian]

I'd assume so or a travelling replacement ?

[LordDowlais]

Bernard Jackman is not concerned anyway:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45571172

[RiscaGame]

Crazy about Jumbo. I actually saw the team announcement and assumed he might be with Dragons when he wasn’t named in the back row, then I saw the rest of the team.

Lewis Evans was doing bits at Newport. I didn’t know he had involvement with coaching the A’s. I am a little surprised he’s not the 24th or 25th man for Dragons though. I guess he still could be, depending how early they get back.

[prop_lyd]

Yeah I know he was doing bits with newport. Tbf it's a 5.30 kick off tomorrow so he could make it back easily.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Lock Rynard Landman has been recalled to the Dragons side for their vital Guinness PRO14 fixture against Zebre in Newport tomorrow (kick-off 5.15pm).

The South African was left out of the Rodney Parade region’s final friendly at Gloucester and sat out the opening three rounds of the league season.

The 32-year-old stayed sharp by playing for Newport in the Principality Premiership and his displays in black and amber, along with his attitude in training, have earned a recall to the boilerhouse alongside captain Cory Hill.


Landman replaces Matthew Screech and head coach Bernard Jackman makes three other changes to the side that lost 52-10 to champions Leinster with wing Jared Rosser, flanker Ollie Griffiths and fly-half Arwel Robson coming into the XV.

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/16894550.team-news-landman-return-for-dragons-vital-clash-with-zebre/

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Dragons: J Williams, D Howells, A Warren, J Dixon, J Rosser, A Robson, R Williams, B Harris, E Dee, L Fairbrother, R Landman, C Hill (captain), A Wainwright, R Moriarty. Replacements: R Hibbard, R Bevington, A Jarvis, B Nansen, N Cudd, T Knoyle, J Lewis, J Sage.

[Stone Motif]

Dragons: J Williams, D Howells, A Warren, J Dixon, J Rosser, A Robson, R Williams, B Harris, E Dee, L Fairbrother, R Landman, C Hill (captain), A Wainwright, R Moriarty. Replacements: R Hibbard, R Bevington, A Jarvis, B Nansen, N Cudd, T Knoyle, J Lewis, J Sage.

Standard under-pressure Bernie O Random selection there on Landman and Robson.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I didn't see Landman's recall coming, but I'm not unhappy about it. Also. I'm not a statistician. but I think Robson's a fairly reliable goalkicker whereas I've seen Lewis miss some relatively easy kicks since he's been here, and in what could well be a tight game in the rain, it might come down to kicks at goal.


Zebre: F Brummer, M Bellini, G Bisegni, T Castello (captain), E Padovani, C Canna, M Violi, A Lovotti, O Fabiani, D Chistolini, D Sisi, G Biagi (captain), J Tuivaiti, J Meyer, G Licata. Replacements: M Ceciliani, D Rimpelli, G Zilocchi, A Tauyavuca, M Tevi, G Palazzani, T Boni, G Di Giulio.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Someone pointed out that the Argus have only got 14 men in the team. Ollie Griffiths is the one missing.

[munkian]

Great to see Torring back - guess Jackman has forgiven him ?

Other changes seem like simple squad rotation to me, Nansen and Hibbard are strong impact options.

[Stone Motif]

I didn't see Landman's recall coming, but I'm not unhappy about it. Also. I'm not a statistician. but I think Robson's a fairly reliable goalkicker whereas I've seen Lewis miss some relatively easy kicks since he's been here, and in what could well be a tight game in the rain, it might come down to kicks at goal.


Zebre: F Brummer, M Bellini, G Bisegni, T Castello (captain), E Padovani, C Canna, M Violi, A Lovotti, O Fabiani, D Chistolini, D Sisi, G Biagi (captain), J Tuivaiti, J Meyer, G Licata. Replacements: M Ceciliani, D Rimpelli, G Zilocchi, A Tauyavuca, M Tevi, G Palazzani, T Boni, G Di Giulio.

Yeah my criticism of Lewis had been his kicking both from the tee and from hand. He's better without the ball than with (his try v kings apart). A bit Dan Biggar lite, not afraid to get involved in defence.

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