Dragons Season Thread - 2019/20 aka Year 1 of the new 5 Year Plan

[Stone Motif]

First topic message reminder :

A good win for Dragons. Wonder if George North might get banned this week for more shethousery. Guy is turning into a dirty get down there.

Wasn’t too convinced by the subs we made, but they turned out to be wise choices. That includes Tovey steadying the ship and kicking the winner and surprisingly Suter being solid in the scrum.

It's an amazing win given the Ospreys dominance. If they'd have made the right calls our luck would have run out I think.

[mikey_dragon]

Rubbish. Same ol. Might finally be time to shut up shop unless the WRU can put 15 new players into ‘their region’.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

One thing I thought we'd be guaranteed to see from the Dragons under Dean Ryan was some rugby savvy, including playing to the conditions. I couldn't believe my eyes, the way we were flinging the ball about. And it was just shipping the ball on a lot of the time.

The first quarter was okay, but the second and third quarters were dreadful.

[Stone Motif]

One thing I thought we'd be guaranteed to see from the Dragons under Dean Ryan was some rugby savvy, including playing to the conditions. I couldn't believe my eyes, the way we were flinging the ball about. And it was just shipping the ball on a lot of the time.

The first quarter was okay, but the second and third quarters were dreadful.

Ryan's comments about the game were spot on for me. He just has the unenviable task of trying to manufacture a team from the weakest collective of specimens in pro rugby, many of whom shouldn't really be taking money at this level and are thick as mince to boot.

[mikey_dragon]

Remember when Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro played for us and didn't really make a dent? He's now the best LH in Argentina...

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I think the last time he played for us was when we were minutes away from an LBP at Ravenhill, and he tip-tackled someone off the ball, which earned him a red card and gave Ulster a kickable penalty.

[mikey_dragon]

I don't really remember an awful lot of him, I just remember him sticking out due to being a dark haired fella who was really stocky. Of course, if he wanted to come back to Newport then he'd be very welcome...

[Stone Motif]

Signing current internationals is lunacy.

Exhibit A - Ross Moriarty.

[mikey_dragon]

It's all hopes and dreams at the moment, but if there is a better solution than signing more internationals then I'm interested to know what that is?

[Stone Motif]

Signing more players who are good enough to get us to mid table, don't cost what an international costs, and are available all season. Sam Davies, for example.

[mikey_dragon]

Signing more players who are good enough to get us to mid table, don't cost what an international costs, and are available all season. Sam Davies, for example.

For now yeah that's a good idea, and they would work well with the current internationals. Then to get to a step higher we would need more internationals. It seems we even have trouble signing good club players though.

[RiscaGame]

Clearly Moriarty has to leave at the end of the contract, as we can't moan about not having money to boost our squad and then still lump 10% of the budget on one player. Players like Hill will command increased wages as it is soon.

Chaparro was utilised as a tighthead for us. He wasn't really much cop, however was frozen out after the tip tackle as suggested.

[Stone Motif]

Signing more players who are good enough to get us to mid table, don't cost what an international costs, and are available all season. Sam Davies, for example.

For now yeah that's a good idea, and they would work well with the current internationals. Then to get to a step higher we would need more internationals. It seems we even have trouble signing good club players though.

Those days are long gone. The best and brightest Welsh players will forever be out of our reach. Best to try and develop and keep what we've got until they become established and let them go.

[Stone Motif]

As I was just saying...some good news on a Wed morning

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/17970216.dragons-fight-off-english-interest-agree-new-deal-basham/

Got to keep that conveyor belt churning

[Stone Motif]

Apart from being a great preview, there's a lot in here that chimes with the Dragons predicament - how do a lightweight team that can't recruit itself out of its problems win at elite rugby? Lot Dean Ryan can take from Japan imo

[Stone Motif]

https://gwladrugby.wordpress.com/2019/10/19/the-miracle-of-tokyo/

[RiscaGame]

Yeah, it can be used as a template of sorts. Unfortunate that we don’t have many skilled players who can play like that, particularly with that tempo but we can do something better than what we did against Connacht (start and end aside). Rhodri Williams not being a good box kicker, should mean Ryan and Jackman should (should have) got us to avoid that for a start, other than in or around our 22.

[mikey_dragon]

Have to admire all of your patience with the cat the other day. Never read so much guff on here. 

I think we might have some players to help play like Japan. For a short period under Lyn Jones we did play similar to that.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

We've just given Dan Babos a new contract, if we're looking to play with tempo we might have to bring him back in. His passing was the best, and most consistent, I'd seen in a long time when he was in the side, a couple of seasons ago now. But if you're looking for control and a decision maker at 9, then it has to be Rhodri Williams still.

[RiscaGame]

I would certainly use Babos more. Buckland seems to have moved ahead of him though.

[Stone Motif]

Yeah, it can be used as a template of sorts. Unfortunate that we don’t have many skilled players who can play like that, particularly with that tempo but we can do something better than what we did against Connacht (start and end aside). Rhodri Williams not being a good box kicker, should mean Ryan and Jackman should (should have) got us to avoid that for a start, other than in or around our 22.

You can improve skills and fitness a la Japan but boosting physicality nigh on impossible - not that you can't improve strength and power, just that as every other team prioritises that and our tight five in particular aren't particularly gifted in that respect to start with, you end up back where you started by trying to win the arms race.

[Stone Motif]

So, dry track Friday, may as well go down swingin'

[BigGee]

https://www.606v2.com/t69159-dragons-v-glasgow-warriors-saturday-26th-october-2019#3857906

[RiscaGame]

So, dry track Friday, may as well go down swingin'

Don't get too many opportunities to play on a dry Rodney Parade, if that is the case. Plenty of joie de vivre from us then, I know.

[Guest]

Dry track? There’s a weather warning for Wales starting Friday into Saturday! Torrential rain on the way.

[Stone Motif]

So, dry track Friday, may as well go down swingin'

Don't get too many opportunities to play on a dry Rodney Parade, if that is the case. Plenty of joie de vivre from us then, I know.

Tell Tyler Morgan about it, he's on about building a roof

[Stone Motif]

Dry track? There’s a weather warning for Wales starting Friday into Saturday! Torrential rain in the way.

Yes, unusually for South Wales, the forecast has changed,and changed for the worse. Who'd have thunk it?

[Guest]

Sorry Stone, only just noticed your post was on the 22nd.

[Stone Motif]

Sorry Stone, only just noticed your post was on the 22nd.

No need to apologise, sun'll come out tomorrow about 5 and make me look a t$t

[RiscaGame]

Leinster: J O’Brien, D Kearney, R O’Loughlin, C O’Brien, J Lowe, H Byrne, J Gibson-Park, P Dooley, R Kelleher, M Bent, D Toner (captain), R Baird, M Deegan, S Penny, C Doris. Replacements: J Tracy, M Milne, J Aungier, R Molony, W Connors, H O’Sullivan, C Frawley, C Kelleher.

Dragons: J Williams, O Jenkins, A Warren, C Edwards, A Hewitt, S Davies, R Williams (captain); B Harris, R Hibbard, L Brown, J Davies, M Screech, H Keddie, O Griffiths, T Basham. Replacements: E Shipp, J Reynolds, L Fairbrother, M Williams, H Taylor, L Baldwin, A Robson, T Morgan.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

Great to see Edwards back.

Italian ref, stinks of homer. Of course we will likely struggle anyway, but we could've done with a ref who likes Gwent

[mikey_dragon]

Based on every game I've seen this season, I think we'll struggle in the contact area and struggle with putting phases together. We can't do worse than hapless Ospreys did though.

[RiscaGame]

Leinster’s third try no blocking by the ref. Shambles the ref ignored it. Didn’t feel the touch of Hibbard?

[Guest]

What the hell? Turned it on at half time at 19-8. Leinster scored a try after the break. Went to do some packing for 10 mins (moving house) and now it’s 50?! Ffs!

[RiscaGame]

What grated the most was blarney on commentary, when they majority of the rot at the minute is his doing.

[mikey_dragon]

Leinster are without umm, 20 players? Shocking and embarrassing. Another year to make up the numbers and be an easy 5 points.

[mikey_dragon]

Just remember that Griffiths pulled out during the warm-up. A shame, it could be another injury-ravaged season for him with the way it’s going. He’s got great potential though. Rarely makes an appearance but is usually MOTM when he does.

[mikey_dragon]

It’s next weekend we get the internationals back? I’m surprised Hill isn’t back sooner. Anyone hear anything about injuries to players like Griffiths and Wainwright?

[RiscaGame]

Griffiths is two weeks. I reckon Wainwright isn't that injured, he just wasn't risked due to the the nature of the game. There is no date on Hill.

I would be surprised if we saw the internationals back next weekend. Even the Scots are only just trickling back in and they have had a longer rest (not a pop).

[mikey_dragon]

I just thought Hill would be back sooner having not actually played at the World Cup, after what seems like a sufficient holiday period.

I was sure the internationals would be back next weekend because the European competition begins. I’m not actually certain as to what the mandatory rest period is for these guys, assumed it was a little over 2 weeks.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I really worry about Ollie Griffiths. He throws himself into everything and he's almost too dynamic, like it's unsustainable. He may have the misfortune of being one of those players.

[RiscaGame]

I am certain I read somewhere that we would probably be short of our internationals for the first two European weekends.

Hill probably isn’t far off, but just not being rushed. There was a mention about that too (probably the Argus).

Griffiths is just unlucky with his all action style. Whilst it causes him a lot of niggles, he also can’t change the way he plays too much either.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

No, if he eases off he's not the same player, and it's not like we can afford to reduce the number of games he plays to help him that way.

[mikey_dragon]

There was actually a lot of intent in defence. If we can continue to show that intent then we should pick up a few more wins than last season. Dregs let themselves down by being slow to react again, allowing carriers to get isolated often and get turned over.

[Stone Motif]

So looks like Mikey's favourite Rogerstonian starts at flanker vs Castres. Anyone want to guess the rest of the team? Got to sacrifice Europe on the altar of finding another half back pairing that vaguely works surely.

[RiscaGame]

Sam is clearly going to have a rest. I suspect Rhodri will too. Hard to know who else might need to, with injuries etc. Possibly Jordan Williams. Probably worth resting Basham too.

[RiscaGame]

Fly-half Arwel Robson has to get a chance outside Rhodri Williams to prove himself as Davies' deputy just as Luke Baldwin and Tavis Knoyle must be given a shot at 9 with Davies at 10.

Lloyd Fairbrother, James Benjamin, Rhys Lawrence, Will Talbot-Davies and others need more minutes.

In fact, Chris Kirwan has it right. As if I didn't consider Hibbard for a rest

[mikey_dragon]

Great idea to extend Harris' contract. He's one of our most consistent performers and even at 34 can play the full 80.

[Stone Motif]

If we rest Hibbard and Rhodri who is going to be captain? Saying that Shanks might get a run I suppose, they like him against bigger teams

[RiscaGame]

If fit, Shanks. Otherwise Dean is trying to bring Dixon on and make him talk more. Him.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Dragons: W Talbot-Davies, D Howells, T Morgan, T Griffiths, O Jenkins, S Davies, L Baldwin, A Jarvis, R Hibbard, L Brown, J Davies, M Williams, H Taylor, J Benjamin, T Basham. Replacements: R Lawrence, B Harris, L Fairbrother, M Screech, B Fry, T Knoyle, J Botica, J Dixon.

Castres: B Lapeyre, F Nakosi, F Vialelle, Y David , T Paris, L Radosavljevic (captain), J Fernandez, W de Benedittis, K Firmin, P Fa'anunu, K Gimeno, H N'Kinsi, C Gerondeau, M Vaipulu, A Tulou. Replacements: P Sauzaret, T Stroe, M Tierney, C Samson, A Jelonch, T Fortunel, R Ebersohn, A Batlle,


Referee: JP Doyle (England)

Tom Griffiths came highly recommended as I recall it.

[RiscaGame]

Yeah, pretty excited to see him. I guess people like Hibbard and Davies will have a whiff next week.

[Sponsored content]