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

[RiscaGame]

First topic message reminder :

Because it seemingly hit his head. I understand why he did it, as they were slowing us down a fair bit and not getting penalised, but it needs to be a few more angles than the clip I have seen.

[mikey_dragon]

If you think that’s bad, Macauley Cooke made the Blues team at 2nd row. From what I can tell even the supporters don’t know how he was voted in.

[RiscaGame]

Really? That’s Tito and Bradley off the top of my head, but I haven’t seen much of the other team’s nominations. The only one I’ve really seen is Scarlets’ supporters being less than complimentary when Aled Davies got nominated for their 9

[mikey_dragon]

Yeah Tito and the next spot between Bradley and Deniol Jones for me. Cooke aside their ultimate XV is pretty tasty so far tbh. Yeah not sure how Aled even got on the list haha. Peel got the spot, it seems like an age since he last played.

[mikey_dragon]

Dragons Ultimate XV:

1. Rod Snow
2. Eilliot Dee
3. Rhys Thomas
4. Ian Gough
5. Luke Charteris
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Nic Cudd
8. Taulupe Faletau

9. Gareth Cooper
10. Jason Tovey
11. Aled Brew
12. Ashley Smith
13. Matthew Watkins
14. Gareth Wyatt
15. Percy Montgomery

Steve Jones, Brok Harris, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, Colin Charvis, Rhodri Williams, Sam Davies, Kevin Morgan.

[mikey_dragon]

Looks like Jonah Holmes could be a target for us? That would be a quality signing. I’ve liked what I’ve seen of him at international level.

[RiscaGame]

I didn't know he was out of contract. Would be good for us, but I will believe it when I see it.

[mikey_dragon]

It was being reported by RugbyPass, that’s been a good source lately. I didn’t think he was out of contract either.

[Stone Motif]

Be an upgrade on any full back we've had for years, including Dr Corner-Flag

[RiscaGame]

[mikey_dragon]

I think we do alright with back 3 players, strength in depth is welcome though. If we are signing Holmes then I hope it is with the intention of playing him mostly at full-back.

[Guest]

Jonah Holmes to Dragons now being reported on Radio Leicester, according to Davey on Twitter. The rumour is gathering pace.

[RiscaGame]

Fingers crossed still. Probably won’t hear for a while, especially with re-signings still to do etc. But very positive.

We do okay for back three players in theory, but they’ve all had their injury problems recently.

[Guest]

Tyler Morgan to Scarlets is another rumour doing the rounds. He’ll probably do a Phil Price or Angus O’Brien and be a big hit there!

[RiscaGame]

He wouldn’t be my first choice centre, so i wouldn’t be too upset. It would be a shame if his last act was getting injured, whilst scoring against Enisei mind.

[mikey_dragon]

Tyler Morgan to Scarlets is another rumour doing the rounds. He’ll probably do a Phil Price or Angus O’Brien and be a big hit there!

Neither were a big hit there really. 3rd choice.

[mikey_dragon]

I think that's a strange one for Scarlets as he's always injured. They're welcome to him as he's never really backed up his stellar opening season, I thought we were onto a world class centre when he stepped up for Wales at the RWC, seems like an age ago now. I hope we're signing another centre though, or possibly a fly-half with the intention of him also featuring at centre... guess who that could be. I'd also go for someone NWQ like Fonotia if he's out of contract, or that Aussie-kiwi from Leinster.

Glad the Holmes thing is gathering pace, he'll overtake Amos in the Wales set-up for sure and with Halfpenny continuing to step down it gives him a good opportunity to stake a claim. It's a good idea to target these sort of players, they have humble beginnings in rugby. Will Rowlands is another one who worked his way up from the bottom and I hope he's still a target for us. Be a killer blow to everyone if he signed for Cardiff .

[mikey_dragon]

I see we've re-signed Jarvis. Is that because we can't get anyone else, or because somebody there rates him? Another one with a terrible injury record. It's not a signing I particularly rate and we have an aging front-row outside of Dee and Brown. Harsh times.

No news of re-signing Bev is good news. I’d prefer to re-sign old Brok, Dragons legend. This time off is a good rest for the likes of him and Hibs.

Not hearing anything about the re-signing of Nansen either, probably the worst injury record out of them all. It’s a shame as he looked pretty good. Can we also let Knoyle go, Dean...

[Guest]

Tyler Morgan to Scarlets is another rumour doing the rounds. He’ll probably do a Phil Price or Angus O’Brien and be a big hit there!

Neither were a big hit there really. 3rd choice.

When I say big hit, I mean do better there than they did with us. Which, IMO, they both have done.

[mikey_dragon]

Tyler Morgan to Scarlets is another rumour doing the rounds. He’ll probably do a Phil Price or Angus O’Brien and be a big hit there!

Neither were a big hit there really. 3rd choice.

When I say big hit, I mean do better there than they did with us.  Which, IMO, they both have done.  

That’s hard to say. Scarlets have a lot of internationals and some quality NWQ, so they may have looked a lot better as a result of that. They would “do better” as in having a better chance of silverware I guess, if they make the first team squad. 

Arguably, AOB as a young player went there to improve. I get that but he still looked pretty average when he joined, and then sustained a serious knee injury. This season he looked pretty good against weaker opposition, and actually looked like he had pace which he didn’t seem to have with us. Either way I wouldn’t want AOB back at Dragons, it wouldn’t benefit either party IMO.

[mikey_dragon]

Knoyle signs... ffs.

[RiscaGame]

Hahaha. I did see one angry like on the Facebook page, that made me laugh.

[mikey_dragon]

Yeah... can’t say I blame them for being angry at that waste of a signing !

[Guest]

A number of Dragons fans pretty happy with the Knoyle re-signing on Twitter. Kirwan lauding it too. Odd.

[mikey_dragon]

Cardiff supposedly not so keen to bring in Tompkins on a one year deal but we are.

[mikey_dragon]

https://rugby365.com/tournaments/super-rugby/news-super-rugby/the-star-who-never-became-a-bok

A read if you want. I rated Sarel quite highly. Was horrified when we didn’t keep him on and went after garbage like Knoyle.

[formerly known as Sam]

Jonah Holmes has negotiated the release from the last year of his contract. You might get an announcement imminently.

[mikey_dragon]

Any word on there being some sort of transfer fee?

[formerly known as Sam]

Tigers announced they had agreed to release him, sounded very magnanimous in our statement but given the financial situation currently we probably took a small fee and the chance to save some money on a player that was likely to be in and around the Wales squad a lot next season (potential for extended international windows) and who then wouldn't have renewed to stay the season after.

[mikey_dragon]

I expected there would be, just wondering if it were us or the WRU that payed it. It's a great signing that I'm pleased with but I hope we can still afford to employ players in other positions.

[mikey_dragon]

Is it surprising for others to see Joe Davies’ weight billed as 130kg? Talk about not throwing your weight around.

[mikey_dragon]

I said we should maybe sign Joe Tomane. It seems Dean Ryan et al listened. 

If any of you want to see more big name players at Dragons make sure you DM me so I can let Dean know.

[Guest]

No way! That is a very promising signing. Good player (or at least was, no reason why he can’t still be), probably here all season, probably suits the style of play we’re trying to play too. Good stuff.

[mikey_dragon]

My thoughts exactly. He did fall a little out of favour with Leinster, hopefully he steps up with us. As big as Dixon and a lot more fancy with the ball in hand (which isn’t that hard).

He can also play 12 and 13.

[Guest]

Do we know if Tyler Morgan is definitely leaving? If so I guess this is the planned replacement.

It’s all gone quiet on Jones Holmes too. I’ve a sneaky feeling he’ll not join us. Could be another example of jumping the gun where the media pins a player on us but they end up going elsewhere and we’re left with egg on the face. Hope that’s not the case.

[mikey_dragon]

I don’t definitely know, but it seems likely. Better replacement IMO, and his game time was managed accordingly at Leinster so he has a good injury record as far as I know. 

I think Holmes is a done deal behind closed doors, never seen us so strongly linked with a player. Has the example you’re referring to happened to us before?

Our backline will be pretty good next season if Tompkins also joins and Knoyle isn’t on the pitch. A lot of firepower in attack. Not exactly sure who plays 12 and 13 but;

9. Williams
10. Davies
11. Hewitt/anyone else
12. Tomane 
13. Tompkins
14. Holmes/Warren
15. J Williams/Holmes

[Stone Motif]

I don’t definitely know, but it seems likely. Better replacement IMO, and his game time was managed accordingly at Leinster so he has a good injury record as far as I know. 

I think Holmes is a done deal behind closed doors, never seen us so strongly linked with a player. Has the example you’re referring to happened to us before?

Our backline will be pretty good next season if Tompkins also joins and Knoyle isn’t on the pitch. A lot of firepower in attack. Not exactly sure who plays 12 and 13 but;

9. Williams
10. Davies
11. Hewitt/anyone else
12. Tomane 
13. Tompkins
14. Holmes/Warren
15. J Williams/Holmes

It would be a colossal dump on Adam Warren if he was shipped out to the wing just so we can teach Nick Tompkins to play outside centre for Wayne Pivac.

[mikey_dragon]

Colossal? I’m just exploring the options, and that’s one where we have all our best backs on the pitch at once. Warren has played wing before, as has Tomane - he scored against us playing wing for Aus. Tompkins won’t be around all season so I imagine there will be adequate rotation. It could even be Tompkins at 12 with Tomane at 13.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I see Miaow Mark II has left the site.

[mikey_dragon]

I think it’s okay for people to start over but absolutely pointless to leave in the manner they did, only to immediately return to where they left off albeit under a fake guise. Kinda lame.

[RiscaGame]

It won’t be long before they’re back and my thumb aches from scrolling posts for hours. Fair play to the mods for reacting. It’s amazing how much the bickering stops in his/her absence.

Same as another absent poster really. Funny how those who apparently only want to debate, cause the biggest problems

[RiscaGame]

I see Miaow Mark II has left the site.

Mark III minimum, I reckon.

[RiscaGame]

Watched some good clips of Joe Thomas earlier. He does look handy, but I guess highlight reels are just that.

I really find the Tomane rumour hard to believe. I have faith in the Holmes one and clearly we will end up with the Tompkins loan. Guess we will have to see on Tomane.

[mikey_dragon]

The rugby paper reported Tomane as a done deal - I am surprised if there was no interest from France - there doesn’t seem to be that many aussies in the Top 14 though (at least compared to other nationalities there). 

It seems we’re just announcing re-signings thus far, like Huw Taylor was recently announced - I’m not particularly sure what the reason for the timing of certain announcements is. I don’t see what a Joe Thomas signing would do for us when it’s likely we have similar from the academy. 

Dean reportedly still in the market for a lock and LH. As are Cardiff. Apparently Parry turned them down to re-sign with Ospreys. Them Blues love trying to nick players, I wonder if Mulvihill still thinks they’re the best Region in Wales?

[mikey_dragon]

Brok extends, that’s great news. I think this could suggest that Bevington is off. Our ageing front row is a bit of a concern but I suppose we’ll be bringing on Reynolds and Coleman too.

[RiscaGame]

Good enough for now. I see Andy Howell stole a South Wales Argus article for a bit of clickbait, in the National Media of Wales (TM) earlier. What was most interesting about it, was the fact Daf Buckland coughed that he needed better game time. It confused me, as I thought the Welsh Prem was all that and is stealing a march on the Pro 14?? So how aren’t his Newport appearances any good for playing?

[Stone Motif]

Any pro rugby player under 80kg who thinks they should be playing more games needs the kind of reality check that only 80mins against a proper full on pack running at him can give, so I kind of agree with him.

Tavis Knoyle haters, would you rather have Dafydd B closing out games?

[mikey_dragon]

Yes, because DB doesn’t keep kicking it out on the full.

[Stone Motif]

Yes, because DB doesn’t keep kicking it out on the full.

He might if he had a grown up opposition BR haring down on him in the knowledge he has the physicality of a soggy fart

[mikey_dragon]

That Bok scrum half seems to do okay. Probably best that DB moves on though and we’ll see how that goes.

[Stone Motif]

That Bok scrum half seems to do okay. Probably best that DB moves on though and we’ll see how that goes.

Fair point but has the benefit of playing behind a pack that keeps him out of harms way. Our SH has Brok and Fairbrother guarding the rucks half the time.

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