Re: Dragons Season Thread 21/22

by Guest Thu 26 Aug 2021, 5:43 pm

First topic message reminder :

James Benjamin has been turned into a hooker! We do have too many back rowers so this might be good for him from a personal point of view in terms of getting game time, but will be interesting to see if he's able to become a top level player in that position.

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19540310.james-benjamin-moves-flanker-hooker-dragons/

by **RiscaGame** Fri 14 Jan 2022, 7:11 pm

It seems like it is done. I think Steffan Thomas said as much. M

Honestly very pleased with it, but I also want to see Will Reed progress too. I know Welsh Premiership isn’t the best guide sometimes, but he’s doing very well with the Port.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 17 Jan 2022, 10:44 am

I noticed he wasn't in the 23 for Clermont's game against Sale yesterday.

by **RiscaGame** Mon 17 Jan 2022, 10:55 am

Probably too traumatised to play, after seeing our second half no show v Treviso.

Thankfully I was busy being folded up v Senghenydd, so didn't watch it.

by mikey_dragon Thu 20 Jan 2022, 9:19 am

RiscaGame wrote:It seems like it is done. I think Steffan Thomas said as much. M

Honestly very pleased with it, but I also want to see Will Reed progress too. I know Welsh Premiership isn’t the best guide sometimes, but he’s doing very well with the Port.

U20's is probably a better guide than the premiership. Wasn't it Will Reed who had the shocker of a lifetime against France? Would like to see him kick on, but the U20s is a good indicator that he might not.

by Guest Sun 23 Jan 2022, 11:38 am

Jamie Roberts rumoured to be in talks with Waratahs about a move down under. One last ‘hurrah’, according to the Argus.

by mikey_dragon Sun 23 Jan 2022, 11:56 am

I hoped we would keep Roberts and let go of Dixon.

by Guest Sun 23 Jan 2022, 12:00 pm

Yeah, me too. If he’s good enough for a final season at Waratahs then he’s good enough for us! But can understand completely from his point of view. A nice place to finish off the career.

by **RiscaGame** Sun 23 Jan 2022, 12:17 pm

I don’t blame him. He is being used awfully by us too and you’d definitely want to be finishing off somewhere better than where he currently is. He might even win a game or two.

by Luckless Pedestrian Tue 25 Jan 2022, 12:45 pm

We've signed Bradley Roberts from Ulster. Happy with that.

by **RiscaGame** Tue 25 Jan 2022, 3:25 pm

Good news. I always wonder when rumours take a while to come true, whether something has happened or he was going elsewhere. I do think he will end up being first choice.

by Welshmushroom Wed 26 Jan 2022, 9:04 am

Good position for us to strengthen. I just hope we sort our Loosehead. Safe to say Bateman and Seiuli haven't worked out for us.

I hope we keep Doge as he's been fairly solid for us. Along with Brown that position is looking fairly strong for us now.

I'd love to see Ryan start to give a couple of chances for Peard at Lock. We don't generally produce 20st locks so I would really love to see him get a couple of games even off the bench to let him see rugby at this level.

by mikey_dragon Wed 26 Jan 2022, 1:04 pm

Well we do have Joe Davies, but he seems a tad slow (at thinking and running). Peard did look good though. With the way game is going I think Carter should be shifted to 6.

by mikey_dragon Wed 26 Jan 2022, 1:30 pm

Shipp and ummm, Benjamin have extended their stay.

by **RiscaGame** Wed 26 Jan 2022, 2:00 pm

Haha. I should know better than to get excited by Dragons re-signing news.

by Luckless Pedestrian Wed 26 Jan 2022, 2:49 pm

I really hope it works out for James Benjamin. I've probably said it before, but I really liked him as an openside, especially in the loose, and it would be a shame if he ends up being remembered for his stray arrows instead.

by Welshmushroom Thu 27 Jan 2022, 10:24 am

Yeah he was a pretty good openside. It's just unfortunate that we seem to be churning out quality opensides at the moment. Shame we cant say the same in any other positions.

by mikey_dragon Thu 27 Jan 2022, 11:16 am

We have 8 guys in the U20s. The names that stood out for me are Joe Peard and Ben Moa. I really hope both kick on...

by **RiscaGame** Thu 27 Jan 2022, 2:16 pm

If we don't win now, we never ever will again. As much as I don't like the team really, there is no excuse.

SWA wrote:Benetton have 23 players away with Italy and include Argentina tighthead Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, who made 18 appearances for the Dragons in 2013/14, in their XV.

Dragons: J Lewis; J Holmes, A Warren, A Owen, J Olowofela; S Davies, G Bertranou; A Seiuli, T Davies, C Coleman, J Davies, J Maksymiw, H Keddie, O Griffiths, R Moriarty (captain).

Replacements: E Dee, J Reynolds, M Doge, H Taylor, D Baker, R Williams, J Rosser, I Davies.

Benetton: G Da Re; L Pani, F Drago, J Riera, T Benvenuti; T Albornoz, D Duvenage (captain); T Gallo, C Els, T Chaparro, I Herbst, C Wegner, M Meggiato, M Lazzaroni, L Cannone.

Replacements: H Faiva, C Traore, F Alongi, N Piantella, A Steyn, A Garbisi, M Zanon, T Bell.

by **RiscaGame** Thu 27 Jan 2022, 2:20 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:We have 8 guys in the U20s. The names that stood out for me are Joe Peard and Ben Moa. I really hope both kick on...

Indeed.

by Welshmushroom Thu 27 Jan 2022, 2:58 pm

They look like they have a better pack on show than us though.....Total unknowns in the backline but then again Italy has been producing some quality.

I'm not certain we have this in the bag....

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 27 Jan 2022, 3:07 pm

Their loosehead Thomas Gallo scored a couple of tries against the Scarlets earlier in the season I remember. So they've got two current Argentina props in their pack for starters....

by **RiscaGame** Thu 27 Jan 2022, 3:31 pm

Confidence guys. Dean is the man and knows what he is doing Wink

Olowofela to score a hat trick and make about 100 dominant tackles.

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 27 Jan 2022, 3:35 pm

by Guest Thu 27 Jan 2022, 6:47 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:We have 8 guys in the U20s. The names that stood out for me are Joe Peard and Ben Moa. I really hope both kick on...

Byron Hayward the new U20s head coach though Mikey! I know he’s not your favourite coach Wink

by formerly known as Sam Sat 29 Jan 2022, 11:07 am

Bath's Max Clark sounds a done deal to you guys next season. That'll add a bit to your centres.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 31 Jan 2022, 10:48 am

formerly known as Sam wrote:Bath's Max Clark sounds a done deal to you guys next season. That'll add a bit to your centres.

We'll take all the help we can get!

by **RiscaGame** Wed 09 Feb 2022, 9:00 pm

Just saw highlights of Dragons U18s v their Scarlet counterparts (I think). I get you can’t take much from them, but it did seem like the lad at 12 (Ackerman) coming through is pretty handy. Captain too. Wish I had watched it now, as it seemed like S4C showed it in some form.

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 10 Feb 2022, 10:47 am

It was a big win as well.

by mikey_dragon Thu 10 Feb 2022, 9:20 pm

It's not the first time we've had an undefeated U18s team.

Interesting to note that a number of guys have been dropped for the next U20's game, Peard and Moa are two of them. I didn't watch the match but fair play if they didn't perform and are getting moved on. I wonder if coach Hayward is also making changes for himself?

by Guest Thu 10 Feb 2022, 9:47 pm

I think Moa went off injured. Thought I saw a clip of him walking off limping.

by **RiscaGame** Thu 10 Feb 2022, 10:02 pm

I did think Peard wasn’t great tbh. Remember him made a pretty poor attempt at a tackle at one point. Thought he would be a bit of a monster at that level, as he seems big (or so I thought).

by mikey_dragon Thu 10 Feb 2022, 11:14 pm

Well according to the stats he’s big. Perhaps another one not throwing his weight around, oh well.

by **RiscaGame** Fri 11 Feb 2022, 10:40 am

That's what I thought. As much as I thought Hayward was a bit of a Dean Ryan to go at his players, when he questioned their commitment and condition I did think of Peard then.

by Guest Fri 11 Feb 2022, 11:26 am

Anyone know what’s happened to Max Williams? He seemed to be a good up n comer but seems to have gone off the radar a bit.

by **RiscaGame** Fri 11 Feb 2022, 12:19 pm

On loan to Coventry, I think. One of three Dragons there?

by Guest Fri 11 Feb 2022, 4:09 pm

Ah, OK. That explains why I haven't heard his name for a while

Seems/seemed to have lots of potential but perhaps a bit small for a modern day pro lock (he's listed as 6'4"). Thought he might be able to become a decent blindside. Fingers crossed.

by mikey_dragon Fri 11 Feb 2022, 10:02 pm

He (Max) runs around and takes a nap at every breakdown.

News: Tavis Knoyle has left with immediate effect. Lewis Jones is with us until the end of the season.

by Guest Tue 15 Feb 2022, 4:49 pm

JJ Hanrahan to Dragons confirmed on Twitter. Good signing (for us).

by Luckless Pedestrian Tue 15 Feb 2022, 4:52 pm

Yeah I saw that, glad it's come off.

by **RiscaGame** Tue 15 Feb 2022, 6:30 pm

He will probably be first choice ten for us.

by Guest Tue 15 Feb 2022, 6:54 pm

Yes, I think it rings true with what Jiffy was saying on Scrum V the other day. Our top players need competition. At Dragons there’s no one really up Sam Davies’ backside (Jiffy’s words) pushing him. If he has a bad game he’s in the team again next week anyway, sort of by default. And that’s one of the failings of the WRU, according to Jiffy (and supported by lots of others across the nation), as they haven’t done well to support the game below the regions (or supported the regions well themselves in fairness) and the players are just not coming through. Whereas in places like England and France, even when they’ve got so many teams to cover, they’ve still got stiff competition for first team places throughout the league. So yes, this might be the best thing to get the best out of Sam Davies, and if he doesn’t or can’t rise to the challenge and oust Hanrahan then so be it. But the challenge is for him to do so and prove he should be no. 1 no. 10.

by PhilBB Tue 15 Feb 2022, 9:47 pm

The Oracle wrote:Yes, I think it rings true with what Jiffy was saying on Scrum V the other day. Our top players need competition. At Dragons there’s no one really up Sam Davies’ backside (Jiffy’s words) pushing him. If he has a bad game he’s in the team again next week anyway, sort of by default. And that’s one of the failings of the WRU, according to Jiffy (and supported by lots of others across the nation), as they haven’t done well to support the game below the regions (or supported the regions well themselves in fairness) and the players are just not coming through. Whereas in places like England and France, even when they’ve got so many teams to cover, they’ve still got stiff competition for first team places throughout the league. So yes, this might be the best thing to get the best out of Sam Davies, and if he doesn’t or can’t rise to the challenge and oust Hanrahan then so be it. But the challenge is for him to do so and prove he should be no. 1 no. 10.

Davies could be off

A decent coach could have created competition for Davies by dropping him for Lewis.

But, then again, Ryan isn't a decent coach (any longer)

by **RiscaGame** Tue 15 Feb 2022, 10:14 pm

A few Dragons supporters wanted Lewis to be given a shot. I’m not his biggest fan, but I did see the merits in it too.

by mikey_dragon Tue 15 Feb 2022, 10:27 pm

Lewis was tested at 10 and he was no better, and slightly worse. He had a few good runs at 15, but not enough to justify a regular starting place.

by PhilBB Wed 16 Feb 2022, 9:06 am

mikey_dragon wrote:Lewis was tested at 10 and he was no better, and slightly worse. He had a few good runs at 15, but not enough to justify a regular starting place.

It's more about pressuring Davies to perform better. That was the point being made.

by Guest Wed 16 Feb 2022, 9:29 am

PhilBB wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:Lewis was tested at 10 and he was no better, and slightly worse. He had a few good runs at 15, but not enough to justify a regular starting place.

It's more about pressuring Davies to perform better. That was the point being made.

I think Lewis was meant to be that 'pressure'. But he wasn't much good. So now Hanrahan is the new pressure, and likely starter. So if Davies stays then it's up to him to put pressure on Hanrahan.

by mikey_dragon Wed 16 Feb 2022, 9:30 am

PhilBB wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:Lewis was tested at 10 and he was no better, and slightly worse. He had a few good runs at 15, but not enough to justify a regular starting place.

It's more about pressuring Davies to perform better. That was the point being made.

I wasn't speaking to you.

by PhilBB Wed 16 Feb 2022, 11:23 am

mikey_dragon wrote:
PhilBB wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:Lewis was tested at 10 and he was no better, and slightly worse. He had a few good runs at 15, but not enough to justify a regular starting place.

It's more about pressuring Davies to perform better. That was the point being made.

I wasn't speaking to you.

That's right, you were writing.

You were writing on a message board that is open for all to read.

If you want to write to only certain individuals, you'll need to use the private message function.

No need to thank me for the education.

by PhilBB Wed 16 Feb 2022, 11:24 am

The Oracle wrote:
PhilBB wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:Lewis was tested at 10 and he was no better, and slightly worse. He had a few good runs at 15, but not enough to justify a regular starting place.

It's more about pressuring Davies to perform better. That was the point being made.

I think Lewis was meant to be that 'pressure'. But he wasn't much good. So now Hanrahan is the new pressure, and likely starter. So if Davies stays then it's up to him to put pressure on Hanrahan.

Davies would be nuts to stay but, then again, I believed he'd be nuts to go there in the first place.

by PhilBB Wed 16 Feb 2022, 12:17 pm

Rhodri Jones is a good spot, especially if Bateman is off.

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