Dragons vs Ulster 30th September

And thus begins my first topic on v2.

Ulster squad up. Cave and IH in contention to return to action.

ULSTER SQUAD FORWARDS

Jerry Cronin, Conor Carey, Paddy McAllister, Declan Fitzpatrick, Adam Macklin, Andi Kyriacou, John Burns, Niall Annett, Nigel Brady, Tim Barker, Lewis Stevenson, Dan Tuohy, Neil McComb, Pedrie Wannenburg, Mike McComish, Chris Henry (captain), Willie Faloon, Robbie Diack

ULSTER SQUAD BACKS

Paul Marshall, Blane McIlroy, Ian Porter, Ian Humphreys, Paddy Jackson, James McKinney, Luke Marshall, Nevin Spence, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Craig Gilroy, Conor Gaston, Jared Payne, Adam D’Arcy 

Bigger and better performance required from the forwards.

Hopefully they received a good kick up the backside over the last few days just didn't learn against the Ospreys

Yeah, need to step it up in every level really. Last week was disappointing not because of the defeat or the lack of points, but the fact we know the team performed short of what they are capable of.

Tidy looking squad, I'm looking forward to this one. Normaly a close game and i think (or is that hope) the dragons will just have enough at home although unless the medics work miracles we will have a very inexperienced backline. Oh and we've got no props!!

4 out of our first 5 games v Irish oposition. That's never going to be easy.

With my heart ruling my head I'm going for a dragons win 23-18. Best of luck!

Jeez lads relax its only the Dragons

red_stag wrote:Jeez lads relax its only the Dragons

I hate to say this, but I agree. You're still a berk though

I know Rev.

I think it'll be an Ulster win here,

Dragons and Leinster seam to be the ones most affected by the world cup, not just in number of players or any thing, but by the quality to replace those missing, both teams are struggling with this.
(not dissing Leinsters younth but with so many missing they need a lot of quality players to cover for them and while they have some good quality cover players some of them arn't, and this is part of th ereason they are struggling)

For Dragons they are missing key players and the replacements just arn't near the same level.

think the current Ulster Squad is better than the Dragons squad, Dragons are tough at home but believe we can recover from last week, get a our game back and go out and win a tough game.

It's a bad run for the Dragons and I see them loseing this one as well, but it might work out for the best, get these games that you weren't likly to win out of the way when the team is week, and then when the internationals return can go on a really good run, and pick up lots of confidence, for the Welsh derbies and be the form team in the 2nd half of the season.

I think the Dragons are a different team at home, also when I saw Ulster play last week against against the Ospreys they were pretty poor. As long as the Dragons don't go to sleep and get off to an awful start they have every chance of beating this Ulster team.

19-14 to Dragons for me

AlynDavies wrote:I think the Dragons are a different team at home, also when I saw Ulster play last week against against the Ospreys they were pretty poor. As long as the Dragons don't go to sleep and get off to an awful start they have every chance of beating this Ulster team.

19-14 to Dragons for me

True
Last week we were poor against the Ospreys, but the week before we were impressive against the Blues, its about putting the loss behind us.

iHumph and Cave still out, apparently, which does not bode well. Still, I'd be tempted to let the same backline have a crack - let them start that upward curve. I said last week I'd want Whitten at 12 if Jackson was playing, but having started blooding Marshall, I'd rather give him a run of a couple of games.

Notice there are no less than four hookers named, as well, so there might be a questin mark over Kyriacou. Assumng these are the only issues, I'd go:

McAllister
Kyriacou/Brady
Fitzpatrick
Stevenson
Tuohy
Wannenburg
Faloon
Henry (c)
Marshall
Jackson
Whitten
L. Marshall
Spence
Gilroy
Payne

Cronin
Brady/Annett
Barker
Diack
Porter
McKinney
D'Arcy

Hopefully a bit more endeavour and canniness from the forwards would prevent a repeat of last week.

Dragons squad.

Backs
Martyn Thomas, Matthew Pewtner, Mike Poole, Tonderai Chavhanga, Geraint O'Driscoll, Ashley Smith, Tom Riley, Matthew Jones, Jason Tovey, Joe Bedford, Wayne Evans

Forwards
Andrew Coombs, Darren Waters, Lewis Evans, Jevon Groves, Gavin Thomas, Rob Sidoli, Adam Jones, Sam Parry, Tom Willis, Rhys Buckley, Nathan Williams, Nathan Buck, Phil Price, Hugh Gustafson

Basically we will have a very unproven tighthead.

I'd like this side.

15 Martyn Thomas, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Tom Riley, 12 Ash Smith, 11 Mike Poole, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Wayne Evans (though I bet Edwards starts Bedford), 1 Phil Price, 2 Tom Willis, 3 Nathan Williams (though it could be Nathan Buck), 4 Adam Jones, 5 Rob Sidoli, 6 Lewis Evans, 7 Gavin Thomas, 8 Andrew Coombs (though maybe 6 and 8 swap).

Good to see Gus back in our squad and the Chav straight in.

I think that we have a better chance this week because the areas were we were really hurt were the breakdown and the scrum. I think you have to be respectful of how tough the Dragons are at Rodney Parade. They are very capable of raising their game and good sides have faltered there. All the same this is the kind of game we should be winning if we want to remain in the top four.

I think this is an absolutely key match for us; away from home against very difficult opponents. So far we've had two good home performances and two very poor away performances. Difference between a mid-table side and a Top 4 side is how you fare in these kind of games. To add to that, we're coming off the back of a performance that was well below the standards we are capable of.

Very important we get the performance and the win, even with all the players we are missing. I'd be inclined to start with McAllister and Fitzpatrick in the front row and the rest of the side remains the same if Humphreys and Cave are out.

It's not really the kind of game you should be winning to be top four Notch. Munster and Ospreys are good for a loss at Dave (yeah that's right Stag) and it doesn't hurt their chances.

I'd keep the same Ulster backline as last week. They did nothing wrong and looked better than the Ospreys.

The forwards looked rudderless trying to understand the ref, they need to be a lot smarter. If they concede penalties like that again Ulster will lose again.

If your rivals are dropping points there it's even more important we pick some up!

Funny kind of game with Humphreys out. A really inexperienced backline, but they did well last week although I thought Jackson really needed to play a territorial game. If they don't perform it'll be hard to be too critical of them given their age.

However there's no excuse for guys like Pedrie Wannenburg or Chris Henry to go missing like they did last week.

I know how dangerous the Dragons are, can't overemphasise my respect for them and if we win it will be an excellent result. I think it would give us a lot of momentum and confidence.

Oh I know you respect "us" Notch. It was nice to have a dig at Stag though

I'd be happy with that team risca, I pray Evans is at 9! The tightheads a worrie and 13 withno Hughes is a weakness. Still think we will have enough.

I'd like to see Groves get 20min or just let him play for keys!

If chavs as fast still as fast as his youtube clips and he can run in rain toveys going to be kicking the ball in space all night!

Risca Rev wrote:Oh I know you respect "us" Notch. It was nice to have a dig at Stag though

Isn't it always sure.

It'll be close. We are a different proposition at the parade, but we only edged aironi because they were shockingly bad compared to the dragons pretty bad. On that performance we wouldn't have beaten any other rabies pro 12 team. I think we'll be a lot better on Friday and like young guns, I hope Bedford is as far away from Newport as possible. He's Poopie!
With the scarlets suffering like ourselves with such little experience in some area and the blues looking poor, even though they are still fielding hundreds of caps. The battle for HC has already started. I said we'd finish above the blues and I'll stand by that. Roll on November 4th!

Has it been confirmed that Humph and Cave are out? I know the beeb have it that Cave is out but then he is included in the squad at the bottom.

If they are both out i would be tempted to bring Payne into 13 and play D'arcy at 15. Either that or keep the backline as is. the most important changes should come in the pack. Surely we cant go into this game playing two TH's. Im not certain about the fitness of McAllister but if he can play 30 last week he can play the first half here. start him with Declan Fitzpatrick and bring in Willie Faloon for Diack, moving Henry back to 8 where he impressed.

Dragons have 12 injured and 5 on internastional leave.

Although crippled I hope we show enough spirit to edge this one

Dragons need to step up a gear this Friday or I can see us losing this one TBO. We've looked very unstructured at times, Ok can't comment on the Connacht performance as I didn't see it however that was a game where they let in some easy tries and lost in the last 25 mins.

Come on drags!

We were ok away in munster and poor in Leinster. Vrs aroni Otho k is the game thats got some fans worried but the players were droping like flys. To say we lack structure is harsh, tovey ended up with his 9 of injured and Lewis Evans in the centre! The weather was awful n aroni were playing for a point.

We will win on Friday.

Injuries are going to be a big worry for the Dragons - especially as I imagine a lot of their WC players will come back either injured, knackered or off form (because of tiredness), and so won't really make an impact until just before they go back to Wales for the 6 Nations.

Scarlets had the same problem for the last 3 seasons, small squad and huge amounts of injuries - but at least when you get over your injuries you should have loads of good youngsters with experience challening your established players

Hopefully Chavanga will be Brew-esque and run in a fair amount of tries, hope Tovey has been practising his cross field kicks

As long as Chavanga doesn't get crocked (or Tovey for that matter).

Toveys for me is the the difference between us winning at home and loosing. We just can't create anything without him. Last season he was at 10 when we beattge blues and ospreays (and away!) but didn't play when we lost to the scarlets. The year before he was at 10 when we beat the ospreays but didn't play in our losses v the blues n scarlets. He gets some stick from some fans but he's a class act.

His kicking looks back to normal and as long as we can get some fit backs outside him were always a threat (at home)

He is class - but i think it's more critical he plays because your other options at 10 are so dire - you really need a good youngster coming through and challenging Tovey.

I do hope they bring him into the Wales team at FB as well - will be a great addition...

Hopfully when a few more players are fit steffan jones will push tovey for the 10 spot. Top points scorer in the prem last season and turned down more money at the ospreys...

I'd forgotten about Jones to be honest, it will be good if he, Tovey and most of the other important players can stay fit for the Dragons, but I'm not sure they will until at least next season.

But it's good that there are positive signs at the Dragons and that their playing good rugby and keeping hold of their youngsters. I think there'll be good things coming from this Dragons team, just not this season unfortunately

"But it's good that there are positive signs at the Dragons and that their playing good rugby and keeping hold of their youngsters. I think there'll be good things coming from this Dragons team, just not this season unfortunately"

Can't argue with that, totally agree

How does the new stand look anyway? I haven't managed to get down there yet. Is there a better bar/snack shop than in the old stand?

Looks great, im a Hazel terrace season ticket holder so I havnt been over that side (I will for the odd game). I didnt make it over early enough for a veer either as i had a rugbygane myself.
It's strange looking over at a new stand... I feel like I'm watching us on the telly with a flash stand in the background.

On the game I'm sticking with my 23-18 prediction.

Its my first visit (not my last) this season to the revamped Dave and really excited and looking forward to it.

Our early fixtures haven't been kind with three visits to Ireland in four games so I am hoping we can get our second win of the season at home.

Has the new Dave lost any of its atmosphere now we gone posh

This'll be my first home league match of the season, Bedford, so we'll both find out tomorrow evening. I went to the Russia game and there wasn't much of an atmosphere, but that's to be expected for a pre-season friendly.

At the Aroni game the Hazel terrace was packed due to everyone going under the roof for shelter so the atmosphere started off really good. After a while the game went really flat and a lot of people just started chatting and I guess some lost interest. The new Bisley stand only had a few hundred in so it's difficult to gage how much that will add to the atmosphere.

Lets hope for a better turn out this week!

Go Dragons!

Ulster team:

Ulster (15-9): A D'Arcy; C Gilroy, D Cave, N Spence, I Whitten; P Jackson, P Marshall;
(1-8): D Fitzpatrick, N Brady, J Cronin, L Stevenson, D Tuohy, P Wannenburg, W Faloon, C Henry (c);
Replacements (16-23): A Kyriacou, K McCall, A Macklin, T Barker, R Diack, I Porter, J McKinney, C Gaston

Unavailable due to injury: Callum Black (neck), Ian Humphreys (shoulder), Jared Payne (dead leg), Darren Cave (hamstring)

Still no Dragons team announcement, but a great interview with Tonderai Chavhanga on the website:

http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/newsarticle.aspx?n=19253

Can anyone spot the deliberate mistake in the Ulster team?

Well unless there are two Darren Caves...

I thought it was Darren Cave injuried, and a first start for dwayne cave, a new fella

Or Diane Cave.

I'll be honest, despite all the opptomistic dragons above I was expecting a comfortable Ulster win with our stars IH and Cave back. Not confident now at all. Backrow has better balance to it. Have a nasty suspicion dragons might sneak this.

Oh big shout out to young Kyle McCall in line for his senior debut tomorrow night. He was 2 years below me in school and was always a character. Hope he does the White shirt proud.

Dragons:
Martyn Thomas, Tonderai Chavhanga, Tom Riley, Ashley Smith, Mike Poole, Jason Tovey, Wayne Evans, Nathan Williams, Tom Willis (c), Nathan Buck, Adam Jones, Rob Sidoli, Lewis Evans, Gavin Thomas, Andrew Coombs.

Replacements
Rhys Buckley, Phil Price, Kieron Jenkins* Darren Waters, Jevon Groves, Joe Bedford, Geraint O'Driscoll*, Matthew Jones.

Thanks for that, Greybeard. Great to see Wayne Evans starting at scrum half.

We can win this, but we won't win playing badly. I suppose thats our best available team, but it's Humphreys we can't afford to lose and we look seriously green. Dragons in a similar situation. Expect a low quality game thats close and could go either way.

I think that front row will struggle - but the backs look pretty good. good to see W Evans and Tovey starting to get a lot of games together, lets hope neither get any injuries this season.

Dewch Man yr Dreigiau!

(Come on the Dragons)

Willy - McCall has a great build for a prop.

I'm assuming he's in as loosehead cover but I thought he only played on the tight side?

I wouldn't say there's too many optimistic Dragons supporters Willy. It's probably more optimistic to expect a comfortable win at a place like Rodney Parade anyway.

Smirnoff, Wayne Evans has been on the bench a lot this season, partly due to niggles and partly due to Edwards' insistence on picking Joe Bedford.

I can't call this. We have real prop issues. I'm a bit confused that Gus was named in the original squad, but not the 23. I think it'll be a pretty decent atmosphere though. I can't wait for tomorrow to come.