DRAGONS SQUAD FOR CAPITAL TRIP

DRAGONS SQUAD FOR CAPITAL TRIP
By Edward Rice | Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Newport Gwent Dragons have named a 25 man squad for the derby match against the Blues at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday (23rd December, 7:35pm).

Following last weekend’s loss at Rodney Parade to Exeter the Dragons will be looking to turn things round in the first of a triple header of Welsh derbies for the Men of Gwent.

In the forwards, Dan Way and Steve Jones return to the squad in place of Keiron Jenkins and Rhys Buckley respectively. Jevon Groves and Darren Waters are also brought into the squad with Tom Brown missing out.

Half Back Steffan Jones is also named having missed last weekend’s game against Exeter Chiefs at Rodney Parade.

STATS

• The Dragons won the most recent match between the two teams, 28-15 at Rodney Parade on 29 April, to end an eight game losing run against the Blues.

• Jason Tovey is still one of the league’s most prolific point scorers this season, slotting 84.9% of his RaboDirect PRO12 kicks this season.

• If Martyn Thomas plays in the game at the Cardiff City Stadium it will be his 50th RaboDirect PRO12 appearance.

• The fastest RaboDirect PRO12 try on record was scored in a Dragons vs Blues game. It was scored by Nathan Brew (brother of the Dragons’ Aled) for the Dragons at Cardiff Arms Park on 27 December 2005 and was scored after only 18 seconds.

Newport Gwent Dragons Squad

Martyn Thomas, Will Harries, Tonderai Chavhanga, Aled Brew, Adam Hughes, Anitelea Tuilagi, Lewis Robling, Jason Tovey, Steffan Jones, Wayne Evans, Joe Bedford, Jevon Groves, Darren Waters, Toby Faletau, Gavin Thomas, Danny Lydiate, Lewis Evans, Rob Sidoli, Adam Jones, Nathan Buck, Nathan Williams, Dan Way, Phil Price, Lloyd Burns, Steve Jones
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Brew is in then ? Lets just get a bit of cohesion together eh boys ?

Sorry can't see anything but a BPW for the Dragons on Friday!

Try Bp win ?

Whats Gatland's excuse going to be for not selecting Tovey i wonder. Before it was his poor goal kicking well he can't use that now can he!

He was selected for the WC sqaud but got injured in training

Yeah Tovey has been involved in few initial squads now but injury seems to hit.

Don't think he would have gone to the WC though and Gatlands decision on Hook will play a role on how many 10s are in the 6 Nation squad.

Not holding out much hope for us getting anything out of this game on Friday but would love it if we can.

I just hope we don't get 40 points put on us again. Last 3 years haven't been great for us down there:

43-21
42-13
26-12

Come on Dragons BPW!......

Don't see them doing that with Parks kicking unless he finally unleashes their backs.

It will be good to see Lydiate and Faletau up against Warburton.

I think the Dragons have a good chance, but it will be a close game be interesting to see how the Blues backs do - if Parks will unleash the backs, and how Lualua is playing - whether his game will be littered with mistakes again,.

A lot will depend on Brew's fitness for us.

Is Cuthbert playing ?

Brew will be a loss and the odds are against us, our front 5 will be under pressure and we have a poor record down there. That said i do fancy a loosing bonus or even an upset. We are a good side but things havent quite clicked this season - on Friday they will!

Are we all going in section 112? I suggest we spend the entire game on our feet supporting the boys!!

COME ON DRAGONS! il go for 18-23 dragons !!

munkian wrote:A lot will depend on Brew's fitness for us.

Is Cuthbert playing ?

He should be back.

Henson will be starting somewhere, possibly at 15 - though, I think he should be at 12 with Roberts dropped to the bench for a few games to buck up his ideas. Or he could yet start at 10.

I thought halfpenny was being put at FB because they didn't think much of Czeckai(sp) there and so it would be James and Cuthbert on the wings.

I thought Roberts had been doing better than Lualua, and figured it would have been Gats dream team of the Bachelor and the Doctor in midfield

Smirnoffpriest wrote:I thought halfpenny was being put at FB because they didn't think much of Czeckai(sp) there and so it would be James and Cuthbert on the wings.

I thought Roberts had been doing better than Lualua, and figured it would have been Gats dream team of the Bachelor and the Doctor in midfield

Roberts hasnt had a good game for the Blues for ages

T.James has been dropped/injured as has Mustoe so I imagine Halfpenny and Cuthbert will be on the wings and it looks certain that Henson will be at FB (there is an interview on Walesonline)

Ahh I see didn't realise James had been dropped - I'd say FB is a good place to bring Henson back in for his 1st game. You say Bob hasn't had a good game for ages but neither has Lualua and IMO lualua has made more mistakes - whereas Dr Bob just looks like he's not being used properly = could be because of Parks sitting deep and there being no movement in midfield and the Blues knocking on frequently

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Ahh I see didn't realise James had been dropped - I'd say FB is a good place to bring Henson back in for his 1st game. You say Bob hasn't had a good game for ages but neither has Lualua and IMO lualua has made more mistakes - whereas Dr Bob just looks like he's not being used properly = could be because of Parks sitting deep and there being no movement in midfield and the Blues knocking on frequently

Also, Henson cant/wont/shouldnt play 13

With all the flack Parks has been getting I wouldn't be surprised to see Henson have a run at 10 sometime through the game and then hope Toby runs all over him

I remember when Henson made his comeback from injury in 2009 he played fullback against the Dragons as well. I think he scored 2 tries and set up another, but with Parks at 10 though we probably wont see that

Blues have announced their team:

15 Gavin Henson 14 Leigh Halfpenny 13 Casey Laulala 12 Dafydd Hewitt 11 Alex Cuthbert 10 Ceri Sweeney 9 Lloyd Williams

8 Xavier Rush 7 Sam Warburton 6 Michael Paterson 5 Paul Tito (c) 4 Bradley Davies 3 Taufa'ao Filise 2 T Rhys Thomas 1 Gethin Jenkins

16 Ryan Tyrell 17 John Yapp 18 Scott Andrews 19 Josh Navidi 20 Maama Molitika 21 Richie Rees 22 Dan Parks 23 Jamie Roberts

Glad roberts has been dropped, he hasn't turned up for the blues in ages. Forget about Gav...it's all about the number 10 who always bring his biggest game of the year

gcBlues wrote:Glad roberts has been dropped, he hasn't turned up for the blues in ages. Forget about Gav...it's all about the number 10 who always bring his biggest game of the year

+1

Sweeney LOVES to play the Dragons

I'd say that Parks has been rested, but Roberts has (finally) been dropped.

Pretty close to what I would have picked for this game.

2nd half - Roberts to wing, Halfpenny to FB, Henson to 12 - That would get Henson to buck up his ideas.

If Kaaaaaaardiffff don't smash us off the park with that team they all want shooting in the carpark. People say Ospreys are under achievers ?

Here we go, the dregs painting themselves in a bad light so if they win their players can do another lap of honour and hug each other after overcoming the odds.

I can see Faletau after the match 'YO DARREN, WE DID IIIIIIT' and cue 'Eye of the Tiger' on in the background.

Cardiff should beat most people with that team, let alone a completely underperforming Dragons team away from home.

I don't expect to win away from home - can't remember last time we did in Cardiff.

gcBlues wrote:Here we go, the dregs painting themselves in a bad light so if they win their players can do another lap of honour and hug each other after overcoming the odds.

I can see Faletau after the match 'YO DARREN, WE DID IIIIIIT' and cue 'Eye of the Tiger' on in the background.

Why would he say 'Yo Darren'? He's from Tonga, not the Bronx.

And yes, we can paint ourselves in a bad light because in reality we've only got a fraction of the quality of the Blues team. You should easily beat our Amlin cup boys and should be confident of doing so every time.

How many caps in the Blues side ? Probably 5 Welsh squad first choice players plus the imports.

And with Faletau living in South Wales since he was 13 I'd it would be more like 'Oh ! Darren, safe or what ?'

munkian wrote:Cardiff should beat most people with that team, let alone a completely underperforming Dragons team away from home.

I don't expect to win away from home - can't remember last time we did in Cardiff.

You seem to forget we're underperforming far more spectacularly than the Dragons this year because of the players we have. Should we be thumping you? Of course, we have the better players. But that hasn't happened at all this season, but maybe the Ponty Forearm at 10 will cause an upswing in fortunes.

Griff wrote:Why would he say 'Yo Darren'? He's from Tonga, not the Bronx.

Neither was Rocky Just had a look, it should be 'Mâlô e lelei Darren!'

gcBlues wrote:

Griff wrote:Why would he say 'Yo Darren'? He's from Tonga, not the Bronx.

Neither was Rocky Just had a look, it should be 'Mâlô e lelei Darren!'

But he's lived in Wales so shouldn't that be 'Mâlô e lelei Darren boyo!'

im looking forward to this match. will be interesting to see how gavin goes.

i hope the drags dont do better than a lbp.

heres to a good win for the blues

should be interesting what Blues side turns up - though i'm hoping for a Dragons win to be honest and a good performance from Tovey to keep him in Gats mind

Must admit, Sweeney does always seem to 'save' himself for this game and would have much rather parks been starting for the Blues.

Not travelling back home until tomorrow but will be at Dave for the Sacrlets game, 5 pts from the two games would be a good return IMO.

"Blues hooker T Rhys Thomas has been ruled out of tonight's match against the Dragons with a shoulder injury

He will be replaced by Australian hooker Ryan Tyrell with Marc Breeze moving onto the bench."

Big blow - our only hooker to have played more than 20 minutes of rugby in the last year is injured :/

Time to see what Tyrell can do (Pity young Dacey is still injured, not sure where Rhys Williams is though - he was good at the start of the season)

The Blues either win well or lose terribly!
I think the blues will goto town on the Dragons, I havent decided whether to go yet or which jersey to wear if I do!

AlynDavies wrote:I think the blues will goto town on the Dragons, I havent decided whether to go yet or which jersey to wear if I do!

Change of plan I'm going with one of my mates and I'm going to support the Dragons and I assume he is going to support the Blues as he is a Cardiff City Fc football fan, though an Ospreys season ticket holder!

Cmon you Dragons!

AlynDavies wrote:

AlynDavies wrote:I think the blues will goto town on the Dragons, I havent decided whether to go yet or which jersey to wear if I do!

Change of plan I'm going with one of my mates and I'm going to support the Dragons and I assume he is going to support the Blues as he is a Cardiff City Fc football fan, though an Ospreys season ticket holder!

Cmon you Dragons!

Turncoat

wales606 wrote:

AlynDavies wrote:

AlynDavies wrote:I think the blues will goto town on the Dragons, I havent decided whether to go yet or which jersey to wear if I do!

Change of plan I'm going with one of my mates and I'm going to support the Dragons and I assume he is going to support the Blues as he is a Cardiff City Fc football fan, though an Ospreys season ticket holder!

Cmon you Dragons!

Turncoat

I can't help it, I just love the Dragons crowd their soooo much fun