JUDGEMENT DAY!!

First topic message reminder :

Anybody going up then?

If so, can you spare a minute to complete a brief survey:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Scrap that just re-read your post

SS,

Well recovered lol, good to hear people going to watch both games am gutted work got in the way as was planning a weekend home to watch this.

No point starting a new thread, but I'm delighted Andrew Coombs will captain the Dragons this weekend. A great choice by Darren.

Where's the "spit out my tea as Rev praises Edwards shocker" emoticon?

The statistics on the Beeb's match preview don't make good reading for Dragons fans:


'Scarlets have won the last nine encounters between the two teams in the in the Pro12.

Newport Gwent Dragons' only two wins in the Pro12 since round nine have both been against Italian opponents.

Dragons have lost their last six encounters with fellow Welsh regions in the league since beating Cardiff Blues at Rodney Parade 15 March, 2012.

Scarlets' only defeat in their last six matches in all competitions was 32-5 by Leinster at the Royal Dublin Showground on 23 February.

The west Wales region have lost just two of their last 13 contests with fellow Welsh regions in all tournaments.'


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21936379

Glas a du wrote:Where's the "spit out my tea as Rev praises Edwards shocker" emoticon?

Oh Poopie aye. Best revert to type. Edwards out

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:The statistics on the Beeb's match preview don't make good reading for Dragons fans:


'Scarlets have won the last nine encounters between the two teams in the in the Pro12.

Newport Gwent Dragons' only two wins in the Pro12 since round nine have both been against Italian opponents.

Dragons have lost their last six encounters with fellow Welsh regions in the league since beating Cardiff Blues at Rodney Parade 15 March, 2012.

Scarlets' only defeat in their last six matches in all competitions was 32-5 by Leinster at the Royal Dublin Showground on 23 February.

The west Wales region have lost just two of their last 13 contests with fellow Welsh regions in all tournaments.'


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21936379

Crikey, I'm now convinced we are going to win now

Linebreaker wrote:If there's 40-45,000+ surely the will open the top tier?

They said on Scrum V on sunday that 30,000 had been sold already. The marketing hasnt been fantastic to be fair, but if they do it next year they'll learn and improve i hope.

... Coombs captain. A brilliant choice BUT he hasn't trained for a week, he's been sick. Hasn't left the house. No idea if he's back training even today.

Blydi Scarlets poisoned his food, that's why.

I hope we don't get smashed

I'm not so worried about us being dominated up front (I really hope I haven't jinxed things now!), but judging by our defensive displays recently, I can see the Scarlets scoring tries. We need to defend like we did in the second half against Leinster, when we really knocked them back in the tackle.

Dragons Squad to face Scarlets
Hallam Amos, Dan Evans, Ross Wardle, Tom Prydie, Will Harries, Adam Hughes, Jack Dixon , Pat Leach, Steffan Jones, Wayne Evans, Jonathan Evans, Jevon Groves, Ieuan Jones, Dan Lydiate Nic Cudd, Toby Faletau, Andrew Coombs, Rob Sidoli, Adam Jones, Phil Price, Owen Evans, Aaron Coundley, Dan Way, Nathan Buck, Hugh Gustafson, Sam Parry.

Players not selected through injury:
Hywel Stoddart (Knee), Steve Jones (Bicep), Tonderai Chavhanga (Knee), Andy Tuilagi (Hamstring), Tom Brown (Ankle), Mike Poole (Ankle), Ashley Smith (Shoulder), Lewis Evans (Calf), Dan Watchurst (Ankle).

Luckless - there are a few ex-scarlets moles in your squad there, so fingers crossed they remember that when they play us and leave a few gaps in the defencive line for their mates.

Has Chavanga missed more games than he has actually played in?

Hmm backhoe selection will be interesting.

Lydaite, cudd and faletau seems to have the best balence to me. I'm a massive I jones fan but we have the best 6/8 in Europe so he can have an impact off the bench.

Hughes or leach? Harries/Hughes/wardle ?
Johnny Evans MUST start at 9 for me.. Class act.

I'd let chavhanga go ASAP. Waste of money stuck on the wing behind a terrible front five.

I agree Jon Evans has to start. I'd have Adam Hughes at outside cente too, but no doubt he'll be out on the wing again.

Dan Evans needs to start running the ball back occasionally, he's a lovely balanced runner but it seems like he's under orders to hoist a garryowen every time.

Yeah agreed he's kicking it too often.. His touch finders are very good and like you said he's a good runner but these up n unders don't seem to achieve anything. Steffan will need a big game, we can't afford missed kicks if we are going to win.

Feel for Hughes this seaso , plagued by injury than stuck out on the wing with no ball or outside tuilagi who won't/can't pass. Thought he'd be breaking the welsh squad this year too.

Dan Evans will want a good game against his former region.

All Welsh qualified - the only one I'm not sure about is Ross Wardle. Dan Way is English so he might not qualify, although he's been here a while.

EDIT: I was replying to a question about whether the Dragons squad was Wales qualified - but the question's disappeared.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Dragons Squad to face Scarlets
Hallam Amos, Dan Evans, Ross Wardle, Tom Prydie, Will Harries, Adam Hughes, Jack Dixon , Pat Leach, Steffan Jones, Wayne Evans, Jonathan Evans, Jevon Groves, Ieuan Jones, Dan Lydiate Nic Cudd, Toby Faletau, Andrew Coombs, Rob Sidoli, Adam Jones, Phil Price, Owen Evans, Aaron Coundley, Dan Way, Nathan Buck, Hugh Gustafson, Sam Parry.

Are these players Welsh qualified?

(post earlier, edit)

There it is!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:All Welsh qualified - the only one I'm not sure about is Ross Wardle. Dan Way is English so he might not qualify, although he's been here a while.

EDIT: I was replying to a question about whether the Dragons squad was Wales qualified - but the question's disappeared.

Ok, I think that's pretty good.

Dan Way is probably WQ now, I'd imagine. Ross Wardle must be Welsh as well. Wonder if our website has updated now he's been signed up.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:All Welsh qualified - the only one I'm not sure about is Ross Wardle. Dan Way is English so he might not qualify, although he's been here a while.

EDIT: I was replying to a question about whether the Dragons squad was Wales qualified - but the question's disappeared.

Fair play to the Dragons they are doing what regions are meant to be doing, and trying to play as many welsh qualified lads as possible. Sadly I doubt the Scarlets are in a position to feild an all welsh 23, or even XV for that matter, without playing people out of position.

Maule going to Munster.

Glas, I had heard that, gutted really. I know he was a Dragons player before, but he is one of those, like Watkins and Wyatt that will always be a turk in my eyes.

Judgement Day;

Swansea v Llanelli 2-30pm
Dregs v Scarlets 2-30pm

Just won tickets and a shirt on Twitter

Glas a du wrote:Just won tickets and a shirt on Twitter

Free tickets AND a free shirt?

Signed apparently.

Just reference Ross Wardle again, he is from Cardiff originally so is Welsh. There was a write up in the Argus yesterday how he could've played Rugby League with the Crusaders.

There you go then, a fully Welsh-qualified match-day squad. So even if we lose on Saturday, we're the real winners. (That's what I'm telling myself, anyway!)

Good work on the tickets, Glas!

Are you going Lucky?

Yup - I was speaking to Dreamer, Cari and Mrs Penfro on Bookface last night, we're trying to arrange a meet beforehand. Y Mochyn Du is the front runner at the moment.

Don't go mixing with them dirty one eyed lot Lucky. I'd rather boil my head

Ha, maybe I can get some insider knowledge and pass it on to Darren Edwards, Rev. I have him on speed dial under 'clueless'.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Ha, maybe I can get some insider knowledge and pass it on to Darren Edwards, Rev. I have him on speed dial under 'clueless'.

I read an article in the argus about him, where he basically passed the buck on to the players for all our woes. Whilst the players are a bit accountable, it would be nice if Edwards and Appleyard had us organised in attack and defence a lot better. Maybe then he could deflect more blame onto the players

"They are stepping out onto the pitch at their national stadium. That’s an opportunity that they have to grab hold of, and that’s down to the player.”

He's right in a way, but then you'd hope the coaches would prepare them properly too (but that won't be the case of course).

There doesn't seem to be much of a plan when we have the ball, and I don't hold the players responsible for that. One thing I do hold them responsible for is when we have breaks and it always ends in a knock on and comes to nothing. We have to start capitalising on breaks when we make them.

Missed tackles are the players fault.. Not having a good defensive system that leads to missed tackles is the coaches fault.

We are clueless with the ball. We've got loads if pace and skill yet we have no runners, no depth.. We play like an under 10's team.

I'm sure we will still be in good voice Saturday!

Yeah, we make it easy for the oppostion by just shipping it along the line with no one even offering to come back on the angle, plus as you say, too often it's forwards taking the ball standing still. You're never going to cross the gain line like that.

It's going to be weird having a seat watching the Dragons!

Yeah not a fan of sitting down..
Maybe we should just all stand for the whole game!

We really do just ship it along hoping someone beats his man one on one.

I'm going to get well and truly steaming for this game.. Can sit and watch us get beat sober.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Yeah, we make it easy for the oppostion by just shipping it along the line with no one even offering to come back on the angle, plus as you say, too often it's forwards taking the ball standing still. You're never going to cross the gain line like that.

It's going to be weird having a seat watching the Dragons!

Think that Chabal-lite is the most useless forward that I have seen at the Dragons.I have seen nastier blancmanges.

Nimmo hasn't been the enforcer we'd hoped for but I do believe after a season at this level he will improve next year. It's a far quicker gane than the English div 1.

When are we announcing the side.. I'm sure I read somewhere we will be making changes. Does DE know his best team?

I don't think he does know his best team.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I don't think he does know his best team.

That is because there are so many long term injuries.Name badges will help if/when they get back!

Dragons: T Prydie, W Harries, P Leach, J Dixon, R Wardle, D Evans, J Evans, A Coundley, H Gustafson, D Way, A Coombs (captain), R Sidoli, D Lydiate, N Cudd, T Faletau. Replacements: S Parry, O Evans, N Buck, J Groves, I Jones, W Evans, S Jones, A Hughes.

I wouldn't have Evans at 10. How has Wardle suddenly become first choice?
The front row looks weak.