Newport Gwent Dragons v Glasgow Warriors, 23 February

First topic message reminder :

Newport Gwent Dragons v Glasgow Warriors

23 February 2014
The Parade of the Dave
KO: 2.30pm.

Not on bloody telly

Referee: Matteo Liperini (FIR, 6th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Rhys Thomas, Martyn Lewis (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Russell Howell (WRU)

A. Previous Meetings

22/11/13 - Glasgow Warriors 8 - 23 Newport Gwent Dragons

15/2/13 - Newport Gwent Dragons 3 - 60 Glasgow Warriors

2/11/12 - Glasgow Warriors 37 - 6 Newport Gwent Dragons

B. Form:

1	Munster	14	12	0	2	359	209	5	53
2	Leinster	14	10	1	3	325	222	8	50
3	Ospreys	14	9	1	4	375	233	7	45
4	Glasgow	12	10	0	2	204	168	1	41
5	Ulster	13	9	0	4	254	177	5	41
6	Scarlets	13	5	1	7	240	259	6	28
7	NG Dragons	13	5	0	8	228	241	4	24
8	Edinburgh	12	5	0	7	209	266	3	23
9	Cardiff Blues	14	4	1	9	273	355	5	23
10	Treviso	13	3	1	9	238	333	5	19
11	Connacht	14	3	0	11	182	287	5	17
12	Zebre	14	2	1	11	212	349	4	14

C. Teams:

1. Dragons

15 Rhys Jones
14 Matthew Pewtner
13 Pat Leach
12 Ashley Smith
11 Will Harries
10 Jason Tovey
9 Richie Rees

8 Lewis Evans
7 Nic Cudd
6 Jevon Groves
5 Cory Hill
4 Andrew Coombs (c)
3 Duncan Bell
2 T. Rhys Thomas
1 Owen Evans

Replacements: 
16 Hugh Gustafson
17 Phil Price
18 Bruce Douglas
19 Matthew Screech
20 Ieuan Jones
21 Wayne Evans
22 Dorian Jones
23 Ross Wardle

2. Warriors

15. Ruaridh Jackson
14. Lee Jones
13. Richie Vernon
12. Mark Bennett
11. Byron McGuigan
10. Finn Russell
9. Niko Matawalu

1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
2. Dougie Hall
3. Mike Cusack
4. Leone Nakarawa
5. Jonny Gray
6. Rob Harley
7. Tyrone Holmes
8. Josh Strauss (Captain)

Substitutes

16. Fraser Brown
17. Gordon Reid
18. Jon Welsh
19. Tom Ryder
20. James Eddie
21. Henry Pyrgos
22. Folau Niua
23. Rory Hughes

Match Preview:

Newport Gwent Dragons only victory in their last five RaboDirect PRO12 matches came at home to Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day.

The Dragons have lost only twice at Rodney Parade in the PRO12 since last March, both against Irish Provinces - Leinster and Munster.
Glasgow Warriors' 27-20 victory at Cardiff on Saturday set a new record for successive away victories in the tournament - seven.

The Warriors have lost only one of their last eight visits to Wales in the PRO12: 6-29 at the Scarlets in April 2013.

Dragons were victorious 23-8 when they visited Scotstoun in round 8 but have not achieved a season's double over the Scotsmen since season 2006/07.

The Warriors are unbeaten in their last three visits to Rodney Parade in all tournaments.

About 6

Ta Rev!

  

Dragons fan today me!

If the Dragons win (looks like it) I think we can wave bye bye to getting into the qf. These games, no disprespect to the Dragons, have to be BP wins for us. A win is minimal.

I've never been so tense just clicking the refresh button!

Nematode wrote:If the Dragons win (looks like it) I think we can wave bye bye to getting into the qf. These games, no disprespect to the Dragons, have to be BP wins for us. A win is minimal.  

It is quite disrespectful really to expect a BP at Dave, particularly with what went on at Scotstoun. We aren't the rabble we were last season, particularly at home.

Red clock. Glasgow have ball

Got to say the Dragons have really come on this season. With their squad additions they'll be a good force in the Rabo (top 6/7 I'd say)

If it's any consolation Fancy Worm, we nearly stuffed up against Treviso and didn't get the TPB.

Boom

Thank you Dragons!!   

Commiserations Glasgow. We needed that after todays horror-show in Treviso. Dropped point and we only just escaped with the win.

Nematode wrote:If the Dragons win (looks like it) I think we can wave bye bye to getting into the qf. These games, no disprespect to the Dragons, have to be BP wins for us. A win is minimal.  

Surely the Dragons are looking for BP having scored three tries?

Our wonderful away record in the Rabo comes to an end   

24-23 well done to the Dragons.

Winning try from a charged down kick, no less, but they obviously hung in there.

Good result for us. Good enough gap over Blues with a home game v Edinburgh as a game in hand.

Risca Rev wrote:

Nematode wrote:If the Dragons win (looks like it) I think we can wave bye bye to getting into the qf. These games, no disprespect to the Dragons, have to be BP wins for us. A win is minimal.  

It is quite disrespectful really to expect a BP at Dave, particularly with what went on at Scotstoun. We aren't the rabble we were last season, particularly at home.

I don't see how. We are a top 4 side that has good players, coaches and finance and should be winning games against teams in the lower half of the table with BPs if we want to get into the semis. I did not say I expected a BP.

GLove39 wrote:Our wonderful away record in the Rabo comes to an end   

A very very good point too. Makes the result more of an achievement for us.

Apparently Richie Rees was outstanding again.

Notch wrote:Thank you Dragons!!   

Commiserations Glasgow. We needed that after todays horror-show in Treviso. Dropped point and we only just escaped with the win.

Smallest violin in the world for you, Notch. You still won away from home, you young rapskallion.

Risca Rev wrote:Good result for us. Good enough gap over Blues with a home game v Edinburgh as a game in hand.

When do you play Edinburgh?

George Carlin wrote:

Notch wrote:Thank you Dragons!!   

Commiserations Glasgow. We needed that after todays horror-show in Treviso. Dropped point and we only just escaped with the win.

Smallest violin in the world for you, Notch. You still won away from home, you young rapskallion.

I know. I was just saying we needed the BP because no-one else looks like dropping points. We got very lucky with this game this weekend, hopefully Munster also win.

Nematode wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:

Nematode wrote:If the Dragons win (looks like it) I think we can wave bye bye to getting into the qf. These games, no disprespect to the Dragons, have to be BP wins for us. A win is minimal.  

It is quite disrespectful really to expect a BP at Dave, particularly with what went on at Scotstoun. We aren't the rabble we were last season, particularly at home.

I don't see how. We are a top 4 side that has good players, coaches and finance and should be winning games against teams in the lower half of the table with BPs if we want to get into the semis. I did not say I expected a BP.

They don't have to be bonus points, as you said. I would say you should think they have to be wins first. You're missing internationals and you played a team that beat you 23-8 at your place.

The Edinburgh game hasn't been rearranged yet.

Risca Rev wrote:Good result for us. Good enough gap over Blues with a home game v Edinburgh as a game in hand.

Little bit hypocritical to be calling someone disrespectful for merely saying they were unhappy their team didn't get a BP when they are a top 4 side with an ambition to get to the semis, saying you shouldn't expect it when you've been defeated before, then taking Edinburgh "as a game in hand" when you lost to them back in September isn't it?

Not really comparable. A game we lost to a last minute penalty in Sept (caused by Burton kicking a ball dead and them getting a scrum), which given our away record is a pretty handy result. Is thinking we could target a win that bad, compared to thinking about bonus point wins at tricky places? I don't think so. To be fair though, I didn't say it was a banker, I said it's a game in hand meaning a chance to stretch the gap.

Risca Rev wrote:Not really comparable. A game we lost to a last minute penalty in Sept (caused by Burton kicking a ball dead and them getting a scrum), which given our away record is a pretty handy result. Is thinking we could target a win that bad, compared to thinking about bonus point wins at tricky places? I don't think so. To be fair though, I didn't say it was a banker, I said it's a game in hand meaning a chance to stretch the gap.

Come on, game in the hand means a win   we all know that...

Well done on your win though. To go from what 60-3 to 24-23 (against a weakened Glasgow) is a great achievement for the Dragons.

I didn't intend for it to come out like that, but I would be pretty disappointed to lose to a team around our level at home to be honest.

Yes it is a great turnaround. Wasn't it a weakened Glasgow that caned us twice last season though?

Terrible result for Glasgow.
If we'd won that we'd have fine 3rd in the table. As it is we've now dropped out of the play off spots & down to 5th.
Have a feeling that come the end of the season the 2 loses to the Dragons & failing to finish off Zebre away and get the bonus point are really going to hurt us. 8 crucial points that got away.

Risca Rev wrote:I didn't intend for it to come out like that, but I would be pretty disappointed to lose to a team around our level at home to be honest.

Yes it is a great turnaround. Wasn't it a weakened Glasgow that caned us twice last season though?

Peter Murchie INJ, Niko Matalawu, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar INTL, DTH van der MerweINJ, Duncan WeirINTL, Henry Pyrgos; Gordon Reid, Pat MacArthur, Jon Welsh, Tim SwinsonINTL, Tom Ryder, James EddieINJ, John BarclayEX, Ryan WilsonINTL (captain).

To me that's a weakened Glasgow, but very, very strong. And a strong bench.

Bummer !

Well, I had predicted a Bonus Point. I just wasn't expecting that.

How did Russell get on?

Apparently Glasgow as a whole didn't offer much. It seems a few of the tries were from mistakes (One charge down each and Glasgow's second from some sort of mix up).

More surprisingly our scrum had some sort of parity allegedly and even had a nudge of sorts on in the second half with big bad Bruce on.

Great to hear Captain Coombs put a shift in after his rather harsh dropping by Gatland and I'm delighted for Richie Rees (who along with Davies from the Scarlets) has been the real form Welsh scrum half all season.

Really enjoyed this season thanks to Lyn etc and pretty disappointed we only have three real home games left (Embra, Connacht and Treviso, with Ospreys at the millennium technically one too).

George Carlin wrote:24-23 well done to the Dragons.

Winning try from a charged down kick, no less, but they obviously hung in there.

Glasgow first try came from a charge down,second from a Dragons lost ball foward - Glasgow created nothing all game, were they complacent ? i was expecting world beaters as they've won so many away games but in truth they were average - thanks for the well done, great to welcome some Scots lads to RP today

Risca Rev wrote:
Really enjoyed this season thanks to Lyn etc and pretty disappointed we only have three real home games left (Embra, Connacht and Treviso, with Ospreys at the millennium technically one too).

Rev,

I think we capable of winning all those 3 at Dave so good be quite a good end to the season.

Well done Dragons. Really annoying result!

Anyone see how Cusack got on? Glasgow will be a force come the end of the season if they can get him back and firing again. Wrecking ball of a scrummager.

Couldn't make the game, but by all accounts Duncan Bell, brought out of retirement at 39 and straight into the team without a practice run, kept the scrum steady. Someone said the scrum even had the nudge on a couple of times. Kudos!

Have to say well done to the Dragons, good job on the pitch and of the pitch by signing these THs which are certainly an improvement over what you had.

Duncan Bell did remarkably well considering but Bruce Douglas when he came on was really good & i thought Dragons scrum improved even more with him in it!

dragon999 wrote:Duncan Bell did remarkably well considering but Bruce Douglas when he came on was really good & i thought Dragons scrum  improved even more with him in it!

yes who is this Douglas? Not the former scottish prop is it?

Yes he is. If there's a chance I wouldn't be surprised if we sign him full time now. I'm not basing it on today (though he seemingly went well enough), but for general experience etc.

Griff wrote:Couldn't make the game, but by all accounts Duncan Bell, brought out of retirement at 39 and straight into the team without a practice run, kept the scrum steady. Someone said the scrum even had the nudge on a couple of times. Kudos!

Bringing Bell back from his coaching role at 39 years of age for this game was a tactical triumph and absolutely vindicated. He would have needed every ounce of experience to get through the game, but that's what they managed to do. Keeping a 21 stone Yorkshireman from eating you is quite the feat.

Risca Rev wrote:Yes he is. If there's a chance I wouldn't be surprised if we sign him full time now. I'm not basing it on today (though he seemingly went well enough), but for general experience etc.

Douglas was Mr Dependable when he played for Scotland. Class is permanent and you could do so, so much worse for (I am guessing) more money.

Not a surprising result, Dragons are much improved from last season and with very few Welsh squad players they are not a team you want to play during the 6N.

Seagultaf wrote:Not a surprising result, Dragons are much improved from last season and with very few Welsh squad players they are not a team you want to play during the 6N.

I agree, as a Glasgow fan I gave the Warriors no more than 50/50 for a win. Despite where we sit in the table we have been poor all season.

I do fully expect Edinburgh to turn the Dragons over. In my mind they are miles better than Glasgow now.

*Edit* I also want to point out that I think the Dragons have improved greatly this season.

George Carlin wrote:

Griff wrote:Couldn't make the game, but by all accounts Duncan Bell, brought out of retirement at 39 and straight into the team without a practice run, kept the scrum steady. Someone said the scrum even had the nudge on a couple of times. Kudos!

Bringing Bell back from his coaching role at 39 years of age for this game was a tactical triumph and absolutely vindicated. He would have needed every ounce of experience to get through the game, but that's what they managed to do. Keeping a 21 stone Yorkshireman from eating you is quite the feat.

So happy to hear this! Get in there Belly!

George Carlin wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:Yes he is. If there's a chance I wouldn't be surprised if we sign him full time now. I'm not basing it on today (though he seemingly went well enough), but for general experience etc.

Douglas was Mr Dependable when he played for Scotland. Class is permanent and you could do so, so much worse for (I am guessing) more money.

I'm guessing Brizzle are willing to let him go too, if they've already loaned him. Guess we will wait and see which players leave us and what sort of budget we have.

Risca Rev wrote:Yes he is. If there's a chance I wouldn't be surprised if we sign him full time now. I'm not basing it on today (though he seemingly went well enough), but for general experience etc.

Well they should sign him then, he isn't a game changer but no doubt he will make a difference. How did he play for the Dragons though, isn't he currently contracted to a club?

A desperately poor result for us. Best we can hope for now is 4th I think. Besterd big hairy baws !!!  

I agree, think those two defeats to Newport will cost us a home play off place. Ospreys seem to be seriously off the boil as well, so a play off place should still be within reach but we remain fickle this year. Disappointing really, as last week against Cardiff we looked like we were finally about to fire, only for the old inconsistency returned again this week.

I hope we will get a reaction next Friday, but it is never easy to get any kind of result in Dublin, even when they are in the international window. Still they will know that they threw that one away and maybe it will inspire them

Highlights from the game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHHmEK0tDBc&list=TLJWidGN3Pz7l7kTBjlLrzJ699SPVFHAcr

Niko's try was remarkable.

Rees not being anywhere near the Welsh squad is criminal really. If only his dad was 'one of the boyos'

Great result Dragons.