Newport Gwent Dragons 2016/17 thread

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 04 Aug 2016, 2:29 pm

First topic message reminder :

Seeing as no one else has set one up, I thought I'd start a 2016/17 season thread for the mighty Dragons.

The Dragons website doesn't have a straightforward list of the squad members, so the best I can do is a link to the page:

http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/Teams/Squad/Dragons

Fri, 05 Aug 2016 Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404 Parc Erias, Colwyn Bay F
Fri, 12 Aug 2016 Cardiff Blues Rodney Parade, Newport F
Sat, 20 Aug 2016 Ealing Trailfinders CCBC Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach F
Fri, 26 Aug 2016 Exeter Chiefs Rodney Parade, Newport F

Fri, 02 Sep 2016 Ulster Kingspan Stadium, Belfast GP12 BBC N Ireland
Fri, 09 Sep 2016 Zebre Rugby Rodney Parade, Newport GP12
Sat, 17 Sep 2016 Munster Rodney Parade, Newport GP12 Sky Sports
Fri, 23 Sep 2016 Benetton Rugby Treviso Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso GP12
Fri, 30 Sep 2016 Glasgow Warriors Rodney Parade, Newport GP12 BBC Two Wales

Sat, 08 Oct 2016 Scarlets Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli GP12 S4C
Sat, 29 Oct 2016 Ospreys Liberty Stadium, Swansea GP12 S4C, Sky Sports

Fri, 04 Nov 2016 Connacht Rodney Parade, Newport GP12
Sat, 12 Nov 2016 Leicester Tigers Welford Road, Leicester AWC
Fri, 18 Nov 2016 Scarlets Rodney Parade, Newport AWC
Sun, 27 Nov 2016 Edinburgh Rugby Rodney Parade, Newport GP12 S4C

Sat, 03 Dec 2016 Leinster Royal Dublin Society, Dublin GP12 S4C
Mon, 26 Dec 2016 Cardiff Blues Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff GP12 BBC Two Wales

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 Ospreys Rodney Parade, Newport GP12 BBC Two Wales
Fri, 06 Jan 2017 Benetton Rugby Treviso Rodney Parade, Newport GP12
Sun, 29 Jan 2017 Newcastle Falcons Rodney Parade, Newport AWC

Sat, 04 Feb 2017 Gloucester Rugby Kingsholm, Gloucester AWC
10/11/12 Feb 2017 Munster Thomond Park, Limerick GP12
17/18/19 Feb 2017 Connacht The Sportsground, Galway GP12
24/25/26 Feb 2017 Leinster Rodney Parade, Newport GP12

3/4/5 Mar 2017 Glasgow Warriors Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow GP12
24/25/26 Mar 2017 Ulster Rodney Parade, Newport GP12

7/8/9 Apr 2017 Zebre Rugby Stadio XXV Aprile, Parma GP12
Sat, 15 Apr 2017 Scarlets Rodney Parade, Newport GP12
28/29/30 Apr 2017 Edinburgh Rugby Murrayfield, Edinburgh GP12

Sat, 06 May 2017 Cardiff Blues Rodney Parade, Newport GP12

by **RiscaGame** Wed 14 Sep 2016, 9:48 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:It was misjudged, and I'm sure he regrets saying it.

Misquoted according to Dai Landman. Or rather Kirwan changed the quotes laughing

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 15 Sep 2016, 11:05 am

I saw that Smile

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 19 Sep 2016, 2:08 pm

I keep thinking about that knock on at the end against Munster...

We could have been two from three and sitting in 6th place.

by LordDowlais Mon 19 Sep 2016, 2:15 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I keep thinking about that knock on at the end against Munster...

We could have been two from three and sitting in 6th place.

Unfortunately, that is was a very Dragons thing to do. I swear I was willing you all on in the club. I felt very deflated at the end, and I thought, you know what, how very Dragons it was to bugger it up like that. I am convinced, that with a decent coach, Dragons would be a top 6 team, or there or thereabouts.

by wayne Mon 19 Sep 2016, 2:16 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I keep thinking about that knock on at the end against Munster...

We could have been two from three and sitting in 6th place.

LP, I think the thing that cost you was the kick to the corner for the rolling maul, if that kick had got a lot closer to the 5 metre line that maul would have got over the line and then euphoria Yahoo

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 19 Sep 2016, 2:23 pm

The risk with aiming for the five-metre line is that you kick it dead. I see your point, but the priority has to be making sure you find touch.

by LordDowlais Mon 19 Sep 2016, 2:24 pm

They should have never peeled off the maul, it was going forwards towards the try line, yet bad decision making cost you. I was fuming.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 19 Sep 2016, 2:32 pm

I think Charlie Davies thought it was heading for touch. It did start moving towards the touchline, but then it righted itself, but he'd already made the decision. Even then we had a chance, until that pass...

by mikey_dragon Mon 19 Sep 2016, 2:39 pm

Phillips wasn't good enough as expected. I'm thinking back to the time he blew up for a crooked feed on our scrum, which happens at every scrum in every game. Munster opted for a scrum to which Murray proceeded to feed crookedly - Phillips didn't blow up and the crowd around me was furious. I can't remember if that was the one they scored that second try from? The ball was dropped and went neither backwards or forwards - I've seen similar ones get called as knock-on and some that haven't, so oh well. Hill's drop right at the end was shocking. Buckley is our next best hooker, far better than TRT. I'm a little worried as to why our scrum is so underpowered.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 19 Sep 2016, 2:46 pm

I don't blame Cory Hill for the knock on. The pass was far too hard and was aimed at his shoulder!

I agree that Rhys Buckley should continue until Elliot Dee's back.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 19 Sep 2016, 2:47 pm

Oh, and I thought Munster's try was fair enough (apart from the possible blocking, but I only heard about that today).

by mikey_dragon Wed 21 Sep 2016, 9:05 am

Is it me or does KJ seem like he's getting desperate already? All out of ideas so he makes one of our best young players captain and hopes for the best.

by Luckless Pedestrian Wed 21 Sep 2016, 10:24 am

Well he's missing his captain and both vice captains, so his hand's forced a bit.

by mikey_dragon Wed 21 Sep 2016, 11:27 am

Who are we missing from the Munster game sorry? I don't think I've read anything about that.

by Luckless Pedestrian Wed 21 Sep 2016, 11:34 am

Lewis Evans, Nick Crosswell and Rhys Thomas (not such a loss).

by mikey_dragon Wed 21 Sep 2016, 11:38 am

Oh i see. Now if they had just made Landman captain in the first place....

by Luckless Pedestrian Wed 21 Sep 2016, 11:44 am

You'd think Landman would be next in line for the captaincy, seeing as he's done the job before (and is a natural leader), but I'm sure Kingsley has his reasons...

by mikey_dragon Wed 21 Sep 2016, 11:47 am

Bonkers reasons - any idea when Dee is back? Hewitt played for Newport recently did he not?

I haven't mentioned it yet but I thought AOB was very poor versus Munster.

by Luckless Pedestrian Wed 21 Sep 2016, 11:50 am

Really? I thought he did well.

by **RiscaGame** Wed 21 Sep 2016, 12:28 pm

Amos shouldn't be captain for us. It's a bit of a slap in the face for Dai Landman and smacks a little of this Captain must be Welsh nonsense again.

Hewitt and Prydie have played for Newport and Bedwas respectively recently. I suspect they will be in the Prem for a bit longer while we have Amos available and with Howard doing well for us. Maybe we might see one on the bench soon, depending on other back availabilities (like Macleod and others).

by **RiscaGame** Wed 21 Sep 2016, 12:57 pm

SPEEDSTER Ashton Hewitt will wing his way back into Newport Gwent Dragons’ starting line-up for Friday’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Treviso with boss Kingsley Jones hoping he reproduces the form that put him on Wales’ radar.

The 21-year-old from Caerleon enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2015/16 and his livewire performances out wide saw him named as Argus Dragon of the Year.

Hewitt missed the end of the campaign after suffering a shoulder injury and underwent surgery, meaning he missed the first three games of the Pro12 against Ulster, Zebre and Munster.

The speedster has proved his fitness playing for Newport in the Principality Premiership and will slot in out wide against Treviso at the Stadio Monigo (kick-off 7.05pm).

Head coach Jones will take the opportunity to rest Pat Howard, who has done well with two tries in three games since arriving from Northampton in the summer, and hopes Hewitt can find the sort of display that he believes caught Warren Gatland’s eye.

“Pat has been excellent but Ashton is a real threat and has done his bit to get back playing with Newport,” said Jones.

“He is ready to go and is chomping at the bit, we feel he brings something different and will look to get him back involved.

“Last season was such a good year for him and he was possibly unlucky not to go on the Welsh tour, he was going that well.”

Jones will make a change on the right wing but is going to stick with his hooker after Rhys Buckley’s strong display in the 20-16 loss to Munster.

“Rhys Buckley deserves an opportunity again because he did really well against Munster. He took his chance and needs to be rewarded for that,” said the head coach.

“You’ve got to or you lose the boys (who have not been regular starters) and you need them. Players respect that even though they are left out, Rhys Thomas understands and Elliot Dee will be back in the near future and will fighting for his place not just thinking he can walk into the team.”

James Thomas is set to make a first start of the season at blindside flanker in place of captain Lewis Evans, who has been suffering with illness and a tight calf, while the Dragons are monitoring Nick Macleod’s ankle injury.

If the seasoned fly-half doesn’t recover from the blow suffered in the warm-up against Munster then Geraint Rhys Jones will back up Angus O’Brien. Jones’ younger brother Dorian, also a 10, is hoping to make his comeback from a groin problem in the Principality Premiership this weekend.

The Dragons name their team for Treviso at midday on Thursday.

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 22 Sep 2016, 12:32 pm

Treviso: J Hayward, A Esposito, T Benvenuti, A Sgarbi (captain), L McLean, T Allan, G Bronzini, N Quaglio, O Gega, S Ferrari, M Fuser, F Paulo, F Minto, M Lazzaroni, D Budd. Replacements: L Bigi, A De Marchi, C Traore, F Gerosa, A Steyn, T Tebaldi, I McKinley, D Odiete

Newport Gwent Dragons: C Meyer, A Hewitt, T Morgan, A Warren, H Amos (captain), A O’Brien, C Davies, S Hobbs, R Buckley, L Fairbrother, C Hill, R Landman, J Thomas, N Cudd, E Jackson. Replacements: R Thomas, T Davies, C Mitchell, M Screech, H Keddie, L Jones, S Beard, GR Jones.

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

Baffling / infuriating selection. I can see this blowing up in our faces. We didn't win once on the road in the league last season, and we think we can afford to rest some of our best players?!

If Ollie Griffiths isn't injured, why the hell isn't he involved?

Also, given that it's Lacey, all the more need for our first-choice team to be playing.

by munkian Thu 22 Sep 2016, 12:36 pm

Who do you consider to be missing LP ? Cudd is still a very solid player and more experienced than Griffiths.

I quite like the team (considering injuries)

Glad Charlie Davies is getting a start.

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 22 Sep 2016, 12:47 pm

Maybe I'm more disappointed about Griffiths because he's in my fantasy Pro12 team... but leaving out Harris and Pretorius altogether is such an unnecessary risk. If Charlie Davies gets injured early on, our hopes rest on Luc Jones.

by mikey_dragon Thu 22 Sep 2016, 12:49 pm

I'm guessing Harris is being demoted - but why didn't they start with Mitchell if that's the case? I see where LP is coming from, some baffling squad changes there.

by munkian Thu 22 Sep 2016, 12:50 pm

Fairy nuff, there's been an injury update recently but no mention of Griffiths or Harris.

Maybe they are saving them for next week - targeting our home games maybe ?

I like our backline.

by **RiscaGame** Thu 22 Sep 2016, 12:54 pm

We've thrown away games before, in order to target home ones and it doesn't work very often. This is nonsensical. How is a team supposed to get any momentum? You don't make seven changes at once sorry. It's stupid.

by munkian Thu 22 Sep 2016, 12:55 pm

Mostly agree but some are forced.

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 22 Sep 2016, 12:59 pm

Italian sides away are always tricky, but on paper they're the away games we're most likely to win. Why jeopardise that?

by **RiscaGame** Thu 22 Sep 2016, 1:00 pm

Which ones are forced? James Thomas for Lewis aye. Are there others?

by munkian Thu 22 Sep 2016, 1:02 pm

Macleod still crock from the Munner game

Hughes still following concussion protocols

Not sure on others but Harris is generally rested now and again isnt he ?

If Pretorious isn't injured I agree its a mistake not having him in the 22.

by **RiscaGame** Thu 22 Sep 2016, 1:09 pm

Aye but this is seven changes from the Munster game, of which only one is forced. There's absolutely no justification for it, particularly this early in the season.

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 22 Sep 2016, 2:01 pm

Unless they've taken the win for granted, and surely they can't be that stupid...

by mikey_dragon Thu 22 Sep 2016, 2:08 pm

Surely not, not after our final game of last season. Kingsley is Lyp in disguise - which is all the more strange given we know he has a good rugby brain on him.

by Stone Motif Thu 22 Sep 2016, 4:18 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:Surely not, not after our final game of last season. Kingsley is Lyp in disguise - which is all the more strange given we know he has a good rugby brain on him.

Why do you think he has a good rugby brain? Trying to impose a game plan on the squad which they cannot play would suggest not.

by mikey_dragon Thu 22 Sep 2016, 7:08 pm

Just some other comments he has made lead me to believe that. Not sure what game plan you're referring to? I can't see where we're playing like last season, although he's certainly borrowed the tombola.

by Stone Motif Thu 22 Sep 2016, 8:01 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:Just some other comments he has made lead me to believe that. Not sure what game plan you're referring to? I can't see where we're playing like last season, although he's certainly borrowed the tombola.

You know, throw it round with gay abandon. That plan.

by mikey_dragon Thu 22 Sep 2016, 8:39 pm

Lyn's idea was to kick it away and try and truck it up with our juggernauts. Fair to say I prefer this year's tactics.

by Stone Motif Thu 22 Sep 2016, 8:43 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:Lyn's idea was to kick it away and try and truck it up with our juggernauts. Fair to say I prefer this year's tactics.

Fair enough. Easier to build juggernauts than Ferraris though.

by **RiscaGame** Fri 23 Sep 2016, 7:37 am

"With the head coach expecting the game to be tight, he is looking for his bench to see them home to a much-needed victory."

From the Argus. That's priceless. I take it he's aware of the bench he/his tombola picked?

by munkian Fri 23 Sep 2016, 8:36 am

You mean instead of carefully selecting from our incredible depth of talent ?

by **RiscaGame** Fri 23 Sep 2016, 9:25 am

I don't care what depth we have/haven't got, there's no justification for two of your three backs subs to be Luc and GR Jones.

by mikey_dragon Fri 23 Sep 2016, 9:44 am

I see the Ospreys game is on BBC2 Wales - i'll probably watch that as I can't see where we're on live?

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri 23 Sep 2016, 2:04 pm

We might not even be on Italian TV!

I'll probably watch Glasgow v Ulster, that should be a humdinger.

by Stone Motif Fri 23 Sep 2016, 3:04 pm

Is there any rugby experience more miserable than watching Swansea doing well on the telly whilst scores occasionally pop up to inform you the Dragons are getting a roasting in Italy? Maybe it's because I live in Risca so I can hear the cheering in Scwmbran whenever the Ospreys score like.

by glamorganalun Fri 23 Sep 2016, 9:59 pm

It is going to be a long season again after getting beaten by the Italian wipping boys. Glasgow next up.

by Guest Fri 23 Sep 2016, 10:26 pm

It's been a long last 10 years or so, Alun.

by Stone Motif Fri 23 Sep 2016, 10:36 pm

glamorganalun wrote:It is going to be a long season again after getting beaten by the Italian wipping boys. Glasgow next up.

Are you even remotely surprised? This squad is the worst in pro rugby.

by Stone Motif Sat 24 Sep 2016, 7:46 am

Right then, in the cold light of day, has it ever been more obvious that the Dragons brand has failed?

Not even the happiest of clappers can come on here and defend the position of the board any longer. The regional model clearly does not work in the far east of Wales and blindly following it, hoping for the best has brought us to the point where we are the most anaemic, worst funded and coached side in Europe.

There is now little blood left in the corpse and a huge investment is needed to make the pro team playing out of Newport remotely competitive again. That is not going to happen on Hazell and pPinkie's watch, as their damp squib sales pitch and lack of news on any investment interest proves.

The only prospect of investment is on the back of a real asset and for this reason, it's time to follow our Cardiff cousins and be a city team again. This is not a harping back to the good old days, but a call for realism at the eleventh hour, we keep trying to build a region and we will die like one.

by mikey_dragon Sat 24 Sep 2016, 9:03 am

The brand? If this isn't overreacting... We've been the worst funded Region since that bloke upped sticks and ran off because he went bust. We had the position of head coach available - nobody wanted it and KJ got it by default. We put 50% up for sale, nobody bought. Rectify those two things and the 'brand' as you call it can work. I'm not sure what rebranding as Newport would do....

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