Re: Dragons Season Thread 21/22

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

James Benjamin has been turned into a hooker! We do have too many back rowers so this might be good for him from a personal point of view in terms of getting game time, but will be interesting to see if he's able to become a top level player in that position.

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19540310.james-benjamin-moves-flanker-hooker-dragons/

[RiscaGame]

It seems like it is done. I think Steffan Thomas said as much. M

Honestly very pleased with it, but I also want to see Will Reed progress too. I know Welsh Premiership isn’t the best guide sometimes, but he’s doing very well with the Port.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I noticed he wasn't in the 23 for Clermont's game against Sale yesterday.

[RiscaGame]

Probably too traumatised to play, after seeing our second half no show v Treviso.

Thankfully I was busy being folded up v Senghenydd, so didn't watch it.

[mikey_dragon]

It seems like it is done. I think Steffan Thomas said as much. M

Honestly very pleased with it, but I also want to see Will Reed progress too. I know Welsh Premiership isn’t the best guide sometimes, but he’s doing very well with the Port.

U20's is probably a better guide than the premiership. Wasn't it Will Reed who had the shocker of a lifetime against France? Would like to see him kick on, but the U20s is a good indicator that he might not.

[Guest]

Jamie Roberts rumoured to be in talks with Waratahs about a move down under. One last ‘hurrah’, according to the Argus.

[mikey_dragon]

I hoped we would keep Roberts and let go of Dixon.

[Guest]

Yeah, me too. If he’s good enough for a final season at Waratahs then he’s good enough for us! But can understand completely from his point of view. A nice place to finish off the career.

[RiscaGame]

I don’t blame him. He is being used awfully by us too and you’d definitely want to be finishing off somewhere better than where he currently is. He might even win a game or two.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

We've signed Bradley Roberts from Ulster. Happy with that.

[RiscaGame]

Good news. I always wonder when rumours take a while to come true, whether something has happened or he was going elsewhere. I do think he will end up being first choice.

[Welshmushroom]

Good position for us to strengthen. I just hope we sort our Loosehead. Safe to say Bateman and Seiuli haven't worked out for us.

I hope we keep Doge as he's been fairly solid for us. Along with Brown that position is looking fairly strong for us now.

I'd love to see Ryan start to give a couple of chances for Peard at Lock. We don't generally produce 20st locks so I would really love to see him get a couple of games even off the bench to let him see rugby at this level.

[mikey_dragon]

Well we do have Joe Davies, but he seems a tad slow (at thinking and running). Peard did look good though. With the way game is going I think Carter should be shifted to 6.

[mikey_dragon]

Shipp and ummm, Benjamin have extended their stay.

[RiscaGame]

Haha. I should know better than to get excited by Dragons re-signing news.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I really hope it works out for James Benjamin. I've probably said it before, but I really liked him as an openside, especially in the loose, and it would be a shame if he ends up being remembered for his stray arrows instead.

[Welshmushroom]

Yeah he was a pretty good openside. It's just unfortunate that we seem to be churning out quality opensides at the moment. Shame we cant say the same in any other positions.

[mikey_dragon]

We have 8 guys in the U20s. The names that stood out for me are Joe Peard and Ben Moa. I really hope both kick on...

[RiscaGame]

If we don't win now, we never ever will again. As much as I don't like the team really, there is no excuse.

Benetton have 23 players away with Italy and include Argentina tighthead Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, who made 18 appearances for the Dragons in 2013/14, in their XV.

Dragons: J Lewis; J Holmes, A Warren, A Owen, J Olowofela; S Davies, G Bertranou; A Seiuli, T Davies, C Coleman, J Davies, J Maksymiw, H Keddie, O Griffiths, R Moriarty (captain).

Replacements: E Dee, J Reynolds, M Doge, H Taylor, D Baker, R Williams, J Rosser, I Davies.

Benetton: G Da Re; L Pani, F Drago, J Riera, T Benvenuti; T Albornoz, D Duvenage (captain); T Gallo, C Els, T Chaparro, I Herbst, C Wegner, M Meggiato, M Lazzaroni, L Cannone.

Replacements: H Faiva, C Traore, F Alongi, N Piantella, A Steyn, A Garbisi, M Zanon, T Bell.

[RiscaGame]

We have 8 guys in the U20s. The names that stood out for me are Joe Peard and Ben Moa. I really hope both kick on...

Indeed.

[Welshmushroom]

They look like they have a better pack on show than us though.....Total unknowns in the backline but then again Italy has been producing some quality.

I'm not certain we have this in the bag....

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Their loosehead Thomas Gallo scored a couple of tries against the Scarlets earlier in the season I remember. So they've got two current Argentina props in their pack for starters....

[RiscaGame]

Confidence guys. Dean is the man and knows what he is doing

Olowofela to score a hat trick and make about 100 dominant tackles.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

[Guest]

We have 8 guys in the U20s. The names that stood out for me are Joe Peard and Ben Moa. I really hope both kick on...

Byron Hayward the new U20s head coach though Mikey! I know he’s not your favourite coach

[formerly known as Sam]

Bath's Max Clark sounds a done deal to you guys next season. That'll add a bit to your centres.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Bath's Max Clark sounds a done deal to you guys next season. That'll add a bit to your centres.

We'll take all the help we can get!

[RiscaGame]

Just saw highlights of Dragons U18s v their Scarlet counterparts (I think). I get you can’t take much from them, but it did seem like the lad at 12 (Ackerman) coming through is pretty handy. Captain too. Wish I had watched it now, as it seemed like S4C showed it in some form.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

It was a big win as well.

[mikey_dragon]

It's not the first time we've had an undefeated U18s team.

Interesting to note that a number of guys have been dropped for the next U20's game, Peard and Moa are two of them. I didn't watch the match but fair play if they didn't perform and are getting moved on. I wonder if coach Hayward is also making changes for himself?

[Guest]

I think Moa went off injured. Thought I saw a clip of him walking off limping.

[RiscaGame]

I did think Peard wasn’t great tbh. Remember him made a pretty poor attempt at a tackle at one point. Thought he would be a bit of a monster at that level, as he seems big (or so I thought).

[mikey_dragon]

Well according to the stats he’s big. Perhaps another one not throwing his weight around, oh well.

[RiscaGame]

That's what I thought. As much as I thought Hayward was a bit of a Dean Ryan to go at his players, when he questioned their commitment and condition I did think of Peard then.

[Guest]

Anyone know what’s happened to Max Williams? He seemed to be a good up n comer but seems to have gone off the radar a bit.

[RiscaGame]

On loan to Coventry, I think. One of three Dragons there?

[Guest]

Ah, OK. That explains why I haven't heard his name for a while

Seems/seemed to have lots of potential but perhaps a bit small for a modern day pro lock (he's listed as 6'4").  Thought he might be able to become a decent blindside.  Fingers crossed.

[mikey_dragon]

He (Max) runs around and takes a nap at every breakdown.

News: Tavis Knoyle has left with immediate effect. Lewis Jones is with us until the end of the season.

[Guest]

JJ Hanrahan to Dragons confirmed on Twitter. Good signing (for us).

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Yeah I saw that, glad it's come off.

[RiscaGame]

He will probably be first choice ten for us.

[Guest]

Yes, I think it rings true with what Jiffy was saying on Scrum V the other day. Our top players need competition. At Dragons there’s no one really up Sam Davies’ backside (Jiffy’s words) pushing him. If he has a bad game he’s in the team again next week anyway, sort of by default. And that’s one of the failings of the WRU, according to Jiffy (and supported by lots of others across the nation), as they haven’t done well to support the game below the regions (or supported the regions well themselves in fairness) and the players are just not coming through. Whereas in places like England and France, even when they’ve got so many teams to cover, they’ve still got stiff competition for first team places throughout the league. So yes, this might be the best thing to get the best out of Sam Davies, and if he doesn’t or can’t rise to the challenge and oust Hanrahan then so be it. But the challenge is for him to do so and prove he should be no. 1 no. 10.

[PhilBB]

Yes, I think it rings true with what Jiffy was saying on Scrum V the other day. Our top players need competition. At Dragons there’s no one really up Sam Davies’ backside (Jiffy’s words) pushing him. If he has a bad game he’s in the team again next week anyway, sort of by default. And that’s one of the failings of the WRU, according to Jiffy (and supported by lots of others across the nation), as they haven’t done well to support the game below the regions (or supported the regions well themselves in fairness) and the players are just not coming through. Whereas in places like England and France, even when they’ve got so many teams to cover, they’ve still got stiff competition for first team places throughout the league. So yes, this might be the best thing to get the best out of Sam Davies, and if he doesn’t or can’t rise to the challenge and oust Hanrahan then so be it. But the challenge is for him to do so and prove he should be no. 1 no. 10.

Davies could be off

A decent coach could have created competition for Davies by dropping him for Lewis.

But, then again, Ryan isn't a decent coach (any longer)

[RiscaGame]

A few Dragons supporters wanted Lewis to be given a shot. I’m not his biggest fan, but I did see the merits in it too.

[mikey_dragon]

Lewis was tested at 10 and he was no better, and slightly worse. He had a few good runs at 15, but not enough to justify a regular starting place.

[PhilBB]

Lewis was tested at 10 and he was no better, and slightly worse. He had a few good runs at 15, but not enough to justify a regular starting place.

It's more about pressuring Davies to perform better. That was the point being made.

[Guest]

Lewis was tested at 10 and he was no better, and slightly worse. He had a few good runs at 15, but not enough to justify a regular starting place.

It's more about pressuring Davies to perform better. That was the point being made.

I think Lewis was meant to be that 'pressure'. But he wasn't much good. So now Hanrahan is the new pressure, and likely starter. So if Davies stays then it's up to him to put pressure on Hanrahan.

[mikey_dragon]

Lewis was tested at 10 and he was no better, and slightly worse. He had a few good runs at 15, but not enough to justify a regular starting place.

It's more about pressuring Davies to perform better. That was the point being made.

I wasn't speaking to you.

[PhilBB]

Lewis was tested at 10 and he was no better, and slightly worse. He had a few good runs at 15, but not enough to justify a regular starting place.

It's more about pressuring Davies to perform better. That was the point being made.

I wasn't speaking to you.

That's right, you were writing.

You were writing on a message board that is open for all to read.

If you want to write to only certain individuals, you'll need to use the private message function.

No need to thank me for the education.

[PhilBB]

Lewis was tested at 10 and he was no better, and slightly worse. He had a few good runs at 15, but not enough to justify a regular starting place.

It's more about pressuring Davies to perform better. That was the point being made.

I think Lewis was meant to be that 'pressure'.  But he wasn't much good.  So now Hanrahan is the new pressure, and likely starter.  So if Davies stays then it's up to him to put pressure on Hanrahan.

Davies would be nuts to stay but, then again, I believed he'd be nuts to go there in the first place.

[PhilBB]

Rhodri Jones is a good spot, especially if Bateman is off.

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