Dragons v Blues Build-up Thread

[Luckless Pedestrian]

First topic message reminder :

Just thought I'd get the ball rolling ahead of Saturday's derby match. The Blues have a good record at Dave Parade and will be looking to get back to winning ways after losing at home against Edinburgh; the Dragons lost away to Leinster on the weekend but will have taken heart from scoring three tries at the RDS and will be looking to put in another winning performance at home.

What do we think? Who's going to come out on top?

[Guest]

Bit of an annoyance for me Robling not making the bench. In theory Dan Evans is ten cover (as is Ash), but Dan Evans has already thrown an intercept in a Dragons shirt at ten. Bit daft by Darren, but what do I know.

Im sure Sweeney is looking forward to walking past the Hazell to the dugout. I'm sure he's also looking forward to probably changing the game when he comes on.

[youngguns6]

The blues should be sending the big boys down Steffans channel n give him a shoe in all game, if he goes off we will loose alot of shape.

Still fancy us but the nervs are kicking in. So excited about tomorrow! Good to see two young pairs of halfbacks going at it. Hopefully the weather will be decent.

[Impossible Standards]

Sorry but if the dragons don't beat this blues team, i will be worried. Not the strongest that they have sent to RP. I'm normally nervous about us against the blues in fairness thet have had our number for many seasons (apart from last 2 home matches) but looking at the two lineups we should be confident about this.

ok.... sunday i will be back on here to eat my words.

[manofgwent]

IS
Couldn't agree more. Weakest Blues/Cardiff side I've ever naren. Have to fancy the Dragons strongly.
By the way. If anyone wants to give up a ticket in the Hazell, I'll swap them for a ticket in the Bisley.

[munkian]

Really really wish I was there , give em hell lads , fans and players alike , cmon Dragons !!!!

[Guest]

Any other match I'd swap MOG, but the Hazell is the only place to be tonight.

Can't wait.

[thebluesmancometh]

Right then, I am actually feeling a little better now Ive seen the lineups.

The backline looks ok, happy to see Patchell at 10, he's looked go so far and Sweeney has been useless (although he has dragons performance history)

Also the difference between the teams IMO is the bench, I'd say we could be in for a very good game today, I had given the Dragons the edge by 3-5 points but with Blues bench being stronger (IMO) it's a 1 point game... hopefully.

Good luck to everyone going, hope you have a great time, wish I could be there but am stuck in Surrey!!

[maestegmafia]

This better live up to our expectations...

[munkian]

Eeeep

[maestegmafia]

Trust me it wont be hard

[maestegmafia]

THey might show highlights of the Scarlets match over in Galway too...

[wales606]

Cuthberts kicking has improved a lot over the last 6 months

[maestegmafia]

Patchell gets a chance at the posts

He looks remarkably like Ron Weasle from harry potter

[wales606]

Bad first miss by Patchell, that's 3 points losing 1/2p has cost.

[wales606]

Good kick chase from Patchell though

[Cari]

Evening All

Shame "Prince Harry" missed that penalty. Atmos seems a bit flat there at the moment.

[wales606]

Warburton looks fired up, which he wasn't last week.

Penalty Blues

[wales606]

Good touch finder from Patchell, could make a useful 10 for the Blues if he keeps his head and kicks his goals.

[maestegmafia]

Well played by Warburton to win that penalty. Blues clear their lines

[wales606]

With two youngsters at 10 and 15, both making their first pro12 start, you would think the Blues wouldn't dominate territory which they have done for the first 10

Good attempt at passing out of the tackle from Patchell, nice to see some creativity from a Blues 10.

[wales606]

Patchell takes down Tuilagi and Trevett over the top wins a penalty.

Good start from the Blues at the moment.

[thebluesmancometh]

Patchell and Warbs started really strong... everyone else however!!!

[wales606]

Warburton looks really up for it tonight, a worrying sign for any opposition. Blues dominating the breakdown early on and dominating territory, although the Dragons have a chance to attack and are using Tuilagi well in the centre.

[thebluesmancometh]

Warbs made 3 tackles in 4 phases there, and won the pen???

[maestegmafia]

dropped passes all over

[maestegmafia]

Who's this lad tom williams at fullback?

[thebluesmancometh]

Twice the dragons have had to make cover tackles, both borderline early, but good calls from the ref, let it play.

Tom Williams is going to get exploited more and more as the game goes on, he's already failed under 2 high balls.

[wales606]

Dragons string of possession pays off with a penalty shot at goal, which just edges wide

[Cari]

Just doing a score check here for anyone who's not watching. It's still nil all after 22 minutes.

[thebluesmancometh]

Davies is a moron!!!!

[wales606]

Who's this lad tom williams at fullback?

Scored a hat-trick on debut on the wing in preseason. I think he is Brynmor's son, Lloyd's younger brother.

[thebluesmancometh]

Ye and theyve both started poorly!!!

Tom has to use Cuthbert more, and Lloyd needs to make his mind up quicker, not um and argh over it.

[Cari]

Argh! Blues could've got in there with the first try, but it was a forward pass. How frustrating.

[maestegmafia]

silly forward pass there

[wales606]

Patchell kick is charged down, but he is so eager to make up for it he wins a penalty following up.

Looks like Patchell is going to take this opportunity with both hands.

Patchell breaks the line and feeds Hewitt who feeds Evans under the posts...but they are called back for a forwards pass. Unlucky, but all the Blues good attacks are coming from fly-half, they need to get Cuthbert running off Patchell.

[maestegmafia]

great work by Faletau

our back row players for wales are all having a good game

[thebluesmancometh]

Patchell is looking very classy, breaking the line, offloading inside and out, kicks to touch long enough, so far so good!!

[maestegmafia]

Who's this lad tom williams at fullback?

Scored a hat-trick on debut on the wing in preseason. I think he is Brynmor's son, Lloyd's younger brother.

Oh right, that Brynmor sowed a few seeds for the WRU then..!

[wales606]

Another backhand pass out of the tackle from Patchell. Mixing up well on attack aswell, just a pity that Evans and Hewitt are not really the best foils. Still, better than Sweeney has done for a couple of years.

[thebluesmancometh]

Refs being pretty picky here now...

[Cari]

Good grief! Is this match destined to be nil all?! Dragons penalty kick bounces off the post!

[wales606]

Tester for the Blues scrum.

[thebluesmancometh]

Great work by the blues there, recognised the knock on and noone could touch it till a dragons player or the original player did...

[Smirnoffpriest]

unlucky with the kick - the ref is being a bit picky, but there's loads of basic mistakes - forward passes and knock ons, spoiling the creativity being shown

[thebluesmancometh]

Lloyd williams has to be sacked, he is offering nothing, he's not confident his delivery is poor and he's living off his familt name!!!

[Cari]

AAAARRRRRRGH! That would've been a superb try for the Blues if someone had got Cuffy's offload!

[wales606]

Dont run isolated into Warbuton!

Turnover and Cuthbert almost makes it to the line but is taken down by the scamble defence.

Though he was in then. :/

[thebluesmancometh]

OH REF!!!!

Cuthbert has to get his hands on the ball more!!! Prydie great tracking back though!

[maestegmafia]

Cuthbert needs to be a bit more aware when he makes those breaks... well done but still no try.

[maestegmafia]

great intent though throughout

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