Dragons v Wasps

DRAGONS:

Tom Prydie, Will Harries, Adam Hughes, Ashley Smith, Mike Poole, Dan Evans, Jonathan Evans; Phil Price, Sam Parry, Dan Way, Andrew Coombs, Rob Sidoli, Lewis Evans (captain), Nic Cudd, Toby Faletau.

Replacements:
Hugh Gustafson, Owen Evans, Nathan Buck, Ian Nimmo, Ieuan Jones, Wayne Evans, Steffan Jones, Jack Dixon.



WASPS:

Southwell (captain), Wade, Daly, Masi, Varndell, Robinson, Davies, Taulafo, Lindsay, Swainston, Launchbury, Wentzel, Sa. Jones, Poff, Vunipola.

Replacements:
Thomas, Payne, Taylor, Cannon, Everard, Simpson, St. Jones, Bell.




Wasps are already through to the knock-out stages, but need to win tomorrow night to secure a home quarter final; the Dragons could do with a win after coming so close to beating the Blues and, more recently, Bayonne away.

What do we think?

Darren wouldn't know his best xv if you stuck a picture of them on his mac book desktop.

Can someone please explain why Evans is at 10? For me we should give Jones the 10 shirt and stop messing the lad about.

But as Stone said, Edwards hasn't a scooby.

Ye I don't think Edwards either knows who is best, or he just isn't taking the dressing room into account/taking the dressing room into account too much!

He looks like he is trying to give game time to as many as possible at times, his rotation system leaves a bit to be desired!!!!

Anyone know what's happened to Tim Ryan? He was meant to be the solution to our scrummaging problems, or something similar. Not sure I've seen him play yet.

Stone Motif wrote:Darren wouldn't know his best xv if you stuck a picture of them on his mac book desktop.

It doesn't help us do much when we see so many changes, I'll be fair. He does my wick in.

Hopefully Wasps will let us have this one. Stupid day to play it on too.

To be fair, I reckon Dan Evans is the best option we have at ten at the moment. It's as Rev says though, seems like the only logic is to give everyone equal time on the pitch.

Some good news just posted on Dragged Up with Jon Evans re-signing for two years and eight in the under twenties.

It is good news that Evans has signed on but it's no shock. He's young, he can be first choice here for another two years, push into the welsh squad then move on..

On tomorrows game.. I'd of given Steffan the 10 shirt. Dan Evans was our best player at 15 and that's where he should be played. Looking forward to how the centres go though. Can't remember the last time smith and Hughes played together. They used to be a very solid unit.

I'm guessing coombsey n Toby will be taken off before the end..

Hi Dragons. Wasps have rotated a wee bit (Haskell and Ash Johnson being given a rest), but it's a decent enough team.

There is no one I know who is going to the game otherwise I'd would be there. As Rev said, it's a stupid day/time for the game.

Whatever happens, all the best for the rest of the season.

Thanks, Hound.

Great news about Jon Evans.

Edwards...

Haskell injured?

Evans is a good 10 though, Steff has annoyed someone in the selection comittee.

Griff wrote:Anyone know what's happened to Tim Ryan? He was meant to be the solution to our scrummaging problems, or something similar. Not sure I've seen him play yet.

seen Ryan a fair few times on the beers in cardiff, but like you said never on the rugby field! Must be injured.

Anybody watching this - lovely hands from Dragons for their try.

Penalty try Wasps, the Dragons good early work undone!

Noticed Evans has been pinged tons this season for disengaging early, but when his tight 5 are pushed and twisted all over does he really have a choice, or should he be a good boy and go with his scrum?

What do we all think?

Strange from that lineout, the Dragons all stood off the maul, and then Cudd went to the back and tackled the ball carrier, if he hadn't it wouldve been pen to Dragons surely?!?!?!

Wasps player asking the ref for a pen for coming in at the side of the ruck too, odd play by the dragons!!

I think Dragons will lose this as their scrum is very weak, their best chance is to play as open and wide a game as possible to rack up a few tries.

If the tight 5 had the skillset I'd agree with you AD, but the wasps pack are far more skillfull and I only see Wasps running away with it if that happened.

IMHO though the Dragons heading up the backline to backline battle is key, make the forwards work the basics at the breakdown,, then when go wide it's stay alive and stay on your feet time.

Ive noticed a few times this season Evans can hit a ruck like a 6 year old girl, he seems to be doing it at every ruck tonight, I'm a big fan but he looks so soft tonight, maybe his confidence is shot from not being in the Welsh squad?!

PS Smith has been superb!!!

Evans chargedowns were very soft, very low kicking from him and the defncive players weren't very close at all!!!!

WTF that was deliberate? should have been penalty Dragons.

Vunipola gone off injured.

Launchbury went down very softly then, Poole didn't look to hit him very hard, and was in an awfull position and not only did Launchbury get floored he spilled the ball.

I think Launchbury has been pretty average so far!

Dan Evans is having a shocker.

He's been awfull with the boot tonight!!!!

And people will still defend Faletau, he has been bloody useless again.

Nicky Robinson has proved time and time again he shouldve been a Wales regular, and I'd go as far to say that he could have easily been included this season!!

His distribution is 2nd to none, and even though he scored that try it was his 3 passes that put Wasps in that position, the delayed one in the tight, the flat to a back rower and the looped one to Wade, then the chip and chase for the try!!!

He hasn't been useless WLB, he has been behind a beaten tight 5 AGAIN! Do you not watch rugby?

No, his knock on leading up to the penalty try was avoidable, he doesn't put big hits and doesnt run straight, not good enough i'm afraid.

I will say it again give me Tom Brown physicality and straight running over him any day.

What are you talking about? You mean the charge down????

Have you ever played back row? There is a world of difference between playing in a beaten pack and a competitive one, his yellow was a result of the Dragons gameplan being warned, he's made his tackles and he carries very straight. When in the Wales team he has the platform to show what he can do.

PS Which welsh back rower puts in the 'big hits'?

Poole has nailed Launchbury again...

Lydiate.

LYDIATE??????

He's a chopper, his game is based around hitting low, conceding the gameline and allowing time for a player to fetch the ball, it's why Warbs looks better when he's around.

I meant his knock on at the base of the scrum (well a retreating one).

There are no Welsh back rower that puts in big hits, as i said Tom Brown (big fan of him) is the most physical one.

Edit : No certainly not Lydiate, as you said he often concede the gainline.

Not sure I'd go with Brown, although I like him too.

Trying to control a ball when flying backwards isn't easy, I wouldn't begrudge any knock on in that position, I've done it once or twice

Ive not been the biggest fan of Cudd this season, good potential but not outstanding I think Evans has been far better all year but tonight Cudd has been the better of the 2 by a mile!

Maybe this highlights the difference between the dissapointment of not being selected and the buoyancy of a surprise selection???

Who's got the buoyancy of a surprise selection?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say if the Dragons had signed Wellies they wouldve won their last 4 games and they would be looking far stronger positionally!!!

Their kicking out of hand and at goal has been typically inexperienced and uncultured!

I think theyve been pretty good of late but think they will lose this too, like the last 3 they couldve won!

My bad Griff got Cudd mixed up with Coombs.

My point still stands though Cudd has been excellent and Evans poor!

What a kick, just entered the game and kicks a 55 metre!!!

Jon Evans has just done more in one break than Lloyd williams has done for 2 seasons, when will this guy get a chance?!

I see Bluesman. But yes, Cudd has been very good.

Great break Jon Evans, shame it couldn't keep going!

Cudd MOTM fair play and very intelligent call, I was expecting to hear Launchbury, Simpson orRobinsons names called!!

Dragons very unlucky at the end, some refs would have given that lineout as well.

Oh well, good game. I enjoyed that, but not the loss obviously. See, I don't mind losing. I'm pretty conditioned to losing most games! However, as long as we're competitive and showing heart than I don't mind too much. It's when we go to Treviso, like last season, and lose by 50 that gets me (although they are a good team admittedly).

Lots of mistakes. Dan Evans was poor in a lot of his game. However, a typically dogged performance at home.

4th game in a row that the Dragons will utter what is rapidly becoming their motto...

We didn't deserve that!

Thought Prydie was dire tonight too, his positioning and out of hand were awfull, he also offered nothing going forward

I'm not a fan of that saying. Unless there is an injury time mistake by the ref that awards points or denies points, then we get exactly what we deserve. There was nothing contentious in that game; we didn't deserve the win as we gave away too many penalties, missed our own chances and let them back when we were up.

On the flip side Jones showed unbeleivable balls to knock over the 55 yarder whereas 2 minutes before Prydie misses a much simpler kick!

The game today is full of such tiny margins and if 5/6 went Dragons way they wouldve won, but these margins seem to constantly go against the Dragons recently, they need to turn the tide and start sneeking the wins to get the monkey off their back!