A place where escape goats go to play
https://notplanetrugby.com/
*looks at recent results* What?"Myself, I want to attack and get ball in hand and pass and play, but at the end of the day we are playing Test rugby to win.
Great to hear they played well. I was working so couldn't watch it.penguin wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 9:55 am Thoroughly enjoyed the Dragons win out in Italy, even if the gameplan of largely kicking the crap out of the ball was not great at times. Lovely moves for the Hewitt and Roberts tries, Dixon looking like the player we hoped he could be off the bench, backrow being an absolute bloody nuisance, Rhodri Williams the stand out for me - control, clever kicking, impish runs - he was superb. Also Ellis Shipp - every time I see him play he impresses me. Still needs to sharpen up his throwing, but it's his handling and decision making ball in hand which I really like. He seems to be happy to put himself about but has deft touches to go with it.
One gripe - Owen Jenkins. He didn't do too much wrong - he seems solid enough, and the pick up to almost score at the death was good, but is he really better than Rosser or Dyer? I'd really like to see the youngsters get more chances. Jenkins looks like squad filler to me.
No one is going to mistake us for the rugby equivalent of the Harlem globetrotters, but there were some nice touches to go with the pragmatic, gritty defence/don't play in our half stuff. Should have nailed the bonus point though. Just not able to keep our composure at times when attacking.
The composure complaint is a very important one I think. the Dragons will have possession but then come under pressure and instead of maybe switching up tactics they often just infringe.penguin wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 10:25 amNo one is going to mistake us for the rugby equivalent of the Harlem globetrotters, but there were some nice touches to go with the pragmatic, gritty defence/don't play in our half stuff. Should have nailed the bonus point though. Just not able to keep our composure at times when attacking.
Glasgow away next week - about time we put in a good display against someone a level above us (although Benetton away normally would be in that category but with so many internationals away I don't think it counts really).
Yeah. Once we're slowed down we find it super hard to find a way to make the defence work hard again. Invariably, unless we put it in the air, we try to grind it forward and get turned over. That's where I'd like us to find a way to bring Roberts in on short balls...we don't seem to do it as much as I would like from rucks. Set pieces are starting to become effective with him or Hewitt off 10, inside and out, but well positioned rucks we never seem to get him involved with anything like the frequency I'd expect. Still, I'm glad to be complaining about problems after a win.bessantj wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 1:26 pmThe composure complaint is a very important one I think. the Dragons will have possession but then come under pressure and instead of maybe switching up tactics they often just infringe.penguin wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 10:25 amNo one is going to mistake us for the rugby equivalent of the Harlem globetrotters, but there were some nice touches to go with the pragmatic, gritty defence/don't play in our half stuff. Should have nailed the bonus point though. Just not able to keep our composure at times when attacking.
Glasgow away next week - about time we put in a good display against someone a level above us (although Benetton away normally would be in that category but with so many internationals away I don't think it counts really).
Off set piece they do it well - they need to start finding ways to bring him into the game more often in phase play. It happens, just not as much as I would like.
I'm hoping that Keddie can come on and get better, though he is pretty good.penguin wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 9:42 amOff set piece they do it well - they need to start finding ways to bring him into the game more often in phase play. It happens, just not as much as I would like.
I see Moriarty is out with an ankle op. Shame that - would have been interesting to see how we could go with our first choice backrow available. Still, Keddie, Griffiths and Wainwright should be a good combination.
In what way?dantedelew wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:43 pm Surprise team announcement.
Liam Williams; Josh Adams, George North, Johnny Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit; Callum Sheedy, Kieran Hardy; Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), James Botham, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, Aaron Wainwright, Gareth Davies, Ioan Lloyd, Jonah Holmes.
I'm quite looking forward to this tbh.
In a delusional way?frodder wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 6:01 pmIn what way?dantedelew wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:43 pm Surprise team announcement.
Liam Williams; Josh Adams, George North, Johnny Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit; Callum Sheedy, Kieran Hardy; Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), James Botham, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, Aaron Wainwright, Gareth Davies, Ioan Lloyd, Jonah Holmes.
I'm quite looking forward to this tbh.
That's a fudging shocking selection. Hardy, North at centre/anywhere, Botham, Johnny average
That's the spiritdantedelew wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 6:10 pmIn a delusional way?frodder wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 6:01 pmIn what way?dantedelew wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:43 pm Surprise team announcement.
Liam Williams; Josh Adams, George North, Johnny Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit; Callum Sheedy, Kieran Hardy; Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), James Botham, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, Aaron Wainwright, Gareth Davies, Ioan Lloyd, Jonah Holmes.
I'm quite looking forward to this tbh.
That's a fudging shocking selection. Hardy, North at centre/anywhere, Botham, Johnny average
Backrow is great, Shipp starting over Hibbard is a good move I think, Rosser back in over Owen Jenkins I'm very happy about, centre combination does not look like one for dry weather and a fast track, but if we get decent ball could be difficult, looking forward to seeing Ben Carter in action.Dragons (v Glasgow Warriors): Josh Lewis, Jared Rosser, Jack Dixon, Jamie Roberts, Ashton Hewitt, Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams (c); Brok Harris, Ellis Shipp, Aaron Jarvis, Ben Carter, Matthew Screech, Harrison Keddie, Taine Basham, Ollie Griffiths
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Conor Maguire, Chris Coleman, Joe Maksymiw, Huw Taylor, Tavis Knoyle, Nick Tompkins, Owen Jenkins
A knee in the face in the tackle behind the ruck
I don't think so; there was a bit of a look down; & if he didn't notice the bloke hanging around his waist, he should consult a neurologistdantedelew wrote: ↑Sun Dec 06, 2020 8:56 pm Ah, couldn't see on phone.
Doesn't look great does it.
Could it be regarded as the risk you take when poorly executing a front on "tackle"?
Unfortunately, given his injury history, he probably has one on speed dial.fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sun Dec 06, 2020 10:18 pmI don't think so; there was a bit of a look down; & if he didn't notice the bloke hanging around his waist, he should consult a neurologistdantedelew wrote: ↑Sun Dec 06, 2020 8:56 pm Ah, couldn't see on phone.
Doesn't look great does it.
Could it be regarded as the risk you take when poorly executing a front on "tackle"?
dantedelew wrote: ↑Sun Dec 06, 2020 10:22 pmUnfortunately, given his injury history, he probably has one on speed dial.fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sun Dec 06, 2020 10:18 pmI don't think so; there was a bit of a look down; & if he didn't notice the bloke hanging around his waist, he should consult a neurologistdantedelew wrote: ↑Sun Dec 06, 2020 8:56 pm Ah, couldn't see on phone.
Doesn't look great does it.
Could it be regarded as the risk you take when poorly executing a front on "tackle"?
I know Glasgow had players missing but second string sides are usually enough to beat the Dragons so it feels like something tantamount to progress. It's also nice to get revenge for the Blues.
There's progress in a few areas - it's clear everyone is on the same page, both in defence and in attack. Set piece moves are coming off more regularly - good thinking but crucially good execution. The defence coped with the one up type running with greater physicality than many recent Dragons sides could manage. Glasgow couldn't just punch holes, they really had to work for openings even when we were down to 14.
It's good to hear they put in such a huge shift and got the reward for it as well. You're right about how the Dragons would have fallen apart earlier in the past.penguin wrote: ↑Mon Dec 07, 2020 2:40 pmThe sheer willingness to work too, there's real urgency in a lot of the work - over 200 tackles and at the end of the game they went through 5 minutes of gruelling tackling and there was no shirking. In times past someone would have done something stupid or a tired weak link would have seen the line broken far earlier. It was a phenomenal effort (I know they conceded in the end but they were really working for each other throughout). They look like a coherent unit.
They were. Shining beacons in a pretty mixed performance. I like Sheedy but until that lovely little pass at the end I thought he was doing an impression of Dan Biggar (always looking to pass with little threat to the defence ball in hand), shovelling it on pretty tamely. He needs more time because that final pass was a glimpse of what he can do. Parry was pretty good I thought. Definitely worth another look in the absence of Ken. Our wingers are still not getting the ball enough for my liking. Basically if Tips and Toby hadn't been having their own little game, passing the ball to each other, it would have been a lot uglier. Class shining through with those two.
All those things the Golden Child can do already but for some reason isn't getting a fair crack of the whip. When the next coach arrives next year hopefully he'll see it.penguin wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 9:41 amThey were. Shining beacons in a pretty mixed performance. I like Sheedy but until that lovely little pass at the end I thought he was doing an impression of Dan Biggar (always looking to pass with little threat to the defence ball in hand), shovelling it on pretty tamely. He needs more time because that final pass was a glimpse of what he can do. Parry was pretty good I thought. Definitely worth another look in the absence of Ken. Our wingers are still not getting the ball enough for my liking. Basically if Tips and Toby hadn't been having their own little game, passing the ball to each other, it would have been a lot uglier. Class shining through with those two.
In other news, Dwayne Peel is going to be Cardiff's attack coach next year. Ulster have been playing some good stuff, and he'll certainly have some decent weapons at his disposal. Could be a good move.
Yeah, I don't understand Jarrod's absence. I can understand wanting to give Sheedy a run (and get him capped), but why not have Jarrod there too, rather than Patchell who would have benefited from more time at the Scarlets, getting some game time under his belt? Jarrod looks like the 10 best suited to what Pivac wants to do, and yet he doesn't seem to trust him despite him being consistently good for a long time now.
Great as Carter was against Glasgow, with Launchbury and Rowlands in tandem that's a big task...especially when Willis and Young are going to making breakdowns a pain.Dragons (v Wasps): Josh Lewis, Jared Rosser, Nick Tompkins, Jamie Roberts, Ashton Hewitt, Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams (c); Brok Harris, Richard Hibbard, Lloyd Fairbrother, Ben Carter, Joe Maksymiw, Aaron Wainwright, Harrison Keddie, Ollie Griffiths
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Josh Reynolds, Leon Brown, Matthew Screech, Taine Basham, Tavis Knoyle, Jack Dixon, Jonah Holmes
Poite refereeing as well. I'm imagining he's already warming his arm up for the first scrum.Wasps: L Sopoaga; Z Kibirige, P Odogwu, J Gopperth, J Bassett; C Atkinson, D Robson; T West, T Cruse, K Brookes, J Launchbury (capt), W Rowlands, J Willis, T Young, A Barbeary.
Replacements: G Oghre, Zhvania, J Toomaga-Allen, T Cardall, B Morris, W Porter, M Le Bourgeois, M Minozzi,