NPR

penguin wrote: ↑Wed Sep 09, 2020 3:42 pm I'd love to see something like Tomos Williams & Anscombe as halfbacks, Tompkins, Lane in midfield...Adams & Rees-Zammit on the wings...Liam Williams at 15. Experimental with Lane at 13, but would be a pretty exciting backline to watch I reckon.

That sounds good. I'm interested in seeing what form Williams is in during the eight nations thing.

Only a few days until the Dragons go up against Bristol. Not sure what team we'll put out - plenty of players who I would think would be first choice (or thereabouts) who we haven't seen in the two derby games for various reasons, so going to be a bit of a gamble going up against a much more match fit Bristol side. Do we risk Roberts, Bateman and Holmes with no recent matches behind them?

I'm excited but a little concerned about how good Bristol can be. The side we'll face will look very different from the side that got beaten heavily by Wasps...

penguin wrote: ↑Mon Sep 14, 2020 2:02 pm Only a few days until the Dragons go up against Bristol. Not sure what team we'll put out - plenty of players who I would think would be first choice (or thereabouts) who we haven't seen in the two derby games for various reasons, so going to be a bit of a gamble going up against a much more match fit Bristol side. Do we risk Roberts, Bateman and Holmes with no recent matches behind them?

I'm excited but a little concerned about how good Bristol can be. The side we'll face will look very different from the side that got beaten heavily by Wasps...

So far it looks like I won't have work that day which will be excellent, I'll be able to watch/hear the game.

However, all the big guns will take to the field against the Bears with boss Ryan pledging to have no regrets.

“We took a decision quite early that it was probably better off trying to ensure that we got the right XV onto the field,” said the director of rugby. “I am happy that we are selecting from full strength.

“We might be gambling on some given their lack of rugby but we also have some players who can do some different things.

“I don't want to be caught wondering on Saturday morning about what I might have done, I'd rather go into a knockout game and give it a good go.

"The decision that is to be taken is the amount of rugby people have played versus what we think their experiences might add.

"That's a challenging situation because I'd normally like to spend four or five games (with players).

"For a game like this I have to be aware of selecting some people on reputation just because we don't have six or seven weeks behind us.

We can probably start to flesh out the backline if everyone is available...Rhodri Williams, Sam Davies, Jamie Roberts, Nick Tompkins, Jonah Holmes, Ashton Hewitt must all be pretty close to nailed on....and one from Jared Rosser, Will Talbot-Davies, Rio Dyer, Owen Jenkins, Dafydd Howells, Jordan Williams.

I hope to see a backrow of Wainwright, Basham, Moriarty. Front row...might be too early for Bateman, but as he's moved to Monmouth I'll go for the local lad ;)...then Dee, Brown, Screech and either Joe Davies or Makysimw (I'd choose Davies).

Bristol: C Piutau, L Morahan, S Radradra, P O’Conor, H Purdy, C Sheedy, A Uren, J Woolmore, H Thacker, K Sinckler, D Attwood, C Vui, S Luatua (captain), B Earl, N Hughes. Replacements: W Capon, Y Thomas, J Afoa, J Joyce, D Thomas, H Randall, M Malins, A Leiua

Dragons: J Williams; J Holmes, N Tompkins, J Roberts, A Hewitt, S Davies, R Williams; B Harris, E Dee, L Brown, J Davies, M Screech, A Wainwright, H Keddie, R Moriarty. Replacements: R Hibbard, J Reynolds, L Fairbrother, J Maksymiw, T Basham, L Baldwin, J Lewis, A Warren.

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

I don't love Keddie at 7, much as I like him, he's not a 7....but otherwise a good looking team.

Good looking Bristol team though...

Dragons just pipped at the post there, shame.

Welsh teams just aren't match fit, Scarlets are going to be pumped tomorrow too, Toulon have been playing regularly as well, we're screwed.

bessantj wrote: ↑Fri Sep 18, 2020 8:35 pm Dragons just pipped at the post there, shame.

With 75 minutes to go, I thought they might win it.

Turkster wrote: ↑Fri Sep 18, 2020 9:23 pm Welsh teams just aren't match fit, Scarlets are going to be pumped tomorrow too, Toulon have been playing regularly as well, we're screwed.

I am more concerned with our backline. Dan at #10, Steff Hughes at #13 - underwhelming.

LandOTurk wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 12:40 am

Turkster wrote: ↑Fri Sep 18, 2020 9:23 pm Welsh teams just aren't match fit, Scarlets are going to be pumped tomorrow too, Toulon have been playing regularly as well, we're screwed.

I am more concerned with our backline. Dan at #10, Steff Hughes at #13 - underwhelming.

They're back-ups though, obviously if Foxy and Patch were available they wouldn't be there, the Scarlets have been living with high numbers of injuries for the last 3 seasons.

LandOTurk wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 12:39 am

bessantj wrote: ↑Fri Sep 18, 2020 8:35 pm Dragons just pipped at the post there, shame.

With 75 minutes to go, I thought they might win it.

It was all down hill when Bristol started scoring, the only problem in the Dragons game.

bessantj wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 4:01 pm

LandOTurk wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 12:39 am

bessantj wrote: ↑Fri Sep 18, 2020 8:35 pm Dragons just pipped at the post there, shame.

With 75 minutes to go, I thought they might win it.

It was all down hill when Bristol started scoring, the only problem in the Dragons game.

I blame those orange shirts, it messed with their ability to see who they needed to tackle

Bristol have done that to better teams than us... And radradra now giving them even more cutting edge, tough when they got to top gear.

Add to that the fact we had plenty of guys playing their first game in a while, some untested combinations... The game was always going to be tough, and the last fifteen doubly so.

We didn't get our back three into the game. We kicked a lot of possession (mostly well) but then why play Jordan Williams? Stick Holmes at FB and go all out for that. Jordan has been fantastic but barely got on the ball. Hewitt looked dangerous but again rarely got the ball in hand. Roberts rarely had a chance to crash into the ten... The time he did he made good yardage.

Time together will do then the power of good but playing without a seven with the current law interpretation was a mistake. The backline has potential but I think we looked better with Tompkins at 12 in the August games. Roberts will be useful in lots of ways, but a fast game against Bristol, straight in after a long break, was always going to be tough for him.

For 18 minutes we showed intensity and quality, a bit of time on the pitch, the introduction of guys like Bateman, Jarvis and griffiths should help the pack and good coaching should see that turn into something that can stretch teams. Disappointing, but not surprising....

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 4:04 pm

bessantj wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 4:01 pm

LandOTurk wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 12:39 am

With 75 minutes to go, I thought they might win it.

It was all down hill when Bristol started scoring, the only problem in the Dragons game.

I blame those orange shirts, it messed with their ability to see who they needed to tackle

I blame the laws that allow Bristol to score in the first place. And the whole thing about Bristol being better.

penguin wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 4:53 pm e. The backline has potential but I think we looked better with Tompkins at 12 in the August games.

Aye, Tomkins didn't look comfortable at 13 when he was up against good centres.

Turkster wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 6:08 pm

penguin wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 4:53 pm e. The backline has potential but I think we looked better with Tompkins at 12 in the August games.

Aye, Tomkins didn't look comfortable at 13 when he was up against good centres.

Defensively I'll forgive anyone when the opposite number is Radradra. I was mainly talking about our attacking game... Which was seriously limited.

But still... Radradra...ffs.

Your attacking game is always going to be non-existent when you're playing Davies at 10. throw in Roberts at 12 and you're at 10 man rugby central

Had a shift so had to miss the Scarlets game, sorry to see them lose. Sounds like Toulon didn't have it easy though.

If anyone thinks Steff is international standard then they want their head read

frodder wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 3:21 pm If anyone thinks Steff is international standard then they want their head read

Seeing him get run down so easily should stop the people calling for him to be in the Wales team, he's not international standard.

Turkster wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 4:00 pm

frodder wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 3:21 pm If anyone thinks Steff is international standard then they want their head read

Seeing him get run down so easily should stop the people calling for him to be in the Wales team, he's not international standard.

Nor McNicholl

Nor LRZ - at least yet, not even a starter for Gloucs

LandOTurk wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 12:15 pm

Turkster wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 4:00 pm

frodder wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 3:21 pm If anyone thinks Steff is international standard then they want their head read

Seeing him get run down so easily should stop the people calling for him to be in the Wales team, he's not international standard.

Nor McNicholl

Nor LRZ - at least yet, not even a starter for Gloucs

Leave it out LoT Steff's shite (/theflier mode). The average Kiwi poach only slightly better

lol

High tackle by Kuridrani on Evans?

Steff is good enough to make plenty of Wales squads, but not good enough to ever nail a spot. With everyone fit he's just got too many flaws to override the undoubted positives, and get ahead of the more complete players. Shame, as I like to see a jinky, smaller player somewhere in the backline...but when you've got the likes of Adams, Rees-Zammit, North and Lane why would you pick him?

penguin wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:23 pm High tackle by Kuridrani on Evans?

Steff is good enough to make plenty of Wales squads, but not good enough to ever nail a spot. With everyone fit he's just got too many flaws to override the undoubted positives, and get ahead of the more complete players. Shame, as I like to see a jinky, smaller player somewhere in the backline...but when you've got the likes of Adams, Rees-Zammit, North and Lane why would you pick him?

Lane's another, like Ree-Zammit, who's looked fantastic at regional/club level. but done nothing at international level.......yet.

He's got size, pace and talent, but he's done nothing yet, it just irks me to see people rating him so highly, I hope he makes the step up mind, those 4 would be hell of an asset for Wales, I can't help thinking Cardiff should be playing him at 13 though.

What does the Wales team that trots out vs Scotland in 5 weeks time look like? - assume countries are allowed to pick new squad members willy nilly?

I feel that we've gone from the team picking itself to a terrifying new era of unknown

Starter / Sub / Next cabs off the rank - something like this?

1: Wyn Jones / Rob Evans / Rhys Carre / Nicky Smith
2: Owens / Dee / Elias / Lake
3: Francis / Lewis / Lee / Brown
4: Ball / Hill / Beard
5: AWJ / Rowlands / Seb Davies
6: Wainwright / Moriarty / Navidi / Lewis-Hughes?
7: Tipuric / Basham / Wainwright
8: Navidi / Faletau / Moriarty
9: G Davies / Webb / Hardy / Rhodri W
10: Biggar / Evans / ? (hopefully Patchell)
11: Adams / LRZ / Lane
12: Tompkins / ?? (Jonny Williams / Keiron Williams)
13: Jon Davies (hopefully) / Owen Watkin / Tyler Morgan?
14: North / Lane / McNicholl
15: Liam Williams / Halfpenny / McNicholl

Few gaps in the squad - centre being the most obvious - but a lot of older players with question marks over their heads as well - it will be an important start to the season for players with ambitions of playing for Wales

Halaholo will be fit as well. Think North will be inelligble, Mcnicholl looked done for a few months

Lane hasn't played a game in ages. We're really lacking options on the wing.

Turkster wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:04 pm

penguin wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:23 pm High tackle by Kuridrani on Evans?

Steff is good enough to make plenty of Wales squads, but not good enough to ever nail a spot. With everyone fit he's just got too many flaws to override the undoubted positives, and get ahead of the more complete players. Shame, as I like to see a jinky, smaller player somewhere in the backline...but when you've got the likes of Adams, Rees-Zammit, North and Lane why would you pick him?

Lane's another, like Ree-Zammit, who's looked fantastic at regional/club level. but done nothing at international level.......yet.

He's got size, pace and talent, but he's done nothing yet, it just irks me to see people rating him so highly, I hope he makes the step up mind, those 4 would be hell of an asset for Wales, I can't help thinking Cardiff should be playing him at 13 though.

LRZ hasn't played a minute at international level yet has he?

frodder wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 6:48 pm

Turkster wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:04 pm

penguin wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:23 pm High tackle by Kuridrani on Evans?

Steff is good enough to make plenty of Wales squads, but not good enough to ever nail a spot. With everyone fit he's just got too many flaws to override the undoubted positives, and get ahead of the more complete players. Shame, as I like to see a jinky, smaller player somewhere in the backline...but when you've got the likes of Adams, Rees-Zammit, North and Lane why would you pick him?

Lane's another, like Ree-Zammit, who's looked fantastic at regional/club level. but done nothing at international level.......yet.

He's got size, pace and talent, but he's done nothing yet, it just irks me to see people rating him so highly, I hope he makes the step up mind, those 4 would be hell of an asset for Wales, I can't help thinking Cardiff should be playing him at 13 though.

LRZ hasn't played a minute at international level yet has he?

No, but I've got way more confidence in him making it than Lane, on the wing anyway, I don't think Lanes quick enough for wing. I'm hopeful he'll make a good 13 though, Foxy didn't switch to 13 until his mid-twenties so Lane's still got time.

Bois, it’s good to see that DAC has managed to find employment in these troubled times. I always pictured him as a white van man.

https://www.westwaleschronicle.co.uk/bl ... oss-hands/

Ali Cadoo wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 3:17 am Bois, it’s good to see that DAC has managed to find employment in these troubled times. I always pictured him as a white van man.

https://www.westwaleschronicle.co.uk/bl ... oss-hands/

DAC, in West Wales? He hates anyone, or anything, that's west of Tredegar House

Turkster wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 8:31 pm
No, but I've got way more confidence in him making it than Lane, on the wing anyway, I don't think Lanes quick enough for wing. I'm hopeful he'll make a good 13 though, Foxy didn't switch to 13 until his mid-twenties so Lane's still got time.

Lane always looked plenty quick to me.

It would be interesting to have a speed ranking for our wing contenders. Rees-Zammit is almost certainly the quickest - seeing the way he gassed the London Irish winger the other week in about 5 yards was seriously impressive. Ashton Hewitt would be right up there - Wales Online were saying he was the fastest man in Welsh rugby a while back. Rio Dyer is very young and raw but he's also got proper sprinters pace.

I'd love to know who has the best acceleration, top line speed, etc. Someone like Steff Evans would have pretty decent acceleration I reckon but I think there are about 6 or 7 wingers who would piss on him for top end pace.

penguin great news. Looks like we'll only have to wait till next Friday to see how badly the Dragons can get stuffed by Lenister!

bessantj wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 2:28 pm penguin great news. Looks like we'll only have to wait till next Friday to see how badly the Dragons can get stuffed by Lenister!

They struggled badly against the bottom team in England, so we should make short work of them...poor bastards, they won't know what hit them.

(I'll just be glad to see us play against someone without Radradra in the backline).

penguin wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 3:23 pm

bessantj wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 2:28 pm penguin great news. Looks like we'll only have to wait till next Friday to see how badly the Dragons can get stuffed by Lenister!

They struggled badly against the bottom team in England, so we should make short work of them...poor bastards, they won't know what hit them.

(I'll just be glad to see us play against someone without Radradra in the backline).

I want to see the total rugby Ryan will have them play.

Getting ever closer how are we rating he Dragons and Blues chances. Could be a win for the Blues but a loss for the Dragons.

Have the regions ever had such low expectations

frodder wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:48 pm Have the regions ever had such low expectations

If you think back a few years to 2013-2015 with the Blues still in the middle of their Chief/John, Hammett, Phil Davies era, the Dragons were limping along under Darren Edwards, the Scarlets were yet to get to the levels reached under Pivac...there was a lot of mediocrity at that point. Only the Ospreys were serious challengers, and they were at the beginning of the slide under Tandy, with the Shane Williams era side beginning to disband.

Frankly I think all the regions are in better shape now. The Blues have a top class backline, backrow, and if their front 5 can rise to the challenge should bloody some noses this year. The Dragons are a much stronger squad than pretty much any year you can pick since their inception - Leinster away is unlikely to be a flying start for us, but we're definitely progressing. The Scarlets have a strong squad and are building on success - but admittedly do have a new coach so we'll have to see whether Delaney can actually make the most of it. Even the Ospreys look to have reached the bottom of their journey and should be much improved this year (hard to imagine they could be worse).

I'd take this group of squads over the 5-6 years ago versions any day.

Dragons game is on S4C and I have the day off so i'm ready fr the first game of the season!