URC Round 1

[Sandydragon]

Cardiff vs Munster is definitely two sides displaying a lot of rust. Cardiff we’re 12-6 up and spent a lot of time in the Munster half in the second half without it scoring a point. Too many mistakes. Some tidy performances but as a team they aren’t entirely clicking against a Munster side which is making a lot of mistakes.

Munster have just managed to hang onto to e ball for multiple phases and scored a converted try to take a one point lead. With 15 minutes to go Cardiff need to find something quickly.

[Graigwen]

That was a good win by Cardiff.

Unusually for a Welsh team, they looked as if they had actually trained before the season started and were actually able to do things like catching the ball (well certainly better than Munster).

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[Sandydragon]

A nicely worked try from Cardiff gave them a seven point lead they held onto, after taking the lead with a penalty.

Some good individual performances. Faletau is just class. Llewelyn has a lot of promise in the centre and Adams carries with real intent. But as a team Cardiff need to be more cohesive.

But it’s a winning start and a win beat losing any day of the week.

[Sandydragon]

Meanwhile in the Dragons game, their indiscipline is killing then. Silly mistakes like crossing, accidental offside, moving when held in the ground and going off their feet. After a promising start it’s killing momentum and Edinburgh aren’t having to do much to hold onto a 7-6 lead.

[Graigwen]

Meanwhile in the Dragons game, their indiscipline is killing then. Silly mistakes like crossing, accidental offside, moving when held in the ground and going off their feet. After a promising start it’s killing momentum and Edinburgh aren’t having to do much to hold onto a 7-6 lead.

Agreed.

Dragons look like a better side at times, then cock it up with stupid mistakes.

[Sandydragon]

I popped out to put the boy to bed and in the meanwhile it got ugly.

[Sandydragon]

It’s now a humiliation. Edinburgh are taking the piss. Dragons look lost.

[Graigwen]

Dragons are not really as bad as the score suggests....but they will lose lots of games if they play like that.

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[Sandydragon]

44-6 loss in Edinburgh. Almost unwatchable at times as the basics deserted the dragons. 21 penalties against makes it impossible to win. I hope this is just a reflection of a new coaching staff and some pre season disruption with a couple of cancelled fixtures and new players. I hope. If not this will be a very long season.

[Graigwen]

I thought last season that Dragons were looking much better, especially with a cheating Englishman to teach them the dark arts. They played a bit more like a team, but not enough.

It looks like this season might be no better. They have some good players, but don't deliver overall.

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[Graigwen]

I enjoyed Scarlets v Ospreys.

Ospreys were very lucky to get a draw.

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[Sandydragon]

I thought last season that Dragons were looking much better, especially with a cheating Englishman to teach them the dark arts. They played a bit more like a team, but not enough.

It looks like this season might be no better. They have some good players, but don't deliver overall.

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Bringing in Dai Flanagan as coach is an interesting move. It seems that Ryan keeps hands on so what is Flanagan doing? Feels like it could get confusing. There needs to be significant improvement as the is is a good squad now on the whole and our first team should be able to be competitive with anyone. If this worrying trend to fall apart continues then the management can’t last.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I enjoyed Scarlets v Ospreys.

Ospreys were very lucky to get a draw.

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Yes, I didn't see the Ospreys stealing a draw there. But they dominated most of the first half, Scarlets most of the second, so a draw is a reasonably fair result, even if the equalising try was massively against the momentum of the second half. Impressively nerveless conversion from Jack Walsh to clinch the draw!

Overall, a promising match from a Wales perspective - lots of good performances. And Tips is back.

[Sandydragon]

I enjoyed Scarlets v Ospreys.

Ospreys were very lucky to get a draw.

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Yes, I didn't see the Ospreys stealing a draw there. But they dominated most of the first half, Scarlets most of the second, so a draw is a reasonably fair result, even if the equalising try was massively against the momentum of the second half. Impressively nerveless conversion from Jack Walsh to clinch the draw!

Overall, a promising match from a Wales perspective - lots of good performances. And Tips is back.

Tips and North back playing is cause for celebration.

[Numbers]

I thought last season that Dragons were looking much better, especially with a cheating Englishman to teach them the dark arts. They played a bit more like a team, but not enough.

It looks like this season might be no better. They have some good players, but don't deliver overall.

.

Bringing in Dai Flanagan as coach is an interesting move. It seems that Ryan keeps hands on so what is Flanagan doing? Feels like it could get confusing. There needs to be significant improvement as the is is a good squad now on the whole and our first team should be able to be competitive with anyone. If this worrying trend to fall apart continues then the management can’t last.

What they could do with is a decent defence coach, not something synonymous with Flanagan.