RugbyRebels

Nice first day of the new championship, Cardiff managing superbly with no specialist fly half for most of the match. Tomos Williams was class - a handy backup kicker if need be. Connacht weren't even close, too many errors.

Enjoyable game if a little error strewn. Thought Cardiff were going to blow it when they conceded a string of penalties in the second half but they deserved the win. Hope that the two outside halves recover quickly - to lose them both so early in the match was incredibly unlucky and Lloyd Williams took a bump to the head, too.

Still don’t get the Owen Lane hype, but Halaholo, Lee Lo and Tomos Williams were all excellent. Screech looked good, too. A good start for Cardiff - onwards and upwards, etc.

Scarlets had their chances, and had 3 tries disallowed, one of which looked to be a score but where the camera angle was inconclusive. Kieran Hardy had a bit of a nightmare and cost his team position more than once. He also was at fault for Edinburgh’s third try but did get one himself in the second half.

That said, Edinburgh led for most of the match and bullied the Scarlets at times. The better team won in my view and the Scarlets look a bit light up front.

Good to see Scott Williams go well, although he won’t try it on with Dave Cherry again !

And the third game was the best of the bunch. The Dragons were very strong in the first half and should have been further ahead. They kicked away too much possession in the second half, possibly because they weren’t getting any change out of the Ospreys defence. Conversely the Ospreys used the ball really well and looked dangerous. I wanted the Dragons to win but was delighted to see Anscombe have such a strong second half, he looked class. Michael Collins got man of the match, and obviously made a really good first impression. I don’t remember him playing for the Scarlets but his skill set and decision making were excellent today. Lots of good performances, almost too many to list and a really enjoyable game. More of the same next week, please.

Seems like some encouraging signs that all four of our teams are showing improvements in playing attitude and attack this season.

Scarlets in particular can be aggrieved that at least of one of their disallowed tries did not add to the scoreboard when it mattered.

Hardy must learn to put both hands on the ball in the back of the ruck and know where he’s going to pass before he picks the ball up. He will learn from these errors.

Edinburgh's scrum-half Ben Vellacott was like lightning. He made Hardy (and everyone else, to be fair) look slow.

Michael Collins had a dream start. Is this the new (and possibly improved) Hadleigh Parkes? I have zero memory of his previous season for the Scarlets.

Spectacular footwork from Matt Protheroe ... handwork less impressive. Hopefully he can tighten that up, he's a player that can make something from nothing.

Son of Mathonwy wrote:Edinburgh's scrum-half Ben Vellacott was like lightning. He made Hardy (and everyone else, to be fair) look slow.

Michael Collins had a dream start. Is this the new (and possibly improved) Hadleigh Parkes? I have zero memory of his previous season for the Scarlets.

Spectacular footwork from Matt Protheroe ... handwork less impressive. Hopefully he can tighten that up, he's a player that can make something from nothing.

It’ll take a few weeks to get a better handle on Collins but he looks very promising. Scott Williams also had a good showing and these two could be the centres for the All Blacks game.

A lot will rest on Tomas Francis for that match and he will need the next three weeks to get up to speed. He didn’t have a bad match with Dragons but he wasn’t as dominant as I thought he would be.

Hope springs eternal at this stage of the season and even though the pundits are all forecasting a hammering I would love to see us competitive with NZ.

normanski wrote:

Son of Mathonwy wrote:Edinburgh's scrum-half Ben Vellacott was like lightning. He made Hardy (and everyone else, to be fair) look slow.

Michael Collins had a dream start. Is this the new (and possibly improved) Hadleigh Parkes? I have zero memory of his previous season for the Scarlets.

Spectacular footwork from Matt Protheroe ... handwork less impressive. Hopefully he can tighten that up, he's a player that can make something from nothing.

It’ll take a few weeks to get a better handle on Collins but he looks very promising. Scott Williams also had a good showing and these two could be the centres for the All Blacks game.

A lot will rest on Tomas Francis for that match and he will need the next three weeks to get up to speed. He didn’t have a bad match with Dragons but he wasn’t as dominant as I thought he would be.

Hope springs eternal at this stage of the season and even though the pundits are all forecasting a hammering I would love to see us competitive with NZ.

Well we certainly have nothing to lose playing NZ, first match together for a while minus our England based players. Short of a miraculous win I'd be happy with finishing the game strongly. Hope the players feel more positive than that, mind.

Son of Mathonwy wrote:

normanski wrote:

Son of Mathonwy wrote:Edinburgh's scrum-half Ben Vellacott was like lightning. He made Hardy (and everyone else, to be fair) look slow.

Michael Collins had a dream start. Is this the new (and possibly improved) Hadleigh Parkes? I have zero memory of his previous season for the Scarlets.

Spectacular footwork from Matt Protheroe ... handwork less impressive. Hopefully he can tighten that up, he's a player that can make something from nothing.

It’ll take a few weeks to get a better handle on Collins but he looks very promising. Scott Williams also had a good showing and these two could be the centres for the All Blacks game.

A lot will rest on Tomas Francis for that match and he will need the next three weeks to get up to speed. He didn’t have a bad match with Dragons but he wasn’t as dominant as I thought he would be.

Hope springs eternal at this stage of the season and even though the pundits are all forecasting a hammering I would love to see us competitive with NZ.

Well we certainly have nothing to lose playing NZ, first match together for a while minus our England based players. Short of a miraculous win I'd be happy with finishing the game strongly. Hope the players feel more positive than that, mind.

Yep! It’s a sh*t or bust game and miracles can happen. I just hope any home based newcomers put on a good show and learn from the experience. A thirty point beating at the beginning of their international careers isn’t the best of starts.

Whilst I’m gutted that we lost, I enjoyed the Dragons Ospreys game. Some decent performances on both sides and Jonah Holmes seems to have continued in a decent vein of form.

Son of Mathonwy wrote:Nice first day of the new championship, Cardiff managing superbly with no specialist fly half for most of the match. Tomos Williams was class - a handy backup kicker if need be. Connacht weren't even close, too many errors.

That game wasn’t close at all, shame about the late try conceded.

Sandydragon wrote:

Son of Mathonwy wrote:Nice first day of the new championship, Cardiff managing superbly with no specialist fly half for most of the match. Tomos Williams was class - a handy backup kicker if need be. Connacht weren't even close, too many errors.

That game wasn’t close at all, shame about the late try conceded.

Yeah, agreed, they lost concentration at the end, not playing the full 80. Very annoying to give Connacht a consolation score.

Son of Mathonwy wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:

Son of Mathonwy wrote:Nice first day of the new championship, Cardiff managing superbly with no specialist fly half for most of the match. Tomos Williams was class - a handy backup kicker if need be. Connacht weren't even close, too many errors.

That game wasn’t close at all, shame about the late try conceded.

Yeah, agreed, they lost concentration at the end, not playing the full 80. Very annoying to give Connacht a consolation score.

It’s always good to put one over the Irish sides. A satisfactory start for Cardiff.

normanski wrote:

Son of Mathonwy wrote:Edinburgh's scrum-half Ben Vellacott was like lightning. He made Hardy (and everyone else, to be fair) look slow.

Michael Collins had a dream start. Is this the new (and possibly improved) Hadleigh Parkes? I have zero memory of his previous season for the Scarlets.

Spectacular footwork from Matt Protheroe ... handwork less impressive. Hopefully he can tighten that up, he's a player that can make something from nothing.

It’ll take a few weeks to get a better handle on Collins but he looks very promising. Scott Williams also had a good showing and these two could be the centres for the All Blacks game.

A lot will rest on Tomas Francis for that match and he will need the next three weeks to get up to speed. He didn’t have a bad match with Dragons but he wasn’t as dominant as I thought he would be.

Hope springs eternal at this stage of the season and even though the pundits are all forecasting a hammering I would love to see us competitive with NZ.

I don't think he has the pace for International rugby and doubt he'll make the Os first team regularly tbh, he was a bit meh at the Scarlets and is seen as a utility back which is why the Os have signed him.

I think for the AB game its likely to be Foxy and Scott Williams in the centre.

Sandydragon wrote:I think for the AB game its likely to be Foxy and Scott Williams in the centre.

They certainly looked impressive against Edinburgh. Scott in particular seems to be near some of the best form of his life.

Hope Foxy still has the legs for a top international game.

Sandydragon wrote:I think for the AB game its likely to be Foxy and Scott Williams in the centre.

I'd think that Halaholo will be in the mix as well.

Numbers wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:I think for the AB game its likely to be Foxy and Scott Williams in the centre.

I'd think that Halaholo will be in the mix as well.

Good point. I like the options he brings off the bench though but definitely in the mix.

Well played Dragons. Massive frustration at the result, no justice in Leinster getting 4 points from that.

The Ospreys were on course to win that match. Then they dropped the ball about a million times.

Son of Mathonwy wrote:Well played Dragons. Massive frustration at the result, no justice in Leinster getting 4 points from that.

Yeah, so close but very frustrating. We have improved so much as a side, but can't quite get the results to go with that improvement. I'm watching the Dragons vs Connaught game at the moment and it feels like we will come up short again. At some point I hope we will win a game and it turns the tide.

Son of Mathonwy wrote:The Ospreys were on course to win that match. Then they dropped the ball about a million times.

Didn't see that one. The Fail report suggested it was pretty awful, is that fair?

Jordan Williams demonstrating why he is one of the most dangerous full back around with ball in hand. Crafted one try and just scored a beauty of his own.

Sandydragon wrote:

Son of Mathonwy wrote:Well played Dragons. Massive frustration at the result, no justice in Leinster getting 4 points from that.

Yeah, so close but very frustrating. We have improved so much as a side, but can't quite get the results to go with that improvement. I'm watching the Dragons vs Connaught game at the moment and it feels like we will come up short again. At some point I hope we will win a game and it turns the tide.

Since I wrote that, Dragons have scored 14 unanswered points.

Taine Basham having a very big game. Wainwright pretty good too, so too Rowlands.

After a first half where it was all Connaught, albeit with a superb Dragons defence and a lovely try by Holmes, the second half has been very good to watch. Dragons scored another 3 tries to get a bonus point and it took a lot for Connaught to score their own tries.

Jonah Holmes also had a big game in attack and defence, he must surely be in the frame for a Welsh shirt in a few weeks time?

And that's the game. The first win for the Dragons in Ireland for 6 years and it ended up 35-22. A well deserved win.