RugbyRebels

We must be the world experts in losing games. Looking fairly comfortable at 21-12 up then a raft of poor discipline and mistakes, resulting in a yellow card and two tries for Gloucester. Total lack of composure and with a few minutes to go we need a try from nowhere to win this.

Oh well, another loss. We faded badly in the last 20 and need some decent players in the bench.

There was nothing between those teams. The Dragons were unlucky to come off second best . . . but they always seem to find a way to be unlucky.

As an aside, based on that match Jonah Holmes should be ahead of LRZ in the pecking order.

Son of Mathonwy wrote:There was nothing between those teams. The Dragons were unlucky to come off second best . . . but they always seem to find a way to be unlucky.

As an aside, based on that match Jonah Holmes should be ahead of LRZ in the pecking order.

There is no rugby reason why Jonah Holmes isn’t in the welsh squad. And I agree we seem to have a special talent for finding a way to lose.

Good win yesterday, from being behind and a man down.

For a moment I thought we had thrown it away but those last two tries were just what we needed. At bl00dy last

Sandydragon wrote:For a moment I thought we had thrown it away but those last two tries were just what we needed. At bl00dy last

Have the Dragons now found a way to score points in the last quarter instead of fading away. Great game and Dixon was outstanding.

normanski wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:For a moment I thought we had thrown it away but those last two tries were just what we needed. At bl00dy last

Have the Dragons now found a way to score points in the last quarter instead of fading away. Great game and Dixon was outstanding.

Amazingly we didn’t fold even though after two tries from the scarlets we normally would have. And the last try was a belter of an offload.

We shall see if it was a flash in the pan or not.

Sandydragon wrote:

normanski wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:For a moment I thought we had thrown it away but those last two tries were just what we needed. At bl00dy last

Have the Dragons now found a way to score points in the last quarter instead of fading away. Great game and Dixon was outstanding.

Amazingly we didn’t fold even though after two tries from the scarlets we normally would have. And the last try was a belter of an offload.

We shall see if it was a flash in the pan or not.

Long experience suggests they'll struggle to repeat this, especially again non-welsh opposition.

Hope I'm wrong though, and they'll build on this performance.

Son of Mathonwy wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:

normanski wrote: Have the Dragons now found a way to score points in the last quarter instead of fading away. Great game and Dixon was outstanding.

Amazingly we didn’t fold even though after two tries from the scarlets we normally would have. And the last try was a belter of an offload.

We shall see if it was a flash in the pan or not.

Long experience suggests they'll struggle to repeat this, especially again non-welsh opposition.

Hope I'm wrong though, and they'll build on this performance.

We really need to see Dragons and the other three regions kicking on by improving fitness and core strengths so they can close out games like this one. There’s no reason at all why our teams cannot be more competitive; it’s not just down to lack of money, I think it needs a better attitude with a genuine swagger like the sides playing against English teams in the Anglo/Wales pennant games in the 70s and 80s.

I think too many of our teams give up even before the kick off.

normanski wrote:

Son of Mathonwy wrote:

Sandydragon wrote: Amazingly we didn’t fold even though after two tries from the scarlets we normally would have. And the last try was a belter of an offload.

We shall see if it was a flash in the pan or not.

Long experience suggests they'll struggle to repeat this, especially again non-welsh opposition.

Hope I'm wrong though, and they'll build on this performance.

We really need to see Dragons and the other three regions kicking on by improving fitness and core strengths so they can close out games like this one. There’s no reason at all why our teams cannot be more competitive; it’s not just down to lack of money, I think it needs a better attitude with a genuine swagger like the sides playing against English teams in the Anglo/Wales pennant games in the 70s and 80s.

I think too many of our teams give up even before the kick off.

Gwyn Jones did an article in Wales online a few weeks ago about how the lack of fitness at the regional sides should be one of the easy fixes.

On a separate note, another decent signing for the Dragons for next season in George Nott. He doesn’t start every time for London Irish, so I don’t think he will set the league alight, but he should be a good squad signing, and can play at 6 or in the second row.

Wallpaperman wrote:

normanski wrote:

Son of Mathonwy wrote: Long experience suggests they'll struggle to repeat this, especially again non-welsh opposition.

Hope I'm wrong though, and they'll build on this performance.

We really need to see Dragons and the other three regions kicking on by improving fitness and core strengths so they can close out games like this one. There’s no reason at all why our teams cannot be more competitive; it’s not just down to lack of money, I think it needs a better attitude with a genuine swagger like the sides playing against English teams in the Anglo/Wales pennant games in the 70s and 80s.

I think too many of our teams give up even before the kick off.

Gwyn Jones did an article in Wales online a few weeks ago about how the lack of fitness at the regional sides should be one of the easy fixes.

On a separate note, another decent signing for the Dragons for next season in George Nott. He doesn’t start every time for London Irish, so I don’t think he will set the league alight, but he should be a good squad signing, and can play at 6 or in the second row.

Regional fitness was flagged as a problem when Gatland started but has anything changed? It should be an easy fix . . . but for some reason it isn't. Another example of the village idiocy we are famous for.

Wallpaperman wrote:

normanski wrote:

Son of Mathonwy wrote: Long experience suggests they'll struggle to repeat this, especially again non-welsh opposition.

Hope I'm wrong though, and they'll build on this performance.

We really need to see Dragons and the other three regions kicking on by improving fitness and core strengths so they can close out games like this one. There’s no reason at all why our teams cannot be more competitive; it’s not just down to lack of money, I think it needs a better attitude with a genuine swagger like the sides playing against English teams in the Anglo/Wales pennant games in the 70s and 80s.

I think too many of our teams give up even before the kick off.

Gwyn Jones did an article in Wales online a few weeks ago about how the lack of fitness at the regional sides should be one of the easy fixes.

On a separate note, another decent signing for the Dragons for next season in George Nott. He doesn’t start every time for London Irish, so I don’t think he will set the league alight, but he should be a good squad signing, and can play at 6 or in the second row.

He’s a lump but cover for welsh internationals when away.

So Jonah holmes out and a big NZ lump in for next season.

Jonah's appeal on the national contract was rejected and there is no money to sign him, so guess he gone. The NZ'er could be good tho (Sio Tomkinson)

some good signings. Now we start the usual emotional rollercoaster of World Beaters in the off season and coming crashing to earth as soon as the ball is kicked in August

Holmes has been poorly treated. He’s been the form winger in wales but totally ignored and now this. There much be a reason why Provac has decided to ignore him one would hope it’s a sensible one.

Otherwise some good players heading in for next season.

Sandydragon wrote:Holmes has been poorly treated. He’s been the form winger in wales but totally ignored and now this. There much be a reason why Provac has decided to ignore him one would hope it’s a sensible one.

Otherwise some good players heading in for next season.

Definitely ffs today ! 17-0 down having been the better side, dominate to go 19-17 up the they blew it. Entertaining match though.

Sandydragon wrote:Holmes has been poorly treated. He’s been the form winger in wales but totally ignored and now this. There much be a reason why Provac has decided to ignore him one would hope it’s a sensible one.

Otherwise some good players heading in for next season.

Agreed, big shame to see Holmes go. Can’t see him staying in Wales if he isn’t one of the 38. He and Owen Williams are backs that I would have liked to be available for Wales come World Cup time. Maybe not first choice, but both good, experienced players all the same, and well capable of making the squad. I wonder whether Jake Ball will be back in Wales before then.

Wallpaperman wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:Holmes has been poorly treated. He’s been the form winger in wales but totally ignored and now this. There much be a reason why Provac has decided to ignore him one would hope it’s a sensible one.

Otherwise some good players heading in for next season.

Agreed, big shame to see Holmes go. Can’t see him staying in Wales if he isn’t one of the 38. He and Owen Williams are backs that I would have liked to be available for Wales come World Cup time. Maybe not first choice, but both good, experienced players all the same, and well capable of making the squad. I wonder whether Jake Ball will be back in Wales before then.

Hopefully. If he is and is on form then our lock options look fairly respectable.

The Owen Williams experiment was over far too quickly.

What a waste. A terrible result for Holmes and Wales:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/61177246

Well thats his career pretty much over and I can't image that Ealing are going to may him that much. UNless he is hoping that something else comes along pretty sharpish?

This season he has been one of the best wings in Wales and deserves to be in the set up ahead of Lane or McNicholl.

Missing a last minute kick to beat Cardiff at Rodney Parade. FFS Dragons indeed !

Wallpaperman wrote:Missing a last minute kick to beat Cardiff at Rodney Parade. FFS Dragons indeed !

Small margins again, although that game was a race to the bottom in terms of skills