Dragons v Leinster

[dullonien]

Another one or two performances like that and he will be come 6 nations. It's a straight battle between him and Daniel Evans to be picked as backup fullback. I hope Gtland has realised that fullback is another specialist position, like scrum half and outside half. Shoving a talented 10 back to 15 doesn't quite cut it at international level. Not even a player as talented as Hook.

Nice to see some options. Gareth Owen is also impressing at fullback, but his real position is still unsure.

 

[Thingimubob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (go on the irish @ Dec 6 2009, 06:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Intercept King JdV @ Dec 6 2009, 06:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Simon Keogh gets a try in the 78th min and the conversion is missed by Fergus McFadden

Full Time: 30 - 14 to the Dragons

Why didn't Leinster play their full strength team for this match?[/b]

Give the young up and comers a run-out. I'm not surprised at the result. Dragons were playing full strength against the Leinster youths effectively. The match meant nothing. I was more interested in individual performances than the result. I thought McKinley was very good. I don't know what happened with the defending out wide. Was a bit of a shambles out there. Leinster were often threatening in attack and recycled ball well.
[/b][/quote]

Gotta remember that Dragons full strength is mostly young Welsh players, I've always thought of them as the best Welsh region for developing youth, and it's really paying off for them. I was trying to work out how many players in the starting 15 aren't welsh qualified? Webb, Castle and Arlidge I think?
I love watching the Dragons atm though, they play brilliant rugby and it's fantastic to see them starting to get some more success. Lydiate was fantastic in defense and in the breakdown, Toveys kicking is amazing, Riley runs ridiculously good angles and Gustafson is really starting to show his worth.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Michael Cheika has come in for some criticism on LF.com (by people with short memories) for his selection policy on Sunday. He explains his decision here:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/4151.php

"I can understand why maybe I got a bit of criticism last week because it was not the scenario that I would have liked to have had. I would have liked to have had younger players playing with Girvan (Dempsey), Shaun Berne, maybe with Shane Jennings as well if he was available and with Stan Wright. But we don't have the same depth because of those injuries or suspensions. So it didn't work out the way I wanted it to in my mind's eye.

"Okay, we had a horror first half, but I would still back those players. They gave everything they could and they will learn invaluably from the experience. We didn't get any competition points, we'll have to fight for those later, but with our start in the league we've had five away games out of eight. We only have to leave the country another two times in the league - we have two local away games and then we're away in Cardiff and Glasgow - and the rest of our league games are at home. So we're trying to calculate our run and hopefully we've got it right. Some of the players didn't perform, but that's part of the process.[/b]

 

[LydiatesGirl]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DuncTheDoodle @ Dec 8 2009, 04:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Jason Tovey and Aled Brew where brilliant. Charteris, Lydiate and Guffstadson in the pack played well. Tovey's got a heck of a boot on him. His own 22, into touch within the opposing one sides? Why wasn't this man in the Wales squad?[/b]

yeah they were brilliant but Tov did get injured (chest) and was very pale after the game and not very steady on his feet - although he reassured me yesterday that hes okay. Aled Brew's got a dead leg but should be fine

he said that the reason he wasnt in the Wales squad was because Gatland hadnt seen him play enough