RaboDirect Pro12: Round 11/12

[Draggs]

Rhys Webb might have cost the Os a try BP. Two infringements and 90 metres.
Kahn was immense.

Well, Nigel had a few turks on his Christmas card list.
Awful from the Turks, yet inept from the Ospreys, being unable to get that fourth try.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

2 reds and a yellow in the last 10 for the Scarlets?!

 

[LittleGuy]

Can't remember the last time I saw a team take five cards in a game must have been a while, three yellows and two reds simply unacceptable discipline.

 

[psychic duck]

Can't remember the last time I saw a team take five cards in a game must have been a while, three yellows and two reds simply unacceptable discipline.

Also simply unacceptable to not score a bonus point against that side as well.

Rhys Webb was seriously awful, it was no coincidence that when Fotuali'i was replaced by Webb that the Ospreys started playing poorly and clumsily.

 

[LittleGuy]

Also simply unacceptable to not score a bonus point against that side as well.

Rhys Webb was seriously awful, it was no coincidence that when Fotuali'i was replaced by Webb that the Ospreys started playing poorly and clumsily.

Completely agreed, this was a 5 pointer thrown away.

 

[psychic duck]

The Ospreys dominated the Scarlets 32-3.

Yet in November Wales selected more players from the totally outplayed losing side who also lost all their H Cup games than they did from the winners who also beat Toulouse.

 

[Draggs]

The turks love hyping themselves up, if you dare pick an Ospreys ahead of a beloved westie...

Shamble from the Turks, awful (I feel more pleased with our shambolic display, honestly).

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I thought the Dragons were unlucky not to find a win today. If only they'd been able to look after the ball at those crucial moments..

Its amazing how much further a bit of a physicality goes in the domestic leagues. Faletau was crucial today in getting over the gainline, yet at international level he's usually tamed.

 

[psychic duck]

Dragons should have won but for Dan Evans dreadful kicking and that awful quick lineout and then awful up and under. Cardiff Blues got very lucky.

Hopefully the Ospreys can offload the out of contract Stowers at the end of the season and bring in Faletau from the Dragons, would be a great move for both Faletau and the Ospreys. I also would swap the Dragons Evans for Rhys Webb at scrum half too. The Ospreys MUST keep Kahn Fotuali'i though, he's got great game control and is on very good form, that is his 2nd MOM award in the last two derbies.

 

[Draggs]

Oh, do bog off and poach from elsewhere Duck

You already have a townie eight on the bench and Habberfield waiting in the wings.

Also, my dislike for Liam Williams has risen (dropped?) another level. Such a cheap, dirty player. I am waiting for some Saffa or Frog to belt him when he tries his cute shite after the whistle.

 

[psychic duck]

Oh, do bog off and poach from elsewhere Duck

You already have a townie eight on the bench and Habberfield waiting in the wings.

Also, my dislike for Liam Williams has risen (dropped?) another level. Such a cheap, dirty player. I am waiting for some Saffa or Frog to belt him when he tries his cute shite after the whistle.

The Ospreys need to poach if they want to become European contenders. Look at how Toulouse, Leinster and others poach to strengthen themselves.

Would you rather Faletau left the Dragons to help another Welsh side strengthen and challenge in Europe or left the Dragons to an English side? (http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Bath-Rugby-make-Toby-Faletau/story-17699820-detail/story.html)

From Faletau's point of view, moving to the Ospreys where he could be part of a strong pack rather than the joke front five at the Dragons would be great for him, and likewise the Ospreys. I would be more than happy to exchange any of Stowers, Allen or Webb for Faletau.

And by the way, Fussell > Liam Williams. Bearman > McCusker. Tipuric > Shingler & Turnbull. Bishop (on present form) > Scott Williams.

 

[Draggs]

The Ospreys need to poach if they want to become European contenders. Look at how Toulouse, Leinster and others poach to strengthen themselves.

Would you rather Faletau left the Dragons to help another Welsh side strengthen and challenge in Europe or left the Dragons to an English side? (http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Bath-Rugby-make-Toby-Faletau/story-17699820-detail/story.html)

From Faletau's point of view, moving to the Ospreys where he could be part of a strong pack rather than the joke front five at the Dragons would be great for him, and likewise the Ospreys. I would be more than happy to exchange any of Stowers, Allen or Webb for Faletau.

And by the way, Fussell > Liam Williams. Bearman > McCusker. Tipuric > Shingler & Turnbull. Bishop (on present form) > Scott Williams.

As somewhat of a Bath supporter, this isn't a great example.
How is this, Faletau for Joe Rees and maybe Lloyd Peers?
Hell, I'll take Duncan as well. Good lad, could get two seasons plus a fair bit passed on to our nippers. I'll let you make an offer for another Osprey, as Toby is worth a fair bit to us.

We have a bigger budget and Beale really wants a solid tighthead. I hope Ryan has a good look through contracts players and staff alike. We might be this and that, but we didn't lack commitment against the Blues. We did, however, have no execution.

Agree with all comparisons. The west Wales mafia have everybody else thinking otherwise. Tipuric > Every other openside.
It's a conspiracy, Gareth Jenkins' revenge on Welsh rugby. Destroy the national team again through Turk hubris.

 

[psychic duck]

As somewhat of a Bath supporter, this isn't a great example.
How is this, Faletau for Joe Rees and maybe Lloyd Peers?
Hell, I'll take Duncan as well. Good lad, could get two seasons plus a fair bit passed on to our nippers. I'll let you make an offer for another Osprey, as Toby is worth a fair bit to us.

We have a bigger budget and Beale really wants a solid tighthead. I hope Ryan has a good look through contracts players and staff alike. We might be this and that, but we didn't lack commitment against the Blues. We did, however, have no execution.

Agree with all comparisons. The west Wales mafia have everybody else thinking otherwise. Tipuric > Every other openside.
It's a conspiracy, Gareth Jenkins' revenge on Welsh rugby. Destroy the national team again through Turk hubris.

Joe Rees to Dragons would be a very good move for Welsh rugby actually. For some reason, with the exception of Gethin Jenkins the Ospreys has had the majority of top props in recent times which has seen some not get enough game time.

Rees will struggle to get regular enough game time with Adam Jones and Aaron Jarvis at the Ospreys, and would benefit imo with a move to the Dragons. Same before with Craig Mitchell, but unfortunately, he chose to move to Exeter and has been basically forgotten by many now he's out of Wales.

The Ospreys ought to keep Duncan Jones who is a decent player and crucial to prop depth now Paul James has gone, and also Lloyd Peers is needed as Gough may retire at the end of the season. Cai Griffiths, Tom Smith, George Stowers, Jonathan Thomas and Rhys Webb are all expendable though and I would happily see them all go the Dragons way if it meant that funds were opened up for a good player like Faletau to come into the Ospreys pack.

Regarding the Dragons though, what's this about Dean Ryan "consulting on the business" and "has nothing to do with the coaching" that Edwards has been saying?

Why do you like Bath by the way? From a neutral's perspective, I've found them quite boring and mediocre ever since they sacked Meehan as head coach a few years back.

I agree about the Scarlets thing by the way. There were a few too many of them in the November Wales squad, notably McCusker, Turnbull and Priestland didn't merit their places and I also think that Beck should be preferred to Scott Williams, the latter for some reason still seems to be coaches preferred choice as third choice centre behind Roberts and Davies. Astounded me how all Priestland and Turnbull started against Argentina and McCusker got a place on the bench.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Joe Rees to Dragons would be a very good move for Welsh rugby actually. For some reason, with the exception of Gethin Jenkins the Ospreys has had the majority of top props in recent times which has seen some not get enough game time.

Rees will struggle to get regular enough game time with Adam Jones and Aaron Jarvis at the Ospreys, and would benefit imo with a move to the Dragons. Same before with Craig Mitchell, but unfortunately, he chose to move to Exeter and has been basically forgotten by many now he's out of Wales.

The Ospreys ought to keep Duncan Jones who is a decent player and crucial to prop depth now Paul James has gone, and also Lloyd Peers is needed as Gough may retire at the end of the season. Cai Griffiths, Tom Smith, George Stowers, Jonathan Thomas and Rhys Webb are all expendable though and I would happily see them all go the Dragons way if it meant that funds were opened up for a good player like Faletau to come into the Ospreys pack.

Regarding the Dragons though, what's this about Dean Ryan "consulting on the business" and "has nothing to do with the coaching" that Edwards has been saying?

Why do you like Bath by the way? From a neutral's perspective, I've found them quite boring and mediocre ever since they sacked Meehan as head coach a few years back.

I agree about the Scarlets thing by the way. There were a few too many of them in the November Wales squad, notably McCusker, Turnbull and Priestland didn't merit their places and I also think that Beck should be preferred to Scott Williams, the latter for some reason still seems to be coaches preferred choice as third choice centre behind Roberts and Davies. Astounded me how all Priestland and Turnbull started against Argentina and McCusker got a place on the bench.

Craig Mitchell has not been forgotten. Duck that is your opinion. Let's be honest, everytime a Wales squad is announced Mitchell is either injured or been made unavailable. He's not forgotten he's just eligible for selection.

 

[psychic duck]

Craig Mitchell has not been forgotten. Duck that is your opinion. Let's be honest, everytime a Wales squad is announced Mitchell is either injured or been made unavailable. He's not forgotten he's just eligible for selection.

Not by you perhaps, but many I have heard elsewhere have been talking about Samson Lee, Jarvis and Andrews as Japan tour tighthead options forgetting to mention Mitchell.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Not by you perhaps, but many I have heard elsewhere have been talking about Samson Lee, Jarvis and Andrews as Japan tour tighthead options forgetting to mention Mitchell.

Mitchell is still injured ... hence why currently he's not being talked about for anything. I'm pretty confident if he is fit he will tour.

But from what I have heard 'elsewhere', e.g. media, people talking, various rugby discussions etc. Mitchell has come into the equation, but you can't select someone who is injured.

 

[Draggs]

Mitchell: Forgotten is tough, he is mentioned in the Mail often, but always seemingly injured.

Gough: Gough is signed until end of 2013/14 season, IIRC.

Bath: Because of Paul James. He is very possibly my favourite forward in the recent era. Excellent player who gives nothing less than everything. I simply can't remember him having a bad match (even at tighthead he has held up respectably). Very underrated, and I would argue that he should be considered amongst the best loosehead props, certainly with regards to scrummaging. I also like Eastmond, give him time and I think he will be a cracking little player.

Rees: Yeah, depending on how he recovers from his injury (neck? back?) he could be the next Welsh tighthead. The rabble to rattled off would be welcomed with open arms in the Turner-era, but there could be pressure on Beale, as he has recently said they did not recruit "well enough" in the past. Furthermore, back row, like wing, has relative depth. I have been decently satisfied with Cudd, and when you add Waters in, it is a pretty competent back row arrangement.

Ryan: Edwards has been rather tight-lipped on Ryan's role, and I can only speculate. Perhaps the pressure is on him and he doesn't want it to seem as if he could be going? Either way, I can't help but field Ryan will have some influence over the actual squad. If I were in charge of recruitment, I would look for the following:
-Rees/Mitchell (we need a tighthead)
-Loosehead- Gill/Lewis-Roberts? (has played LH recently)
-Second row, Blues have plenty of young lads who play RFC week in-week out. Davies, Reed, Down, and possibly Paterson are ahead of them. I'll take Screech or Hill, as Cook is moderately involved during LV=/international Pro12 time.
-Scrum half, we need someone as a backup to Jonathan Evans. I have no clue what has happened to Conrad Hoffmann with the Sharks, but considering he has covered standoff and fullback in the past, he could be a good bench option. Hell, I can give the Dragons management a dozen South Africans who could do a good job. Anybody need a wing? Mark Richards is a livewire, get him off the Blitzbokke!

Backs we are pretty set, I feel. Jonathan Evans, need I say more? Stand off is tough: Robling is unpredictable (awaits gifs...), Evans can't kick at times (I blame the Arsecelts), Steffan Jones has issues in defence. I do think Steffan can mature into a good player, and Evans will improve over time. Wing is fine, same with fullback. Midfield, probably Jack Dixon over the next few months, and we could bring Amos infield (he has played outside centre as well).

Scarlets: I think we ran twenty pages on the Argentina thread, so I would probably be repeating something.

Did I miss anything? Always a pleasure, lads.

 

[psychic duck]

Rees: Yeah, depending on how he recovers from his injury (neck? back?) he could be the next Welsh tighthead. The rabble to rattled off would be welcomed with open arms in the Turner-era, but there could be pressure on Beale, as he has recently said they did not recruit "well enough" in the past. Furthermore, back row, like wing, has relative depth. I have been decently satisfied with Cudd, and when you add Waters in, it is a pretty competent back row arrangement.

Ryan: Edwards has been rather tight-lipped on Ryan's role, and I can only speculate. Perhaps the pressure is on him and he doesn't want it to seem as if he could be going? Either way, I can't help but field Ryan will have some influence over the actual squad. If I were in charge of recruitment, I would look for the following:
-Rees/Mitchell (we need a tighthead)
-Loosehead- Gill/Lewis-Roberts? (has played LH recently)
-Second row, Blues have plenty of young lads who play RFC week in-week out. Davies, Reed, Down, and possibly Paterson are ahead of them. I'll take Screech or Hill, as Cook is moderately involved during LV=/international Pro12 time.
-Scrum half, we need someone as a backup to Jonathan Evans. I have no clue what has happened to Conrad Hoffmann with the Sharks, but considering he has covered standoff and fullback in the past, he could be a good bench option. Hell, I can give the Dragons management a dozen South Africans who could do a good job. Anybody need a wing? Mark Richards is a livewire, get him off the Blitzbokke!

Backs we are pretty set, I feel. Jonathan Evans, need I say more? Stand off is tough: Robling is unpredictable (awaits gifs...), Evans can't kick at times (I blame the Arsecelts), Steffan Jones has issues in defence. I do think Steffan can mature into a good player, and Evans will improve over time. Wing is fine, same with fullback. Midfield, probably Jack Dixon over the next few months, and we could bring Amos infield (he has played outside centre as well).

There was an article on what precisely in Dean Ryan's role: (http://www.campaignseries.co.uk/spo...ltant_Dean_Ryan_won_t_attend_Dragons_matches/).

As for Tim Ryan, that was a pointless signing. What's the point of bringing in a NWQ player who can't even keep Dan Way out of the team, and at 28 hardly is likely to improve much? He has played just 8 minutes this season in the RaboPro12.

The Dragons shopping list should simply be firstly find a decent tighthead, and then a competent fly half. Doing that would improve the side significantly. Good to hear Beale is looking to find a decent tighthead which should be priority, but the Dragons lack of finding a fly half to replace Tovey was poor work by them in the off season. All three of Robling, Steffan Jones and Dan Evans haven't been up to standard as fly halves for varying reasons.

 

[Draggs]

Darren will be out of contract next year, I can see Dean taking over then, who else is there?
I think if we take the goal kicking responsibilities off Evans' shoulders, he will improve.

Tim Ryan was a rubbish signing, and everybody knew it.

 

[psychic duck]

Darren will be out of contract next year, I can see Dean taking over then, who else is there?
I think if we take the goal kicking responsibilities off Evans' shoulders, he will improve.

Tim Ryan was a rubbish signing, and everybody knew it.

I'd genuinely be interested to know who advised/convinced the Cardiff Blues/Dragons that Campese Ma'afu and Tim Ryan would be good signings.