RD Pro12: Connacht - Newport Gwent Dragons (23-09-2011, 19:30)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Galway Sportsgrounds, Galway (23-09-2011, 19:30)

Ref:
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[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR][TD] Connacht [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] Newport [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 15 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 14 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 13 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 12 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 11 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 10 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 9 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 8 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 7 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 6 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 5 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 4 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 3 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 2 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 1 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 16 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 17 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 18 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 19 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 20 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 21 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 22 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] 23 [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[Draggs]

Pontypool fullback Geraint O'Driscoll called into the Dragons squad due to injuries in the backs.
Heard about about this lad. Would be nice to have a proper 15 backup for Martyn Thomas. All the best to him.

Dragons squad:
Backs
Wayne Evans, Joe Bedford, Jon Evans, Jason Tovey, Matthew Jones, Ashley Smith, Geraint O'Driscoll, Pat Leach, Tom Riley, Mathew Pewtner, Martyn Thomas.

Forwards
Phil Price, Nathan Williams, Dan Way, Nathan Buck, Tom Willis, Rhys Buckley, Adam Jones, Rob Sidoli, Andrew Coombs, Gavin Thomas, Jevon Groves, Lewis Evans, Darren Waters, Sam Parry, Hugo Ellis.

 

[Peat]

that's what Jamie Smith was signed for, Steffan Jones is there too but had a total mare against Leinster! and was substituted off after being substituted on

They were had though there... Jamie Smith's a cracking wee player, but he is very wee and he's far from a natural full-back.

Not picked, is he injured?

 

[Draggs]

They were had though there... Jamie Smith's a cracking wee player, but he is very wee and he's far from a natural full-back.

Not picked, is he injured?

Yeah, Smith is still injured as far as I know.
I've not seen much of him but from what I have gathered speaking to NGD officials, he has a fair bit of pace.

As far as Steffan Jones goes, he is a standoff playing fullback. He can fill in decently but he really isn't a 15. I can see him passing Matthew Jones for Tovey's backup, he just needs to sort out his defence.

 

[Draggs]

Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Martyn Thomas, 14 Matthew Pewtner, 13 Pat Leach, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Geraint O'Driscoll, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Joe Bedford, 1 Nathan Williams, 2 Tom Willis (c), 3 Dan Way, 4 Adam Jones, 5 Rob Sidoli, 6 Lewis Evans, 7 Gavin Thomas, 8 Andrew Coombs

Replacements

16 Rhys Buckley, 17 Phil Price, 18 Nathan Buck, 19 Darren Waters, 20 Jevon Groves, 21 Wayne Evans, 22 Tom Riley, 23 Matthew Jones

Connacht:
15 Gavin Duffy (c), 14 Brian Tuohy, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Henry Fa'afili, 11 Tiernan O'Halloran, 10 Niall O'Connor, 9 Frank Murphy, 1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Ethienne Reynecke, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 Dave Gannon, 5 Mike McCarthy, 6 John Muldoon, 7 Johnny O'Connor, 8 Ray Ofisa

Replacements
16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Dylan Rogers, 19 Mike Kearney, 20 TJ Anderson, 21 Paul O'Donohoe, 22 Matthew Jarvis, 23 James Loxton

 

[Peat]

Yeah, Smith is still injured as far as I know.
I've not seen much of him but from what I have gathered speaking to NGD officials, he has a fair bit of pace.

He is rapid. He's got a nice step, looks to have the right attitude on the pitch, very strong for his size and generally a decent (if very small) rugby player.

He's not a natural full-back. You worry about him under the high ball, he doesn't have much of a kicking game and he's not very good at joining the line. He's a good tackler, but his size means he'll never be the one-stop security blanket you want at full-back. He was a centre until very recently.

Personally, he should be tried at wing. Or 7s. But as a full-back, he's just missing too many key components.

 

[profitius]

He is rapid. He's got a nice step, looks to have the right attitude on the pitch, very strong for his size and generally a decent (if very small) rugby player.

He's not a natural full-back. You worry about him under the high ball, he doesn't have much of a kicking game and he's not very good at joining the line. He's a good tackler, but his size means he'll never be the one-stop security blanket you want at full-back. He was a centre until very recently.

Personally, he should be tried at wing. Or 7s. But as a full-back, he's just missing too many key components.

He looked a decent player for me too whenever I've seen him. Hes still young though and can improve.

 

[monkeypigeon]

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/11164.php

Connacht come from 10 behind to win by 4 at home to Newport Gwent Dragons. 17 - 13.

Big win for Connacht as they try to keep themselves off the botton of the table while the league misses its international players.