Planet Rugby Forum

Was busy this weekend and managed to avoid the Saturday games results. Watched the Blues and O's on catch-up.

Wish I hadn't

On the evidence of the weekend, Welsh rugby is fucked.

Abject displays, characterised by low skill and brain farts under the lightest of pressure.

Ireland continues to churn out quality players whilst we're scratching around for the next great hope in any and all positions.

The style and execution of rugby is utter pish.

Beyond disillusioned. There's not a quality Welsh coach worthy of the name.

henry wrote:On the evidence of the weekend, Welsh rugby is fucked.

Abject displays, characterised by low skill and brain farts under the lightest of pressure.

Ireland continues to churn out quality players whilst we're scratching around for the next great hope in any and all positions.

The style and execution of rugby is utter pish.

Beyond disillusioned. There's not a quality Welsh coach worthy of the name.

Tbf, I'm sure we (as a collective unit) have been poorer. I can't remember specifics (mainly because I've expunged that much shit from my brain), but I'm sure during the initial part of Gatland's reign, when we were winning championships and Grandslams, we were far worse.

What I'm trying to say is, not a lot has changed. That in itself is a cause for concern, but not as much as if we were going backwards.

I'd also contend that Ireland doesn't churn out quality players at any greater rate than us (the U20's is a prime example of that)...they do however churn out solid yeomen types at a considerably higher rate than us. The type of players that are able to go 9 months of hard grind. Big slabs of meat that will do nothing but truck it up and tackle. They've got shitloads of them. We just don't produce those players...and it fucking kills us.

Miserable twat.

Ospreys need the leadership of AWJ and Webb. Add those two to the side and you'll see things pick up. There is still plenty of talent there, but they look robbed of all confidence right now. Those two players will lift the side and a few decent games and they'll look like themselves again. Temporary problem.

Scarlets threw away a great chance at a result in Ravenhill, but that is a bloody hard place to win away, and they almost did it playing only one decent half of rugby, or maybe even less than one decent half. Still looking like a class side. Not even a problem.

Cardiff Blues - Shingler pops over an easy kick, they get a win against a very good Glasgow side. Peter Jackson on Scrum V made the point that it was an off night for Glasgow, well the Blues were working hard to make them look off their best. If they didn't kick chase like absolute twats (stop letting Cuthbert chase - he hasn't the faintest idea where the ball is going to land), or Shingler had kicked that shot, they'd have won. They are not in great shape right now, but Scarlets started last season with 3 losses and look how they went on. I'm not saying Cardiff will win the whole thing (obviously not)...but stop being a hysterical fanny.

Dragons - that first try was out of the Scarlets playbook. Good attacking work until the injuries, and then some grit to see it through. An important win, and well done to them. Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Ollie Griffiths, Harri Keddie, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Hallam Amos, Ashton Hewitt, Jared Rosser, Owain Leonard...just remember how young this side is. Well done lads.

Don't get too up when they win, don't get too down when they lose.

I disagree with you both. We're doomed.

henry wrote:I disagree with you both. We're doomed.

Hysterical fanny.

I agree. When the Scarlets enevitably drop off in the winter months things will have never looked worse at regional level

penguin wrote:

henry wrote:I disagree with you both. We're doomed.

Hysterical fanny.

Winter is coming and Friday nights will be dark and full of terrors.

We've already seen how directionless Os are without Webb, Biggar and Materveasi.

That performance against Munster. Better get used to it Os fans. Better get used to it

henry wrote:

penguin wrote:

henry wrote:I disagree with you both. We're doomed.

Hysterical fanny.

Winter is coming and Friday nights will be dark and full of terrors.

Ned, you've spent too long in Kings Landing.

penguin wrote:

henry wrote:

penguin wrote:

henry wrote:I disagree with you both. We're doomed.

Hysterical fanny.

Winter is coming and Friday nights will be dark and full of terrors.

Ned, you've spent too long in Kings Landing.

Quite possibly.

Not helped by watching some NPC and the Kiwis on the weekend.

henry wrote:


Quite possibly.

Not helped by watching some NPC and the Kiwis on the weekend.

Spend your time watching porn, and you're going to be disappointed when your wife isn't au fait with the entire skillset of a porn professional...

I'm in the "we're doomed" camp as well. I'm just hoping Gats puts together a master plan to sum the components into a semi-good AI series. We know how well they go

henry wrote:On the evidence of the weekend, Welsh rugby is fucked.

Abject displays, characterised by low skill and brain farts under the lightest of pressure.

Ireland continues to churn out quality players whilst we're scratching around for the next great hope in any and all positions.

The style and execution of rugby is utter pish.

Beyond disillusioned. There's not a quality Welsh coach worthy of the name.

penguin wrote:Miserable twat.

Ospreys need the leadership of AWJ and Webb. Add those two to the side and you'll see things pick up. There is still plenty of talent there, but they look robbed of all confidence right now. Those two players will lift the side and a few decent games and they'll look like themselves again. Temporary problem.

Scarlets threw away a great chance at a result in Ravenhill, but that is a bloody hard place to win away, and they almost did it playing only one decent half of rugby, or maybe even less than one decent half. Still looking like a class side. Not even a problem.

Cardiff Blues - Shingler pops over an easy kick, they get a win against a very good Glasgow side. Peter Jackson on Scrum V made the point that it was an off night for Glasgow, well the Blues were working hard to make them look off their best. If they didn't kick chase like absolute twats (stop letting Cuthbert chase - he hasn't the faintest idea where the ball is going to land), or Shingler had kicked that shot, they'd have won. They are not in great shape right now, but Scarlets started last season with 3 losses and look how they went on. I'm not saying Cardiff will win the whole thing (obviously not)...but stop being a hysterical fanny.

Dragons - that first try was out of the Scarlets playbook. Good attacking work until the injuries, and then some grit to see it through. An important win, and well done to them. Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Ollie Griffiths, Harri Keddie, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Hallam Amos, Ashton Hewitt, Jared Rosser, Owain Leonard...just remember how young this side is. Well done lads.

Don't get too up when they win, don't get too down when they lose.

This has to be the greatest piece of advice to a club ever uttered on this forum

Dragons sign short term cover at centre - Thretton Palamo - USA international, can't say I know anything about him. Anyone else have a clue?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... y-13642736

penguin wrote:Dragons sign short term cover at centre - Thretton Palamo - USA international, can't say I know anything about him. Anyone else have a clue?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... y-13642736

Who have they lost in the centre? Haven't seen Adam Warren yet this season, who I've always rated as quite tidy.

cubby boi wrote:

penguin wrote:Dragons sign short term cover at centre - Thretton Palamo - USA international, can't say I know anything about him. Anyone else have a clue?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... y-13642736

Who have they lost in the centre? Haven't seen Adam Warren yet this season, who I've always rated as quite tidy.

Warren is injured, only just back, butnot risked this week. Tyler Morgan picked up an injury last week, hopefully minor. Kirchner dislocated his shoulder but was an option at 13, and Beard also out for 12 weeks.

There is Adam Hughes, who has played 13 in the past, but pretty thin for centres.

Talk about Amos maybe going to FB (not this week) which might be a good move.

penguin wrote:

cubby boi wrote:

penguin wrote:Dragons sign short term cover at centre - Thretton Palamo - USA international, can't say I know anything about him. Anyone else have a clue?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... y-13642736

Who have they lost in the centre? Haven't seen Adam Warren yet this season, who I've always rated as quite tidy.

Warren is injured, only just back, butnot risked this week. Tyler Morgan picked up an injury last week, hopefully minor. Kirchner dislocated his shoulder but was an option at 13, and Beard also out for 12 weeks.

There is Adam Hughes, who has played 13 in the past, but pretty thin for centres.

Talk about Amos maybe going to FB (not this week) which might be a good move.

Ah, right. Might be interesting to see Amos at 13

cubby boi wrote:

penguin wrote:

cubby boi wrote:

penguin wrote:Dragons sign short term cover at centre - Thretton Palamo - USA international, can't say I know anything about him. Anyone else have a clue?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... y-13642736

Who have they lost in the centre? Haven't seen Adam Warren yet this season, who I've always rated as quite tidy.

Warren is injured, only just back, butnot risked this week. Tyler Morgan picked up an injury last week, hopefully minor. Kirchner dislocated his shoulder but was an option at 13, and Beard also out for 12 weeks.

There is Adam Hughes, who has played 13 in the past, but pretty thin for centres.

Talk about Amos maybe going to FB (not this week) which might be a good move.

Ah, right. Might be interesting to see Amos at 13

Not a bad shout that. We have plenty of back 3 options (comparatively) for wales, so another option at 13 would be good. He'd be like a budget Jon Davies.

I suggested Amos at 13 and was rounded upon. Are the dragons planning to play him there anytime soon?

Frodder wrote:I suggested Amos at 13 and was rounded upon. Are the dragons planning to play him there anytime soon?

Were you? By who? Not as far as I'm aware. I still think he'd be a better 15, but having a guy who can play all around the backline is a good way to guarantee a shot at the welsh bench, so might not be a bad move for him (as long as he doesn't get messed around too much).

penguin wrote:

Frodder wrote:I suggested Amos at 13 and was rounded upon. Are the dragons planning to play him there anytime soon?

Were you? By who? Not as far as I'm aware. I still think he'd be a better 15, but having a guy who can play all around the backline is a good way to guarantee a shot at the welsh bench, so might not be a bad move for him (as long as he doesn't get messed around too much).

Henry Henry, it was Henry

Frodder wrote:

penguin wrote:

Frodder wrote:I suggested Amos at 13 and was rounded upon. Are the dragons planning to play him there anytime soon?

Were you? By who? Not as far as I'm aware. I still think he'd be a better 15, but having a guy who can play all around the backline is a good way to guarantee a shot at the welsh bench, so might not be a bad move for him (as long as he doesn't get messed around too much).

Henry Henry, it was Henry

Did he round on you with a pinpoint argument, unassailable logic, and detailed analysis of Amos' strengths and weaknesses relative to the outside centre position...or did he just say something like he wasn't big enough?

penguin wrote:

Frodder wrote:

penguin wrote:

Frodder wrote:I suggested Amos at 13 and was rounded upon. Are the dragons planning to play him there anytime soon?

Were you? By who? Not as far as I'm aware. I still think he'd be a better 15, but having a guy who can play all around the backline is a good way to guarantee a shot at the welsh bench, so might not be a bad move for him (as long as he doesn't get messed around too much).

Henry Henry, it was Henry

Did he round on you with a pinpoint argument, unassailable logic, and detailed analysis of Amos' strengths and weaknesses relative to the outside centre position...or did he just say something like he wasn't big enough?

I've lost track of my reactionary wailing. What did I say about Amos?

I think I've said he's too slow for wing and should be playing FB. Centre? Will have to see which way I blew in the past before committing to a point once more.

henry wrote:

penguin wrote:

Frodder wrote:

penguin wrote:

Frodder wrote:I suggested Amos at 13 and was rounded upon. Are the dragons planning to play him there anytime soon?

Were you? By who? Not as far as I'm aware. I still think he'd be a better 15, but having a guy who can play all around the backline is a good way to guarantee a shot at the welsh bench, so might not be a bad move for him (as long as he doesn't get messed around too much).

Henry Henry, it was Henry

Did he round on you with a pinpoint argument, unassailable logic, and detailed analysis of Amos' strengths and weaknesses relative to the outside centre position...or did he just say something like he wasn't big enough?

I've lost track of my reactionary wailing. What did I say about Amos?

I think I've said he's too slow for wing and should be playing FB. Centre? Will have to see which way I blew in the past before committing to a point once more.

I don't know. Undoubtedly wailing though

I asked could Amos be an option at 13.

H's reply was masterful i.e. "No"

Dragons team to face Ulster

15 Carl Meyer, 14 Adam Hughes, 13 Thretton Palamo, 12 Pat Howard, 11 George Gasson, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Owain Leonard; 1 Thomas Davies, 2 Gerard Ellis, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 4 Matthew Screech, 5 Rynard Landman, 6 Max Williams, 7 Ollie Griffiths ©, 8 Robson Blake.

Replacements; Rhys Buckley, Phil Price, Brok Harris, Joe Davies, Lennon Greggains, Dane Blacker, Angus O’Brien, Will Talbot-Davies.

http://www.dragonsrugby.wales/News/Arti ... ster-clash

Don't like the look of the front five....back row is very raw...backline is a mixture of players out of position (Howard at 12), blokes who've just met (Palamo) and kids like Gasson and Leonard. Apart from that it looks great...

penguin wrote:Dragons team to face Ulster

15 Carl Meyer, 14 Adam Hughes, 13 Thretton Palamo, 12 Pat Howard, 11 George Gasson, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Owain Leonard; 1 Thomas Davies, 2 Gerard Ellis, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 4 Matthew Screech, 5 Rynard Landman, 6 Max Williams, 7 Ollie Griffiths ©, 8 Robson Blake.

Replacements; Rhys Buckley, Phil Price, Brok Harris, Joe Davies, Lennon Greggains, Dane Blacker, Angus O’Brien, Will Talbot-Davies.

http://www.dragonsrugby.wales/News/Arti ... ster-clash

Don't like the look of the front five....back row is very raw...backline is a mixture of players out of position (Howard at 12), blokes who've just met (Palamo) and kids like Gasson and Leonard. Apart from that it looks great...

I think Bernard has chucked the towel in on this one. Putting all his focus on the home games and the 'winnable' away ones. Aka your Zebras and Cheetahs of the league.

Dai another day wrote:

penguin wrote:Dragons team to face Ulster

15 Carl Meyer, 14 Adam Hughes, 13 Thretton Palamo, 12 Pat Howard, 11 George Gasson, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Owain Leonard; 1 Thomas Davies, 2 Gerard Ellis, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 4 Matthew Screech, 5 Rynard Landman, 6 Max Williams, 7 Ollie Griffiths ©, 8 Robson Blake.

Replacements; Rhys Buckley, Phil Price, Brok Harris, Joe Davies, Lennon Greggains, Dane Blacker, Angus O’Brien, Will Talbot-Davies.

http://www.dragonsrugby.wales/News/Arti ... ster-clash

Don't like the look of the front five....back row is very raw...backline is a mixture of players out of position (Howard at 12), blokes who've just met (Palamo) and kids like Gasson and Leonard. Apart from that it looks great...

I think Bernard has chucked the towel in on this one. Putting all his focus on the home games and the 'winnable' away ones. Aka your Zebras and Cheetahs of the league.

Yeah, definitely. There's some stuff I don't understand though. You've got a big unit like Palamo who barely knows the rest of the team, playing at 13, when Howard or Hughes should know the systems more by now. Could risk Ulster taking the piss down that channel if he doesn't sync up with everyone.

The backrow actually looks quite interesting - a proper ball carrying 8, an all-round 7 and a big athletic 6 - nice balance, shame it's so raw it comes with a risk of salmonella. Also good to see Joe Davies in there. He's been one that I thought had all the attributes to make it when I saw him at under 20s...hope he comes good this season.

Frodder wrote:I asked could Amos be an option at 13.

H's reply was masterful i.e. "No"

Decisive. Authoritative. And undoubtedly correct.

henry wrote:

Frodder wrote:I asked could Amos be an option at 13.

H's reply was masterful i.e. "No"

Decisive. Authoritative. And undoubtedly correct.

Well at least you've got a 50-50 chance of being right, better than your normal odds

penguin wrote:

henry wrote:

Frodder wrote:I asked could Amos be an option at 13.

H's reply was masterful i.e. "No"

Decisive. Authoritative. And undoubtedly correct.

Well at least you've got a 50-50 chance of being right, better than your normal odds

Indeed. I got accused the other day of 'always being wrong'. Which is achievement in consistency if nothing else.

With regards to Amos, if the Dragons need him to fill in I'm sure he'd do a job. He's physical specimen with relative pace in that position and he's an intelligent player. That said, I worry about his defence (on the basis of an occasional Welsh display) and would be concerned about his positioning and leadership in that regard in such a defensively pivotal and complex position.

Longer-term, I don't like to see players endlessly shunted around. It often breeds confusion, bleeds confidence and robs form and momentum. I would prefer him to concentrate on learning his trade at 15. But needs must in the short term.

Ospreys rolling out the big guns. Indicative of the trouble they're in that they're picking them for an Italian game...


The Ospreys team to play Benetton Treviso at Stadio Comunale di Monigo on Friday 22nd September 2017, KO 8.35pm (local), is as follows:

15 Dan Evans
14 Keelan Giles
13 Ben John
12 James Hook
11 Jeff Hassler
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb

1 Nicky Smith
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Ma’afu Fia
4 Bradley Davies
5 Adam Beard
6 Olly Cracknell
7 Justin Tipuric (Capt)
8 Dan Baker

REPLACEMENTS
16 Scott Otten
17 Gareth Thomas
18 Rhodri Jones
19 Alun Wyn Jones
20 James King
21 Tom Habberfield
22 Sam Davies
23 Kieron Fonotia

The following players were unavailable for selection due to injury

Dmitri Arhip – Shoulder
Ashley Beck – Shoulder
Hanno Dirksen – Knee
Dafydd Howells – Shoulder
Brendon Leonard - Foot
Brian Mujati – Shoulder
Luke Price – Foot
Rory Thornton - Shoulder
Eli Walker – Back

Haven't been able to get on the net for a while but I've been so excited about watching the Dragons I really don't know how to handle the feelings of optimism. This is going to be a proper mess of a season with more losses than wins but at least the Dragons are trying to play more entertaining rugby.

bessantj wrote:Haven't been able to get on the net for a while but I've been so excited about watching the Dragons I really don't know how to handle the feelings of optimism. This is going to be a proper mess of a season with more losses than wins but at least the Dragons are trying to play more entertaining rugby.

Hope Ulster with a B team doesn't prove to be too big a let down after last week. Obviously a loss is expected...so I'm just looking for signs of progress. The makeshift nature of the team does concern me.

So Dragons unashamedly chucking this one.
Ospreys going all out, desperate to beat a minnow.

Owen Watkins still not selected, and not on the injured list either.... Where is he?

cubby boi wrote:So Dragons unashamedly chucking this one.
Ospreys going all out, desperate to beat a minnow.

Owen Watkins still not selected, and not on the injured list either.... Where is he?

Tesco Fforest Fach.

So Dragons unashamedly chucking this one.
Ospreys going all out, desperate to beat a minnow.

Owen Watkins still not selected, and not on the injured list either.... Where is he?

cubby boi wrote:So Dragons unashamedly chucking this one.
Ospreys going all out, desperate to beat a minnow.

Owen Watkins still not selected, and not on the injured list either.... Where is he?

Just moved to H & M from Tesco 10 minutes ago