Connacht V Dragons 6/09/2014 5pm

Looks like an exiting team, hope the noobs have a bright start. I won't be going to this after all, poor timing on my part. anyone know what's up with Ronaldson he's not listed as injured but didn't feature in preseason afaik?

Look at the youth.
2 players over 26, Mul is 31 and white is 33
9 players 23 or younger.
4 players between 24 and 26. Mcsharry 24, poolman 25, porter 26, buckley 24.

Director of Rugby Lyn Jones, has chosen a mixture of youth and experience in his team to face Connacht at the Sportsground, in the opening round of the Guinness PRO12 (Saturday 6 September, KO 17:00).

© Huw Evans Images
By Katie Vizard | 05/09/2014

Skipper Lee Byrne will make his debut alongside Boris Stankovich, Lloyd Fairbrother, Rynard Landman and Andy Powell.

The back three is a trio of internationals as Lee Byrne is named as fullback with both Tom Prydie and recently returned Dragon Aled Brew on the wing. Jones has appointed a fresh look centre pairing with Jack Dixon and Tyler Morgan. The Newport Gwent Dragons highest points scorer Jason Tovey retains the number 10 jersey as Jonathan Evans is named as scrum-half.

Jones carries on with his mix of youth and experience in the front row as Boris Stankovich is named as loosehead prop, Elliot Dee as hooker and Lloyd Fairbrother as tight head prop. Last years skipper Andrew Coombs is named in the second row along with south African lock Rynard Landman. The back row contains flankers Lewis Evans and Nic Cudd alongside British and Irish lion Andy Powell at number 8.

The replacement bench contains T. Rhys Thomas, Owen Evans, Dan Way, Ian Gough, Taulupe Faletau, Dorian Jones, Geraint Rhys Jones and also gives academy player Barney Nightingale, who impressed during pre-season, the chance to pull on the Dragons jersey.

Newport Gwent Dragons team to face Connacht

Lee Byrne (c), Tom Prydie, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Aled Brew, Jason Tovey, Jonathan Evans; Boris Stankovich, Elliot Dee, Lloyd Fairbrother, Andrew Coombs, Rynard Landman, Lewis Evans, Nic Cudd, Andy Powell.

Replacements
T. Rhys Thomas, Owen Evans, Dan Way, Ian Gough, Taulupe Faletau, Dorian Jones, Geraint Rhys Jones, Barney Nightingale.

I was just looking/lurking on the Dragons board and they are taking the piss something fierce of our parochial style of commentary here on craggy island: draggedup.co.uk/chat/viewtopic.php?t=5615

s mentioned in the other thread, the match will be covered live on craggy island fm after the news at approx 5:10. let your imagination run riot as a welshman takes the ball up and is bravely stripped by johne who goes on a bullocking run down the wing to be brought down cruelly by a welshman and then the welshman goes in at the side and that welshman there is illegally sealing off and the ref blows for a well deserved penalty which dan parks, resplendent in the green has slotted over from FIFTEEN! yards inside the connacht half. no ,i tell a lie i t was more like twenty five. and the welshmen restart the game and oh that welshman there has tackled brave johne in the air, alright his feet were on the ground but the referee has rightly seen the intent there and if he had been in the air it would've deserved a red card, not the yellow the referee has actually awarded, and now dan parks is lining up the penalty fro the connacht 22, and oh, it's over, another well deserved three points for connacht. the welshmen are down to 12 men after eight minutes and it seems they have no answer to the brave connacht attack.

etc.

etc.

Nice, only one mistake in my predictions, White ahead of Ah You, but I was right for Heff ahead of Henry and Adeolokun/Finn more than Carr!
Ok young halfbacks counting with absolute values, but for a head-to-head, we've to COMPARE with the team we're facing. Average age from 9 (Scrum-Half) to 14 (winger) is EXACTLY the same : 22.5 years old

Was reading the same on dragons forum, someone has to sign up, log in and calm down that tribe of ironic optiomistics

will be interesting the South-Af duel in 2nd row between Rynard Landman and Quinn Roux, new recruits for both clubs

anyone know why Ronaldson is'nt in the match day squad, will be interesting to see how Leydan gets on at 15, thought he was a centre.

ha the "Craggy Island FM radio commentary" is pretty funny in fairness...

One poster is expecting Dragons get a bonus point win- rest just confident of a win.

wp_rathead wrote: ha the "Craggy Island FM radio commentary" is pretty funny in fairness...

One poster is expecting Dragons get a bonus point win- rest just confident of a win.

Can anyone tell me if there is an under 18s game on before the dragons match

Diom wrote: No way? Wilko is co commentating! Getting my earbuds ready as we speak.

Excellent interview with Heenan on TheScore today. Can't wait to see him back in action.

Game on TV ?