The draw for this years Heineken Cup is out, and we’ve not got a bad draw!

Pools, ERC ranking in brackets.

POOL 1: Munster (1), Perpignan (11), Saints (15), Treviso (28)

POOL 2: Biarritz (6), Glaws (10), Dragons (21), Glasgow (24)

POOL 3: Leicester (2), Ospreys (13), Clermont (17), Viadana (36)

POOL 4: Bath (5), Stade Francais (9), Ulster (20), Edinburgh (26)

POOL 5: Toulouse (4), Cardiff Blues (8), Sale (16), Quins (32)

POOL 6: Leinster (3), London Irish (14), Scarlets (18), Brive (30)

So Biarritz, those gentle folk with a fondness for pigs and tractors from over the border, and Glasgow again. BO are unpredicatable. Last year they were fairly shambolic in the early part of the cup. Glawwwwsterrr are not the force they once were, indeed they are going backwards at a rate of knots, with some major upheavals. And Glasgow are Glasgow, we know all about Glasgow.

Right, so hopefully that’s enough misplaced optimism to keep you keen over the summer. See you for a weekend here…

Not in a Drags shirt anyway!

Adam ,
On behalf of us all here at dragged up , thank you for your efforts and best of luck at Worcester.

You have been the epitome of what a professional rugby player should be these last 6 years, and you deservedly rounded off your Dragons career with a brace of tries.

I , for one ,will never forget your “ Ooh La La” try in Clermont -sheer poetry!

Pointing the way as ever!

PS – great win tonight boys – well done.

Sorry folks, I’ve been pretty tied up of late, so this interview should have been published a fortnight ago. Thanks to Paul for being interviewed, and for so long, too. Thanks to the dragged up chat board members for coming up with the questions; sorry i didn’t use all of them but it’s obvious that beetroot is nicer than spam, frankly. Anyway, cast your minds back and pretend it’s the night after the Ospreys match:

We seem to have been dogged by questionable refereeing this season – a lot of close games decided by the referee, such as the Scarlets and Blues at home.

Well we’ve talked about perception to the referees, and Robert Yeman (Referees boss at the WRU). A lot of referees, given a 50/50 call, will call it the way they expect to see it, rather than the way it necessarily is. With the other teams in the League having more resources than we have, the referees don’t expect us to do well, and so their perception of us influences the game. And of course the crowds affect the decisions that are made – in an ideal world the refs would wear headphones, and listen to their favourite music during the match, except when we’re playing at Rodney Parade, of course.

Every time I see James Jones run out, my heart sinks.
James isn’t so bad. He’s reffed a couple of close ones for us last season that we’ve won. All in all he’s quite a fair ref.
We had a few bad decisions last night, or lack of them, such as Mike Phillips shoving Joe off the ball, but that’s the way it goes; we have to change the perception, and we’re talking to the referees all the time to try and achieve this.

Talking of last night, I thought the main difference between us and them was Shane Williams.
Well, that and the scrum half – Mike Phillips is a British Lion, and has a physical edge. All the teams have these players who can turn a game, whether it’s Shane at the Ospreys or Regan King. It’s our bad luck that our two players with that capacity are injured – Colin and Marc.

Ah, Charv. Can we expect to see him turn out this year?
He had an operation on his knee in April, and he’s still hobbling from that, so it’s unlikely he’ll be fit in a fortnight. He’ll be coaching for us next season, so who knows? He might pull the shirt on. Marc is still having treatment, and is coming on well, but isn’t going to be fit this season.

So what can we expect from next season?
As you know, we had a three year plan, and this was year one; bring in some outside experience, a couple of ex all-blacks, and that has gone pretty well. Tom Willis has lived up to expectation and been very influential for us. Hoani MacDonald is getting better every match. Unfortunately that defeat in Galway has tarnished everyone’s memories of the season; up until then it was going fairly well. Because of the financial climate, it’s going to be very difficult to carry on with the plan, though; for instance, the plan was to be in the new stadium in year three, which is unlikely to happen now.
We’ve got Ben Castle and Danny Lee coming next season, and I expect to be signing another three or four by the summer – we’re looking at props, outside backs and opensides. There’s no getting around the fact that we’ll be cutting costs for next season, though, in common with everyone else. Some of the players we’ll be releasing I’d love to hold on to, but we have to reduce costs.

Do we share conditioning programmes with the premiership clubs in the region?
It’s something I’d like to do, but at the moment we’re only doing it with Newport, who share James Knight with us.
We do notational analysis of the academy players in the premiership games they’re involved in. The games are saved on disk, here, since the academy was moved to RP after Christmas. Last season the union provided video analysis of the premiership games, but for reasons of cost that’s been stopped this season. We’ve offered it to the teams in the region, but I don’t think they’ve taken it up.
We share ideas between the clubs, and there’s very good communication between myself and the premiership coaches in the region, like Ringo at Cross Keys, but it’s quite informal; we’ll need to be more focussed when the British League happens and we get teams playing Munster or Edinburgh A, Bristol, Bedford, Exeter, Doncaster or London Welsh. The league is a good idea, as we need something between the premiership and the region to provide development for the players who could make a step up. At the moment we are seeing players that would make useful regional squad players, with a bit of work, being tempted off to Cardiff or Neath.

So which of these players can we expect to see next season, then?
From the academy there’s Coundley, James Thomas, Rhys Jenkins, Adam Hughes and Adam Brown who I expect to see make the move next season, if they work hard. There’s quite a few players in the Premiership sides I have been watching who are capable of making the step up as well: Mike Poole, Tom Riley, Scott Williams, Nathan Buck, Lampard, Leadbetter, Owain Jones, Jevon Groves, Hywel Jenkins, Adam Brake, Tom Edwards, Geraint O’Driscoll, Will Jones…

Cae Trayherne?
Well, he’s getting on a bit now, but yeah, he could play. We make a gut decision on a lot of these players at Christmas time, and you have to hope that you’re right. For instance, Scott Williams could have played last night, comfortably, with his current form.

How do you feel about the ELV’s being binned?
I would have kept them all, including the ones that are being used down under. The driven maul coming back will see the game slowing down again, and more penalty tries. It smacks of the British being unable to change, to be honest. I’d like to see the game sped up.
Dropping the maul is contentious, but I don’t want to see us returning to the days of Neil Back at the rear of the Leicester pack, rumbling up the pitch.

After three seasons, what sticks in your mind as particular low points and high points?
Connacht the other week was a low point, obviously, but then last night was a complete contrast to that. I went in to the dressing room afterwards to tell the players how proud of them I was and the commitment they showed. They were playing for each other and the shirt, and it showed. They’re a proud bunch of lads, and they will compete against the odds.
When the team loses, it’s not just me and the players, but the business and the region lose. We all have a bad day, from the Chairman to the supporters. Conversely, when we win, it’s for everyone; the cleaners, the ticket sellers, the supporters.
Historically the Leicester match was a real high, and the two Boxing Day matches against the Blues at Rodney Parade were superb. The atmosphere made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. We’ve a good bunch of supporters here, and it’s getting better.
I want to make sure that we are building for the future; when I go on about training facilities it’s not because I want them, but the business needs them. It’s important that whoever is in the job in two or ten years time has the right environment and facilities. Players like Goughie, Owen and Luscombe didn’t leave because of money, but to go to a team with ambition that’s building for the future. We need to demonstrate that we are doing that. When players come from abroad, all they know in the UK is London. They come to us and see our facilities, and then go down the road to Cardiff or Swansea, and they’re not making decisions based on money, because we could offer the same, but on what the set up is like. Teams like Munster, Leicester and the Ospreys are operating on playing budgets of a million to a million and a half pounds a year more than us, so we need to get the best out of our resources to even hope to beat sides like that, who have huge strength in depth. (note from nick – Leicester have a salary cap of £4m) Unless of course there’s more money available… We need someone to put that kind of money into the team if we are to compete realistically.
We’ve got a great bunch of players, who are good as a group, and they deserve the best we can give them.

Thanks Paul

There’s a friendly been organised tomorrow night at Sixways, 7:30pm. £5 for adults, £2 for kids, parking is a fiver. Obviously it’s not on the telly, or the radio, or anything, but we’ll be endeavouring to provide score updates on the chat board. The press release and team is below:

Dragons centre Ashley Smith will wear the captain’s armband on Thursday as he leads the Men of Gwent in their friendly against Worcester at Sixways (7:30pm)
“Ashley is one of our Academy products who has come through the system and has very good leadership qualities,” said Head Coach Paul Turner. “He captained the region against Gloucester in the EDF Cup and led the side admirably.
The match gives vital pitch-time for the squad in the run-up to their Magners League clash against Connacht at Rodney Parade on 26 April (5:05pm).
Jason Tovey moves to fullback and James Arlidge takes on the number ten shirt whilst Duane Goodfield could make his first appearance of the season from the bench, as captain Tom Willis is rested alongside Welsh international Luke Charteris.
“Automatic qualification for the Heineken Cup is our aim going into these final matches of the season and the Connacht game is going to be crucial,” added Turner.
“Postponed matches and the Six Nations have left our players in need of game time and this fixture is a perfect opportunity to prepare for Connacht.”

Dragons Team for Worcester: Jason Tovey, Richard Fussell, Rhodri Gomer-Davies, Ashley Smith (Capt), Aled Brew, James Arlidge, Wayne Evans, Huw Gustafason, Steve Jones, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Sean Tomes, Hoani Macdonald, Grant Webb, Joe Bearman.

Replacements From: Duane Goodfield, Nigel Hall, Jamie Corsi, Andrew Hall, Dan Lydiate, Jamie Ringer, Lewis Evans, Alex Walker, Shaun Connor, Rory Sidey, Gareth Wyatt, Martyn Thomas, Kevin Morgan.

No team for Worcester, i’m afraid.

Last week was a bit of a disaster, not helped by being played in front of about 25 of us, so it’s very difficult to tell what went wrong. We need to dust ourselves down, and move on, now. It’s vitally important that we get a good run in at the end of the season, and there’s some difficult games coming up, including Leinster at home, and Ospreys away. Before all that, though, is the Connacht match a week Sunday. we all need to get down to RP and make some noise, and remind the team, and ourselves, what it’s all about.

GO DRAGS!

late update – just in case you can’t see the comment below from G#1F, parking is reduced to £2 after the Wuss fans complained. not such Wusses after all.

do you see what i did there? sigh.

Well, no-one can say we’re not taking this seriously; that’s a good strong team there, given our injuries it’s as good as we can put out, i reckon.

Aled Brew makes his first start for us, since coming back from the Buggers in Blue down the road. Tal Selley (you remember, world champion Tal Selley?) misses out on selection, and Tom Isaacs has a hip injury. According to the Argus Fuss is fit again after an op for his hernia, which is pretty good going. Macdonald says he’d rather play blindside than lock, so it’s just as well we’ve got Tomes there.

Last time we played this mob on Craggy Island we lost 22-7, despite taking atidy team out, but they’ve been unable to beat any welsh team so far this season, despite running them lot down the road close a few weeks ago.

I haven’t got a clue who their players are. Ray Ofisa. I think i recall that name. The rest of them might play hurling, or do that Michael Flatley thing for all i know. There was, frankly, no point in me posting their team up – it means bugger all to any of us. At least i stood a chance of picking Mark McHugh out of a lineup.

Anyway, it’s not on the telly, it’s not broadcast live anywhere (unless the magners website has a secret feed from a bloke stood behind the burger van or something. try here ). Father Ted FM are going to do a few updates – they’ve given me the times, an all, but if you believe them you’ll believe anything. Nonetheless, i’ll be hunched over the live internet feed off my phone at 6:45, 7:05, 7:30 and 8:05. There’ll be a cow loose, or something. Careful, now.

Ted and Dougal have their radio station live feed here.

Thanks to Ollie Turner of Galway Bay FM for this info. I am an ungrateful bugger, amn’t I?

15 Kevin Morgan
14 Tal Selley
13 Rory Sidey
12 Ashley Smith
11 Aled Brew
10 Jason Tovey
9 Wayne Evans

1 Hugh Gustafson
2 Tom Willis (Capt)
3 Nigel Hall
4 Sean Tomes
5 Hoani Macdonald
6 Danny Lydiate
7 Richard Parks
8 Joe Bearman

Don’t tell me you’re not excited. Tovey starts at 10. Two wingers? Actual wingers, who have played wing before? The Dwarf back in the scrum?

That could be our first team, next season, kids. Get used to it.

Except for Charteris, natch. And Fussell.

hmmm. Blackie and Adam Jones are injured. Hoani MacDonald is back in the Antipodes on a family emergency, Luke is away with the Wales squad, Selley and Brew are away with the fairies… sorry, Wales sevens squad. This means it looks like we’ll be playing with a triallist (Sean Tomes) at second row and no specialist winger. Luckily Doug Howlett has found something better to do than come to Newport on a sunny Saturday in March…

Tom Willis is confident, mind; in the skippers shout (good to see that back, by the way) he writes:

It’s been a very challenging week for the squad as we have battled a large injury roll call and as a consequence preparations have had to be modified to accommodate those recovering from niggles. Despite this the players who do wear the colours tonight will be pumped up and excited about testing themselves against a side who are consistently setting the standards within European rugby. Earlier this season we were handed a lesson from Munster in Cork, but I have no doubts whatsoever that we are a dramatically improved side since then.

Let’s hope we are dramatically improved enough.

Go Drags…

We’ve been given a little bonus this month – to make up for the lack of game time there’s a friendly against the Scarlets on Friday, March 27th, at 7:30pm.
Season ticket holders will get in for nothing, while terrace tickets and family stand are £10 for adults. If you really must sit down for this, then it’s £15 to you…

hopefully we’ll beat the turks at the third time of asking this season…

There’s an A game at Llandarcy Academy of Sport tonight against an Ospreys A team; 6:30 kick off, so not much time if you’re going down. Some of our youngsters will be playing, and a whole raft (hopefully) of fully fit senior players, including Richard Parks and Kev Morgan (yes, he does still play for us).

Ospreys Squad:
Forwards: Ryan Bevington, Paul James, Cai Griffiths, Craig Mitchell, Ed Shervington, Marc Breeze, Richard Hibbard, Scott Baldwin (Bridgend RFC), Filipo Levi, Andrew Lloyd, Richard Kelly (Swansea RFC), Haydn Pugh (Neath RFC), Tom Smith, Justin Tipuric (Academy), Rory Pitman, Filo Tiatia, Steve Tandy, Marty Holah

Backs: Gareth Owen, Kristian Phillips, Leigh Bevan, Jonathan Vaughton, Jamie Murphy (Bridgend RFC), Nicky Thomas (Swansea RFC), David Bishop, Sonny Parker, Jonathan Spratt, Ashley Beck, Dan Biggar, Rhodri Wells, Jamie Nutbrown

Dragons Team:
15 Phillip Dollman
14 Martyn Thomas
13 Rhodri Gomer Davies
12 Scott Williams
11 Aled Brew
10 Shaun Connor
9 Wayne Evans

1 Nigel Hall
2 Duane Goodfield
3 Stuart Maguire
4 Andrew Hall
5 Sean Tomes
6 Danny Lydiate
7 Jamie Ringer
8 Grant Webb

Replacements (from):

Jason Tovey
Kevin Morgan
Ruchard Fussell
James Arlidge
Rob Lewis
Lewis Evans
Richard Parks
Joe Bearman
Adam Brown
Gethin Robinson
Steve Jones
Rhys Thomas