NG Dragons Vs Leinster Rodney Pde Sat 1st Dec 17.15

[paddyor]

Is it fair to say that Conor O'Brien is now ahead of Tom Daly?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

That was a ridiculous result regardless of how bad the Dragons were. They have huge problems but we were the one who made them look like kids. Thought it was great that we were able to repel their mini comeback after HT with the bench they had, there's a real steel to the young lads.

Ross Byrne's kicks to touch from penalties (and crossfield kicks of course) are absolutely brilliant, and the rest of his game isn't far behind.

[hugonaut]

Yeah wasn't it ego that made Conway move iirc?

In his last season [2012-13] he was competing against Isa [who played No 11,14 and 15 that season, starting 22 games], Ferg [who played Nos 11,12, 13 & 14 that season, starting 21 games], DK [who played Nos 14 & 15, starting 11 games] and Luke, who missed all but five games of the season and was never right [Nos 11 & 15, 5 starts].

Conway played in 23 games [16+7] that season and 42 games for Leinster before he turned 22. The idea that he was moving for gametime was always very questionable. The way I saw it was:
1] the IRFU was very vocal about wanting players to move provinces 'for the good of Irish rugby'; and
2] Declan Kidney was very generous towards Munster players in terms of including them in Irish squads [see Dave O'Callaghan, Ian Nagle, Stephen Archer etc.]

My belief is that he thought he'd get some early caps for moving [the union's best boy] and for playing for Munster [Deccie's newest protege]. He couldn't get into Munster's strongest 23 in his first season and Kidney got sacked that year, so it backfired. All supposition ... but plausible.

[ribs]

Any idea where to find highlights this evening? Thanks

[OTT]

I thought Ross Byrne was man of the match. I know the Dragons were gash but I was so impressed in how he backed himself to run the ball when it appeared he was going to kick it, to be able to read the game like that on the fly, it was Carbery esque when he first broke through which we all drooled over at the time. Great to see him being able to mix it, his kicking game has always been strong. He is getting more rounded every game. Well done to him.

[Flash Gordon]

We now have by far the best offence and defence in the league. We're scoring nearly 40 points a game. Are there question marks over the competitiveness of the league I wonder? The Ospreys and Dragons didn't look like they were up for it for large tracts of the games. Richard Hibbard is a 3 time Lion but clearly can't be arsed. I know he's 34 but then again so is Scott Fardy.

[riocard911]

I thought Ross Byrne was man of the match. I know the Dragons were gash but I was so impressed in how he backed himself to run the ball when it appeared he was going to kick it, to be able to read the game like that on the fly, it was Carbery esque when he first broke through which we all drooled over at the time. Great to see him being able to mix it, his kicking game has always been strong. He is getting more rounded every game. Well done to him.

+1 The ability and the confidence of all our players to mix things up and play what was facing them, was what impressed me the most. Good examples would be the clearing kick to touch by Penny after we got the ball back off them in our 22 in the first half, and Deegan's grubber off the outside of his boot to the corner flag towards the end of the second half to pin the Dragons back on their line.

[mildlyinterested]

We now have by far the best offence and defence in the league. We're scoring nearly 40 points a game. Are there question marks over the competitiveness of the league I wonder? The Ospreys and Dragons didn't look like they were up for it for large tracts of the games. Richard Hibbard is a 3 time Lion but clearly can't be arsed. I know he's 34 but then again so is Scott Fardy.

Maybe, but not much Leinster can do about it.

Let's see how we go in Europe and Xmas interpros

[OTT]

We now have by far the best offence and defence in the league. We're scoring nearly 40 points a game. Are there question marks over the competitiveness of the league I wonder? The Ospreys and Dragons didn't look like they were up for it for large tracts of the games. Richard Hibbard is a 3 time Lion but clearly can't be arsed. I know he's 34 but then again so is Scott Fardy.

Personally I think Leinster disrespected the league by picking a bunch of hungry kids and only putting 59 points on the Dragons.

I wonder what the Welsh journalists are writing these days.

[mildlyinterested]

We now have by far the best offence and defence in the league. We're scoring nearly 40 points a game. Are there question marks over the competitiveness of the league I wonder? The Ospreys and Dragons didn't look like they were up for it for large tracts of the games. Richard Hibbard is a 3 time Lion but clearly can't be arsed. I know he's 34 but then again so is Scott Fardy.

Personally I think Leinster disrespected the league by picking a bunch of hungry kids and only putting 59 points on the Dragons.

I wonder what the Welsh journalists are writing these days.

crying about finances no doubt.

[mildlyinterested]

Any idea where to find highlights this evening? Thanks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqLmdPZbzRU

[Peg Leg]

Eir commentators mentioned that Birch was not at the match. What's that about?

[Dundalk 1]

Eir commentators mentioned that Birch was not at the match. What's that about?

He was serving ban for having a go at a ref after one of the previous matches

Presumably the Cardiff coach will serve a similar ban after his outburst over the reffing of their match with Ulster

[LeinsterLeader]

Eir commentators mentioned that Birch was not at the match. What's that about?

2 game suspension for giving out about refs

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Can't blame him, I'd try to get a ban to avoid watching them too.

[artaneboy]

We now have by far the best offence and defence in the league. We're scoring nearly 40 points a game. Are there question marks over the competitiveness of the league I wonder? The Ospreys and Dragons didn't look like they were up for it for large tracts of the games. Richard Hibbard is a 3 time Lion but clearly can't be arsed. I know he's 34 but then again so is Scott Fardy.

Personally I think Leinster disrespected the league by picking a bunch of hungry kids and only putting 59 points on the Dragons.

I wonder what the Welsh journalists are writing these days.

crying about finances no doubt.

Spot on!

[D4surfer]

Any idea where to find highlights this evening? Thanks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqLmdPZbzRU

Or the whole match here with Reggie Corrigan and Shane Williams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NefhwVl3jPk

[D4surfer]

I know it doesn't matter now but if you look at the Dragons try, Wainwright was in an offside position when he picked the ball from the ruck. It was exactly the same as the disallowed try by Doris. You would hope for consistency.

[Dave Cahill]

I know it doesn't matter now but if you look at the Dragons try, Wainwright was in an offside position when he picked the ball from the ruck. It was exactly the same as the disallowed try by Doris. You would hope for consistency.

There was no ruck, it was a tackle only - therefore it wasn't offside. He actually refereed it exactly as he described when he was asking the TMO about the Doris disallowed try

[arsebiscuits1]

I know it doesn't matter now but if you look at the Dragons try, Wainwright was in an offside position when he picked the ball from the ruck. It was exactly the same as the disallowed try by Doris. You would hope for consistency.

There was no ruck, it was a tackle only - therefore it wasn't offside. He actually refereed it exactly as he described when he was asking the TMO about the Doris disallowed try

Yeah but still incorrect call.

To prevent that whole "tackle only" tactic Italy exploited, World Rugby changed it so that only one player has to be over the ball for it to be a ruck correct?

Dragons player was clearly present at the ruck. Sealed it by grabbing the tackled players jersey. Ruck all day. Totally incorrect call.

Poor fringe defence by Leinster however