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URC basement dwellers Dragons heap more misery on Newcastle

By PA
Dan Lydiate of Dragons RFC reacts during the EPCR Challenge Cup match between Newcastle Falcons and Dragons RFC at Kingston Park on December 15, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Dragons maintained their half-time lead to hold off hosts Newcastle and win their European Challenge Cup clash 22-14.

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The Welsh team’s prop Rodrigo Martinez scored from a pick and go in the 16th minute to set the tone for his side’s quality showing on the road in the Pool Two contest.

After Angus O’Brien extended the lead with a penalty, Adam Radwan scored the try of the match with a 50-yard dash to put points on the board for the hosts.

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Alex Hearle got on the end of a loose ball to increase home hopes of victory but scores from Aaron Wainwright and Huw Anderson secured the win for Dragons and left the Falcons winless.

Connacht claimed their second win in as many matches in a 31-18 success at Perpignan which saw them claim a bonus point in Pool One.

Byron Ralston, Eoin de Buitlear and Chay Mullins all crashed for the visitors in the first half and despite a fight back by Perpignan after the break, scores from Paul Boyle and Adam McBurney rounded off the win.

Scarlets’ 36-18 home victory over Black Lion also saw them claim a bonus point in Pool Three.

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Two tries from from skipper Josh Macleod and further scores from Gareth Davies, Johnny Williams and Archie Hughes secured the victory in a game the hosts led 19-11 at the turnaround.

Fixture
Challenge Cup
Newcastle
14 - 22
Full-time
Dragons RFC
All Stats and Data


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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

Haha yeah I know, sorry I just cbf doing anything other than sprouting the garbage that comes in. You either follow the train of thought or don't most the time, that's why I like you, happy to not take it serious like, and reply regardless.

Haha more imaginary rational. You mean in 2018 and 19 he used 36 new players?

more = you're following in Saders footsteps (here I go again assuming you know what I'll mean haha)

imaginary = fictitious world cups (no WC in 2018)

by "months before" you mean 2018/19? = because you wrote 2018 i'm assuming that's because your brain was thinking about that year when he used most of those 36 players

36 new players = because it's absolutely impossible to use 36 new players in the handful of games you get, or "months", before a WC

Doesn't really sound like good coaching and reinforces other theories. Wouldn't spread that.

Doesn't really sound like good coaching = that is waay to many players no matter what way you spin it, or what period. Where did you even get the data for that from?

reinforces other theories = no need to go into them here but it definitely suggests a case of being lucky to win despite the fact (if true) imo

Wouldn't spread that = cheekyness about above point


So yeah, you can see why I don't try to elaberate my posts so everyone can understand and sadly theyre too succinct for some with a slightly different lingo or thought.

and two years of >85% win ratio on the trot - I’d love to see how he’d have down with better coaching.

the none TLDR version reply..

two years = but weren't you following the similar line of this article that Razor needs to open it up? Why would you think that when you're suggesting he's got another 3 or 4 years before he reaches that point in tenure when he should also be trying to hit the 85 mark?

>85% win ratio on the trot = WC years are short and provide easy opposition, you don't normally include them. 22 would be more relevant, and this year you had both other top teams at home, so you'd think that 85 number is overs, or 'above' average based on circumstances (85 is a really fabulous number however so going back to 80 would also still be great)

love to see how he’d have done with better coaching. = well it's exactly the opposite of above isn't it, it's operating at well over 70 for 4 (excl covid) of those 7 years instead of his 60%, before hitting the 80s mark.


You might also ask well how could that be possible when he's done so bloody well just to do what he's done? Well I'm not going to take him (or SA) down a beg or two, instead I'll give you the hint (because I'm over thinking how to type long versions of replys), the answer is in this article!


Can you think of any specific players that became instrumental to the team from those 36 new players? One's plucked out of nowhere so to speak? I know for the first two years after covid he switched up you're team and tactics after each game against NZ (for the second), I think winning both 1st games and losing both rematch's? You don't think he should ever have done that differently, not been so happy to give up a victory against the ABs?

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