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Dragons to field 900kg pack as size increase appears to pay dividends

The Dragons during their heavy defeat to Saints

The Dragons are set to field a 900kg pack against the Scarlets at at Parc y Scarlets today, as a size increase in recent weeks appears to be paying dividends.

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Interim coach Ceri Jones – who stepped up following the departure of head coach Bernard Jackman from the club last month – has emphasized increasing the Dragons grunt up front since taking the helm.

Last weekend the side recorded their first derby day victory in over four years, with a cliffhanger 23-22 victory over the Ospreys.

Dragons have traditionally been one of the lighter sides in the competition, but moving 6 foot 5 inch, 116kg lock Cory Hill to the backrow has allowed the Newport based side to add bulk up without compromising on quality.

“They originally asked me to jump at six and Cory to call the lineouts in the Clermont game, because we wanted a bigger pack,” fellow lock Matthew Screech told the club website.

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“That game it worked really well – we were in that game for 80 minutes and put in a really good fight. The three of us worked well together.

“I’m getting a bit more lineout ball now and I’m enjoying it. We have options so in defence it has worked well again.

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“Cory is a really good athlete. He can slip into that six slot easily and you have the likes of Cuddy (Nic Cudd) who can come back at any time. We have options and it has worked well for us.”

Screech is enjoying playing with big Samoan secondrow, Branden Nansen (6’6, 117kg).

“Brandon is an awesome player,” said Screech. “He is a really humble person and when we play together he is flying out and smashing people. That is exactly what Ceri (Jones) wants and he is doing really well.

“People expected a lot of him straight away and if people didn’t see him in one game they can make opinions. But you could see when he arrived that he was going to be a really good player.

“The last couple of games he has been really reliable and just does what he does.

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“Ceri has said to me and Brandon that he wants us to be physical people and it has been nice to have a consistent run of games. I’m enjoying playing.”

The addition of 110kg No.8 Harrison Keddie has also added to an extra heft to the traditionally more mobile pack.

“We are all bruised up, but that is what derby games are like. I love them,” he added. “At Rodney Parade last weekend it was awesome, the atmosphere was amazing and you don’t really feel the bumps and bruises in those game.

“They are best games of the year. Everyone comes to see and it was great that we could get that important first derby win.”

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J
JW 8 hours ago
The Fergus Burke test and rugby's free market

Haha and you've got Alzheimers you old b@astard!


You haven't even included that second quote in your article! Thanks for the share though, as I found a link and I never knew that he would have been first school boy ever to have a contract with NZR if he had of chosen to stay.

n an extraordinary move, Tupou will walk away from New Zealand despite being offered extra money from the NZRU — the only time they have made such an offer to a schoolboy.While Tupou has fielded big-money offers from France and England, he said it was best for him and his family to live in Australia, where his older brother Criff works as a miner and will oversee his career.

Intersting also that the article also says

“They said that ‘if you’re not on a New Zealand passport and you’ve been here for four years, you can play for the team’,” Tupou said.“But I’ve been here for four years and they said I can’t play for the New Zealand A team. It’s not fair. Maybe I’m not good enough to stay here.“But that’s one of my goals this year — to play for the New Zealand A team. If I can play with them, then maybe I’ll change my mind from going to Australia. If I have the chance to play for the All Blacks, I’ll take it.”

And most glaringly, from his brother

Criff Tupou said: “What people should understand is that this in not about what Nela wants, or what I want, but what is best for our poor little family.“Playing rugby for New Zealand or Australia will always come second to our family.“My mum lives in Tonga, she would not handle the weather in New Zealand.“And I have a good job in Australia and can look after Nela.“If things don’t work out for him in rugby, what can he do in New Zealand? He is better off in Australia where I can help him get a job.“New Zealand has more rugby opportunities, but Australia has more work and opportunities, and I need to look after my little brother.“We haven’t signed a contract with anyone, we will wait and see what offers we get and make a decision soon.”

So actually my comment is looking more and more accurate.


It does make you wonder about the process. NZR don't generally get involved too much in this sort of thing, it is down to the clubs. Who where they talking to? It appears that the brother was the one making the actual decisions, and that he didn't see the same career opportunities for Taniela as NZR did, prioritizing the need for day jobs. That is were rugby comes in, I'm sure it would have been quite easy to find Criff much better work in NZ, and I highly suspect this aspect was missed in this particular situation, given the discussions were held at such a high level compared to when work can normally be found for a rugby signing. How might his career have paned out in NZ? I don't really buy the current criticisms that the Aussie game is not a good proving ground for young players. Perhaps you might have a better outlook on that now.


So you TLDR shouldn't be so aggressive when suffering from that alzheimers mate👍


Well I suppose you actually should if you're a writer lol

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