Have the little-fancied Dragons the best back row options in Wales?
‘Bring Your Fire’ is the Dragons’ marketing tagline in the social media era. The hashtag accompanies all announcements of note at the Gwent region, but its potency has been akin to starting a campfire in the rain in recent years.
Under Bernard Jackman, the affable former Ireland hooker, the Dragons won only 11 times in 44 games, and the coaches that preceded him – Darren Edwards, Lyn Jones and Kingsley Jones – could only sporadically lift the region.
They rarely troubled the giddy heights of mid-table in the PRO12 and latterly PRO14. From the 2015/16 season onwards, they have won just 15 of 86 league games, enough to test super fans of the sunniest disposition.
Now under Welsh Rugby Union rule, the region has ushered in another era in the imposing form of Dean Ryan, the former England and Wasps No8. Unafraid to speak his mind, the well-travelled Bristol, Gloucester and Worcester coach left his role as head of international player development at England rugby with a stinging parting shot earlier this year and work started in earnest pumping up the tyres of a region starved of success.
Ryan has cut a pragmatic tone in his early assessments of what can be achieved and despite modest financial resources – the region had to convince the WRU for a £3.4million recruitment kitty – he has local talent to work with. As we move towards December, there is quiet optimism of a region taking baby steps.
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With four wins in eight games, including a first league win on the road since 2015, Ryan has brokered a period of relative stability.
Integral to the improvement has been Sam Davies, who has added authority and creativity, lifting half-back partner Rhodri Williams’ game, while a pack bolstered by Elliot Dee and Cory Hill – once fit – will add heft and guile.
Where there is greatest reason for optimism, however, is in the back row where their cup runneth over. It is arguably the strongest regional unit in Wales.
Headlining is Aaron Wainwright, the 22-year-old who announced himself on the world stage with a series of increasingly assured RWC performances to back up Robin McBryde’s assertion that he bore similarities to his new breakdown and defence coach at national level, Sam Warburton.
Ross Moriarty, a ‘marquee signing’ grafted at No8 in the absence of the stupendously gifted former Dragon Taulupe Faletau, but it’s beneath the surface you will find a golden seam with the potential to join that duo at a rarefied level.
For his part, Newport-born Wainwright, who will start at No8 for Wales against the Barbarians on Saturday, has already been in and around Rodney Parade for rehab on a hamstring injury and Ryan likes the cut of his gib.
“Aaron’s impact at the World Cup was huge. What sets him apart is his ability to go from zero to full speed in a split second, which is quite something. The try he scored against France was unbelievable – it made everyone look like they were standing still. The attention and scrutiny since Japan is all new at the moment but I’ve heard great things about him.”
Another Welsh call-up who has impressed under Wayne Pivac this week for his ‘immense’ strength over the ball is Ollie Griffiths, who finally has the chance to shine in a Welsh jersey. Long earmarked as a player of Test quality were it not for ill-timed injury, Griffiths, at 24, has time on his side and Ryan likes what he has seen.
“I was surprised how good Ollie was. He can play with a No7 or 8 on his back and has obviously been robbed playing on a higher stage through timing of injuries. His impact and influence on games has been clear to see.”
?? TEAM NEWS ? |Your @dragonsrugby to face @ZebreRugby as we return to @PRO14Official action at @rodneyparade on Saturday afternoon!
A total of 8? changes as @richardhibbard2 leads the team!? #BringYourFire? #DRAvZEB pic.twitter.com/fhluLtsTxQ
— Dragons ? (@dragonsrugby) November 29, 2019
Putting bums on seats – and lifting them off them this season – is Taine Basham, who at just 20 has celebrated his explosive start at Dragons with a week in the Welsh camp this week before returning to Rodney Parade for Saturday’s game with Zebre.
A European hat-trick against Castres and a man-of-the-match performance underlined his potential and Ryan, not prone to hyperbole, was effusive in his praise.
“Taine just has this raw ability to improve very quickly. He takes information on board easily and adds it to his game without losing the core understanding of what his strengths are – basically, a high impact player with explosive power. He’s not a steady 70 per cent type-of-player, he will always bring flashes of dynamism at some point in the game.”
Keep your ?s open for some festive @dragonsrugby here… ?? https://t.co/G4lQxqlhgF
— Dragons ? (@dragonsrugby) November 28, 2019
Having spent two years at the head of the England pathway programme, Ryan has firm ideas about developing young players and has already been in discussion with Pivac about Basham’s progress.
“We both believe his long-term future is at openside. At the moment he sees the game as a No8 which is 10 yards away from the play but at openside, you’re in the middle all the time on the deck and have to make much more instinctive decisions. It means a steep learning curve before he is exposed to the highest level”
Ryan thinks Basham has the mentality and attitude to progress in the game if he works on his consistency week-to-week. “I thought last week was the best I’d seen him play.
“He attacked the breakdown and was a physical presence in defence, all things that don’t necessarily attract headlines but are key to his improvement. In time, Taine is the sort of player who can shape the game the way he wants to”
With a week of training at the Vale under a new coaching team, Ryan knows Basham will have soaked up information like a sponge. “For a 20-year-old, sitting with Sam Warburton is going to be a great learning experience to become a better player. I’m keen to hear his impressions on his week with Wales.”
Ryan expects a near full complement back after the Baa-Baas game, and with Nic Cudd, Harrison Keddie, Ben Fry and the injured Lennon Greggains, he can expect to earn his crust selecting Dragons’ No6, 7 and 8. Such is his range of options that there is even idle paper-talk about Moriarty’s long-term future with the region.
Ryan is circumspect. It’s a conundrum coaches like to have. “The players are all back next week and I’ll have to start selecting. We need to create some pressure and the back row is definitely somewhere we have genuine pressure.”
Time for the industrial strength aspirin. Can Ryan become the region’s firestarter? Only time will tell.
WATCH: RugbyPass went behind the scenes at Dragons during the Bernard Jackman era
Comments on RugbyPass
pure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
1 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to comments