This is a league that gets much derision for a number of reasons, for teams not taking it seriously, for a lack of fans, for a lack of interest. But yet again we see just how the Magners League address this issue – they do nothing and hope it works.

Now I do think the Guinness Premiership is an over rated league. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a number of things going for it – not least because they know how to interest the fans.

Double Header

This season, having moved to London, I have ‘acquired’ a Wasps season ticket. Obviously I would prefer to be watching the Ospreys but that isn’t logistically possible. But I look at what Wasps start out with and then I look at the Ospreys fixture list and I am left thinking that maybe watching the GP is the right choice.

Wasps start with the ‘double header’ at Twickenham. I did this last year and it is a great day out, loads of fans, loads of buzz, a lot going on and two great games against traditional rivals. Kicks the season off well.

Compare this with the Ospreys start. Two trips to Ireland, which most fans are going to be unable to get to, and two home games vs the new Italian teams.

Now I know that having a league in so many countries is going to lead to a number of games you don’t care as much about – but there has to be a better way of starting the season off than this!

Why can’t we look at the Welsh teams getting a double header together at the Millenium? Goodness only knows the clubs don’t take the league that seriously anyway so the move of a ‘home game’ to the Millennium will not be too concerning, and will create a lot more interest amongst fans.

Even if that not is the case a local derby to kick us off allows all fans to get to their teams first game of the season, will lead to some sell outs and create a lot of media and fan interest. Surely it is important to start the season off with a bang?

Not in the Magners League though, a whimper is more accurate. But then what else can we expect from a league that doesn’t want good players playing in it.

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The Ospreys have one hell of a start – away to Toulon, whilst the Blues have life a little easier at home to Edinburgh. The Dragons start away to Glasgow

Ospreys

Sat 9 Oct Toulon V Ospreys – 2.35pm – Stade Felix Mayol – Canal +
Fri 15 Oct – Ospreys V London Irish – 8.00pm – Liberty Stadium – Sky Sports
Sun 12 Dec – Munster V Ospreys -1.00pm – Thomond Park – Sky Sports
Sat 18 Dec – Ospreys V Munster – 3.45pm – Liberty Stadium – Sky Sports
14/15/16 Jan – London Irish V Ospreys – TBC – Madejski Stadium – TBC
21/22/23 Jan – Ospreys V Toulon – TBC – Liberty Stadium – TBC

Cardiff Blues

Sat Oct 9 Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh Rugby KO18:00 Cardiff City Stadium
Fri Oct 15 Castres Olympique V Cardiff Blues KO21.00 Stade Pierre Antoine
Sat Dec 11 Northampton Saints V Cardiff Blues KO17.45 Franklin’s Gardens
Sun Dec 19 Cardiff Blues V Northampton Saints KO15:00 Cardiff City Stadium
Cardiff Blues v Castres Olympique KO TBD Cardiff City Stadium
Edinburgh Rugby v Cardiff Blues KO TBD Murrayfield

Dragons

FRIDAY 8 OCTOBER, 2010 Glasgow Warriors v Newport Gwent Dragons 19.30
SATURDAY 16 OCTOBER, 2010 Newport Gwent Dragons v Toulouse 17.45 S4C*
SUNDAY 12 DECEMBER, 2010 Newport Gwent Dragons v London Wasps 13.00 S4C*
SATURDAY 18 DECEMBER, 2010 London Wasps v Newport Gwent Dragons 13.00 Sky Sports
14 / 15 / 16 JANUARY, 2011 Toulouse v Newport Gwent Dragons
21 / 22 / 23 JANUARY, 2011 Newport Gwent Dragons v Glasgow Warriors

*Highlights

Scarlets

9/10/10 15:45 Scarlets v Perpignan Parc y Scarlets
17/10/10 15:00 Leicester Tigers v Scarlets Welford Road
11/12/10 15:00 Scarlets v Benetton Treviso Parc y Scarlets
18/12/10 14:35 Benetton Treviso v Scarlets TBA
14/15/16 Jan TBC Scarlets v Leicester Tigers Parc y Scarlets
21/22/23 Jan TBC Perpignan v Scarlets TBA

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Have to admit that I did not see that coming.  They achieved a narrow victory (of just  vote) over the Ospreys, with Cardiff Blues and Llanelli Scarlets tied for last place, well behind the top 2 regions.

Pretty much reflects the Magners league at the moment, though the Scarlets could point to their impressive Heineken cup results to suggest they could do something this season.

<h3>Final Votes</h3>

Dragons – 32 votes

Ospreys – 31 votes

Cardiff Blues – 17 votes

Scarlets – 17 votes

A new poll is going up now – voting can take place on the right hand side of the site

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Dragons Captain and hooker Tom Willis returns to the side that features the likes of Welsh hopefuls Luke Charteris, Richard Fussel and Martyn Thomas. Jason Tovey has to make do with a place on the bench with Martyn Thomas as fullback and James Arlidge (the Kiwi Japanese) continuing at outside half.

Dragons team vs Scarlets

Martyn Thomas, Aled Brew, Tom Riley, Ashley Smith, Richard Fussell, James Arlidge, Wayne Evans, Hugh Gustafson, Tom Willis (C), Peter Bracken, Robert Sidoli, Luke Charteris, Danny Lydiate, Gavin Thomas, Hoani MacDonald

Replacements: Steve Jones, Gethin Robinson, Adam Jones, Lewis Evans, Jason Tovey, Matthew Watkins, Danny Lee

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Other players with Welsh rugby hopes include Martyn Roberts the scrum half, who with Mike Phillips injured, Dwayne Peel potentially unavailable for the New Zealand game and the poor form of Gareth Cooper must certainly be in the thoughts of the Welsh coaches.  Dan Evans at fullback is also in the running to replace the injured Lee Byrne (along with anyone who has ever played fullback if you listen to the regional coaches).

Obviously Stephen Jones and Matthew Rees are all but nailed on for the Welsh squad but others have it all to play for in this great Welsh derby – Sacrlets vs Dragons.

Llanelli Scarlets team to face the Dragons

Daniel Evans; Lee Williams, Sean Lamont, Rob Higgitt, Mark Jones (capt); Stephen Jones, Martin Roberts; Iestyn Thomas, Matthew Rees, Deacon Manu, Lou Reed, Dominic Day, Simon Easterby, Dafydd Jones, David Lyons.
Replacements: Phil John, Ken Owens, Vernon Cooper, Richie Pugh, Tavis Knoyle, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Maule.

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A hugely Earth shattering bit of news this. For Dragons fans.

Sorry but I have to say I am far from a Matthew Watkins fan. Fine as a back up for injuries or to cover smaller games but with all the movement that the Dragons have seen in the centre (including Stretch retiring) that leaves Matthew Watkins and Rhodri Gomer-Davies as their first choice partnership.

Gareth George on twitter sums it up with this eloquent quote

NOOOOOOOOOO GUTTED

He is, in case you couldn’t guess, a Newport-Gwent Dragons fan.

As I say Matthew Watkins isn’t a bad player if you have players ahead of him, he’s useful cover – but a first choice starter? The Dragons really are going to suffer this season

But as a side note can someone tell me how he managed to get 18 caps? I think that shows how much Wales have struggled in recent years.

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Now I will admit I was never a fan of Hal Luscombe for Wales – he was never an international class winger and it could be debated if he was a center of that class to be honest.  But he was always an honest, hard working player who did have his moments – being part of the 2005 grand slam winning side for one!

But at regional level Hal Luscombe was a great servent for the Newport Gwent Dragons.  He helped what has always been an inexperienced backline by providing strength and skill.  He was a player that they could rely on again and again – and it was certainly a big loss for them when he moved to English club Harlequins.

At only 28 it is very early for him to be retiring – many rugby players only really hit the peak of their skills at that age, but it seems repeated injuries have made Hal’s mind up for him.

His current Worcester, and former Wales, coach Mike Ruddock paid tribute to him as a player.  Speaking to the official Worcester Warriors website he said

“Hal has been released to in order for him to pursue different ambitions.

“I would like to thank him for his service and pay tribute to his outstanding character and performances over the years, most notably as a member of the Wales Grand Slam winning team of 2005.”

So good luck to Hal Luscombe.  Maybe not a Welsh legend but a good servent to the game and one of the players that helped bring about the end of our long wait for a grand slam.

Diolch bach

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Nicky Robinson is back at outside half after a few years, something he deserves after being one of the form 10′s in the UK this year.  The issue has to be the worry over his goal kicking, so lets hope that he can do well with the boot as well as from hand this weekend.

Ryan Jones starts again, presumably still hoping for the Lions call I believe he deserves (and deserved from the start).

Andrew Bishop also starts, presumably through a lack of other options.  he needs to start giving passes more and not just hunting contact.

Other than that the main interest for me is seeing how Robin Snowden-Taylor does.  Personally I am disappointed Sam Warburton isn’t getting a game, as I have heard big things about him, but RST (to save effort) is a player that I keep changing my mind on.  A good regional player but I am not sure if he has the talent for international rugby or not… shall be watching with interest.

The Welsh team vs United States

Wales: Daniel Evans (Scarlets); Mark Jones (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Tom James (Cardiff Blues); Nicky Robinson (Gloucester), Dwayne Peel (Sale); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Gareth Williams (Cardiff Blues), John Yapp (Blues), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Deiniol Jones (Blues), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Robin Sowden-Taylor (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Craig Mitchell (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sam Warburton (Blues), Gareth Cooper (Blues), Daniel Biggar (Ospreys), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys).

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Having watched the appalling game vs Canada (it did have some plus points, but all in all a pathetic game) I have to say that Andrew Bishop is not international class.  Time and again in that game, and for most of the season with the Ospreys, he failed to give the pass when it was calling out for it, instead choosing to take contact.

People say he is a good contact player, but I disagree.  Yes when he takes it in we usually come back with it, but he doesn’t make the yards a hard hitting 12 needs to make to be considered a top class contact 12.  Nor does he have a kicking game or passing game of any note (or at all as far as I can see).

He is also considered a great tackler.  OK he rarely misses one, but again the thunderous smashes don’t seem to be part of his game – and his positioning has been called into question a few times – especially when blitzing.

He has had his moments.  Vs Australia when he came on early for Jamie Roberts (who had cracked his skull and set up a try) he actually showed some deft skills – so it could be that they are there and someone like Scott Johnson, the incoming Ospreys coach, will be able to make the most of it.

But for now I am far from impressed by Andrew Bishop and feel he is not good enough to be part of any senior Welsh set up (when the British Lions are back anyway).  there are better youngster options, whilst already established players such as Gavin Henson, Jamie Roberts and arguably James Hook should be ahead of him in the pecking order.

That he has been involved in so many Welsh squads shows again the lack of real talent we have below the top tier of players in certain positions.

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The Welsh Rugby Team

Mixed bag, but most of it pants – and a few of them smelly.  Highpoints were the win over Australia in the Autumn, the first half vs Scotland in the 6 Nations, the haka stand off, the first half vs New Zealand and the awesome Shane Williams try vs South Africa last summer.  Beating England is always a plus point as well, even if it was done rather poorly this time.

Low points were losses to France and Ireland, letting chances vs South Africa go when we could have won it, some shockingly poor performances and an outright refusal to recognize the limitations of our game plan and try something different.  Something the opposition did notice.  Oh, and Ryan Jones not going on the British Lions tour.

Cardiff Blues

Pretty much freshly washed and folded pants here.  Did very well in the Heineken cup, the only side, I should imagine, who have never lost a game yet not won the cup.  EDF win means they have finally got the trophy they have been threatening.  Leigh Halfpennys emergence has been tremendous, whilst youngsters like Tom James and British Lion Jamie Roberts have shown that their potential can last more than one season.  Oh and Gethin making a case to be the best player in the world, certainly the best prop.

Low points, obviously missing out on the Heineken Cup final on a penalty shoot out has to rank up there.  Magners league performances were at times poor, mostly due to the lack of strength in depth – hopefully something they will work on over the summer.  Saying goodbye to the Arms park is definitely a low point (especially considering what it is costing them financially).

Dragons

Smelly pants here.   Hard to do a positive and negative summary as both seem to be pretty much the same.  As ever they narrowly lost a lot of games, as ever they will be taking on the Italians in the last ever Magners League European play off.

Tovey coming through, the form of Bearman and Charteris starting to add some performances to go with his caps are pluses I suppose.  Negatives, well there’s a lot – including crowds, issues at halfback, lack of real talent in a lot of positions…

Scarlets

A big pile of stinky pants here.  Awful in Europe, woeful in the Magners league until the last week, and a mostly clueless coaching team when it comes to tactics or defence.  they have some attacking talent no doubt, but without a pack or a defence to base it on they won’t amount to anything.

Pluses were; somehow hanging on to Stephen Jones, Martyn Roberts looking like he could become a top class player and Lyons being a very good signing.

Minuses include coaching staff being seemingly clueless, lots of injuries, defence, set pieces, pack, lack of crowd numbers, no impact in any competition – oh and lacking any morals or integrity whatsoever.

Ospreys

Very stinky pants indeed.  Despite still being in contention for all 3 trophies at the turn of the year the ospreys were inept, clueless and, all in all, rather shocking.  They couldn’t even find a head coach for ages.

Positives; Lee Byrne being excellent, Adam Jones coming into a huge amount of form, Paul James really improving, Gareth Owen looking the real deal (more so than Biggar imo), signing Jerry Collins.

Negatives; Sean Holley, Jonathon Humphries, Andrew Horse, struggling to find a head coach, inept tactical performances, clueless at breakdown, lack of go forward on ball, overthrown lineouts in defence again and again (never throw to the back on a defensive line out guys), Jonny Vaughton, Tom Smith and much, much more.

Like I said, all in all, a big pile of pants.

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