Dragons v Edinburgh 21/10/23

[bigparahandy]

Finally the new URC season is upon us. Here is my match column for the game. Not to be a hypocrite but I'd accept this game being as one sided as ABs v Pumas as long as Edinburgh are on the team on that one side. Can't wait in any case.

https://open.substack.com/pub/theburghw ... medium=web

[dolf_lundgren]

This could be a long season. First game of season but we look a bit of a rabble.

Hard to put a finger on the problem. But the lack of energy is really concerning.

[dolf_lundgren]

Last play if the half and we kick what would have been a very good 50:22. Real lack of awareness though.

[The Feral Goat]

Utter pish first 40 to start the season. FFS

Not convinced dropping the internationals in with zero training time helps.

Dragons had a decent pre-season but we have no attacking shape we don't look like breaking them down.

I think Dean on 2nd half for a bit more direct option, or would be tempted to switch Scott and healy to get the pre-season combos together.

[macdone]

This is horrendous, I've seen better in the Super 6.

[dolf_lundgren]

We won, the end.

[The Feral Goat]

Better second 40.

Physicality much better, having a kicker of healys quality makes a difference as well.

Thought Boyle looked like he gave a SteveWalsh put himself about well.

To play so poorly and still win is a positive...maybe. lots to work on though.

[macdone]

Phew. Connor Boyle got a grip on the breakdown in the 2nd half. Healy kicked his goals. A lot wrong. Creativity is going to be an issue. Kicked away a lot of possession. This is potentially our first choice half backs and midfield. Lucky Dragons are poor.

[The Feral Goat]

Healy only been with the squad since Monday perhaps explains some of the rustiness, surely will get better with a few more sessions.

[doedin]

Not entirely sure how we won that one! I thought Dragons were excellent in the first half and they continually broke through our midfield defence but butchered opportunities and we scrambled well.

Our lack of urgency and physicality was very worrying in first half, all very passive and letting them play in front of us and through us. 2nd half was better, Boyle began to win the breakdown, Crosbie ran hard and straight and Vellacot and Healy began to control the game a bit better and got us playing in the right areas of the pitch.

Our scrum and line outs were good but we were very sloppy once we won the ball. I'm not sure any of the props put themselves about much, 2nd row weren't very aggressive in the loose and only Boyle and Crosbie stood out, Neil and Dodd were invisible when on the pitch.

Backs were a bit ragged and lightweight in both attack and defence - our defence across 10-12-13 seemed very shaky and they got dragged into tackling wrong man and leaving big gaps. They improved in 2nd half. Back 3 were ok, I thought McCann did some good things and Goosen eventually started to play a bit. Young Scott at FB had a difficult time.

I know we are missing an entire pack and half a dozen top class backs but I expected some of the guys today to really put their hand up and stake a claim for a starting place in weeks to come, not sure many did! Dragons are not a good team, there is a lot tougher games to come!

[Impega]

Given a good few of the players have only been with the squad for a short time and several front line guys are not available, I would have taken any kind of win today.

Healy could well be one of the best and most important signings for years. Not just his kicking, but the ability to actually control a game from 10.

[Castlecannon]

A win away playing as poorly as we did is indeed a result! Healey was impressive and covered up the cracks in a very clunky midfield pairing unit that just didn’t work. We possibly missed the creative elements that Dean or Lang can offer . Connor Boyle had a good game and the tidy Scott is an evolving talent. We will need to up our levels for next week when one hopes we might have a few of our internationalist returning.

[liveinhope]

Possibly that may be looked on as a hugely important result especially given we were short of so many players.Not easy on the eye but really hung in there and will give the squad huge confidence particularly as we have so many home games coming up.
Apart from Healy, Crosbie was tremendous ( I sometimes wonder if he should be ranked ahead of Ritchie?) and Boyle came on well. Possibly worked in our favour that Skinner pulled up in the warm up!
The backs certainly looked like they hadn't played a league game for over six months but good to see Currie finally back and Goosen as ever never made a mistake.Very impressed with Scott who was rock solid at the back.Given he's possibly fourth choice at stand off that was a superb performance (Kinghorn take note how a rookie was immaculate under the high ball).
All in all pretty happy given the way we lost so many close games last season and something to build on.