Another URC mismatch for Dragons as Bulls' power shows

South Wales Argus

18-05-2025

Realistically, the Rodney Parade club were never going to end a United Rugby Championship losing streak that stretches back to the opening weekend success against the Ospreys.
The Bulls were comfortable throughout and had their bonus in the bag when crashing over with the final play of the first half.
The Dragons did, however, give them something to think about when Rhodri Williams' delightful pass set up Huw Anderson and then the scrum-half scored a terrific solo himself.
The Bulls responded to take their try total to nine before Carmarthen Quins' Lewis Morgan went over to give the visitors a shot at an unlikely consolation bonus.
They thought they had it when Ashton Hewitt, in his last game as a Dragon, raced over only for a forward pass to frustrate the winger.
It was the correct decision, even if it denied us a sentimental moment.
That meant the Dragons finish the season in single figures with their nine points a joint record low in the league. They just edge out Zebre's class of 2022 on points difference.
The Dragons finished a whopping 20 points behind the Italians with 14th-placed Ulster 29 points away, while the gap to the play-offs was 39.
SCRAMBLE: Rhodri Williams clings on to Cameron Hanekom (Image: Gordon Arons/Huw Evans Agency)
MISMATCH
For weeks there has been no jeopardy with Dragons games, all their game were destined to be defeats unless something ridiculous happened.
The Ulster home game was winnable, as were the Welsh derbies against Scarlets and the Ospreys with a touch of fortune, but they were NEVER going to beat the Stormer and Bulls.
Under Filo Tiatia as boss, ALL of their URC opponents have claimed five-point hauls.
This final fixture was an odd game with the Bulls getting the job done comfortably to ensure they keep momentum but not exerting themselves too much for the play-offs.
Their power was too much but the South Africans weren't as ruthless as they could have been in what was a stop-start game.
Plenty of time was spent waiting for scrums and resets, to the frustration of referee Andrew Brace.
It was one-way traffic for much of the afternoon but the Dragons did at least show some flashes of inspiration.
There was a terrific strike play in the first half that set Angus O'Brien free and almost created a try and then Williams came to the fore after the restart with a sensational wide pass for Anderson and solo effort.
We only got some fleeting moments but frankly that was all we expected given the long list of absentees.
Arguably only six players – Aneurin Owen, O'Brien, Williams, Ben Carter, Shane Lewis-Hughes/Ryan Woodman (tight call at blindside) and Aaron Wainwright – started the season as a first-choice starter.
The XV will look very different in September, and it needs to, and the bench should be stronger.
The pressure will be huge in the first block of next season for the players and management team.
LEADER: Aneurin Owen has shouldered a heavy burden for the Dragons (Image: Gordon Arons/Huw Evans Agency)
OUT OF THE FIRING LINE
The Dragons coaches haven't had enough selection decisions since the turn of the year.
The absentee list has been around the 20-mark for too long and they have had to call on young talent before they are really ready.
Five youngsters who could play for Wales in the World Rugby U20 Championship have made their pro debuts this season – wing Harry Rees-Weldon, fly-half Harri Wilde, prop Owain James, lock Nick Thomas, back rower Evan Minto.
Brodie Coghlan and Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, who made his debut at the Scarlets on New Year's Day, have been forced to play far too much in 2025.
Flanker Ryan Woodman, who has been fielded out of position at lock, and centre Aneurin Owen are two prime examples of players who have been flogged through necessity.
One fears that two hugely talented players, individuals with the ability to step up to Test level, are at risk of being damaged by bad experiences at club level.
The hope is that the lessons learnt in tough times will outweigh the harm done through so many crushing defeats.
75' TRYYYY DRAGONS
And what a way to make your debut!!
Driving maul and Lewis Morgan is the beneficiary to score Dragons' third try. #WeAreGwentRugby #BULvDRA pic.twitter.com/PUnM40iqDs — Dragons RFC 🐉 (@dragonsrfc) May 17, 2025
STEPPING UP
The Dragons headed into the game with a 22-man absentee list and three of them were senior looseheads Rhodri Jones, Rodrigo Martinez and Josh Reynolds.
That has led to Kelleher-Griffiths being thrown in at the deep end and performing pretty well since his New Year's Day debut in Llanelli.
However, he joined the injury victims when he went down and stayed down in the 17th minute, seemingly suffering a hand injury.
The easy choice would have been to put on Tonga international Paula Latu, who had played most of his rugby at loosehead before heading to the Dragons as short-term tighthead cover.
Instead, they put their faith in Jamie Hughes just seven days after he had been in the Llandovery side that lost to Ebbw Vale at Eugene Cross Park in the semi-finals of Super Rygbi Cymru.
The 28-year-old has been leading figure in the success of the Drovers and performed admirably in an hour-long effort in Pretoria.
Hughes had some tough moments – what prop doesn't in South Africa? – but did himself and the Drovers proud.
The same can be said for Morgan, a former Wales Under-20s international now on the books of Carmarthen Quins.
He hit his man at the lineout fresh from the bench and then was at the bottom of the pile when the backs helped the forwards go over the line.
The Dragons had to call in favours from the SRC through necessity but this was a sign that the knowledge is there for who is ready and able to step up when needed.
Nonetheless, hopefully a bit more luck can avoid the need for such SOS calls next season.