FOR A FARMER, Dan Lydiate had a surprisingly difficult time remembering exactly what breed of livestock numbers in the 600s around his Llandrindod Wells home .
Granted, the flanker still had his socks loosely tied around his shins after an intense training session in warm conditions at Carton House.
But if we’d back anyone to correctly identify a sheep, it would have been him.
Like Sean O’Brien (along with English brothers Tom and Ben Youngs) Lydiate is never one to shy away from his farming roots and is looking forward to comparing notes with the man who will he his direct competitor for a number six shirt.
“I’ve played against Sean a few times now, he’s a quality player.” Says the 25-year-old. “I was chatting to him the first day we met up. He’s a farm boy, so we’ve a few things in common and we were having a chat about that. He seems a top lad.”
Lydiate is an extremly affable man with a smile that belies his ferocious character on the field of play. So we like to think it was a Freudian slip when the 2012 Six Nations Player of the Year began to compare Welsh and Irish farming styles
“Well he’s beef I’m cattle… Well, no. I mean, he’s beef, I’m sheep. So there’s different aspects there, but I’ll quiz him and see what he’s got to offer.
“I’ll give him a hand if he needs it; he only lives 40 minutes up the road.”
Lydiate’s work ethic is not exclusively organically grown in Wales, however. Born in Salford, his father worked in shipyards until the family moved closer to his mother’s home.
Mostly Welsh, half English; but the outgoing Dragons back row’s Irish connections are growing too. He will be among Jonathan Sexton and Jamie Roberts on the list of stars joining Racing Metro once the summer’s done.
‘Tidy’
“I said hello to Jonny [last Monday] and he seems like a real tidy guy. Hopefully we’ll have a coffee out in Australia and have a chat.
And with Ronan O’Gara the latest name added to their staff, Lydiate paid tribute to the man he’d soon be working alongside.
“It’s awesome to have such quality signings for the same team that you’re going to be going to and it gets me really excited to be playing along with and coached by legends of the game.”
I don’t know why “title hopes” features in any headline this early in the season.
@ecrowley ecrowley: I don’t know why “title hopes” features in any Arsenal headline tbh.
@Ray Ridge: Never change, Ray!
You win some. You lose some. You draw some.
Unfortunate about the offside but Partey should have scored. Missed opportunity to close the gap. Stuff like this add up at the end of the year unfortunately.
@Joshua Walsh: the offside isn’t unfortunate, it’s just really poor concentration from martinelli to stray offside in that position.
And this my friends is why ……………
@Ray Ridge: oh so you show for draws… interesting. What about wins?
@Joshua Walsh: as complete no show. Mia.
@Ray Ridge: i might add Ray. They are a few places and points above newcastle who drew with Liverpool in midweek which was supposed to be a good result??
@Ray Ridge: is why you are a terminal donkey.
@paul doyle: yes, but delve a little bit deeper, and the whole story will show. Coming away from Newcastle with something is not a bad result.
@Ray Ridge: Arsenal have more of a chance october winning side man city
@paul doyle: Newcastle beat Arsenal yea?
Hopefully Spurs get a result v chelsea and it would off being some weekend for us ( liverpool ?
It’s a point more than we got there last season. I’ll take that.
In certain aspects it was a good performance. Raul with a very well taken goal, really put us on the back foot. For me, when we go behind, we don’t have enough cutting edge going forward. A lot of nearly moments unfortunately.
@Sean O’Maolain: Didn’t realise you were on the team Seán. What’s your squad number?
@Sambo: Ahhhhh I see what u did there. I said “we”… So u assume I played. No buddy. I’m just a fan and their the club I support….disappointed that I needed to explain that to u. :-(
@Sambo: keep digging!
Same old arsenal
@Robert Clifford: lol, how do u figure? Ohh ya, I forgot… Arsenal are expected to win every game week in week out. Great take there sir.
@Sean O’Maolain: yea they are if they want to win the Premiership
Why are Damien Leen and David Sheperd on this article like they are on other premier league articles? Or is just the United ones? They have to be the most disliked people on this app.
@James Molowney: maybe if man united didn’t keep embarrassing themselves they wouldn’t have anything to comment on? Just a thought!
@Sean O’Maolain: Ah yes you are the other one with those other 2 tulips that’s fairly disliked on this app, you never stop either.
@James Molowney: Well done on showing up ur intelligence bud. A handful of arsenal fans on this thread + plus MULTIPLE united fans. But ya, blame the two Liverpool fans. WHY DO UNITED FANS CONSTANTLY MAKE A SHOW OF THEMSELVES?
No sign of Seanie and his endless wit and humour
@Dessie: and you’ll moan when he does show up
@Dessie: Who?
@Dessie: uv some neck lad. :-D ye lose at HOME to FOREST and we draw away. Looool. Have you any shame?
@Sean O’Maolain: so stoke 2.0 drew today and you’re upset. It’s ok lad only football and you still haven’t addressed how ETH won more than Areta
@Shanie: Just some kids
@Dessie: looooool, I’m upset am I? :-D Yer a constant laughing stock, but ur happy once you’ve a cup. Looooool.
@Sean O’Maolain: you seem angry this evening. Never said was happy with a cup. Just asking a simple question when you constantly sneer at all things United related and seem to believe Arsenal are in a title race and you were consistently laughing at ETH and I’m simply pointing out some facts. And what age are you to start any conversation with Looool
@Dessie: Loooooool, can’t wait to find out what team ul support come May for the title. Liverpool or Arsenal? :-D
@Sean O’Maolain: you seem to be happy celebrating the first loser title again.
@Dessie: I’m a fan buddy. I celebrate everything Arsenal. No matter where we finish. Ye have a meltdown everyday…. Yesterday twas Forrest… Today Dan Ashworth. Can ye go 5 mins without being a laughing stock? LooooL!
@Sean O’Maolain: enjoy school tomorrow lad and hope you have all your homework done
@Dessie: Loooool
@Sean O’Maolain: very optimistic that Arsenal will be in the mix come May. There dropping points at the moment while Chelsea are picking them up. City will bounce back so could be Liverpool Chelsea and city come May.
@Dessie: Sneer at Jtd cause utd are a complete joke…even your saviour said te are mediocre…Deal with it sunshine, Utd are shite, banter club.