The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub

First topic message reminder :

Welcome to the virtual rugby pub - a place where you can come in for a sly beverage and discuss whatever's on your mind, or just eavesdrop on the regulars if you fancy a break from all the rugby chat.

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no defacing the Stephen Jones photo on the bar. That's a banning offence

So pull up a chair....what'll it be?

What would be the point of beating their 3rds, that would tell you nothing.

Afternoon all.

Found out I don't have a ticket for tomorrow, the guy who's ticket I was going to have has changed his mind so he's still going, major boo.

Also I can no longer access this site at work, tis a pain, but might make be about 75% more productive! (I certainly almost cleared out my query tray today anway).

Other then that I'm very happy, the sun is shining and tis the weekend. Also looking forward to Clermont v Scarlets later on tonight if I can get a good stream for it. Only downside to that is that it doesn't appear Regan King will be playing for Clermont tonight, I wish he was.

The first two games told us something. a result is needed. Also France have named a 31 man squad. This is a mix of first and second string probably.

oh, another boo, Clermont v Scarlets isn't televised. Joy.

I don't know who I want to win in the Ireland v France match tomorrow. Guess I will make up my mind as I watch, but I think Ireland need the win more.

France every time for me, Dreamer.

Cari, the first I heard of that shooting was when my sister, who lives on that road, texted me to say she was okay.

Sounds like you've got your weekend sorted, Prop!

Strange that, because even though I love France, I'm a sucker for the underdog and as such it's Ireland every time for me.

The<grenouilles> are under for this one;news from the French camp is "See what we can do; it's only a practice match"Saylavy

Glas

It's usually France every time for me too Lucky, but I feel like I'm betraying my family roots slightly. I shall probably end up shouting Allez les Bleus at the tv though

Dreamer, just alternate between 'allez les verts' and 'come on you boys in blue' and you can't go wrong!

ASM/ Scarlets is being played in Issoire,20km south of Clermont;they don't even have electricity, how do you expect the match to be televised

may be on ASM TV at the weekend,but I doubt it.

Glas a du wrote:There once was a young fella called Munsty
Who posted videos for the pub regs to see
"they're for your gratification
and indeed education"
But the regs prefer clips showing...

..a bit of ankle or even knee

Lucky - I may have to do that!

Mick - I wasn't sure exactly wehre it was to be played! Just a bit disappointed I can't watch it. 10 mins till kick off now anyway, so shall have to look out for score updates. Not looking for a Scarlets win, but I hope the youngsters put in a good showing

I was going to support Wales tomorrow as I usually do but what with all this Irish hate......

16 academy players in the ASM squad,dreamer,should be a running game,weather warm and dry.

I used to teach next at Kennington Oval;I see it is now the Kia Oval.
Well, the Irish play at the Aviva.

I obviously want Wales to win tomorrow and a French win will be beneficial to Wales.
It's easy to say that you will support one foreign side or another but actually meaning it is another story.
I support Wales and only Wales I don't care about any other result unless it's beneficial to the side I support.

I don't hate the Irish, Thomond. It's just that the French are superior culturally, that's all.

Clermont 0 - 7 Scarlets after roughly 20 mins I think. Thank you Scarlets facebook page.

Just been introduced to another one of my flatmates friends who is from Caerphilly. He said I sounded English

Is that like the greatest insult a Welsh person could receive?

Possibly Thomond. I've heard it loads of times before though so guess I'm used to it. I blame my Dad.


Watching this programme on BBC2 about following a family of black bears, tis crazy how close to them the people researching them can get.

I would be bricking it going that close!

ooo that score I gave was wrong, Scarlets fbook page having technical issues.

Tis 7-6 now to Clermont, after Dan Newton kicks a 2nd penalty.

Mick , is one M Bennett, formerly of Ayr RFC, playing tonite?

prop, glad that you're all sorted down there - sound like you've got a good spot. We're off to Turkey on Sunday, so stuck in London at the mo. Will look forward to your report on the Chiefs

I used to wear one on my head the bear not the brick

Clermont: 1.Vincent Debaty, 2. Benoit Cabello, 3. Daniel Kotze, 4. Jason White, 5.Loic Jacquet, 6.Julien Bardy, 7.Alexandre Lapandry, 8.Elvis Vermeulen (cap), 9.Kevin Senio, 10.Brock James, 11. Julien Malzieu, 12.Wesley Fofana, 13.Riaan Swanepoel, 14.Brent Russell, 15.Jean Marcellin Buttin. Repl : Benjamin Kayser, Raphael Chaume, Baptiste Hezard, Alexandre Audebert, Ludovic Radosavljevic, Alexandre Mourot, Noa Nakaitaci, Clément Ric, Gerhard Vosloo, Kevin Gourdon, Mark Bennett et Anthony Floch


As - he's on the bench

Thomond wrote:I would be bricking it going that close!

Same here! Incredible to see Gordon hand feeding them but look how peed off they get when there's no more food! Amazing to get that close, but damn scary.

Dreamer, thank you. I have a favour to ask - I have to write a short pre-match piece for the Exe un-offy site about our final warm-up against the Scarlets, and was wondering if you could give me a few bullets on what's going on over there, ie players in/out, players missing thru RWC or injury, other pre-season results, ambitions for this coming year in Rabo & HC? Much as gracias

Blimey you don't ask for a lot, do you! Will have a quick think for you now

You da best!

As,
Bennett is in the 27!!;he played last Friday against Brive

http://www.asm-rugby.com/110812-amical-brive.html

Scarlets

Players in: Aled Thomas*, Rhodri Gomer Davies, Rhys Jones*, Sione Timani

*Fly half cover and apparently R Gomer-Davies and A Thomas are only short term for the RWC


Players out: Steve Shingler, Joe Ajuwa, David Lyons, Regan King, Dafydd Jones, Martin Roberts


Players away with world cup: Stephen Jones, Josh Turnbull?, Rhys Priestland, George North, John Davies, Sean Lamont, Tavis Knoyle, Scott Williams?


Players injured: Matthew Rees, Morgan Stoddart



Pre season results thus far: Scarlets 37 - 25 Rotheram Titans
Match report:http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/rugby/4073.php


Clermont 12 - 6 Scarlets at HT


Ambitions: I would say same or play offs in Rabo, and aim to get out of group in HEC. Will be difficult to manage though with the amount of players we lose to the RWC as well as Rugby 7's & U20's circuit etc but if we don't at least equal what we achieved last season I fear it may be deemed a failure

And for some up and coming player news from our academy: http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/news/4006.php

We are probably going to have to rely on a lot of our youngsters for a huge portion of the season, so I'll be interested to see how our youngsters in the front row cope, but luckily they will Have Iestyn Thomas and Phil John to help them. Expecting a big season from the likes of Aaron Shingler and Lou Reed as well in the 2nd row who really need to push on.

We have a lot of promising youngsters coming through as well, and if they can bring their Llanelli/Quins form up to the Scarlets then we should do okay, all be it with a very, very inexperienced squad.


I have a feeling I may have missed out on some players but will let you know if I remember them

Evening people, hope everyone is well. please

Hope you all have a great holiday As.

Dreamer, I'm watching the same programme. I'm in between fear for and serious envy of Gordon right now!

Thomond wrote:I was going to support Wales tomorrow as I usually do but what with all this Irish hate......

What Irish hate?

Dreamer, thank you.

Thomond wrote:Is that like the greatest insult a Welsh person could receive?

Yep, pretty much!

for you Swanny.

Yeah tis a weird mix of feelings isn't it? I think the envy is winning out for me though

As - no probs.

Thanks Dreamer, one of those weeks! And a for yourself.

Yep, envy is definately the stronger emotion for me. To get that close to, and that level of understanding with, a wild animal that could so easily wipe you out is just amazing!

Ladies,no idea what you're on about,but there again, I never really understood la gente feminine

ah ta Swanny, I really could do with a right now too

So see any animal in the wild is amazing enough, but to get so close as to feed one....the mind just boggles. Just incredible.

And I belive the FT score is Clermont 12 - 6 Scarlets, so a scoreless 2nd half. Got to say I'm quite surprised by that! Be interested to see what the match report says.

Probably intense Scarlets pressure against an ASM side,with a ship load of youngsters in the 2nd half who were looking to defend and set up a defensive system for the first 8 games of the season.I'll let you know what they reckon over here;at least it was stiffer opposition than Brive.

I think it will be a similar story for both sides Mick, both were playing a load of their youngsters, guess it's promising for both that they kept the scores down so low, although we did concede 2 tries

make that 3 tries, actual FT score 17 - 6 b ugger

17-6 FT score, they've just updated FB.

Oh well, I think they made a few changes second half.

Well, the ASM coaches were looking for sturdier opposition, so it appears at that level they should be happy. Regan King didn't play,I believe?

If that's the final score, then the defense seems to be in place;it all starts next week,Lyon at home.

Regan who?


One eyed Scarlets unite!

Mick - na, apparently he pulled out injured or something.

Mrs Penfro - yeah they made loads of changes 2nd half, still though, conceding 3 tries is no good, especially if we aren't scoring any of our own! Tough trip for our youngsters though, hope we do better against the Chiefs now

The backs were all youngsters weren't they? Hopefully they had a tough game, they can only learn from that. It'll be interesting to see the final Wales squad to see how many get released back to the Scarlets.

That it will but I have a feeling it might only be Turnbull we get back. Everyone else I think will go.


This was the Scarlets line up for tonight:
15 Daniel Evans, 14 Lee Williams 13 Nick Reynolds 12 Aled Thomas 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Dan Newton 9 Rhodri Williams 8 Ben Morgan 7 Johnathan Edwards 6 Rob McCusker 5 Dominic Day 4 Lou Reed 3 Rhys Thomas 2 Emyr Phillips 1 Iestyn Thomas (Capt).

Replacements: Jordan Williams, Adam Warren, Iolo Evans, Chris Keenan, Lee Rees, Rhys Jones, Justin James, Phil John, Kirby Myhill, Simon Gardiner, Aaron Shingler, Ken Owens, Peter Edwards, Craig Price, Kieran Murphy.


Yeah pretty young backs there (many of whom I've not heard of!), although that was a fairly strong pack we sent out.

Think once a match report is out I shall do a thread on it, can't keep all the rugby talk in here after all