The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub

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The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub
by rugbydreamer on Wed 24 Aug 2011, 6:45 am

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 David Wallace photo on the bar. That's a banning offence

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

Evening. Dreamer,A-ROD(Roddick,not that baseball player) is no longer the player he was but he was awesome back in the day

So it is dreamer, so it is. very nervous about our opening fixture against Quins. So many ins and outs in the summer and 7 players away at the World Cup mean it's difficult to know how we will fare.

watching Quins train today, their backs looked pretty sharp, but there were a lot of handling errors from their forwards. Hopefully they'll be as butterfingered on Saturday.

Like I said, they didn't play that well at Ravenhill.

Why do wimmin hoard shoes and bags? Shoes and bags they will probably never or very rarely wear? MrsG had a pair of (I have to say stunning) shoes on for the 1st time the other day and she said she had them for 2 years already. Wot? We call her Imelda.

She has more phookin bags than an airport baggage-terminal. And this one, gives out about my few Leinster programs and paraphenalia collected over the years. Ah yeah.

Evening Pete, evening TT.

Don't forget your SG picks gents, I notice you are both currently outstanding

By the way, does anyone know if Asbo is back from his jollies yet or is he still sunning himself?

.. I took Sky's offer of ESPN free for three months so should see a few more games,

T - aye I know. I cried when he lost to Federer for the 3rd time in a Wimbledon Final when it had that epic 5th set. That was his best (and I think last) chance to win it. Was just so gutted for him. His serve is still incredible mind.

Pete - I think all sides are going to be butterfingered this weekend. I know the Scarlets were against Exeter (at least that is what I read intot he match report). I think this weekend in the closer matches anyway, it's going to be which ever side shakes of the rust first that wins it. Am sure LI will be fine (or they better be as I've picked them on SG!). Good luck anyway

Exscooooooooooooooooooooooze me! I own approximately six pairs of shoes and they all get worn so I don't own that many clothes either. Gok would have a heart attack if he checked out my wardrobe. I've never been big on stuff like that. I was always a bit of a tomboy and that's continued really.

Thanks for the reminder Swanny, I had forgotten. strange that Asbo is mentioned as I am watching London Scottish on the Rugby Club. grand night we had there back in May.

Cymro, do you have to phone them to get it?

Cari - I'm not all that into clothes either (I hate shopping) but I still seem to have gathered a lot of it, most I don't wear either!

And bags....yeah, I've got a fair few of them too, don't use most of them, but can't seem to get rid of them. Baffling.

Anybeans - tis Torchwood time! so logging off now. Have lovely evenings and days tomorrow everyone, and I've no dobut I'll be seeing some of the Welsh regs for the O's match tomorrow

Yes Pete but be prepared to wait about 10 min.

Cheers Swanny. Aon scéal with anyone? (Any news?)

Dreamer - yeah I'll be there tomorrow night but not until nearer kick off as I'm going home first to change and have food.

Torchwood. Ok go away quickly.

Thomond - I have a job interview on the 19th and Wally's fathering my children. That's all the news I have at the moment.

If he wants to borrow a set of jump leads I'm willing to step in.

That's good about the job Cari. Is the children via a "donation" or are you heading over?

Jump leads?!

Oh I think I'll have to pop over Thom. Get the job done properly you know? He's knackered for six months anyway, so there's time for me to plan...

Who do you fancy for the hurling final at the weekend? I said Tipp would have it again.

I'm thinking Tipp by 3,I'm going to miss it but will try and catch it on the RTE player.

I'm going to watch it online hopefully. I think I'm going to sit in a pub in town for the football final though. Just cause it's a special occasion

I did my predictions. The NU Prem was harder like.

I wanted to come and hear Penfro brag about his trip to Swansea or wherever he's off to, but I have lineout moves to learn. I didn't think Welsh Div 3 would be so professional acting. Still I'd rather do that and be involved with the firsts rather than the Athletic. I'll see how it goes tomorrow and what time I get back from Swindon.

I would head in Cari,those Dubs get everywhere so there should be a few around. Watch out for track marks though.

Thom - heh heh I will. I heard someone say "Up the Dubs!" when I wore my shirt to the supermarket once, so there's some about.

All right Rev. Enjoy the practice session.

I'm off like yesterday's socks...na night.

Good evening all, I watched the springboks' send off earlier tonight, there must have been over 50 000 people in Sandton square to bid them good luck.

As they were leaving to get on the Gautrain to go to the airport they imterviewed some of the boks, a few of them were quite emotional about the whole thing.

Most of them were subdued and said they know there is not just a responsibility to win the cup, but the additional responsibility to unite the country.

Now I know our sporting heroes say that every time, it is probably not really uniting the country but more a case of creating a feeling of togetherness even if it is only for a short while.

I must say I am getting excited now, the boks look good and they reckon they are ready for the Welsh on the 11th.

Notch wrote:Like I said, they didn't play that well at Ravenhill.

I would say that Quins scored the best try of the match though, having looked at that vudeo clip.

Ulster played kick and chase rugby.












Good luck for your teams in the new domestic season.

I fear my lot will be well beaten at Twickenham on Saturday. Champs v a whole lot of newbies. The day out with all the fans will be grand though.

Haha, indeed we did. But we had the ball

I wouldn't say no to four wee kick and chase tries tomorrow night! I am so excited. I could crush a grape.

Good luck - Ulster could well get a good start in the league, given the amount of players from other teams involved in NZ.

Having watched Treviso at the weekend, no Rabo Pro 12 teams should underestimate their pack. And don't give de Waal any kickable penalties.

DOD is back. Love it! This place was getting far too clinical. Really like that guy. Smert Cork Hoor. All we need now is Irish Mickey to complete the set.

Just watching this documentary on TG4 about Irish Rugby in the professional era.

2007-2009 went like this. Croke Park was open to rugby; but the first match was a disappointing defeat against France (five minutes of talking about the England game). Then, in 2009...

I am loving the detail and even handedness there. Can you spot the gaps?

Did any of us spot the gaps as they were happening? From 2009 on? We are one romantic race. But that's ok too. In my belief, winning that SLAM set us back 5 years as an International side. We fell for it, because we were so hungry for it. Not unlike Wales.

The end of the Celtic Tiger. The end of Dreaming...

I don't know, I think we won the Slam with a very limited style of rugby. We had two choices; evolve our game or fall away. Our efforts to do the former have so far been mixed at best, unimpressive at worst. I don't think a World Cup semi-final can repair two mediocre Six Nations campaigns entirely, but it is what this group of players will be judged on.

A pinnacle Irish rugby has never reached? But it's too late for that now. Reaching that, under this regime, would only do us even more damage and prolong the dreaming in the long-term. Best we suffer reality now, change regime and grow. But, it wont stop me shouting for it. That is something that I could personally never and wont change. Oh the contradictory Irish. What to do? Evolve maybe. Grasp our real position in the scheme of things and grow. That would be a good start. :dressedorange:

Seems like you need to get those younger provincial guys in the mix as soon as this WC is over. How to inject the confidence of the best working combos from your provincial teams into the national side is the great challenge. It's hard to let go of the older legendary players... but the hard decisions must be made to stick with the younger up & coming players through thick & thin... if things go retrograde in the next few months. (I'm actually hoping Ireland will do well... but not too well obviously!)

In a way, Oz had to do this in rugby and the fruits are beginning to appear. It's the same for our cricket team at the moment. We've plunged from 143 on the rankings to 5th... 100 points. Tried about 40 players but to no avail, selector mayhem, national loss of confidence, 'restructuring', etc. Eventually we reached a point where the situation was so 'hopeless' - it didn't matter so much... just let it go and let the new order try to establish itself. Small signs of improvement this week in SL (you can almost 'see' the growth in confidence) but still a long way to go to reach those dizzy heights again.

Breaker.
I said that about Ireland 3 years ago. We now have a younger team by accident. But because it was not trusted earlier - it will fail.

Robbie Deans faced the storm. Brought in the raw talent of youth, devoloped them, entrusted in them - in that time. Now, he is reaping the benefits.

I hope Oz win the RWC. I really do. Because it would shift the World game upwards. Maybe it will wake up the old gits at the IRFU. Maybe. But I wouldn't bet on it.

Normally successful teams do suffer hangovers. Yeah, basically, we need to be fairly ruthless whatever happens. This is the indian summer of a lot of these players; after the RWC starts a transition phase. As much as I would criticise the way Ireland have played Declan Kidney has done an excellent job of bringing players into the squad.

The problem isn't will Kidney pick them. Its at provincial level where there are roadblocks in place. A lot of the guys playing during this RWC at provincial level need to keep their place. For instance at 12 D'Arcy and Wallace are just about at the end of the road; they still both have a lot to offer Leinster and Ulster, but they are of decreasing usefulness internationally. McFadden, Marshall, Spence all need to be getting serious gametime. Same with Mick O'Driscoll, Peter Stringer etc. They might be worth a starting place on merit, but we need to invest in potential. Getting the best out of our provinces is a problem.

We have a number of player in our squad who aren't first choice like McFadden and Donnacha Ryan which are a perfect example of how talented players can be slowed in their development b conservative selection policies at provincial level. McFadden is class, but has almost zero big game experience. He's traveling as cover for 11/13/14 but if he was backed at provincial level he could be a starter by now. He's 25. Ryan is 27.

Say what you like about the same old faces for Kidney, but if his provincial coaches aren't backing youth it makes it hard for Kidney to do it. At the same time he's given debuts to Keith Earls, Johnny Sexton, Cian Healy, Mike Ross, Felix Jones, Conor Murray etc. and has looked at loads of young players on the A tours, Churchill Cup. He's been very proactive in promoting players.

I have zero issues with Irelands selection. Its what we do with the players we have that worries me.

Bore da pawb / good morning all, Friday's here and the Pro12 kicks off today!

I watched a documentary about rugby in New Zealand last night, with schoolboy rugby players, school rugby coaches, club/provincial rugby coaches, and former and current All Blacks interviewed. What came across was just how important the black jersey is to the nation. Former All Blacks spoke of a pride bordering on fear of losing because it would be a betrayal of all the great players who'd worn the jersey before them. I'm not saying Welsh international players (or any other international players) are any less proud of representing their country, but I don't know if there's that depth of connection to the past and that refusal to be defeated.

Another thing that came across was how clear an infrastructure there was when it came to rugby - how much of an honour it was to play for your school's first XV, how much competition there was to make that first XV, and how that level of competition went on through university and into the wider community, everyone with the dream of becoming an All Black.

Moanin'!

Thank the proverbial it's Friday...even though I've only been in two days Can't wait for the first O's match tonight. Watching it in a pub too for the first time in yonks. Have to see Penfro off to Porthcawl

He told me he was off to Penarth!

Morning folks


http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/
http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport?mobile-redirect=false
http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/rugby

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/headlines.cfm?c_id=80
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union

What are the codes for the magners sportguru league??

I think Kiwi's your man for the codes, Hughie.

Morning people, Friday at last

Here you go Hughie

Pool name: 606 V2
Pool code: harmbegs

RWC: 606v2
84players Type of pool:Open pool - anyone is welcome!
Combined caps: 21,818
Pool code: zetaposh

Jeff: 606 V2
30players Type of pool:Media/blog
Combined caps: 16,129
Pool code: togsbogs

Pro12: 606 V2
42players Type of pool:Media/blog
Combined caps: 21,494
Pool code: harmbegs

Morning all

Daddy daycare for me today and for the next few. Wife is into hospital for an operation on her hand today so will need a bit of R & R when she comes out.

Can't decide whether to watch the Ospreys v Leinster game tonight or Ulster v Glasgow. Think it will be Ulster. The season is nearly here, wooooooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

I have wondered that with both Irleand and SA Gibbo.

Would it be better for Ireland to make a semi finals (maybe even limp there with a narrow win over PDV Boks and crash out dramatically against Kiwis in semi) or to lose and re-evaluate.

Or similarly PDV to win the thing and be lauded a great.

Would it do more damage or is the trophy or achievement enough to offset that. Im not much of a 6 Nations fan but I think that 6 Nations we won is worth its weight in gold.

Cheers for them folks, sorted now

Stag it's vital that Ireland go as far as possible in the tournament. We'll have to reassess things after regardless but another early exit would be really damaging to the credibility of Irish rugby.

I do think having a good WC will maybe paper over the cracks that are there under Kidney but having another poor WC would be more damaging.

I think we are in danger of slipping down towards the bottom of the 6N and a WC SF would be a real boost for the national side and would set us up to mount a serious 6N challenge next season. A poor one might see us slip further towards wooden spoon territory.

Notch wrote:I have zero issues with Irelands selection. Its what we do with the players we have that worries me.

Agree with this. I'm sure we'll see Hagan, McAllister, Ryan, Tuohy, Ruddock, Keatley, Spence, Carr and Gilroy all start to see a bit of game time. I also think that sellsword mercenary Richard Strauss will get picked.

It'll be no good if they play stupid. I'm optimistic for medium term future. Scrummaging can and will improve IMO with our young guys and having Ulster, Leinster and now Munster all exposed to either Feek or BJ Botha. And with the right appointment we are not far off having a decent backs coach. We played great rugby with Brian McLaughlin as backs coach actually.

LDPC - I hope MrsLDPC's op goes all right.

Here's a question for the English and Welsh lads too:

English aka Pete - is Stevens going to start for England or is he glued to #16 shirt due to versatility.

Welsh - Could Wales have a situation where in 6 Nations not one backrow has more than 23 years old - Falatau, Warbuton, Lydiate, Turnbull, Tipuric - if so would it be a worry?