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 collage of great current props' pictures on the bar. We've got Castrogiovanni, Beast, the Franks brothers, Mas, Tonga'uiha, Roncero, Cian Healey (as demanded by Hughie), Stevens, Murray, Mike Ross, Adam Jones and Steenkamp all in action. Graffiti's a banning offence

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




Previous pub: https://www.606v2.com/t14533-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub

luckless_pedestrian wrote:Chinese whispers?

Winese Chispers . . . .purple monkey dishwasher!!

Just seen this thing about Tevez refusing to play for City. How ridiculous is that?

Anyone here a fan of Doctor Who?

I onlt started watching it at the start of the latest series and i'm really getting into it. Considering dressing up as the doctor for halloween, but i don't think i can do the "floppy hair" nearly good enough...

Mickado - the great thing about Doctor Who as a choice of fancy dress costume is that all the Doctors look different whenever he's regenerated, so you could go as any of them I'm not into the series, but I've seen it advertised quite a bit.

I've never watched Doctor Who. I know plenty of people love it, but I'm in no hurry to find out what all the fuss is about.

Munsty, I didn't see the match, but it's clear that Mancini's fuming. Tevez has said he didn't refuse to come on as a sub, but it's difficult to see how Mancini could have got the wrong end of the stick.

It's not my sort of programme. I don't get on with Sci-Fi things usually. Also, when I did watch a couple of the new Doctor Who's in recent years, I keep recognising bits of Cardiff which put me off a bit.

The Tevez thing is a farce. How could he have gotten the wrong end of the stick? It makes no sense when you think about it.

Mancini – Carlos, you’re going on?
Tevez – eh, no I’m from Argentina
Mancini – I said you’re going on
Tevez – what? What was that.
Mancini – oh right, he must be refusing to come on.

The Tevez side of the story isn't helped by Tevez admitting to refusing to going on, then changing his story.

Yeah Cari, I could get a cozzie with a long striped scarf and an old school hat like one of the older doctors. I do like Matt Smith though.

Go as a dalek instead Mickado - all you need is a dustbin and a saucepan that can fit on your head

Did he really, Greybeard? That doesn't help his cause, does it?

Cari wrote:Go as a dalek instead Mickado - all you need is a dustbin and a saucepan that can fit on your head

I wouldn't be able to go up stairs though

luckless_pedestrian wrote:Did he really, Greybeard? That doesn't help his cause, does it?

As with all good stories, he did....allegedly

Mickado - but most bars have wheelchair access these days

A friend sent me the following;are people mad/ Are friends electric?

"Teresa Treacy, aged 65, has been thrown into Mountjoy prison for not allowing EirGrid and the ESB to cut down 12,000 trees on her land (which Teresa planted herself) to run power lines. Teresa was willing to allow the ESB to bury the pylons underground, but the ESB refused saying this would be eight times more expensive. Considering that the average salary of ESB workers is €75,000 a year, I think they can afford it. Teresa has been imprisoned until she gives the EirGrid and the ESB the answer they want. To quote Brenda Power of The Sunday Times: "The women in question has committed no crime: she has hurt, enslaved, defrauded or bankrupt nobody. She has sought nothing more than to be allowed to live in peace and tranquility on her own land, surrounded by the trees she has planted over decades on the property she shares with her sister." The demands of this petition are as follows: 1. The immediate release of Teresa Treacy. 2. The resignation of high court judge Daniel Herbert 3. An issue of Apology from EirGrid and ESB Please like this page and sign the petition for her release here: http://www.gopetition.com/peti​tions/free-teresa-treacy-the-w​oman-who-stood-up-to-eigrid-an​.html Letters of support can be sent to: Teresa Treacy/ Dochas/ Monthjoy Womens' Prison/ North Circular RD/ Dublin 7/ Eire To become involved, call Niall on 086 8444966"

Right, apologies if this treads on anybody's toes, but here goes.

Seaso...

Flip it, I'm not going to change your mind and you're not going to change mine and it will just be the cause of unnecessary ill feeling and despite the fact that this is a discussion forum there are some discussions that can be done without.

I'm off to do some work.

Is that genuine, Chef? How on earth can they take any action against the woman when it's her land?

Glas I think we sometimes forget that the rugby climate and structure in England, Wales, Ireland etc is different and should be approached differently.

I think in Ireland where we draw in large bodies of loyal supports we risk alienating our committed fans. However I can see that in a country like Wales with new teams, they may need to focus on bringing in the curious potential customer and testing the strenght of the season ticket holders resolve.

I don't think there is any ill feeling in you discussing it.

It is true luckless, its a bit mad alright but I'm sure there is more behind it than is being sensationilized in the Irish media

Afternoon all, sorry haven't made it online much the last couple of days.

I'm off to Prague for a long weekend in the morning, can't wait.

Even though London's going to be 8 degrees or so warmer this weekend. Every time I go away this year London has nice weather ...

Kiwi - you should go away more often then have a good weekend in Prague. Most importantly, have you found somewhere to watch the rugby?

Cari wrote:Kiwi - you should go away more often then have a good weekend in Prague. Most importantly, have you found somewhere to watch the rugby?

We'll have to see re the rugby. I suspect finding somewhere at 4.30am for NZ v Canada may be tricky! I do have 13 days leave up my sleeve once I get back though, hmmm.

I don't see how you would be treading on anyones toes Glas. It's just a discussion on season tickets.

If you want to leave it there then fair enough but if it comes up again i won't be stepping back from a discussion because there's absolutely nothing devisive or contetious about it...

Kiwi - I suppose you could try and keep away from the scores and then watch it on the iPlayer.

Agree with you Mick. I was unaware that the discussion was divisive in any way. I just think we were each thinking with our own teams in mind who have different levels of match day support.

Listen, if Portnoy Jr wants to sulk, let him sulk!

Staggy/Irish regs - is Wally doing the Irish TV coverage of the Italy match?

luckless_pedestrian wrote:Listen, if Portnoy Jr wants to sulk, let him sulk!

Speaking of season tickets I absolutely loved the Scarlets shareholder initative. Absolutely great at making fans feel a part of the team.

Afternoon all.

Might make the Dragons in plenty of time. Certainly hope so.

Chef, I don't know what it is then, but Parks is on his way there. Driving too.

Cari wrote:Staggy/Irish regs - is Wally doing the Irish TV coverage of the Italy match?

Really don't know Cari. He's a better pundit than I'd have thought originally. Saw him the other day actually. Still looking his best Cari.

Staggy - he never looks his worst. I've seen the pundit videos he's done for Guinness Rugby (why do they put so much make up on them though??) and he comes across as a tidy pundit. Maybe he'll go the same way as Paul.

Risca - enjoy the match if you're going. I'm actually intrigued to see the new stand on TV.

I'M...NOT...SULKING

Seriously though, all Irishmen are Kumquat, The Leicester Tigers are the epitome of good rugby, I hate myself for being nasty to the bog trotters, HOW WILL YOU EVER FORGIVE ME!, this place is a introverted elitist den of bohemians, I'm jealous because I want to be part of it but you won't let me because I...

Glas has turned into Portnoy...

Glas a du wrote: I'M...NOT...SULKING

Seriously though, all Irishmen are Kumquat, The Leicester Tigers are the epitome of good rugby, I hate myself for being nasty to the bog trotters, HOW WILL YOU EVER FORGIVE ME!, this place is a introverted elitist den of bohemians, I'm jealous because I want to be part of it but you won't let me because I...

I've actually nearly choked on my lunch. LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!

Dragons match-day squad to face Ulster:

Martyn Thomas, Tonderai Chavhanga, Tom Riley, Ashley Smith, Mike Poole, Jason Tovey, Wayne Evans, Nathan Williams, Tom Willis (c), Nathan Buck, Adam Jones, Rob Sidoli, Lewis Evans, Gavin Thomas, Andrew Coombs.

Replacements
Rhys Buckley, Phil Price, Kieron Jenkins* Darren Waters, Jevon Groves, Joe Bedford, Geraint O'Driscoll*, Matthew Jones.

Mickado wrote:This Georgian lad Mamuka Gorgodze, he plays for Montpellier right?

That should be some tussle with the Leinster backrow in the HC!

Jesus Mick, he's a monster. If he and Sean O'Brien collide we'll be feeling the aftershocks for weeks. Seriously though, he's some shiny building of a man.

Lucky, how are you feeling about that Dragons team/the game? Normaly, I'd look at that team and think Ulster could take them (no disrespect intended) but we're pretty depleted ourselves. Ian Humphreys, Darren Cave and Jared Payne still all out injured. I don't know what is happening with Paddy McAllister, he's not named injured but he's dropped from the 22! A very different looking Ulster team between that and the World Cup. Will be an interesting game.

Pretty much as I predicted Lucky, bar I thought it would be Phil Price and Nathan Williams.

Cheers Cari. Hope we get a few people in it.

I’ve made all of my sportguru predictions without seeing any teams. I can’t even remember who I went for.
Alls I know is that I got 6 / 6 in week two and I’ve been bothering the top 10 since. I’m actually going to stick with this game for once, I normally forget one week and then fall to pieces!

It's tough to call, Notch. You won fairly easily here last season but now with both sides missing players, who's to say? Having our first-choice outside half playing and you missing yours could be the difference.

There's an interview with Tonderai Chavhanga on the Dragons website. It turns out one of his uncles was a Gladiator on the South African version of the show!

red_stag wrote:Agree with you Mick. I was unaware that the discussion was divisive in any way. I just think we were each thinking with our own teams in mind who have different levels of match day support.

I'm actually thinking of things in terms of a business. You want an iPhone (for example) so you go to O2, and they tell you that it'll cost you €600 to buy if you want to pay as you go, or they'll subsidise €400 of it if you sign a contract for 18months. They've incentivised you to tie yourself into a contract because it's much better for them as a business.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:It's tough to call, Notch. You won fairly easily here last season but now with both sides missing players, who's to say? Having our first-choice outside half playing and you missing yours could be the difference.

There's an interview with Tonderai Chavhanga on the Dragons website. It turns out one of his uncles was a Gladiator on the South African version of the show!

How Chavanga goes is anyones guess really! He's got at the running very fast, but he's not so much of a rugby player. We'll be in all kinds of problems if we let him get a one on one though. He's seriously rapid.

Mickado wrote:

red_stag wrote:Agree with you Mick. I was unaware that the discussion was divisive in any way. I just think we were each thinking with our own teams in mind who have different levels of match day support.

I'm actually thinking of things in terms of a business. You want an iPhone (for example) so you go to O2, and they tell you that it'll cost you €600 to buy if you want to pay as you go, or they'll subsidise €400 of it if you sign a contract for 18months. They've incentivised you to tie yourself into a contract because it's much better for them as a business.

Yes thats what I thought too Mick. However there are other kinds of business. There are other businesses who will offer free trials, samples, discounted once offs and then entice curious customers that way. I'd have agreed with you myself and still do with Munster or Leinster in mind. Maybe with a new and divided fan base the reigions should have another tact.

The interview's worth a read. He actually tries to play down his pace and is more keen to stress that he wants to improve his all-round game. He comes across really well, actually.

Mickado wrote:

red_stag wrote:Agree with you Mick. I was unaware that the discussion was divisive in any way. I just think we were each thinking with our own teams in mind who have different levels of match day support.

I'm actually thinking of things in terms of a business. You want an iPhone (for example) so you go to O2, and they tell you that it'll cost you €600 to buy if you want to pay as you go, or they'll subsidise €400 of it if you sign a contract for 18months. They've incentivised you to tie yourself into a contract because it's much better for them as a business.

I have to agree with Mick, it makes sense to incentivise it so they can actually budget properly. That's why Ulster Rugby offer discounts for renewing season ticket holders- so they can sell a certain amount of tickets before the summer starts.

To add to that it makes sense to sell season tickets because if its horrible weather or the team is playing terribly you'll think; well, I've paid for it and go anyway. That has economic implications when you consider most teams now have food stands, bars, shops selling merchandise etc. It's not just what you spend on tickets that counts, it's the amount of money you spend at the ground and your season ticket holders- having paid up front- are more likely to attend the less glamorous fixtures and spend more money at the ground. They try and guarantee a certain amount of footfall.

Glas a du wrote: I'M...NOT...SULKING

Seriously though, all Irishmen are Kumquat, The Leicester Tigers are the epitome of good rugby, I hate myself for being nasty to the bog trotters, HOW WILL YOU EVER FORGIVE ME!, this place is a introverted elitist den of bohemians, I'm jealous because I want to be part of it but you won't let me because I...

Oh cry me a river, ye soft old midlander

Mickado wrote:

red_stag wrote:Agree with you Mick. I was unaware that the discussion was divisive in any way. I just think we were each thinking with our own teams in mind who have different levels of match day support.

I'm actually thinking of things in terms of a business. You want an iPhone (for example) so you go to O2, and they tell you that it'll cost you €600 to buy if you want to pay as you go, or they'll subsidise €400 of it if you sign a contract for 18months. They've incentivised you to tie yourself into a contract because it's much better for them as a business.

That's a simplistic way of putting it yes. My point is that say Scarlets fans range from people who have never been to a match to people with their names in gold leaf on their padded seat. To be successful in filling the stadium you need to move everybody up a notch, not just concentrate on one section, who are already, by their very nature, committed.

True Stag, some businesses will do that, but if they do that in parallel with contracting people (which is essentially what a season ticket is) then they’ll have to deal with some serious complaints and risk losing their loyal customers. It costs a lot more to win new customers than to retain the ones you already have.

Glas a du wrote:

Mickado wrote:

red_stag wrote:Agree with you Mick. I was unaware that the discussion was divisive in any way. I just think we were each thinking with our own teams in mind who have different levels of match day support.

I'm actually thinking of things in terms of a business. You want an iPhone (for example) so you go to O2, and they tell you that it'll cost you €600 to buy if you want to pay as you go, or they'll subsidise €400 of it if you sign a contract for 18months. They've incentivised you to tie yourself into a contract because it's much better for them as a business.

That's a simplistic way of putting it yes. My point is that say Scarlets fans range from people who have never been to a match to people with their names in gold leaf on their padded seat. To be successful in filling the stadium you need to move everybody up a notch, not just concentrate on one section, who are already, by their very nature, committed.

Fair point, but if you reduce the walk up ticket price then you have to drop the season ticket price accordingly or people won't bother renewing. Your argument assumes that the season ticket holders are commited for good, but you can lose them season on season if you don't reduce their prices in line with the casual punter. Then all you'll have are people that pay on the gate, and that's unsustainable.

You're quite right that what works for Leinster might not work for Scarlets. I can very much see where Glas is coming from. All of the Irish provinces and Welsh regions cover quite a large area. I live in Urban Belfast so its easy to have a season ticket and say i could get to every match. If I lived in Derry? Donegal? Very difficult.

So, the question is, how do we get those people involved in the same way as seson ticket holders? I feel that offering group promotions and discounts through rugby clubs would help with that. But it's an interesting one. Feic, I'm off to do some work for a change. Later guys.

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