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 the captains of the World Cup Quarter Finalists pictures on the bar. We've got Sam Warburton, Brian O'Driscoll, Lewis Moody, Thierry Dusautoir, John Smit, James Horwill, Felipe Contepomi and Richie McCaw.

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

Again with the fractions!

Find a lovely and willing Irish lass

That'll be a Flip job, why can't we go for either or?

Evening all, just checking in after my wee holiday. I see the place has gone to pack in my absence - if anyone was injured by the darts bouncing off the McCaw pic on the dartboard I apologise, and I hope whoever was responsible for the health and safety breach is suitably chastised

I had a lovely few days away. The Czech tour guide on the "Communism and Nuclear Bunker" walking tour on Monday had some impressive rugby knowledge, he knew Dan Carter was out and thought Colin Slade could step up ... (more faith there than me admittedly)

And we found a student bar around the corner from our apartment Sat night - 90 pence pints! That was topped by the restaurant in Wencelas Square that delivered drinks to your table by model train.

Other models are available

Glas a du wrote:Other models are available

Apt indeed MrsP, I'm just trying to imagine 'believe' and 'roysh' spoken a la Hinge and Bracket. I may need therapy...

Apologies and to our Welsh regs but I just shut my eyes and blindly clicked on Ireland so that is my pick.

Good girl yerself Swanny!

You know it makes sense!

Evening Swanny, the only rugby jersey I saw in Prague was a Sale Sharks one. And the bloke wearing it was speaking Czech...

90 pence pints??!! I'm going to have to go to that place!!

Thomond wrote:He still isn't a great goalkicker,I don't think he ever was or will be. Wanted to see him at 12 but not going to happen now.

T,
Wrong. His kicking %, was the best in Europe going into this gig . So, That argument is a misnomer. At this level, ROG, with his vast experience - ratched it up in a post-match interview. I lauded it, when other posters dissed him for it. Kidney smiled. He created something that has not been there at 10, since the Humphries/ROG era - way back. That worked for Ireland. Its all part of the management game at this level. And i'm well glad of that.

I wanted ROG to start v Wales before the team was picked. But, I suspect (that means know), that Kidney, as opposed to Steady-Eddie, is using this inter-rivalry to Ireland's ultimate benefit. Sexton came on last week and nailed 2 kicks. He walked off smiling.

Kidney helped Sexton to to get where he is today, at a time when no one else did . He will help him to make Ireland a far superior team than they ever were before. Sexton has 8 years left in him at top-level. It's Kidney's job to play all the cards to achieve this end and leave a legacy.

Not a coach. He had the intelligence and confidence to get the best in. But, a man-manager par excellence

No yellow cap for you then Swanny, but ask nicely and Gibbo may give you a Dutch one.

Bonsoir, mes petites amusements de bouche.

I've gone all Kenny Everett

Cymro - that Spanish aristo looks like she should be Marge Simpson's mum!

We've got Welsh cider and perry in the pub. It's an omen I tells ye.

red_stag wrote:Im just hardcore like that Glas.

I think Ireland will have major change in the centre over next 2 seasons as Darcy and Wallace get phased out. We have got a taste of the second five eight and it excited the fans in the Aussie match. I see Sexton and Keatley both fulfilling this role internationally (with the latter doing it for Munster too). I expect that Nevin Spence will also get tried at 12 partnering BOD. He seems to have got as much game time at 12 than at 13 for Ulster last season.

So BOD goes on indefinitely?

Hound_of_Harrow wrote:Bonsoir, mes petites amusements de bouche.

I've gone all Kenny Everett

Cymro - that Spanish aristo looks like she should be Marge Simpson's mum!

We've got Welsh cider and perry in the pub. It's an omen I tells ye.

Is it Gwynt Y Ddraig? I got smashed on Orchard Gold in my sister in law's wedding, but Black Dragon is the stuff.

The Simpsons might be coming to an end. Seeing as Hound mentioned it. Costs could be too high.

I'd personally think Kidney should drop BOD after RWC but I don't think he will. Not his style. I think IRFU and Ireland will milk him for all he's got.

What will we do when Sexton moves to France next year? Will he still get picked by Ireland. Apparently Sexton and one of our high profile backrows are looking at heading to France when they are young and coming back aged still young enough to get a place in the provinces and Ireland.

Ah, so that's alll the talk about Heaslip at ASM along with an Irish 5/8

You're taking 5 of our forwards?????

Really Kiwi? That's great... or bonkers

Glas! If there was a fence sitting option I would have taken it! Without a cushion too

Yea apparently its to do with the way that the IRFU pension is set up. If you retire from playing in Ireland you can claim all your Irish taxes back. So its better to move abroad young, come back to Ireland and retire instead of someone like ROG or BOD heading over to collect a paycheck before retiring.

That doesn't fit the regional blueprint though does it Stag?

Haven't they all got long term IRFU contracts that keep them on Irish turf?

Welsh folk apparently there's some leeked footage of Sam Warburton when he heard Cian Healy would be playing on Saturday.

https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/roryly/status/121521740290600960

Ka boom!

And the banter continues.

Yup, I missed the capital D out glas, but the fact remains that I can glug the stuff.






The other fact, is Penfro's in NZ

I have to say Stag, I would love if Kidney did drop BOD for the 1st game of the 6-N. Its time. This team will suffer massively when he is not on the field. Best to bite the bullet. And take the temporary dip that comes with it. Sooner rather than later. I am sure Deccie has the cajones to do it too. Move Tommy Bowe inside. He moves inside every chance he gets and is brilliant at it. Earls is a winger. Does not have the intelligence required also. So.

And WHO is Nevil Spence? Is he a singer or wot?

Mick(TEFC) wrote:Ah, so that's alll the talk about Heaslip at ASM along with an Irish 5/8

Chef,
Reality-cheque. Us Paddies have completely phhoked yer banks and rugby bank-rollers. Britain and France will have to wait on their shekels. It was a cunning-plan to keep the cream back home on the farm.

Were BOD to be dropped I expect that it would be Earls who would play, with Spence, McFadden and Bowe following up.

Gibbo,
Michelin stock up 8% today-pas de probleme

As long as cars need tyres...

Glas a du wrote:That doesn't fit the regional blueprint though does it Stag?

I know but its a government thing I believe not an IRFU initatitve. For example Jennings, M.O'Driscoll, Cullen, Reddan can all claim back their taxes paid to Irish gov when they retire.

However if Jeremy Staunton retired now he couldn't claim his taxes back.

No. Earls is not the answer at 13. He is happy on the wing. He doesn't have to think there. Just run for fun.

I always thought he was the next BOD as a kid, but he is far from it. IMO.

Gibson wrote:No. Earls is not the answer at 13. He is happy on the wing. He doesn't have to think there. Just run for fun.

I always thought he was the next BOD as a kid, but he is far from it. IMO.

I agree with you. Don't think Kidney does though.

Kidney loves the boy. He is his prodigy. That hurt Trimble. Who deserved it more on form alone, imo. And I can see why he does. He repaid all that faith in him v Italy.

He stays there. And I am a huge Trimble fan. Much more so than the sexy Bowe.

While we have the salary cap in England, we are losing players abroad. I'm not stirring the pot, but where does Ireland's position on taxation for sports players sit with EU tax law.

Also, what's the situation for Irish rugby players from Northern Ireland?

Tax-wise, Norn-Iron players are Brits Hound.

These boards are bouncing nowadays. Excellent. Anyway, this will be my tree tousand, tree hundred and turty turd post. That is as Irish a number as you can get. I won't disturb it in honour of the match and I like symmetry in numbers anyway. See you Saturday at 6.

I Love you Bracket. But only in an old gal sexual type-way. As long as you understand that. We'll always be mates.

X,
Hinge

Get a room

Glas what if Gatland picks himself instead of Warbs at 7? Will you break the 3333?

Gibbo - so the NI players are at a financial disadvantage, so to speak, by comparison to Eire based players?

Or is there a cute deal in there somewhere

Hound,
For 1F, Best, Bowe and Trimble? I am sure there are certain offshore bonuses.

But you must be domiciled, in the Bananna Republic - to do so. Officially.

Where's all de feicin muny gone?

Pour toi, Hound uit Harrow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkhX5W7JoWI&feature=player_detailpage

Ok bud, thanks.

I can't see that vid on my phone. Roysh - zzzz time.

I would imagine those on IRFU contract pay taxes to Dublin.

Anyone see Toby Floods comments; I thought it was very cheeky, sarcastic and not at all professional with regards to Wilko playing ahead of him. Although he said Wilkinson had amazing ability and experience he said that he was unhappy to be dropped and that "you want to be selected on current form, not because eight years ago you were outstanding - I mean I was playing really well when I was 12."

Then they asked him about coming on as a sub - he seemed to think he would be more effective starting the game - "If I get 78 minutes or two minutes I just try to do what I can. You make mental notes for half-time or for when you come on, but I can't suddenly storm onto the pitch and make it 16 players against 15."

A bit of a 'mé-féiner' me thinks!

Gibson wrote:Hound,
For 1F, Best, Bowe and Trimble? I am sure there are certain offshore bonuses.

But you must be domiciled, in the Bananna Republic - to do so. Officially.

Where's all de feicin muny gone?

Pour toi, Hound uit Harrow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkhX5W7JoWI&feature=player_detailpage

As far as I know the five players who are centrally contracted to the IRFU resident in NI are Stephen Ferris, Rory Best, Tom Court, Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble. I do wonder how the IRFU makes up the difference in their net income due to them being domiciled in the UK (please stop with the Britain thing, the UK and Britain are not the same thing).

Stag. Give him a break.

It is vital to have that confidence to know you can be better than the main-man. Especially at 10. So.
Sexton feels and is gumming, to prove that he is better than ROG(he is). Just needs to go out and prove it.

So does Flood v JW.

Its the natural order of things.

Theres a difference between talking yourself up and talking your team mate down.

You are a Brit Notch. Just accept it, play funky musak and move on. :dressedORANGE:



Nervous man? I am. Wales are rocking.

Gibson wrote:You are a Brit Notch. Just accept it, play funky musak and move on. :dressedORANGE:


Nervous man? I am. Wales are rocking.

Notch how are you doing this week. You must be nervous you'll get worse doing from the Welsh if they won; cos of the whole anti-Wales thing

Any of you gentlemen waiting to see who Wales are sending out this Saturday? (to get beat obviously).

Wales smells. Bad.

More importantly... Steve Jobs just died. A visionary. An open-minded genius just shed this mortal-coil.

Rave on Steve Jobs.

You Believed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_EqDDqo3Uw&feature=player_detailpage

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/05/us/obit-steve-jobs/

"Jobs dropped out of Oregon's Reed College after one semester, although he returned to audit a class in calligraphy, which he says influenced Apple's graceful, minimalist aesthetic. He quit one of his first jobs, designing video games for Atari, to backpack across India and take psychedelic drugs. Those experiences, Jobs said later, shaped his creative vision. "

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future," he told Stanford University graduates during a commencement speech in 2005. "You have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."


Oh man.

Ah, that's bad news about Jobs. He had not been looking well for a wee while though