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?

Sorry to hear about Jobs Gibbo. At least he definitely left his mark on the world while he was here. Invented the PC market, changed the music industry forever and then revolutionized mobile phones for good measure. And everything was so simply and elegantly designed. The artistry of the design is still something other companies are playing catch up on.

When I stick in me earphones tomorrow I'll remember what a brilliant little invention the iPod was. I'm saving for an iPhone too. Another brilliant gadget. I have to say I don't quite 'get' the iPad though. Not sure why anyone would fork out for one. What's the point of it? But then again, Jobs was the visionary genius, not me.

My boys were reared on Apple. Got them all their 1st PC's and gadgets. Never bought one for myself. Ever.

My shed is full of their retro Apple sheet.

Me? I'm a dead Microsoft man, because I can get all the software for free, with my job connections.

But Apple invented pre-Windows in 1985. Long before Bill Gates phokked it up with Windoze 95 - which crashed every 10 minutes.

It took Microsoft 10 years to even attempt to catch up. They never did. Thats how good this guy was.I was an IBM'r admiring him in the 80's. Not cool.

Morning all. Weathers a stark contrast to this time last week. Blowing a hooly out there! Shame about S Jobs. A true visionary indeed at Apple and Pixar. 56 is no age to pass away. Starting to get nervous about the wkends rugby. Like the look of the JW/TF 10 & 12 axis but I can just see a typical uninspiring England get a drubbing by France.

Bore da pawb / good morning all. please.

Sad news about Steve Jobs dying at 56 - and equally sad to hear that Graham Dilley, England bowler and instrumental in England's 1981 Ashes series win, died yesterday at the age of 52.

Wales have announced their team to face Ireland. I like it a lot - and I can see why they've gone for Halfpenny at full back. It's a risk, but this is knockout rugby. You have to go for it. I really can't wait for Saturday now!

Morning Breadvan, morning luckless

Morning all



Am reasonably pleased with the England selection to be honest. Flood at 12 is the correct call for me, as he provides 2 things which could prove crucial. 1. A kicking game, both from hand and off the tee. If Jonny's radar is off again, Flood can keep the scoreboard ticking over, he can also force them to play from deep with his boot. England have struggled with doing this so far. 2. He attacks the gainline with decent pace, and looks for gaps rather than contact, which tends to draw players in more in defence, and if he does this well and creates space outside of him, Tuilagi could well end up running through the French time and again.

The downside for me is the front row and Lewis Moody. The fat boys need to up their game. Against Scotland they provided little in the loose (with the exception of Thommo) and got schooled in the scrum. If they perform that poorly again, we will lose. Moody needs to stand up and lead from the front, that is what he is there for, yet his leadership qualities did not shine through last time out.

Liking the look of the Welsh side as well, can't wait for these games now, roll on Saturday morning.

Morning Pete. Your second point about Flood at centre is spot-on and having a footballer at twelve could really pay dividends; the problem is that if Jonny stands as deep as he has been, Flood might not have any time or space before France's midfield is on him.

Jonny will have to play flat, as he has been doing at Toulon for the past couple of seasons. I think Flood will force him to do so, more than Tindall did. Tins seemed happy to be dictated to to in terms of attacking alignment in the backs. I see Flood as more likely to try to dictate things and force us to play nearer to the gainline.

I'm happy with his selelction.

It's not as though he's a novice at inside centre either. Plus they've played alongside each other before.

It's quite strange at the moment, as I am confident yet nervous.

Both us and France are arguably due a big performance. I am praying that it's us who pull it out of the bag!

I'm slightly more nervous than I am confident about Wales, Pete. We're playing much better rugby than we did in the Six Nations but Ireland are quality. I'll wish Ireland well for the rest of the tournament if they win but I really hope they don't!

Morning folks


Only two days to go



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

Morning All.

On my own for the rest of the week as my colleague's not coming back from sick leave yet. I don't mind, I've got little work to do, and I'm too nervous/excited for Saturday to give a sh*t

I did my Sportsguru picks earlier this week before the teams were announced. Not confident with my choices, but it was tough this time round.

Morning all, please. Cracking game in store on Saturday. I like the look of the Welsh team.
What's the betting this goes down to the wire with a Hook pen or a Sexton drop-goal in the 79th minute.

Nervous as Flip now I am.

Cari wrote:On my own for the rest of the week as my colleague's not coming back from sick leave yet. I don't mind, I've got little work to do, and I'm too nervous/excited for Saturday to give a sh*t

Cari, I like your style!

Morning Rava. I'm nervous enough now, can't imagine how I'll feel on Saturday morning!

Unbelievable!

After my little story in here last night about the wife and her keys, she's just phoned me to say she has actually gone out and left her keys indoors this morning!!!

Maybe she did that on purpose Pete

Lucky - ha, well how is anyone supposed to work with Saturday looming...?

Pete thats Poopie!

Cari, I'm no Nottins but shouldn't you have provided a translation into English for your post on another thread?

Rava -

Not at all rava, Ireland by twelve

hughie1986 wrote:Not at all rava, Ireland by twelve

I have no faith in you predictions Hughie.........

You always guess too low...

Rav, you mentioned on the other thread that at this stage it would be suicide to go into a game without a replacement hooker?

Do you mean that if Best pulls out now that we can’t put Varley on the bench?!?

No they can't pull Best out now. He has to start/be on the bench. If he starts and breaks down early and Cronin comes on then we are effectively without a replacement.

Oh jeysus! Lets hope it doesn't come to that so!

Just heard an interesting thing on the news. They were on about the BBC making cuts and sport isn't considered one of their "core and valued services". They reckon kids stuff, drama, news and factual programming is. I wonder if this means the end for the Six Nations, Rabo and internationals we enjoy over here on the Beeb?

Could do Cari. We might have to endure more ITV coverage

what got me, was the Director General's salary. There's to be job cuts and he'll still get £779'000 a year. For what?!

Here's one for Glas: -

"Sonny Wool, a 'psychic' sheep from New Zealand, has 'predicted' England will beat France in Saturday's quarter-final. He has been compared to Paul the Octopus from the 2010 football World Cup because he chooses which team will win by selecting one of two boxes of food put in front of him, each of which has a nation's flag on. Sonny, who has successfully chosen New Zealand to win its last four matches, also reckons the All Blacks will defeat Argentina, Ireland will triumph over Wales and South Africa will beat Australia."

Haven't seen him do any Sport Guru picks though.

Cari wrote:what got me, was the Director General's salary. There's to be job cuts and he'll still get £779'000 a year. For what?!

Presumably for making difficult decisions like...... job cuts

The BBC excels at documentary-making, they produce world-class programmes there. A lot of its dramas and comedies are terrible. Surely we could ditch stuff like Doctors and the unnecessary quiz shows around the Lotto draws before we cut sports coverage?

There you go, some bloke on the radio just said that BBC sports coverage "....could be done perfectly well by someone else". So long ad-free coverage....

Morning,

Got coaching in 40 minutes. Think we're doing handball. Looking forward to it.

So that's rugby, football, handball - do you play any other sports, Munsty?

Think he'll probably take over from BBC Sports,luckless

You might be right, Chef!

You're a fan of handball, aren't you?

15% cut in the BBC's sport budget.

Yeah, I follow the French national team,European, World and Olympic title holders;it's a great sport at top level,as physical as rugby,or that footy game they play in Ireland or Australia,skillful and acrobatic to boot.

Mick(TEFC) wrote:Yeah, I follow the French national team,European, World and Olympic title holders;it's a great sport at top level,as physical as rugby,or that footy game they play in Ireland or Australia,skillful and acrobatic to boot.

Handball is an official sport supported by the GAA actually. We're world champions at various levels. But i suspect you mean olympic handball (that's what they call it here anyway). Class sport, i played it in primary school and really enjoyed it.

Cari wrote:15% cut in the BBC's sport budget.

Getting rid of Hansen, Shearer and Lineker should do

It's a sport I've never really watched. I'll have to keep an eye out for it.

Rava, what I'd do is cut the budget for BBC Radio Five Live so that it's only on when there's a live sporting event for them to be covering. It's fine for Sky to have rolling sports news and phone-in shows, but we don't need it from a BBC radio station.

Rava wrote:

Cari wrote:15% cut in the BBC's sport budget.

Getting rid of Hansen, Shearer and Lineker should do

And getting rid of Eddie Jordan and Guscott () will make them turn a profit.

I played handball in France once, very enjoyable but very tiring game.

Less than 48 hours to now people, and I notice that some of the WUMMING outside has gone up a notch.

In good news, eldest daughters Saturday rehearsal has been cancelled so I can watch the England game live now!

Good grief the BBC have a £212 million "talent salary" bill. WTF?! They could severely cut that back!

Ozzy3213 wrote:
In good news, eldest daughters Saturday rehearsal has been cancelled so I can watch the England game live now!

Good work.....how much money did the bribe require for that??!! Or did you just intimidate the teacher?

Ah that's great Pete. Enjoy it!

Hmmm, I'd like to see the BBC's definition of 'talent'

Morning people

Excellent news Pete!

Good man Pete, great news and proves there is a God

I bet Nick Knowles and Dominic Littlewood get a decent slice of that £212 million, despite neither having any discernible talent whatsoever. The Beeb should tell the pair to feck off. And they should also slap Nick Knowles.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:I bet Nick Knowles and Dominic Littlewood get a decent slice of that £212 million, despite neither having any discernible talent whatsoever. The Beeb should tell the pair to feck off. And they should also slap Nick Knowles.

I would pay for my own flights and accomodation and do it for them for free. Can't stand the man. Is he supposed to be funny?

Good news on the being able to watch the match on Saturday LDPCP.

Which show is the wee one in?

I honestly don't know what his appeal is, Mickado. Maybe he smells nice and that's why they want him around.

One area where the BBC can definitely afford to make cuts is in their news coverage. So often, they send more than one reporter to cover the same story.