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?

Ah soccerball will always beat it for popularity. GAA too. Its embedded so deep.

Really Football? Maybe some interest in the premiership but is the Irish league really that big?

It's happening Gibbo. Did you ever believe you would see 80+ thousand people at an interpro game in our lifetime? I didn't. It will grow bigger as well.

Just watching the demise of William Wallace - again
Freedom!!

WillyGilly wrote:Really Football? Maybe some interest in the premiership but is the Irish league really that big?

Football is played by and supported by - a vast amount of youf. That wont change. So is GAA. I did a wee investigation on the numbers last year.

Working class kids still see rugby as a posh-boy's game. So, that perception needs to be changed. Leinster are doing massive work around the province to that end. I'm sure its happening elsewhere also.

What was interesting, is that GAA and Rugby have built-up a lot of mutual respect for each other. Opening Croke Park up to Rugby, did so much to help that. Lots of GAA fans were captivated.

Look at Mickado. He loves watching the Dubs even more so than Leinster. And he LOVES Leinster & Ireland with a passion. Has loved both for years. Ahead of the pack.

There is room for it all.

Rava, pleeease. Saw that film and was nearly comatose with boredom after the first hour. Also ... Battle of Stirling Bridge features no Stirling and no Bridge. Both vital elements of the Scottish victory - as As will tell you!

Flip if only some of Wallaces men could have been transported into the 21st century then Scotland would have been playing France this weekend.

Yea. As's ancestors were there. They handled the finance...

Nah, they were in battle. Hence his name.

Puma, helloooo there!
What of the Puma's chances this weekend?

Feliiiiiiiiiiiiipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

God, I so man-love that hombre.

I'm off to bed. Nite all

Night Rav darlin.

Slaap lekker.

Will be a walk in the park, my friend.
(runs behind the sofa and rocks to and fro, clutching comfort blanket and chanting 'Felipe, Felipe ..')

We'll give them a run for their money.

Had a bit of a scare, seeing that there are no Pro 12 matches for 2 weeks in the middle of the month - thought we would be playing against full strength Welsh and Scottish teams while our lads are still out in NZ. (heh, heh,heh). Realised today that the Anglo Welsh cup is on.

Anglo-Welsh Cup? I thought they put that in the bin, where it belongs?

Gibson wrote:Feliiiiiiiiiiiiipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

God, I so man-love that hombre.

Even though he is the reason Johnny doesn't have more caps..... I suppose Sexton learned a lot from him. When the pressure is on, neither can kick for shoite.

Bore da pawb / good morning all.

Interesting to read back to last night's discussion of the 2013 Lions tour. I'd absolutely love to go but I really don't think I could afford it. Ah well.

So I read this morning that Martin Johnson has received the backing of John Terry. It just gets worse and worse for Johnno, doesn't it?

Rava wrote:No I won't have any problem either. I was just thinking of Kidneys alternatives.
Can you really see MJ as a Lions Coach? I'm not sure.

With you on that one, Rava - with all the resources at his disposal I don't really think that Johnson has moved England forward as he should have - there have been glimpses of what they are capable of, but he seems too ready to fall back on an innately conservative approach.

Morning all, is there any rugby on this weekend? Of course there is, Chiefs are away to Saints and Scottish are at home to Leeds. Usual for me pls: & - now where are the papers?

Morning All.

I had another dream last night I was talking to BOD. I can't remember what was said, but he might've told me the score. Trouble is, you wake up from dreams and lose important information.... he was wearing a suit and introduced me to another player (can't remember who that was). I wonder if I've seen the future when BOD becomes Ireland coach....? Anyway, the last time I had a dream where I was talking to BOD Leinster won the Heino....

Morning folks


1 day left woop woop



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



As, re your text, I'm there!!!

Cari, when I was in my teens I used to keep a notebook and pen on my bedside cabinet and write down my dreams as soon as I woke up; it's weird the way you can sense them drifting away second by second even that soon after you've had them. Of course, I've lost the notebook now, but the idea's still a good one.

Lucky - I could do that on my Blackcurrant these days actually...I know it was a clean dream anyway

Another classic pi$$ take


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rbuLn-Y8KM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

This is such a well-written preview of Wales v Ireland by Paul Rees:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oct/06/rugby-world-cup-wales-ireland?newsfeed=true

Lucky - that is a really good article. He speaks highly of both teams.

Morning all

Anyone getting excited about the weekend yet?

I'm not really bothered, Pete. I might get up to watch it, I might not.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Morning all

Anyone getting excited about the weekend yet?

Morning Pete,

Some of us have been nervously excited all week, eh, Hughie?

I've got my stuff for breakfast tomorrow. I'm going to make a cooked brekkie in between the two games - and I've set my alarm for 5:20am, but I probably won't sleep much anyhoo.

I'm going to the pub at 6am for brekkie and a bit of atmosphere.
Cannot wait!

I have to say, the banter on here overall has been pretty good this week, with very few incidents of people stepping over the line and only few where people have taken offence to gentle jibes.

Hopefully it will continue like that after the games.

Glas on the other hand is more excited about Ffairfach Mart's monthly store and sheep sale

To be fair to the site Pete, I think that's partly because you can give bans, and posters know if they carry on they'll get booted off.

Morning all,

Looking forward to a great weekend of rugby, 4 big quarter-finals and a trip to Wycombe for Wasps vs Bath

Kiwi - you must be back from your travels? You looking forward to the ABs game on Sunday?

Tomorrows games are going to make the 5am commute quite exciting Good job we've sneaked a telly into work and we can lock the door...

Kiwi, you'll be the man to ask: how many games has Colin Slade played for the All Blacks? I don't follow the Super 15 and I can't say I've heard his name mentioned much until now.

I thnk Slade has 9 caps luckless, most from the bench though.

I'm working till half eleven tonight.

Staying in my brothers and hitting the pub for 6am brekkie and pints, buzzing already!!!

9 caps for Slade, 4 or 5 starts I think. He has spent a fair amount of time in the Canterbury 5/8ths factory learning off Carter though. 2 broken jaws this year means he's "well-conditioned" - he only got 2 or 3 matches in SXV this season with the Highlanders, though he did guide Canterbury to victory in the INL cup .

I had a fantastic few days away - aside from missing all the rugby last weekend, the satellite TV in our apartment had all the "adult" UK Freeview channels, but no BBC or ITV . And Al Jazeera isn't known for it's rugby coverage.

please. Just been to have bloods taken and get the flu jab. Awful day here, I'm blydi freezing.

Mickado, I bet you are positively shaking with nerves already, I know you

How would you rate him compared to Nick Evans? Evans is such a quality player.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:This is such a well-written preview of Wales v Ireland by Paul Rees:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oct/06/rugby-world-cup-wales-ireland?newsfeed=true

Very well written article - it's great to see both teams on the upswing. I can almost say that I feel proud to have seen Oz beaten by Ireland.
I hope that big loss spurs us on against the Boks on Sunday.

I found the Ireland-Wales match the most difficult to pick... I would really like to see both Wales and Ireland continue another week... or two.

Just reading back a few pages... you guys are so funny. Love the links and discussions on chocolate and crisps. Would be great if you could all get over here in 2013 for the Lions tour. I could help arrange things from this end... I mean, show you around the traps and ensure you have a great time.

Linebreaker - have you just opened up your gaff for 35 people?! Right, I'll book me flight....

Linebreaker, you de man. At least you have about two years to prepare yourself.

Ha Cari, you won't all fit in here... but I know some good accomm in the city.

Would have to have a large party here though !

yeah Rava - get my 'Party Permits' into council early....

Oh I'm sure we'll all find somewhere to crash. I'm having first dibs on the sofa!

I could well be moving to Aus next year, touring with the Lions would be a must if I was over there.

Oh if you move there Mickado, we'll all be stopping at yours as well!

luckless_pedestrian wrote:How would you rate him compared to Nick Evans? Evans is such a quality player.

I'd say potentially as good as Evans but not there yet. Like Evans he's found himself playing at 12 and 15 (and 14 as well in Slade's case) because of established competitors at 10, and made a fair breast of it. I'd say Slade's a better 10 than Evans was at the same age.

A few of us are staying with my sister in Brisbane




She doesn't know it yet though

It's a three-seater Cari... are you a long person?

Be sure to exchange details with me Mickado before you leave. Oz is a great place for 'resettling'.

Just realised - I do have space for a huge party.... outside on 'the green'.