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 pub regulars. We've got the big group pic from the HEC final in Cardiff, plus insets of ll those who couldn't make it

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



Last Pub: https://www.606v2.com/t15430p950-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub#560300

Turning out to be quite an expensive trip for young Manu.

Yeah Willy. It has been expensive being a young thick rookie on Tour. He got caught in that aul rookie initiation trick. He paid for the dwarves at the 1st gig.

Cost him a small fortune.

We've all been there I suppose. Extra for touching? How was I to know?

What planet was he on? Is he that thick? Those ferries reverse into the moorings so he could have killed himself. Have they been on more than alcohol on this trip?

Oh well, at least the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal fund has got £3k out of this.

Let's wait for all the lurid stories from the flight home now.

Morning all

Yeah, I'm sure on e of them will manage to say something in appropriate to an air hostess hound, and as such on his return should be dragged through the airport in stocks having rotten fruit and veg pelted at him.

Pete - I'm boiling at the way the media have got stuck into England. The hotel chambermaid incident happened on the same night the English players were torn to shreds following the night out at Altitude bar in Dunedin. That was after game 1. The story was then released, like it was some new incident, on the day we played Scotland in Auckland...3 weekends later!

That this stuff was designed to undermine the whole squad, and cause rifts in the camp is beyond doubt. Well done media; I hope you're f***ing happy. Job done.

Bore da pawb / good morning all, it's a windy old morning here on the docks but I'm in fine fettle :-)

Hound, I can understand why you're angry at the British media for timing its stories to cause maximum damage to the England squad (and sell more copies of their papers), but the truth of it is that if the players hadn't misbehaved there'd be nothing for the media to get so excited about. Johnno, if not the players, should have known that the press only need a sniff of scandal to go into a frenzy.

rugbydreamer wrote:Ooo Scrum V time. I think I'm going to get annoyed with this, they're going to say we can blydi win the thing when we haven't even played France yet! I hate looking ahead.

Dreamer, you must walk into lamp-posts all the time!

Morning All.

Hound - agree with the way the British media go on about England - but it works both ways whether they're being good or bad. The fact they've not made it to the semi's just makes it worse for them now because their antics will be blamed for it. Apparently Corey Jane had a "lively" night out before the ABs QF and not much was said about that over here, although he was berated by the NZ press. He did make up for it on the pitch though.

Cari, I thought Corey Jane was excellent yesterday. Either the Argentinian tackling was bad or he's incredibly strong for his stature. Or both, I suppose.

Morning all, I’ve not been in over the weekend because my phone packed it in last week and I’ve not got the net on my replacement one.

I’d just like to say a massive congratulations to Wales, I’m sure all of their supporters are over the moon with that performance and rightly so. It the best Welsh performance I’ve seen in years, maybe ever. Ireland were bested all over the park and I can have no arguments or gripes about the loss what so ever. I’ll be behind the men in red all the way now, consider my colours firmly nailed to the mast.

Bisgedi - cheers! You've got your lovely Welsh tea towel to pin to the mast next weekend!

Lucky - obviously the fags and booze didn't have much effect on him!

Radio 2 are going "Welsh mad" on Friday. It's quite funny to hear. Expect lots of Manics/Stereophonics songs. I bet they won't have Welsh cakes though.

Hound

Whilst the media have been particularly crap and seem to have been willing things to happen for them to report my overiding feeling is one of being let down by the players. Yes, it's a rugby tour, and boys will be boys, but they need to display a bit more common sense. They are representing our country, and they know that their actions will be scrutinised. The gumshield incident and the bungee jumping are real non stories, but on top of the drunken behaviour in a bar and the comment to the hotel worker they become news. The issue is that England have played poor rugby, which makes it look as if the off field activities have affected them on the field.

The reality is that we simply weere not good enough despite having some very good individuals. The players and the coaching staff have only themeselves to blame. I have read this morning that Rob Andrew has come out and said that a decision will be made on Martin Johnsons future by Christmas. That is ridiculous. How can it take 10 weeks to disect what went wrong and decide if he is still the man to take us forward. If they decide he is not, then they have to find someone to take over and get them bedded in in a very short time before the 6 Nations.

The enquiry should be finished with by the end of October and decision made then. The RFU is currently doing their best to make the WRU look like a slick well run organisation!

I am sad today because three of my favourite ever international players are done with the World Cup; Paul O'Connell, Mario Ledesma and Mils Muliaina.

Right, time to go to work.

Is POC retiring from international rugby? He is only 31 and given that Shawsy is 38, there is no reason that POC couldn't still be around in 2015.

He'll be 35. I don't see him being around then- I think Captaining the next Lions tour will be his swansong.

POC's 31? I did think he was older. I think we'll be seeing a few players retiring after the RWC unfortunately. I know from Wales Wellies and Shane Williams want to retire from international rugby.

Do you think he'll captain the next Lions tour? I'm not convinced. How many men have been named official tour captain twice?

Morning all, just into work and catching up on the nightmarish news: Stephen Donald replaces Slade in the RWC squad

Hound_of_Harrow wrote:Pete - I'm boiling at the way the media have got stuck into England. The hotel chambermaid incident happened on the same night the English players were torn to shreds following the night out at Altitude bar in Dunedin. That was after game 1. The story was then released, like it was some new incident, on the day we played Scotland in Auckland...3 weekends later!

That this stuff was designed to undermine the whole squad, and cause rifts in the camp is beyond doubt. Well done media; I hope you're f***ing happy. Job done.

Hound, I'm sorry to disagree with you and Pete on this one. Blaming the media misses the point completely. Now I'm as much of a drunken goon as the next one when on tour (actually why limit myself to being on tour?!), but I'm not paid a large sum of money to be a professional. It is the behaviour of the players concerned that deserves your ire.

red_stag wrote:I'm torn on the Johnson issue. I have 2 conflicting views on it.

1 - I think Johnson with the right coaching team can deliver for England. I think he is a man manager, a delegator, a decision maker, a selector and a motivator. He is neither a coach nor tactician and is only as good as the men he surrounds himself with. I think there is still large scope to utilise these skills in the future.

2 - Johnson has made some serious blunders in personnel selection and has not developed any real leaders in the team. He has failed to instill a big game temperament in his side and has not made good on the skills he has. Why should he get another chance?

Staggy, Can't agree that Johnson is a great man manager or selector - this tour has been a shambles and part of the blame for that must lie at his feet; equally as Pete highlighted earlier, some of his selections have been seriously awry

I can't believe the FH-5/8 cupboard is so bare Kiwi - but then again injuries are taking a toll on all teams. It's just that you seem to be getting hit worst!

I wonder who will be able to field the fittest, strongest team after the semi finals?

As

I'm not blaming the media mate. They have not helped, but the players have let themselves and the supporters down with their behaviour. If I didn't make that clear in my post then hopefully I have now.

The whole set up has been shambolic and for me there needs to be wholesale changes.

Ah right, Pete, got the wrong end of the stick

What would disappoint me if I was English is that some of the players seem not to have given the World Cup the respect it deserves. This is arguably the pinnacle of the game. I read an interview with Warren Gatland yesterday and he repeated something Huw Bennett said: roughly, 'you've got such a great opportunity, you've worked so hard to get here, why would you want to blow it by doing something stupid off the field?'

Mickado - thanks for that. If you'd beaten us on Saturday I'd be backing Ireland to the hilt.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Do you think he'll captain the next Lions tour? I'm not convinced. How many men have been named official tour captain twice?

It depends on if anyone else comes through- the only contender I can see is Warburton. I don't think I've seen many better Captains in my life, so right now I would back him to the hilt. Two years is a very long time in rugby though.

No worries As.

Like I say, I do wonder if anyone would give too much of a hoot about some of the off field stuff had England performed better on it, but they have been poor on and off the field, and heads need to roll in my opinion.

I would clear out the entire coaching staff including Johnno, and whoever they bring in I would tell them that we don't give a flying frig about the 2012 6 Nations. If we finish bottom, then so be it. We want to see a plan and structure for moving our national team on over the next 3 years, so come 2015 we are in a position where we can look towards that competition with some confidence, both on and off the field.

Luckless

That is spot on.

Ronnie Irani was saying pretty much the same thing on talksport this morning. He said that some of the younger players in the squad appeared to have the attitude of 'oh well, I'll still be young enough to compete at the next one in 2015' which is ridiculous. Injury, form, emergence of another better player could rule anyone out of that competition. The players there this time should have grasped the opportunity given to them, and they haven't. It is very disappointing.

Pete, I'd want Nick Mallett to be headhunted if Johnson gets given his P45. But as you and others have pointed out, it's not just the manager but his coaching team. Some have been in situ longer than Johnson and the question is whether they deserve any more time to prove they can produce the goods. The next manager would have to have the authority to bring in his own coaching staff.

Lucky - Benny said something smart?! He is right though.

I've got to be honest and say I am not sold on bringing in a foreign coach. Sad as it is to say, had it not been for 'bloddgate' I think Dean Richards would have been the answer. Now, if you look through the AP the English options are these

Rob Baxter (Exeter Chiefs)
Richard Cockerill (Leicester Tigers)
Toby Booth (London Irish)
Neil Mallinder (Northampton Saints)

Personally, I don't think Cockerill is the answer, and Baxter needs to gain more experience at the Chiefs. Both Booth and Mallinder have previously managed the Saxons, and so have had some involvement in international rugby. Both are on face value good man managers, and certainly I can say that Toby Booth has an innovative approach to coaching.

I would go for one of Booth or Mallinder, or possibly have them both involved.

Would England consider appointing Conor O'Shea as their head coach? I could see it happening.

- He's worked as RFU Director of Regional Academies

- He has given motivational speeches to the English National Team before they played Ireland

- Has been Director of Rugby at London Irish and Harlequins

- He was National Director of the English Institute of Sport

- He won Powergen Cup with London Irish

- He won Zurich Rugby Director of the Season

- He's one of only 2 coaches to defeat Munster in Thomond Park in Europe; and went on to bring Quins to the Amlin Final

I like O'Shea Stag, and if we are going to appoint a non Englishman, I would prefer it to be somebody who has conenctions to England in the way that O'Shea does as opposed to a complete outside like Mallett.

I don't think he would take the job at the moment though anyway, as he seems to be working wonders at Quins.

Throwing the question back at you, could he be a potential replacement for Deccie, whenever his time is up with the IRFU?

Baxter has done wonders with the Chiefs, but in no way is he ready for the big time! Hands off!! O'Shea would be an excellent shout

I'd LOVE him to be Ireland coach Ozzy - but I don't think him and IRFU get on that well.

HUGHIE/WELSH REGS - anyone up for going here to watch the rugby this weekend?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15237150

Brian Moore is spot on...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/8817124/Brian-Moore-England-manager-Martin-Johnson-must-pay-the-price-for-failure-after-Rugby-World-Cup-debacle.html

luckless_pedestrian wrote:

rugbydreamer wrote:Ooo Scrum V time. I think I'm going to get annoyed with this, they're going to say we can blydi win the thing when we haven't even played France yet! I hate looking ahead.

Dreamer, you must walk into lamp-posts all the time!

seriously now, I have actually done that a fair few times before. They need an embarrassed emoticon on here....


Mick -

Cari - that might not be a bad idea actually. Good on them for opening it up I say. Pub might still be a better bet, but suppose we can decide closer to the time

Dreamer - that's fair enough, I just thought it would be something a bit more special. I remember watching the 2005 GS outside the City Hall and it was a brilliant atmosphere and everyone brought their own drink. I assume the MS will have bars open there anyway.

I'd be all up for going to the MS Cari, just depends on what everyone wants to do! I'll deffo mention it to my flatmate and his mates though, I reckon it could be a great thing. Plus, early in the morning, it's less far for me to walk

Cool. It'd be fab if we could all go there. I'd rather be there to be honest, and it's free to get in. More details will be issued during the week.

Cari, that would be a fantastic place to watch the game. I remember watching one of Ireland's 2007 games in Ravenhill on the big screen after an Ulster game. There wasn't a big crowd but the craic was mighty.

Morning all please. Yesterday was a relaxing day for me. Watched LI beat Worcester. Good game for the neutral.

As - what some of the players did was plain daft, and yes, they should know better. Their on field performances are another subject. My main point is how the press timed the release of certain stories to cause maximum disruption.

Pete - Andrew's comment about a decisiin on Johnno's future just seems typical of the RFU obfuscation we have seen so often. In no other organisation would it take so long to conduct an inquiry into what should only require some straightforward questions and answers.

Morning

I think Wales is going to shellacer France.

Could somebody tell me what that means ? it's a new one on me.

Looks like the 2nd Tier Rugby Nations have won a small victory

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15238617.stm

Cymroglan wrote:Morning

I think Wales is going to shellacer France.

Could somebody tell me what that means ? it's a new one on me.

I've just looked it up in my OED and the word is "shellacking" slang meaning to beat, thrash, defeat thoroughly. No such word as "shellacker"

Rava - I don't suppose they had much choice really. Good news...although it will mean we miss more games at work

Thanks Cari oh well we learn something new everyday.

I had to look it up Cymro - Its true meaning is to varnish/coat something and I've never heard that slang before.