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?



Hen dafarn/Old pub: https://www.606v2.com/t15642p1000-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub#576037

Well played AB's, congrats to KiwiRedDevil and commiserations to Linebreaker.

Hope the AB's go on and win it now.

I've been pretty impressed with Dallaglio as well, calm and measured in what he's said. I suppose it helps when you're watching a match as a neutral! Well done to the ABs, I hope they can finish it off now. (BTW I didn't see any when I was out there which was a shame)

I enjoyed that match, really high intensity stuff.

Congrats to the AB's, so so hope you guys go on and win the thing now.

Breaker....we'll be waiting for you in the 3rd/4th place playoff

Very clinical performance. Can't see the French doing any better but kicking off the tee would need to improve otherwise they could be under unnecessary pressure.

Sense of destiny that at long last, this is their moment. Full circle; a rematch of the 1987 Final. Go on the All Blacks- some awesome players out there. I don't think any rugby fan will begrudge them it.

Richie McCaw must be operating on adrenaline, they've been saying he's injured throughout the tournament and he's still going! There's so much resting on him staying with it. It's such a shame we fell short yesterday, it could have been a brilliant final.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Well played AB's, congrats to KiwiRedDevil and commiserations to Linebreaker.

Hope the AB's go on and win it now.

Cheers Pete. Yeah, I hope the ABs go on to win it now. Means so much to them. The Wallabies were totally taught a lesson in rugby tonight.

Wales - Australia should be a great one to watch too... with Wales on the rampage against our poor ravaged Wallabies!

Mrs Penfro I think it will still be a brilliant final. The French will surely produce some flair?? It would be folly to think it would be one sided.

I may be putting the mockers on him for our next match, but check this stat out from itv's twitter feed:

Toby Faletau hasn’t missed a single tackle at this World Cup - he has made 75 tackles over the campaign so far, more than any other player

To be fair, I don't think it's quite accurate (I'm sure he missed one against Ireland), but still, mightily impressive! He was I think our best player yesterday as well.

Rava - I hope the French do turn up, but I really want NZ to win. They're actually looking to play rugby, France aren't which I hate seeing coz when they do try and play they can be brilliant. We just haven't seen it yet.

It could well be, anything could happen with France involved. They're probably the last team the ABs would want as well. It'll be interesting to see who they choose to ref it.

Mrs Penfro wrote:It could well be, anything could happen with France involved. They're probably the last team the ABs would want as well. It'll be interesting to see who they choose to ref it.

Got to be Wayne Barnes!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmm Shaun Edwards' contract us up at the end of the rwc. I really really hope he decides to stay on with us, he'd be a big loss to the coaching set up.

Methinks Kaplan will be reffing.

Dreamer 12 months ago I didn't expect to hear people say that about Edwards post RWC

Some Welsh fans still really angry about the red card - my god.

Stag mate don't think that last bit was needed.

Ah nah Edwards I always wanted to stay, Gatland I wasn't so much a fan of, shows what I know!

Dreamer it was needed IMO. SOME being the key word and I made sure to use it. Not a single reg is being referred to there. I've justed posted on another thead and seen some Welsh fans saying to us that we got what we wanted, Wales are out and we should be happy etc.

We're hurting badly Stag. People react to it differently (and not always in the right way), I don't know why you're surprised. I don't think that comment by you was needed.

Fair enough but we're all hurting only two teams are left in tournament. I think it was an acceptable thing to say personally. I got frustrated by it and said it here rather than make a big issue elsewhere. Your a mod - your gonna have to listen to that (not making a mod complaint BTW).

I'd have had no qualms if they were still harping on about it a week later Stag, tis just that it's only been just over 24hrs, that's all. Just personally don't see that as being such a long time to be upset about something

Upset is fine. But being rude to other people isn't. Anyway its neither here nor there at this stage.

Morning all.... Congrats AB's shame we won't be able to test ourselves against you..... a real sense of disappointment in the air today!. Please France turn up and put on a show we know you're capable of, I'll be supporting the AB's but want Rugby to be the winner

Commiseration Oz ... another feeling in the air is a case of history repeating

Agree in full Dragon I think we could see a horribly one sided final. 20-30 point margin is my bet.

red_stag wrote:Dreamer it was needed IMO. SOME being the key word and I made sure to use it. Not a single reg is being referred to there. I've justed posted on another thead and seen some Welsh fans saying to us that we got what we wanted, Wales are out and we should be happy etc.

When I posted that did you feel that I was talking about you?

I think the final is going to be pretty one sided too. Just hope NZ win, they've played some superb rugby in this tournament.

If they don't win it this time I will be even more gutted not reaching the final.

Right I'm off to the lake Districts till next Saturday,, have fun all.

rugbydreamer wrote:I'd have had no qualms if they were still harping on about it a week later Stag, tis just that it's only been just over 24hrs, that's all. Just personally don't see that as being such a long time to be upset about something

red_stag wrote:Upset is fine. But being rude to other people isn't. Anyway its neither here nor there at this stage.

I think its the Sod's Law compounded by the fact that we are/were playing some really good Rugby (some of the best in the tournament) that is hurting and stirring the emotions of some Welsh fans, and it is still very raw. Unfortunately people are making comments, judgements based on these emotions and while not to be condoned is sort of understandable.

New eland concentrated on the battles and let the War take care if itself. High risk as that is what the Saffers tried to do as well. NZ just better all round today. Australia were disjointed.

Afternoon all. Woke up this mornng with a pounding headache, but I dragged myself into town to watch the game regardless. Back home now with a sore head and a . Time for some lunch now while I watch it again .

Friday should be a cracker for 3rd/4th, it took an immense effort from the ABs to negate Pocock.

And nobody write of the French. They're due

Well done to the ABs - I'm still backing them to win the RWC. Not looking forward to Oz in the play off, but at least Wales have a crack at getting a cup even if it's not the big one

I'm watching some 2009 GAA highlights on DVD. Enjoying the peace. The people next door have really pished me off this weekend, but their guests have left now, thankfully.

Woo hoo!! I've reached the dizzy heights of 10th on Sportsguru I've only ever stayed in the 30s.

nice one on SG Cari

Right, I'm going to do it, I'm re-watching it. Going to see exactly where we did not take our chances, where to improve and what we did well. Also want to see if Faletau played as well as I remembered from yesterday, or if sheer hysteria tainted my view.

TF had a good game yesterday, so did Lydiate I thought.

I managed to watch the highlights yesterday afternoon....it was painful, but worth seeing.

rugbydreamer wrote:
Right, I'm going to do it, I'm re-watching it. Going to see exactly where we did not take our chances, where to improve and what we did well. Also want to see if Faletau played as well as I remembered from yesterday, or if sheer hysteria tainted my view.

Don't do it.. it'll drive you nuts.... I've watched it 3 times now and it hurts more all the time...

I watching the Dubs getting hammered by Kerry in the Gaelic footie back in 2009. I must be a glutton for punishment...good time to peel the spuds I think...

Cari wrote:I watching the Dubs getting hammered by Kerry in the Gaelic footie back in 2009. I must be a glutton for punishment...good time to peel the spuds I think...

Time is a great healer tho....

Right, off out..... need some fresh air... cya

well just finished teh first half, S4C handled the red card situation a lot better then ITV, really professional. Just much better coverage.

Welsh players of the first half: Toby Faletau and Luke Charteris.

just finished watching it all, glad I did watch it again.

Definitely going down as a huge missed opportunity, we completely outplayed France even a man short and we had so many chances to win it. Harsh lesson, same as against SA really, just so want us to learn from this now.

I hadn't realised yesterday that we played the last 25mins without Lydiate!

Faletau by far our best player, just amazing. I love how he conducts himself on the pitch as well. So laid back and professional, just gets on with it, and doesn't stop for the full 80mins. He's fab.

rugbydreamer wrote:just finished watching it all, glad I did watch it again.

Definitely going down as a huge missed opportunity, we completely outplayed France even a man short and we had so many chances to win it. Harsh lesson, same as against SA really, just so want us to learn from this now.

I hadn't realised yesterday that we played the last 25mins without Lydiate!

Faletau by far our best player, just amazing. I love how he conducts himself on the pitch as well. So laid back and professional, just gets on with it, and doesn't stop for the full 80mins. He's fab.

+1

This is the first time I've seen interviews with the players afterwards as well. Conducted themselves brilliantly, am so proud of them.

Time to focus on Australia now

Poopie or bust say I. Run at the Aussies. Run through the Aussies. Run round the Aussies. Pocock can be dealt with. Make first up tackles. Keep tight and focused.

Deffo Glas, but I just really hope Rhys is fit. I said on another thread but I reckon we missed him more than we missed Adam or Sam.

I think Pocock will cause Wales problems, especially without Warburton. We were lucky not to face him in truth. But they can certainly be beaten if they get to their halfbacks. Ireland got to them, New Zealand got to them- no reason Wales can't.

Quade Cooper is a flaky bugger if you get to Genia.

I think the Welsh fans have a right to be emotional and upset, but not to be rude or derogatory towards the referee (who, after all, made the right call). I hope it will all blow over over the next few days and people will come to their senses.

My worry is that UK media sources keep calling the red card 'dubious' despite its... well, it wasn't dubious. The fact that the decision has been upheld and backed up by a ban testifies to that, as does a careful examination of the instructions given to referees about dealing with these tackles.

I think it's irresponsible for it to be presented as a mistake, when actually it was a fair call because thats inevitably going to cause people to view it in a different light. I suppose what I'm saying is I don't want to hear about it for the next six months.

I think Priestland has been the best outhalf at this World Cup dreamer- who else is there? Steyn who was uninspiring if solid, Cooper is flaky, Carter hasn't played since the group phases, Parra is a 9, for O'Gara see Steyn, for Sexton see Cooper and as for the English 10s? Mediocre. So Priestland has been the most on-form 10 in the World Cup.

When comparing the difference in coverage between S4C and ITV, I really don't think ITV helped in explaining the situaton to fans watching.

Most times, even for a dangerous tackle, you only see a yellow - the same thing has been happening even in this wc up till yesterday. For them to then go on and say it was a penalty/yellow at most didn't help things.

I certainly wasn't aware of the new directive and for me I thought yellow was what it should have been.

S4C went fully into explaining the law of the game and helped explain to the viewers why Rolland issued a red card, even if the people on the pannel themselves personally felt it should only have been a yellow.

It's only been a day since it happened, it's all still really raw. Acceptance for some fans who are finding it difficult will come, twill just take some time is all.

With regards to Australia, pocock is indeed teh biggest threat, but I haven't seen anything from them in this world cup that firghtens me (although maybe I should be!).

We've had great defence, especially in the last quarter of all the matches. Think we've only conceded 7 points in total in the last quarter and that's from ALL the matches we've played. THat's a damn good record imo. If we keep up the high standard, I think we can win. Have to play out of our skins again though without question.

Oh, and get our blydi kicks this time!

Oh and with regards to the UK media, all articles I've read on the telegraph, guardian etc, have said it was harsh for Wales but that Rolland did make the right call

The referee for the final is going to be a very interesting call I think. The Sunday Times this morning seemed to think that Alain Rolland was the favourite. I think I'd prefer Craig Joubert myself. It's definitely not Nigel I know that, he said so on Twitter. Or of course it could be someone completely different...

Kaplan maybe?

I'd rather it be him or Joubert, but can't see Joubert getting a semi-final and final.

They'll probably name the ref fairly soon I should think. Spoke to himself earlier on, he said the atmosphere in Auckland was amazing. I didn't get a chance to ask whether he was going to go to the Wales-Australia game, it was 3am over there so he didn't say much.

rugbydreamer wrote:Oh and with regards to the UK media, all articles I've read on the telegraph, guardian etc, have said it was harsh for Wales but that Rolland did make the right call

The Telegraph did a blog on it, and Dean Ryan has written similar in The Guardian so that was good. But they are sending out mixed messages for sure. Just reading the Guardians reaction they're basically arguing it both ways.