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 pictures of John Hayes, Craig Gilroy,
Niall O'Connor, Ben Skirving and Jonny May above the bar!




Last Pub: https://www.606v2.com/t22243p950-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub

Very true Glas, I am not that worried though.

What usually happens when a team wins 6 from 6 is that they are playing really well and can't replicate that when they come back after 3 months.

However Munster have actually played quite poorly. We are going to have David Wallace, Mike Sherry and Felix Jones back in the match day squad which adds new weapons to our arsenal. Rather than playing the same as we have done in pool stages and getting found out later in the tournament I suspect Munster will be playing differently by then.

Say what you must Glas

Munster v Ulster is going to be one hell of a clash.

I think mega 606 meet up in Limerick. Its the REAL final.

That's the beauty about what comes with this break folks.

you don't know what team is going to be like after the 6 nations.

Injuries, form etc can all go up and down between now and then. it's an interesting break that can yield different results.

Leinster semed to take some momentum from the grand slam in 09. They had to have.

Either way, come this time next week, the focus will have shifted from club rugby to international rugby fully and I must admit I don't overly like that time on the forums.

That's the beauty about what comes with this break folks.

you don't know what team is going to be like after the 6 nations.

Injuries, form etc can all go up and down between now and then. it's an interesting break that can yield different results.

Leinster semed to take some momentum from the grand slam in 09. They had to have.

Either way, come this time next week, the focus will have shifted from club rugby to international rugby fully and I must admit I don't overly like that time on the forums.

Very true about what can happen between now and the quarters, Micky.

I don't mind the Six Nations on here. You get more entertainingly stupid arguments than usual.

I agree with Mick I dont like the forums at that time.

Well, at least with the Six Nations on the way it should stop Ulster and Munster fans getting into stupid argum... oh.

Like the other day when I was on the boat, the Ulster fans were getting well cheesed off with me.

I bet that had nothing to do with you being a Munsterman.

red_stag wrote:Like the other day when I was on the boat, the Ulster fans were getting well cheesed off with me.

Getting cheesed off?? I take it you were on one of your wumming sessions?

Oh no Lucky, I meant when I was posting in here from the boat.

Yea I had to have been "taking the pish" as it didnt fit in with a certain view.

red_stag wrote:Oh no Lucky, I meant when I was posting in here from the boat.

Yea I had to have been "taking the pish" as it didnt fit in with a certain view.

You do it so often now people aren't sure so they expect a WUM every time you post.

By the way do you think having Wallace, Sherry and Jones back will improve the team significantly?

Sure Leinster might have O’Driscoll back by the thin end of the HC wedge.

That would be…nice.

Re: Pick Your Ireland Squad for the Six Nations
by red_stag Today at 2:57 pm

Just another of Stag's WUM's. Seems he wants to get a rise out of the Ulster fans. Can't understand why?

Rava - its run its course now my fun with the Ulster fans. Was a bit of fun borne out of the ridiculousness of talks of the "crisis" coupled with the outcry that Gilroy, Marshal and Tuohy weren;t involved. I found that serious debate was met with repetitive arguemtns time and again. This broke the monotony. Also it was very very very very easy to do.

Anyway being serious yes I think Wallace, Sherry and Jones will change things for us. Jones is quite a different type of player to Denis Hurley (who has actually been very very good I think). Wallace will allow Peter O'Mahony to play at 6 along with Coughlan and put DOC back into second row. Sherry is a ball carrier who is actually a good scrummaging hooker - decent enough in lineout. Bit like Rory Best when it comes to set pieces and Sean Cronin in attack. Offers more than Denis Fogarty.

Afternooon all!

Training finished early today and doesn't start till 10am tomorrow so I get a lie in, result

Just been reading back about who's had the most disappointing HEC so far, and I'm finding it impossible to choose one. Ospreys perhaps at a push but then I wasn't expecting too much from them this season.

From a Scarlets pov, sure it's disappointing as we let 3 very winnable games slip - hugely, hugely frustrating.

But then I think back to my expectations at the start of the season, and if you'd have said we'd get enough points from that group to qualify for the amlin, I'd ahve been ecstatic.

So tis swings and roundabouts really. Disappointed we didn't win the games we had a very good chance of winning, but also really happy with the progress we've made from last season. A bit of a confusing place to be

Stag I was very impressed (again) with Coughlan on Saturday.

Rava wrote:Re: Pick Your Ireland Squad for the Six Nations
by red_stag Today at 2:57 pm

Just another of Stag's WUM's.

However several posters concluded that it was actually a very good idea:

"Cave is injured no? I wouldn’t mind that team though."
"I'd like to see Stag's team operate and see what they'd do"
"I like stags team. I think that backrow looks bloody good"
"Extremely tasty first 15 Stag!"

I know what the people want

Yes I though Coughlan was excellent. A late bloomer and such an under rated player.

red_stag wrote:Rava - its run its course now my fun with the Ulster fans. Was a bit of fun borne out of the ridiculousness of talks of the "crisis" coupled with the outcry that Gilroy, Marshal and Tuohy weren;t involved. I found that serious debate was met with repetitive arguemtns time and again. This broke the monotony. Also it was very very very very easy to do.

Anyway being serious yes I think Wallace, Sherry and Jones will change things for us. Jones is quite a different type of player to Denis Hurley (who has actually been very very good I think). Wallace will allow Peter O'Mahony to play at 6 along with Coughlan and put DOC back into second row. Sherry is a ball carrier who is actually a good scrummaging hooker - decent enough in lineout. Bit like Rory Best when it comes to set pieces and Sean Cronin in attack. Offers more than Denis Fogarty.

DOC back into the second row. Why?

rugbydreamer wrote:Afternooon all!

Training finished early today and doesn't start till 10am tomorrow so I get a lie in, result

Just been reading back about who's had the most disappointing HEC so far, and I'm finding it impossible to choose one. Ospreys perhaps at a push but then I wasn't expecting too much from them this season.

From a Scarlets pov, sure it's disappointing as we let 3 very winnable games slip - hugely, hugely frustrating.

But then I think back to my expectations at the start of the season, and if you'd have said we'd get enough points from that group to qualify for the amlin, I'd ahve been ecstatic.

So tis swings and roundabouts really. Disappointed we didn't win the games we had a very good chance of winning, but also really happy with the progress we've made from last season. A bit of a confusing place to be

Dreamer I think this the main thing. From an Ulster perspective I feel much the same. Disappointed we didn't get a home quarter final but we got out of a group that no-one (except Notch and me ) expected us to. That we are better equipped to contest a quarter final is where we have made progress I feel from last season.

rugbydreamer wrote:Afternooon all!

Training finished early today and doesn't start till 10am tomorrow so I get a lie in, result

Just been reading back about who's had the most disappointing HEC so far, and I'm finding it impossible to choose one. Ospreys perhaps at a push but then I wasn't expecting too much from them this season.

From a Scarlets pov, sure it's disappointing as we let 3 very winnable games slip - hugely, hugely frustrating.

But then I think back to my expectations at the start of the season, and if you'd have said we'd get enough points from that group to qualify for the amlin, I'd ahve been ecstatic.

So tis swings and roundabouts really. Disappointed we didn't win the games we had a very good chance of winning, but also really happy with the progress we've made from last season. A bit of a confusing place to be

That's because you are nice Dreamer. Hughie knows the truth. Nice doesn't cut it. Listen to Hughie about rugby (and nothing else) and you'll be OK.

Mickado - apologies I meant Ryan to second row. DOC to the bench along with Niall Ronan.

Rava Ulster have made MASSIVE progress on last year, where I feel they were over achievers (and that isn't a WUM). I had written them off but they are playing top rugby and will be as big a challenge to Thomond Park as any team who we have played before. The fact they play there so regularly will mean they hold no fear.

In the cold light of day lads you have to look at the solid FACTS. Munster have lost one game in 16 and a half seasons in TP. They are basically unbeatable there. Ulster don't have a hope

'Fnoon all, back from my travels - thoroughly recommend Iceland as a destination if you ever get the chance.

Mick , grand to hear that the pair of you are firmly in recovery mode

Penfro, hope everything goes well with your mum's op - a new hip could give her a new lease of life - you better watch out!

Kiwi Pete, how did the job interview go?

hughie1986 wrote:In the cold light of day lads you have to look at the solid FACTS. Munster have lost one game in 16 and a half seasons in TP. They are basically unbeatable there. Ulster don't have a hope

2

Not really, realistic is more what I am about this Glas, all I wanted from this season is progress, and I've got it. Sure it could have been better, but I think an Amlin QF is a good refelction on where we are as a team right now to be honest.

And I stopped listening to Hughie's comments about the Scarlets ages ago!


Rava - yeah I agree with you there. Progress is what's important a lot of the time, and it's just great to see your team putting themselves in the position to make the most of things. Doesn't always quite work (some of the Scarlets HEC games and Ulster v Clermont) but you can see the foundations are tehre. Both our teams are growing and stepping in the right direction

Yeah, Clermont were basically unbeatable and we should have won that game. Still raging we didn't; we certainly didn't play to our full potential and thats the most disappointing thing. When you give 100% and lose you can take it, but we went over there and under performed at times. I think Munster are favourites, home advantage ensures that, but we'll travel in numbers and put it up to them.

hughie1986 wrote:In the cold light of day lads you have to look at the solid FACTS. Munster have lost one game in 16 and a half seasons in TP. They are basically unbeatable there. Ulster don't have a hope

In the Heineken cup. Sure every tom dick and harry has beaten them there in the league.

Hughie,

Saturday 3rd January 2009.

red_stag wrote:

hughie1986 wrote:In the cold light of day lads you have to look at the solid FACTS. Munster have lost one game in 16 and a half seasons in TP. They are basically unbeatable there. Ulster don't have a hope

2

Amlin doesn't count stag, its a Micky mouse competion.

If you told me at the start of the season that we would be in the Amlin, but had lost three games we could and should have won because our backs were misfiring and we missed too many kicks I'd have been livid. It's only the effort of our pack and the improvement under Garin Jenkins which eases slightly on that now. Yes we are a young team, but our young backs are the backbone of the Welsh back line and our pack is providing possession for once.

Pete,
Hope all goes well with your ma,they do wonders with those ops nowadays,even considering putting my name down for one in the not too distant future ; my father had his hip replaced thrice, and it wasn't that that got him in the end.

Think Rava must be slightly underestimating the chances of the French Clubs in the Amlin Biarritz destruction of the Ospreys should worry The , Toulon at home have the crowd and usually the ref,Stade Francais are playing expansive rugby(finally), and Brive will always be Brive(former HCup victors)

The ASM HCup semifinal will not be played at Michelin;ERC reckon that 17,000 is too small.So it'll be down the road at Gerland or Geoffroy Guichard

Glas a du wrote:If you told me at the start of the season that we would be in the Amlin, but had lost three games we could and should have won because our backs were misfiring and we missed too many kicks I'd have been livid. It's only the effort of our pack and the improvement under Garin Jenkins which eases slightly on that now. Yes we are a young team, but our young backs are the backbone of the Welsh back line and our pack is providing possession for once.

Scarlets player playing in their first ever full season of HEC rugby: Rhodri Jones, Damien Welch?, Timani, Shingler?, Gareth Davies, Rhodri Williams, John Davies, Scott Williams, Liam Williams, George North.

That's almost a first full XV!

Sure it's frustrating that we didn't finish t he games off that we could ahve (hugely so, am still upset about the home loss to Saints!), but you've got to look at the bigger overall picture of what the Scarlets are trying to do squad wise, and the foundations they are trying to lay down. Prgoressing further in the Heineken would have been utterly amazing, but I don't want us to have one fantastic season for it to then fall away again the season after (see 2007) because we didn't put the correct building blocks in place. We have a much greater depth in our squad now (which is v v young) who have all just gained some vital experience. Keep these players for a few seasons together, and progression in the Heineken will come.

Still to do this season, hopefully go a round further in the Amlin + LV and make it into the play offs of the Pro-12. Pro12 being the most crucial for me, will be the marking for a very solid season, especially when you consider the disruption to our squad for the first 3-4 months of the season!

Mick(TEFC) wrote:Pete,
Hope all goes well with your ma,they do wonders with those ops nowadays,even considering putting my name down for one in the not too distant future ; my father had his hip replaced thrice, and it wasn't that that got him in the end.

Think Rava must be slightly underestimating the chances of the French Clubs in the Amlin Biarritz destruction of the Ospreys should worry The , Toulon at home have the crowd and usually the ref,Stade Francais are playing expansive rugby(finally), and Brive will always be Brive(former HCup victors)

The ASM HCup semifinal will not be played at Michelin;ERC reckon that 17,000 is too small.So it'll be down the road at Gerland or Geoffroy Guichard

Ho hum. Could well be another trip down Mick. I think Sarries could beat em, but... we are afraid of NO one at this stage. Home or Away.
And, we really need some real competition to get us warmed up for the Final. Our pool was too weak this year.

So mon chere, it may happen that Wayne Barnes (your bud) and I, will be paying our yearly visit to Clermont-Montferrand. Love the place.

But this time, we take all the spoils. And the cheese.

If I was a scarlets fan I'd be gutted that you are in the Amlin, without that distraction they might have been able to concentrate on the league and try put some semblance of respectability on the season. However it will be another season drenched in mediocrity for the boys from west Wales.

sigh.



Urgh oh goodness, just been reading those rumours of Cai Griffiths possibly signing for the Scarlets say it isn't so!

hughie1986 wrote:If I was a scarlets fan .......

What????



I thought you were a Scarlets fan??????

Dreamer, I know you are looking for positives, but I can't be happy with the way things are now because I know we are two front five players away from 'clicking'. We won't do that if we are content with what we have. You know what Scarlet fans are like. If we will they will all come out of the woodwork.

Hugs, if you are trying to get on Shoveys good side, I tell ya - it's not workin.

Scarlets should obviously target the Amlin. They are in it now and it will give the side more European experience. But, they have a great chance for the PRO12 knockouts. That should be their real focus.
Do that and their season is more successful than last year.

Mick(TEFC) wrote:Pete,
Hope all goes well with your ma,they do wonders with those ops nowadays,even considering putting my name down for one in the not too distant future ; my father had his hip replaced thrice, and it wasn't that that got him in the end.

Think Rava must be slightly underestimating the chances of the French Clubs in the Amlin Biarritz destruction of the Ospreys should worry The , Toulon at home have the crowd and usually the ref,Stade Francais are playing expansive rugby(finally), and Brive will always be Brive(former HCup victors)

The ASM HCup semifinal will not be played at Michelin;ERC reckon that 17,000 is too small.So it'll be down the road at Gerland or Geoffroy Guichard

Not at all Mick . I did say I thought Chiefs and Sarries would be a big ask and I did say Wasps would need to improve if they were to progress. So it wouldn't surprise to see an all French final although I am hoping not.

Interesting.

A sop?

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/10122.php

Not trying to get on anyone's good or bad side Gibbo, just saying it as I see it

Just saw that mrs p. terrific break for the young lad.

Glas a du wrote:Dreamer, I know you are looking for positives, but I can't be happy with the way things are now because I know we are two front five players away from 'clicking'. We won't do that if we are content with what we have. You know what Scarlet fans are like. If we will they will all come out of the woodwork.

But we don't have those two front five forwards, so working with what we have and showing improvement - how is that not good??

Now don't get me wrong, when the Scarlets fever takes hold I have nothing but ludicrously high expectations for us. I was upset after we lost at home to Munster (but not overly so coz we played like a turd), but was gutted, absolutely gutted by our other loss to Munster and at home to Saints, as in both games we palyed so well 1st half and then just let it slip. I hate it when we do that (as up until the weekend, losing the 2nd half of a match seemed to be a habit we just couldn't shake). I just then slip back into a bit of realism as to where we are as a squad. And right now that is a team capable of the playoffs in the Pro12, and with the ability to progress further in the Amlin.

Zebo called up to Wolfhounds to replace injured Luke Fitz.

Gilroy takes his place as an additional player.

Carr replaces Conway as an additional due to injury also.

Paddy McAllister replaced by Jack McGrath.