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 Sergio Parisse and Owen Farrell above the bar.





Last Pub:https://www.606v2.com/t23373-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub

On a brief incursion into the Pub I find Rodders in a low confidence mood? I'm hovering nicely on a fence in a big field - glittering sun to the right of me - storm clouds to the left.

Whatever comes in the following weeks, we'll all know what must happen in the future by the end of these weeks. Either we completely implode and then heads (players and/or coaches) will be up for some serious selective chopping. It just won't be allowed go on.

Or we make the corrections necessary to our game, and possibly change a few players being asked to play it, and reap some better results than we've come to expect.

Both are ok solutions with me now. I've tired of believing we'll turn a corner. It's taking far too much energy trying to concoct some ideas of what this Irish side will do on any field on any given day. Exhausting work trying to predict any of it.

The team's responsibility now is to give us the evidence... not for us to be constantly blowing hot and cold criticism on them. The job is a tough one and from here on it's them (all of them, coaches and players) who must let the games do the talking. By the end, if no evidence is produced that we are learning from constant mistakes then it finally is time to say goodbye to a few people.

red_stag wrote:Rodders are you honestly suggesting that our record of losing one match with a last minute kick is a "disaster".

No I'm saying the combination of losing the Welsh game and now the postponment of the French game and subsequent fixture congestion means we face a massive uphill struggle to avoid disaster.

So far things have not gone well for us.

I think he isn't interested in two years time. Literally if the match was Saturday thats his team.

It looks to me to be based on the fact the match would be against Oz and also that it would be on this coming Saturday.

It is the Coach: Eddie O'Sullivan that confuses me.

SecretFly wrote:On a brief incursion into the Pub I find Rodders in a low confidence mood? I'm hovering nicely on a fence in a big field - glittering sun to the right of me - storm clouds to the left.

Whatever comes in the following weeks, we'll all know what must happen in the future by the end of these weeks. Either we completely implode and then heads (players and/or coaches) will be up for some serious selective chopping. It just won't be allowed go on.

Or we make the corrections necessary to our game, and possibly change a few players being asked to play it, and reap some better results than we've come to expect.

Both are ok solutions with me now. I've tired of believing we'll turn a corner. It's taking far too much energy trying to concoct some ideas of what this Irish side will do on any field on any given day. Exhausting work trying to predict any of it.

The team's responsibility now is to give us the evidence... not for us to be constantly blowing hot and cold criticism on them. The job is a tough one and from here on it's them (all of them, coaches and players) who must let the games do the talking. By the end, if no evidence is produced that we are learning from constant mistakes then it finally is time to say goodbye to a few people.

I agree with this post.

Fans need to stop getting so hot and cold about the team. RWC we beat Australia and most people were backing a NZ v Ireland final with Ireland claiming a gallant runner up spot.

Now its all doom and gloom. For me its somewhere in the middle right now.

If it doesn't improve we look for new ideas in the coaches which could signal bye bye to Declan.

Stag, if we play France on March 3rd we will only have had the game against Italy under our belts. Under normal circumstances we would have expected a couple of the fringe players to get some game time against Italy but the players will be so rusty I bet Kidney wont change his starting line up unless there are any injury doubts.

O'Sulivan did a great job with good players for Ireland. To play the Aussies you need a back line to score tries. Eddie is an excellent backs coach. He'll have all the back up he needs and is practically an outsider. He knows the job is for a short test series, perfect conditions for a bravura coaching performance.

Stag I also think that due to this new job of yours and the closeness to the team means you cannot be taken as objectively as you used to be.

This is in Welsh, but see if you can understand some of the words.

I am a Munster fan Rava. That lumps me in with the likes of SinÉ, DOD and the site of Munsterfans.com. Was I ever objective?

Anyway my point was its not ideal but not a disaster. It can be salvaged and I would say that the congested schedule could force Kidney to use bench and squad far more.

If it doesn't go well for the team and they continue to lose Kidney will lose out next year and a new man will come in.

Just don't see how it is a catastrophe just yet.

Irish radio when I was in Dublin seemed to suggest that the Wales game was seen as a formality in the build up by all Irish pundits. Is that true?

Glas, yes I think most people were simply expecting to win.

I think people have good ambition but unrealistic expectations.

We need to know we are good enough to win every match but should not be expecting to win every match going into it.

If I was Irish, I'd be expecting to win at home against Wales given the loss to France and Australia twice. But, I wouldn't have factored in the HC as many Irish fans seemed to do.

Glas a du wrote:If I was Irish, I'd be expecting to win at home against Wales given the loss to France and Australia twice. But, I wouldn't have factored in the HC as many Irish fans seemed to do.

When we talk of HC here in Ireland - we are not factoring it in. We are telling ourselves, and the coaches, and the world if they're interested enough to listen, that it Should be factored in. That's different.

We have the players to meet the Welsh, and for that matter the French, at their own game, to challenge them in that game and to win or lose at that game on any given day. We are saying we have the players that don't need to bow to any player in a Welsh shirt as regards pace, skill, stamina and natural ability. We are saying we want a pattern given to our International game that will reflect that truth. When we achieve that with this or another coach, then we'll stop bringing up HC and mention only International. Right now, our lifeless gameplan and confused players give us cause to throw the hint at anyone who might care to listen, that there is a different way.

That's why we mention HC...and some of us will continue to until we get what we want from our International structures.

Glas, I would say that it is the factor most armchair pundits considered. The provinces are doing well in Europe therefore the national team should too.

We had JB Ellissalde as a guest speaker and he gave his opinion to us on why HEC form for Ireland doesn't replicate internationally.

He said at France you have usually 4-5 players at most per team who are selected internationally. The number of different teams makes it easy to park their club game aside and buy into the national team. Same with England. Wales have a lot of dissatisfaction with regionalism and the players and fans rally together behind the national team.

In Ireland though we try to use the good HEC campaigns as a launch pad for the national team. It doesn't work. You have 14 Leinster guys, 11 Munster guys and 8 Ulster fellas all trying to use what they do for the province to create the same effect for Ireland. Ireland needs to pick ONE style and go forward which JB Elissalde thinks they do not do well.

Oh, another thing I forgot to mention: Christophe Lamaison was in the Queens Vaults before the match yesterday. The real-life Christophe Lamaison. He walked right past me, looking a bit sheepish.

Yeah, I didn't know what to say either.

red_stag wrote:Glas, I would say that it is the factor most armchair pundits considered. The provinces are doing well in Europe therefore the national team should too.

We had JB Ellissalde as a guest speaker and he gave his opinion to us on why HEC form for Ireland doesn't replicate internationally.

He said at France you have usually 4-5 players at most per team who are selected internationally. The number of different teams makes it easy to park their club game aside and buy into the national team. Same with England. Wales have a lot of dissatisfaction with regionalism and the players and fans rally together behind the national team.

In Ireland though we try to use the good HEC campaigns as a launch pad for the national team. It doesn't work. You have 14 Leinster guys, 11 Munster guys and 8 Ulster fellas all trying to use what they do for the province to create the same effect for Ireland. Ireland needs to pick ONE style and go forward which JB Elissalde thinks they do not do well.

Stag the problem is that Ireland don't pick any style. Really you need a coach to analyse the strengths of the various players and come up with a system that suits best. This is basically what Gatland has the Welsh backs doing.

Glas yes, foolishly most of us thought that with home advantage we could win without too much trouble. Alas we are now in CRISIS!!

luckless_pedestrian wrote:Yeah, I didn't know what to say either.

Why didn't you try: "Christophe! Here! Yeah, you. Why you look so sheepish?
..... sheepish
.......... like a sheep
........... an animal
............ a farm animal. You know the one with the wool
............... kind of like a coat
................ fur that's not fur but is fluffier
........................ bouncy, fluffy...like clouds
.............................. things that rain come out of.......................
............................rain, rain! Oh for God's sake - rain! The stuff that comes down and wets you
......look, you're taking the pizz, Christophe! This isn't working, just eff right off and enjoy the game.


............game, game!!! The thing you came to see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rava, I think we can all agree the Irish backs are performing very shoddily and Kidney must take rap for it.

All that, Fly? My French isn't up to that!

Glas yes, foolishly most of us thought that with home advantage we could win without too much trouble. Alas we are now in CRISIS!!

Thought I get. That's fine. But where does expect come from.

The Ellisalde point is fair but I think it works the other way. Because the Welsh internationals like the set up, the regional game doesn't press their buttons.

My partner (business) saw Georgie North in posh McDonalds in Llanelli without crutches and only a slight limp. I told her to offer a massage on the spot, I haven't heard from her since...

Rava wrote:
Stag the problem is that Ireland don't pick any style. Really you need a coach to analyse the strengths of the various players and come up with a system that suits best. This is basically what Gatland has the Welsh backs doing.

To be fair Rava Gatland gut a bit lucky too. It wasn't so long ago that Wales were totally clueless in attack and drifting side to side with no cutting edge. Roberts had been miused for a couple of seasons outside Hook at 13.
The emergence of a few players players like North, Davies, Warrburton and Priestland coupled with the return to form and fitness of Philips, Jones and Jenkins etc. has allowed Gatland to totally change the way Wales play. Arguably now they have the physical players to play the kind of direct and simple game he's always wanted.

Kidney can only work with the players he has but I do think he hasn't been able to devise any sort of gameplan to get the most out of the side.

Rodders I agree that Gatland has been fortunate (not lucky) with the players at his disposal.

Kidney has the players at his disposal but downright refuses to use them. They are performing well in the Provincial teams. The man is clueless when it comes to devising a strategy to get the best out of them.

Lucky and fortunate...are they different?.....

Rava wrote:Rodders I agree that Gatland has been fortunate (not lucky) with the players at his disposal.

Kidney has the players at his disposal but downright refuses to use them. They are performing well in the Provincial teams. The man is clueless when it comes to devising a strategy to get the best out of them.

He has a strategy - get away with getting as many Munster players in as he can.

roddersm wrote:Lucky and fortunate...are they different?.....

Yes. Unfortunate motorist is a knob.

Whereas Luckless pedestrian is a Muppet.

Evening all!! Oooo lucky: which one are you? Because it was an awesome film!!

Gonzo



It looks like I'm picking on you now I know, but it's in the name of comedy

Glas a du wrote:Gonzo

I always liked that dog who played the piano, but never mind!

Grover?

No Rolf!

Grover's off Sesame Street, isn't he?

Rolf, that's the feller.

Bring back the Muppet Babies!

Now that was a great show!

And that was a show stopper.

This vid has swearing in it.

Excited Fan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj-JHMCduD0&feature=share

His wife is swearing as much as him.

Ulster will play Cardiff at the Arms Park this Friday night.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17016179

BBC NEWS - "Whitney Houston was under water and unconscious when found dead..."

Come on now, that's just amateur.

Glas a du wrote:BBC NEWS - "Whitney Houston was under water and unconscious when found dead..."

Come on now, that's just amateur.

Must be something we haven't been told about in our First Aid Courses.

Yeah, apparently, Crack Cocaine is not good for you, it seems.

Rava wrote:Ulster will play Cardiff at the Arms Park this Friday night.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17016179

Any chance of Hump playing? If Penfro was to lend me his ticket again....

Gibbo - I hope there'll be none of this shenanigans when I turn up next month!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17011194

Oh and good evening everyone.

http://www.matthewbarr.co.uk/muppets/

The definitive test for which Muppet you are.(I'm Gonzo) I'm neither man nor a muppet. But "I'm a Muppet of a man"

Also anyone interested in GAA/amateur sports: http://www.sportpulse.net/content/full-time-amateur-life-gaa-player-2847

Interested to hear all thoughts/feedback.

, there have been suggestions that there is little involved in these jobs and that County Boards are using the jobs to help out some of their players who may be struggling to make things meet.

Blydi hope so to. I was ignorant of GAA (and still am to a large extent) until our tour of Croke Park. But what little knowledge I gleaned together with watching the fashion columnist Kerry footballer on a Setanta chat show has given me a big appreciation of GAA. We were kicking ourselves that we didn't go to see Kerry beating Dublin on the Saturday after being on the tour. If we make it over in 2014, we will certainly look to take in a match. This stuff is unique, but needs to be sustainable to survive. Do what it takes.

Glas, in all honesty, I don't see professionalism happening but the county boards usually sit on their arses and watch the cash roll in. Cork's one is an incredibly awful fecker and has no consideration for the players. Also Gaelic football is only alright. Hurling is ten times better.

So I gleaned from the Stadium manager on the documentary:

"this week we have the football final, but next week is the one for the purists..."



He also said:

"and if Cork are behind with 10 minutes to go and their fans start to file out, stop them and force them to watch until the end!"

It's only the bandwagoners who start to file out, sure you get bandwagoners at every game.

Thomond I would have thought it was inevitable that some sort of professionalism will eventually enter GAA games. Whether that be a few full time players or a squad of part time players (a la Irish League Soccer) I don't know.

Cari, I should think iHumph will be playing on Friday night. If you are going you should position yourself near the dugouts as he will most likely be replaced around the 60-65 minute mark. Therefore he will be at a loose end for 15 to 20 minutes