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 Ben Morgan, Stuart Hogg, Simon Zebo and birthday boy Penfro above the bar.



Old pub: https://www.606v2.com/t24147p1000-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub#991906

PM for MrsP.

Mickado wrote:What’s the plan for you lads? Are you all overnight in Dublin?

Sorry Mick, away doing other things there.
As far as I am concerned I will be in Killester Park (at Gibbos mums) on the Friday evening for two nights.
Hughie and Asbo get into Dublin Airport late Friday and will be heading to Hughies. Gibbo and I will hook up with them some time Saturday morning and will hit the town (Probably Cassidy's) in the middle of the day.

Question:

If Rhys Priestland starts against Italy will he become the first player ever to be dropped by being given the shirt?

That's a riddle too far for me, Glas.

Confused me there as well Glas

Me too, also, as well, fore-by

The second choice 10 is going to start against Italy.

I still don't quite understand, Glas. Are you drunk?

Am I?

I think Glas means that the intent is to play the second choice out half v Italy, so if Priestland is picked he will be being informed that he’s second choice by virtue of being given a start?

Sounds like a good plan Rav! I look forward to it.

If that is what Glas means, Mick, then it would be a strange thing selection-wise. If Priestland is now second-choice outside half, wouldn't it be better for the new first-choice outside half (whoever that's supposed to be) to start the Italy game? Or else the game against France will be the first rugby he'll have played all tournament.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:If that is what Glas means, Mick, then it would be a strange thing selection-wise. If Priestland is now second-choice outside half, wouldn't it be better for the new first-choice outside half (whoever that's supposed to be) to start the Italy game? Or else the game against France will be the first rugby he'll have played all tournament.

But then by virtue of the fact that the second choice out half is to start this he would'nt be first choice.......

I'm confused! Are you?

Mickado wrote:

Sounds like a good plan Rav! I look forward to it.

Subject to last minute changes mate. TAC's apply

Luckless, i don't agree with the logic, but i will fight to the death for his right to have it

Who will you be fighting? Will there be jelly involved?

I’ll fight whomever I must.

Or not, you know?

Is cassidys the plan for the Saturday or somewhere closer to the ground for a bit of atmosphere??

Mickado wrote:I think Glas means that the intent is to play the second choice out half v Italy, so if Priestland is picked he will be being informed that he’s second choice by virtue of being given a start?

Sounds like a good plan Rav! I look forward to it.

Bingo - give the man in a tweed jacket a tenner.

So who's our first-choice outside half now then, Glas? And wouldn't it be unwise for his first start in the tournament to be a potential Grand Slam decider?

Hook.

Not as unwise as playing Priestland again in my view, but there you have it.

hughie1986 wrote:Is cassidys the plan for the Saturday or somewhere closer to the ground for a bit of atmosphere??

Your call Hughie. I will go with the flow. We will need to get some grub before the game. I'm sure it will be the last thing on our minds afterwards.

It's a tricky one, Glas. I'd want whoever starts against France to have had a match at outside half already in the tournament, but then, if we give Hook the nod against Italy to give him that game time and he has a shocker, who starts against France?

The England game was supposed to be a two thirds one thirds game with two outside halves - Priestland and Hook. The roles would then be reversed against Italy and back again against France. Hooks illness and Priestland's shocker have changed things in my view. Stevo was on the bench. They didn't really want him back in their plans. They gambled on RP sorting himself out instead, which he didn't do. He's too flaky and I can't see that ever changing. Failed experiment, move on. They will take Hook and Biggar to Australia.

never start Hook against France again. Last two matches he's started against them he's had absolute shockers, worse then how Priestland played on Saturday.

Priestland needs to be given a chance. He regained his composure in the last 10 mins, and one v bad game shouldn't see him dropped when he gets our backs working so well (which he does)

I wouldn't, but I'm telling you what Gatland is likely to do. Unless he springs one on us...

Gatland won't do that. He only uses his subs for injuries, very rarely now for tactical reasons, so I don't agree that he'd have gone for a 2/3 and 1/3 option against England with our FH's.

Our players are there to play the whole match these days, and only generally come off when hurt (AWJ being the exception on Sat, but that's because he's still not fully match fit).

What ho pub people. I agree it was a glorious weekend. Seeing most people watching Ealing’s game in shirt sleeves in February was a novelty -and they were only one of my teams to record a success over the weekend.

Kiwi –The ‘Standard’ (at Forty Green) is a legendary pub, but it is totally overrun by tourists in the spring/summer. You went at the right time of the year, although I suspect the weather tempted a few more people than would normally be the case in February.

In other news the exhaust fan on my combi boiler broke down yesterday. Although it is one of the more expensive components to replace, we have an excellent local gas/plumbing service centre that has one for £120.00, and my mate will fit it for free. Well, I’ll get him some smokes and a 2l. bottle of for his trouble

Boiling up a huge pan of water this morning so I could have a ‘paddle’ was a pain in the @rse though.

rugbydreamer wrote:so I don't agree that he'd have gone for a 2/3 and 1/3 option against England with our FH's.

He said he would have subbed him if he hadn't been carded. You're right though, you can't tell what he means by just listening to what he says.

At least it wasn't cold for your 'paddle,' Hound!

Not much of an article, but one for the wall all the same:

https://www.606v2.com/t24730-getting-the-ear-of-the-ref#999302

PenfroPete wrote:

A good birthday then Pete

A good Birthday's Eve followed by a nice relaxing Birthday

Annual blCENSORED?

PM for MrsP

I got a copy of the spreadsheet that MMC was using for his stats last year. It’s really excellent, the only problem is that it’s majorly labour intensive. For example, on one tab there’s a spot for scorers, when player X scores a try you have to find their name and add 1 to their total, I’m trying to see if I can firstly get a list of everyone’s name, then paste in the weekly scorers into a separate tab, then have the players tab update from the scorers tab. It would mean each week you just need to dump information into one place.

So basically, I can do it. But I’d need to see how long it will take each week and if there’s a reliable source of info that doesn’t take much manipulation to get into this spreadsheet.

A quickie:

https://www.606v2.com/t24760-skill-of-the-round#1000442

Just watching the highlights from the weekend, man the England game was something else. Hugely entertaining

I think this the best 6 nations for years.

Totally agree. Hope we get another cracking match on Sunday.

Onto the Ireland game, atmosphere is poison, I can't remember the last home game I've been to when the atmosphere was rocking. Away games have been great but home games tend to be a bit flat

Medard out of this weekends match http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17179457

Lucky for Ireland though I guess.

Glas - agreed.

Fair play to Earls for scoring that try, he went straight through two tacklers. He's a strong bloke, people seem to forget that

Well, Clement Poitrenaud is not a bad player to come in is he!

Really unfortunate for Medard and France, but don't see it making them that much weaker. Only slightly.

One thing we've been lucky with so far is injuries, touch wood that will continue. Scotland were desperately unlucky; Blair was playing a stormer when he had to come off.

Absolutely beautiful pass from Sexton to bowe for his second try

hughie1986 wrote:Fair play to Earls for scoring that try, he went straight through two tacklers. He's a strong bloke, people seem to forget that

It's because he doesn't look big. Well, he isn't big, but he's all wiry muscle. Tough.

aye but Medards been an absolute joy to watch, gutted he won't be playing.

Scotland's injury list from t he France game is huge: Rory L with a broken leg, Barclay, Gray and Blair with dead legs, Morrison with a knee injury and Sean L with an eye abrasion. Tough, tough match.

I didnt get involved in any of that Who's going to play 13 malark before the start of the tournament. For me it was always going to be Earls. I was saying this to Rava over the weekend. He has great pace great hands and a wicked step. He's the perfect fit


I

You and Stag.

How to beat France??


Well from watching the highlights, hit the fricking breakdown, turn the ball over and play quick ball. France were like headless chickens when they were turned over



POM at 6 Ferris at 7 and SOB at 8.


Would love to see that

My team for France


Healy Best Ross
POC Ryan
POM Ferris SOB

Reddan
sexton

Darcy
Earls
Trimble
Zebo
Kearney