The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub, Cross Keys

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 pub has ventured to Cross Keys, as their team is in the British and Irish Cup Final.

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no defacing the pictures of Richie McCaw, George Smith, Robert Nash,Billy Holland, John Muller, Greg Laidlaw, Aurelien Rougerie, Leo Cullen, Rhys Thomas and Iestyn Thomas.



Old Pub: https://www.606v2.com/t28083p1000-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-edinburgh#1168404

I may get a chance to meet you all afterwards but not long. I'd only be over for the day.

If I'm there I'll end up at our own thing prematch which is a shame.

Yes, how terrible to have to go to the Heineken Cup final for work!

Lucky its great. I just wish I could meet you all too.

I'd be gutted if I had to see you for work.

Another of my jokes clears the place...

Ah well, that means the jukebox is mine!

https://youtu.be/FwJnnf1Ogcw

So an all Ireland final, unreal.


Just a shake its not the one everyone really wanted to see though, but I suppose ulster will have to do

Hoog wrote:So an all Ireland final, unreal.


Just a shake its not the one everyone really wanted to see though, but I suppose ulster will have to do

Ulster wins the 'touchiness' competition

Glas a du wrote:Ulster wins the 'touchiness' competition

Nah Rodders doesn't count. He'll stop biting soon I promise.

Must send a PM to Rodders

Rava wrote:
Nah Rodders doesn't count. He'll stop biting soon I promise.

Never Never NEVER!

Jessie J's new song is beyond sh!te.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Jessie J's new song is beyond sh!te.

The talking fringe?

Trains

That is all.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Jessie J's new song is beyond sh!te.

I'm worried that you've actually listened to it

Kiwireddevil wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Jessie J's new song is beyond sh!te.

I'm worried that you've actually listened to it

I'm even more worried that he might have thought it worth listening to

Interesting. The ECB has upped the residency criteria for England selection to 7 years if you are over 18 when you move to England.
https://www.606v2.com/t28458-england-qualification-criteria-change#1176933

Pandoras Box is open!

red_stag wrote:Portnoy's Box is open!

I'll keep you right Stag

Touche

(I'm not saying touchy before you Ulster fans all start)

Hoog wrote:So an all Ireland final, unreal.


Just a shake its not the one everyone really wanted to see though, but I suppose ulster will have to do

G'day all, and happy Queens Day from the sunny Hague (well, near enough).

Congrats to all winning regs from the weekend

Unfortunately I can't agree with you there, young Hugbert - an all Ireland final isn't the ideal outcome imo, takes out a little bit of bite from the contest for many, I suspect

Maybe so Asbo, I found it hard to get excited about previous all-French and all-English finals for sure. Now it's our turn, I just plan to enjoy it. It could- should- be a wonderful showcase for Irish Rugby.

Especially as you can rest all your important players before the final.

It will be a 'who can play most like Munster' competition.

Evening All

Hope everyone's well...and not getting too soggy. I'm sure the Ulster/Leinster supporters are getting excited already. Should be a big meet up for the regs concerned.

Just a little stat attack on the idea that some of us are bored now with the Irish'n'Heineken Cup

Correct me if I'm wrong but since its inception in 1996:

the French have had 14 involvements in the final and 5 wins
the English have had 10 involvements in the final and 6 wins
the Irish, after the next one, will have had 9 involvements and 6 wins

That makes the French winners of both the most boringnest (neologism!) involvement and the most wasteful

The Irish have been most trifty.....

Uh oh Glas.

They're not very 'hook happy' tonight.

Notch wrote: It could- should- be a wonderful showcase for Irish Rugby.

Absolutely Notch - it makes a huge positive statement for Irish rugby. I hope a Welsh team will get to a final one day...*sigh*

Long overdue Cari. At times the Ospreys have looked likely (esp after the 2008 GS) but have disappointed in the knock out rounds. Their away qf against Biarritz was a cracking game though and they nearly won it.

Hook's attempt at catching the ball behind his back against Sarries in 2008 (and royally cocking it up) was a low point.

Glas a du wrote:It will be a 'who can play most like Munster' competition.

Both teams like to move the ball, but I'd be delighted if the story of the final was Ulster reduce the game to a slow paced dirge, stop Leinster from playing, no tries either way and Pienaar kicks us to victory. That would be perfection.

Unfortunately you can't do that to Leinster. You can be doing that and doing it well and they'll just get the ball and cut you open and the game will turn on its head.

No, we need to hold onto the ball and score some tries.

Hoog wrote:So an all Ireland final, unreal.


Just a shake its not the one everyone really wanted to see though, but I suppose ulster will have to do

Fair comment Hugs. Best say nowt. Suffice it to say, the lady who stiched 2 yellow stars on me 2009 jersey already, will not be out of a job.

You've hit the nail on the head notch, you're going to need to somehow stop Leinster from getting hands on the ball, clermont did it for 25 minutes of the first half but then Leinster just defended the shoite out if it and soaked it all up and only shipped 6 points difference to clermont.


Then you've got the option of playing the kicking game but if you miss touch you've got Kearney Isa and Lukey running back at you, not ideal.



Try rucking Leinster out of the game by committing numbers to the ruck then Leinster will punish any space that's left undefended


It's a tricky one to figure out

Evenin' all. Don't mind me, I'm just watching the football in the corner.

Gibson wrote:

Hoog wrote:So an all Ireland final, unreal.


Just a shake its not the one everyone really wanted to see though, but I suppose ulster will have to do

Fair comment Hugs. Best say nowt. Suffice it to say, the lady who stiched 2 yellow stars on me 2009 jersey already, will not be out of a job.

Ah let's not say to much, your right gibbo, let them have a bit of time in the sun, god knows its been dark in the shadows of munster and Leinster for a long time for those lads.



I stuck this up for you the other day buddy, not sure if you saw it. Let me know what you think




http://www.totallydublin.ie/more/200-reasons-not-to-leave-dublin/

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Evenin' all. Don't mind me, I'm just watching the football in the corner.

I'll join you if I can please Lucky.

Had a stunning Queens Day. It was magic. Spent it with family and other people I love. Down by Leidse Plein, right by the passing boats, carrying up to 50 people off their boxes, dancing to loud trance, disco, blues, rock... Portable music venues... people smiling and hugging all over the place. A complete and utter sense of benevolence all around you. In a city with 1 million people partying for 2 days now. Where else would ya get it? Deep Joy.


I just phhoking love this City.

Hound_of_Harrow wrote:Long overdue Cari. At times the Ospreys have looked likely (esp after the 2008 GS) but have disappointed in the knock out rounds. Their away qf against Biarritz was a cracking game though and they nearly won it.

Hook's attempt at catching the ball behind his back against Sarries in 2008 (and royally cocking it up) was a low point.

Ah yes - I thought we'd make it to the semi's in 2009/10 but then Biarritz finished us off in the QFs by one farty point. Tommy got cited in a pool game that season too...hmmm maybe not so good then. And there was that penalty shoot out between the Blues and Tigers the previous season too... Ah well...perhaps things will get much worse in order to get better.

Gibbo - glad you enjoyed your weekend and the festivities. Hope it was warmer and dryer there than here for it. Good result too.

You're more than welcome, Rava - although I've only got the radio here! The links I've got keep breaking up. You'd never guess 600 million people were trying to watch this match!

Dropped the shower head on my foot earlier, really beginning to flocking hurt

Cari wrote:

Hound_of_Harrow wrote:Long overdue Cari. At times the Ospreys have looked likely (esp after the 2008 GS) but have disappointed in the knock out rounds. Their away qf against Biarritz was a cracking game though and they nearly won it.

Hook's attempt at catching the ball behind his back against Sarries in 2008 (and royally cocking it up) was a low point.

Ah yes - I thought we'd make it to the semi's in 2009/10 but then Biarritz finished us off in the QFs by one farty point. Tommy got cited in a pool game that season too...hmmm maybe not so good then. And there was that penalty shoot out between the Blues and Tigers the previous season too... Ah well...perhaps things will get much worse in order to get better.

Gibbo - glad you enjoyed your weekend and the festivities. Hope it was warmer and dryer there than here for it. Good result too.

Cari,
I got sunburned. Yesterday and all last week, it was dull and rainy. Rain predicted for tonight and for days to come. Today, the Sun shone all day. 20 degrees. It was perfect tee-shirt weer. For OUR Queen. It always does.

Its was just... just one of those sweet days you remember ya know? Everybody smiling - it was like a mass high. Love my boys and their friends. Wore a bright shimmering-gold lame shirt. Looked like a Cloggie Elvis on acid. Embarrassed the sheet out of em. Then they nicked it off me to party on with. Grand.

So pished. So stoned. So happy.

I blame the kids meself.

Watching the ASM v Leinster game in French now. Its brilliant from their perspective. Life doesnt get much better than this. In all fairness.

2nd Half on now. I cant remember a second of this game. Lost it when it kicked off. Too much tension.

I wonder what they will say on Barnes at the end?

I love im. I think he's great and a fine judge of province.

Some footy game on lucky?

Cari, the problem with some of the Welsh teams is they go too far behind before mounting a stirring comeback. They should try doing the opposite, and then mount a Rorke's Drift defence

Blues v Toulon in the Amlin was the exception. That was a much better final than the HC that year.

Some derby game or other, Hound. They're only playing for local bragging rights.

Leisnter did get the rub of the green alrighht a few times but you need luck to get to a final.

Also I know some of it is true but I'm sick of the whole Munster have no backs and lie down at the breakdown. It's fricking annoying.

Enjoying the United game.

Thomond wrote:Leisnter did get the rub of the green alrighht a few times but you need luck to get to a final.

Also I know some of it is true but I'm sick of the whole Munster have no backs and lie down at the breakdown. It's fricking annoying.

Enjoying the United game.

+1

Need luck, deep resolve, no end of nous, quality, belief and most of all - Rob Kearney.

52 mins in... we could have had this game won already.

54 mins
Darcy you Muppet!

Saved us in the end though. Had a great defensive game.

I hope we win this one again in the end. Was it a dream?

ASM fans are superb. The support never stops.

Thomond, how about: "your centres are like extra flankers and add to the intensity you bring to the breakdown"?

Can't wait to see Lukas Podolski playing in the Premiership next season. Great little player who could be just what Arsenal need.

Seeing as that's not true Glas then no. Ah it's grand really, no one likes us and we don't care!


Lucky, I think he will be a good signing, need to keep RVP though, Podolski isn't much of a goalscorer. He drops deep more like the man in the hole. United gave away a pathetic goal, been the case in a lot of their (big ones in particular) games this year.

ASM fans are awesome Gibbo. At Wasps we've had some good times with the French fans in general down the years. I'm sure anyone who has travelled with their 'tribe' to France will say the same.

Love this Blog: -

http://whiffofcordite.com/2012/04/30/all-ireland-final/

Ruan Pienaar is an incredible player – anything he tried came off, goal-kicking, box-kicking, leadership. He is undoubtedly one of the superstars of world rugby, and Ulster’s key man - he’s the Rocky Elsom of 2012

Rob Kearney is from Mars. Whatever he’s having for breakfast, we want some