The Dew Drop Inn Virtual HEC Final Rugby Pub, Twickenham

First topic message reminder :

Chin chin and 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 arrived in London this week for the Heineken Cup final so has stocked up on cucumber sandwiches ( - KRD ) and Pimms.

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no defacing the pictures of Ruan Pienaar, Stephen Ferris, Jonathon Sexton, Rob Kearney and Jonny Wilkinson (the five nominees for the ERC Player of the Year award), Nigel Owens the HEC final referee or Adam Powell (captain of Llanelli RFC who are playing Ponty in the Welsh club final on Friday). The CCTV snaps of Prop_Lyd and the other Cardiff Saracens players on tour in Croatia are fair game though.



Old Pub: https://www.606v2.com/t28922p950-barrel-s-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-restaurant-luderitz#1218292

Gibson wrote:And another prime factor in Leinster's 3 HC wins is, one man and one man only - Jonno Gibbes.

Agree, Agree, Agree, Agree, AGREE!!!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:If this is anything to go by, your article and its comments will make for good reading, Stag!

Indeed. I don't really see what is so wrong about what I said. Im not saying Leinster play boring rugby or owe anyone anything.

Just that they were seen for quite a while as underachievers. Their captain and vice captain went away for 2 years and came back battled hardened and have spoken about how they were influrnced by Tigers.

Im just being a bollix Stag. On the 3 Stars I mean. We DID learn a lot from Munsters incredible will to win, focus and closing out big games we used lose in the past. For sure. Respect.

Its feicin boiling in Lahndaan right now. Thunderstorms coming.

Gibbo - what has changed at Leinster is that the forwards have now got what it takes in terms of toughness. Add to that most have developed their handling skills too.

Prior to that, if the fancy Dans in the back line couldn't win a game with their brilliance, the forwards sure as hell weren't going to through bullying their oppo off the park.

All your tries were scored by forwards on Saturday. 5 years ago that would never have happened.

Well Stag there are 3 rugby-playing Wasps fans here and they are discussing it now in the garden. Disagreements between us all. They HATE Tigers & respect Munster.

There's a Welsh fella who bunks here, plays in the same team as the others (Quintin's) He's a rabid O' s fan. Everytime he comes in, he just walks by me and says. " That Jonny Sexton is blydi gay and is only half the player Hook is. NOT a Lion" I mean...

I love the banter and abuse...

We'll see on Sunday. Should be some craic in this house.

Gibson - tell that Welsh lad that Dan Biggar is the best thing since sliced bread and tell em all to come on the Lions tour!!!!

Hound_of_Harrow wrote:Gibbo - what has changed at Leinster is that the forwards have now got what it takes in terms of toughness. Add to that most have developed their handling skills too.

Prior to that, if the fancy Dans in the back line couldn't win a game with their brilliance, the forwards sure as hell weren't going to through bullying their oppo off the park.

All your tries were scored by forwards on Saturday. 5 years ago that would never have happened.

+1

I would except the influence of the Tigers on us indirectly from Jennings and Cullen but I think Gibbs has had a much greater influence. In 08 we didn’t make it out of the pools (granted it contained Toulouse AND Tigers) but we DID still have Jennings and Cullen. Of course in 09 we also had Rocky, he was a catalyst, he sped up our progress, but I think we were heading in the right direction when Gibbs joined us anyway.

I've just received this email: -

Thanks Penfro* and Rava*, I confirm booking of your Dublin Apartment as follows:-

2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom Apartment – Sleeps 5 – ‘Market View’ – dates as follows:
Arrival 15 May 2013
Departure 20 May 2013

Sorted

* Names changed to protect anonymity

Where's that Rav? Nice of you to arrive on my birthday!

Great stuff Rava!!!

I thought the HEC final was on the 27th next year?

It's the 18th MrsP.

Another Ireland thread gone to the dogs......

Mickado wrote:Where's that Rav? Nice of you to arrive on my birthday!

‘Kado – commiserations on the interview

Myself & ‘herself’ are arriving on your birthday (and advanced scouting party if you will !!) The rest of “The Rabble” will be arriving later in the week. Apparently, "we are mature (40's and 50's) professionals"

RAVA -

Good evening All. Hope the sun is shining wherever you are. Looks like everyone had a lovely time at the weekend (I've not read back, sorry).

I've no idea about next year's HC Final. My heart says a definite yes, but the head says...

Evening. I pity the Pirates and L. Welsh players tonight. Blwdi warm out there!

Ah well, they can have a good hose down with St. Austell Tribute or Doom Bar after the game.

You have mail

red_stag wrote:

Gibson wrote:And another prime factor in Leinster's 3 HC wins is, one man and one man only - Jonno Gibbes.

Agree, Agree, Agree, Agree, AGREE!!!

Reason why Leinster failed against Munster in 06, they had Cameron Jowitt. In 09,they had Elsom. In 11,they had SOB/McLaughlin. Same in 2012.

There you have it. Forward grunt with the backs.

PM back Cari.

Looking forward to this match tonight......2 teams who like playing attractive rugby and can simply go all out!!

Welsh are sticking it to the Pirates at the moment, must be something in this "Welsh" business - I'm going to write to Bruce Craig, so don't be surprised to see Bath-Welsh contesting the AP next year.

With the addition of James and Day to the family it only seems right...

Any score updates?

Cheers.

Pirates just got a penalty try Hound, got them back into it at 14-23 with seconds to go to HT.

It's a running game.

Cheers PJ.


Surprising. Welsh haven't done too well down at the Mennaye in recent years. I bet the Falcons fans are worried

Pirates lineout in bits, Hound , but their scrum secured a handy penalty try at the end of the half. Decent open game so far

Evening all.

I thought they had decided that no-one is eligible for promotion this year as they don't meet the criteria so Falcons are safe no matter what, no?

MrsP wrote:Evening all.

I thought they had decided that no-one is eligible for promotion this year as they don't meet the criteria so Falcons are safe no matter what, no?

True that

Pirates started well enough and went over for the first try in the first 10, they were all over Welsh for 20 mins or so, but then had their FH (Williams?) harshly binned for a deliberate knock on.

Welsh came back into then with a couple of penalties and two converted tries from badly executed Pirates line-outs.a cheeky DG sent Welsh 16 clear before the Pirates got a penalty try for Welsh scrum infringements inside their own 5 metre line.

Both teams are having a go, but Welsh are putting up a good show.

The RFU have turned down L-W application for the AP based on the fact that they would not have "primacy of tenure" in their ground share plan with Oxford United. But if L-W win the Championship they'll be contesting that without doubt.

Welsh have 14 days to appeal the decision.

OK. Welsh have already said they would contest a refusal if they won the play offs.

PJHolybloke wrote:Pirates started well enough and went over for the first try in the first 10, they were all over Welsh for 20 mins or so, but then had their FH (Williams?) harshly binned for a deliberate knock on.
.

It was ex-Scarlet and Leeds player - Ceiron Thomas

I don't see how they can exclude them on primacy of tenure grounds when there are clubs in the Premiership who do not have primacy of tenure either. I think they have strong grounds for an appeal.

Evening all.

PenfroPete wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:Pirates started well enough and went over for the first try in the first 10, they were all over Welsh for 20 mins or so, but then had their FH (Williams?) harshly binned for a deliberate knock on.
.

It was ex-Scarlet and Leeds player - Ceiron Thomas

Thanks Penfro, man you know yer onions.

How are you anyway? Hope all is good with you and yours.

Ozzy3213 wrote:I don't see how they can exclude them on primacy of tenure grounds when there are clubs in the Premiership who do not have primacy of tenure either. I think they have strong grounds for an appeal.

Evening all.

Evening Ozzy, yer own included in that group too so you'd know the kind of problems it can cause - anything to report on that front, or do things work out pretty well? I have to admit that I've never heard of any fixture issues from ground-shares, the pitch may suffer from time to time but that's about it.

Tongahuia goes over under the posts for Welsh to make it 14-30 with the easy extras.

Ozzy3213 wrote:I don't see how they can exclude them on primacy of tenure grounds when there are clubs in the Premiership who do not have primacy of tenure either. I think they have strong grounds for an appeal.

Evening all.

CLubs in the AP that don't have primacy of tenure were grandfathered when the rule was introduced - should they go down, then they too would be ineligible.

Welsh score with simple move to go under the posts - 30-14 Welsh, somewhat against the run of play. Gordon Ross still showing some class at this level, along with Cattle and Burgess for the Pirates

Very poor restart from Pirates, Welsh canter in for another 37-14

... and another Hound, 14-35 with a conversion to come.

Looks like a rout with 17mins left to play.

If i had to guess, i would say that the RFU/PRL gave LW their perfect pre-match speech today - they've come out wanting this far more than Pirates

I didn't realise they could appeal.

"Grandfathered"?

Agreed Asbo, they've looked far hungrier after weathering the early Pirates storm.

Would love Exe to sign Burgess as cover for Scaysbrook

PJHolybloke wrote:

PenfroPete wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:Pirates started well enough and went over for the first try in the first 10, they were all over Welsh for 20 mins or so, but then had their FH (Williams?) harshly binned for a deliberate knock on.
.

It was ex-Scarlet and Leeds player - Ceiron Thomas

Thanks Penfro, man you know yer onions.

How are you anyway? Hope all is good with you and yours.

We are all good PJ. Missed your face at the weekend
Getting geared up for 2013 now
Tickets - check
Place to stay - check
Plane tickets - not on sale yet

The Dublin trip is in the diary already Pete, no way I'm missing that one. Work just wouldn't allow it this time around.

You are correct Asbo, if we went down we would not be eligible to come back up, which makes it an even more farcial ruling as in the entire time we have played at the Madejski, I can only recall one game ever having to be moved due to a clash with a Reading match.

If the reason for not allowing promotion was that the ground failed some form of health and safety requirements then I have no issue. But primacy of tenure smacks of not wanting to allow others in as there are clubs that don't have primacy of tenure already in and there have never been any real issues with them.

Cheers As/PJ. There are a fair few pals watching this in the pub in Ealing. Mostly backing Welsh.

Llundain team after all.

Boooooommmm double firing!!!

PenfroPete wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:

PenfroPete wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:Pirates started well enough and went over for the first try in the first 10, they were all over Welsh for 20 mins or so, but then had their FH (Williams?) harshly binned for a deliberate knock on.
.

It was ex-Scarlet and Leeds player - Ceiron Thomas

Thanks Penfro, man you know yer onions.

How are you anyway? Hope all is good with you and yours.

We are all good PJ. Missed your face at the weekend
Getting geared up for 2013 now
Tickets - check
Place to stay - check
Plane tickets - not on sale yet

Penfro, v happy wee boy with his flags today - thank you to you both

Just wanna test summit on my phone. If this like takes you to one picture of me and Hoog in Leinster superhero poses then it's worked..


http://instagr.am/p/K_BpvwqDev/

Mickado wrote:Just wanna test summit on my phone. If this like takes you to one picture of me and Hoog in Leinster superhero poses then it's worked..


http://instagr.am/p/K_BpvwqDev/

It's worked.

You had a pretty good photographer that day