The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Antananarivo Arms, Madagascar

Hello and welcome to the Antananarivo Arms 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 made it's way to Madagascar, where 35,000 raucous fans recently watched the home side upset Namibia in a 110-point thriller.

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of the Madagascan team war dance, Japan/NRL-bound Sonny-Bill Williams, Bradley Wiggins and the prematurely-retired Mark Boucher above the bar.





Old Pub: https://www.606v2.com/t32066-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-oxford

Kiwi.

Off out to discuss upgrading my website. I'll see you all later

EDIT!
London Wasps sign 31-year-old Italy international Andrea Masi from Aironi.

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young says: "Andrea is a versatile player with proven quality and he will be bringing some vital experience."

I wonder what will make of that.

I wouldn't dare tamper with the Madagascan team war dance picture... that would be tempting fate, no?

Nice to see Bradley Wiggins' photo up there. Superb athlete and a nice lad.

Although I'd like to see Cadel Evans do well again - it's looking very interesting before the mountain stages.

I reckon Wiggins has a very good chance to keep going with Team Sky being probably the most cohesive and 'well driven' team this year.
BMC will need to up the ante and try and crack Sky... but I'm not sure they'll be successful. Or can either individual do it without the full team support and use other climbers to maintain/reduce the gaps? Cadel did that last year... maybe Bradley will do it this year.

Rava wrote: Kiwi.

Off out to discuss upgrading my website. I'll see you all later

EDIT!
London Wasps sign 31-year-old Italy international Andrea Masi from Aironi.

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young says: "Andrea is a versatile player with proven quality and he will be bringing some vital experience."

I wonder what will make of that.

That is a very good signing - Wasps have signed some real gems for next season. Johnson, Haskell and now Masi.

Is there a Madagascaran War Dance? Does anyone have a link to any videos?

I love that stuff.

There's a link on this thread somewhere, Notch:

https://www.606v2.com/t32303-madagascar-57-54-namibia-35000-attendance

rodders wrote:

MrsP wrote:

Rava wrote:Northern Ireland rainfall for June was 169.2mm. The average (taken between 1971-2000) is 72.6mm. This represents a 235% increase on the average for the month.
The highest previously was 152.6mm in 1912.

I would say the 72.6mm average isn't really accurate since we seem to have had a lot more rain in the summer over the past few years. Or am I imagining that?

Wales had more rain, 205mm but the % was around the same at 238%.

Surely that is actually only a 133% increase, no?

..... interesting....

The warmer ocean temperatures means theres a much greater cloud output from the atlantic, which means more rain in the summer and possibly heavy snow in the winter if we get high pressure from the NE.

Its a no brainer. Buy a raincoat and snowshovel.

Exactly the same thing happens in the SH in reverse. Warmer water in the south-western Pacific causing all that rain and flooding in Qld.
150-200mm of rain in a short space of time is nothing here... so it's like Ireland's June monthly fall in a few hours or a day or so further south. Some places had 500-600mmm in a few days. 2010 and 2011 were record breaking for low summer temps and highest rainfall totals in Oz. Maybe the NH equivalent of this type of situation is summer 2012?

Now they are predicting an above average spring-summer in Oz with less rain but not necessarily drought. (opposite to NH 2012)
The Southern Oscillation Index has turned dramatically; signalling the rain will diminish, water temps off Qld will cool down relatively and the dominant high will once again cover most of the continent.

Like when you had record warm temps and drought in SE England... we're heading for one of those.
However, it's raining lightly now but still surprisingly mild for winter.

Nice to have a rest day from all the sport.... whaaa? cricket? take me to a padded cell please - 4 in a row couldn't possibly happen but I'm sure the team will find a way.

I caught some of the highlights of the third one-dayer, Breaker. Quite a few names I didn't recognise in the Australian XI.

Lucky,

Most of them have been hanging around the team or playing Ryobi Cup here in Oz for a while but the fact remains we are still struggling to rebuild after 2008. The balance is still obviously not right.

I thought there were one or two glimpses of hope during the WI series but they seem to be so fragile and way out of sorts - almost going backwards now. Nothing like the teams of the last 20 years. I hate all the silly talk beforehand too... not necessary. Then they fail in spectacular fashion and lack the necessary application and patience on the field - and play a lot of poor shots or bowl inaccurately, etc.

Either there is a crisis of confidence (England playing well... maybe they do feel inferior) or they are forgetting the age-old basic skills of the game. I reckon a bit of both.

We can rise again but several players need to lift their game; others should move on. They've cut a few Test/ODI players recently; which was good - but they still need to cut a few more (or force retirement) and offer a few well performing state players a chance to break into the international scene.

That's the problem with a team / nation being the best in the world for so long - the only way is down (you mention the Windies, look how far they've fallen). But after that, you can go back up again.

We're they counting lemurs?

FFS that is all

GIBBO - you have a PM

It's like an ironic cycle like....

In 2000, we 'felt' on top of the world with the Olympics, 1999 RWC win, the cricket team almost invincible, rowing, cycling, swimming all gold there! Money was pouring into Sport (but still maybe only 1/3 of what GB 2012 is doing now... but still plenty), lavish praise heaped on all things sport reaching a frenzy.

We also had really nice weather in September 2000 (actually 2000-2008). It was 25-31deg during the games, every day was perfect; which is a little unusual for September (only 2 days of spitting rain during the Games). We were blessed with good fortune.

So England is experiencing most of that now 12 years later. (except the weather bit...)

There is no way Australia can maintain the intensity levels of 2000 but we probably rode that wave for around 8 years afterwards.

Now we are at the other end of the scale - less money towards sport, some teams have even withdrawn from the Olympics yet there are still a few world class performers but not nearly as many as 12 years ago. There should be the odd surprise though because we somehow produce these 'driven' sportsmen/women who will pull the rabbit out of the hat on the right day. Then we never hear the end of it.

Cheers lucky

Hi all. Reasonably pleased with the Masi signimg; direct replacement for the departing Waldouck.

We also signed Fabio Staibano from Aironi a few weeks ago to replace Ben Broster.

If they're both shoite, they get paid in €s.

Masi is very good; Staibano is solid enough up front. Nothing much special.

Agreed Notch. Broster and the rest of our scrum finally 'got it' about halfway through the season. Tim Payne had his best season for yonks.Dai Young worked wonders there last term, so he may make something of Staibano.

Laters - work beckons and off to Exe agan tomoz

If anyone here is interested.........


Is anybody here interested in entering a beach 7s tournament?

The RFU are hosting the Seaton Carew beach 7s on the August bank holiday sunday 26th and there is a £1000 prize on offer for the overall winner and £500 for the shield.

Squads are £10 entry fee and you get 10 free pints with that.

E-mail JonathanBenson@RFU.com to enter a team of 10.

I'll probably be able to find a cheap hotel nearby for you guys to stay in if you plan to stick around over night.

All, I've added Mark Boucher to the list, the SA wicketkeeper was forced to retire after a cricket bail was deflected into his eye in a tour match yesterday, requiring emergency surgery. Boucher holds the world record for test dismissals as a wicket keeper, and finishes his career with a tantalising 999 international dismissals.

I just saw that Kiwi - such a sad way to finish on '999' dismissals.
When you think of all those thousands of deliveries and this one ball flicks the bails. It's a very unlucky freakish event.

"Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still"

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

A freakish event as you say, Breaker, but another way of looking at it is that it could have happened to him before he'd even played for the Proteas. Better 999 dismissals than none.

He must have scored a fair few runs over the years, too.

Driver that sounds awesome mate, but think I'll be in France then.

If any of you guys are interested just let me and the chap on the e-mail know.

I might be able to pull some strings and let you's have the rugby club as a den to save on Hotel costs.

Spoiler:

NRL side Melbourne Storm lwill play in a limited edition jersey to coincide wth "The Dark Knight Rises" starring Christian Bale. I got to say this is somewhat strange, I know for the last one they got sponsorship for a race on an F1 car but this is incredibly weird!


http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=STORM1912&utm_source=Storm%2BVanity&utm_medium=website&utm_term=Dark%2BKnight%2Breferral&utm_campaign=Dark%2BKnight%2BVanity

Driver - RIP 606 wrote:If any of you guys are interested just let me and the chap on the e-mail know.

I might be able to pull some strings and let you's have the rugby club as a den to save on Hotel costs.

Driver, sorely tempted, bud - had a side together for the Isle of Arran beach rugby tournament about two years ago, but we're two years fatter and older and most folks have plans for the Aug bank holiday already. Shame

Yes I'll be selling sheep, playing cricket and watching my top two teams playing each other.

Glas - did you see that the Scarlets have re-signed your favourite player today?


And I've finally used my Waterstones gift card from my old job. 7 lovely new books, heading my way

I will be in Irleand for it Driver won't be getting over for it sounds great though!

Evening All

Pro12 fixtures out tomorrow...can't wait...then I can start scheming and dreaming...be kind to me ye rugby gods...

is anyone watching the gymastics programme on the Beeb?

That Japenese guy scored a 9.7 on the rings when he had to land the dismount with a broken knee!!! Shun Fujimoto, never heard of him before, but blydi hell, respect.

Because I'm a bit of a kid when it comes to the current Batman trilogy, I'd look to buy that. Doubt they'll be too easy to get hold of.

Evening, started the day with wrecked hamstrings from cycling yesterday which turned into wrecked calves from circuits this morning. Just been to the gym and now my legs are much better. Weird. Guess it's just from doing all my weights stood up.

Dropped a tezza yesterday too. Was invited to a BBQ at my mate's house and invited my wife, but she found out off another mate it is men only (Risca RFC boys mostly). Felt awful as I should've realised. She's not in a mood with me, but I still feel pretty bad about it. Husband of the Year award gone right down the toilet now

'Dropped a tezza' Rev? That's a new expression on me! Rather like it though, that's one to teach my niece when my sis ain't looking

Evening pub hope everyone is well.

Happens to the best of us Rev.

At least you didn't manage to 'stab' your lady with a corkscrew. A pub mate achieved that when returning to his sofa with a bottle in one hand, the corkscrew in the other, and tripped.

Happy as a piginsheet Dreamer!

Then I saw Fenby is an accountant...





"55 points last season is impressive, but I'm afraid Andy, once we factor in the points lost from wasted opportunities and poor defence you've actually cost us more points than you contributed. In other words your trading account is in the red. However, so are we, here's another chance..."

Hound - ouch!


Glas -

Hound_of_Harrow wrote:Happens to the best of us Rev.

At least you didn't manage to 'stab' your lady with a corkscrew. A pub mate achieved that when returning to his sofa with a bottle in one hand, the corkscrew in the other, and tripped.

Oh heck, that isn't good. Could've been worse though. Could've been bottle and corkscrew.

Swanny, was going to write b*****k, but didn't know how it would translate with the swear filter (and if it didn't it would technically be a naughty word). Tezza is better though

Well I've just established it's not a forbidden word anyway.

Bush Pilots on Dave isn't what I thought it was.

Risca Rev wrote:Because I'm a bit of a kid when it comes to the current Batman trilogy, I'd look to buy that. Doubt they'll be too easy to get hold of.

Evening, started the day with wrecked hamstrings from cycling yesterday which turned into wrecked calves from circuits this morning. Just been to the gym and now my legs are much better. Weird. Guess it's just from doing all my weights stood up.

Dropped a tezza yesterday too. Was invited to a BBQ at my mate's house and invited my wife, but she found out off another mate it is men only (Risca RFC boys mostly). Felt awful as I should've realised. She's not in a mood with me, but I still feel pretty bad about it. Husband of the Year award gone right down the toilet now

Jayz that was a subtle hint that you got to the gym often anyway Tore my hamstring last month, slight tear can run on it but can't do much squats or anything like that and I was feiced doign a bit of scrummaging and forward training.

Just finished watching that Tsunami Story on Youtube. The Human tragedy was...

Watch Pt 1. Then, I was really grabbed by it and watched till the end. Told from a few different peoples perspectives, from all over the Pacific at the time. Some lost babies, wives, hubbies, whole famlies. Man. We are soo vunerable.

Watching Volcano Live at the mo. Stunning. I think I have a deathwish.

We are all DOOMED! Doomed I tell ya.

Hope all are well in here, lovely people..

Mark.............over 30 at training tonight for only our 3rd session back!! The Sarries are growing!!!!

Brilliant Glas

Yeah I know Thom, I seriously lack subtlety. Just as well have written I've been to the gym in big letters

I never ever do squats. Rarely do any leg work, bar circuits with work and the occasional cycle. Hate them and it ruins my scrummaging etc too.

dreamer, yeah - ouch! Got her in the arm, so not the worst place

Rev - although I couldn't make the game, in my crowd at Wasps, Dragons fans were voted the best at Adams Park last season.

1) Actually getting to that game, and...

2) The vocal support + Faletau wigs.


This was discussed during one of England's games in SA at the Wasps pub in Marylebone.

Hope I get to the Amlin game next season.

ha if that volcano under Yellowstone park goes off Gibbo, that's it, we're all done for!

Dragons fans Rock! I met a crew of em in Dublin, back in the 2007/2008 season. We had just won the game and the Celtic League. The craic we had with them after it. They travel well too.

rugbydreamer wrote:ha if that volcano under Yellowstone park goes off Gibbo, that's it, we're all done for!

I stood on that Dreamer. Place is amazing. Mo's friend is a geologist, and started to tell us some facts. She said we are due the Big One.

And that the Planet will most likely not survive it.

I innocently said, "when is that likely to happen?" She said, "oh, right about now. We are a few years overdue."

"But dont worry honey, we will be the 1st to go. It wont be drawn out."

Yeah roysh, tanksalot Jose.

That's why I dont buy season-tickets anymore. Be an awful waste.

To be fair I think the best game I've been to (not cup finals/internationals) was dragons vs glos when you beat us in lv cup (which we went on to win)! I swear I was the only Glos fan in the terrace and loved the friendly banter going round!!

Am watching Slumdog Millionaire for the first time, think I might actually sign off now to concentrate on it, tis v good so far...

nos da pawb

Cari wrote:Evening All

Pro12 fixtures out tomorrow...can't wait...then I can start scheming and dreaming...be kind to me ye rugby gods...

Cari, if you are spending hard earned sheckels on a trip to Norn Iron, check with the O's management to make sure they have enough props..................