The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Antananarivo Arms, Madagascar

by Pete C (Kiwireddevil) Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:49 am

First topic message reminder :

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.

Ale

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

by **rodders** Tue 10 Jul 2012, 10:57 pm

Good man prop, that sounds fun! Sad

by prop_lyd Tue 10 Jul 2012, 10:58 pm

Pretty cool: Bath training at my hometown club: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/lydneyrugbyfootballclub/photos/bath-rfc-training-at-lydney-rf-289790.html

Think it's because Grewcock's a good mate with some of our lads, he may be turning out for the 3rds for a few matches this season!!

Rodders...I hated it at first but am now reaping the benefits!! Aiming for a 10mile run 1st weekend of August-Cardiff to Newport!!

by Gibson Tue 10 Jul 2012, 10:58 pm

Im loving this convo. Nice to see the youngfellas take de Pub over for a change. zen

Enjoy it lads. And FFS dont drink me Very Very Very Very Rare Midletons Whiskey roysh?

Nite lads. MrsG is just home from Laahndaaan. Cuddle time.

by prop_lyd Tue 10 Jul 2012, 10:59 pm

Ah sorry Gibbo i've already poured meself one!!!! Ah you go off into lovers corner then and we won't disturb you!!

by Rava Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:04 pm

Feic lads I'm knackered just reading your posts. Erm

by Rory_Gallagher Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:04 pm

That was my point though about aerobic fitness, I could run for miles and miles, but I was never particularly powerful with ball in hand or anything. I was usually top in all fitness tests, but there were guys much lazier than me who made a much bigger impact with everything they did. I could just run and run but when it came to actually exploding through a tackle, I just didn't have that kind of fitness. Though I was very fit aerobically (though I am certainly not now). Whistle

by Rory_Gallagher Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:06 pm

Rava wrote:Feic lads I'm knackered just reading your posts.

Share your thoughts Rava! Come join in. Hug

by **rodders** Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:08 pm

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

I'm not sure I agree mate. Check this out, myth 7.

http://www.defrancostraining.com/articles/38-articles/63-ten-training-myths-exposed.html

Rory trust me its a myth that its a myth!

Listen I'm not talking about marathon running here, I mean 30-45 minutes max on variable hilly terrain. Neil Best used to hike up the mournes, Brad Thorn did trail runs, I've ran Half marathons against International RL players.

If your VO2 max isn't above 45 then you aren't fit enough and if you can push it up into the high 40's - 50s then you will be a better player.

Beyond that then no being fitter aerobically won't help and long slow running will inhibit strength work for sure. Some running in preseason and throughout the season will help.

by Rory_Gallagher Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:11 pm

That guy Joe DeFranco is a famous S&C coach of famous football players and other famous athletes in america. His credentials are pretty amazing and he also isn't the only S&C coach I have seen say that.

I think rugby in general requires more endurance than football, the rests aren't as big and play can go on for longer, but aerobic fitness doesn't seem to correlate with anaerobic fitness, and I am speaking from personal experience with my examples above. There is a famous football player who failed all of his fitness tests (the aerobic stuff) yet he made a huge impact every game he played. I shall try and find out who it was.

by Rory_Gallagher Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:13 pm

Also Rugby League IMO would require a much higher VO2 max than Rugby Union. Play is continuous in a way that is similar to football. Rugby Union today has a lot of stoppages. The rucks/breakdown also slows things down, and when you are involved in one you are out of the game for a good 10 seconds at least.

by prop_lyd Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:13 pm

Right gents a quick cider

for me and then it's bed....exercises in the morning then gym after work then cooking for the missus so busy day!!

by Rory_Gallagher Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:17 pm

Earl Campbell, that is the football player I was talking about.

by **rodders** Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:19 pm

Aerobic fitness doesn't correlate well with anaerobic fitness but rugby requires a good level of aerobic endurance too. Besides if you have a higher lactate threshold you can work at a higher intensity aerobically, without using the anaerobic system..and running at 10k pace and up hills will push this threshold upwards. The result is you can work at a higher intensity for longer.

Be careful about taking elite training programmes as the gospel, everyone is different and often pro athletes have a good fitness base already. If you don't then you need to build it.

by Rory_Gallagher Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:20 pm

I'll soon find out anyway mate. Laugh

I certainly made the mistake of focusing on aerobic fitness and not anaerobic fitness in the past though.

by Guest Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:24 pm

Driver - RIP 606 wrote:It's good if you'v had a pants day , let's you relax a fair bit.

I'm trying to keep fit for my conquest of Middlesbourgh transporter bridge in August! You make recognise the bridge from Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Billy Elliot. 170ft high and i'm going to climb to the top of it!!!

For those who haven't seen it

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=transporter+bridge+middlesbrough&num=10&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=R1o8IkH3v3eE-M:&imgrefurl=http://www.freefoto.com/preview/1050-08-19/Transporter-Bridge--Middlesbrough&docid=6hI1Rg3KbQu-lM&imgurl=http://www.freefoto.com/images/1050/08/1050_08_19---Transporter-Bridge--Middlesbrough_web.jpg&w=600&h=400&ei=GJ38T7DyL_CL4gT8sLHyBg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=163&vpy=190&dur=640&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=166&ty=112&sig=102155416673106391221&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=132&tbnw=161&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:72

Isn't that in Arizona now? laughing

I know it isn't really. Love Auf Wiedersehen though. Was listening to a bit of the music earlier (That's Living Alright and Get It Right).

Think my VO2 max was 52ish off my last bleep test. Was my best result anyway. Thursday will be the acid test, but at the minute I feel the fittest I ever have.

Hate to admit it sometimes (because of the squabbling that can occur between the codes), but League is harder than Union fitness wise. Especially in defence having to run back 10 metres constantly.

by **rodders** Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:24 pm

Ah no I don't mean just focus on aerobic fitness man! I'm just suggesting it may help to do a bit more.... everyone is different though! Do it at your own peril! Laugh

...don't stop the other stuff, just cycle it a bit....

Get your self down to the Mournes and slog it up slieve Donard! You won't know yourself! Smile

by **rodders** Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:26 pm

You're a beast Rev! notworthy

by WillyGilly Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:29 pm

Rory_Gallagher wrote:
Rava wrote:Feic lads I'm knackered just reading your posts.

Share your thoughts Rava! Come join in.

Rava's idea of exercise is chasing to holiday home brigade out of ballymoney with pitchforks and torches. :-)

Shuttle runs are excellent fun. I have a bleep test track off iTunes. Very much reccomend it.

by **rodders** Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:30 pm

You made it up to the wild west yet Willser?

by Guest Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:34 pm

Perks of four months in Afghan Rodders Smile

Nothing better to do after work than train. That's why I don't keep a tv in my room on camp in the UK anymore. Have to do something to pass time then.

by **rodders** Tue 10 Jul 2012, 11:37 pm

Four months in the Afghan will toughen you up I suppose, worked for Rambo anyways.

Respect guinness

.

by Rava Wed 11 Jul 2012, 6:56 am

Wow some testosterone on show last night.

Morning all. Tea and coffee on. Help yourselves.

by Glas a du Wed 11 Jul 2012, 8:01 am

Feic, a gnat flew straight into my gob as I was breathing in

vomit

I can still feel the remnants of it on my tonsils

vomit

by Luckless Pedestrian Wed 11 Jul 2012, 8:32 am

Bore da pawb / good morning all - sunny here this morning! Smile

Plenty of protein in a gnat, Glas.

Rava, reading back over last night has guilt-tripped me into going back to the gym. Well, into thinking of going back to the gym.

by **rodders** Wed 11 Jul 2012, 8:46 am

Gyms are for losers, have a guinness

instead..... Smile

by prop_lyd Wed 11 Jul 2012, 8:49 am

Morning all, ah go on Lucky get yerself to the gym or back on the bike!! Getting a nice rebate means I'm pricing up my options of bikes!!

by Luckless Pedestrian Wed 11 Jul 2012, 8:51 am

That's the thing Prop, since I got the car I haven't touched the bike, and cycling to and from work was the only exercise I did. I used to go to the gym three times a week (a few years ago now) and there's no reason why i can't get back into it. And then have a guinness

afterwards. Wink

by Guest Wed 11 Jul 2012, 8:52 am

Pfft who needs a gym when you have a wii fit. I am a yoga master on that and whatever top accoalde they give you on the muscle section thing. I still can't beat my sisters high score on the snowball balance game though. I can't even get blydi close to it Sad

Anyway... morning all! Hope everyone's well Smile

by Luckless Pedestrian Wed 11 Jul 2012, 9:07 am

I've got a wii but it takes hours for the controllers to charge up. It's really annoying and it means I hardly use it.

by red_stag Wed 11 Jul 2012, 9:09 am

Charge them when your at work.

by Luckless Pedestrian Wed 11 Jul 2012, 9:10 am

That's be a fire hazard, wouldn't it?

by red_stag Wed 11 Jul 2012, 9:11 am

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:That's be a fire hazard, wouldn't it?

How are they charged? Erm

by Luckless Pedestrian Wed 11 Jul 2012, 9:19 am

I just don't think it's wise to leave any appliance plugged in and turned on while I'm not there. Plus, a lot of the time, by the time it's charged I don't want to play it!

by red_stag Wed 11 Jul 2012, 9:26 am

A good point.

Speaking of fitness I am in 40 kinds of pain today.

I had my latest referee fitness test. Every week we have a fitness test and we have to beat the previous week. It then moves onto training after that which is a horrid amount of shuttle runs and a game of football/touch rugby at the end.

Really feeling it now though.

by Pete C (Kiwireddevil) Wed 11 Jul 2012, 9:37 am

Morning all,

Stag, I know how you feel. New netball season started last night, and joy of joys had to mark a 6ft 6in Aussie - when they're that tall the only viable tactic is to physically block him out of the shooting circle, so I'm sore today. It was a great match, the lead changed five or six times, and we ran out winners 35-33 Very Happy

- and the oppostion were the beaten finalists last season. So we're half-way to the season's goal of minimum 2 wins (we achieved our goal of 1 win last season - building up slowly in A-grade)

by Rava Wed 11 Jul 2012, 9:45 am

Kiwi how many teams are in your league? If you are beating the recent beaten finalists then maybe you will have to reassess your ambitions?

by **Notch** Wed 11 Jul 2012, 9:55 am

Feel like I've walked into a Rocky training montage Wink

Pro12 fixtures are out today. Hoping for a comfortable start for Ulster. We'll be starting with a potentially shaky enough 9-10-12 axis, even if it's abundantly talented, and a few easier games would help it to settle in.

by **rodders** Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:06 am

Draaaaagggggggooooooooo!!!!!!!

by **Notch** Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:08 am

rodders wrote:Draaaaagggggggooooooooonnnnnsss!!!!!!!

Fixed that Smile

by **rodders** Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:12 am

Feicer!

by **Notch** Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:16 am

Ospreys have jumped the gun on the fixture list, put it up before the Pro12 released it... bit of a shambles.

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/downloads/2012-13fixtures.pdf

Did not get my wish, we have;

Ulster vs Glasgow
Ospreys vs Ulster
Ulster vs Munster

But we should win the home games, Liberty will be tough that early.

by Luckless Pedestrian Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:21 am

Well if we can't beat Zebre first up, the omens aren't good for the rest of the season! Good to have a derby match nice and early though - Jason Tovey's first visit to the Parade with the Blues...

by WillyGilly Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:24 am

What is exactly the story with small parcel though guys? With him back and in form I'd feel substantially more chipper.

In other news this am Moyles has announced he's leaving the radio 1 breckfast show. He may have been an arrogant, boastful, annoying, rude, 'up himself bumhole. But by god I still love getting up to him in the mornings....

by **Notch** Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:24 am

He's meant to be fit for the last of our pre-season friendlies Willy.

by Luckless Pedestrian Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:27 am

I got six out of seven in this quiz:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18780644

by red_stag Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:43 am

What date is Ulster v Munster?

by **Notch** Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:50 am

red_stag wrote:What date is Ulster v Munster?

They've only given weekends, not exact dates, but it's the third round which will be played on the 14/15/16th of September. I'm guessing it will be on Friday night (the 14th) like most of our home games.

by Rava Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:51 am

red_stag wrote:What date is Ulster v Munster?

14th Stag. I am looking at a room for you and me in Belfast at #35.00 for the night.

by red_stag Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:55 am

I'm in like gin Rav!!

I also see the Leinster v Munster is on the weekend of my birthday!!

by Rava Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:57 am

Ulsters trip to Leinster is on Easter weekend steam

Mind you Leinster travel to Belfast on 21st December. Would make a fantastic venue for this years Irish Regs Xmas Meet Very Happy

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