The Zone Virtual Sports Bar, Hamilton.

First topic message reminder :

Hello and welcome to the Zone Sports Bar, 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.

This week the pub has set up in Sky City Hamilton, where the Crusaders take on the Chiefs in the Super XV semi final.

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of Bradley Wiggins, Ernie Els, Irene van Dyk, Sonny Bill Williams and his newly capped All Black team mate Sam Cane.



Previous pub. https://www.606v2.com/t32740-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-bridgend

PJHolybloke wrote:

Cari wrote:

Thomond wrote:Also was I the only one who notcied there was kind of a Nazi salute when the Germans came in?

Spoiler:

Nope. The press have picked up on it too. *sigh* there's always one.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2180142/Is-appropriate-Dignitary-gives-questionable-salute-German-athletes-Boris-Camilla-look-fit-giggles.html

I wish I'd been able to stay up, but there's no way I could've got up for work if I had watched it, and it was on until late here.

Is that Camilla in the background looking disgusted? "Blahdy Krauts! Ooops, sorry darling."

Just as well Phil de Greek wasn't behind him. His hand would have been up too.

Isn't Greeky Phil half-German too?

Looks like the Sharks are going to knock out the Stormers. They are 23-9 up in Cape Town. Definitely the fairytale team of the comp.

I don't know if they do a player of the year award but surely JP Pietersen has to be front runner for the award.

Munsty that try by JP was such class.

Half-Danish, Half-German, PJ.

Born into the Greek Royal Family.

Wiki is great isint it?

But I do know that most of all the Royal Families in Northern Yurop, have a German connection. Dutch Royal Family are German. Its even in their National Anthem.

Wheels within wheels John.

The Wars must have been tricky for em all.

Wow, a really good try for the Stormers and this game ain't over just yet.

Back to just the four points. Stormers are going for it.

Stormers take the 3. 19-23 down C'mon Natal!!

Michalak's second drop goal. Stretches the lead to a converted try again.

Good possession from Sharks sets up the DG. Back to seven points.

Get in Freddie!! DG, and back to. 7 pt lead. 4 to go.

Keegan Daniels MOM?

What a victory for the Sharks. I thought Keegan Daniel was magnificent in that match.

Very pleased for the Sharks, and John Allan. I've had a few beers with that guy in Dubai.

Just saw some of the highlights from around the women's football and the Canadian captain, who is just 29, has played over 180 games for her country and scored 140 goals. That is pretty incredible.

Interesting to see Freddie Michalak back in the NH again. Make a nice 21 on the bench for France, covering 9 and 10 and bringing in a lot of flair.

MBTGOG wrote:Just saw some of the highlights from around the women's football and the Canadian captain, who is just 29, has played over 180 games for her country and scored 140 goals. That is pretty incredible.

Jeez, that's nearly a goal a game! I'm no expert on roundball, but I'm fairly sure a goal every other game is considered "prolific", is it not?

Just worked it out, 0.777777 rec. goals per game.

It's pretty astounding.

Chequered- who is Michalak playing for next season?

Oh just realised I misread a story. Thought it was linking Michalak with a move to Toulon. It was in fact saying the opposite, that he'd stay in SA. Sorry

Aha I see- even so, he would be a smart pick for France. He still has plenty left to offer.

Notch wrote:Aha I see- even so, he would be a smart pick for France. He still has plenty left to offer.

What's the Guardian have to say about it?

Ya big bleedin' heart.

Evening all, just a quick check in from the beach volleyball. 1st match in this session starts in 10 minutes.

Amazing the number of happy smiling people around.

Ps, don't tell Gibbo but they have cheerleaders here too.

Kiwi - men's or women's?

ChequeredJersey wrote:Oh just realised I misread a story. Thought it was linking Michalak with a move to Toulon. It was in fact saying the opposite, that he'd stay in SA. Sorry

I thought Michalak was joining Toulon too.

PJHolybloke wrote:

Notch wrote:Aha I see- even so, he would be a smart pick for France. He still has plenty left to offer.

What's the Guardian have to say about it?

Ya big bleedin' heart.

Oh I certainly don't read them on rugby... or sport in general. They are pretty awful on rugby

PJHolybloke wrote:Kiwi - men's or women's?

Male cheerleaders? Ewww don't go there. Trying to get an Olympic theme to our night out tonight, I have no idea how or what this will entail.

Danny Boyle movies? PEDs?

Evening All

Just watching the men's gymnastics. I do like watching them...shame about the rubbishy commentary, but I've just turned the volume down anyway.

Woss occurrin'?

WillyGilly wrote:Trying to get an Olympic theme to our night out tonight, I have no idea how or what this will entail.

Willy - my workplace had an olympic theme yesterday. Everyone dressed in sports gear and in togas as each section was given a Greek god/goddess. Our section's given god was Hermes. We also had a buffet, and I brought in ring food i.e. onion rings, ring doughnuts etc.

WillyGilly wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:Kiwi - men's or women's?

Male cheerleaders? Ewww don't go there. Trying to get an Olympic theme to our night out tonight, I have no idea how or what this will entail.

Inter-locking rings?

Alright Cari, alright there are you?

Just chillin out watching Olympic swimming, the Chinese have all of a sudden become great swimmers...

PJHolybloke wrote:

Alright Cari, alright there are you?

Just chillin out watching Olympic swimming, the Chinese have all of a sudden become great swimmers...

Hylo PJ! I'm good ta.

The Chinese seem to have suddenly become crap gymnasts much to everyone's surprise....unless they're saving themselves for the finals.

1st Gold for Oz

China maybe slipping at gymnastics but a major power in the pool. Some guy has just pointed out that nations who host the Games will often peak at the next Olympics... like Oz got more gold in Athens - so China in London, GB in Rio.

Cari wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:

Alright Cari, alright there are you?

Just chillin out watching Olympic swimming, the Chinese have all of a sudden become great swimmers...

Hylo PJ! I'm good ta.

The Chinese seem to have suddenly become crap gymnasts much to everyone's surprise....unless they're saving themselves for the finals.

I expect they'll come back strongly tomorrow, I'm getting the feeling that our boys and girls are going to have a games of nearly but not quite, good performances to make finals but ultimately fall short. Maybe I'm being a bit pessimistic?

I think you may be right PJ.

Linebreaker - that's an interesting point. I wonder if the local athletes fair better when their country's not hosting because there's less pressure or something?

Thomond what have you been up to in Cork?

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/organisers-claim-new-naked-bodies-world-record-in-cork-561041.html

Congrats LB. Blimey you're up early on a Sunday aren't you!

PJ, you may well be right. It is only the first day though, maybe those athletes whose competitions are a bit later on in the games will have more time to get used to the occasion and perform better. Might not work out like that at all though! LB's point about home athletes performing better at the following games is an interesting one.

Cav was the only "expected" medal we didn't get. It's going to be a fine Olympics, if we can hold 4th in the medal table that's a fantastic acheivement. Why don't Germany and France and Italy do as well in the Olympics?

It's just a feeling CJ, I hope I'm wrong but it's just a nagging thought in the back of my mind.

On a more positive note, I've been very impressed with the turnout for the events so far, I hope that continues as there's little worse than seeing these elite performers doing their bit in front of empty stands.

littleswannygirl wrote:Congrats LB. Blimey you're up early on a Sunday aren't you!

PJ, you may well be right. It is only the first day though, maybe those athletes whose competitions are a bit later on in the games will have more time to get used to the occasion and perform better. Might not work out like that at all though! LB's point about home athletes performing better at the following games is an interesting one.

Up for the Women's 400m IM which started at 05:09 here but had to wait another 40 mins or so for the 4X100m Relay

Also, heading up to Mum's to pick up brother who's going back to Sin City again this morning. Sun just coming over the horizon as I type - a nice orange halo there (like a rainbow but just one colour)

Romney insulting the games has gotten everyone behind the Olympics just to spite him

CJ - Germany is 3rd all time if you add West + East Germany. G 370/S 359/B 409

France & Italy are identical in terms of Gold but France have more medals overall. Hungary and Sweden are the countries which also seem to punch above their weight.

Isn't there a lot of doubt cast over a lot of East German Medals?

Sure but which ones... how many of them? Also who really knows the extent of US, CCCP/Russia/CIS during those years?

Of course our guys (GB/Aus) are the most squeaky clean athletes, right?

Well, relatively speaking either reasonably clean or clever enough to get away with it

We like to do things properly...

2 matches into the evening now. Saw the Brazillian men thrash Norway, and the Swiss women beat Greece.

Next is men, USA vs South Africa.

Great entertainment so far.

I was into work for a few hours today, then out to Ealing, back into town, and out to Stanmore. The Tube was busy heading to/leaving from various events.

I don't mind though, and have been educating our 'guests' in Tube etiquette. i.e. "please take your rucksack off to allow more people on the train".

Hound_of_Harrow wrote:I was into work for a few hours today, then out to Ealing, back into town, and out to Stanmore. The Tube was busy heading to/leaving from various events.

I don't mind though, and have been educating our 'guests' in Tube etiquette. i.e. "please take your rucksack off to allow more people on the train".

Nice work. This afternoon I made a point of demonstrating to a couple of guys what happens if you don't wait for everyone to get off the train before getting on.

The USA are top seeds in the men's, and just made short work of the Saffas. USA women up next.

"Nice work. This afternoon I made a point of demonstrating to a couple of guys what happens if you don't wait for everyone to get off the train before getting on."

Nice work too bud. 'Snowplough' mode I take it

We are setting the wheels in motion for the Championship opening round at the Sheaf on 18th August Aus v NZ from 10:30 and SA v Arg from 15:30.

Sort your own brekkie out, or take on the Sheaf brekkie. After the first game watch some Olympics (or one of the DVDs Andy + me have acquired) and sort out some lunch.

Watch the 2nd game and have a chinwag.

What do you reckon?

I used to work in the City in a previous life and I'd get the District Line out to Turnham Green, it was amazing how often tourists with rucksacks would get on the tube at 6.00pm, look at how crowded it was and huff, puff and tut themselves daft for 3 or 4 stops.

I mean, they're on holiday, have all day to sort their shoite out but decide they absolutely need to be on the tube during rush hour and have a mini-kernel when they find it so busy.

I think they were mostly French... or maybe I just decided they were because it made me feel better.