The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub, Oxford

First topic message reminder :

Hello 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 made its way to Oxford and the only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of Seve Ballesteros, Andy Fenby, Nick Williams,Tim Visser, Adam Ashley Cooper and Paul Lawrie up on the wall.

Amazing stuff last night. Didnt watch it so reading back now!

That's just what I did, Stag!

It hasn't been bad, has it, MrsP?

Glas, I'm not privileged enough to have a burgundy badge, but I've read your article.

for the Europeans in the pub!

How about this from Jose Maria:

"To the 12 men of Europe, what you did out there was outstanding. All men die but not all men live and you made me feel alive again this week."

Isn't that just a brilliant turn of phrase?

What about Rory Mac?

When you see how important this competition is to all those involved, how on earth can you not check you are the right time zone????

I am presuming they didn't change time zones in the night and forget to tell him!!!!

Mind you, I have stood watching Uk athletics finals and noticed my lad and his relay team not at the start line as they were too busy messing about in the warm up area and missed their call! Their second runner arrived with his spikes in his hand and had just about got them on by the time my lad passed the baton to him!

I was hoping he'd grow out of that sort of thing before he hits his 20s! It must be the McIlroy blood in him!

MrsP wrote:What about Rory Mac?

Rory Mcllroy arrived at the course just 10 minutes before his tee-off time on the final day of the Ryder Cup but recovered to beat Keegan Bradley 2&1.

McIlroy explained: "I was just casually strolling out of my hotel room when I got a phone call saying you have 25 minutes. I have never been so worried driving to the course.

The rest of the European team had spent at least an hour at the course preparing for their matches, but Mcllroy's late arrival meant he was only able to hurriedly eat an energy bar grab a gin & tonic and take a few practice swings to loosen up before having to dash to the first tee.

That is how I have prepared for a round of golf every Saturday for over twenty years.

Lets spare a thought for the guys who have gone out training for Munster and Leinster today who are being beasted after their heavy defeats at the weekend.

Tell ye, Rory Mac is a lucky boy! If he did miss his tee time or even lost the point as a result of no practice, he'd not live it down.

Say he didn't make it. Even if he wins a dozen or more majors and is recognised as the best of his era he'd still be the guy who lost the Ryder Cup by sleeping in

But he did well.

red_stag wrote:Lets spare a thought for the guys who have gone out training for Munster and Leinster today who are being beasted after their heavy defeats at the weekend.

Here, there was no lets spare a thought for Connacht when they get hammered or for Ulster when we were in the doldrums! It's not a nice place to be but it will make them stronger. And it sets up that rather small game next weekend very nicely!

Can't wait for the weekend. Two massive interprovincial clashes. Gonna be good.

Stag, what did you make of Munster on the weekend? I thought they were naive. They kept going wide even when they were in the Ospreys' half and it was crying out for a steepling garryowen.

Notch wrote:

red_stag wrote:Lets spare a thought for the guys who have gone out training for Munster and Leinster today who are being beasted after their heavy defeats at the weekend.

Here, there was no lets spare a thought for Connacht when they get hammered or for Ulster when we were in the doldrums! It's not a nice place to be but it will make them stronger. And it sets up that rather small game next weekend very nicely!

Can't wait for the weekend. Two massive interprovincial clashes. Gonna be good.

Ulster v Connacht and Ulster Ravens v Connacht A?

Precisely

Rava, did you say Caulfield was the Ulster U20s prop who had Ballymoney connections? Ulster have signed him on a three-year Academy deal it seems.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/story-17014105-detail/story.html

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Stag, what did you make of Munster on the weekend? I thought they were naive. They kept going wide even when they were in the Ospreys' half and it was crying out for a steepling garryowen.

Oh they were. I thought that they showed no on field thought and stuck too rigidly to Penneys expansive game plan. I thought we were missing a guy like O'Connell to say "Right lads, feck those ladyboys like Howlett and Earls. Ball up the jumper for next few minutes, ROG on my signal unleash hell with that boot of yours. Oh and Laulala! Make us a cuppa tea will you - your not gonna be needed for next few minutes".

It is not an excuse but I would say that only 2 of that pack would be considered starters for us. Botha, Ryan, O'Connell, O'Mahony, Stander and Dougall are probably the others likely to play.

But we were very very naiive. I think it was a further sign that ROG had his day. It really pished me off that we still didnt see Earls play at fullback. His try saving tackle was one of only 2 consolations - the other being that Ospreys didnt score 4 tries.

I had a feeling we would lose by 10-12 points but even still it wasnt pleasant.

I was surprised by O'Gara, though: you'd think he'd be savvy enough to know that the side-to-side stuff wasn't having the desired effect and that more variety was needed.

I suppose this is a negative to having a winger as captain. Very hard to have a word with the team sat on the wing watching your pack get their backsides slapped.

The Ospreys were good and their pack looks like it's getting back to its old self, but even so, I don't think Munster asked as many questions of them as they could have done. It was more like they kept asking the same question over and over again, even when they'd had the answer.

It was a frustrating match. I dont think we were ever going to beat them but could have learned more.

I think that there is no harm in a defeat though. We were coasting along a little too nicely for my liking. Winning against Treviso, Edinburgh and Dragons with our neat flicks and passes was luring us into a false sense of security. We did well against Ulster despite losing and the same expansive gameplan delivered.

We know now that any game plan is one dimensional if you always do it. Thats whether you try garryowen it all day or just pass side to side all day. Downey was badly missed from that team and I suspect that we will see Zebo lose out in that backline.

My gut feeling tells my to expect this backline against Racing Metro:

09 Murray
10 O'Gara
11 Earls
12 Downey
13 Laulala
14 Howlett
15 Keatley

21 Stringer
22 Zebo
23 Hurley

It depends how good you are at that one thing you do; but certainly you're making it that bit easier for the opposition if you give them what they're expecting.

Morning again all.

Lovely morning here. Just back from walking the dog.

How's it going with the dog-sitting Stag?

Its all good MrsP. Took him up to Cliffs of Moher yesterday. Had him knackered tired - slept for hours afterwards.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I was surprised by O'Gara, though: you'd think he'd be savvy enough to know that the side-to-side stuff wasn't having the desired effect and that more variety was needed.

O'Gara has been playing the same way for years. When hes getting the platform from his forwards he stands a bit flatter and is a bit more effective at creating things but when he isn't he's a liability because he just drops deep and shifts the ball side to side putting his outside backs and backrow under pressure. He's not physical or quick enough to draw defenders, run himself out of trouble or check the defence.

The sooner the IRFU and Munster realise this the better for everyone.

Here here Rodders. In an ideal world ROG would be gone with JJ Hanrahan learning the ropes and Keatley given a licence to go out there, make a few mistakes and experience being the 1st choice.

But he barely kicked all game, Rodders. To go eighty minutes without even testing the opposition fullback once, that's actually quite shocking. Dirksen and Fussell aren't exactly rock-solid under the high ball either.

N.B. - I don't remember seeing a single garryowen, but I could be wrong.

Luckless, thats his mode when the forwards are retreating. He was the same in the Munster v Ulster match in the Heineken Cup quarters last year.

For most of his career ROG has rarely been playing behind a beaten pack. For years Musnter and Ireland had one of Europes best packs. But once beaten ROG stands deep and shifts away the ball.

I just have to mention here: R.I.P. Eric Hobsbawm.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I just have to mention here: R.I.P. Eric Hobsbawm.

The historian lad? When did he die?

Early hours of this morning, Stag.

red_stag wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I just have to mention here: R.I.P. Eric Hobsbawm.

The historian lad? When did he die?

Hardly a lad, Stag. He was 95. History will show he died today.

Ah thats very sad. Remember his stuff from college.

What an age to live to though. Mid-nineties- thats a good innings.

Notch, you should read his Interesting Times: A Twentieth-Century Life.

EDIT: Sorry, I thought you said 'what an age to live through.'

Both are equally true Lucky.

And incredible age to live to, and an incredible near century to live through.

Afternoon all. Managed to get up early, did the school run and then some weeding (had a flipping jungle out the front). Now watching The Green Mile for the first time ever (yeah I know) before the return school run.

The school run? Have you kids Rev?

Notch/Luckless must have been amazing to live through all those things. Not just political change but the changes all around.

Risca Rev wrote:Afternoon all. Managed to get up early, did the school run and then some weeding (had a flipping jungle out the front). Now watching The Green Mile for the first time ever (yeah I know) before the return school run.

Did you have to go for the beautician for that or was it a home job?

Ha. Home job. Took some doing.

Stag, twin boys from a previous relationship.

Ah never knew you were a dad Rev

Asbo brilliant one liner

Nor did I, Rev - I thought you were talking about dogs!

There's been far too much dog talk in here recently. I can't stand the things.

And NZ get knocked out ot the 20:20 cricket world cup, after losing 2 matches in Super Overs (cricket's version of extra time).


Bah.

Hi All – long time no chat. Hope you’re all keeping well?

....only kidding

Ok, I think we're good now.

What's the story folks, any of the Munster contingent making the trip up to the big shmoke this weekend? We've got a good few travellers (yeah, i know what i said) coming next week, maybe best to keep my power dry until the HC sessions start.

I was going to Mick but decided against it. The parents are having me over for a big dinner as its my birthday, so will watch the match there with cans aplenty.

I have to say I fancy us to beat you Ladyboys.

Ah good stuff Stag, sure you’ve no luck when you travel up here with Munster anyway, someone should run the figures on that because it’s some record you’ve got, you shouldn’t be allowed to travel!

Yeah the lads I go with are all otherwise engaged after the match so I’ll probably not be doing the dog on it anyway.

After the shambolic/diabolical/atrocious (delete as appropriate) showing against Connacht I wouldn’t be surprised if your lot did win, on the other hand I wouldn’t be surprised if we won it easily, it’s sitting on Zeus’s knee as Frank from Apres match might say.

You can bloody say that again Mick. It only applies to when I go to Munster v Leinster games.

In fact having been to about 8-9 Leinster matches . . . . . .they have never lost one that I was at.

red_stag wrote:You can bloody say that again Mick. It only applies to when I go to Munster v Leinster games.

In fact having been to about 8-9 Leinster matches . . . . . . they have never lost one that I was at.

I'll send a car down to pick you up on Saturday morning...

Im really trying to think:

Ulster v Leinster
Leinster v Clermont
Leinster v Clermont
Leinster v Munster
Leinster v Munster
Munster v Leinster
Bath v Leinster

Thats 7 that I can think of off the top of head.

Gutted to discover I still have Sky Sports. Missed a few things I wanted to watch, yet alone yesterday. Never mind, saw the highlights.