The Dew Drop Inn Virtual La Botticella Pub, Rome.

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 the historical city of Rome, the owner Giiovanni, is a Canadian-Italian, and welcomes all after a great day of rugby.

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Dane Coles, Aaron Jarvis, Samson Lee and Schalk Brits up on the wall. Erm, actually there is a second rule. No elephants, unless they're Effervescing - we can't be barring a Chiefs fan



Previous Pub:
https://www.606v2.com/t36353-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-jackie-horner-tavern-near-kings-park-durban

Man I thought Poopie was kicking off in NYC tonight. Turns out there's a fair storm in here as well!

red_stag wrote:Glas, thats great to hear but Im gonna have to completely revisit that and check availabiltiy all over again. It was genuinely almost half a year ago when I checked price and availability.

Shall I go and stand in the corner

If you're re-doing it, do you consider apartment type hotels?

Glas a du wrote:

red_stag wrote:Glas, thats great to hear but Im gonna have to completely revisit that and check availabiltiy all over again. It was genuinely almost half a year ago when I checked price and availability.

Shall I go and stand in the corner

Ah God no should be grand but just saying flights will have gone up a lot since and I'll have to see if I can still get the hotel. Hotel should be fine just flights could be an issue. I'll check it all tomorrow for you pal.

And yup I'll look into apartment style for you.

Rava wrote:I wonder if this guy had been a back rower or a winger would you fellas have been so accommodating?

Probably not because we have good players in those positions. But then again if he was much better than the players we have then yes I'd be ok with it.

red_stag wrote:

Glas a du wrote:

red_stag wrote:Glas, thats great to hear but Im gonna have to completely revisit that and check availabiltiy all over again. It was genuinely almost half a year ago when I checked price and availability.

Shall I go and stand in the corner

Ah God no should be grand but just saying flights will have gone up a lot since and I'll have to see if I can still get the hotel. Hotel should be fine just flights could be an issue. I'll check it all tomorrow for you pal.

And yup I'll look into apartment style for you.

Grand

Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but most of Ireland seem to be in broad agreement on the Bent issue...

Surely that's a step in the right direction?

As far as I can see it's a pot-stirrer that just happens to have united a lot of support; admittedly, it's united that support against the coaches decision, but that can't be all that bad given the usual inter-province scrapping, can it?

Ireland's first choice front row over the past couple of years or so has been Healy, Best, Ross, being brutally honest, that front row is not only up there for the title of the worst front row in the 6N, but it's also up there for the title of front row least likely to improve.

A shake up of that triumvirate of comfort could not come soon enough and I think this type of move is going to prove instrumental in the future development of the Ireland front row.

This guy is Irish through ancestry, I think its more ethical to jettison him in from NZ than bring Bok projects through the system, especially as most of them are rubbish anyways.

I understand where Rava, Stag, Mrs P are coming from but our front row depth is so dire the IRFU need to explore all available options without delay.

He is IQ.

No doubt about it but straight from the airport to Ireland camp?

To be honest I think I'd rather have a weak scrum than do that. When you think how long and hard many of the rest of that squad have worked to get a call it just isn't right.

If he turns out to be the best TH ever to grace our scrum then great but I'd like to see him at least meet some of his team mates before he started training today.

CJ, top effort on the marathon. I'm going to do the Liverpool one next year. I think I would settle for 4.5-5 hours for my size.

Morning all. Back in Wales

Morning All & ready.

Welcome back home Rev. Safe And Sound again

Morning quackers.

Guten morgen, ciao, goeie more, sawubona, whappup!!

Morning all

Interesting debate here last night about this Bent fella. To be honest I've not heard of him, who does he play for in the ITM Cup as I watch that competition a lot and can't recall hearing him mentioned?

I went to watch the London Irish v London Welsh A game last night which was a good watch. Decent crowd in at Sunbury, I reckon about 250 as the stand holds 200 and was full (almost) with a good number of people stood around the pitch. I really wish that there was a way we could play our Premiership games there, just feels like home whenever I watch a match there. Anyway, Irish won 22-18, which looks close but the try count was 3-0 to us and could and probably would have been more but for the torrential rain making turning the ball into a bar of soap.

Have a good day folks, and stay safe whatever you're up to. :-)

Superstorm Sandy looks nasty, good luck anyone with family on tge East coast of the USA

Rava wrote:I wonder if this guy had been a back rower or a winger would you fellas have been so accommodating?

Ha! Of course not! I would be leading the angry mob.

I make no secret of my cynicism here.

MrsP wrote:He is IQ.

No doubt about it but straight from the airport to Ireland camp?

He hasn't gone straight from the airport to Ireland camp. He's been playing rugby down in NZ and obviously Feek and the IRFU have been keeping an eye on him, as they do with the players in Ireland.

Since when did living and playing within Ireland become a prequisite? Did Simon Geohegan ever play or live here? Was his selection an injustice over the homegrown players?

I'm stunned at the reaction to this.

Simon Easterbuy is another. Selected without ever having lived here. Born in Harrogate.

Whats the difference with Bent?

Rodders,

Yesterday you said "I understand where Rava, Stag, Mrs P are coming from".

Just a few hours later it has changed to "I'm stunned at the reaction to this".

Easterbuy and Geohegan stag. Tell me the difference please?

Notch wrote:

Rava wrote:I wonder if this guy had been a back rower or a winger would you fellas have been so accommodating?

Ha! Of course not! I would be leading the angry mob.

I make no secret of my cynicism here.

At least you are honest

red_stag wrote:Rodders,

Yesterday you said "I understand where Rava, Stag, Mrs P are coming from".

Just a few hours later it has changed to "I'm stunned at the reaction to this".

I understand why people don't want to see guys jettisoned into the squad ahead of homegrown players. I don't either.

What I don't get is what the alternatives are or why people are singling Bents selection out for such criticism when we've played numerous players before who've qualified on ancestory, some of whom have never lived or played here at all.

I also don't see why Bent needs to play a couple of tolken games for Leinster to get a call up. The AIs are now, this is when we need to look at him.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Morning all

Interesting debate here last night about this Bent fella. To be honest I've not heard of him, who does he play for in the ITM Cup as I watch that competition a lot and can't recall hearing him mentioned?

I went to watch the London Irish v London Welsh A game last night which was a good watch. Decent crowd in at Sunbury, I reckon about 250 as the stand holds 200 and was full (almost) with a good number of people stood around the pitch. I really wish that there was a way we could play our Premiership games there, just feels like home whenever I watch a match there. Anyway, Irish won 22-18, which looks close but the try count was 3-0 to us and could and probably would have been more but for the torrential rain making turning the ball into a bar of soap.

Have a good day folks, and stay safe whatever you're up to. :-)

Bent played for Taranaki Ozzy. Was used in 6 games (out of a possible 16) by the Hurricanes this season, when they had a couple of front row injuries.

He's only 26 so could well still develop into a handy prop, but right now I wouldn't consider him international standard.

Morning all.

I've just heard that a colleague in NZ collapsed and died while playing for the work indoor soccer team on Sunday - I used to play for and manage that team back in the day. He'd have only been in his late 40s or early 50s too, and ran marathons & triathlons as a hobby.

Rodders,

I don't think anyone here is upset about people qualified on ancestry.

The issue for me is we are taking a punt on a guy who by the age of 26/27 has never really managed to establish himself.

Easterby and Geoghegan were well established players for Llanelli and London Irish (who were very much involved with IRFU back then).

Sorry to hear about that Kiwi.

Morning all, lots of for me please to get me through today.

Kiwi -

Sorry to hear about your colleague Pete, never nice to get that sort of news.

Can't say as I can place Bent for either the Hurricanes or Taranaki, so am guessing he didn't exactly pull up any trees if he was playing when I watched them.

Will be interesting to see how he goes if he does get gametime in the AI's.

rodders wrote:

red_stag wrote:Rodders,

Yesterday you said "I understand where Rava, Stag, Mrs P are coming from".

Just a few hours later it has changed to "I'm stunned at the reaction to this".

I understand why people don't want to see guys jettisoned into the squad ahead of homegrown players. I don't either.

What I don't get is what the alternatives are or why people are singling Bents selection out for such criticism when we've played numerous players before who've qualified on ancestory, some of whom have never lived or played here at all.

I also don't see why Bent needs to play a couple of tolken games for Leinster to get a call up. The AIs are now, this is when we need to look at him.

So...

He's an Ork now???

Anyway, our "leccie" is due to go off in 5 mins. It actually went off at 9 before I'd boiled the kettle for !!!!!

Have a good day all!

Ozzy I watched Irish v Quins at weekend. A good match.

Anyone see the big punch up in the Munster v Zebre game. You never see fights like that.

6 players punching way as the game continues without them. Usually the rest of the team all mull in together.

red_stag wrote:
I don't think anyone here is upset about people qualified on ancestry.

The issue for me is we are taking a punt on a guy who by the age of 26/27 has never really managed to establish himself.

Easterby and Geoghegan were well established players for Llanelli and London Irish (who were very much involved with IRFU back then).

I think thats exactly what people are upset about.

Fitzpatrick got a call up on the back of essentially 1 good perfromance for Ulster in the HEC SF. He certainly wasn't what you call established at provincial level at the time of selection(albeit he's kicked on since). What has Loughney done to warrant selection? Wilkinson? Macklin? Buckley? These guys got selected by default, not based on stellar performances.

Everyone criticises Kidney for not taking chances with selection and giving players a chance, now he's getting slated for taking a punt? What is the worst that can happen here?

Kiwi very sorry to hear that.

red_stag wrote:Ozzy I watched Irish v Quins at weekend. A good match.

Anyone see the big punch up in the Munster v Zebre game. You never see fights like that.

6 players punching way as the game continues without them. Usually the rest of the team all mull in together.

It was a good game Stag, and lots of positives for us to take fromt he performance despite losing. We need to win on Friday against Sale now though, or we will be sucked right back into a relegation scrap.

Can a moderator maybe move these comments to the Irish thread?

It would be great to be able to show an intense debate that is respectful. Nobody calling other people wums. Just differences of opinion.

I miss that. Great discussion Rodders.

As always stag, always respect your view man(and Rav and mrs P)

There'd be no 606 without differences of opinion.

This air con in here is making me grumpy though so might leave this debate for now......

Victory by default is still a victory!! I win

Ozzy amazing to think you could be embroiled in a relegation issue. A real shame as Irish try to play some good rugby.

Here is a follow on discussion.

Do we (I mean Ireland but extends to the rest of the home nations) put the Southern Hemisphere nations (especially NZ) on a pedestal?

red_stag wrote:Can a moderator maybe move these comments to the Irish thread?

It would be great to be able to show an intense debate that is respectful. Nobody calling other people wums. Just differences of opinion.

I miss that. Great discussion Rodders.

You wum.

I agree though, move the discussion. Far too hiberno-centric in here.

Sorry about your news Kiwi.

We started attrociously Stag, so it's no surprise we are in the scrap right now. I think we'll be ok, as I can see the improvements we are making, but it could be a bumpy ride for a bit.

To answer your question, yes we do put the SANZAR nations and their players on a pedastal. I think there are a number of reasons for this, but one of the main ones I think is this. When a 18/19 year old does well in Super Rugby or even the ITM or Currie Cup, they seem to be very ready to blood them into the national team. Generally it is one player coming into a settled, top quality side and they flourish immediately, which gives us the perception of them being a teenage world beater and the next 'best player in the world'.

In this hemisphere, we don't generally throw youngsters in, preferring for them to spent a long while proving themselves at domestic level. There are exceptions to this, and Wales have been good recently at chucking youngsters in, but as a general rule we only throw them in when the wheels have come of a bit in the internatioanl team. What then happens is they take time to settle as they are more often than not coming into a team in a state of flux. This gives the perception that our youngsters are not up the standard of the SANZAR youngsters, when I don't believe that tis is actually true.

As a result, we get the impression that they are much better than us, and put them on a pedastal because of it.

red_stag wrote:Here is a follow on discussion.

Do we (I mean Ireland but extends to the rest of the home nations) put the Southern Hemisphere nations (especially NZ) on a pedestal?

Probably but its hard not to when you've never beaten them and your last result was a 60-nil loss.....

Seriously though. Yes and No. Yes we do but in many ways its deserved. They have better infrastuctures a more competitive enviroment and generally speaking produce better teams and players.

Rather than fearing these sides, or giving them too much respect, we should acknowledge (but not accept) their superiority, try to understand the factors for it, which factors we can control, and at all levels try to close the gap as quickly as possible.

Rev!!!! SURPRISE!!!!

Its a surprise birthday party for you Rev. If we held it on your birthday it wouldn't be a surprise now would it.

The amber pumpkins and black witches hats are for Halloween not in celebration of all things Newport Im afraid but we can always kill two birds with one stone.

Lets let the pub in a sing song of the Dragons favourite match day chant: "Poof the Magic Dragon lived by the sea. . . . ."

Risca Rev wrote:

red_stag wrote:Can a moderator maybe move these comments to the Irish thread?

It would be great to be able to show an intense debate that is respectful. Nobody calling other people wums. Just differences of opinion.

I miss that. Great discussion Rodders.

You wum.

I agree though, move the discussion. Far too hiberno-centric in here.

Sorry about your news Kiwi.

Your'e always complaining

This is why I'm hoping That lee and jarvis get gametime, blood the kids as Jones won't be around forever.

I wonder if I had an Irish gram whether I'd have received a call up....

red_stag wrote:Rev!!!! SURPRISE!!!!

Its a surprise birthday party for you Rev. If we held it on your birthday it wouldn't be a surprise now would it.

The amber pumpkins and black witches hats are for Halloween not in celebration of all things Newport Im afraid but we can always kill two birds with one stone.

Lets let the pub in a sing song of the Dragons favourite match day chant: "Poof the Magic Dragon lived by the sea. . . . ."

rodders wrote:Rather than fearing these sides, or giving them too much respect, we should acknowledge (but not accept) their superiority, try to understand the factors for it, which factors we can control, and at all levels try to close the gap as quickly as possible.

Indeed. For me its amazing to see the way that the provinces look at the big sides in Europe and then set out to emulate and beat them. Munster becoming more like Tigers after the 2002 HEC Final defeat is an example.

However we don't see the national teams (apart from Wales to some extent) try to emulate the Southern nations.

rodders wrote:Rather than fearing these sides, or giving them too much respect, we should acknowledge (but not accept) their superiority, try to understand the factors for it, which factors we can control, and at all levels try to close the gap as quickly as possible.

And poach their players.

prop_lyd wrote:I wonder if I had an Irish gram whether I'd have received a call up....

Careful, Prop. Remember what happened to Matt Stevens.

red_stag wrote:

rodders wrote:Rather than fearing these sides, or giving them too much respect, we should acknowledge (but not accept) their superiority, try to understand the factors for it, which factors we can control, and at all levels try to close the gap as quickly as possible.

Indeed. For me its amazing to see the way that the provinces look at the big sides in Europe and then set out to emulate and beat them. Munster becoming more like Tigers after the 2002 HEC Final defeat is an example.

However we don't see the national teams (apart from Wales to some extent) try to emulate the Southern nations.

Sure we (Ulster) tried to emulate the Saffers .....

Lucky have you been involved in any Dreigiau Casnewydd communications yet.

red_stag wrote:Rev!!!! SURPRISE!!!!

Its a surprise birthday party for you Rev. If we held it on your birthday it wouldn't be a surprise now would it.

The amber pumpkins and black witches hats are for Halloween not in celebration of all things Newport Im afraid but we can always kill two birds with one stone.

Lets let the pub in a sing song of the Dragons favourite match day chant: "Poof the Magic Dragon lived by the sea. . . . ."

Well you're only two days early, so not too shabby

You know me Rav, never happy unless I'm moaning

Ozzy3213 wrote:
To answer your question, yes we do put the SANZAR nations and their players on a pedastal. I think there are a number of reasons for this, but one of the main ones I think is this. When a 18/19 year old does well in Super Rugby or even the ITM or Currie Cup, they seem to be very ready to blood them into the national team. Generally it is one player coming into a settled, top quality side and they flourish immediately, which gives us the perception of them being a teenage world beater and the next 'best player in the world'.

John Afoa gave an interesting insight into this last season when assessing the academy/schools set up in Ireland.

He said how that in NZ there is a very close relationship with the schools system and the professional clubs/franchises. The school boys are on serious training programs and getting coached professionally and when the cream come into the academys they are ready physically and skills wise to step into top level rugby and are waiting for a chance.

By contrast Afoa said that young players in Ireland aren't doing proper training or getting top coaching until they leave school and get into the provincial academies and at that point they are still a few years of being ready to play 1st team senior rugby.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

rodders wrote:Rather than fearing these sides, or giving them too much respect, we should acknowledge (but not accept) their superiority, try to understand the factors for it, which factors we can control, and at all levels try to close the gap as quickly as possible.

And poach their players.

Why bake a cake when you can just go an buy one.....

It is very interesting Todders what he says.

Personally I can't believe its taken this long to get JJ Hanrahan into a Munster shirt. We had Johne Murphy playing at 12 some of last year - we couldnt just play him in a few Rabo games.

Ok he has just turned 20 but some players are ready sooner than others. Imagine we had George North in one of the provinces. He would be just about looking forward to breaking into the team this season.