The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub, Edinburgh

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 Hopetoun House, Edinburgh - where the Management Team for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour party to Australia was announced.

“This is the next chapter in the 2013 tour story," said tour manager Andy Irvine.

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of Warren Gatland,
Andy Farrell, Shaun Edwards, Kiwi Pete's Grandfather, Rava, Rodders, Andy Irvine, Graham Rowntree, Dr James Robson,
Paul Stridgeon, Kip Keino, Baggage Master Patrick O’Reilly and Lawyer Max Duthie above the bar.





Previous Pub: https://www.606v2.com/t37870p950-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-dubai

Glas a du wrote:Mogliano were poor, but the Dragons played with some style in the rain.

First half we played pretty well, but none of our tries came from proper back-line moves and we really dropped the intensity in the second half. Still, a win's a win. Dan Evans really looks like he could grow into the outside half role, and it could work out well as Tom Prydie's said he considers himself a full back.

Must get a ticket for the Blues game on Boxing Day.

And bore da pawb / good morning all, my last working Monday of the year!

Why have 'proper back line moves' if you can rely in instinct to score?

That was more in reply to Rev's question about us trying out moves ahead of the Blues game, Glas. It's great that we scored off-the-cuff tries, but it's not great that we had to rely on instinct. The Blues' defence won't be as weak as Mogliano's.

Then again...

Personally I enjoyed seeing players back themselves. Coaches are too conservative. Not losing is more important than winning.

I agree with you. My point is that you can't rely solely on players' instinct. Yes, you want them to play heads-up rugby, but against better teams it's less likely there'll be space when they look up. That's when a good pre-planned move can work, even if only to create space in subsequent phases.

Aye. The French way, moves are only to get you through their line on first phase, from there it's up to you.

And players have to be given licence to abort a planned move when it's obvious it's not going to come off, or when a better option presents itself. Switches of play, a kick if a defender's drifted out of position, whatever it is. That's the ideal combination of pre-planned moves and player instinct.

Exactly, that's why I love French rugby, and the fact that they are unreliable, capable of genius and lunacy within moments of each other, and that they can't be bothered if they are not enjoying themselves.

They don't die wondering, do they?

Morning all....this time enxt week will be my last dy in work before a week off!! Can't ruddy wait!

Also rather looking forward to the meet this Friday...what time and where is everyone meeting?

Penfro's thinking of the Westgate, Prop.

Ok cool, blydi long walk for me then!! Hoping i'll get there for 6.30ish.

Wherever we go will probably be heaving!

They don't call it mad Friday for nothing.



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England win their first Test series in India since 1985!

Yes, I've just posted congrats on the Test thread. A mighty effort to win in India. Well done England!

They totally dominated those last 3 Tests and it must feel good to make amends for the home loss... which seems ages ago now.

It's always good to break a long-standing barren spell. You know, like not having won the Ashes since '87...

It's even better having an 8 Ashes series winning spell. I thought Ashes cricket might die at one stage.

It get's a bit boring near the end of a long spell at the top though... I was almost praying for a loss just to shut them up!

We've had quite a few long held records broken in the last few years. Ashes (24 years at home), Scotland (28 years in Oz) in the rugby, lost a hockey trophy here?, numerous long held swimming/cycling records (or holding world records for a few hours before they get broken usually by the UK/USA/China, etc), NZ in the RL World Cup... I'm sure there's a few I've missed.

Linebreaker wrote:It get's a bit boring near the end of a long spell at the top though

I'll have to take your word for it!

It's only sport after all.

You start to begin asking yourself... "What next?" or "Is it really that important?"

Then when you drop like a stone down the rankings or whatever and 'get found out' by other teams the 'hunger' slowly and painfully comes back as you struggle to urge your team back to their wining ways. However, all the coaches will have been poached and they have to start the re-build from first principles again - which can either take a few years minimum, perhaps a decade or never again for all we know?

That's the tough bit.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:It get's a bit boring near the end of a long spell at the top though

I'll have to take your word for it!

Cracked up when I read that.

Yeah, it was boring as hell when Wasps were winning 10 cup finals on the bounce between 1999 and 2008. Plus winning every senior trophy there was during that period.

We've decided to ease off and give the other teams a shot.

How did you manage any of that with Howley

Just done my bit with nominations in Bsando's awards of the year (sticky in International section)

Howley was a Wasps legend despite only playing for us for two seasons. Won us the HC see.


We were then very fortunate to have two more excellent 9s in Dawson and Reddan to follow him (well Reddan was excellent for a couple of seasons).

I wasn't talking about his play, didn't he coach Wasps for a bit?

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:It get's a bit boring near the end of a long spell at the top though

I'll have to take your word for it!

Evening All

Jebus..if you thought Tommy's injury was bad, spare a thought for poor Lee Byrne. He's broken a bone in his back! Sounds hoo-rendous! Poor dab.

Prop - I'll just turn up when I can. Apparently it is "Black Friday" when Cardiff suddenly goes doo-lally before Christmas. It took me nearly two hours to get home from work last Friday and I suspect this weekend will be the same or worse. I might make it for half time then...

Glas - yup, Howley coached our backs when he retired, but he also had Alex King helping out. Kingy was a very underrated 10, who was as good a tactical kicker as any in his day.

Good luck with the meet up on Friday you Welsh regs.

Dreamer, Subsbench and I will be in our Christmas party

Enjoy.

Oh yes. Looking forward to handing out the prize for the moment...

Been a good year for me sportswise (playing but mostly watching)

England finish off India in the cricket and Quins A smash Saracens Storm to win the A-League Final

Hi.

Off to Petra today. Can't flipping wait. It's 3am and I'm up in 3 hours, but like a kid at Christmas. First wonder I've seen, since Rodney Parade.

For some reason I agreed to start work at 5am today. This is both wrong, stupid and inhumane on a vast number of different levels. I'm already behind on my sleep this week.

Got a friend a wooden leg for Christmas. It's not his main present though. Just a stocking filler...



Oh boom baby!!! Even at 4am I still gots it!!

Risca Rev wrote:Hi.

Off to Petra today. Can't flipping wait. It's 3am and I'm up in 3 hours, but like a kid at Christmas. First wonder I've seen, since Rodney Parade.

Enjoy. It looks stunning.

Risca Rev wrote:Hi.

Off to Petra today. Can't flipping wait. It's 3am and I'm up in 3 hours, but like a kid at Christmas. First wonder I've seen, since Rodney Parade.

It's brill Rev.

One for the wall:

https://www.606v2.com/t38581-the-606v2-almanac#1743415

Morning all, man this week is getting stupidly busy at the moment!! Roll on time off from 3pm Christmas Eve!!

Cari, MrsProp is going to have to practically fly from Tredegar House to get to mine for 6.30ish from the sounds of it then!

You don't finish until Christmas Eve? That's a bit harsh!

Bore da pawb, just to confirm for the regs attending the Blues v Scarlets, the meeting place is THE WESTGATE

http://www.cardiffpubs.co.uk/Pub.php?Pub=Westgate

http://www.sabrain.com/westgate

Interesting carpet at the Westgate, Pete.
I bet it could tell a few stories.
Wish I could be there....

Looking for something completely different i came accross this in "Ammanford and the Spanish Civil War":

"Another character that no writer could invent was W. J. Davies, better known locally as Wil Castell Nedd (Wil Neath). A miner from a strong socialist family, he left the mines when he realised he could make money in the summer from winning sprint races at fairs and carnivals across the South West of England and in the winter from playing rugby, firstly with back-handers and “expenses” as an amateur at Llanelli and later as a Rugby League professional in Yorkshire. He had been a professional for Batley Rugby League Club from 1928 and at the time of volunteering he was in the process of negotiating a transfer to Huddersfield. Sometime in late November 1936 he received a letter from his Ammanford friend, Sam Morris, suggesting that they should both go to Spain. Davies immediately caught the midnight train from Batley and was in Pantyffynnon, Ammanford, by 7.30am. In his own words:

"After having breakfast with my parents I went to Sam's, we understand each other. At the weekend we went to Cardiff ... We were directed to Victoria Station to get a return to Paris .. There were about a dozen Britions there ... We stayed at Perpignan a night. The French border police let us through without even looking at our passports. Then on to Barcelona where we met a lot of Canadians in barracks there ... Two days later we were in Valenacia ... Albacete one day later ... The following day there was some organising for the International Brigades with the British Battalion taking some shape." (Quoted in Miners Against Fascism, Hywel Francis, 1984, page 164.)

The return ticket to Paris was to lead border police to believe they were tourists who intended to return to Britain."

Perhaps modern rugby players should be read that sort of thing the next time they play badly because they are a bit tired and havn't had much time for group hugs...

Fascinating read that Glas. Like all horrific situations, the best of people must have been on display during that war as well as the very worst.

The ultimate corporate d*ck move- very happy I don't have instagram, but sure I already am a very active facebook user. The monetisation of all the content on there for advertising is well documented.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20767537

Facebook does of course own instagram. Instagram, like any forum or social network of any kind, IS the content generated by its users. This is a big moment in the history of the internet. The % of instagrams user base that stays and the % that leaves will shape the future intersection of social media and commerce.

Isn't Instagram just a thing that makes your photos look old? I've never seen the point of that.

Yes it is. Kind of funny, when you step back and look at it at one remove. Black and white Oliver Twist is on Channel 4 right now. Stone cold classic.

How are you Lucky? Saw the latest photo of you and the pooch. My she's grown.

I'm good thanks Notch, can't wait 'til Friday now - an early finish and then the pub meet ahead of the Blues v Scarlets.

Sorry I didn't reply sooner, I was labelling barrels out in the yard.

Evening All

I LOVE pre-Xmas time in work (despite the fact I have a cold ). Everyone in our room wore something silly and festive today. I was wearing some fluffy penguin ear-muff things We had our Xmas dinner which was absolutely lush, my team mates loved the pressies I gave them. There'll be more jollies all week I expect

Hope everyone's well.

Alroysh Cari

Our place is never festive at Christmas for some reason. Everyone's far too focussed on work.

Still, only two more days to go for me before I break for a few days. Back in on the 27th 28th & 31st. I'm the only fire marshal cover on our floor on those days, and the senior director is concerned. Only because we could cop a serious fine if anything happens and there's no one there who is a trained fire marshal. It's a legal requirement.

If anyone knows where my time to stop and think has gone please let me know!! Going to be nice to slow down for a bit come Saturday!!