The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub, Amaile

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 Amaile on the eastern-most tip of Upolu Island in Samoa - the first place on Earth to usher in the New Year.

So hop on a hammock and let one of the locals pour a kava down your throat as you are trying to read Tusiata Avia's famous poem: "Wild Dogs Under My Skirt" to the sounds of the Yandell Sister's "Sweet Inspiration" blaring in the background.

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of George Pisi, Census Johnston, Paul Williams, Tony Greig, Christopher Martin Jenkins, Mike Nicholls, Babsy and Jeremy Su'a above the bar.




Previous Pub: https://www.606v2.com/t38437p950-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-edinburgh

Thanks for the explaination Penfro and well done and commiserations as appropriate.

Was Babsy an elderly gentleman? Was the rugby match a factor?

Sorry, I missed that Penfro, congratulations and commiserations, I wasn't being flippant ignorantly, but ignorantly flippant...if that makes sense?

Typically typical?

MrsP wrote:Thanks for the explaination Penfro and well done and commiserations as appropriate.

Was Babsy an elderly gentleman? Was the rugby match a factor?

Babsy, was 2 months younger than I am. He played in the game and then instead of coming back to the club, he said he wasn't feeling great and would go home for a lie down. He passed away of a heart attack a few hours later. He really was a lovely, lovely man

Oh dear Penfro. That is very sad indeed.

So sorry to hear that.

Ah, Pete

That's tragic. It sounds typical of the guy, that he didn't make a fuss about not feeling too good.

Bad times.

There's only one thing for it Pete, Sarries for the title.

Not to seem disrespectful but I'm sure both he and those who loved him wished he had made more of a fuss now.

Men, please take care of yourselves and get the help you need. Stoicism has it's down side.

Quite true.

We all need to take better care of ourselves.

While we're on the subject, any chance of a quick once-over?

That sounds terrible PJ!

And my own mid life crisis?

Just ranked 'Connoisseur' in the Antiques Roadshow valuation game

Glas a du wrote:And my own mid life crisis?

Just ranked 'Connoisseur' in the Antiques Roadshow valuation game

Best I've ever gotten is a novice, so am I OK or am I in a bigger crisis?

And what sounds so terrible?

PJ,

You know that "teeth sucking" thing that mechanics do when you take your car in for a service and it turns out to be a much bigger and more expensive job than you were hoping for?

I'm doing it right now!

And to answer your question, asking a lady of suggestible age for a 'once over'...

Think everyone had a tear in their eye at the end Penfro.

Evening all, nice day out at the wetlands and now watching Ripper Street

That's rough boys, fair play. I'm sure you gave a fitting tribute.

There is something of the Untouchables about Ripper Street.

Biglad.

And Glas, this is no time for laughing! I'm having a consultation here.

OK Doc. I know there's the drinking and the smoking, and the fatty foods, and the sugar, and the Red Bull habit, and the rash, but apart from the veruca and the galloping dog rot, I'm in pretty good shape for my age... aren't I?

Doc?

prop_lyd wrote:Think everyone had a tear in their eye at the end Penfro.

Yes, I think we did. I'm sure he was looking down and got us through that 2nd half. To Babsy

PJ,

You are amazing.....for a man of 87.

That's the double dose of Viagra he took before the exam...

Babsy

I've added CM-J's to the pictures above the bar. We won't let him slip by the radar.

He had one of the finest and most pleasant-to-listen-to voices in world cricket.
I used to listen to his commentary for hour after hour by the pool... as Australian wickets fell.

Bracing for a hot one tomorrow - 44 deg C. I hope they got the forecast wrong but apparently it's now our turn now to cop the heat.

I can't describe how dry it's been. We've escaped the worst of it so far but conditions are going to be catastrophic tomorrow with hot westerly winds. Haven't seen a cloud for about 4 or 5 days but some light ones are rolling in now.

You just want lie in any puddle of water you can find with cool drinks and fresh grapes by your side. Big fan optional...

(Cari, you would have a signed picture of Tommy by your side no doubt)

Watch your bush doesn't catch fire...

Yeah, I know how you feel Breaker, it hasn't rained here for two days now and temperatures are expected to reach 11 degrees today.

Phew!

I envy you PJ. I've just made some more ice cubes.

It's fine here now - a very pleasant evening and hard to imagine the prediction for tomorrow but the media is making such a big noise about it... it must be correct.

Which one Glas? I'm safe where I am but you never now know when things can turn ugly.

Bore da pawb / good morning all. First day back today. I don't mind.

Any of the Oirish regs coming over for the game on 2nd February ?

I love how the Six Nations sneaks up on you. If there's one thing guaranteed to cheer me up through the @rse end of winter, it's the Six Nations.

And it distracts me from the fact that the Blues have double the points of the Dragons in the Pro 12.

Hi all. Penfro wont make it. Surprising few Irish fans headed over this year.

Also I have been convinced this season. I am fully behind the proposed changes to the Rabo. It is the epitome of mediocrity.

What proposed changes?

red_stag wrote:
Also I have been convinced this season. I am fully behind the proposed changes to the Rabo. It is the epitome of mediocrity.

Now now stag let's not have a kneejerk reaction to Munster loosing again at the weekend ..... ..

Morning all, and I hope everyone is well. I'm just back from the solicitors, having tied up all the bits and bobs for the retirement. He's been on holiday, which is why it's taken so long.

And now we are heading into 'what competition are we playing in this week' territory.


Thankfully season ticket holders now have cards that can be scanned at Wasps. A few years back we had books of different coloured tickets for different tournaments (3). After a few pre-match beers it got blydi confusing what ticket you had to rip out in Jan & Feb.

But the 6N is nearly here.

Too bad eh, Stag? That sounds like a bad Bond movie - The Epitome of Mediocrity.

I read part of your earlier "Red Stag's Munster Manifestos" on the subject matter to which you refer... (on the other threads - you are so spot on as always) and I can only silently nod my head in agreement over here on the other side of the world.

Can see why you took a good break to clear the mind. Frustrating I know - but you'll hang in there I'm sure and be around for better days.
They couldn't be worse than the Tah's, surely not? We both deserve better!

Glad you tied things up today Hound. Well done!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:What proposed changes?

Tying ERC qualification to Rabo league position.

Luckless, the idea that we should link ERC qualification to the Rabo.

Rodders its not knee jerk. Im watching the Rabo all season and by and large there is no intensity. I dont mean compared to the HEC I mean compared to English and French leagues.

The worst part about Munster losing to Cardiff the other day is that I really dont care. We still make the Heineken Cup next year so whats the problem.

Players for loads of teams just seem to be going through the motions in the Pro 12.

Who do people fancy for 6 Nations. I think England will over come a tough schedule (away in Dublin and Cardiff) to claim a win (no grand slam).

Wales will be fourth.

Only winding you up stagster

I've actually watched very little Rabo outside of Ulsters games this season... but I must say that I mainly liked what I saw....

It was slightly obvious that Munster were testing a new game plan to distruction.

red_stag wrote:
Who do people fancy for 6 Nations. I think England will over come a tough schedule (away in Dublin and Cardiff) to claim a win (no grand slam).

I concur. Defo see 4 wins for England, maybe 5 depending on which Ireland and Wales teams that turn up in Dublin and Cardiff respectively.

I think so Glas. I actually think Ireland will have a good tournament. I can see us finishing joined second on points difference with France.

By and large Ulster have brought intensity to the Rabo but thats why they are 11 points clear at top of table.

Their guys really want to win every match (apart from the Munster game that they threw away). I dont see that hunger to win games in other teams outside of the Heineken Cup or maybe just in a derby game or two.

Maybe you're right stag but do you blame the league itself or the the teams, players and Unions within the league?

Its a pro game so teams obviously target the matches with the biggest attainable rewards i.e. the HEC, however every player who takes the field should want to win every game they play.

If the quality is simply not there for good rugby then its not there but if its the effort, intensity and passion then I think every team should be looking inwards for the answers why rather than looking for magic bullets and scapegoats......

Yes and the TV doesn't help. I could not watch the Irish derbies over Xmas, even though they were played on different days to the Welsh ones. That doesn't create the idea of a league, it merely enforces the 4 leagues within a league idea which is so damaging in terms of fans investing emotionally in the product. Also, the bonkers kick off times which are all about not competing with Sky and premiership football. You need 4 Friday games because you have four seperate televisers. Booger minority languages in this context, they can have highlights packages as they have for the HC, get a single contract, the only proviso being Italian lanuage coverage of the games. RTE and the BBC would get involved in a scrap for the rights even if Sky and the Italians did not. Have top 8 qualifying for Europe irrespective of nationality and Sky would join the fight. All of a sudden you have a meaningful league.

I dont think there are any magic bullets or scapegoats.

I think that it seems teams are happy to accept defeat too readily and we hear lines about developing.

I certainly dont just blame the league on its own. The rationale behind it is sound. The development of players for the European Cup and the national team.

However I think that with few meaningful games attendances are not what they could be, atmospheres are not what they could be, intensity is not what it could be.

Nothing to do with scapegoats or magic bullets.

It would be a magic bullet as far as I'm concerned and moreover one which is sorely needed.

red_stag wrote:Hi all. Penfro wont make it. Surprising few Irish fans headed over this year.

Also I have been convinced this season. I am fully behind the proposed changes to the Rabo. It is the epitome of mediocrity.

The hotels are jam packed, so there's some people in obviously.

That'll be ex-pats already over here then Stag?

Glas a du wrote:That'll be ex-pats already over here then Stag?

Racist.

Rev, there are some Irish fans of course but just compared to previous years when you had oodles of people in Bristol, Swansea and Newport its much less. Also much less than the Irish travelling to Rome.

A lot of Leinster fans travelled to Clermont this year too (more than usually travel for a pool game) which has hit their pockets a bit.