The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub, Ballycastle Bar, Hong Kong.

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 Hong Kong, host city for the British & Irish Lions first Tour match before their arrival in Australia - land of the Giant Budgie Smuggler.

So grab a beer, cider, whiskey or wine.... or a warm beverage and sit back and enjoy the rugby.

                     

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of Rory Best, Sam Warburton, the Limavady Luge Team, Papa Rodders, Mrs Rodders and our newest & sweetest member, Katelyn.    

last Pawb: https://www.606v2.com/t43001p1000-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-pyongyang

Warburton did a good job as a 6 but it's not what he is there to do, mixed bag for me there, I thought the performance overall was poor but you think the win. Sky's coverage is nauseating though, made me want to root for Oz.

Thankfully I was in a room full of people, so I couldn't hear the commentary as much.  However, if the Australian commentators used for their internationals are anything to go by, they'll be just as bad or even worse.  Good excuse to go and watch matches in a pub I reckon. You see the game but the commentary can be avoided.   I may miss next week's game though as I'll be travelling back from Liverpool...

We were watching up in the club, but they had the speakers up, a nice fry and raise some money for a good cause!

Almost as satisying. We did a sweepstake on bus to the match. Guess who predicted 21-23 final score and netted a cool $110

Awh that's cool Thom.  I was going to go Penfro's charity brekfast thingy up the road had I not been going away.  I clearly didn't plan very well a few months ago!

red_stag wrote:Almost as satisying. We did a sweepstake on bus to the match. Guess who predicted 21-23 final score and netted a cool $110

Serious?! Good going! First round on you then was it...?

Actually I lost my little wager I had with a work colleague. We both picked a player each to score the first try for the Lions, and he won picking George North (I had chosen Cuthbert). Still, he's on paternity leave until August, so I can give him his free coffee and bun then.

This is almost certainly the lemon and line vodka talking but we're already discussing the possibility of a whitewash...

Ps front 5 were excellent tonight. Tom Youngs my MOM. He is going to be some player. Backrow largely anonymous. Heaslip carried well at times. Phillips had a stinker, didn't seem interested in tackling Genia and ran down dead end alleys on several occasions. Sexton was decent besides his defence in the second try. Centres were solid enough, Davies really impressed, BOD perhaps less so but that's because we expect sooo much. Cuthburt try aside was poor, Tommy back ASAP please, North and Halfpenny were decent enough. Great effort lads! Brisbane is bouncing tonight!

Linebreaker wrote:Nice work on the burrito, Willy!
Enjoy the game mate. Only 2 hours to go....

Good luck everyone!

Also, yay! You're back!

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/10-beers-to-accompany-the-lions-series/

Love it

ChequeredJersey wrote:http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/10-beers-to-accompany-the-lions-series/

Love it

Hello from Surfers Paradise. Tour is going well apart from a damp Friday. The Lions need to tighten up defensively on Sat - the breakdown was sloppy. 4 great tries in the game though.

I hope the Aussie injuries aren't serious. No one likes to see players stretchered off.

Lunch time here. Laters (when you're all awake).

Hound 

Bore da Glas.

As well as our lot there was a Gerald Davies tour party in our hotel.

We're off to Melbourne tomorrow.

Lions: Rob Kearney; Sean Maitland, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, Simon Zebo; Owen Farrell, Conor Murray; Ryan Grant, Richard Hibbard, Dan Cole, Richie Gray, Geoff Parling (capt), Dan Lydiate, Sean O'Brien, Toby Faletau.
Replacements: Rory Best, Mako Vunipola, Matt Stevens, Ian Evans, Justin Tipuric, Ben Youngs, Billy Twelvetrees, Stuart Hogg.
Melbourne Rebels: Jason Woodward; Tom English, Mitch Inman, Rory Sidey, Lachlan Mitchell; Bryce Hegarty, Luke Burgess; Nic Henderson, Ged Robinson, Laurie Weeks, Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Jarrod Saffy, Scott Fuglistaller, Gareth Delve (capt).
Replacements: Pat Leafa, Cruze Ah Nau, Paul Alo-Emile, Luke Jones, Jordy Reid, Nic Stirzaker, Angus Roberts, Cooper Vuna.
Related to this story

Hound, can I take this opportunity, and I'm sure I speak for all the Regs, when I say, that the best possible ambassador for this pub, bar none, on a tour to Australia, being versed in rugby tradition and steeped in respect for others and a fully paid up member of the Rugby family, is Donal, and so I'm glad you're there to back him up

What can I say -we're doing our best.

With the (elderly) Welsh tour party 'coming in from the side', and 'sealing off' at the breakfast buffet in the hotel, no one else could get a look in yesterday morning.

Afternoon 'Ound

Glad to see you're enjoying the tour too. Looks like our boys also suffered some injuries again yesterday. POC hurt his arm and is still being assessed. Alex Corbisiero has a calf problem, but that'es given Tom Court a crack at the Lions which is great considering he rarely started for Ireland in the Six Nations! Mako will start now with Court on the bench.

BUT! Panic not! Guess who's baaaack! Typical when I'm missing the second test though (assuming he's picked).

Alright there Cari. I don't see how Bowe can be picked to start on Sat given his lack of game time.

We've just had a fight in the bar here. A local had a go at an English guy as he came out out of the loo. English guy gives the local a bloody nose and is then thrown out of the bar.

N.B. the protagenists were not rugby fans.

All part of life's rich tapestry...

I've seen some seriously p1ssed people here over the last four days. Ironically this fracas happened in our favourite* bar.

*Because it's quieter than the others and you can actually have a conversation rather than being drowned out by the loud music.

That's a shame Hound, but where there's booze, there'll be bother.  Still, I'm sure that's not spoiling the fun too much.

Baby Wales doing very well so far in the JWC Final - 15 - 3 at HT and a man up.  I'm soooo glad the O's have given Sam Davies a proper contract.  He's going to be a star I think.

Barrow is an absolute tool if he threw the knee there. What kind of moron knees on the opponent's try-line? Bad enough to be a thug without being a stupid thug

Hound of Harrow wrote:Alright there Cari. I don't see how Bowe can be picked to start on Sat given his lack of game time.

Well if he does feature in the second test at all, I think he'll be on the bench not starting. To be honest I hope he doesn't play this week, but makes the third test OK. He's still been training hard (well as much as his hand allows) and his hand is healing very well, so I don't think lack of game time will affect him too much. On his hand treatment, he's been wearing an odd contraption on it...

http://inpho.ie/media/Iiv4X6k-bTTndd_7XoE9JA..a?ts=m4rudrBjMCIKszwPhUljCHxRGTXpeDMY0SOxQEWi_FQ.a

I've seen other players wear a thick glove on injured hands before when they're playing, so I would imagine T. will wear one of them too like this:
http://inpho.ie/media/gzrUFXQN2pQtbdJQqa6O0g..a?ts=8eccQo91-lYSvGqHjOYZ8ItqCf-t4RJEx_NJ8axC3Qo.a

Evening CJ - yeah looks like he did use his knee. Wales need to take advantage of the binning now and keep up the pressure.

I'm sure Venus Williams on this documentary said "I need to have a word with the man in the mirror" 

Commiserations, Cari, thought the ref helped us a bit at the end there

No you deserved it CJ.

Finally watching lions game. Fair play to jd2 stopping right away to check on leolifano

Glas a du wrote:I'm not a fan of trivialising organised crime that's all.

wow! Your loss I suppose. There is so much in that show on so many levels that the bit you point out makes it obvious that you have never watched it.

I suppose there are a lot of people who miss out on Rugby too, because they are hung up on it being middle class, or too violent or something.

The mob aspect is just the canvas that it is painted on.

I understand that. But at the time people were talking about Tony Soprano as if he was a real person. When the actor died, people said Tony Soprano had died. It shows it was a good show I don't doubt, but what next? Jimmy Savile?

He was great in the movie when he played the corrupt prison commandant - The Last Castle. Some bizarre behaviour in that one with the little toy soldiers remark from Robert Redford's character. Great actor and his presence will be missed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Castle

Glas a du wrote:I'm sure Venus Williams on this documentary said "I need to have a word with the man in the mirror" 

Well what do you expect, her name rhymes with pen!s.

My Glaws mate just bumped into Johnny Sexton in St Kilda and got photographed with him.
Fantastic gathering of Lions fans there already. I hope Stag & Hound are settled in now.

Nasty weather on the east coast. We escaped the huge low today but they say it will hit us tonight. Foggy in Melbourne this morning but should be OK tomorrow (6-16 deg C) and expected to be 6-15 on Saturday... but they'll be playing under the roof of course.

I'm actually a little very embarrassed to see Horwill get off the stomping charge. That was ugly behaviour. I honestly thought that would be it for him.

McCabe definitely out, AAC is out too most likely. Barnes not so sure... might be out as well? Lealiifano has been passed fit.

I think RD will 'reward' Kurtley by putting him at 10 (well that's what I'd like to see) JOC looked out of position there but I think he was in shock as the LLF combination was destroyed so early on. I'd put him on the wing if Ioane is in doubt... or 13?

Arghh... it's a blydi mess! (just the way we like it...)

Seriously though I'd like to see:

Genia
Beale
Ioane
LLF
JOC/Tapuai
Folau
Mogg

or even better, more potent but higher risk.

Genia
Beale
Ioane
LLF
Folau
JOC/Cummins
Mogg

Digby still doesn't seem 100% fit and O'Connor seems out of form.
Robbie will probably opt for Ioane and JOC in the 15 and maybe Morahan/Taps, Cummins and Phipps (not Test standard!) on the bench.

Digby Ioane was very quiet on Saturday.

I thought you were leaving, Breaker?

Good Morning Everyone!

Shame about POC's injury.  I was hoping it wasn't that bad.  Gareth Delve is captain tomorrow for the Rebels.  I'm interested to see how he's getting on these days.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Digby Ioane was very quiet on Saturday.

I thought you were leaving, Breaker?

He's also just been charged for not turning up to a court appearance. What next... this is completely ridiculous. When will they ever learn?

Lucky, popped in here today and made a few remarks on some other threads (cricket initially but one or two rugby comments as well) but I just wanted to see how you all are.

I've had a quick chat to Eirebilly just now. He was asking what's it like on v2 these days... I told him there's been a few flare ups.
Dunno... I seem to be lacking the energy and motivation to intervene in all the disputes... or something?

Good to see you Breaker   On Ioane's arrest warrant.  Read this quote online:

The Australian Rugby Union learned of the issue this afternoon and confirmed in a statement today: "Since being made aware through media reports, ARU has worked expeditiously with Digby Ioane and Victorian Police to attend to this matter.
"Digby will report to Victorian Police and will be issued with a revised court date.
"No further comment will be made at this time."
It is understood that the court appearance simply slipped Ioane's mind.

Slipped his mind?!

Oh my goodness. These blokes are hopeless!

Multiply all of this by 4 and you'll get an idea what it's like here every day across the codes.

"Slipped" ha ha! I like it!

That did make me chuckle.

LUCKY - What do you think of Tovey going back to the Dragons then?

I'm quite surprised by it really, Cari. He was good for us, but he was our first-choice ten then and I don't think he will be this time (unless Lyn Jones has other ideas). My guess is that he's coming primarily to cover for the injured Dan Evans at full back.

I know when I'm not wanted...

That's when you start talking about next season's "comings & goings at the Dragons".

OK, OK. Pardon my interruption. I get the picture!     .....................

Don't be silly, Breaker. We're all chuffed you're back.

Cari wrote:Good to see you Breaker   On Ioane's arrest warrant.  Read this quote online:

The Australian Rugby Union learned of the issue this afternoon and confirmed in a statement today: "Since being made aware through media reports, ARU has worked expeditiously with Digby Ioane and Victorian Police to attend to this matter.
"Digby will report to Victorian Police and will be issued with a revised court date.
"No further comment will be made at this time."
It is understood that the court appearance simply slipped Ioane's mind.

Slipped his mind?!

There's nice that the authorities are good sports eh? Imagine some poor wino doing the same thing...

Linebreaker wrote:Oh my goodness. These blokes are hopeless!

Multiply all of this by 4 and you'll get an idea what it's like here every day across the codes.

"Slipped" ha ha! I like it!

We're in Melbourne Lb. Have been following the NRL and AFL on Fox Sports up in QLD.

For sure there's a lot of unpleasant stuff going on in Aussie sport recently.

Izzy Folau seems to be a bit of a star in the media though. Hopefully he'll keep his head screwed on.



Good luck bud.

Hound of Harrow wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:Oh my goodness. These blokes are hopeless!

Multiply all of this by 4 and you'll get an idea what it's like here every day across the codes.

"Slipped" ha ha! I like it!

We're in Melbourne Lb. Have been following the NRL and AFL on Fox Sports up in QLD.

For sure there's a lot of unpleasant stuff going on in Aussie sport recently.

Izzy Folau seems to be a bit of a star in the media though. Hopefully he'll keep his head screwed on.



Good luck bud.

Isn't Folau used to it? It's not like he was a nobody in League either

Reckon he'll stick with Union till the RWC, then back to League to see if he can get a League World Cup!

Looks like the Gwent Dragons have had a recruitment drive.  Kinglsey Jones is off to Rodney Parade too to join the coaching staff.  It'll be a big change from Russia I suppose.

I think he's keeping his job with the Russian national side and working with the Dragons when he's not with them. Still, fair play to the board, it looks like they're serious about impoving things.

Afternoon all.

I decided not to brave the Tube this morning with all my bruises from cricket yesterday, working from the sofa as I could hardly walk this morning

Copped a ball flush on the shin fielding, couldn't quite get my hands down to take the catch at short mid wicket, but saved 4 runs and we nearly got a run out from the richochet. Then while batting I got hit on the thigh a few times (I hate thigh pads normally but ...) so I've got a vaguely oval purple bruise about 6in high by 4in wide.