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

But Saints would be one that would surely, no?

And, regardless, they are not going to admit defeat in front of the opposition.

I will admit that up until I read the report I wondered if Hartley had actually been talking about Youngs. Now I believe he was talking to Barnes.

Yes, it would appear he really is that stupid!

Just signed up to do the Belfast half marathon in September. Anyone with any advice on dieting, training etc would be more than welcome. Please bear in mind I've an imminent month coming up of boozing in Australia which might hamper my progress.

Morning,

My last day of leisure today. Not really got much planned other than the hairdressers Weather's not looking promising so I'll probably be doing stuff around the house...when I get off this!

Willy - I'm not a runner so I can't really advise you what to do. Maybe you could post something on the athletics section for advice? Good luck with the training anyway.

MrsP wrote:Evening all.

Glas, you played in the front row, yes?

Would you ever have given the opposition front row the satisfaction of hearing you tell your team mates that you were up against it in the scrum?

I wouldn't know


Seriously though, no way. On one occasion I was playing hooker for the Uni firsts in a SWALEC cup game and my tight head was a league player playing his first (only) game of Union. I was being tonked. I thought my sternum was going to pop. I dont know how it happened but I bound loose and somehow accidentally headbutted their tight head square on the bridge of his nose as we packed down. He went off. In the club afterwards he told me I was out of order. I told him that he showed no mercy, he should expect none. I would never have said that on the field though.

By the way, you noticed Mrs G's ignorance of rugby extended to my glorious career? Charming!

I did!

That was

Maybe she was so concerned that her beloved might be injured that she has blocked the memory. Sort of PTSD kinda thing?

May be of interest to Welsh regs, or anyone else in the Cardiff area on 29th June - CHARITY BREAKFAST

PenfroPete wrote:May be of interest to Welsh regs, or anyone else in the Cardiff area on 29th June - CHARITY BREAKFAST

Great idea Penfro!

I hope you gets lots of folk along. The atmosphere will be fantastic I'd say!

PenfroPete wrote:May be of interest to Welsh regs, or anyone else in the Cardiff area on 29th June - CHARITY BREAKFAST

I think know I'm travelling back from Liverpool otherwise I would have gone. My birthday weekend as well. And I'm missing the match!

Meanwhile, my eldest brother's wife has had their second bab today (well, last night). Another boy...there's a lot of boys on my dads side.

A strong looking Barbarians team named to play Lions:

01 Paul James
02 Schalk Brits
03 Martin Castrogiovanni
04 Marco Wentzel
05 Dean Mumm
06 Samu Manoa
07 Sam Jones
08 Sergio Parisse (c)
09 Dimitri Yachvilli
10 Nick Evans
11 Zed Ngwenya
12 Casey Laulala
13 Elliot Daly
14 Joe Rokocoko
15 Jared Payne

16 Leonardo Ghiraldini
17 Duncan Jones
18 Andrea Lo Cicero
19 Jim Hamilton
20 Imanol Harinordoquy
21 Kahn Fotuali'i
22 James Hook
23 Mike Tindall

Backrow isn't awe inspiring but that aside its pretty strong side.

Hello all, hope you don't mind me sticking my pretty little face in. Congrats to Rodders on the little one, 2nd pub baby am I correct?

Casey at 12? Interesting, thought he could do well there if Munster used him there but not with Big James there.

Thomond wrote:Hello all, hope you don't mind me sticking my pretty little face in. Congrats to Rodders on the little one, 2nd pub baby am I correct?

Casey at 12? Interesting, thought he could do well there if Munster used him there but not with Big James there.

Evidence will need to be supplied!

Hi T! I was just wondering where you were hiding?

Cari,

Shame about the 2nd test but I'm sure Liverpool will provide a distraction.

Does anyone know what the state of play is with Castro? The French deal is off, right? Has he got a contract for next season?

Morning all.

Last week Dylan Hartley gave the Rugby Blog a video clip of his Lions bag being packed.

Now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9eUVz5zg384

Those on twitter can assert that MrsP, albeit my profile pic is a few years old!
I've been busy with a lot of things I'm sure you will be delighted to know I will be on a fair bit more during the Summer!


Did a good job clearing house, asl long as there's a screen up for Irelan v England tonight I will be happy though.

I will have to canvas opinion from the Twits then T!

MrsP could Castro replace Afoa at Ulster?

No one will be able to replace BBJ!

When he leaves!

I don't know which one is you Thom. Whichever, he is skinny.

I see James Downey called up to replace Stuart Olding in the Ireland squad. Apparently knee injury in the Rabo final.

Apparently Olding has been wearing a "moon boot" to ease the injury and a final call will be made tomorrow.

I doubt it's his knee Stag.

Those boots are usually for ankle probs.

Hope he heals well.

Glas a du wrote:I don't know which one is you Thom. Whichever, he is skinny.

But, is he "pretty"?

And don't ask, "...pretty what?"

MrsP wrote:I doubt it's his knee Stag.

Those boots are usually for ankle probs.

Hope he heals well.

Sorry I meant ankle. Your right.

Guess which of us is the doctor.

I would be really disappointed for Olding if he was ruled out. Young lad deserves to tour.

He's got a bright future. I'm guessing if he isn't fit we'll see a Jackson-Madigan combination at 10 and 12.

MrsP wrote:

Glas a du wrote:I don't know which one is you Thom. Whichever, he is skinny.

But, is he "pretty"?

And don't ask, "...pretty what?"

Hard to tell, he's gurning.

Glas a du wrote:

MrsP wrote:

Glas a du wrote:I don't know which one is you Thom. Whichever, he is skinny.

But, is he "pretty"?

And don't ask, "...pretty what?"

Hard to tell, he's gurning.

The picture is from when I'm about 15, I'm the lad in the Highfield (red, black and green shirt), will upload a better pic at some stage on it, of me and an Irish legend that many people also hate.

Evening and hello thom - the legend wouldn't be ROG by any chance

I didn't know there was footy on at Wembley until earlier. I'm over in Ealing to watch Newcastle v Bedford so I hope we can get that on one of the screens.

Roy Keane would be the man, sure everyone loves ROG right?

Fair dos thom. Keane was indeed a legend of Irish sport. I guess his outburst at the World Cup (2002?) would divide opinion.

In a lot of ways him leaving in 2002 was a big moment in Irish sport, I think it had a ripple effect that led us to overcome the give it a lash attitude and take a more professional approach to winning. Were I in his spot, I wouldn't have left, but he was right to take a stand to the shoddy approach of the FAI (not a lot has changed there but Irish soccer is a very strange thing)

This has no relevance to the pub but I'm going to say it anyway.

3 ex Cork City players are involved in the Irish squad tonight and 8 who have played in the League of Ireland at some point, imagine how good it could be if the FAI actually cared?

It would be better and produce more talent, but surely English and Scottish sides would still snap up all the best prospects fairly quickly?

The more interest you show and develop in the national league, the better its players become, more will leave sure but more interest leads to more players participating at grassroots, which means better overall talent in Ireland, which leads to improving standards in the League of Ireland. It's a cycle. There's a reason why Ireland's young players are looking promising now, around 10 years after a successful period you begin to see fruits from the underage setup.


1-1 now bollix.

Newc 28-25 Bedford with just over 10 to go. Looks like Falcons are back in the Prem.

Falcons promoted. Unlucky L. Welsh.

Very likeable team the Falcons. I remember meeting most of their team in the early 2000s during a Munster preseason friendly - Jonny Wilkinson, Colin Charvis, Matthew Burke stood out as gentlemen. Jonny Wilkinson spent about an hour doing a kicking session with me and my mates (though in hindsight he really just wanted us to collect the balls he kicked).

I'd really love Dean Richards to make them a team who are not just battling it out with boring old Worcester but really competing for the Heineken Cup spots.

JT will be in Worcester next year. Anybody who saw his part in the 2003 renaissance of Welsh rugby could not possibly describe him as boring.

Neither is Richard Hill individually but Worcester as a team are very hard to like. And equally hard to dislike.

The worrying thing for Wasps is that, having lost Robinson to Bris and Jones retiring to a coaching role, we have signed their two fly halves for next season: Goode and Carlisle, plus Matt Mullan.

Stag, you could make a pretty good team out of ex Newcastle players + a few of the current crop, of which Alex Tait is probably the stand out.

I don't think anything can be read into the Lions team to face the Barbarians as to the likely test line up. Sexton on the bench just after the tough Rabo final though convinces me a third outside half must be called up by the tests. You can not involved Farell and Sexton in every match without it going horribly wrong by the end of the tour.

Wake me up..... when October comes...

Hunt for Red October...

The line up makes perfect sense for the Barbarians but I agree with Glas. Gives no insight to the Test Selection. I think that won't start to become apparent until the Waratahs game with the final selections revealed by the time they play Brumbies. Up til then its anyones guess.

If there was ever a game to give Stuart Hogg some game time at 10 this was it. A third 10 will be needed. St. Jonny to the rescue methinks.

I really hope Wilkinson isn't called up. You know what Sky are like. If he makes the Test side, it'll be all about Jonny; if he doesn't make the Test side, it'll be all about Jonny.

When Wilkinson retires well all think he was marvellous...

Helloooooo Y'all from sunny, warm Ireland. Three words that are unusual in the same sentence.

How's things here in the glorious 606 pub these days.

He's very good at what he does, Glas, no question about that.

Morning, Scotty!

'lo scotty.

Morning all. Yup, Lions team pretty much as expected, given last weeks finals.

Glas a du wrote:When Wilkinson retires well all think he was marvellous...

I already do. Think he's a class act.

So why are people so miffed when Sky say so? I'd they were about when when Edwards was in his pomp they would have been the same, wouldn't they.

Glas a du wrote:So why are people so miffed when Sky say so? I'd they were about when when Edwards was in his pomp they would have been the same, wouldn't they.

I couldn't care if the media hype him up. I dont get all the fuss about them focusing on him during the HEC Final for example.