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

I have no compaints with dropping Drico, it's dropping Drico for Davies I don't get, because I think he has been poor and a lot of his worst moments have come in the 13 channel. I won't be watching live but hope he has a good game.

He hasn't been great in the Tests - the centre pairing never really clicked. Davies has played inside centre in the past, but really it was two natural outside centres alongside each other. There was so much made of Gatland's decision only to take two outside halves, but maybe the greater error was only to bring one genuine inside centre - especially one as injury-prone as Jamie Roberts.

Yeah I'd agree with that. He has made some big gambles that haven't paid off really.

Djokovic and Del Potro on now. If you can get sentenced to death by firing squad in Argentina, they should just get Del Potro to lash balls at you for around an hour. Some fecing serve and shot.

I'd love Del Potro to win that. Actually, I'd love him to win the whole thing. He's a real gent.

I watched his match last Saturday and there were loads of Argentinians in the crowd. At the end as he was signing autographs, they all did this chant. He loved it.

Are tickets for the opening days that expensive? Obviously today and the weekend finals will cost a bit. Do you buy tickets that cover a a couple of courts or can you buy one that covers all and just wander around?

I've got an old friend who works at Wimbledon, so I got a ground pass. I think they're free anyway but it's first come first served and you'd have to queue for ages. Other than Centre court and courts 1 and 2, you can get onto all the others - but again you have to queue. I waited an hour and a half to get onto court 12 for the Del Potro match. Once the seats are full, you have to wait for someone to leave.

Also, there's a ticket resale office, so if anyone who had tickets for the show courts leaves, you can buy their tickets for £10 cash. I queued for 40 minutes and got a ticket for Centre. I saw the end of Djokovic v Chardy and then they moved Serena Williams v Kimiko Date-Krumm to Centre from court no. 1 so I got to see that with the roof shut.

Prices are reasonable enough so. The time may be a bit annoying but something you can get over.

As long as you get a seat at the end of it, it's worth it. Although when I finally got a seat, there was a girl asleep in the next seat. Quite a few weren't actually bothered about the tennis.

Are the strawberries and cream that good?

I didn't have any, I don't like strawberries. I know it's socially unacceptable to admit it.

Right folks, I've sent most of you invites already, but seeing as the curtain-rasiers   are almost finished, come join v2's The Rugby Championship prediction game on SuperBru. Just click here:

http://www.superbru.com/rugbychampionship/pool.php?p=11099764
Pool name: v2Rugby 

Pool code: mumsides

   for Thom, Luckless and Jon Davies.
 
Enjoy the game tomorrow lads....break a leg Jon....  

I'm actually watching the tennis...I kind of like JJ-the-Pole even though he makes horrendous noises when he's whacking the ball...he's quite aggressive.

Evening All  I'm quite nervous for tomorrow, but looking forward to my pub brekkie and what should hopefully be an exciting two hours or so.

You're brilliant Cari

Cari!

Will the rugby be a distraction from the real objective?

Thank the proverbial the weather at Wimbledon is perfect...Cliff Richard's in the audience...we might have had to endure some spontaneous karaoke...

MrsP - not at all. I have to get there early to get a decent seat and have breakfast first, so I'll be well prepared for the rugby

Glas a du wrote:You're brilliant Cari

Why's that then, butt?

Because you have been able to rise above all of the poopie flying in the last couple of days.

Ah that's me Glas. Always paddling my own canoe...bollix to the whingers. I'll keep the faith until the final whistle says otherwise, and even then if the worst has happened, I'll still be proud of my team. There's some classy players in the Lions, and I for one can't wait for the domestic season to start again to see them back in with their clubs. Well the ones that are left over here anyway.

Good grief, this dude playing Murray sounds like he's vomiting when he's hitting the ball...

Really, I hadn't noticed. I must be immune to that noise or something...

He doesn't do it all the time, just now and again he roars and growls a bit...he's complaining about the roof not being closed yet too...it's not dark yet!

Evenin' all.

I can't wait for the new season to start either, Cari. I don't want to jinx anything, but after the last couple of seasons, there are some genuine reasons to be optimistic from a Dragons point of view.

It's good news that we've finally offloaded Dan Lydiate, because all he can do is tackle.  

I said I must be immune to the sound of vomiting because I'm hearing it quite a bit.

I'm quite envious of the Dragons actually Lucky. You've got Lyn for a start!

Enjoying this tennis match?

Broke back, mountain to climb.

Someone's having a BBQ near me...I can smell it....it's making me hungry.

I've got the tennis on, but I haven't really been following this match. I watched the Djokovic - Del Potro match from the end of the fourth set and it was something else. I've never seen so many winners turn out not to be winners. Phenomenal athleticism from both players.

Controversy reigns...the Polish fella has been complaining about the roof being open all evening, and now they're closing it whilst Murray is ahead. It's still light, they could've played on for at least half an hour or so.

It looks like we might be nabbing Goughy off you as well, Cari. It wouldn't be a headline-grabber of a signing, but I'd say he would have more influence seeing out his career at the Dragons than at the Ospreys. And he's a Gwent boy (Croesyceiliog, I think), so he knows what it means.

Yes he's got family Newport way hasn't he? Well a woman I used to work with (that I couldn't stand anyway) used to go on about the fact she was his second cousin or something... He's not a bad signing to have on your books. I think he will retire after this season.

Now there's a coincidence - there are plenty of women I used to work with that I couldn't stand.  

Ha ha...yes there's a few of them about!  They're showing some of the earlier Djokovic match now whilst they're sorting the roof out...

It was an incredible match. Even though Djokovic won, I felt a bit sorry for him at the end because you could tell the crowd were disappointed. They applauded him, but they cheered Del Potro when he started to walk off court.

Glas a du wrote:Broke back, mountain to climb.

is that  comma in the wrong place?

Andrew Castle actually said: "if you can keep your girlfriend happy you're doing well..."

The best quote I remember from a tennis commentator was something Boris Becker said: 'grass is very important to your mind play.' Spoken like a true stoner.

Lions third Test preview on Sky Sports at 10. It's going to be tedious but understandable that they'll focus on Tom Youngs being dropped.

My dog just headbutted me.

Still can't believe she headbutted me. Talk about bad timing, I have a police lineup in the morning!

Hi all. Have to say out here in Oz we have been very immune from the mud flinging that seems to be going on back home.

Really think we're going to win tonight. We might not have BOD but we have got ball carriers and a strong bench - two things we lacked in other games.

Oh jiw, Stag. You keep the faith. Send Dreamer our best.

Check it out.

Well, I'm going to be missing the game. A bug has struck me down and several others are suffering too. Peed off is not the word

 

Oh no Hound.

That is such bad timing. I hope the players weren't eating in the same place as you guys.

 

I hope you have a telly in your room.

I also hope you have an ensuite bathroom.

I'm going to try and watch it in my room MrsP. This bug is a flu type thing and it really has flattened me. The worst thing I've had for years.

Think I've got the same thing now... early stages. Felt crook when I woke up and it's just got worse.  

Congratulations everyone!       

Fantastic start for the Lions - shonky from the Wallabies. They have a knack of making things hard for themselves but full credit to your lads. They were a powerful and tight unit and I'm sure you all would have been so proud to see them win in such style tonight.

Our blokes were absolutely blitzed off the park in that last 25 mins or so. For a brief moment I thought we might be able to steal it - but I believe the end result was very well earned. Amazing atmosphere with that Sea of Red. Oh well, back to the drawing board for the Bledisloe.

Happy for AWJ, SOB, Bowe and all the 2009 'veterans'. My only wish would have been for BOD to have made an appearance. He deserved to be part of that marvellous performance tonight. Also, credit to all of your injured players, Cptn Sam, POC, etc and the rest of the squad who all made contributions along the way. It was an immense achievement to finish the Wallabies off like that.

Dave, rest up mate. It feels worse when your team loses.   At least when you drift off to sleep tonight and wake up in the morning - you'll have realised a dream come true. Same for Stag, Dreamer and the 10s of thousands of Lions fans over here (and all of you at home) who have been superb representatives of their nations - coming together for this special ocassion. It's been a pleasure hosting at least 2 of them.

It's a very long way to come for them and I'm more than happy to see them walk around Sydney in the next couple of days; heads held high... wearing the Lions kit... smiles as wide as the Sydney Heads. They all deserve to go home to an even better summer with their families and loved ones.

Cheers Lb. I'm delighted with the win and the nature of the win. I would imagine our whole squad is very happy right now.

Good afternoon My Pubbly Friends!   

I am one very happy Cari right now. I'm so proud of ALL the Lions, and just so so happy for them all. I even had a little blub - especially when they showed J-Ro crying! Awwh! What a performance, and under so much pressure and expectation too. Commiserations Breaker. I hope you enjoyed the occasion though, Sydney looked like it was buzzing and will be a great place to be tonight.

I've not long come back from O'Neills (been in there since nine o'clock this morning!). Brilliant atmosphere in there. Top breakfast as well. Lots of cheery banter and some singing. Our table even got a rendition of Flower of Scotland going when Richie came on. Every time Warren G was shown on TV a group of Irish lads on a stag do next to us would boo and we'd all cheer. It was like panto.   Great fun though.

Hound - sorry to hear you're poorly. Get well soon. Hope everyone is OK out there and enjoying such an immense and historic trip.  

What a game.