The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub, Ealing Broadway

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 back to London where the victorious British & Irish Lions squad will start their 25 day open bus journey across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland -  being greeted by millions of happy, proud, delirious, tipsy and slightly sunburned rugby fans.

So grab a beer, cider, whiskey or wine.... or a warm beverage and sit back and enjoy their well-earned procession through the streets where it all began.

                     

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of the legendary
Warren Gatland, Sam Warburton, Alex Corbisiero, Jonathan Sexton, George North, Jamie Roberts and Richie Gray. 

last Pawb: https://www.606v2.com/t44519-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-ballycastle-bar-hong-kong

Thankfully common sense has prevailed for once in the commons. Hopefully this will make the US cool things on military intervention but I doubt it. At least the democratic will of the people has been respected here for now so that's one lesson learned from Iraq at least.

There can't be any lasting solution to this mess that doesn't involve the support of Russia and Iran. Unfortunately I don't think an end to the conflict is the primary objective, rather the removal of Assad for a new western friendly regime to help strengthen the US foothold in the middle east.

Assad being an ally of Iran immediately puts him in the sights of the US.

The last few days paint Cameron and especially William Hague (who I have a lot of time for) in a seriously bad light. It was only Monday - or was it Tuesday - that yesterday's vote was going to be the only one, endorsing (or not) a military strike. The impression given was that there was certainty that a) there'd been a chemical attack, and b) Assad was responsible. Now it transpires that they still can't actually verify there has been a chemical attack, let alone who was responsible for it. How disgraceful that they misled us on such an important decision.

Look its fairly obvious what is going on, this is a continuation of the removal of the axis of evil highlighted by the previous US government. The difference is the Democrats knew the political will and resources weren't there to launch a messy war on another front so a different approach has been taken.

The CIA have been directly involved in the Arab spring, if not the primary instigators. The problem is Assad's regime hasn't stuck to the script by standing down.

This is about a US foreign policy of colonisation, a bit by bit removal of non western friendly and anti Israel regimes in oil rich middle east countries. The UKs foreign policy seems to be to support anything the US decides to do.

This certainly isn't about upholding international law or protecting innocents....if it was then Mugabe would have been removed long ago.

Cameron and Hague have been bending over backwards trying to find loopholes in international laws to find ways to legally arm the rebels and launch military intervention so they can maintain the UKs moral highground in this. At least America openly don't give a poopie about international law and will do what suits them.

The whole thing stinks, Rodders. 'Twas ever thus. But at least in this instance, we're not going to get involved. (Not that we aren't deeply involved already.) Such short-sightedness. The people of the Middle East want change, but what we're doing has nothing to do with improving their lot.

And all the while, we have serious problems at home that we should be sorting out first.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:And all the while, we have serious problems at home that we should be sorting out first.

Totally agree, the future of the Heino still hasn't been sorted.

That reminds me, have you read what Richard Cockerill's been saying about the new directives on the scrum?

Nah, I try and ignore Cockerill if I can, what he been saying?

He thinks the IRB should have consulted Premiership coaches before making the changes - possibly a fair point - and implies that the new directives are a conspiracy by southern hemisphere unions to depower the scrum and make it less of a contest. I can't understand that. How are collapsed scrums a contest of anything?

He also seems to have a problem with scrum halves being penalised for crooked feeds.

Was it not the Premiership coaches he said should have been consulted?

I know the crooked feeds drives some people nuts but surely the advantage should be with the side feeding in at the scrum? All the crooked feed takes away is the hooking?

 

If I asked if you had changed that you would be honest, wouldn't you?

It did say refs before, didn't it?

Yeah I don't know enough about the directives only that the scrum is an integral part of the game and I don't support any moves to devalue it as a contest...otherwise we may as well just play rugby league.

Don't agree that premiership coaches should have a say, you can't consult every coach of every league - it should be for the IRB and unions to determine the rules.

Ha, sorry Mrs P, yes it did!

Thank you Lucky!

I did think for a moment that I was seeing things!

 

I'm not sure how much advantage the side putting in should have, MrsP. It's supposed to be a contest for the ball, not guaranteed possession. Same as the lineout.

Rodders, from what I've seen, the new directives have made the scrums more of a contest - and there are fewer collapses, which means less time wasted on resets.

I know, but it seems unfair that one team can knock on and then get such a huge advantage from it on virtually every occasion just because their scrum is better.

We have seen some games where you would think a team might consider knocking on instead of kicking if a move is going nowhere because there is a big mismatch in the scrum. I don't think any single facet of the game should have that kind of an influence.

England v Ireland at Twickenham, by any chance? I do see your point though.

That would indeed be one Lucky.

Although I thought I had blanked that match from my memory to save from from the trauma of remembering!

Here's what he said:

"When they change these laws, nobody asks Premiership coaches about the laws of the scrums," Cockerill said.

"Who changes these things and what's their agenda?"

"You'd like to think that the people who make and change these laws consult Premiership coaches instead of just doing it."

"We've played a couple of games with these laws and it takes a bit of getting used to," Cockerill continued. "It's been messy.

"We're receiving different messages now, but the scrum is still a mess, so we'll have to see how it settles down."

"They say it's for safety, but it looks like the southern hemisphere are just trying to depower the scrum so the ball comes in and out," the Tigers coach said.

"I don't know whether it's depowering the scrum.

"In one of the Rugby Championship games we had two of the best scrum-halves in the world laughing at each other because they were worrying about feeding and getting a red card."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23888263

Yesterday it was Cliff Morgan; today it's Seamus Heaney.

MrsP wrote:I know, but it seems unfair that one team can knock on and then get such a huge advantage from it on virtually every occasion just because their scrum is better.

We have seen some games where you would think a team might consider knocking on instead of kicking if a move is going nowhere because there is a big mismatch in the scrum. I don't think any single facet of the game should have that kind of an influence.

Hmm as the scrum is a mean of securing possession and you already have it then I don't see why you would deliberately knock on.

OK you get the penalty and the opportunity of getting the ball back from the lineout but that's not guaranteed and you've allowed the opposition the chance to reset their defence.

Maybe Rodders.

But there have been times when I have thought it would be a good option.

Move going nowhere so you either kick the ball to the opposition or knock on and get a scrum against you from which you can secure good ball with all their forwards not only bound but more than likely on their backsides, exhausted and demoralised or a penalty.

I haven't noticed it happen but there have been times when I wondered if it would.

You'd hope that referees would be able to spot deliberate knock-ons from the side in possession. Although I'm not actually sure if they'd be able to penalise it... where's Stag when you need him?

Well a deliberate knock would be a YC, wouldn't it?

Couldn't see it ever being penalised if it was from the side in possession though.

I've never seen it happen. Maybe no one's ever tried it. I imagine it would be hard to fake - as well as being against all your instincts as a player. Or am I being naive?

No, I think you are right but, given how other things have become pretty cynical I would think it's only a matter of time?

GUIDE


......

Wow Seamus Heaney has died. RIP.

Richard Cockerill; as if the Premiership was the most important league in the world. When changing laws worldwide for all levels of the game, don't think it should hinge on the approval of a few English clubs. Consultation is important yes, but Cockerill has just enough hubris to make it sound like any law he doesn't get to personally sign off on is moot.

I've just heard about Seamus Heaney and it's incredibly sad. We may not see an Irish poet of his stature again for some time, still less one from Ulster.

MrsP wrote:Well a deliberate knock would be a YC, wouldn't it?

Couldn't see it ever being penalised if it was from the side in possession though.

I had a situation a few seasons ago when refereeing a youth game. One of WRU directives on youth rugby is that when a team is more than 50pts in front in a game, the Referee
must end the game, irrespective of how much time has elapsed.

Team A were 35 points ahead at half time, and scored 2 unconverted tries within 10 minutes of the start of the second half. They then started taking the mickey out of Team B. I called the captain aside and explained that if they continued to disrespect their opponents then I may have to take action. A few minutes later, one of the Team A deliberately knocked on over the try line. I gave him as yellow card

I quite like the new scrum laws. It's shifted the emphasis from raw power to technique right across the front row, it means backrows need to stay bound longer which is good for backs, and less resets so far. Enforcing straight feeds means losing then ball against the head is always possible, meaning the situation MrsP describes above would be a very silly thing to do indeed, and its sorted out one of the most constantly annoying things about the scrum. Props biding too short on the arm and trying to look innocent when it goes down for the umpteenth time.

I think these laws will lead to less teams trying to push a weaker scrum over from five yards now that the hit has been depowered and more backrow moves, but thats just a hunch based on what I've seen so far. A good technical scrum with all 8 forwards working together can still make ground in the scrums and the more work the whole pack has to do in the scrum- and the longer they have to stay bound- the more space there is behind the scrum.

This favours more technically gifted props and packs who work hard collectively as an 8 at scrumtime- it's a move towards more specialism in the forwards, not less ala rugby league. It's very true to what Union is about.

Notch wrote:
This favours more technically gifted props and packs who work hard collectively as an 8 at scrumtime- it's a move towards more specialism in the forwards, not less ala rugby league. It's very true to what Union is about.

Good shout, not that there's anything terribly wrong with league if you like that sort of thing but lets face it, its not real rugby is it.

Notch wrote:I quite like the new scrum laws. It's shifted the emphasis from raw power to technique right across the front row, it means backrows need to stay bound longer which is good for backs, and less resets so far. Enforcing straight feeds means losing then ball against the head is always possible, meaning the situation MrsP describes above would be a very silly thing to do indeed, and its sorted out one of the most constantly annoying things about the scrum. Props biding too short on the arm and trying to look innocent when it goes down for the umpteenth time.

I think these laws will lead to less teams trying to push a weaker scrum over from five yards now that the hit has been depowered and more backrow moves, but thats just a hunch based on what I've seen so far. A good technical scrum with all 8 forwards working together can still make ground in the scrums and the more work the whole pack has to do in the scrum- and the longer they have to stay bound- the more space there is behind the scrum.

This favours more technically gifted props and packs who work hard collectively as an 8 at scrumtime- it's a move towards more specialism in the forwards, not less ala rugby league. It's very true to what Union is about.

I agree with all of that.

Good on you Penfro.

That is a regulation I have never seen enforced. The wee fella's team would have put a cricket score on a few teams each season but I only saw a match ended early once. The score was 3 v 63 at the time.

Notch,

The situation I described was a team winning the scrum on the other team's put in.

Evening All   

Hope everyone's well. I'm hurting again following my gym class last night...I'm sure it's not supposed to hurt so much! Oh well, at least I went and I worked hard. I'll be fitter but unable to walk at this rate.  

O's playing Baff tonight in a friendly. Hope they can win that one too.

Just booked my tickets for Ospreys v Leinster on 12 Oct. Is Gibbo defo coming? They were free for me anyway, so thought I might as well. Sometimes there are benefits to my job.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zWdGjkGo13s&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DzWdGjkGo13s

Evening pub     

Hope everyone is well  

Glad that week is done! I seem to have gotten myself into another tricky workplace. It's the 2nd drug service I've worked for and the 2nd one to go out to tender. I'm beginning to think I'm an unlucky charm  Tender doesn't go in until late September and the outcome won't be known until the end of the year but the cracks are starting to show already. Poor souls, I really feel for them, and I know how it can turn. Really hope that doesn't come to pass this time!

Risca Rev wrote:Just booked my tickets for Ospreys v Leinster on 12 Oct. Is Gibbo defo coming? They were free for me anyway, so thought I might as well. Sometimes there are benefits to my job.

Yes he is and so am I.

Swanny - I doubt it's yourself.  Sounds like something that's happening all over unfortunately.  Sorry to hear about that happening again for you.

Balls. Ospreys lost big time there. Well done Baff. 27-10. Ho hum.

Evening all, we are in the house and glos won!!!! all round!!

Nice one Prop.  When's the house warming party?  

When gibbo appears

Helllooo!
I have just worked like a mad bollix for nearly 40 hours in 3 days to get a project finished. This is no country for aul men.

But the job is done and I get a free week off to go diving for pearls.  

Got a wee bit stressed for while, but now, I'm stoned, listening to The Dan  and all is grand.

For Lucky.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArQtVcM7w5Q

Risca Rev wrote:Just booked my tickets for Ospreys v Leinster on 12 Oct. Is Gibbo defo coming? They were free for me anyway, so thought I might as well. Sometimes there are benefits to my job.

Rev,
I'm coming already just thinking about it darlin.

And I'll mostly be wearing the one rugby shirt I never washed.

Go RAF Cinn Lois.

Love you.
X Gibbo.

Gibson wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:Just booked my tickets for Ospreys v Leinster on 12 Oct. Is Gibbo defo coming? They were free for me anyway, so thought I might as well. Sometimes there are benefits to my job.

Rev,
I'm coming already just thinking about it darlin.

And I'll mostly be wearing the one rugby shirt I never washed.

Go RAF Cinn Lois.

Love you.
X Gibbo.

Haha. You're my hero  

Gibson wrote:Helllooo!
I have just worked like a mad bollix for nearly 40 hours in 3 days to get a project finished.  This is no country for aul men.

But the job is done and I get a free week off to go diving for pearls.  

Got a wee bit stressed for while, but now, I'm stoned, listening to The Dan  and all is grand.

For Lucky.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArQtVcM7w5Q

Peg's the name of my new car.  

It's a beautiful day here in the 'Port. There's a definite feeling of autumn in the air, but it's so faint. It's sort of like when you smell someone's perfume a few steps after you pass them, but the other way round.

Afternoon pub. Ealing won all their friendlies, but didn't really play anyone serious bar Carmarthen Quins.

Looking forward to Kerry v Cork in the GAA footie tomorrow. I'm guessing Cari will be watching it.

Hound of Harrow wrote:Afternoon pub. Ealing won all their friendlies, but didn't really play anyone serious bar Carmarthen Quins.

Looking forward to Kerry v Cork in the GAA footie tomorrow.  I'm guessing Cari will be watching it.

I'll be watching the Dublin v Kerry footie semi final indeed Hound. I'll nip over to O'Neills for it.

Afternoon All