The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub, Trebanog

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 Trebanog, the home village of Cliff Morgan.

So grab a beer, cider, whiskey or wine.... or a warm beverage and sit back and enjoy the 2013-14 rugby season.

              

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
Cliff Morgan, Dorothy Squires & Esme Coles, Jason Tovey, Aaron Smith and Monterey Jack.  

last Pawb: https://www.606v2.com/t46425p1050-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-ealing-broadway#2269373

Is he Rev? I thought he was taken off with a bad neck injury last weekend that looked like he would miss a few weeks. If he's fully recovered then fine.

So yeah - Lydiate, Warbs and Toby would be my choice for Wales' back row against SA. Plus two locks who can smash them back at the breakdown and give some go forward at scrum time. The new scrum laws mean that the collective push, rather than the hit, is more important  when it comes to scrummaging - more beef in the 2nd row.

It's crazy when you consider how often we've played the Wallabies since 2011 that this will be the first time we've played the 'Boks since the World Cup, which seems ages ago now. I think that of the big three, they're the side that Gatlandball is most likely to be effective against, but the problem now is that they've started playing a more open game and have been scoring tries, so it might not be as true any more. The likely outcome is a Springbok win, but if we see the back three, and Halfpenny in particular, given the freedom to counter-attack that we saw in the third Lions Test, then we should cause them problems. But first things first, we'll have to match their physicality.

It won't happen, but I'd start Rhodri Williams at scrum half. Mike Phillips can be a selfish scrum half at the best of times. but now he'll be out to prove a point and I can see him trying to make breaks himself all the time when it isn't on. I think he'll be a liability. Bakkies Botha will be licking his lips. Rhodri Williams already knows what it's like to beat the Baby 'Boks and he looks fearless. Plus the 'Boks won't know much about him. Remember when Phillips played against France in the Six Nations early in his career and they couldn't handle him? I think Williams could have a similar impact. Outside him, he'd have his regional team mates Priestland, Scott Williams and JD2 and they've played some cracking stuff in the last month or so.

He was stretchered off as a precaution and was out of hospital around five hours later saying he was fine (after getting all the necessary scans etc).

I just watched a video on the Beeb with Warburton and he talks like he isn't training yet. Not sure if that's true, but the way he worded a sentence left me wondering. He also called the Rabo, the Magners which is a bit naughty

He said about the pitch looking a mess and that he had a little walk on it and it's more stable than it looks. Probably nothing

The pitch didn't look great on the weekend, but what's new?

Yeah agreed.

Toby is training, so clearly fit. I don't think there's anything in the Warburton thing either, or I guess the journos would've picked up on it.

LIGINDS !!
 
....

Andy and I were talking about that legends game last weekend, Pete. Could be an entertaining game.

Morning folks.

Morning, Hound. Have you seen the Wallabies' teamsheet for the weekend?

Hi lucky.  Yeah - the Aussies have a strong side there.  Corbisiero being out is a big blow. M. Vunipola is nowhere near a good enough scrummager at this level.

Instead of sweets tonight I'm considering handing out trick or treaters a short set of mathematical problems to solve (with the potential for sweets based on correct answers). This is surely better for them in the long run?

Every Hallowe'en I put a sign up saying 'no trick-or-treaters.' No eggs yet!

Morning All,  

Balmy Friday evening here.

As for the big rugby Test tomorrow, it's still hard to gauge. Ewen McKenzie has done some tinkering with the team and I think it will have a positive affect. I'm glad to see more Reds, Brumbies + Issy and only a few Tahs in the lineup as it should be based on performance and not 'reputation or location'.

Since the Lions Tour, they have improved slightly against the All Blacks (but still on a much lower plane) and are still finding their feet and tending to talk with more confidence to the media & press (as most Aussie sports teams do naturally). I'm not filled with super confidence though.

They're maybe on par with England (or a little more cohesive than them in terms of a settled squad) after having the 4N and in particular, the Argentinian experience. I don't write much into that last result except for the value it had in making them recognise that they can, potentially, get it all together and wallop an unsuspecting opposition on the right day.

The problem is - we have been all too often on the receiving end of frustrating, self-inflicted losses of late. Ironically, the Wallabies have perfected the art of "playing the way Argentina did that day"... so it was a pleasant turnaround to see them click.

I reckon there will be no more than 8-10 points in it either way... maybe even closer than that. Hopefully there won't be a blow out either way... but that's another possible scenario. (did I cover all bases?)

Well, it could end in a draw. If it does and England had a half-time lead, I'll be £600-odd better off.

Good stuff, Lucky. Never had you down for a betting man... but going for a Draw is a gutsy call. It may well happen.  

I hardly ever bet but I was in this nice pub down the road about a month ago and saw "Black Tommohawk" in the 1st at Warrnambool... so I decided to have a quick splutter.

It won.

I only put $5 on it though but it was a decent return.

I'm not really a proper betting man, Breaker. Until this year I'd only ever have a flutter on the Grand National (picked the winner twice in two years ). But in last season's Six Nations, I put a tenner on Italy to beat England at Twickenham - and they gave England a hell of a scare - and for Ireland to draw with France at Lansdowne Road. France scored a late try in the corner and in the howling rain, Freddie Michalak converted it to bring the scores level, which was how it stayed.

I've only placed two bets, £20 in all, which I won't miss if they don't come off.

Yeah, apart from the Melbourne Cup, I don't bet.

The tipping comps on SuperBru paint a picture - it's either 70-80% success rate on short, easily predictable tournaments, 60-70% on medium sized ones... and sometimes as low as 30-40-50% on certain others... which I usually don't have a clue about.

As Glas and I say - it's uncanny how often you can be exactly 66.67% in SB (he strives for the same benchmark) so it's 2 out of 3 when you feel you are just breaking even / head above water - and you need a perfect 100% to make a decent (any) 'profit'.

You can make a snap win at long odds occasionally (I picked Italy over Wales in the RLWC and I'm going for the double against Scotland too!) but that is with the benefit of (almost) inside knowledge - with the team stacked with about 17 or 18 NRL players in the 'Italian' squad. I could see that ambush coming with Wales missing a few SL players.

Maybe I should have had a wager on that but I don't want to get into a pattern of gambling - just use the results to vindicate my gut feeling and give myself a 'virtual pat on the back'.

The odds have to be long for me to place a bet - I don't take the likelihood of winning into consideration really, just what I could turn my tenner into. So it's just as well I'm not much of a gambler!

 
 
BREAKING NEWS
 
GIBBO CONFIRMED AS BRUMBIES NEW DIRECTOR OF RUGBY
 
 

That looks more like Chef to me!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:That looks more like Chef to me!

 
 
 
GUIDE

I think Gibbo would be more hurt by the fact he's ex-Munster than anything to do with his appearance  

True Notch. True.

I still think he looks radical btw.

Evening folks.  

I've got the rugby on (Dragons v Leinster) but I'm not really engrossed - Leinster have just scored anyway (possible foot in touch...).

Hope everyone is well. I'm nursing injury, but other than that I'm fine.

Close up of Rev singing "He knocked it on..." there

Superb try from Wardle.

Damn, I missed the Rev. Got it on record, so I can go back. Bit of a mediocre game, so far. Too many mistakes from both teams.

I missed the Rev too. Isn't it his birthday today?

       

I'm pretty certain I know which of the above he'll go for

Hahaha, Swanny, think he would take both. And not many would argue with him!

There's someone in the crowd wearing 'my' blue magic hat. B*****d.

Just seen Rev, cheering his boys on fit to bust. Good man! Sorry about the result, Rev, on your birthday, etc. Well, not in fact, but hope the rest of your day was good!!

Nice day thanks. Bad result aye, but a good atmosphere and nice to be back home. Got to play rugby tomorrow after a couple of drinkies tonight. 32 now, so can't get away with it anymore

I should have wished you happy birthday yesterday, Rev. I did hear the stadium announcer read out your name at half time!

I was outside then Lucky, having some not so fresh air. I guessed Tim would announce it though.

Central heating boiler on the blink - day 4. Thank goodness for woodburning stoves!

Afternoon All  

Belated Many Happy Returns to Rev. Hope you enjoyed yourself yesterday despite the result.   

Puma - the weather here is atrocious too. Luckily my bolier's OK. I'm watching Becket (classic Richard Burton/Peter O'Toole film) and then the rugby league (England v Ireland).

Belated birthday greetings, Rev.


A'noon Cari. Settling in for England v Aus in the pub.

Good luck to your union boys   I'm watching their league counterparts as I don't have Sky. I was intrigued to see the Irish RL team and this is free as well. They only sing "Ireland's Call" in the anthems...I did wonder if they'd manage the Gaelic one.

hey guys, should be a cracking game of rugby union!

Well I've given up on the RL...Ireland trailing 30-0. Don't like this sort of lop-sided match.

Cari wrote:Good luck to your union boys    I'm watching their league counterparts as I don't have Sky.  I was intrigued to see the Irish RL team and this is free as well.  They only sing "Ireland's Call" in the anthems...I did wonder if they'd manage the Gaelic one.

True story I was invited to train with Irish students RL team back in the day - you had to fill out this form explaining how you qualified (parent, grandparent etc.) and the coach sent round an email warning everyone to learn the anthem...  

fantastic to get the win today! Thought Mike Brown was superb!

Yeah CF, Brown was very good. The match thread disintegrated into the expected bollix.

Brown played very well indeed.  

Agree Hound, the match was very poor quality but England did enough to win it... and the Wallabies self-imploded again.

I vented a little on the match thread about our approach and performance. It was so frustrating to watch for me.

How many times have I set the alarm to get up and watch these idiots? Both sides are far below their best but England were the smarter team. That says a lot about the current Wallabies mind set. All talk but no real idea of how to win a winnable match.

Not only did we hand over a HT lead through the usual incompetence and error strewn panic plays - we simply seemed to have no ability to respond to the opposition tactics or create anything positive in that 2nd half. There was some help from Mr Clancy... but they deserved those blunders from him (or had it coming anyway) if only to teach the Wallabies the value of possession and better discipline & decision making. It was really quite sickening to watch from an Aussie perspective - but totally predictable.

We also got smashed by India in the ODI decider (same style of performance from our cricket team) to make it a completely miserable early Sunday morning for me.  

I'm so thrilled we beat Fiji in the RLWC though. That's really (not!) made my day!

Canada vs NZ Maori live here now; http://www.irb.com/live/video.html

It wasn't a great Test match, but fair dos for England for winning it, because that, as a certain wrestler used to say, is the bottom line. (I think is was Giant Haystacks.) The bigger officiating blunder for me in the build-up to Robshaw's try was Chris Ashton's forward pass from the tap penalty - and it looked like there could have been a knock-on after that too. But it was a good early blow for the northern hemisphere this autumn, even if the Wallabies didn't show that Test-match savvy you'd normally associate with them.

Bore da, Lucky.  

I would have taken the draw after all.  

I just hope Ewen McKenzie puts the refs performance aside (nothing can be done about that now) and concentrate on getting his players ready for Italy. We've nearly been embarrassed there before and I sure hope they don't fall into a heap like the 2nd half last year and almost get pipped at the post by the Azzurri.

Cold! Heavy frost outside and not much better in parts of my house - heating still on the blink! Anyway, good morning, amigos.

That's going to be an interesting match now, Breaker. Italy are strong up front and no mugs at home.

Good Morning, Puma.
Cool here today (for Nov.) but it will get gradually warmer by Thursday.

Lucky, I know. If they play like they did on Saturday against Italy they'll be in for yet another loss.

Morning, Puma. Nippy here this morning, but the sun's shining.

There are some potentially great Test matches coming up this weekend. I think we've got a decent chance against the 'Boks, but I'll wait to see what XV we go with and the visitors will still be favourites regardless. Then there's England v Argentina, which should be a home win, but the Pumas will be a tougher prospect up front (even with Corbisiero back for England) and England will have to create more than they did against the Wallabies. Then it's France v New Zealand, and there have been some humdingers between those two in the past!