The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub

First topic message reminder :

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 only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no defacing the Tommy Bowe photo on the bar. That's a banning offence

So pull up a chair....what'll it be?

Cosgrove is my sort of cricketer. S4C's coverage of the Glammy cricket is quite good. Knowledgable pundits, a resident bard trotting off poetry, easy listening commentators and a twitter feed. The perfect mix having cerebral moments without being over taxing.

Ah, see the Supporters Club is another thing again!

The Ulster version is called, imaginatively, the Ulster Rugby Supporters Club.

Risca Rev wrote:Just watching Wales v Baabaas back.

Only getting the chance now after a busy week in work Rev??

Northern Stars?

Northern lights?

Cuchullain's (spelling?) boys.

The red hand gang.

Ulster united

Bahnd of bruthurs.

White lightening.

White bulls.

The giants.

That is correct Hughie

Hughie - yes, the hotmail one.

Just watching the 1st Matrix movie on TV. It still works for me.

I think I must have taken the Red pill way back.

It would explain a lot.

Still no sign of it hound, mist have gotten lost in the internet somewhere

How did the H go H?

Just had a quick look at the RL board they are voting for the best RL player of all time Brian O'Driscoll is joint first
https://www.606v2.com/t3126-top-player-of-all-time

Hi all, fair play to Ummm. I think thats fantastic. This is a massive season for Connacht and they need to use every second of it to push ahead. People like Ummm will get them there not just the likes of Elwood.

Word of mouth is different to hype.

Glas a du wrote:Word of mouth is different to hype.

Word of mouth creates hype.

Hype creates unreal expectations.

Organic excitement feeds off hype but can't be created by hype.

A list of ASM players who will miss the first 9 fixtures of next season for the RWC;that makes 15 and they could put out the following team:
Lee Byrne
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Gonzalo Canale
Aurélien Rougerie
Kini Murimurivalu
David Skrela
Morgan Parra
Viktor Kolelishvili
Jamie Cudmore
Julien Bonnaire
Julien Pierre
Nathan Hines
Davit Zirakashvili
Ti’i Paulo
Thomas Domingo

Just think of the boost they will get in the new year.

Hype is promise without proof.

Watching the cricket and it strikes me that every sport needs it's wicky, scrum half, annoying little sheet.

Cymroglan wrote:Hype is promise without proof.

That's almost poetic Cymro.

Gibson wrote:Hype creates unreal expectations.

Agree entirely.

Hi Chef,Id say Ulster hope they get 2 x games in against them before that lot come back. I like it Cymro.

What I'm interested to see from Connachts point of view is whether they can finally go about creating a team that won't go returning back to their own provinces.

I think Paul O'Donoghue will be back to Leinster in 3 seasons along with Stewart Maguire. But they should be able to keep much of the team intact. Keeping their own boys like Eoin Griffin and Andrew Browne will be another challenge. But I really hope they can really build on.

The IRFU have done them no favours but you know what I think that they did what they had to do and I expect to see them give Connacht the helping hand they deserve in time.

Wotcha Gib,
Thankfully the HCup starts a couple of weeks after their return

Bit of a chicken and egg isn't it?

Gibson wrote:Hi Chef,Id say Ulster hope they get 2 x games in against them before that lot come back. I like it Cymro.

I've paid for my season ticket and I want to see their strongest team! And send them home with nothing.

red_stag wrote:What I'm interested to see from Connachts point of view is whether they can finally go about creating a team that won't go returning back to their own provinces.

Call me curmudgeonly, but if that's going to be the case then I'm not really comfortable with the idea of letting any decent prospects leave Ulster for them in the first place! The Niall O'Connors and TJ Andersons of this world they can have...

What's all this whispering,Notch?

He can hear me! I gotta get out of here

Chef I suspect that will be a massive boost to your team and could ensure a strong finish to the campaign.

Notch my point is will Ulster, Munster, Leinster need them?

Certainly as backs go all 3 provinces have pretty young talent in there. Even in the forwards the players seem quite youngish.

Yeh Stag,
It's our centenary year so they've got to get some silverware for the sideboard

I think this will be Clermonts year in Europe Mick. I would certainly back them to be there or there abouts.

A question of getting out of the group with enough points for a home quarter,then we can start to CROIRE!

Mick I suspect you'll fare well enough. Ulster are decent but I suspect will falter in France. Tigers will be your challenge. Get a kind fixture schedule and you could coast along.

Look at Saints last year

That's what I mean. I'm happy to see players that are surplus to requirements move on.

The way I see the group going is three teams with 4 wins and it goes on home form. If one of the teams wins twice on the road, they will go through.

I'm wondering if Ulster will beat both Tigers and Clermont. Personally I don't see them having as good a season this year.

Oh, they can beat Tigers,pas de probleme pour moi

I would back us to win both of those games yes. Or rather, winning both is the bare minimum requirement for our season in Europe. Anything less is failure. You should understand what playing a European game at Ravenhill means because you're a Munster fan. Entertaining the idea of defeat at Ravenhill in Europe is simply not tolerated- that's why so many fans didn't stand by the team when they went through that slump, not that I support their actions. The team let everyone down by losing a few European home games at Ravenhill. I feel like we're much more likely to lose at home to Dragons or Glasgow than Clermont or Leicester. Just the mentality that goes into a European tie at Ravenhill.

The reason we won't qualify is our form on the road.

I don't think we had a particularly good season last year. We got the results at times without the level of performance required and failed when it really mattered. We're all delighted with the progress made, but we must continue next year or it means nothing. Those wins by less than a score must become wins by 7-10 points. I find the number of people willing to pat us on the back for a season where we didn't win any silverware quite patronising when you see what the other two major provinces in Irish rugby have achieved with similar resources.

Good to see that attitude Notch. I'd just still be surprised to see BOTH Tigers and Clermont defeated in Ravenhill.

Evenin All woss occurrin?

Hi there Cari. I had a nice take away tonight and got a movie. One of those overly obvious slapstick comedies but its what I was in mood for. Kinda bored tonight. Anything wild.

Also I was contacted by a guy who heard I offer tutition in German. He isn't a student rather he's 30 and wants to move there next year and he's asking me to teach him. So thats something to keep me busy.

Who knows bois bach, who knows? If we could decide it like a pools committee what would we do in the winter and spring?

"I find the number of people willing to pat us on the back for a season where we didn't win any silverware quite patronising when you see what the other two major provinces in Irish rugby have achieved with similar resources."

I don't think anyone is patronising Ulster Rugby. More that people have been giving due credit for a season where you made significant progress. Keeping that momentum will be a key factor next season to achieve even more.

I've got a vindaloo in the oven, nearely ready and some sparkling stuff on the go with sugar cube, bitters and cognac. <hic>

Agree with Hound.

Camelot is a bit knockabout, but I'm enjoying it. A good bit there when the bad guy watched on as Arthur and his sister argued about who was the legitimate heir to Uther Pendragon had enough and said "feic this" and walked out. Brilliant.

Man, they are showing all the Matrix movies one after the other on NL TV.
Going to bed with a nice cuppan tae and watch the next 2. Only got 4 hours sleep last night. My own fault.

Nite all.

Slaap lekker and tot morgen.