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?

Sounds good Staggy. I don't have a takeaway myself. I could eat one though...

Na nite Gibbo. You shouldn't go to bed with a cuppa cause you'll need a pee then in the middle of the night

There'll be a tot in the cuppa, in fact it might be all tot.

Glas a du wrote:There'll be a tot in the cuppa, in fact it might be all tot.

Then he'll just pee the bed!

A all-nighter for me these days is if I don't need to get up for a pee.

Ah the eternal question, a planned Mikey Rayer or an unplanned Rupert Mooner.

Hmmmm.

To pee or not to pee. That is the question.

If you have the urge, just get up and get on with it otherwise you won't sleep properly anyway. The consequences otherwise don't bear thinking about

Yes, but you normally wake up because you want a drink. You have a pee and a drink and just when you're about to drop off you need another pee.

This thread has gone to pot

Au contraire Glas. Taking on water after getting up for said ablutions is natural I find. People who don't bother to get up when the urge comes will possibly suffer from gout.

I'm watching Batmsn Begins, it is one dark film. A couple of years ago when I watched The Dark Night for the first time, it gave me some very negative thoughts :-( Thankfully those days have now passed.

Hope you never watch Lars Von Triers Antichrist then

There are many quite dark and disturbing films out there. They require a balanced outlook on life to be able enjoy... if that's the right word.

Evening all, another brief visit for me. Just got back in from a "night out" in Llandeilo. Very glad I decided to come home to meet up with my friend, we don't get to see each other enough. Next meet up is in July for my birthday so should be good.

Home has been amazing so far, living in a city most of the time really gives me a proper appreciation of the countryside for when I come home, I love it. Back to reality tomorrow.

Just want to say that it's great that Ummm, is thinking about setting up a proper supporters webiste for Connacht, if you can keep us all updated Gibbo that would be absolutely brilliant

Nottins - glad those days are behind you.

Aye Hound it is. But it seems the body holds a bit of pee back until it gets more water. The problem is sometimes it becomes a cycle and you end up peeing drinking peeing drinking until it's too late to go back to sleep. This is after drink, obviously.

In all honesty, I think the new Batman films have been very refreshing in their outlook. I read an interview with Tim Burton, the director of the first Batman film (the one with Jack Nicholson as The Joker) and he said he made it as dark as he could at that juncture. People (and more pertinently, the studios) just weren't ready to accept a comic book adaptation as being that bleak in outlook.

But I'd still argue it's not oppressive; its not too far, which would make it ridiculous. Nolan pitches it just right.

Grown men wearing their underpants over their trousers is dark enough.

Goodnight, farewell, auf wiedersen, adieu.
Adieu, adieu, to yeu and yeu and yeu.
Good niiiiiiight...

Shouldn't that be 'ewe an ewe and ewe' Glas.

Anyway, off to sleep now pending the 4 o'clock 'call'.

Notch wrote:In all honesty, I think the new Batman films have been very refreshing in their outlook. I read an interview with Tim Burton, the director of the first Batman film (the one with Jack Nicholson as The Joker) and he said he made it as dark as he could at that juncture. People (and more pertinently, the studios) just weren't ready to accept a comic book adaptation as being that bleak in outlook.

But I'd still argue it's not oppressive; its not too far, which would make it ridiculous. Nolan pitches it just right.

That's because the studio execs suffer from having no brains.

The Burton "Batman" was made because Batman saw a resurgence after Frank Millers "The Dark Knight Returns", which is, as far as I'm concerned, one of the greatest graphic novels of all time (not that I've read every graphic novel)

"The Dark Knight Returns" reinvented Batman as a superhero. Taking him out of the campness of the Adam West series and bringing out the seriousness that was always inherent in the character but never expressed in the stories.

Of course, once the execs were faced with the realisation that they'd invested in a dark and troubled story they balked and did what they always did. They tried to change it to pulp, popcorn acompanied, cheesy pap.

The latest two Batman films are based on the Batman series "Year One" which is extremely dark. The films don't actually come close to the turmoil of the comics.

At the same time though; they remain comics! That doesn't mean cheesy camp, we've gone past that stage and it's great. But there is that element of fantasy that is inherent in it still. That's not a criticism of the artform by any means.

What I was trying to say earlier is that as 'dark' as the films are, there are other films that really are quite disturbing in a way a comic book adaptation probably never will be.

KAPOW!!!!!

Lovely morning in London, bit overcast but nice all the same


The Sunday Editions


http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/
http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport?mobile-redirect=false
http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/rugby

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/headlines.cfm?c_id=80
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union

Here's a tip paperboy; don't eat yellow snow.

It's pishing down in Cardiff. Drought? What fecking drought?

I know, we have a field of forage planted and it's grazing a full fortnight earlier than we planned. We could spare the East some rain, we really could.

Bore da Cari, pawb.

Anybody doing anything exciting today?

I'm off working at wembely tonight, its the easiest money I ever earn, tis great I get paid to stand on a bridge and smoke

Today I will be driving down to London. I will be making a couple of stops to find some plastic hidden on some public footpaths.

Hughie - is there an event on over there tonight? That would make it busy?

Glas - not really, looks like the rain is here to stay so I'm staying in. It's blowing a gale as well. Going to colour my hair I think.

I only work when an event is on cari, but no it doesn't make me busy, its a bit like notch when hes in work haha

Notch wrote: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.

Notch, I think there's a danger that you're setting yourself up for an almighty fall, my friend, altho I know you won't like hearing it. You may not think that you "had a particularly good season last year", but relative to recent seasons, yes, it was a very good season, and it's not in any way patronising to say that. What is it about the coming season that makes you feel so strongly that you will be able to maintain the level of progress you made from two seasons ago to this one? In my view, you came on leaps and bounds, and to achieve a similar level of improvement would project you close to the top of European 'club' rugby - to be honest, I just don't see that happening. A small improvement or even just maintaining the level that you managed this season would be an achievement, but it sounds to me like you are expecting far greater things - what if some of those narrow victories that you relied upon last year turn into narrow defeats? Margins can be very small at this level. As much as your home record at Ravenhill is excellent, I'm not sure that teams like the Tigers or ASM will be taking a great deal of notice of that when they pitch up - winning both of those would be a great achievement. Anyway, I hope that Ulster have a great season for you and that you don't end up disappointed

I'd have to agree with As that I'm not too sure where the optimism for a much improved season for Ulster comes from. While a big improvement, there was no stand out dominant performance which would show potential for a big season ahead.

You're both in big trouble when he reads that.

I'm with the two boys to be honest, we congratulate Ulster for having a good season and we patronize them cause they won nothing, we think they will loose and we get grief, its a no win situation with notch sometimes

"Lose" Hughie, I can understand Notch not wanting Ulster to get "loose"

Morning all, oe Asbo special please . 'tis raining here so I'm havig a lazy morning. Great day out in Clapham yesterday, Shihad did a awesome set. I'm still not too convinced about INXS without Michael Hutchence but it wasn't a bad set, and I managed a quick chat & handshake with Shihad singer Jon Toogood at the back of the crowd durig INXS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwb2XI-kMxg&feature=related

Cari,

Don't let it get to you. Ignore it.

A top four finish in the league plus winning our home european games and at least one on the road should be the minimum targets for ulster.

Ideally QF qualification should be the target but given the qroup we're in that will be difficult and failure to qualify will not necessarily be a step backwards. I agree with notch though that losing ar Ravenhill is not acceptable.

A top four finish in the League will consolidate the fact that we're up there with the top welsh sides.

I'd like to see us play a bit better to be honest as apart from the Cardiff game at Ravenhill, were we demolished them, and outmuscling Bairritz we didn't put in a real quality 80min performance last year.

We need to do better in the inter pros too as we really let ourselves down against both Munster and Leinster last year.

If we achieve all this the that would be a good season and anything above would be a bonus. I think we are a couple of seasons away from really challenging in Europe although we have an outside chance of winning the league or the amlin if we were to qualify.

Morning pub. Not sure I can be bothered with going over to Ealing to watch the rugby this afternoon with all the rain forecast.

What's on at Wembley hughie? U21 footie?

I think winning the league is still a level above Ulster as big performances are needed, above what Ulster are capable of yet in my opinion.

The_Hound_of_Harrow wrote:Morning pub. Not sure I can be bothered with going over to Ealing to watch the rugby this afternoon with all the rain forecast.

What's on at Wembley hughie? U21 footie?

Capital FM Summertime Ball. Jennifer Lopez is appearing.

That's what I though hound but no its some concert, so it'll be pished up teeny boppers that ill have to be dealing with, should be a laugh

To be perfectly honest a nicer HC group would have done Ulster's chances not a bit of harm next year. I'd be confident of results at home, but our away form needs a lot of improvement. If we're knocked out of the cup in the group stages I'd like to think the team has the bottle to make a decent charge at the playoffs and maybe even maintaining or improving on our 3rd place. Make no mistake Ulster have strengthened for this season. As far as Europe goes it may not be enough, but as far as the league goes I'm willing to start enumerating the poultry.

Asbo and Munsty... Ah the smell of fear...

This rain is a bit unfortunate. Was hoping to move some things today into the house.

Got homework to do though, so I suppose I'll do that first.

Well to be fair Willy, Ulster should almost be certain of a top four finish, but I agree with As though with it relying on be able to close out those close games again. Change the result of those few close games this year and it could have been a completely different season

MBTGOG wrote:I think winning the league is still a level above Ulster as big performances are needed, above what Ulster are capable of yet in my opinion.

Fair enough but I don't think so. I think we underperformed a lot last year and could have finished higher in the table. If we could achieve a top two finish then certainly we could win it. I'm not saying we will but we have a decent chance in my opinion. I don't think we can win Europe yet because I don't think we have the quality or experience to consistantly beat top european opposition away, which is what is needed to win the HEC.

We have some top players coming next season and our squad is very young, talented and improving so I think we will get much stronger over the next few seasons so there is plenty to be optimistic about IMHO.

I agree with Munsty and As. I think in a few years they will have an excellent team but right now I don't see them capable of winning the ML or getting out of that group.

In time though they will be excellent as Annett, McAllister, Tuohy, Faloon, Marshall, Spence, Gilroy, Jackson etc develop with time and experience. If Ferris continues to struggle with fitness they will have problems at backrow in the short term IMO.

What makes you all think the Welsh regions won't sort themselves out, invention being the mother of necessity when the Welsh players are away?

Prynhawn Da pawb / good afternoon all

I have to say I'm loving this rain. We need it, for a start, and I love looking out at the rain whilst sipping a cup of tea :-)

We've taken the plunge and got Sky Sports at the new abode and I watched some Super 15 yesterday. Some decent rugby on show, but nothing spectacular. Stormers v Bulls was so poor I turned it off.

I agree to a point stag but right now I believe there are only two sides who are unquestionably better than us in the league.

On that basis winning the league in the next few seasons is not out of the question. I'd like to see us consistantly finish in the top 5 but if we make the play offs then with a bit off luck and a home SF then anything is possible.

Next few season = yes
This season = no

Just the way I see it. But I've been where you are. People wrote off Munster as a declining team and are still doing the same especially after getting knocked out. There will always be detractors.

roddersm wrote:I agree to a point stag but right now I believe there are only two sides who are unquestionably better than us in the league.

On that basis winning the league in the next few seasons is not out of the question. I'd like to see us consistantly finish in the top 5 but if we make the play offs then with a bit off luck and a home SF then anything is possible.

Really? I'd have said 4 at least.