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?

prop_lyd wrote:Dreamer: if you have him can I have his wife then?!

Clearly she's having to think about that one mate

Is it home time yet?

Kiwi - did you miss all the "fun" and questions about mods earlier or were you about for it.

red_stag wrote:Kiwi - did you miss all the "fun" and questions about mods earlier or were you about for it.

I was in it mate. Actually I think I caused it

How come ospreylian isnt a mod anymore??

Also isnt Federer dominating!!!

Pretty exciting stuff here. I've found a job i'm going to apply for. It's closer to my new pad (it's walking distance), and it's a step up from what i'm doing now, looking at the job spec i'm ticking pretty much all of the boxes. I've to help Amanda tonight prep for her big interview tomorrow and then i'll be sending my cv off to them. I'm going to kick this jobs hole!!

prop_lyd wrote:Dreamer: if you have him can I have his wife then?!

go for it!

And apologies for the delayed response, am busy with other things at the mo!

Can't wait till 5 pm

Good man Mick. I got a call today tellign me not to worry that they have got delayed with calling my references but its all good. To be honest im bricking it until I have a written offer.

Roddick listens to the wurzels!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry to hear about Hobo not getting the job and I hope Micks application goes well.

I've got another 8 days of paid work and then back to job hunting myself, actually I'm looking already but will be out of work after July 1st

Nottins. BTW great call re: Crucial Memory

red_stag wrote:Nottins. BTW great call re: Crucial Memory

I know, it's not often I'm wrong.

nottins wrote:

red_stag wrote:Nottins. BTW great call re: Crucial Memory

I know, it's not often I'm wrong.

I didn't use it, but i read the link, looks like a great resource. There's loads of class sites like that i know nothing about!

Good luck with the job Kado, i've just sent my personal statement to my ma to look at and approve and then sending in the application tomorrow!!!!!

Oh dear oh dear. Could be quite serious for 1F then

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13862540

According to bbc ferris is a winger??!! Haha

Rava wrote:Oh dear oh dear. Could be quite serious for 1F then

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13862540

Rava, I have replied to you here;

https://www.606v2.com/t7366-stephen-ferris-in-trouble-now-too#204681

Ok in line with Hobo's request, I'm moving my 1F post to the appropriate thread...

My brother is actually in Chester. I'm a bit non-plussed.

MBTGOG wrote:My brother is actually in Chester. I'm a bit non-plussed.

Surprise visit Munsty?

BTW, could you please post those HC pics in the FB Pub please? Heard they were great and Id like to see em. Thanks man.

Munsty: me and my mate should be in manchester around 9pm on the 11th if your around or after the gig on the 12th/during the day?

Anyone see the U20 side?

Ireland U20 v South Africa (IRB Junior World Championship, Padova, Wed 22nd June, kick-off 7.10pm Irish time)

15 - Tiernan O'Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht)
14 - Andrew Conway (Blackrock/Leinster)
13 - Brendan Macken (Blackrock/Leinster)
12 - Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
11 – Andrew Boyle (UCD/Leinster)
10 - Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
9 - Kieran Marmion (UWIC/Exile)
1 - James Tracy (UCD/Leinster)
2 - Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequuins/Ulster)
3 - Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 - Michael Kearney (Clontarf/Leinster)
5 - Iain Henderson (Queen's University/Ulster)
6 - Eoin McKeon (Galwegians/Connacht)
7 - David Doyle (UCD/Leinster)
8 - Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Replacements:
16 - Finlay Bealham (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
17 - Conor Carey (Ballymena/Ulster)
18 – Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers/Connacht)
19 – Shane Buckley (Garryowen/Munster)
20 - Peter du Toit (UCD/Leinster)
21 - James McKinney (Queen's University/Ulster)
22 - Alex Kelly (UCD - Leinster)

I see Craig Gilroy is absent from the 22- I wonder if he's been called away given pre-season for Ulster started on Monday, and he's due to start his preseason on Monday the 27th.

Given he is effectively a certain starter for his province during the RWC period, I think flogging him at the JWC would be counter-productive.

In fact I'm not sure I'm happy with any of the Ulster lads being out there, as they are all going to be needed at the start of the season and this will put their pre-season back by a few weeks.

It was mentioned earlier, but I do think the format and timing of this competition is inappropriate for young players who are already involved in professional provincial rugby and if we're going to have to leave them out- should we send a team at all?

Notch wrote:In fact I'm not sure I'm happy with any of the Ulster lads being out there, as they are all going to be needed at the start of the season and this will put their pre-season back by a few weeks.

It was mentioned earlier, but I do think the format and timing of this competition is inappropriate for young players who are already involved in professional provincial rugby and if we're going to have to leave them out- should we send a team at all?

The trouble is Notch when are you going to schedule it so that it is appropriate?

In a RWC year they could perhaps have shifted it forward a little, but if you take away players from NH clubs at playoff time they'll moan too.

Oh we MUST send a team. We didn't manage the CC, so, I think it is a great learning experience for them. Pitting themselves against their World peers is vital for their development and for Ireland, imo.

Hell of a lot of Leinster players in it too. Im all for it. Delighted to see Macken and Conway out there. They will be playing for Leinster next season. This experience will do them a World of good.

Agree with Gibbo. We need to give more thought on player management and finance is still an issue no doubt.

But the Junior RWC is important. Our U20 RWC final team way back a few years ago was vital for the players careers down the line. Our U20 Grandslam team of 2007 have started to bloom. Its a vital stepping stone.

Gibbo,

I'm knew he was coming but I was still surprised.

On the photo front, I'll make the album open to everyone because I can't be harsed uploading individual ones to the wall.

Munsty, just copy the abum link into a wall post in the FB pub.

Kiwireddevil wrote:

Notch wrote:In fact I'm not sure I'm happy with any of the Ulster lads being out there, as they are all going to be needed at the start of the season and this will put their pre-season back by a few weeks.

It was mentioned earlier, but I do think the format and timing of this competition is inappropriate for young players who are already involved in professional provincial rugby and if we're going to have to leave them out- should we send a team at all?

The trouble is Notch when are you going to schedule it so that it is appropriate?

In a RWC year they could perhaps have shifted it forward a little, but if you take away players from NH clubs at playoff time they'll moan too.

Well Kiwi, if they had shifted it forward they wouldn't have got the players. The IRFU have first call over any player for the national side, but the U20s- a development tool- do not fall into the same boat. The provinces have first call over the players there. Craig Gilroy will have learned a lot from starting against Leinster in the Magners Semi Final- more than he would from an U20s tournament.

Simple thing is, some of these guys are playing too many games. The likes of Craig Gilroy- a first team player- deserves more than a weeks holidays. He's played a lot more top-level rugby this year than, say, Andrew Conway. And he needs to be managed appropriately. The period of relaxation and rest in the close season is important for these guys, both physically and mentally.

At the same time, you can see it's benefited so many players. If we are to enter a team, I only ask that we leave established first team players out of it.

The JWC needs to be cut back. 5 games in 17 days is too much in my opinion. I would say it may be sustainable if its reformatted to consist of 2 or 3 games. 4 max.

Gibbo, if Macken and Conway are both playing for Leinster next year aren't you concerned about the impact of this tournament on their pre-season training?

Ah grand thanks Munsty.

BTW, Who's the stunning lady you are with in your Profile? Care to elucidate mo chara?

I know the answer already.
NO! Feic off Gibbo. Fair enuf.

"The IRFU have first call over any player for the national side, but the U20s- a development tool- do not fall into the same boat"

Fair enough. The reverse is true in NZ, Sopoaga (spelling?) was starting for the Highlanders (due to injuries) but went to Italy regardless

Perhaps it's most appropriate not to hold the tournament in World Cup years when established players will be missing through September and October as this means U20s are likely to be more involved in the first team.

Kiwireddevil wrote:"The IRFU have first call over any player for the national side, but the U20s- a development tool- do not fall into the same boat"

Fair enough. The reverse is true in NZ, Sopoaga (spelling?) was starting for the Highlanders (due to injuries) but went to Italy regardless

Yeah, but they have depth we do not. At least not in Ulster, When our international players are missing, we are only a few injuries away from having to move players out of position or call up guys who aren't ready for that level of rugby.

Notch wrote:

Kiwireddevil wrote:"The IRFU have first call over any player for the national side, but the U20s- a development tool- do not fall into the same boat"

Fair enough. The reverse is true in NZ, Sopoaga (spelling?) was starting for the Highlanders (due to injuries) but went to Italy regardless

Yeah, but they have depth we do not. At least not in Ulster, When our international players are missing, we are only a few injuries away from having to move players out of position or call up guys who aren't ready for that level of rugby.

SXV squads are only 28 strong - though luckily they don't have to play when test matches are on. The Highlanders had already had to call Tony Brown out of retirement (post Slade and Robinson injuries). And Rueben Thorne went on the Crusader's SA trip for the same reason, though didn't get a game*. Similar with the Reds dragging Caleb Ralph out of club rugby (though they also called back one of their U20 reps).

*Note, it now sounds like he'll be playing INL cup for Canterbury this season.

Notch,
In a word - no. They are young and need all the experience they can get. As they move into the senior squad, then they will be spared and protected more.

In Conway's case, its a God-send. He was injured and missed a lot of last season. You can see how fresh he is. He needed this.

Macken has been playing for the A's up to now. This has shown, to me anyway, that he is ready to play for Leinster in the ML.

I understand your concern though. Specially with the U20 players you have in the 1st 22 already. But, they are our best U20's out there. I think its important and tricky to make exceptions.

RWC year makes it a bit more stressful for all the provinces.

pssst, all these points are really good and would be appreciated on the thread about this topic...

https://www.606v2.com/t7616-mass-u20-jwc-exodus

A question: Rugby programmes. Do you bother buying them. I have to say I haven't bought one in years. I was going through my closet recently and found a heap of old ones with some pretty enjoyable games - Munster v Gloucester (Miracle Match) being one - but I found myself thinking what a waste of money

red_stag wrote:A question: Rugby programmes. Do you bother buying them. I have to say I haven't bought one in years. I was going through my closet recently and found a heap of old ones with some pretty enjoyable games - Munster v Gloucester (Miracle Match) being one - but I found myself thinking what a waste of money

I have boxes of them Stag. Going back years. I have slowed down now and only buy the HC ones and big ML ones. The ones I go to basically. I keep the match-ticket within them. Sort of validates the whole gig.

As a kid when I first got into rugby they were important to me. The Ireland v New Zealand programme I have from 2001 is kinda special - first international I was at. Outside of that I don't really find them that interesting.

I have boxes of them. I always try and get a programme at every match I go to. Satisfies my very male collectors instinct. I have a programme for pretty much every game Ulster have played at Ravenhill since 2008.

But the main reason for buying them is; what on earth else would I read at halftime? Am I meant to start bringing books to games now?

Gibbo,

She's my housemate. We call her an Angolan princess.

Hobo - sorry to hear about the job. Keep trying and something will come good.

Mickado - good luck to you and missus. Hope you both get what you want, sounds ideal

Staggy - I love programmes. I try to get one for every gig I go to too. I've got some fab ones from gigs. I think I've got one for every rugby match I've been to as well.

MBTGOG wrote:Gibbo,

She's my housemate. We call her an Angolan princess.

Nice... She's gorgeous. Oh to be student again.

Three days til the weekend...then it's U2 at Glasto and the Dubs winning on my birthday

I have been to maybe three gigs that have programmes in my life

Hello Ls&Gs and the others
recovering after a hard but rewarding weekend.
Not followed too much, but saw the the Tadpoles are into the JWC semis for the first time ever,but I don't know what happened to Herr Stag's job application/offer nor how many candles Cari will be blowing out next weekend.

Notch wrote:I have been to maybe three gigs that have programmes in my life

What were they?

Mick - I think Staggy's job app. has gone very well, and I'm 21 on Sunday

The Irish fella lost in the end. Gave it his all and put up a good fight. A shame he would have taken Federer

B.B.King was one. And I think maybe... Esbjorn Svensson Trio? Gilad Atzmon perhaps. And actually maybe the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland and the Ulster Orchestra. I'm now casting my mind waaay back!

I'm not including classical concerts- from orchestral to electroacoustic-- with paper programme notes, I'm talking about proper glossy commercially produced programmes. If you include paper programme notes then it's probably between 50-100 gigs to be fair.

I'd say I've been to over 200 gigs, so it's definitely not the norm anyway

Heck, I'm going to a gig tonight! Devon Sproule.

I'll ket you know if there is a programme

I've been to a lot of gigs that I don't have programmes for too - usually because they didn't do one. Not been to anything highbrow like a classical concert though.