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 team photos of the World Cup finalists. Or the action shots (put up especially for Cari) of McCaw, Kahui and Corey Jane.

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



Pāparakāuta tawhito/Hen dafarn/Old pub: https://www.606v2.com/t15995-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub#576035

Ozzy3213 wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:Agree Stag, i really thought pre tournament that Aus would win it, but they have not looked like getting anywhere near with any of their performances in the competition.

I think Deans made a massive mistake in not building his backs around Barnes in either the 10 or 12 shirt. Cooper looks much better at 10 for Aus with Barnes or Giteau at 12 as opposed to a basher there like McCabe or Faingaa.

Pete, not sure I agree - Cooper looks flakiest when teams get to Genia, its got nothing to do with his IC - I think McCabe's not actually had a bad tournament

For sure if Genia is off the boil for whatever reason it affects Cooper, I just think at times he benefits from another playmaker outside of him. McCabe has been decent, but if you asked me in any side, anywhere in the world if I would have Barnes or McCabe at 12, then it would be Barnes for me every time.

I see what you're saying, Pete, but I think that in the Ozzy backline McCabe actually offers something different and slightly unexpected - and I kind of like my variety in the backs

'Digwyddodd, darfu, megis seren wib.'

That's Welsh for 'I've got a brand new combine harvester.'

People may have seen/heard this before, but it's just made me chuckle...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DndQ4HnBxw

But on the other hand, Barnes is a guy who can take pressure off a misfiring 10. And he can run hard at the line as well as all the skills of a playmaking second five-eighth.

I think it's been a mistake not to have Barnes in there for Australia, the guy is a very classy player who could have made a difference.

Classic

luckless_pedestrian wrote:'Digwyddodd, darfu, megis seren wib.'

That's Welsh for 'I've got a brand new combine harvester.'

If that's right I need to learn that phrase!!!!

Just found out I get to finish at 4 now too wooo

It isn't quite, Prop - I don't actually know what combine harvester is in Welsh!

luckless_pedestrian wrote:It isn't quite, Prop - I don't actually know what combine harvester is in Welsh!

Why lead me on like that??!!

Munster leave Wallace, Flannery and Felix Jones out of ERC Squad 2011-2012:

https://www.606v2.com/t16626-munster-announce-european-cup-squad-2011-2012#604280

I think Flannery is finished. How many games has he actually playing in the last 2 years?

I agree with you Pete, I think he is long gone now. Personally I think Wallace might be too. I really worry about Musnters backrow this year. Actually I'll leave this talk for the relevant thread.

You must be quietly confident of London Irish making it out of pool in ERC Pete.

Sorry Prop, I'll buy you a to make up for it!

Yes and no Stag. From the performances we have put in so far this season, we now have more strength in depth in the backs than we've had before.

15. Armitage/Homer
14. Ojo/Thompstone
13. Joseph/Ansbro/Spratt
12. Hape/Shingler/Spratt
11. Tagicakibau/Yarde
10. Bowden/Shingler/Jarvis
9. Allinson/Hodgson

Up front, it's not quite as rosy, particularly in the back row, where we have no out and out 7, and lack a little in the ball carrying area. Hala'ufia is our main carrier and is a beast, but is currently 1 week into a 7 week ban, so will miss the first 2 HC games at least. Tighthead also worries me. We need Ion to really find some form, as big Faan is a liability in the loose and nowhere near as destructive scrummager as he was 2/3 years ago.

We need to make sure we win first up against Edinburgh at home, which I would say I am reasonably confident of. The big test is R2, away in Cardiff. We have come unstuck in our R2 game in each of the last 2 seasons, and both times against Welsh opposition.

Home losses shouldn't be accepted and getting wins in Cardiff and Edinburgh is doable. Lose out in Paris - quarter finals with 21-22 points

It's possible Stag, but I'm not getting ahead of myself on this one. We have some real selection issues around our backs and getting the right balance is going to be tricky for Toby Booth.

Armitage, Ojo, Joseph, Hape, Tagicakibau, Bowden, Allinson is arguably likely to be our first choice backline, but Bowden is not good enough off the tee and this is basically shiit or bust as we would have to score tries to win given the points we are likely to leave out there. So you have to have Shingler or Homer in somewhere, but if you have Shingler at 12 we are defensively weaker and if you take out one of the back 3 for Homer we lose some attacking potency.

Like I say, some tough decisions to be made my Booth and Catt, but if they can get them right, then there is no reason why we can't get out of this group, provided our pack front up as well.

I forgot Catt was coaching with you - could to lose him to the England setup as attack coach?

It's possible, although I think he enjoys the day to day interaction by all accounts, so if he was to be involved with England it may be that he remains with us and goes off during the international windows much as Edwards does with Wasps/Wales.

May have just wee-ed mesel just a little bit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIcDUBzzD68

Afternoon all and commisserations to Wales for earlier.

Oh well, Ireland and England had better tournaments than Wales. Both had a win loss ratio % of 80/20 and for Wales it was 57/43.

Afternoon,
game On this evening in Perpignan, who lost their last home game against Agen and got their biggest Top14 hammering at Toulon last weekend.

with the inters still in Auckland+Sivi+Malzieu,the squad is beginning to look handy.If Skrela can get the backs going,no probs in the Locker room
Domingo starts-he could have played the final

ASM; Buttin - Murimurivalu, King, Fofana, Nakaitaci - Skrela , Senio - Vermeulen (cap), Bardy, Vosloo - Hines, Cudmore - Zirakashvili, Kayser, Domingo. Reps : Paulo, Faure, White, Lapandry, Radosavljevic, James, G.Williams, Kotze

no new address?

Still alive this one Mick. Everyone must have gone for an afternoon nap.
Decent looking ASM team Chef. I'll have to try to see that one. Check them out for HC game like.

Cheers for the prompt gents.

New pub is up: https://www.606v2.com/t16660-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub#605008

Will be locking up here shortly.

Happy Friday!