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Season 6- Episode 14- Festivus EOY Bundle (Premiership Round 10)
66 Plays2 years ago
TIME TO GATHER 'ROUND THE SILVER POLE FAM! It's the long awaited Festivus episode and since one of us couldn't pull himself off the couch last week, you get the End of Year goods to go along with it. We air our grievances, perform our feats of strength, name our XV of the year and our top 5 moments of 2023. Plus a run around of the Premiership in Round 10. Have a drink and enjoy with us friends!
Check out the TFRY Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyRugbyYanks
Ask us questions via Twitter: Jarrod- jdyke8man & Ben- admrablsnackbar, and #AskTFRY.
Send us your thoughts for the show and questions for upcoming shows via e-mail fantasyrugbypodcast@gmail.com. Of course, we welcome feedback via e-mail, twitter or by rating/reviewing the pod on Apple Podcast.
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Transcript
Introductions and New Year Wishes
00:00:05
Speaker
It is. The Fantasy Europeans. My name is Jared Dyke. I wanted to say it's stupid and let's move on, but then you kept going. I'm Ben Glauser. I don't like any way anybody handled that. Collusion. Collusion.
00:00:28
Speaker
Happy New Year, everyone. It is the fancy Ruby Yanks. My name is Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glauser. We have returned. I am undead now, which is the reason I didn't record last week. I had been under a blanket and on the couch for the majority of the day. And I was like, this is not happening. Done zero work for this. I was like, not happening. I was under a blanket and on the couch, but except that you were probably a lot happier than I was. Yeah.
00:00:57
Speaker
Oh shit, all right, we got lots to get to, let's crack them. Don't fuck, yeah. He is a big fat show friend, so buckle on. Let's get through. Buckles up. There we go, so you open it says me.
New Year's Resolutions and Festivus Traditions
00:01:11
Speaker
Find us on your favorite podcast app, share, download, rate, review. Buy our good friend George, the fancy rugby geek, a coffee or beer. I do owe him one for the holidays too. Yep, so do I.
00:01:25
Speaker
So yeah, anyway by that man by that man a beer or coffee because if you're gonna especially with next week coming Champions Cup and all He's gonna be a busy man and he deserves it Yup, thank you. It's a New Year's gift. Yeah Christmas gift or you won't call it There is no discrimination here on this podcast or should they be in sports or in life for everyone's New Year's resolution it's going to be a
00:01:51
Speaker
Don't be racist, don't be misogynist, don't be sexist, and don't be a dick, okay? That's everybody's biggest resolution in this story here. Right. That's what we're gonna do for now for today. We have a lot to get through, so I do tend to get long-winded in this segment, so I'm gonna just... What would that be for today? Let's make it... Let's try to not be dicks this year. Yep.
00:02:20
Speaker
And then make sure that you check out our Patreon sheets ready to go soon. So that's the good news. Um, I will get back to my regular postings. I'm like, I said, I'm no longer dead. Like did all I could to get those starts. It's out. Trust me. That was still not a hundred percent last Friday. So I will, I will take this now and carry it. So yeah. Uh, boom bust coming tomorrow. Yeah. Okay.
00:02:45
Speaker
So it is Festivus time, and we're a little late on it, but it doesn't matter. It still counts. Ben, as always, will explain the merits of Festivus. Festivus. So there's two phases to Festivus, the airing of grievances and the feat of strength.
00:03:03
Speaker
The way we do that here on the Fantasy Rugby Yanks is we are grievances. That's straightforward. We're good at that. But there are some things that maybe have just annoyed us, especially this year. And maybe we haven't talked about it as much on the pod. And yeah, we get those out of the way.
The Quest for Officiating Standards
00:03:22
Speaker
The feat of strength is hard to do that, you figure.
00:03:26
Speaker
in a format like this. The way I've done it, and I hate this, this is literally a feat of strength for me, is to say something nice about something or someone or something you don't like. I think I said something nice about Steve Diamond once on this. That's- I think you did too.
00:03:49
Speaker
I think you did too. I said something nice about FAF once. Yeah. This is true strength that we display here. Anyone can squat 400 pounds. We got to say something nice about things we don't... Yeah, no shit, right? No kidding.
00:04:08
Speaker
All right, so you have a big long grievance from what you've told me, so I'll let you go first. Many layers. Yeah, I guess. First, Liz, this is, we need to standardize officiating worldwide.
00:04:25
Speaker
There's got to be a standard that says this is what's expected. This is how we as a sport like when when because I kind of related to the NFL in ways because that's the first off, the most successful pro model, you know. Mm hmm. That's not completely corrupt and soccer, basically, not that the NFL isn't holy crap, but they have a good way of running things that that really benefits everybody.
00:04:53
Speaker
And part of that is they want officiating to be, no matter who it is, this is what we expect to see. And we don't get that in the world rugby. And it's left to the local countries to decide. And basically, and that gets down to then, I don't even want coaches involved in the input into officiating and rules and what they decide to do. Because the thing is, coaches have agendas. Look at a Baxter, Rob Baxter, who
00:05:21
Speaker
he honestly he can't coach a fucking lick but he's got you know the the brutes to get shit done so they can win some matches here and there and he looks good and maybe once it once upon a time that style was successful because other people were doing it now other coaches dance the game and he can't keep up so that's why he whines a lot about things like officiating and stuff like that but
00:05:42
Speaker
having input, he's going to want to bring the rugby back to the shit house area. And so no, coaches shouldn't be involved in that. But also we need to make sure that because I think I saw
00:05:55
Speaker
I think it was in Squidge's recap where he talked about one of the World Cup games where Piper pulled a hamstring and I can't remember who filled in for him, one of the English refs. And he said that the game went from the referee who most rewards attack to the referee who most rewards defense. And it's like, why is that even a thing?
00:06:19
Speaker
Why should there be one referee who says, yes, the attack gets all the calls? And then another ref who said, no, because there should be a standard to say, this is, no, it doesn't matter what you like. And yeah, maybe you can play around within this framework. We'll
Developing Young Referees
00:06:31
Speaker
give you some applicable frameworks. But there's some refs who don't care if a player puts two hands on the deck and then goes for the ball.
00:06:38
Speaker
Then there's some referees will ping it right away and there's some who will tell them don't play it and then we can actually just play rugby. There's so many different ways that individual refs handle certain situations and there's no way for anybody to say, well, that's wrong. That's why we all get mad at each other because we're all looking at the game the different way and then the refs looking at it completely.
00:06:58
Speaker
I love, you know, people talk about baseball and how we need to do away with the human umpires. No, no, fuck that. That's awesome. Like, yes, people make mistakes. But there's got to be a way of what we can all agree on. There's still a strike zone. There's still a yes, we can all agree that this call was missed. But we can't have that in rugby because there's no, there's no standardization there. And that's what's causing so much of this problem. Right. And they and I will
00:07:25
Speaker
I will piggyback off yours because this is one of mine as well. I think you brought that up, this exact thing up last week too, or last time we potted too, where it was like, damn it, you're still in mine. Yep, yep. So yeah, no, and everything Ben said I echo because I had this down as well. And so there's two things about that. Like you look at...
00:07:50
Speaker
Number one, what would be just doesn't have the balls to like go to referees and say, hey, you kind of fucked up. We're going to stand you down for a week because they don't. They they really don't. You know, and even even the Premier League, like where people are pissing and moaning about VAR left and right. It still has had the cahones to say, you cocked this up. You're sitting for a week or you're sitting for two weeks or something like that to a referee, which, you know, that is still a paycheck for them as well. I think you understand that.
00:08:17
Speaker
So yes, that's painful and that's why it needs to be done, it needs to be said. And then you also have... The reason that you need the structure is because you have... Look at the young referees
Sports Broadcasting: Entertainment vs Insight
00:08:30
Speaker
in the premiership that are coming through. Are there any of them that are good?
00:08:35
Speaker
Like Makepeace was crap. He's bad. Ridley's bad. Yeah. Smells and Woodthorpe are okay. Probably better, but they're still bad. Yeah, they have potential. Leo's dog shit. Yeah. You know, and in terms of just like, guys that are relatively young, it's Luke Pierce. And that's it. And the rest of them are fucking dog shit. And I don't think anybody would argue otherwise.
00:08:58
Speaker
You know, so it's, uh, who's the other one? Oh, Maxwell keys. That was, I said, I know I'm forgetting one. Very Maxwell keys is bad. Like, and they don't, they're, they're left to their own devices. Yeah. That's part of the problem. Right.
00:09:11
Speaker
Yeah, no, yeah, it's huge. It's not it's not a it's not well and that's the problem is there's no framework for it Yeah, and you can't and you can't have it go different from country to country either. Mm-hmm, you know I mean, let's be honest for passes or forward passes and for whatever reason Australians and Kiwis are just like yeah, you know, wait, it's intense headshots. They're like, yeah, that's all right. It was exactly
00:09:37
Speaker
I don't care what he was trying. It's not what you're trying to do. It's what you do Yeah, like I'm a believer that intent should matter when it comes to like additional sanctions Like yeah, you hit the guy in the head because you're going for the ball. That's a red card But like If it wouldn't be like no suspension for that because you weren't you know, it wasn't you weren't trying to make a tackle You're just like whatever whatever the fuck it would be. Mm-hmm less of a suspension maybe less of the yeah
00:10:04
Speaker
But it's still all right if you did it red, you know, whatever. Anyway, my second bit of my second bone to pick. And this just goes, this is universal. I understand the need for entertainment. There was a great article about Lee Corso and Kirk Herb Street this weekend, because Lee Corso mentored Kirk Herb Street.
00:10:27
Speaker
and brought him up, and now Corso, he's had a stroke, he's had some health issues, but these guys are inseparable as people. Then there's a whole thing about how Harp Street's helping them get through the game day that they're on, which is great. That's good that they're friends, but one of the things that
00:10:47
Speaker
they said was early on Herb Street was so into the X's and O's, so into like the thing. And of course it was like, dude, this is an entertainment business. We're just here to entertain. Like, yes, you can give knowledge, but you can't go past a certain point. You got to be interested. That would be my problem, too, on that kind of show. Right. I get it. But the problem is that we need to have some insight. Like, OK, put it this way. Tony Romo, when he first started
00:11:14
Speaker
announcing games in the NFL. First off, everybody's like, oh, fucking Tony Romo. But then he went and he did a really good job because he was like cheering for every quarterback. He was like quarterback, every quarterback's best friend. Like here's what he saw in here. Like, yeah, he got it a little bit wrong. They'll get it right next to like little things like that. And now he's gone from that to now being basically Austin Healy and moaning about anything. And that transitions obviously to comms like Austin fucking Healy.
00:11:41
Speaker
Who what he doesn't bring it. He's not entertaining. He doesn't bring any anything any value like I tune out comms now Yeah, I have to completely I mean you can attest Jared like something we'll be watching and you'd be saying like shut up Oz and I'm like I Didn't hear it Like this is we're in the same room listening at the same volume me saying nothing. I'm just not listening at all and
00:12:06
Speaker
Because it's so fucking stupid. And they have you believing things that are bad. For an example, again, back to football. George Pickens didn't make a block on a run where the running back got tackled behind him. And it's like, the guy who he didn't block didn't make the tackle. But people were giving him so much shit all week. And then he goes out and has a 200 yard receiving game. And it's like,
00:12:32
Speaker
Yeah, like all they talked about, no, it doesn't matter what he had done before then, it was, oh, he doesn't do this. And it's like, that's not his job. His job is, do you want to do receiving yards? That's his job. Blocking? No.
00:12:46
Speaker
Like, but the problem is comms have that effect. So they'll make you think that the big fucking humps, like the day viewers and that are good. And that's what rugby, you know, and write some of these sale locks. And so it's like, they're not. Yeah, like, oh, yeah, too. Unfortunately, and I like the guy, but Joe Launchbury, he's not. He might be a leader, but like, he doesn't really provide any actual value on the pitch other than he can hit a rock and make a tackle.
00:13:15
Speaker
And like, yeah, I get it. Those are skills. But to me, when you get to this level, it should be artistry. It shouldn't be brutality. Brutality is not necessary. They can all hit. Everybody's big and strong. Motherfucker up. But you know what he can also do? He can outstrip almost anybody in the comp. That's the value, is being able to do a little bit of both. And if you can only do one, you don't have much value. No.
00:13:40
Speaker
And like but that the comms don't go with you know, they they dumb it down they make you think that the the big lugs are Who don't really do much are super valuable and I'll look at the hearty greatest like me most season bringing nothing He's carrying a piano around the field Right, but it's also the game. Like I said Austin moaning about it No, I don't like that. They added this rule or this is a change that used to be but it's like shut the fuck up
00:14:03
Speaker
Shut up. We need more like Flatman and you go who like bring joy to it. Enjoy what you're doing. That was when Flats and Shanks did their game. Oh, that was awesome. That was fantastic.
00:14:18
Speaker
Like, who's not watching that? Like, why would I want I wouldn't I would go out of my way to watch. I'd be like, oh, yeah, that one. Yes. I'm watching that one. I'm putting on the big screen. I'm listening because I want to hear this is going to be an entertaining game. I will somehow work to unmute the comms in my head just to listen to them to to those two. Yeah. I mean, obviously they have their own pod, so they banter quite well together. So yeah, that was a great game to listen, listen to, let alone to watch. Right. So those are my two. Like, we got it. We got to have a framework and so we can stop arguing about every fucking
00:14:48
Speaker
call because it really is done. No way for us to agree. And then, yeah, we need comms to to to really be like ambassadors of the game. Like bring me to it. Don't make me sad about it. None. No shit, right? No.
00:15:04
Speaker
I mean, I saw one of my grievances is it is also the fishing, like I said, and I will bring up one more. So you have the framework thing will also help things like and obviously I'm going to point out this example because I follow series, you know, good getting a yellow card against bulls. And then the following week, Lewington, when Lewington had the same thing happen to him, nothing like it can't be the line cannot be yellow card to nothing. Right.
00:15:32
Speaker
Like that's too far of a jump. And both interpretations are technically correct. So what the fuck? Well, I'm pretty sure you're allowed to hold you down. So I think if anything, the Conak one should have been the right one. But yeah, so that's why our framework will help. It can't be that big of a gap between
00:15:54
Speaker
the different calls between a yellow card and absolutely nothing. That's just too big of a gap. It's got to get closed and that's why the framework would help. All right. My second one. It's also somewhat to yours, but I'm going to go to a different direction.
00:16:17
Speaker
Just boring old heads, you know, do not make good punditry or good decision makers in general. So, you know, whether we're talking about coaches, people higher up in rugby unions or, or, yeah, comms, you know, my biggest thing is let's get away from that's the way we do things or that's the way we did things, you know.
00:16:40
Speaker
Think about, you know, the way England wants to play rugby a certain way. Shut up and play fucking good rugby. Just, you know, kind of play English rugby. How about just good rugby? When was the last time you want to walk up again? Right. Just a thought. You know what my brand of rugby is? Fucking winning rugby. Yeah. I have to play one way to win. I'll play that way to win. I won't want to play. I figured it out. Yeah. Twice. Yeah. Do what you got to do to win, not what you want to do.
00:17:06
Speaker
Yeah, you know, and then yeah, leading things like, you know, constantly picking to who's who's gone. Yeah. You know, like you said, I was at any point in life. Yeah. And even down to like here in the US where we're picking 30 year olds for their first fucking cap.
00:17:21
Speaker
Yeah. You've got to be kidding me. You've got to be absolutely fucking and the people that justify this because this is what they've heard from people. I'm like, you've got to be fucking kidding me. Why is everyone this stupid? They're not. But they've been blinded because old heads are trying to make everyone be like, this is how it's supposed to. No, no, no.
00:17:43
Speaker
Like, good God, the fountain of youth is literally the fountain of youth, not the fountain of 30-year-olds. Like, come on, dude. What the fuck are we doing? It's just one of those things where it's like, I don't give a shit what we used to do. It ain't working. Stop doing that. There's a reason that the US didn't qualify. It's because we got stuck on what we used to do. And what happened?
00:18:08
Speaker
We got fucking out of my Portugal who actually played some really good rugby. So thank you very much Portugal for justifying that. Absolutely. And now we're stuck with our dick in our hand and wondering what the fuck do we do for the World Cup in 31. I'm like putting together some sort of youth system would be nice. Yeah. And I know MLR is doing their dance to try it. And there's some teams that are doing great. There's some teams that are sucking at it.
00:18:36
Speaker
But he really, that should be us hero. We focus is just doing stuff like that. Like, you know, getting you 20. And really, let's be honest, like even the women in the 2020 World Cup didn't do a whole lot of good. You know, they yeah, they got a step further, but they didn't play great. No, it's not looking good either. No, it's it's definitely downward trending. And that's the thing. But that's the other thing is they're not doing anything different. It's that everyone else has raised their game. Absolutely.
00:19:06
Speaker
So, you know, yeah, you 20 teams, you 18 teams, you know, these look, I'll justify Chris Matina getting his first cap at 30, but that's only because he's my friend.
00:19:18
Speaker
While that may be true, I don't give a shit. That has nothing to do with rugby. It's the wrong thing to do rugby wise. But I love the guy, so I want him to get a cap. Yeah, and Yahoo, he got his charity cap. But we were talking about the other week with Oscar London. He should be the first phone call the US makes whenever we start this next international cycle.
00:19:42
Speaker
that needs to be someone that's in the team capped and fucking locked in for three years so we can get him at least till qualifying. Jesus, guys, it's not hard math. It really isn't. Honestly, whatever you need to do to get him to say, yep, and get him that first cap, barring some sort of egregious lie, let's not completely lie. Yeah, no, no, I wouldn't break too many laws.
00:20:09
Speaker
Let's not do that. Not too many. So yeah, those are my two. All right, feats of strength.
MLR Teams: Dynamics and Changes
00:20:22
Speaker
So
00:20:28
Speaker
This year from the MLR lost a few teams, which again, it happens for new leagues. That's a thing that happens. Not not too bad. I mean, it's a shame that the arrows are gone. Yep, mostly. I'm really going to miss them. I wanted it to be a rivalry precisely because there's no other real rivals in the East.
00:20:52
Speaker
And then there's the team from New York and I don't know what else to call them because they're Ironberg. What? I don't know. They had a new name and a new stadium every year. Their owner decided to risk fucking everything to buy a championship because his team was middling and he's like, no, no, no, fuck that. I'll just pay through the nose for for some all blacks to win the league. And congratulations worked and I and.
00:21:20
Speaker
Jared, you know how I've been against that from the start and how little respect I had for that organization. And then it was no surprise at all to me when they folded because they're run by pieces of shit and that's what happens. They weren't investing in the MLR. They weren't investing in rugby. They just wanted something that they could hang on their wall. I'm going to miss them.
00:21:51
Speaker
I've really, in the end, I wanted them to be a rival. Because, you know, just the same thing that fucking DC team, they're not stupid, but they just don't, you know, they're not outright, I guess, malicious, I guess, in a way, I don't know how else to describe it for the New York owners. They're just kind of bumbling in DC. And that's sad.
00:22:12
Speaker
Um, but that's kind of normal for DC based teams. Um, yeah, the New York, no, that should be a Boston, New York. That's a great fucking rivalry. Let's go. And we're going to miss them. And I'm really mad at them because they, the owners are pieces of shit. But again, I'm really going to miss them and their league won't be the same without them. Of course not.
00:22:33
Speaker
Look at you. All right. Put it down. Flow sports.
00:22:57
Speaker
So while Flow Sports has absolutely been the bane of my existence 100% in basically the time that I've been forced to use their service, I am now realizing that they may not be as bad as I thought because of recent other issues with other things. So that is,
00:23:24
Speaker
something that I want to acknowledge and say that at least they do that. And for their benefit, they also will always have, almost always have pregame for at least Super Rugby, which is great. Champions Cup less so, but still awesome. And if they can manage a halftime show for Champions Cup, they do. So I will give them
00:23:46
Speaker
credit for that and say that that is something that I wish more services did that we follow, especially between Peacock and TRN right now. So I give them credit where it's due and I hope that more
00:24:01
Speaker
Services followed that follow that model as opposed to what he talked there before, especially, especially during the World Cup, where they really were fucking chapping my ass. Yeah. Boof. Oh, that was. Yeah. Well, that was them. They knew that they were done with it, so they just weren't going to put any. Oh, they put they definitely put the fucking they were on vacation by that point. They put the out of office notice and said, Yeah, have fun. So thank you for at least doing that part, which is the part that a lot of us value and
00:24:30
Speaker
I appreciate it. Now it's just that they're too fucking expensive, but that's it. That's my only complaint with them. That's the only reason that I don't like them because it's like we pay a lot of money and your services kind of shit still. You still have funny issues where you start a game halfway through on the replay. Not great. Not great, but yeah.
00:24:57
Speaker
Anywho, yeah, let's all
Rugby Team of the Year Selection
00:25:00
Speaker
right. We're gonna go into the year stuff because obviously that's the other day was New Year's Day What do you want to start with 15 or the five moments? Um, let's do the 15. Okay. That's how I have it ranked in my Yep, I got that. I got that. All right, so 15 of the year This is for you know last last January this past December loose head
00:25:24
Speaker
I didn't go with a single loose head. No. Or a single tight head. No. It's the bomb squad props. It's all of them. All four. I don't care. You start them, you finish them. It doesn't matter. Honestly, for my money, the best four props in the world this year.
00:25:46
Speaker
Yeah, I had my kits off. Yeah. And I'm not. I just I refuse to to make one over the other. Well, there you go. I'm not putting it off over in like I'm not doing it. I only did it for kids. I only get it off because also Stormers got to the final of the URC. Right. He's actually started really well at Ulster as well. They just went through the other day. So, yeah, give them give them credit.
00:26:11
Speaker
Hook? Oh, my honorable mention, though, for the props is Sarah Byrne, because she's my she's my tight head for Hook. And this isn't to me, this isn't just a Homer pick. This is we've watched all this rugby.
00:26:27
Speaker
this year. And all we saw time after time was hookers who were maybe good and loose can't throw a lick. And you know what, even though the hookers that are like can that can throw a lick, they're, they're, they're shitty to this, it was just a really bad, it's been bad the couple past couple years for hooks.
00:26:44
Speaker
But there's one who just continues to do everything at a high level. He might miss one or two here or there, but it's the it's you're shocked when it happens. Not like I just missed that one. Oh, well. And that's Jamie George. Yeah. He's to me the best, the best hooker in the world this year. Yeah.
00:27:02
Speaker
Well, I went with Sheehan because he, you know, we talked about how Callaher was probably one of the top three hookers in the world. And then Sheehan came along and unseated him. One from Leinster, two from Ireland. No small feat. Ireland were number one ranked in the world up until the World Cup. And then obviously Leinster, they also got to the final of the Champions Cup. So lots of credit for him. Yeah, he would do my second. Yeah, and he had an amazing year.
00:27:30
Speaker
Yeah. And that's only because, you know, I thought he had some growing pains and Jamie George is just the guy who's been there the whole time. So, yeah, it's it's not that she ends there probably next year. Yeah, right. Georgia keeping a spot warm for him. Yeah, no shit. Engine room. Well, the one for is it has to be Evan Etsibeth. Yep. Same. And that's because though. So as I said,
00:27:57
Speaker
previously, where there's some guys who all they do is they're big lugs. Eben Etsibeth is one of those guys who could, if he wanted to, he could just be a big lug. He could just be like, I'm going to smash you. But he's not. And yeah, he does all the shit houseery. But it's because he can actually play a little bit in the loose. And you don't fuck you want to get him as you know. And like, yeah, he's gonna run around you because he's like 10 feet tall and takes one step and he's five feet to the right.
00:28:27
Speaker
Um, and then he's got that stuff. Like, no, there's, it's, it's, it's really hard to play him in the loose and, you know, and in the set piece and it like, he's just the best all around lock this year. Can't, can't offload. Yeah. Well, yes, for sure.
00:28:43
Speaker
Yeah, oh, yeah, I went with Evan as well. Hard to deny. He was definitely one of, if not the best second row at the World Cup. Always does the job for his team. He did really well for the Sharks last year in their knockouts for Champions Cup. So yeah, you got to give the man credit where credit's due, and holy shit, is it due for him? Yeah. And then I went on the other side of the coin for my other lock.
00:29:08
Speaker
a guy who does just he's been like just a he seems like a Jack until this year. And that's to me why I picked him because all of a sudden it was he went from this guy again to I really want to. Oh, he's yeah. There are there's there's a Holocaust game. I get to see, you know, Dom Brant and Smith and Esther Hayes and in green and and and Dino Lamb. Yeah, he's taking another step.
00:29:38
Speaker
Like I like watching Dino Lam play. So, and there aren't, you know, that could have gone Theo here, but that, again, that already went with Jamie. So, um, yeah, no, Dino Lam, I thought for me was, was my favorite, my second favorite lock to watch this year.
00:29:55
Speaker
So for me, it was actually summer. This is where we get our first or second woman, woman. Excuse me. I went with Zoe Aldecroft from Gloucester and England. Yeah. Obviously helped England win W WX 15. And but also one got Gloucester Harper, their first title. You know, long, long overdue. Shout out to Mo Hunt for finally getting hers as well.
00:30:21
Speaker
Photo World Player of the Year, she's super dynamic and yeah, sometimes you forget she's playing second row. Yeah, yep. So yeah, Zoey Aldercraff's my five. Excellent. At six? I put someone at six that's not at six. Oh, I went with someone at six who normally plays six. Well, you know, obviously as a six, maybe you play seven, sometimes eight too, but mostly six. Mine's Marley Packer.
00:30:52
Speaker
Same. All day. Same. She's usually on the open side though. Especially now that Goody Goody's in the game. That's true. That's true. Yeah, that's true. Goody Goody's at six there. Yeah. Yeah. Marley Packer, well played here. So what else are you going to say? Right. And my honorable mention is Nicholas Martins from Portugal. Yeah, right. Because you got a deal somewhere, didn't he? I hope so. I think you went somewhere.
00:31:21
Speaker
Seven talked about the best player that was on England during the World Cup. Yeah, I already mentioned him once. Yeah, it was better. Yeah, better. Because you know what, though, what I like is his year, he's finally getting his due. It's not even that like there's there's not so many doubters anymore. No, I mean, he clearly was heading shoulders above everyone in that team with the exception of a couple. Right. You know, so I think people are understanding and that that to me is speaks
00:31:47
Speaker
very positively about him. Every time I'm seeing, oh, what should England be thinking for their Six Nations and the next World Cup? And everybody gets to some other seven, and they're like, yeah, well, it's going to be Ben Earl. But this person deserves some credit, too. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely.
00:32:07
Speaker
eight. This one was really difficult. It was difficult. It was really hard to figure out who who should be the the the eight. This just, you know. Yeah, no, it's already silly. If it's not the fuck out. Artie, my dude, I'm unfortunately, he did not get to raise the trophy, but yet that isn't something that says a lot about who he was for this team this year. That is.
00:32:35
Speaker
Yeah, that's what you saw him in. The funny thing is that's not his best position. Right? His best position still is seven. It is. But they don't have another, they don't have an eight. They don't have a good eight, really. That's probably right. So Tutu could have been it, but really, that's it. Yeah. And yeah. Well, he kind of pulled his head out of his ass. If you had, if you had Peter Gus. Yeah, if they'd had Peter Gus, maybe. But like, really,
00:32:57
Speaker
They don't. So it's like, yep. He won world play of the year at his second best position. Good for him. Niner going into the back line. I had him down and then I thought, wait a minute.
00:33:15
Speaker
There was one guy, and yes, DuPont is, it was absolutely spectacular, and you'll see the drop off for both Deluge and France this year, when they don't have him. So there's definitely a lot there, but I thought about the guy that was leading his team, he was driving him on, and he turned it on during his league season too, despite the fact that this team was pretty dog shit. Yeah, I went with Nuggy. He was up there for me.
00:33:45
Speaker
Absolutely. The year he had I really wanted to give it to him. But DuPont like, he had people talking about cheek specialists for like, I know, like, they're like, that's, you don't realize how important someone is like that until they're and but at the same time, you know, nuggie is is he was otherworldly this year, he was on unstoppable.
00:34:12
Speaker
I don't know where the hell he like he that was like pulling one left, you know what? Lion winner kind of thing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You had a good good song song. Right. Excellent. Yeah. He deserves some some a shot for that. Yep. And 10 10 is obviously Johnny Sexton.
00:34:38
Speaker
Yep. Deserves every bit of credit for that. I will say I took the merits on him because he didn't play a ton for Leinster at the end of the year. No. Wasn't he hurt? No. Okay. No, they just chose- But he also needed the rest to go. I mean, get him into the, he needed to be ready for that. That was their thinking and that's why IRF, you probably told him to do that. Yeah. So with that, I still took some points off for him, unfortunately.
00:35:02
Speaker
But I mean, was there a guy who every time every big game that there was, not only was he he playing well, but he was scoring tries, too. And he's not like I never I mean, he played a lot. So he scored a lot of tries. But I thought he was like almost like prolific in his try score when it mattered most. Like if it was a big game, he was scoring a try. And that to me is much better than scoring like a lot of tries when it doesn't matter.
00:35:31
Speaker
Yeah, no, he just showed up and I thought he was in a lot of ways. Yeah, I thought he was the best 10 in the world this year. And that's saying a lot because there were some really good 10s this year.
00:35:46
Speaker
Yeah, well, that speaks to my coach of the year. I went with Richie, though. That's fair. He won a lot. He won a lot of games. He shouldn't have won. No. And you think about the
00:36:06
Speaker
You know, did the Crusaders last game for the Super Bowl final really matter that much? Because they had won it so many times. Mm hmm. No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. Like, watch that game and tell me he doesn't just like help take over the game. Come on, man. The guy was unreal, along with obviously the other guys that were walking away this year from the All Blacks that were in that team. Yeah. So it's.
00:36:28
Speaker
Yeah, and he's off to make his coin and so without any hesitation or any bad feelings because Should you want to come back in two years after making some coin? I can guarantee you the carpet will be rolled right out for him because he is He will make that team very different and I know they'll find another ten I think Bowdoin still sticking around so that'll be that'll be their upside for that. But Yeah, it's gonna be hard to replace that guy Midfield
00:37:02
Speaker
I'm playing, well, this is what position you should be playing at the national team level. So that's why I slotted them in here. He normally plays 13 for club and country, but that's because their club, it makes a lot of sense to put them there and country just, I don't know. They don't have their heads up anywhere, but at the moment for some reason. Ollie Lawrence is my 12 on my team this year. He's my 13.
00:37:29
Speaker
So he's your 12. So we talked about him before it during the World Cup. This guy is every is everything that people think to he is. Yeah. But he's actually that for Ireland. And that was on the Yaki. Yep. Fair. Like and talk about like just having a storm over a year to like shit. The guy was great. And I know, you know, Connick aren't necessarily going well, but
00:37:57
Speaker
Man, he made a difference for that team at the World Cup. You knew the difference between like Henshaw and Henshaw is a great player, by the way. Don't get me wrong, but the difference between Henshaw and McCloskey in there and then Bundy. Right. Because Bundy makes your... Henshaw, you can still tackle even if he runs a little bit off you because he doesn't have the same momentum through the hole.
00:38:27
Speaker
Aki, if you don't get it just right, if you don't get your shoulder on, first off, you get your shoulder on him. He might not have a shoulder anymore, but also, you know, if you don't get it on, he could just fucking run right through you. So, yeah, that's, yep, and there aren't, you know, Tui would just run into you and fall over himself. So, like, that's right. So, no, Aki is, yes. He was the best 12 at that kind of game this year. Yeah, certainly.
00:38:56
Speaker
who's your 13 my 13 with with honorable mention to fuck I didn't write him down so never mind I'll move on from that but no the 13 is where every go you honey yep cuz he was just indefensible it's like just you couldn't
00:39:17
Speaker
He could run you over. He could run around you and or he could, you know, chip it right past. He just did everything this year. A lot of people questioned that move when they did that a couple of years ago. And it's I'd say it worked. Yeah. Just going to put it and put that out on them. I think it worked. Right. Throwing that out there. All right. Back three. My eleven.
00:39:43
Speaker
just for his Six Nations game against England alone. Then he did some other shit. And then basically other teams are like, no, no, no, no, we have to stop him. Like we don't stop him. That's what he's going to do to us. He set the marker down and other teams had to respond, which really opened up the attack for Scotland in so many ways and made them really a threat in a way that haven't been in a long time. And so my 11th, Duhan van der Merwe. Duhan. Yep.
00:40:15
Speaker
Yep. So this is my, um, my last woman in this one. Um, I went with Abby Dow. So she's like, Oh, there you go. So, um, so obviously she had a great women's 15 and a great six nations, but also I want to give her a special notice cause like trail finders aren't great. They're not bad, but they're not great. And she continues to stand head and shoulders above most of the players on that team. Casey's been one of the other ones that has been kind of standing up like notably.
00:40:43
Speaker
She is one of the better players if not the best player on that team Yeah, and she continues to perform week in and week out no matter how bad the team is getting their butt kicked She continues to just churn out so loads of credit to Abby down. So yeah, I had to give her a shout here So she's my 11. All right And yeah, she's my 15 I'm good that we have the same 14 though Unless you know my 14 and 15
00:41:13
Speaker
I have, I mean, I have Mark Talia as he's, he was honorable mention for me. Yeah. At the wing position. I have, I have Will Jordan at 14. Yep. I, I, you know, he, it was hard to not put him in here. I can tell you that much. I'm a huge Will Jordan fan, by the way. Anybody that hasn't figured that out. I'm a huge Will Jordan fan, but I do feel like there were points where he,
00:41:38
Speaker
dipped just enough. He had that bad game against France. It was notable. He was really bad. Really, I don't know how many bad games Marcelli had. He had too many non-gate where he would show up a little bit later. I'm like, oh, he's playing. That happened way too much for me. That's, I think, what took him out. At least Will Jordan was putting himself in the right position and just bottling it. Bottling it up.
00:42:03
Speaker
Because it's like, at least I'm noticing him in the game. It's pretty bad when, you know, it's like 30 or 40 minutes into a game and I'm like, Oh, yeah, I haven't seen 11 a while. Like, that's not, you know, that's, and don't get me wrong, Talia had an amazing year and he just turned it up. But then again, Will Jordan did win a championship.
00:42:25
Speaker
Yup. And Talia, even with a quality team, he underperformed, I thought, in Super Rugby. So although it wasn't him personally. He scored like a shit ton of tries. Yeah. I think the theme is going to be as well. But I feel like that stopped towards the end of the year.
00:42:39
Speaker
Yeah, it was like early on and then they kind of shut them down and then they that the Blues had nothing else. So, yeah, Will Jordan was unstoppable and he was a guy that other teams really worked to stop, especially once. So if we went down, you know, Jordan's production went up, which. That helped. That helps. They don't.
00:43:00
Speaker
So my 15 is Silasino Rivrutamanda from Fiji and Fijian Drua. Drua obviously had a great year in Super Rugby for their standards, qualified for the playoff for the postseason. And also he was a huge part of it.
00:43:16
Speaker
I can't tell you how many times I heard that name. I was like, I'm going to remember this guy, I guess, for a while. And then, you know, he did he did a job on England. He did a job on a lot of teams during the World Cup, too. So, yeah, definitely a come out party this year for a reboot to Monday. So he's my 15. There you go. Did you pick a coach? I did. What did you pick?
00:43:42
Speaker
Well, sticking with exactly where you were going with it, I picked Simon Rivalui from Fiji. Nice. That's a good one.
Impact of Coaching in Rugby
00:43:51
Speaker
It's too bad he's not coming back. Yeah, it is. That's very much a shame because what he's done to help professionalize, like we talk about how
00:44:06
Speaker
like we really like England really need a club and the action US obviously to need to coach who was like, this is how we need the entire country to play. That's the winning row. So it's really bring them up and set standards and demand certain levels of performance at certain things that the coach wants to see. And right? Well, we did that so well, I thought, you know, I, you know, the, as you said, the Drua were
00:44:35
Speaker
Like they brought professionalism to the Fijian rugby. And I thought that Rywa Louis backed that up and it probably was behind a lot of it himself. Where it was like, it used to be, yeah, they were fun. They threw the ball around. It was kind of cute.
00:44:49
Speaker
Um, and like, sometimes it would be awesome. And sometimes it would just be disastrous. And either way, it was going to be entertaining. Yep. I can't confirm. And that's all. Yes, you can do that, but it doesn't win. And what he brought in was, okay, no, we need to bring in a little bit of structure. You can still fling it around. And the fuck didn't they bring it around? Absolutely. Um,
00:45:13
Speaker
But like now that they know where that they're fleeing it because they know someone's gonna be there like oh there's a gap in the defense I'm just gonna put this ball into the gap and the guy who's there is gonna get there is gonna just run through the gap and that's like
00:45:26
Speaker
And that's why that, you know, that's why they, um, beat Australia, that that's why they really, and they, they showed well in super rugby. Like all these things are just going to build on themselves. And it's really, they, they do need a coach who continues to reinforce that. But it started with, with Rywa Louie. And I hope it continues. I really do. Yep. Same, same, same. Thank God they can't hire Eddie. No, I, and I went, so I went with, um, guy that spurned them, uh, Andy Farrell. There you go.
00:45:56
Speaker
and a guy that I'm sorry, England, you're going to be kicking yourself that you can't have him for another cycle because he's resigned with Ireland. So, um, or at least, you know, he's going to be there for awhile. So unless you want to pay through the nose, which would be stupid because you don't have the money. Um, yeah, no, like this is what happens when you bring assholes in and they shun people. You know, you want nothing to do with England because of,
00:46:24
Speaker
Right. And you can't sit there and tell me that you prefer Borthwick over Andy Farrell. Right. No. Not knocking Borthwick at all. Jerry's still out on him. I'm not convinced, but I'm not also completely going to shit on him. Right. Because it could be good. He could be moving. It's like one of those, I could be liking what I'm seeing or
00:46:48
Speaker
It could be tearing into dog shit, which is what I expected. But Andy Farrell, absolutely. Without a doubt, most countries would have wanted Andy Farrell as their coach right now. Yeah. Few and far between. I think New Zealand's probably one of the few that are happy with their replacement right now. Right? Fuck. Oh, they're going to be terrors. Yep. Yeah, Razor's going to do a job for them.
00:47:14
Speaker
All right.
Top Rugby Moments of the Year
00:47:15
Speaker
Top five moments. Oh, I did. I did a player of the year and young player of the year, but I didn't. I didn't get there. Yes. By the way, Aaron Smith was my number three on the player of the year and Mark Martin Gonzalez was my young player because fuck did he show this year? Yes. And he said Irish at the World Cup and in the series, he's been top drawer. All right. My my. Number five. Number five ish.
00:47:44
Speaker
I have a one A and one B, I guess. So, number five was Duhan van der Mervis, Six Nations Tri versus England. Oh, yeah. I mean, that was unbelievable. It really was. My Tri of the Year. Yeah. Fuck.
00:48:00
Speaker
I was like, Oh God, he's going and he's still going. He's still going. He's gone. Yeah. Like, Hey, you might want to get some width and different. No. Oh, no. Okay. Now he's just, okay. Yeah. Now he's really, Oh, nope. Nope. Bye. Like, uh,
00:48:16
Speaker
Have you seen God in 60 seconds? Yeah. When he's driving away from the helicopter in the freaking Mustang. Yeah. In the Shelby. And he's like, yeah, he's gone. Yeah. I was like, oh man, that's what it felt like with him. Number five for me was, was Bonzi finally getting a World Cup final and then, you know, coinciding with that, Khaleesi getting his chance, getting a chance to lift the web LS again, but.
00:48:41
Speaker
Mostly on the Barnesy because, you know, we lost out on 2019 obviously because England made the final. 15, it was Nigel who deserved the final. So, you know, it was just like, all right, it had to be him. As long as England didn't get to the final, which most of us banked that that wouldn't happen. Yeah, it had to be him. So I'm glad he got it and you got to go out on a big one for him. Number four.
00:49:08
Speaker
is, uh, Bowdoin Barrett missing those final two kicks of the World Cup final. Oh, that was Jordy. Was it Jordy? It was Jordy. Okay. Okay. Well, I'm sorry. Wrong Barrett. All right. Boo went on Bowdoin already. Yeah, it was Jordy. No, Jordy missing those. That was like- They were two long ones, so it was Jordy. Okay. Um, but yeah. Dude, you got to like,
00:49:35
Speaker
Those are, that's why you do all this shit. That's why you prepare so much. That's literally not your only job, but that's why they're playing you out of position because you can do this. Because if you can't do this, then there's better 12s they can bring in.
00:49:51
Speaker
Yeah, it was. And that's the thing. It's like, this is at the highest. This is it. There's no bigger game than this. And you miss two. I mean, I guess the redemption couldn't get it. No, you know, no disrespect to the other. Everything else that happened in that game. But honestly, the game was on the line. You had two shots at it. And one of them, I don't think it was even after a yellow, like you were down a man and you got a chance to post. It's like, oh, the work that the team did to put you in that position, you got a reward. Yep.
00:50:22
Speaker
Yep, yep. So number four was a personal one for me. Because I got to do something really cool that not everyone gets a chance to and I got to coach in a state final. That's cool. For for my high school team. So I hope I get to do it at some point again. But the one thing I know is that you don't take those for granted because you do not know when you're gonna be back. So I have no doubt that it won't be your last but it's still Yeah, but it was it was cool. The result wasn't awesome. But you know, just
00:50:52
Speaker
the experience of preparing and even the playoff win like the playoff win that we had, you know, so I guess I could be number four was also that, you know, the playoff when we had like, I have not had that much emotion come out of me in terms of just like,
00:51:07
Speaker
exhaustion, happiness and satisfaction in one fucking breath. But yeah, it happened. And it was me and Eric, um, the other coach just sitting on the field and, and afterwards and I was like, and I just, I was still crying. I was just like, holy shit. Cause I've been, I've been coaching this job for probably eight years now. And I know that's not a long time, but fuck.
00:51:28
Speaker
I have not won a game like that. But this like this team you basically like not not that the boys club the girls team you basically built so This was like this. This wasn't something that you just fell into you made this happen. So yeah, absolutely you're gonna yes absolutely gonna fill that okay, I'll deflect credit to person cuz I
00:51:47
Speaker
Which, of course you would. He was in charge as much as I was, trust me. If not more so. Yeah, that was my one. And you're absolutely allowed to have a personal one. I'm not saying that I do, but I'm not saying that I don't. We'll get there. Three.
00:52:03
Speaker
For just the downright hilarity of the scene, Exeter versus Montpellier in the Champions Cup round of 16, going all the way to full extras and being finally decided on who had more tries. I know. Hilarious. Who the fuck sees that coming? At that point, yeah, who scored more tries? You win. Get the fuck out of it. We've hit like...
00:52:34
Speaker
Yeah, we've, we've, so we've hit that in the year before we hit the extra time, uh, before like the, the kicks as well. So if you've had, I don't think they've had to get to either one of those before those two games. So that's just, yeah. Ridiculous. So I guess it's the, I guess it's the upside having around 16 still. So for me, it was for number three, it was.
00:52:58
Speaker
Fiji, Fiji, Fiji all the time. Fiji, the opening, the opener against Wales, which was absolutely spectacular. And then them being able to button up just a little bit and take down Eddie in Australia. One drop pass away from beating Wales. I know. I know. The scene behind Sammy Red Roger of the Welsh. Oh, no. Oh, yes.
00:53:26
Speaker
Oh, you can see that. OK, there's the pets going out wide. Oh, wait, who's out there? Oh, yeah, that's not who you wanted. I mean, nobody would have been preferable, but definitely not Sammy. Right. And I just skipped the wrong lane, went off his head. Yeah. Couldn't do anything about it. He was thinking about that try before he got it. Right. Damn it, Rads. But yeah, so that and then obviously them buttoning it up just a little bit to take down Eddie in Australia the next week. Yeah.
00:53:53
Speaker
And that that's that was my number two was that it was actually not only Fiji, Fiji being Australia, but the other milestone of Portugal beating Fiji. Yes, yes, yes, absolutely deserves mentioned. Right. Because they're just like to me, the World Cup was like good for that shit, because even even the other like Namibia showed up until LaRue got hurt. I mean, they weren't doing so hot before them, but like they were still really given that they're all Uruguay.
00:54:22
Speaker
And Chile, like Chile. Yep. They showed up like the USA rugby has a long way to go. But the World Cup was definitely a showcase of of the world's rugby. And it was much better than it was expected. So yeah, good stuff. Sure. Yeah, it was. So number two was the redemption finally finally coming home for
00:54:47
Speaker
the boys in black at Twickenham and Sarri's finally raising that permission trophy and getting the job done. And yeah, just, it was a really fun, fun match to watch in the end. But yeah, just for all the shit that they caught and all the shit that you and I will still catch every once in a while. Um, yeah. And just, yep. I mean,
00:55:11
Speaker
there's nothing there's nothing else to get to to be spitting at this point if you're right haters are the only ones that are still spitting yeah everybody else it's like you've got nothing guys and right that that's just it's totally deserved too in this case at this point because they
00:55:26
Speaker
You know, they did every bit of work. They and look at the players that they brought along, too. They brought along the O'Dan. They brought along Andy Christie. They brought along Ollie Hartley the way he's gone. But even Lozowski and Tom. Oh, yeah. Alex Lewington is is a weapon now. Like, right. Even even the cockers, Vincent Koch was like, Sarri's maybe like that was a good prop. But then Sarri's made me into one of the world's best. Like, right. They it's not. Yeah, they're they the.
00:55:57
Speaker
It's going to happen that happened. But yeah, but that's a good squad head to toe. Even doesn't matter who they got. Like, yeah, their death is not what it used to be exactly. But the front line shit.
00:56:10
Speaker
Yeah, even their B teams are like pretty good for the most part. But, you know, obviously we got caught out by like eggs for this week, this year, but yeah, that's cause we had no body. That was a lot of people gone. Yeah. No body. And a lot of injuries like Hoskins just came. Yeah. Anyway. Yeah. So yeah. Well done to the boys. Yeah. Um, so I probably have the same number one, one a number one B, um, for me. Um, no, I don't know that we do.
00:56:41
Speaker
Um, maybe we do. I actually, I would not be surprised if we do. Um, but my number one of world rugby stuff is, uh, Sarah Hunter's retirement match at home in Newcastle. Oh, yeah, that's true. I didn't think of that one. That was like a legend going out at home. Like they, they arranged it so it could happen. Um, which you do. Um, cause I also haven't played there in a while and, and you know, the tune needs a.
00:57:07
Speaker
a visit every now and again. And they deserve it, yeah. And they showed up for real good stuff, good feelings all around. Absolutely. And then, of course, the real number one was at the Can-Am Rugby Tournament.
00:57:27
Speaker
Oh, for you. Yes. Yes. Yes. The boys scored a try this year. Fell all of one meter into the tri-zone, but it worked. There were three guys between me and the tri-zone. I bested them all. I made it. I went really low. The Cisco Bills special. Yeah, it was definitely one of those
00:57:54
Speaker
What was the scrumhaft's name? Dane. Dane, yeah. He was at the back of the rock. They were trying to do pick and goes, and he was in the way, as a good scrumhaft does. And I just kind of side on my way out, and I'm like, all right, these three guys here want to tackle me. This guy out here does not. So I'm just going to work my way towards him, and I'm like, give me the ball.
00:58:15
Speaker
I'm not the guy I want to throw on over. No, not you. You. Not you three. You. Yeah. What was it from the water? You're my bitch. Water boy. Yeah. Yeah.
00:58:34
Speaker
I'm going for you. So yeah, nope, that was it. That was my moment. That might be my last ever try. And I'd be good with that. I'm going to celebrate it. Unless we play old boys this summer. True. In five years, it'll be a 10 meter try.
00:58:51
Speaker
Right. It doesn't know how it usually works. And you'll be there. You've seen it. Chad was there. It's how it usually works. You know, in 20 years, maybe from the 20th. Be half the field. Well, for me, number one.
MLR Season Highlights
00:59:09
Speaker
I bought I bought season tickets to free to actually I wanted to be part of something fun. Yeah. And they rewarded us with a big win in Chicago. And that was so awesome. And, you know, I think I lost years of my life with that final. But God damn, is it fun and just, you know, obviously last year with the disappointment to like the season before with the disappointment of yeah, we won the number one seat, but we freaking lost out to in the Eastern Conference. So
00:59:39
Speaker
Yep. That was fucking awesome. And boys had a hell of a year on top of it all. Like lost what? One game, just one game. So yeah, it was just, it was so, it was so awesome. And yeah. And the one game we lost, we got revenge for. So we, we, we, uh, got that one back in San Diego. So yeah, that was without a doubt. One of my, my favorite rugby man with this year and just, yeah.
01:00:07
Speaker
If I'd had a bottle of champagne, I would have been freaking spraying it everywhere, trust me. Yeah, that was a great ride too. I think the only thing that kind of takes it down is that we couldn't go and watch it at home. We couldn't actually go to the match. But no, it was a great ride. That final was so much fun, the Eastern Conference final. Yeah, the final was great.
01:00:29
Speaker
And yeah, that then that's the way you want to like, like, that was excellent rugby. They got up on us and boys just fought back. Yep. Totally. Nana dropping that pass was so key. Thank you, Ma. Anyway, so.
01:00:49
Speaker
Those that's all that we are going to do our dam just to run through this thing in 15 minutes.
Premiership Recap
01:00:55
Speaker
All right. So let's go. Bears Chiefs at the gate. Bears are not good right now. Nope. They're not. And Chiefs weren't that great either, but like they should have, they should have, they should have run this up. Not scoring 30 is problematic. Yeah.
01:01:13
Speaker
Not awesome. And Dan Frost is going to stop wearing that uniform. It's changing him. Yeah. Right. He was a dick all match. I'm surprised he didn't get a penalty or a card. Like they just kind of let it go. No, he got the penalty. He got the penalty. I'm surprised he can get sent to the bin there because he was just being a complete twat. But yeah, I was at a loss for, you know, the Bristol figured it out for like 10 minutes at a time. And that's when they scored. But other than that, like,
01:01:41
Speaker
what the fuck were they doing? I'm not sure they knew. So that's very scary, unfortunately. Yeah, I don't know what the hell's going on with Bristol. They seem to have it figured out and then they fuck it up. So, beats the shit out of me. Hmm, yeah, I don't know. Saturday, Stone X series in Newcastle. I mean,
01:02:08
Speaker
Everybody's saying, well, Newcastle fired up. They did, but this also wasn't the Saracen's first team. And yes, they have many first choice players in this, you know, Mako and Christie and Gonzo and Hartley. And Hartley's not the first choice to Sarah, but Cindy. But he might be now. Yeah, I know. He's fucking working his way towards it. Right.
01:02:30
Speaker
Good to see Roddy back. A lot of guys coming back off the bench. I mean, the difference came when they brought the bench on. That bench was just lethal between... I mean, there's not a bad name on that list. No. There really isn't. No. You know, the only one I might do without is Billy. Everybody else can... Everybody else is like, yep, that's bad. But at the same time, at this exact moment in time, Billy's an upgrade over Toby Knight.
01:02:55
Speaker
Yes, they'll change over time. They will. I'm just saying this this this right now. And they were talking about Davies being the other. No, no, no. This Ivan Vanzel, Gav Simpson, that's your one, too. If you're playing the combo, the champion, if you're playing for hardware right now, that's your combo. Yeah. Yeah. No. Send Davies packing. Get Charlie Bracken some time, like stop fucking around with.
01:03:23
Speaker
He's like, there's nothing he's bringing. He's not getting any better. Like, yeah, come on, man. I got to say, too, I was impressed by every single wing in this game. Yeah, I mean, Steven's right when obviously Luna and Sagan, I thought all I really like all four of these guys. Yeah, Cindy, Cindy looks great. Yeah, he does. I'm looking forward to seeing him more. Yep. More and more. Yes. This was one like we kind of saw glimpses of it at an Irish, but it's coming.
01:03:51
Speaker
Yep. They're like fucking... Did they overturn Mackle's card yet? That wasn't a wrap. I don't know.
01:03:58
Speaker
I think Jack Maypeace misses at least three high shots the whole game against series and they're legitimate high shots like they've gone they've gone high and they've caught they've caught our guys high even if they say the guy would look back at him and be like dude I got hit in the face and he's like get play on fucking that and this is the problem this is why we have one of our grievances because that's bullshit that can't happen and then Mako is a red like
01:04:22
Speaker
No, there's mitigation everywhere. Get out of here. Right. At that point, he should have been like, it's 82 minutes. The game is over. Yellow. We're done. Move on. Yeah. I think he was trying to. I think he was also reffing to, you know, kind of make sure it wasn't a runaway, honestly. But at that point, what's the. Summer freeze do that, unfortunately. Yeah. Um.
01:04:47
Speaker
Much better match. Over those gardens, Saints and Sharks took the Saints about 60 minutes to wake up, but they eventually woke up. You know the turning point of this game?
01:05:00
Speaker
And this goes back to the conversation we've been having for a long time, but kind of fired up recently. About 10s choosing when to go for goal, like being the ones to choose, yeah, I want to go for post or kick to the corner. Because so many 10s call their own number way too many times. And there's a 10 in this game who talls his number as much as humanly. There's nobody who loves George Ford more than George Ford.
01:05:25
Speaker
Um, and then his kicking boot. Oh, he's in love with his foot. And, and I, I, I believe I texted you. It was like, yeah, nice. You know, but that, that how's it, I wonder how that's going to end up. I see right after he kicks that drop goal that everyone's like, Oh, that's a great, great, great drop goal. Well, you know what might've been better for the team, scoring another fucking try rather than just be like, Oh, we're in range. I'll just go for, for free. Because what happened after that was saints scored two tries. Fuck you. Cause that's what they can do.
01:05:53
Speaker
Right. They're not a bad team. They can score two tries in 20 minutes. And the thing about it is like the reason you use a drop goal is you're down here. You've had a lot of possession, but you've got nothing. Right. I don't think that was the case. They had purchased. They were going. Right. So why the fuck he decided out of nowhere to kill all the momentum. And I was like, what are you doing, dude? He got to kick it out because everybody now everybody's if they win. Now everybody's that's then that's the problem with this, too, is that if they win, everybody's talking about, oh, George Ford with the drop goal. So awesome.
01:06:23
Speaker
but they lost and nobody says, you know what, George Ford was really fucking selfish for hitting a drop goal. Nobody remembers that. There's no long-term memory there for that. And that's the problem. That's why players like Ford get a lot more recognition than they deserve. And I feel the same way about Damien McKenzie. They're on that list for me of guys who, yeah, they'll add value at times, but
01:06:47
Speaker
God damn, if they don't fuck you so much more that nobody really cares about for some reason. Right. But people lose track of your absolute boneheadery and then just, they praise your good stuff and it's not the only one. There's a pretty good list of- But yeah, but actually it didn't help that their prop got a- Card.
01:07:10
Speaker
got a card. Nope. But hey, you can't have you know, that's something you have. Actually, no, did they even? I don't think there were any scores after that. No, but I was telling you I was the card was the card. Yeah. So no, that would the game was already over at that point. That was just that just helps Saints just, you know, close it out. Yep.
01:07:36
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um, yeah. Cause you got Alex Mitchell too, who's who's taking excellent. Yeah. No, it was bad dude by short forward. Yeah. No. And then I will say,
01:07:50
Speaker
I was shocked that they called nothing on the Roebuck hit to the, to for bank. Um, especially Carly, cause it's Carly. Yeah. Not because you know, I thought it was egregious, although I don't, I think Roebuck needs to be careful cause that's how you get yourself sent off. Um, dropping a shoulder like that. That's what you do in club, shithouse club, luckily like what we play. Yeah. Not at a premiership level now. Um, but, uh, you know,
01:08:15
Speaker
wasn't egregious, wasn't necessarily intentful. Just got to be careful. But I was very surprised that Carly did not call that because Carly's Carly. And he's very sticky about shit like that usually. So just just shocked me a little bit. But it didn't. It made not much of a difference in the end. And the team that played the better rugby, if we're honest, won. Right now. And because the way he sailed took the lead was just arm wrestle, shit house three.
01:08:43
Speaker
for this part, although I will say the Carpenter try was pretty sexy. Yes, it was. But then again, that's Saints have deep again, that Saints defense is something else this year. Much, much improved. Much improved. Yep. Yep. Absolutely. Yeah. Did not have that on my bingo board for sure. No. I think we talked about that, you know, the impact that just one coach can make, you know, or, you know, towards a negative or towards a positive, like,
01:09:12
Speaker
That's important. Yep.
England's World Cup Challenges
01:09:15
Speaker
All right, so let's go Quinn's Gloucester at Twickenham. Good on Gloucester for fronting up in this one. Yeah, they even surprised squeaky bum time. Yeah.
01:09:26
Speaker
It's shocking us with with making it tight. And so on. So it's surprising us with Johnny May scoring a try. What? Who does that? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, he beat it. He beat the fucking kid. What's the name? Cam Anderson or whatever. Cam Anderson. You know what the fuck he was doing. Right. Don't know. Yeah. Another one that doesn't need. Right. The punditry fucking sucking his dick. Mm hmm. So anyway, Don Bradwell at the Battle of Aids. That was that surprise. Yes. You like literally physically.
01:09:55
Speaker
Yeah. The two of them going for that ball. He just said, nope, mine. Get away from me, Zack Mercer. Yeah. I mean, part of the part of the problem for England was they had no true out and out number eight at the World Cup. And Don Brandt was not in great form. I don't give everybody that he was not. But you still needed to look and find yourself a true number eight as, you know, extra because Billy shouldn't have been it either. I don't think you know he was that either. So.
01:10:24
Speaker
Really, I mean. I think you I think they would have been better served, bringing Zach Mercer, not Billy Van Paul. But yes, I agree. Yeah, they went on the game. What was it? It's South Africa that he fucking humped away the game. He kept knocking it on. Absolutely. Yeah. That's exactly what it was. Exactly what it was. I. But these guys both got to be on your on the on the team.
01:10:54
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. And Marcus is your 10. Fuck everything. Yeah. Oh, Jesus. He's your 10. Like, don't... Any... I'm sorry. Any argument for anybody else. And there are some other players I absolutely love on this that are in contention.
01:11:11
Speaker
Forget it. You're done. This is your this is your ten. Mm-hmm ride or die with him for a couple years because The growing pains he may still have to go through will pay off dividends when you have you know, here's the thing They talk about you know, what's the how do you balance the difference between? Guy that's got you know attacking instincts and the game manager You cannot teach the attacking instincts that Marcus miss as now to a George Ford or known Farrell. Nope. You can't
01:11:40
Speaker
You can't teach them how to manage a game, though. Mm hmm. That's the difference. And yes, those two guys are very good at it faster, better than Ford, without a doubt. But you can't teach the instincts that this kid has. Right. Like so you you can teach the other part. And that's easier. Yes, it is way easier. I don't town is boring. That's how it is. Guys like get over it.
01:12:05
Speaker
Yeah, his speed, his shiftiness, both raw display like that. Yeah, this is cut back off. Yeah, no. But yeah, love the guy really like I don't know why.
01:12:22
Speaker
It was funny. It was watching the my wife's been watching the David Beckham documentary and it just made me realize just how shit England treat everyone who's young and is and then like insanely talented, regardless of sport. And so it's like just appreciate it. Marcus Smith is a good fucking rugby player. Appreciate him because you're not going to get him forever. Nope. And appreciate it now because you will appreciate it later.
01:12:47
Speaker
But like, yeah, then that goes for, you know, actually even a lot of, even Dom Brant too. Like these are good players. They got there and that that's one of the reasons why they want them playing together. And, um, have you heard of Danny care?
01:13:03
Speaker
By the way, when he when he chipped that through, I was like, nice chip Marcus. And I was like, wait, no, that was not Marcus. Damn. That was outside the foot. That was that was classy. That's what that is. That's just perfection right there. That is chef kiss stuff right there. Well done. And then, you know, nothing against Gloucester. I mean, Ford Robinson, I thought, had an excellent day. Mercer was good. He just wasn't good enough. No.
01:13:34
Speaker
Thoroughly had some moments where he was like trying to put the team on his back. I thought, you know, that center, their centers are just not impactful. Chris Harris was great defensively because that's what he does.
01:13:47
Speaker
Um, right. But like he, he was often attacked. Like, you know, he's always there in defense. His best years are when he figures out how to attack and it's not, no, it's not happening. And I think that might be just a glosser thing. Cause it's not like any of the other ones are any better. That's probably true. They're just kind of like useless holes out there, the centers, which sucks. Um, there it is. I will say Lou Ellen is a fucking unit. You think he is a unit. So maybe if they can teach him how to play some bloody rugby, it'll come good. Yeah.
01:14:19
Speaker
Tigers and Bath. It's closer than it should have been. It was a little bit.
01:14:26
Speaker
You know, I mean, I know. Yeah, I got a couple of garbage ones. Yeah. But garbage time. But still, this is this, you know, a little bit shame on Vangran for this. Like, yeah, preparing for a loss or next week at home. Like, come on, dude. Why are you sending this dog shit team to Lester? You're top of the league and you can still say that way if you send your team like, OK, you don't need to send Finn Russell to every game. But if you send everybody bar Finn Russell and put Orlando Bailey in in at 10,
01:14:55
Speaker
You probably win this match. If not, you're at least coming away with a couple of bonus points. They came away with absolutely nothing. Right. That is not awesome. What's Will Muir need need rest for? Right now, he's like six. I mean, yeah, maybe a little bit before Six Nations because he's going to play the whole time. But like he's been playing. I mean, he's not playing like this is just this is his job. I mean, right, you know, will but at 12. Come on, man.
01:15:21
Speaker
with Brennan Owen backing him up. Yeah, this is not a no, this is not a serious team sent to to really compete and good on them for competing. That that back row combination is just a bunch of plotters like that. Velza, he's a lock to me. Definitely now. Yeah.
01:15:42
Speaker
Yeah, it was funny how they took Rafel out because I think that was also, this is what the comms we need. And I switched on for some reason at that point.
01:15:54
Speaker
Tommy Rafael came out and they're like, yeah, this game is actually too slow for him. He can't outrace anybody to a breakdown because they're just not moving it far enough or fast enough. Like nobody's getting isolated because nobody's fast enough to get isolated and dynamic enough to get isolated. And it's like, oh, shit, that's such a good point. Like, yeah, take him off. What do you need him for? Put how to roll on or no, crack. No, fuck either. Or doesn't matter. Yeah, it was cracking what they put on. But like,
01:16:20
Speaker
Yeah, after 50 minutes, like, dude, you're you're not like your skills aren't really helping us out here. No, they're too slow. Yeah, the Tigers are going to miss. Not good. You know who the Tigers are going to miss? Who's that? Jasper. A little bit. I don't know how they're feeling. I'm sure they're working on either finding a signing or, you know, developing someone. But man,
01:16:46
Speaker
That's going to be a tough set of shoes to fill because the guy is a monster.
01:16:51
Speaker
He really is. Good luck. Good luck, everybody else. Right. Also, how is this the first time that Martin and Chesham have locked together? Yeah, that baffled me. I was like, huh? Really? What? No way. I mean, great combination. Yeah. You'll get me wrong. It does. It worked out some kind of attention. Especially since they don't have Cam Henderson right now. Right. Damn. He did his knee, didn't he? I think so. He's out. Yes. He was having a great start to the year. He was. That sucks.
01:17:21
Speaker
That sucks. I mean, yeah, just not like dude. Not, you know, good for, for, for, uh, Lester, Lester to, to just kind of take care of business. I mean, what they took care of is they did what they needed to do. Yeah. That's that's how, that's how that needed to be. And they did it exactly as they should. Van Grand owes every bath supporter an apology because that's terrible.
Podcast Wrap-Up
01:17:45
Speaker
Okay. Not bad. All right. So.
01:17:50
Speaker
Ben and I are gonna head to Fancy Corner here in just a bit. Glad everyone joined us and I hope everybody had fun with our end of the year Festivus stuff. Thank you very much for welcoming me back, for being a dead. If you're not coming over to the Fancy Corner, we'll see you later. But other than that, have a good one folks. Later. Cheers.
01:18:23
Speaker
If you'd like to ask a question or leave us general feedback, email us at fantasyrugbypodcast at gmail.com. You fart, you die, by the way. Yeah, exactly. The tiki-tacking this kind of absolutely pisses me off. Be sure you check out our Patreon at patreon.com slash the fantasy rugby. Yeah.
01:18:40
Speaker
This has been the fantasy