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Season 6- Episode 27- Have to Get Off the Bus (Champions Cup SF & Super Rugby Round 11)
30 Plays6 months ago
Another action packed episode of those American rugby dopes yammering away. On this episode we talk about the big happenings in Champions Cup at both Croke Park and Stadium de Toulouse with all the big moments of the semi-finals. Then a hop across to the southern hemisphere to round up all the Super Rugby action including history being made in Tonga. Then it's another visit to Fort Quincy where sadly the discussion is not about the game, though it was a good one, it's about the people in the middle with the whistles and it's not just that see it as a problem either. Kick back, get a drink and join us friends!
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Transcript
Introduction and Show Format
00:00:04
Speaker
It is. The Fantasy Europeans. My name is Jared Dyches. 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. A collusion. Collusion.
00:00:26
Speaker
Hey everybody. Welcome back. It is the fancy rugby Yanks. My name is Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glauser. We're in. Let's go. Um, let's pop these things. Cause we got a lot to get through here. We do. We don't have that much, but like, there's a lot to talk about within the things. So yeah, I guess there is whatever. I don't know. Not like there were consequences, not like there were consequential matches this past weekend or anything. None whatsoever.
Support for George the Fantasy Rugby Geek
00:00:48
Speaker
Find us on your favorite podcast app, download rate, review, share feedback. Always welcome per usual.
00:00:56
Speaker
Find and buy our good friend, George, the fancy rugby geek, a coffee or beer. The man has been busy, especially last weekend. And I'm sure he'll be just as busy this coming weekend with the run and coming up for the premiere ship. And also don't forget those of you that are URC fans, he's helped me out over there too.
00:01:15
Speaker
We just don't do it. You're into that sort of thing. That's one too many games. That's one too many leagues we can handle. Seriously. It's no judgment for those who follow the other ones, but it's a lot. It would be way too much. Yeah, you don't need a three hour us talking. And I don't think our wives would really appreciate us watching that much. No, they do enough. We don't need to subject you to that.
Discussion on Stuart Hogg's Case
00:01:42
Speaker
As usual, there is no discrimination here on this podcast, nor should there be in sports or in life. So when we are often banging on about supporting women in women's sports and stuff like that, it's also because we don't feel like they're seen enough. And where we're going with this is most you can probably guess is domestic abuse and the case of Stuart Hogg.
00:02:10
Speaker
the bullshit about, oh, she's just doing it for the headlines. Maybe, maybe, but honestly, again, refer back to our stance before. Maybe I'm believing a liar. I've done worse in my life, honestly. But if I go at it from the other angle and believe abusive piece of crap, I'm gonna feel pretty terrible about myself personally. So that's why we err on the side of, yeah, we're gonna believe
00:02:38
Speaker
the women first and then, and the victims at first. And then if they, if it comes out that they lied, well, that's terrible and they'll get theirs. Don't, don't you worry. So yeah, just man. I read, I read more than I wanted to on this and I was like, what the fuck? Yeah, I I've only seen the, the cursory things on it and I kind of followed it from afar. Cause I'm just like, it's one of those like looking through my
00:03:05
Speaker
the small gaps in my fingers kind of thing, like, Oh, yeah, what the fuck are you doing? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Definitely. But to me, the fact that he like, there's just, there's just no personal accountability there, it seems like. And look, the guy has issues, and we've kind of known it for a while, because he, you know, he did, and he even mentioned it at the end of his career. He's like, I care more about my image than I do about
00:03:29
Speaker
my play on the field and you know I guess my hair matters to me and it's like okay there's something's fucked up there like that's not yeah you know that's how that's hence why you went to that's going to rehab right and it's like well okay so there's obviously like demons there we know so yeah I'm not too
00:03:50
Speaker
Disincline, you know, I don't think there's really a on my end. Anyway, there's not really a worry about believing a liar I just think no same like he's fucked up He needs help and I even whatever help he's getting isn't enough because he's still blaming everything on like internet trolls and haters all that It's like yeah, that was dude. That's just absurd dude. Just You take the L and you you you fix it like you don't try and point fingers lay mothers points pointing fingers everywhere and it's like
00:04:22
Speaker
This is why as much as I liked you during the heyday of, you know, liked him during the heyday of his career, I didn't really like him towards the end. Cause it really was not, it was all about him rather than, you know, what he could bring, you know, what he was bringing to the table, what he was adding to the team. And I feel like that's kind of the same way he is here. Um, abusive towards others and blaming everyone else for the situations you find themselves in. And that's like, sounds like somebody I know.
00:04:51
Speaker
We talked, we talked about him this weekend when I did. Anywho, yeah, and he's like, you know, whether it's been, you know, blown out proportion or not, but, you know, potentially monitoring his life's communications for any amount of time is horrible, but like years on end is pretty awful.
Criticism of Stuart Hogg
00:05:15
Speaker
You've got something going on with you that needs addressing in
00:05:18
Speaker
You're fucked up, dude, for example. Yeah, it's not cool. That's not how we behave. It's not what we do. No, man. Dude needs help, and it's not anyone's fault but his. Yeah, and we wonder why women think the worst of men. Right. Why would they rather be in a forest with a bear? Yeah, exactly. Still, dudes couldn't handle that L. Oh, yeah.
00:05:46
Speaker
dude still couldn't handle that one. It's like, I mean, my thought is, all right, man, I just saying, but other than that, all right, have fun. But I actually, I, but I saw someone go through the numbers about it and they're like bears heavy, like in the last like 200 years, bear attacks have killed like some of them lines along the lines of like 40 people in like hundreds of years. And there's been, you know, thousands of more encounters, but without, you know, without injury or, you know, serious injury, anyway, serious harm.
00:06:12
Speaker
And they're like this guy saying like people have you know 100 people a year get struck by lightning and 20 of them die Something along those lines and then there's been however many shark attacks You know a year and X many deaths and it's you know again You know double digits at most and then he's like And he's in the US alone. There's been you know every year there are 500,000
00:06:37
Speaker
um, assaults of women, you know, whether sexual in nature or not, or, and then, you know, some of them have all killed and murder and all that. And it's like, they'd rather deal with the bear. Yeah. Yeah. Give me the bed. They'd rather deal with the bear. And I think the numbers say why. Yeah. So that's the thing like, and Stuart hug, thank you for being, you know, yet another fucking reason that people would choose a bear instead of a man because you're at a boy, boy,
Patreon Promotion and Content Overview
00:07:05
Speaker
boy. Anyway.
00:07:07
Speaker
Make sure that you grab our Patreon. We have all the goods up soon, if not now. We'll have the projected numbers. I don't want to get those out on Friday, but Super Rugby's up. Yeah. Super Rugby's up. So there you go. And those of you who are right on the business end of that FRDCs, and that's a great time to go find those numbers and help you out. If you need that one dub to get you over the line, you're welcome. Or if you're in my position where you have one dub will not do shit for you.
00:07:37
Speaker
But you can play a party, which is always fun. Yeah. You can poop on someone else's parade, which is always, sometimes that's the best you can do. And sometimes it is. Sometimes it is. I think it's Duncan. I think I'm coming for you. All right. Let's go to Croke Park.
Analysis: Champion's Cup Semi-final
00:07:57
Speaker
Champion's Cup semi-final. I'd say,
00:08:02
Speaker
In the first couple of minutes, both teams came out pretty nervous. We had, you know, knock-ons and just silly errors being made from both teams. So, which shocked me because Northampton haven't been here in a while. Lester just perennially here. So, them having any sort of nerves was kind of a, what's going on here, guys? Yeah. But they fixed it. Right. They fixed it.
00:08:29
Speaker
Yeah, well, you know, it helps to have like the, you know, the Jameson Gibson Park combo with James Lowe, you know, heads up play there just to set the tone. And, you know, again, I feel like, you know, Saints had opportunities early to really keep themselves in it. And, you know, yeah, it was a game.
00:08:59
Speaker
Hmm. I don't know. I feel like they spotted. Lancer a few at least one or two tries on this in this game. I think we can fairly say all agree with that. Yeah. And it's just kind of a shit like that. But they put up a championship effort and they made it super close at the end. So I mean.
00:09:20
Speaker
Definitely a championship effort and they lost to a champion team. What are you going to do? Like that? That's they had the I feel like honestly, if a slight home was playing, I'm not I'm not sure if he's hurt or whatnot. He better be. He could that's to me a difference maker. Yeah. And he played well, he got over, right? I think he put one. He did. He got the first one down. But both fingers on that side. We're the ones that got it down. Yeah. At the same time, just
00:09:52
Speaker
You know, just a little bit this that just that fine margin. Yep. And to your point in the championship effort from the Saints, if I tell you that James Lowe scores a hat trick. You're probably just assuming, oh, shit, I must have got out of hand. Yeah. Like without knowing anything else, obviously. Yeah. But he was that was the he was the only try score for for Lester. So, yep.
00:10:18
Speaker
Yeah. Ups and downs to that. Right. And also I think some of the, I didn't agree with all the penalties that were called. I'm not sure that the, you know, um, that they should have been in that some of one of those positions there for, I think for the second low try, um, I think was a bit of a gift. Yep. Probably. But at the same time, you got to play through that, right? Yeah, exactly. You got to get a no. Um, yeah. You know, both teams reacted,
00:10:47
Speaker
differently to right now. And really, even if you, they pointed out on the, I'm also, I'm very sorry for all of you that had to sit there and listen to Oz on those because I was reading about it. And it was funny as hell. I'm just like, Oh, there are other people that have to listen to Oz. We had the, we had the, we had the home broadcast commentary. So I was like, Oh good. We don't have to listen to those idiots. Granted, they're obviously very heavily leaning lens because they're Irish, but, um,
00:11:16
Speaker
neither here nor there, back to my point, they were talking about Porter always gets pinged by French referees for his hips coming out. And I was like, it's kind of true because I can recall a couple of times where that's accurate. So thus far, I don't have a lot to say they're wrong about, but they did adjust. So credit to them and all the credit in the world for it. You know, I wish
00:11:43
Speaker
I will say, I wish Finn Smith had settled into the game just a tiny bit faster because after what, 50 minutes, he looked great. He was cooking. He looked great after that. But this is an experience that none of these guys have really sans, you know, wall or in laws. Maybe somebody else I'm missing as well.
00:12:08
Speaker
That's pretty much it. I don't think you are. I mean, for a bank. No, Ram. No, that's certainly not. Dingwall and Freeman are still too young. Handy's a little too young. Mitchell, maybe. Nope. No. Nope. Not in this comp. OK. Then, yeah, it's down to them.
00:12:30
Speaker
To go to, which was a really awesome atmosphere, by the way, Croke Park with 8,000 people just screaming their heads off, mostly wearing blue. It's a hell of an atmosphere to go in, but it's why you play these competitions. It's why you want to be in these competitions at the end, because they'll never, like, even if Northampton never get back, which I'm sure they will, because if they keep doing what they do, this is going to be a hard team to stop for years to come, especially with Finn being as young as he is.
00:13:01
Speaker
Even if you never got there, you'll never forget that because that's why you do this. Right. Yeah. You were visiting, but it didn't matter. Like the, you know, pretty sure your spine still tingles and your freaking blood still rushes towards your crotch. Just the same. So you do have to see it. Like the, it's been since what, since exit or one, I think that a prem team is really, even one prem team has been this far. Exit or technically got to the semifinal last year, but they didn't belong there.
00:13:30
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. I don't know. La Rochelle just ran him off the park. Right. It's just like, you know, so for a team like this, yeah, they're young and it's really unfortunate that laws is on his way out because although this is a little bit of a line in winter season for him, he's definitely turned back the clock for Northampton this year in England to be blunt.
00:13:57
Speaker
So it's kind of a last hurrah kind of thing. And I don't know that he would be the same next year. But at least he's gotten them to this point. And then it's like, OK, I think we can take it from here. Because like you said, Finn Smith, all the guys we mentioned, they're set up for the future.
00:14:20
Speaker
If this is their last time at this level or, you know, I'd be shocked. Yep. Yep. They should be here for quite a while. And the other side, I got to say, Vanderfleer was again a bit of a. I love him and I think he's doing all right. It's not that he's playing poorly. It's just he's being played by other players.
00:14:46
Speaker
Um, you know, he's not playing, he's certainly not playing to the level that he, he has been, but again, he's also probably fucking exhausted and probably needs a break. Um, right. So hopefully the, hopefully I think Linster are top of the table in URC. So hopefully they can, I know they've been trying to arrest as many guys as they can. And I'm pretty sure he got lost last week. I just mean like he needs the summer off. I hope I agree. And you know, with this being the first summer after
00:15:15
Speaker
Oh, well, you hope that you see a lot of new blood and don't need to lean on some old horses and he'd be one of them ones that would be like, I know what you have. Go sit. Especially since Farrell knows exactly what he's got with most of these guys at this point because he's been here.
00:15:30
Speaker
Yeah, most of them, I'm sure are just going to go because he needs to have a seat. Yeah, because it's it's one of those if if they keep running him and then, you know, maybe he he might play. But I know at the same time, you know, if I was if I was far like better for my play in the in the matches, but he wouldn't be OK, we're going to write. We're going to do all the fitness and all the blah, blah, blah with him. No, dude, he needs.
00:15:52
Speaker
recovery at this point. He's been playing for almost like years straight at this point. And I think that's why he's, I think he's just gassed and needs like to refill the tank a little bit. Um, cause like though he was doing all of the fucking work, um,
00:16:10
Speaker
But, you know, Doris played well, Baird played really well. Um, and, um, and then if there was the first thing that was the, the loose forward to come off, which kind of surprised me. Um, I thought it would be Baird for Conan, but at the same time it made sense when they pulled better for because he was a bit of a ghost. And he's a tired pup. Yeah. And he has one tired pup, uh, record setting day for keen Healy as well. Well done to the man. Just,
00:16:36
Speaker
Seems to have an engine that doesn't quit at this point, a position that's not really that easy to do that with. So likes him and Waller are just anomalies in a lot of way. How are you doing this? You'll see the mediocre props stay long term. And Waller has been, he's come on strong his last couple of years too, which is crazy. Not that he was poor before, but he was kind of like,
00:17:06
Speaker
Eh, mid range, a guy, kind of a jag prop, but like not someone who will hurt you, not someone, but now he's like, he's been a huge immense like team leader. And, um, obviously you can see it on the field too, what he, what he brings to the table. So, um, yeah, for them to be doing this at their age is just silly, silly, silly things, all the silly things. Let's go to, I hope Frawley is okay, by the way. I,
00:17:36
Speaker
I think he's okay. I haven't seen anything yet personally, but no, I think he's okay. You didn't look happy. No, you didn't look happy. Very great. Let's go to Toulouse.
Review: Toulouse vs Quinn's
00:17:50
Speaker
Over to Toulouse and Quinn's. Man, I really thought that Quinn's were going to manage it again. I was like,
00:18:00
Speaker
Okay, here we are. This is fun. Keep going. Don't stop. I'm still having fun, guys. Keep going. Don't stop, man. That's the worst part is that if they just got off the bus,
00:18:15
Speaker
Uh, you know, it's a little early. Yeah. I mean, it was really, um, that first half was rough on them. Second half, like, but again, they're quins. They're going to make it interesting. Second half. Uh, no matter what, uh, not that they didn't make an interesting first half. What was it at half? Um, yeah. 31 12. I know. Yeah. They had put a little bit into it, but they really just weren't ready for Toulouse right off the bat. They got, then they scored two, two quick, you know, two pre-quick tries. What was it? Um,
00:18:44
Speaker
I'm early at 45 and green at 53. Yeah. In the second half. And you're like, okay, what are we doing here? Now you're five points down and it's like, buckle up because this is going to be fun. Yep. And the Walker card kind of ended that. Yep. I just did them in. I was like, no, he's probably lucky to be a yellow. Right. Actually, I withdraw that. I'm okay with that.
00:19:14
Speaker
I was thinking, you know, I was thinking, I was thinking of what freaking I think was Busby was trying to get in his ear. I don't trust, but I don't like brace. I trust Busby way less than that. So with the second Busby said red, I was like, oh, so it's probably yellow because I don't trust the thing that the fucking guy says at all. So yellow was probably correct. And you know, I I struggle with this. Honestly, because it wasn't it clearly wasn't a clear
00:19:41
Speaker
intent for like they were both bent. I tell me it's a penalty, not a card. I was hoping for that, but I also know how certainly how Northern Hemisphere referees have been leaning. Yeah.
00:19:55
Speaker
Yeah. And there are moments where I'm just like, yeah, it's a rugby incident for the most part, but I understand where they're going and they're trying to get guys in better positions. And they're really being sticky about it, especially up here in the Northern Hemisphere. I think the problem is if he goes lower, he's off his feet. He's going off his feet. I think so too, as well. And it's a rock situation. It's not a tackle, like a tackle situation. And even if that was a tackle situation,
00:20:25
Speaker
He's bent. He's low. Like, yeah, he could get lower. But at the same time, so that's why you take it away from the tackle situation and now it's a ruck. And again, there's rules about having to stay on your feet. And no, now he really can't get any lower without being called for picking for sealing off or just diving over. Diving over, yep, either of those.
00:20:50
Speaker
And the other guy's going for the ball. And so it's like he's putting his head, he has to put his head in harm's way. So now it's just a, like, yeah, that's why to me it was a rugby incident. I thought it was a harsh yellow. Obviously we want to take head contact out of the game.
00:21:07
Speaker
But in a kind of sport like this can't prevent it 100 percent like right. And this, I thought, was a little bit of a. Yeah, Walker was a little bit hard done by because it wasn't it wasn't we've seen it wasn't like what we've seen with Jasper Visa before, where he's just throwing a shoulder into a head of a guy who's like settled in the rock. He's not clearing out some right over somebody there. He's just trying to clear out and he got low. The the.
00:21:36
Speaker
I don't remember who it was. He cleared out was low on the props. Wasn't it? I don't remember. I thought so. I don't think. Yeah, I thought it was a little harsh for yellow, especially at that point in the game, like.
00:21:51
Speaker
Mm-hmm, but I you know, I'm not gonna argue too much against because again, we got to take that out But I don't know how to I don't that's one of those there's there's certain times where you just can't avoid it and that I don't know how else how that could have been avoided legally Unless he's like, okay. Well now you're there. I can't go for like I'm can't rock you out I'm sorry, like there are so yeah again. There are some times when But I'm not trying to be a hardo here like yeah, like I
00:22:19
Speaker
I just don't know what and maybe that's into my favorite. Let him poach and then use tackle him and poach you take it from him. Yep, baby. I don't know. And we won't know everything. Yeah. So by the way, I mean, hey, look, in the end, if if Quinn's had had woken up a little earlier, the different story anyway, and then they may have won.
00:22:47
Speaker
You can't let your opponent, especially not to lose, who were flying. Indeed they were. You can't just let them score at will early on. No. And the flamalt try, the charge down. Frustrating, frustrating. It's like, no, I didn't want to do that.
00:23:10
Speaker
I totally didn't mean to do that. Can we do again? We hit the reset button. Rage quit. You can really see the fly half coming out on him. Or not. That was the lock. The gap really high. That was the exact lock that needed to be right there. That's exactly what it needed to be.
00:23:34
Speaker
So we have Lester and Toulouse. So we're going to be either. It's going to be so boring. I mean, it's going to be some of the teams like that's not like anything that goes. Oh, that's interesting. But you still if you're a rugby fan, you look at this game and go, this is good. It might start off boring. I'm going to start off boring, but then it's got to turn into a show.
00:23:55
Speaker
I don't see any way that it starts out boring. I think Toulouse are just going to... We saw what they do. They threw the kitchen sink at them. Maybe it's easier when you're at home, but I think they're going to come out and then to neutral site. Yep. Both teams are traveling.
00:24:13
Speaker
Yeah, I'm interested. It's also, again, as you were kind of saying, it's two different styles. Toulouse are going to throw kitchen sink. Leinster are probably going to try to play a little bit more clinical and strike when they have the opportunity. I can't wait to see which way this could go either way.
00:24:35
Speaker
Because if Leinster plays solid defense, they could win. And if Toulouse just do enough to keep breaking through that line and Leinster just don't have enough to answer, either way it's going to be entertaining. Yep. Yeah, I don't know how you can be a rugby fan and not want seconds and thirds of this. Fuck it, let's play too. We will. I'm sure they'll be playing that one too.
00:25:05
Speaker
jump across the old equator here. Let's go down to Southern Hemisphere.
Recap: Hurricanes vs Waratahs
00:25:10
Speaker
We can start off. We'll start off with hurricanes and more does. And I. This is I get the sense that for whatever reason, maybe the hurricanes were maybe a little tired. I don't know what happened last week at G.I.O. again. There's like a oodoo around that fucking place for the hurricanes. But they came back and they fixed it. Yeah.
00:25:32
Speaker
I mean, really had had a great game and did it started from it started from there and everybody else just picked up where you left off. Right. And that's great. He's a guy you want if he's leading from from the front foot and the guys are following, you're going to have a good day. Helps of the war ties are a bit of a get right team at the moment. And the hurricanes got right. And also, you know, it helps that they threw out their best, you know, their best lineup.
00:26:01
Speaker
at least not in every single way, but in enough ways to really get the right people in the right places.
00:26:11
Speaker
Yeah. I don't think Morby didn't play last week. No. And he put one down early too. Yeah. Yosei, and Yosei Lekai Flanders, this probably, or maybe this week, I think they put Shields in for Flanders. Yeah, it's one of those two. That's probably the best. It's one of those two. I think Shields with his leadership is just a little bit more helpful. Yeah, exactly. That being the line. But still, Yosei and Lekai. Yeah, I'll take that. How about our old buddy?
00:26:41
Speaker
I'm Keanu Kirus-Arms, former free Jack. I played pretty well. I was like, Hey, I know that guy. What do you got named? I was like, Hey, I know that guy. He's my ear. Yeah. Yes. I mean, to the hurricanes, like you said, more ties aren't exactly a threat. No, Riley, no, Amua, no problem in that department thus far. So the, either the coaching staff is on something, onto something or the, the scouting team is onto something. Either way.
00:27:11
Speaker
doing, doing well there, regardless of who's wearing the two. So I'm, I'm, I'm satisfied with that. I know Amua is the better one. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to say we don't need him. I want him back as fast as possible, but thus far doing okay. It's survival for now. Yeah. I will say if you look at the tackle count for the war toss, I think Jake Gordon had 10.
00:27:42
Speaker
And that's, we know there's some scrumhaps that love to get into it and scrap, but man, your scrum have should not be in double digits. Probably not. Yeah. And TJ loves a scrapping. Yeah. I don't think, I don't think he's was anywhere near that. Nope. He also, I think he also came off the bench, which, you know, he did change his things a little bit. So he did, but still, he didn't even make five tackles though. So, no. So it tells you the difference in how,
00:28:11
Speaker
Right. They're defending in how to how player, how they're playing. Right. And he came on, you know, at 62 minutes. So, you know, not even, you know, played about 20, didn't make five tackles since about, right. Yeah. Let's go over Melbourne. Gordon played 50. So Gordon played a little bit over twice and he made 10. Yeah, no. Yeah. I made 10. Not awesome. Melbourne, a lot of the same really. I will say that because I'm, I'm checking,
00:28:39
Speaker
all the websites for what the lineups are when they come out late at night here. The headline of how Melbourne tried, how the rebels tried to spin this, like random close. I'm like, you did what now? Yeah. You know, 27 points. That's close. That's close. If that's close in your book, you got problems, bro. That's all I know. Yeah.
00:29:02
Speaker
Um, especially rebels and rebels are, um, the other fighting for a playoff spot. And this is something that they, you know, this is a game they really needed. They should have been up for it. And yeah, not to say they weren't, but right there, they did run into a bit of a machine. Right. And I know, I know Sam Derry scored too late, but still it was what? 24 by that point. Yeah. Something like that. 26 somewhere in that neighborhood. It honestly didn't matter. Doesn't matter. Yeah.
00:29:32
Speaker
It doesn't really matter. It wasn't that close. You know, it's a problem for the Rebels when, and it was great effort on his part. And, you know, you wonder why he keeps getting beat up. Daniela Tupo is starting as the first man near the Ruck in defense and trying to fucking chase down Mark Talia on the wing. That is a huge, that should be a huge red flag if you're a Rebels and,
00:30:00
Speaker
fixing that needs to be your first address. Because like, you don't want this guy worn out. He's one of your best players. Right. If you keep wearing him out, he's going to keep getting hurt. And whatever the money you signed him to is going to be worthless. Yeah. So I yeah, among other among other rebels problems, I know they have a mountain of them. But like, just add that to the pile right there. Depending on the distance he's trying to cover, that's a mismatch either way. So yeah. And it was a lot of distance. Yeah.
00:30:29
Speaker
great effort. But until I was just like, hmm, I kind of want to do this steps and just let them basically or no, he skinned him. That's what he did. Yeah, just burned him. I was like, Oh, okay. Yeah, he had the choice. He could either step him and cut him back inside or he could just burn him and he chose the ladder. Yeah. So yeah, not awesome. Not awesome rebels. Yeah, which is the better decision because you step back inside all it takes is, you know, to put in one foot, right?
00:30:57
Speaker
You get crushed. You're waking up on Tuesday. That's a possibility. Ouch. Ouch, ouch. Ouch town and population. You, bro. Let's go to Tonga. In Moana, Pacifica playing their home game in Tonga, which is great. Which is great. That was awesome. The crowd was fantastic. Yeah, the pregame ceremony was nice. Yeah, the ceremony was nice. Weatherless.
00:31:26
Speaker
Well, the weather, I mean, look, this is this is the it's one of those where if you're a player, you're excited, you're kind of excited about it because it's like anything is possible here. If you're a coach, you're.
00:31:40
Speaker
the opposite of that because basically all the things you practice are out the fucking window and anything could happen and it doesn't fucking matter what you've coached them to do. It's just like, hope you're spraying down the balls with fricking oil before you practice with them this week guys. Yeah. And shame about time with any getting, you know, knocking himself out early. Yeah. That's the downside too. That's the downside. You know, cause
00:32:04
Speaker
There's very little that you can control once you're in that situation. So yeah, water doesn't really have a whole lot of forgiveness, unfortunately. No. And he just didn't have his feet right. And nobody. Nope, nope, nope, nope. Is he in life this week? I don't think so. I don't think so. I don't think I would be fucking shocked. Shocked. Same. Let me see. No, hello. And no, he's not. No.
00:32:34
Speaker
No, Anari's not in the lineup. Oh, really? Yeah, the Moana are conceding. Clearly, yeah. It's very much a B-side they're putting out this week. And they're back at Mount Smart, too. Even Fai Lagi's getting a start. I mean, what the fuck? About time. Yeah, I know. Damn it. What the fuck's happening? I don't know. But yeah, this will break him out against the Chiefs. That makes sense. Anyway, back to this match. Yeah, and Ratumajevuki Niepkin's
00:33:06
Speaker
He had some fun. Yeah, he's, you know, he's, I kind of want, I don't think he's going to, I kind of want to make the All Blacks. So everyone, everyone is forced to say that name and say it right. But really, I, in a lot of ways, you got to feel good for the guy because
00:33:28
Speaker
He left the blues. You know, there's a lot of depth there. That's not a mystery at this point. We've seen it this season thus far. Yeah. And all the guys hurt and whatnot. And so, yeah, they have a lot of guys paint up and I'm still not entirely convinced that he would have been a part of that conversation. So I am going to feel happy for him. And he's got it. It's a it's a nice back three. You just wish the Highlands were playing like complete crap for the most part. Right. Between, you know, their best back three is obviously him.
00:33:56
Speaker
uh, tawa tawa nawa and the recce. So, and the recce has been, I don't know. I don't know. He's not been himself. No, no. And even tawa tawa nawa has had not had quite the moments that he had last year. And I think, I think the two got the two big, two or three big moves that were made away from Moana towards some of the other teams have been a little bit rocky and you know, they're, they're now,
00:34:24
Speaker
not quite the big fish that they were and have to adjust to it and or their targets. Like Levamu is clearly a target now for the crusaders. It's not a sign of mystery. Yeah. People will realize, gotta get on this guy before he gets ahead of steam. That's also one of the crusaders for not using him well. They've used him better lately, but still they just weren't using him well to start the season.
00:34:45
Speaker
So, uh, but yeah, it was a great occasion. Islanders wanted to be the party crashers. The one honestly, rightfully deserve. So, yeah. And I mean, really, it was, they played the smarter. They did. You just got to make better smart decisions in this type of weather too. It's like, right. Okay. Don't go for the miracle ball. Just, you know, I want to support after halftime. That's, that's, I mean, that to me is, was the difference is that, um, even if it was just penalties, um,
00:35:17
Speaker
Uh, you know, highlanders kept scoring. They scored not what? Yeah. They kicked, they kicked three, um, three penalties after half. But it's like at that point, get points where you, where you can. And, and, um, Moana just never really got into the game second half. And then of course, that's the funny thing is that weather was better second half and they didn't, it didn't look like they played that way. No, I agree. Two Christchurch. Big.
00:35:48
Speaker
Big result for the Reds. Yeah, slightly. That's a little, you know. Medium. Big result for the Reds. Medium to large. Yeah. They had... Just... I'm watching this game and I'm thinking, holy shit, these guys are going to do this, aren't they? And they were neck and neck with them. And as we found out of late, for the most part, Crusader's just kind of put the bet a little bit when it comes to squeaky bum time. For the most part, not always. But they pulled it out of the fire once or twice.
00:36:18
Speaker
but not this time. Nope. Not this time. And, um, and Harry, Harry, was it Harry Wilson? I had the winning try on the, off the block. Was I, I think that was the winner. He had it 61 minutes. They squirt again after that. I can't, um, no, Tim Ryan, Tim Ryan got the other one. That's right. Got the late one. That's right. That really like settled it. Cause I think nail it. Yeah. Cause
00:36:47
Speaker
Who scored, yes, ever re-scored late. Re-scored late and it got a little interesting there. It got very interesting, but not interesting enough. Nope. I think Red's realized, all right, cover this dude a little bit better and we'll be okay. He was there, only throughout. As you said, like Al Mua, you were just talking about him. He was a problem.
00:37:10
Speaker
Um, and so it's like, if you have him and, you know, and, and Savu and Dallas McCloud, a little bit out there showing some good. Um, but at the same time, David Haveli, what if he's your, like they, they really are, they're missing, um, they're missing a 10. And like, that's, that's such, that's the biggest difference. Cause even when I was watching it, like.
00:37:37
Speaker
It's still, it's hard to shake the Crusaders of old where when it was, what, seven points different at halftime? I think it was, yeah. You're like, yeah, I think Crusaders probably have them where they want them in a way. And just still wasn't enough. Reds really did a great job of finishing the job.
00:38:04
Speaker
Yes. I mean, I mean, if you're ready for half was, yeah, it was a big marker to lay down that like that, that changes the game. If you, when you score right after half, because that's, that's the crusaders bread and butter. And at least traditionally has been where they get, you know, they get to the sheds, even if they're down, they're like, all right, well, we know what we got to do. So let's talk about it. Let's make sure we're on the same page. Let's go do it. And then, um, to get punched in the mouth real quick.
00:38:34
Speaker
Um, really changes things. If, you know, if it was Kello score, cause they, they scored right before the McLeod scored right before half, you know, if Kello was the first try, um, second half, that's very different. It's just a little different. Yeah. It's just a little different. Um, they, uh, Barrett pulled himself out. He tweeted, tweaked his back. He's back this week, but yeah, but yeah, there's, there's problems abound in crusaders land.
00:39:04
Speaker
It's not a mystery. So yeah, these results are going to be coming a little bit more often than fans are probably used to. Let's just fax. And Richie's not walking through that door anytime today. Probably not. So I would, uh, I'd go find your answer. Yeah. I mean, FMG stadium, not much to talk about. Chief's belt raised him. Really did.
00:39:34
Speaker
then if you need like every cap of the whole thing, you can just start with the fact that, you know, Daniel Rona scored a hat trick. Yeah. And not, not saying he's a bad player or anything like that, but you know, that's kind of a, okay. Uh, the backup hooker Slater score, scored one before half. Like, yeah, it was just, it was nonstop. I think they're, or no, that was their backup.
00:40:03
Speaker
That was their second string hooker. Their backup for the day also scored. Also scored, yeah. No, Slater scored right after half, and then Taron Thompson scored a little bit later. Yep. Josh Iwanney scored, like, yeah. You got problems for us. Might want to figure them out. I don't want to figure them out. And Brumby's and Jua, J.O.
00:40:29
Speaker
man, I'm, I look at that last decision to kick for goal for Drew and I wonder that's not their usual style. And I understand the weather was dog shit and it's hard to want to play in that when you've been burned so many times, but that's not who they are. That's not their DNA. That's not their identity. And I feel like they just knew we talk about it all the time, sad field goal. And that was one of the sadder ones on the weekend, if we're honest.
00:40:57
Speaker
a little bit, because man, you go for a try there. Even if you get five instead of three, you're within a try, a converted try of the game. And you're at the bonus point. All those good things. And yeah, that's not who they are. No.
00:41:26
Speaker
They never really, you know, they didn't really challenge after that. And you know, because you take it from a two score game to a two score game. What are you doing? Yeah, it was with a do with a do I don't know who's calling it that was but man, I'd like to think that they want to take that back. Take it back, take it back. Just wasn't Yeah, obviously, it wasn't the right decision in the end. And
00:41:50
Speaker
They cost them and then they had to really push the, you know, they had to push the gas and they couldn't. Nope. Didn't have it. I also just, and the other part, I think the other moment the Druick can identify is that yellow card period where they had the pressure on and they just couldn't keep the pressure applied long enough to get, they were almost on a verge of getting another yellow card and they just didn't quite keep the pressure on as much as they should have.
00:42:19
Speaker
got real close to Nick Berry going back to the pocket again. Yeah. So if that had happened, you better believe they would have had it. I really, I really believe they would have at least. I agree. All right, let's go up to Quincy.
MLR Officiating Critique
00:42:46
Speaker
Let's start with the fact that
00:42:48
Speaker
This was a well contested match in terms of the two teams. This was obviously first versus second. It's had a lot, had a lot of good things going on. And then let's lead into what the real problem is. And we all know what it is. If you've been watching MLR and are a fan of MLR for many reasons. Here's the thing. When both Billy Meeks and Larson for different reasons are in the referee's ear for again, different reasons, but still on their case constantly.
00:43:17
Speaker
take a hint, MLR, this is a problem if that's happening. And it's not because the captains are ill disciplined because neither one of them really freaked out at no free and sell me and sell me is just bad. He is by example. And also, and some is one of the types that thinks he's so good. And he tells the captain step back off. It's like, no, no, no. If he's coming at you nice and calmly, he should still be able to talk to you. Right. All right. And I get it. If the captain's freaking out and hot headed, keep him the fuck away. I get it.
00:43:44
Speaker
Yeah, but Larson knows what he's doing. No, he's he's been in this role for too long. He knows what he's doing. Yeah. And also that yellow card was a fucking joke. I don't get it. Like, I'm sorry. So guy, you know, Patroz calls Mark.
00:44:07
Speaker
They're 11 who was chasing it down. I think it was, lets him go. Like kind of grabs him and then it's like, okay, you called Mark. And then someone else comes in and just slams him to the deck. Yep. Well, after the, well, after the whistle, after it's clearly had his hand out, like everything, it's clearly a mark. It's clearly called Mark and that's okay. And, um, Baker comes into perspective. Baker comes in and it's like, yo, don't fucking do that to my 10. And no, he gets carded for it.
00:44:38
Speaker
Like it didn't look like there's anything out of line. It didn't look like there's anything, any, um, any striking or anything like that. It just looked like, you know, gotten his mug about it. You know, a little, you know, little grabby and pushy, shovesies, you know, nothing big, no big deal. Nope. Um, and gets you out, like gets card for it.
00:44:57
Speaker
Yeah. And between that and Patra is coming off. Yeah. Afterwards, like, that's the thing. And he got it. There was a late shot on him, by the way, that didn't look at. Yeah. You're getting guys hurt. That's the thing. You're putting them in unsafe situations, and you're penalizing the other team for responding. Like, no. Don't like it. Nope. We even talked to Nate Augsburg after the game. Yeah. Just to say hi and give him a little, like, nice to see you and all that.
00:45:25
Speaker
We were like, yeah, we're not really happy with the official and he's like, yeah, me too. No, it seems to be a popular opinion. Honestly, I don't think he's speaking in a turn. I think it's a very popular opinion amongst the players. He's like, they were talking about, um,
00:45:41
Speaker
they were talking about old glory in Miami and how the kick was taken from like a very, very wrong spot, not just like off by like an inch. It was off by like a couple of meters and it went over by about a meter. So that should tell you everything you need to know. So it's, it's a problem. And the fact that here's the thing I, I want to believe, and there probably is some quality referring coming through the United States. Um, you know, we don't see a ton of it over here, bar or Jenny and Amelia, but,
00:46:11
Speaker
I want to believe that there are others like them coming through. And with that, we should embrace them and try to give them as many of these jobs as we can. And rather than the failures from overseas who are just like, yeah, like the Rogans, the greens, the and salamis, like send them back. There's a reason those leads didn't want them because they're dog shit. Right. We don't need the table scraps no more. Not in this sense, at least, you know, they're
00:46:41
Speaker
And I think I said to you and this, I think the silliest thing we didn't do was when JP Doyle came over here for a season, we should have locked him up as like head of refereeing or something like that. And that's what Scottish premier. That's actually what Scottish are, if you did. So it's like, who, I don't know who was making the decisions on that, but shit, they fucked that up. And this is also the downside of USA Rugby and MLR not cooperating sometimes. Like you did one right thing. You signed someone who actually.
00:47:08
Speaker
was wanted, but just they didn't have room for him. Because he was just redundant. Yeah. There's a difference between people that are dog shit, they've been cast away, and someone that's just redundant. Right. And in this case, man, like...
00:47:23
Speaker
Yeah, you could have had him training up referees and helping American referees. And instead you have, like you said, Anselmian Green, who are over here, and you can't tell them anything. It's not like the NLR can go to them and be like, yeah, we can't have you refereeing like that. We want to develop you. And they're going to be like, fuck you. You just should be happy that I'm here. And it's like, that's not even though, no, we shouldn't. But no. Yeah, it's not.
00:47:51
Speaker
Yeah. Hey, whatever. They're going to be, you know, the, the free jacks are, um, are going to be in the playoffs, not really worried about wearing how fast we can secure one of those top two spots. Yeah. I'm really not concerned about it. It's just that game. It sucked to be at that game. It did. Didn't we commented on it to the higher ups as well? Yeah.
00:48:14
Speaker
They were like, what do you want to do? And we basically said what, what, what this was. It's like, give Amelia a whistle, give Pete, like, like develop some people because they can't be worse than this. No, they really can. You give, you give someone that's, you know, in it and on it for, you know, a couple of games and the nerves might get to them once or twice, which is understandable.
00:48:38
Speaker
but you give them a couple, you know, you give them some minutes and they're in the middle with the, within this environment and good things will happen. Right. I'd rather be at a game where Amelia makes a couple of mistakes, um, as she's learning. Then, and, and it kind of fucks us then seeing and sell me your green fuck us for the fun of it and smiling about it. It's like, no. Yeah. And like, and even like, where's cat roach? Right. Yeah.
00:49:07
Speaker
another referee that could, that should be in the middle of, she's international world class. Should be good enough for this league. Get it together. Anywho man. Anywho. Um, cool. So that is the rugby pod. Hey, look at that. We made good time. Not our worst job. No, not our worst job. Uh, would that
00:49:36
Speaker
We are gonna head over to Fantasy Corner time. But yeah, we appreciate everyone that listens to us every week and if you're out there and haven't said anything to us, please reach out. But if you're not joining us on the Fantasy Corner, enjoy yourself the weekend with the rugby and we'll catch you all next week. Later. Cheers. This has been the Fantasy Rugby Nags Podcast.
00:50:06
Speaker
If you'd like to ask a question or leave us general feedback, email us at fantasyrugbypodcastatgmail.com. You fart, you die, by the way. Yeah, exactly. The ticky tackiness kind of absolutely pisses me off. Be sure you check out our Patreon at patreon.com slash thefantasyrugbyings. Yeah.