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Episode 33: Premiership Final & Super Rugby Round 16
29 Plays6 years ago
It's another episode with those American Rugby hammerheads and we are happily celebrating the results on the Premiership Final. We talk about where this Saracens side ranks amongst Europes elite, how Exeter can get themselves just that tiny nudge up into the same category and how it all played out at Twickenham. We also talk about the other match at Twickenham, the Barbarians and a very young England squad. We also review all the action in Super Rugby as it gets down to the nitty gritty and teams start to find themselves on the outside looking in. Tune in for all this and much more shenanigans.
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Transcript
Introduction and Hosts' Greeting
00:00:08
Speaker
Hey, everybody. How's it going? Welcome back. It is the Pants Caribbean. My name is Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glaser. We are recording from just outside Boston, Massachusetts. It's Tuesday. It's a regular day.
Rugby Weekend Highlights
00:00:17
Speaker
And, oh boy, what a weekend. It was between, especially at Twikram.
00:00:23
Speaker
Just a twig just just wicking up just a twig of them You probably didn't need to go further than that to find some damn good rugby. I didn't I came back home to find some shit rugby, but yeah different different story for a different day.
Social Media and Reviews
00:00:35
Speaker
Yeah Yeah, so everybody make sure that you checking us out on twitter Because that's where we seem to be very active these days. I've gained so many followers from this just this it's funny But I'm enjoying it good But yeah
00:00:51
Speaker
Make sure you review us on Google Play, Spotify, iTunes, wherever you wherever you get your podcasts.
Saracens vs. Chiefs Final Overview
00:00:56
Speaker
Let's let's crack some beer. Don't have to ask me twice. Yes, some good stuff here. So I do have a little surprise, but we'll talk about the prime final first. Okay. And then and then we'll get to that. There we go. About time I stopped being an amateur here.
00:01:19
Speaker
Yeah. That's some good head right there. Yeah. And not nearly to the ridiculous point that I've been doing. Okay. Um, Ooh, prime final.
00:01:30
Speaker
Is your heart rate down finally? My god. Oh, it jumped. It jumped at least twice. Yeah. Especially in that first half. So yeah, those that didn't watch it, Saracen's claim victory 37-34 over the Chiefs. And that was every bit the final that people were hoping for in terms of entertainment value. My god, that was just amazing stuff. Yeah, you couldn't ask for a better rugby match for the final. Oh, no. No, no, no. Consider the last.
00:02:00
Speaker
Last year was, you know, Saracens kind of jumped out to the lead and then Exeter tried to claw it back and not not to be had. And then two years ago was pretty good. It was that was the Exeter and Wasp final, if I remember right. And then the year before that, again, Chiefs and Saracens and that that wasn't the prettiest final either. So the Exeter and Wasp final was pretty good. It went into extra time. This one was probably this one was above that one, though, for sure. I think there's just so much going on and didn't come down to a bonehead play.
Farrell's Kicking Struggles
00:02:28
Speaker
It was
00:02:29
Speaker
I mean, they didn't use it. It was, uh, it was really well thought all the way through. Yeah. Um, both, both sides had an opportunity to play man up. Um, and, uh, both sides, you know, the Saracens, I think scored maybe one more point. I think it was the difference. I think they got 13, uh, in their, in their time. And, uh, I don't know. I think, uh, maybe, maybe not.
00:02:53
Speaker
Exeter got two tries with one conversion because that was when okay, that makes sense. The Saracens tries were were when Faz Couldn't find the posts for some reason. Yeah, that was and you know
00:03:05
Speaker
That was big. If he's if he is missing points and we're still winning games in this situation, I don't know what to tell you because I was, you know, I was getting late looking up at the scoreboard and I'm like, you know, those those six points would be big right now, even four of those six points. So yeah, we were saying that even if you'd only converted two of those three. Right. It would still have been extremely pleasant.
00:03:31
Speaker
We got 13. Yeah. And, and, and Exeter got 12. Yep. So, cause we had the, well, I mean, let's talk about, I mean, obviously, Saracen's got off to an awful start and Exeter
Exeter's Fast Start and Saracens' Response
00:03:44
Speaker
got out of 12. Yeah. They have got a bad habit of doing that in big games. I don't understand.
00:03:48
Speaker
Well, I yeah, that was just a A couple eyes all around cruise cruise with the poor judgment on where he needed to set up and then who was that laws? Coming in behind and and was asking yeah and crowding him so that the the ball once it went over cruiser it went over laws too and you
00:04:08
Speaker
Yeah, what the heck, he was poorly, so poorly positioned on that one. Keep that in front of you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, so. Kids out there, if you're listening, keep the ball in front of you on the kickoff. Take a half step. Yeah. But yeah, so, and Exeter pounced on it, Nick White ends up over for, I think, what was the fastest prem final try in history? Right. Wow. 27 seconds. Yeah. Sneaky little bugger sneaks through the line and darts over.
00:04:31
Speaker
But then, you know, this was kind of the theme when it felt like Exeter had the momentum. Saracen said, no, no, no, no, you don't. And they fought right back. Henry Slade got very lucky to not concede a penalty try. Did get sent off for a yellow card, though. I mean, it wouldn't have mattered. It was definitely a yellow card. But it was definitely a yellow card. It wouldn't have mattered either way, because Sarri scored right off the lineup. Yeah, Jinx and company say, no problem. We'll fix it ourselves. Thank you. Yeah, we don't need the gift. Thanks.
00:04:59
Speaker
and probably should again should have had it but you know what they just said whatever yeah they just said whatever we'll we'll we'll deal with it ourselves right um you know and then that in that slayed penalty period uh faz knocks one over and spencer gets one over as well uh yeah again ferrell's missing his kicking boots and somehow the sarsans are still pulling out big wins so that's i think that should be a little bit of a terrifying thought for a lot of people honestly
Saracens: Best Club Side Debate
00:05:24
Speaker
They're just and so you've you've uh, I guess I don't want to sneak into the next section and slide it right into here, but um You know you you brought up the the point in the text to me and it's hard to disagree Is this you know one of the best club sides ever for yeah? Yeah, you know and it it really is and
00:05:45
Speaker
I do want I do want to cover a couple things, but yeah, we'll talk about we'll definitely talk about that They're just so good from from top to bottom you have Barrett who's playing on one leg out there for 40 minutes. God bless him puts in a hell of a shift. Yeah before giving away to Tompkins at half Spencer Spencer gets a little knock has to come out a little earlier than they wanted him to and Wigglesworth comes in and fucking lights that fire right away. Yep
00:06:14
Speaker
You did a great job. I mean, hard to say that, hard to be sad. And actually that was the thing that I brought up was, you know, their forward subs were immaculate. You had internationals for their forward sub. We did too, but not to the same level.
00:06:31
Speaker
You're talking about an all international front row of Hepburn and Cowan Dickey and Tom Francis, a grand slam winning Tom Francis, to come onto the bench atop of Sam Skinner who returned with a
Exeter's Backline Issues
00:06:45
Speaker
bang. He is back. He looks very good obviously.
00:06:48
Speaker
Nice scamper on the outside. I was like, who's that outside? Oh, it's Sam Skinner. What the hell's he doing out there? Haven't seen that in a while. Didn't matter. He made it look good. Nice, awful Henry Slade, who fell over the line for the try. Yeah, so their forward pack was just littered with quality in terms of one all the way to their subbench. But their backs were a little bit on the struggle bus for me. I am not one that rates of clarity.
00:07:16
Speaker
Personally, I don't see anything special in him. I don't think he's a bad player. I just don't think he's special I know Cuthbert's got something good in the locker. He did at one point. He's kind of not been there for a while So, you know, he he like no, oh no friggin a
00:07:31
Speaker
Jack. No, he doesn't see an update on it. Man, I haven't either. It's ankle. It's not knee, thankfully. So that's good. Stepping the right direction. Might be a break. A break's at least something he can have a shot at getting back for. Oh, yeah. If it's a knee, he's in trouble. Right. But everything I've seen says it's his ankle. OK. Hopefully it's on Achilles. Sheesh.
00:07:48
Speaker
He yeah, it didn't it was because it was that the way he got hurt wasn't the way you hurt in achilles No, it's you achilles is usually non-contact, right? This was uh, yeah, this was straight getting pulled over the tackler and and just at a bad angle so
00:08:03
Speaker
So more to the backs point in their issues. Nick White has to come off and he pulls up. I did genuinely feel bad to see him have to pull up lame the way he did. And Jack Monder comes on. I do like Jack Monder, but I don't think he's nearly the same quality as Nick White is.
00:08:19
Speaker
Right. Well, his first kick led to a Saracens try. Yeah. So problem. Yeah, big problem. You know, he just didn't he got a little too much. He outkicked his coverage, as we all do from. And, you know, you don't you don't out kick your coverage when you're kicking at Liam Williams, because now you call him the bomb diffuser. But that's only because he does very well in high pressure situations when you put him under low pressure situations that's monitored.
00:08:46
Speaker
Oh, he's gonna he's gonna not defuse he's gonna drop the bomb on you. Yeah, he did. Yeah, he definitely did Um, yeah, and then same hill who is you know, again, not a bad player by any means whatsoever Steenson's not bad either But you know when none of them when you guys stick they're not bad No, but they're not their quality drops
Exeter's One-Dimensional Play and Need for Adaptability
00:09:05
Speaker
off for sure. Yeah, and and it's it's a it's a it's a noticeable difference and you know
00:09:12
Speaker
It really does, especially for their back three. They lose Noel and... Joe Simmons has to slap back there. Who's not used to playing that? Right. He got run all over the pitch by Carroll. Yeah. He was just like, oh, I'm going to kick you this way, kick you that way, kick you this way. And then eventually he sees Joe Simmons matched up against Liam Williams on the wing. And this was after a big after that big Sam Skinner try that. Yeah, for sure. Everybody thought, yeah, that's it. And this is what this is what Saracens do. They claw back and say, no, no, no.
00:09:41
Speaker
We are not going to go away that easily. You're going to have to try a lot harder to put us down. And Liam Williams pops over the line for, you know, very, he made it look real easy. I think Simmons was just kind of hung out to drive his team a little bit. Well, I mean, he's outsized out. He doesn't have the jumps to the vertical to keep up with Liam. So there was no way that was, I mean,
00:10:07
Speaker
there may be like you know one in ten chance where he he actually gets it done but that's a try that's a that's a hype for for as a low percentage play is that would normally be that cross field kick for a try
00:10:19
Speaker
to Sanjay Willis. To Sanjay over Simmons. That's a pretty high percentage. That's it. So that obviously did well. Sean Maitland got one in the corner about six, seven minutes later, something like that. And that really just kind of put the momentum right into the series sales. And they just rode that home.
00:10:47
Speaker
You could just see and we were talking about Joe Simmons getting kicked all over the place, you know, he got put into a corner I think yeah, he was forced to either kick it out or whatever it was It maybe it wasn't him but point point being it what he wasn't in a correct position so exit were forced to kick it out near their own goal line and
Saracens' Tactical Error Analysis
00:11:05
Speaker
they they lose the line out and
00:11:07
Speaker
Maro Toge ends up snatching it and they do a couple of forward balls and Jamie George ends up out by the backs and gets one under the post with a little help from I think Tompkins was standing next to him and you know Jinx gets over. Why he didn't get many of the matches beyond me considering you look at Maro Toge's number but also consider the card.
00:11:30
Speaker
Yeah, and also but also consider the person that was picking the man of the match. So I want to pick on one more thing because it's an odd tactical just complete fuck up by Saracens just You know when you expect professionals to Especially at this stage of the game where you're you know, premiership final two of the the best club teams around and You have a yellow card that's working its way down
00:12:02
Speaker
And you call for it was a scrum they got the they got the short arm Sarris is dead and Rather than bleed the time down take another scrum with literally like I think there were maybe seconds to go on the card
00:12:17
Speaker
I think so too. Yeah, you take you take the scrum you maybe you fuck up once and say oh Can we get her get her guy back on or the very least you you you play the scrum and then you kick you kick the touch? You know, then you get your liberally you get your guy back. What do they do? They just say all right Well, we're just gonna bomb it down the field
00:12:33
Speaker
Oops. Oops. The other team has 15. You have 14. Maybe not the best decision. Maybe. Yeah. Maybe wait to do that until you have your full compliment of men. And that that's what led to the Johnny Hill try. So it really, you know, it's one thing to lose a man for 10 minutes, but when you lose him for 12.
00:12:52
Speaker
Due to your own fuck ups, you're not doing it. You're not doing yourself any favors. So, um, that, uh, to me, you know, if had Saracens lost this match, that would have been a big moment. That would have been a huge moment that I don't think would have been, and I still don't think it's, it's gotten the attention that, that it should.
00:13:09
Speaker
I don't know who that's down to, if that's down to the captain, if that's down to the forward guy saying, yeah, let's scrum, or if that's down to the bench saying, no, no, no, take the scrum, whatever it was. Somebody's got to be better communication. Somebody's got to know. So that does come down to somebody out there, whether it's on the sideline or on the field knowing
00:13:26
Speaker
Hey, maybe we should do this so we can get Maro Toge back on the field. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but they kind of have that, you know, there are scoreboards available that have this information there. They usually do. They usually do. They're usually not far off from the official timekeeper. Right. And you can take a look up real quick, just to, you know, it takes only two seconds for one of the 14 people out there and then whoever's on the bench to say, you know, Oh, you fuckers, wait.
00:13:50
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely so they lift the trophy Dave Strudel gets to walk off into the sunset with with a winner's medal and I I'm very happy that we could send another guy off with a with a with a trophy in a winner's medal Is it
Saracens' Success and Historical Comparisons
00:14:09
Speaker
Is it out of the question that wiggly retires too or is he uh, would he have done that by now? I don't know He probably would have done it like right after that. I think you would uh, I don't know He's still he's got a lot of time to think I think europeans are like that. They might he might just decide two weeks from now You know what? Yeah, i'm done. Yeah, and he may decide mid-season. He's done. Yeah, sometimes that happens too, you know, um, so yeah so Saracen's win
00:14:35
Speaker
Another trophy and I don't say that I'm not trying to say that arrogantly. I swear to God But it's It's one of those things. This is one of those things you have to you have to enjoy you really do as a supporter of the team because I
00:14:52
Speaker
Case in point luster tigers Look at what they used to be. They were exactly this they were winning prem finals. They were winning European titles They were winning a lot of big games and you know, and they did it for years. They did it for years and they and
00:15:09
Speaker
You know that the obviously the one of the magic formulas is keep the same guy that you have that you have at the helm for a long time Mark McCall has been there for a while basically since he started this little project and turned it into a machine right and for a lot and for the longest time Lester Tigers had Richard Cockrell
00:15:27
Speaker
and he's turned Edinburgh into a damn good team now. So again, I am enjoying this side so much, but I think you have to sit there. They've won the league double twice in four years. Oh, speaking of doubles. Haha. Oh no. Yes. Yes. I forgot about that. Oh no. Yes.
00:15:56
Speaker
Listen, we didn't do, we didn't do it after the European final. No, we didn't do it after this. All right. What are we drinking here? This is a beautiful, beautiful rye. You gotta have, oops. Hey, Hey, Hey, get back in that bottle. All right. To the series double series double. Yes.
00:16:25
Speaker
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Saracens. Yummy. You're making me damn happy. Well, that was good. Yeah. Guess where it's from. I don't know. Where was that? Baltimore. Oh. See, see, now we have a record too. God damn it. There are good things that come out of it. All right. Very good thing. We found one additional good thing that's come out of Baltimore. What's the other?
00:16:52
Speaker
I don't know. It wasn't me. I kind of lived there for a little bit. I did come out of there. So you came out alive. Maybe the wire. That's good. There you go. That's a good one. I like that. So yeah, I mean, is this.
00:17:07
Speaker
I don't think it's a question. This is definitely one of the best European sides you've ever seen since the game went professional. This is up there with Lester and Lester of those years, too long in the years where they were winning three in a row. And I'd probably put Leinster the year they went three out of four. They were also winning a lot of pro 14s then. Other than that, I don't think you could put any more teams up there with them.
00:17:35
Speaker
It'd be hard. Yeah, and and they're to lose head that had a period where they were pretty much unstoppable as well So I guess you could put them in there right and things like this are cyclical and So but you know some teams can sustain it, right? it's It's possible to keep it going but for this if I just want if you just want to take a snapshot to me of this team Right, it stands out among I'd say a lot of you know
00:18:04
Speaker
Certainly among their other squads that they did like The one the one the double but these guys there's just that like you look at this They're they're they're front row and they're starting their backup both. They're they're starting from Props our backups, right? They're not they're not their starters. They have now Mako and TT both are on the shelf. So weren't available. So, all right, we're subs play and our backup backups on the bench
00:18:33
Speaker
They come in and not only do you know I mean Adams Hale Academy product
00:18:39
Speaker
Right. Got like you got to love him. But I mean, who the fuck is Adams? Right. Right. Unless you're a Saracens fan. You have no idea who this person is. No idea who this person is. And yeah. And and fucking judge. We I mean, Dr. Tudor and Horn. We've been a name for judge to the point where he was able to sign a professional contract in the prem. You know, he gets I mean, sorry, Cornish Pirates. We kind of did that to you guys. But, you know, you're welcome, Bath. Yeah. And you just put the thing is,
00:19:08
Speaker
It's not just about plug and play because guys you're putting them into position And and uh, um, given them a role And it's can you just do this role and do it at a high level? Yeah, and when you get your opportunity fucking take advantage of it and they do so a lot of them do yeah, you can see you can see some of the guys like um
00:19:29
Speaker
Oh shit Lewington who you're like, you know, he does a couple good things but you can kind of see the flaws in this game So there's no there's obviously you understand why he's not even on the panel for for a game like this, right? But most teams would take that because they just don't have the
00:19:45
Speaker
They don't have the weapons right and they don't have guys who can do more than he can do and that's the difference is that Saracens expects you to do more and they they train you to do more and And they have a system and they teach you how to play it and they play it and they play it well, you know And they teach they teach every they teach everybody that has to play in those positions how to play it, you know, it's not
00:20:06
Speaker
And what they need from them. So there's the high level of there's a high standard So like, you know, we've all been around the the the rugby clubs where You know you practice tackling and you practice rocking but that's the standard you set. Can you tackle? Well, can you rock? Well, if that's all you ask of your team then
00:20:24
Speaker
They'll give you that. Right. But like it looks like to me, the McCall is asking so much more and maybe you're not getting, you know, he wants you to be playing at man barely
Saracens' High Standards and Player Commitment
00:20:33
Speaker
ever smiles. Right. You're playing at a at an international level at all times doing, you know, A, B and C, not just A and B. You know, C is not optional here. C is not, you know, C, you need to be doing that, too. Got to have it, too. Yeah. And that's when you get them so much more out of your players.
00:20:50
Speaker
Yep, yep. He's um, I mean give him credit he's demanded a lot and look at like one of his disciples Paul Gustard, you know, and I don't say disciple because he was a good coach before he got to the Saracens and he went on to do good things with England and now he's doing really good things with Quinn's with a team of with the team at Quinn's that wasn't
00:21:13
Speaker
all that up to be, and we'll talk about a couple of Quinn's guys later on, but it's a lot of credit to Mark McCall and what he's turned it into, Nigel Ray, obviously a huge part in this.
00:21:30
Speaker
People can say what they want about the Saracens and say what you want about Tiki Tiki Tonga boys Yeah, that's why if you want to stop it use it you gotta start start beating teams in finals and it's not even about the Talent like I you know, I know people are upset about the the salary cap shenanigans if there are any I don't know whatever Doesn't really matter to me on this side of the pond But their captain is their least physically talented person
00:21:58
Speaker
But he's also their unquestioned leader, by far. But it's like, that's the difference, is that it's not about what you can do, it's about what you do with what you got. So... Oh, and he's got England caps to his name, too, on top of that. He does. But, I mean, you know, right now he's...
00:22:15
Speaker
Oh, he's not he's not near that form anymore. But you know, you know, I maybe, you know, when when I'm fully fit, I could challenge him in a race. Brad Barrett, he challenges you. There you go. Throwing down the gauntlet, Brad. I know you got a bum hamstring. I think I can take it. Maybe with that. Maybe with that. Yeah. Come on over. We'll buy you a beer. Right.
Exeter vs. Saracens: Tactical Approaches
00:22:43
Speaker
Yeah, but it's just that they the things that they do aren't I mean you look at the the Exeter, you know their first Half of rugby was okay. Well, let's work the ball into the Saracens 22 and then we'll pound pound pound they did and and just walk it over Okay, that's that's fine. That's it. That's a perfectly valid tactic. How much talent does that take?
00:23:06
Speaker
Oh, it's how much are you asking of your players? I mean, look, so look at this. I mean, for me, it's like this is where the void kind of becomes. Look at their second row. I don't think Dave Dennison and Johnny Hill are terrible players. But when you compare one to the other, it's miles apart. So that that to me tells you tells me that it doesn't take much. Now I know our firm row compared to theirs. Certainly the loose head to loose head.
00:23:31
Speaker
comparison is probably a little bit off. But still, I mean, front row you can kind of make up for a little bit. Second row, you need to have some dynamics in there. You need to have some guys that can move about, and thankfully we do. But I'm not sure they do, although obviously Johnny Hill got over the line. But just different players and not quite to the same quality in my book.
00:23:53
Speaker
Right. And it's just that what Exeter is, what Baxter asks them to do, they do it at a very high level. Absolutely. But he just doesn't ask them to do the same things that McCaldos. I think it's hard for them. Again.
00:24:12
Speaker
two different ways to skin a cat. And there's, there's plenty of different ways to do it in rugby. Um, all mostly equally valid. Um, but I feel like the, the bash bash bash style, you can shut, if you shut that down, if you shut Exeter down with that, what else they got?
00:24:32
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, they've started to add to the talent obviously a guy like they had Cordero, but they're replacing him with hog. So yeah, it's okay, which is not terrible by any means whatsoever. You know, they have no when he comes back. Yeah, I feel like they're lacking a little bit of spark that they can
00:24:51
Speaker
just a tiny bit of quality to bring them and to say that they're not like one of the best teams in Europe is stupid. That's just ridiculous. But again, we're applying high standards to high standard teams. We are. We're being a little mid picky here. Yes. Yes.
00:25:09
Speaker
Yeah, let's bring up bring this point up. Exeter having some issues with big games, and I'm not saying all Obviously they have a prem title to their name So that's that for them from where they were to there is gigantic.
Exeter's Big Game Difficulties
00:25:25
Speaker
It can't be understated. It's not
00:25:27
Speaker
I'm not taking away from that. That's that's huge. Like when they when they beat us in that in that semifinal, I was like, I hope they win. Yeah, I hope they win. That was that was that I was like, OK, now that we're out, I hope they win. I wanted them to win. So again, we're applying high standards to high standard teams. Right. So but look at look at their performances in Champions Cup. It's not been good. No, you know, they haven't made the knock. This is supposed to be one of the best teams in England, but yet they haven't made the knockout round yet. So what is it that they're missing and that they need?
00:25:58
Speaker
to me it's a plan b okay and to me it's it's always if you if you look for a team that struggles against high level competition like the highest level like say like the champions and then the in the playoffs of the prem when you're playing the best of the best around you and around europe
00:26:16
Speaker
It's, again, that Mike Tyson thing. Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face. Absolutely, yeah. So, Exeter, your plan is to, as we said, get it into the other teams 22 and bash, bash, bash, get it over. Okay, that's a perfectly valid plan. Now, what happens when that doesn't work? What do you got? I mean, yeah, that's the thing. When you have a Munster who basically have their...
00:26:39
Speaker
Take example, their pool this year had Munster, Gloucester, and Kast. Kast had a god-awful year who were the French champions last year and just, bleh, gross, bad. So their wins came at home against Kast and then they had a win against Gloucester, I think, and that was it. And they either lost or tied Munster, then they had to go to Munster and rocked up. And we talked about maybe this is them turning the corner when they went to Munster and put in a performance, they lost.
00:27:07
Speaker
But they put in a hell of a performance. Now, I want to really, for me, it's going to be, can I turn it? Pools will be drawn in I think a week or two. So I'll be very, very interested to see what the pools look like and who they get matched up against. Because last year, yeah, the only thing they could do was beat a
00:27:27
Speaker
Not great french side at home and they'd be uh another team that they play anyway So that that to me didn't say a lot of great things. Yeah, the monster game was good But if that's just the one off Then they're not going to do anything in champions cups. So they have to figure it out And let's so let's contrast that with with Saracens and how they played say in the premiership versus how they played against
Saracens vs. Glasgow Warriors Strategy
00:27:49
Speaker
the team that they played three times in the Champions Cup, the Warriors, right? They got to the pro 14 final, if I'm not mistaken as well. So not a bad team. Not a bad team at all. And Saracen's manhandled them by just three times, all three times. They just took it to them physically.
00:28:09
Speaker
Right, one was real ugly, and that was at Scottson, and then the other two at Allianz were what ended up being absolute whitewashes. Right, and what was happening there was, and I'm not talking about they were physical on defense, because Sarries are always physical on defense. I'm talking about... You can ask any team that plays them in the pram for that one.
00:28:28
Speaker
I'm talking about about on an attack, uh, where we're against uh You know against glasgow. They they rocked up a big side. They went heavy on them They did go heavy quite often. Yeah bullied them back over, you know over their own try line every single time and right But then you see the way they play against some of these other clubs and they're playing a wide open free-flowing style um when they get the space
00:28:52
Speaker
So saris it's one of those saris can can Find your weakness because they have the versatility in attack and then their game planning They can find your weakness. Whereas if you just say, you know what? We're gonna be good at these five things and that's it and the most of them are Pushing our picking goes and gaining meters in the rock afterwards in tight. Yeah
00:29:16
Speaker
That's only going to take you so far, because eventually whatever happens, whatever you do well, you're going to find someone who can stop you with that. Just out-physical you. Right. If you only put a point of pride on one thing, one element of your game,
00:29:32
Speaker
And somebody suddenly matches that or or puts you down all of a sudden now you're questioning everything else. I saw it to keep to kind of transfer this to another get another venue um the eagles sevens um I saw a match this weekend where or danny barrett the
Lessons from Rugby Sevens on Versatility
00:29:49
Speaker
He loves everybody he likes the content loves the contact he got lit the fuck up in contact And he was a little kitten the rest of the match because he was like this is the one thing I do I'm the bully and somebody bullied him and now the sudden know to do
00:30:07
Speaker
It's like, dude, that's because you got to be versatile. You got to say, all right, you're going to you want to hit me like that next time you're going to step. I'm going to step the shit out of you. Yes. Good stuff, man. And but some people don't have that and they don't. And that's that's so they're they're by design, they're limiting themselves. And I think to me, to me, that's where Exeter's issue is, is that they're by design, they're limiting themselves to one or two things. And they need they need some dynamics in the in the backfield.
00:30:34
Speaker
Right, and it's not to say that they don't have it. I believe that Joe Simmons is a very good player, a young, great player in waiting. He's probably got an England shirt waiting for him. I believe that Henry Slate is a fantastic player and, you know, near world class if he's not already. Jack Knowles, same thing.
00:30:53
Speaker
So to say that they don't have the ability to do that is very wrong. I think they just need to figure out how to utilize it. But the problem is they have Devoto and they have a Flaherty and they had Cuthbert. And while those guys are good individually, it's like if I'm the Saracens, I'm like, all right, why don't you if you pay if you shut down Slade and Noel.
00:31:13
Speaker
You know fine let O'Flaherty have have his runs yeah, absolutely. I'm okay with him taking off Literally, you know enslaved even you'll take your your your the blood he'll take from you. You'll give that away. Yeah
00:31:29
Speaker
Noel you shut him down because he will slice you up Yeah, I mean he found he found he finds weight here for a slippery little shit He finds ways to get meters where it doesn't look like he has anything to get So yeah, so you need they need more guys like that and they're running on a back line. That's just not gonna provide that No, not with yet again the devotees and the similarities who can they have talent, but they don't use it. Well, yeah, I agree
Barbarians vs. England Recap
00:31:56
Speaker
All right to the other match that was at twicken on this weekend on sunday the england england versus baba's non-cap but man that was I mean I first off again going back to our long-running thing about uh our our streaming services being asked uh we had to go back to old our old stone age of the of the stone ages of slideshow rugby on on the uh
00:32:20
Speaker
Uh on the less less than legal means To watch two babas against uh two england squads. Yeah that that were just some awesome matches. Yeah, that was amazing and I mean I I I have to say I was impressed with the england men that rocked up they did and played some outstanding rabbit
00:32:44
Speaker
Listen, and I know it's the Baba's and they just toss it around. They do the things the Baba's do. But let's rewind this 365 days or so. And remember that the Baba's toasted a good set, like an experienced England squad at Twickenham. You know, it was Chris Ashton's big middle finger party to Eddie Jones. And he scored. And he embarrassed him.
00:33:09
Speaker
And this was before they went down to South Africa. And, you know, so, you know, to sit there and say, Oh yeah, it was just the Baba's. Listen, this is a young team that came to play. That was a, and that was a talented, I wouldn't even say that's just the Baba's because that was a fucking talented Baba's side. Most people would sign up for that score. Right. Colin Slade running 10, Joe Marler in there, Horwell, Luitua.
00:33:36
Speaker
Vui, Liam Messon was in there. Not gonna say go. No, Nia Voro. Nia Voro was in there. Yeah, listen, there was some, Nikosi ended up getting in fast, but yeah, there was some good, Reese Webb was very good. Mata, yeah. Oh, Billy Mata.
00:33:53
Speaker
Good lord. Yeah. Yeah, i'll sign up for him. Thank you You can play for me. Yeah, absolutely So and the england kids just came and said, yeah, you know what? We want to put our hands up too and put some pressure on the on the starters I give them credit a lot of them did a lot of them really did um, you know the names that stand out to me were guys like
00:34:12
Speaker
Don Brandt, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith looks very cute. I mean, it's kind of a thing people believe for a long time. He probably won't be a part of this World Cup squad, but man, 2023, look out. He's 20. Yeah, he's a kid. He's a baby. He's a fucking 20. He is a baby. He'll be around. There was another guy we had a conversation about not too long ago that stood up as well for England. Who did? Joe Martian.
00:34:41
Speaker
He did, yes. We had a conversation about him maybe wearing a white shirt sooner than later and he might prove that pretty fast. You look very good. I give him credit, all the credit in the world. He looked very good. I was happy to see guys like Piers O'Connor step in. At Wing. Yeah, good for him. What was the kid?
00:35:06
Speaker
from one Irish, he was kind of a, but I mean, good opportunity for him. Ben Curry was basically a carbon copy of Tom Curry, so that was good. One curry, another curry, whatever. Yeah, which one's which? I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine. Yeah. Who the hell, who's the backup, the backup scrum half that stepped in? Hold on one second. I'm going over to the teams because I didn't have that open. Oh,
00:35:38
Speaker
No, Callum Sheedy came in and did it. Oh, did he even? No, he got on. Oh, it doesn't have him as listed as having on Ben White. Oh, yes, it was Ben White. See, and I and we and we talked about him in the Lester shirt. And I like him a lot better than I like Sam Harrison, to be fair. And that's just for one, he doesn't look like a method. That's that's a point on his side, for sure.
00:36:00
Speaker
But yeah, and I and you know, when he played, he got an opportunity to play in the year when Ben Young's was away and Sam Harrison wasn't healthy. And I thought he looked I thought they didn't miss a beat in that department at the very least. So that was that wasn't a big deal to me. So I was glad to see him get to get a shirt there. So, yeah, this England squad rocked up. But to to focus on some a couple of babas,
00:36:26
Speaker
It was nice to hear the things that Joe Marlow was talking about and it was like this saying that this team needs to continue on. It needs to be a reminder to players about why you started playing because it's fun. And if you look at a lot of the professional sports out there,
00:36:49
Speaker
It gets way too bloody serious earlier and earlier as we go out, especially in this country for what you and I observe on a daily basis. For the four big sports that we call it here in the US, hockey, baseball, football, basketball, it gets really serious.
00:37:07
Speaker
It's starting to get serious in middle school, honestly, which is ridiculous. I mean, we're seeing high school games on ESPN now. Yeah, exactly. So right. Exactly. So, you know, for for it to get so serious, so fast, it's so ridiculous. So, yes, I think Joe Marla's point is dead on. It's a it's so much fun.
00:37:27
Speaker
Every rugby match should be like that. Yeah, like every single one. I want guys to keep. I mean the crowd was booing. The England had penalties and they're bringing out the tea and the crowd was booing. Well, because the kids were thinking about it like, all right, they're treating like a test match and that's how they, I'm sure that's how Jim Malander told him like, hey, listen, you guys gotta
00:37:48
Speaker
this is your opportunity so you guys gotta treat it a little bit more like a test match but you know what is okay so i i understand that yeah but at the same time if i'm if i'm their coach i say especially late in the match what does somebody hit like hitting a penalty kick from underneath the post tell you about anything
00:38:10
Speaker
What you learn the I mean, they're not going over that's for sure so it's like well You know, okay great you treat it like a test match. This is the decision. You make it a test match How about instead of that you say look in a test match? I get it You're gonna rock the PK and you're gonna put the three points on the board. Mm-hmm
00:38:28
Speaker
It's about Baba's. Let's go for seven. We know we have, we know we have, okay, you know, you have a boot, you're here. If you could not kick this, you would not even own that shirt. You're gonna be wearing that shirt. So I don't need to see you do that. I don't need to see you do it to know you can do it. So at some point, and I think that's why the crowd is booing because it's like, yeah, we get it. You can do this, but we don't care. Come on. Yeah. Come on. Yeah.
00:38:53
Speaker
And, uh, the, uh, so I kind of wish they, they, they gave him a little bit more freedom in that regard. Yeah. I mean, but every rugby match should be liked. I mean, that was just fun. The Baba's were just like, they were having a blast kind of in on it too. Yeah. This is, this is just for fun. You know, there, no handbags. There was no, no need. Nobody gave it. No, nobody gave enough of a shit. Right. You know, it was, so yeah, I, I totally agree with Joe Marla's point this year. And he said, you know, this was the funnest week I've had in my career.
00:39:23
Speaker
And I agree with that sentiment like, yeah, let's find ways to keep the damn thing fun because it is a game and with all the other sports that get way too bloody serious, way too fast. I see it in this country with soccer too. It's getting way too serious, way too quick. And I'm just like, no, let's enjoy this. It's a sport. It's a limited thing. Most people are only going to play until about mid 30s, early 40s at best.
00:39:51
Speaker
So let's just enjoy it while while we play it. Yeah, so I enjoy it and they did a good job with that and even even with that you know with guys who like They were you know, they were they were on the piss more than they were really training as as i've heard and um And yet they still they still put up a good showing
Barbarians' Carefree Style
00:40:11
Speaker
of rugby. They still put on a great display so You know, what is that in in the end? What does that tell me that tells me that? all this
00:40:22
Speaker
like seriousness and and that that that um the stern focus on on everything being perfect it's like you know what it's must do better it's an imperfect game let's let's just do our best and that's really what what it what came out with what it looked like with baba's like let's just do our best let's have fun
00:40:39
Speaker
Yeah, let's give it a crap boy. And I tell you I feel like that style Helped those 23 players play as a 23 better than if they had brought everybody together and said we were gonna go and we're gonna try to win this game This is what everybody and really put some structure in it and well some some serious structure in it Yeah, and and demanded that much more. I don't know that they would have performed any better I don't know that I think they probably would have performed worse
00:41:03
Speaker
I don't think they would perform any better for sure. So if you know if you're going to have a kind of a little motley side, this is the way to do it. So good. Good. Good roll away. Yeah. And then I did love I think it was the last kick of the match. They gave it to Jane Torwell. Yes. Like, here you go. Go shank the shit out of this. Yeah. And he was he was enjoying it. And that was that was a fantastic moment just for Jane Torwell himself. Right. Everything about that was. And also, how can we not talk about the horrible try?
00:41:31
Speaker
Oh, yeah. What the hell is he doing out there, man? What are you doing out there? You're not out there. Normally, you're a lock. He's doing his Liam Williams. Oh, man. Yeah. I was like, wait a minute. That's James Orwell. I was dying. I saw him get that and go over. I was like, good on you, buddy. Go get it. That was great.
00:41:50
Speaker
Oh man, yeah, that's the type of game that we need to be reminded of for rugby on a constant basis. So I enjoy seeing the Baba's, I hope it continues on as a thing. Their Twitter feed was on fire. It was, it was excellent. Oh man, if you didn't do anything other than follow the Baba's Twitter feed, you gotta entertain, trust me. Yeah, and I kept checking in on it. Yeah, it was good, I enjoyed it. So thank you Baba's and anyone for giving us a good showpiece
Super Rugby Matches Overview
00:42:16
Speaker
on Sunday. Well done, lads.
00:42:18
Speaker
All right, to a slightly more serious bit, blues and bowls, super rugby. Man, the hell, another draw. So, I mean, this comes down to one thing, and I said to you earlier, and I have the key to the blues, finally getting the hell over the hump, and you said scrum half.
00:42:38
Speaker
And that's probably on the cards. And I think it's probably number two. It's one of two things. Yeah. And number one is get a bloody effing goal kicker. So Harry Plummer missed a kick to win this. It wasn't the easiest kick. But if you're a professional and you want to be at a certain level, you've got to hit that frickin' kick. And he honestly didn't come that close. Yeah. So closer than Horwell?
00:43:06
Speaker
yes thank god that's that's a good measurement by the way was it closer than james horrible yes okay there wasn't that bad um so yeah that was that was how this game got lost um
00:43:23
Speaker
Bulls had no Andre Pollard again. Monty Livak actually didn't look terrible, so he did some good things. I was still wondering when the hell the real Bulls were gonna show up though, because the fact that the Blues were in this for a long time, I was like, ah.
00:43:44
Speaker
Did somebody lead the Bulls on the plane and like, you know, replace him or something? So, yeah. And as I predicted, again, not another fan, not another amazing match from Ananu. I know he's a leader and that's why they continue to trot him out there. But he's wearing that bloody headband and.
00:44:02
Speaker
Or the tape job because of the the cuts he's received and you know, it's not been great but you know, it is what it is a guy I I kind of poo-pooed on before and I'm gonna continue to do it again Scott's crafted not
00:44:18
Speaker
I don't know why they continue to trot him out there like he's anybody worth a damn. Nope, not for me, not for me. So Scratchcraft needs to reset on that one. Wara Kalant was able to get himself into the action a little bit more, not nearly to the level that they wanted, but less ugly than the last game when they lost to, I don't know, not that one.
00:44:47
Speaker
shoot must be thinking of another game but yeah anyway um not bad not bad stuff from the balls but they're not their best either especially considering that they drew with the loli blues yeah uh yeah that's uh let's get back to the drawing board type of thing um
00:45:04
Speaker
Let's get off the plane, boys. Yeah, absolutely. Skullpritz still doesn't look like he's aged a bit. I give him all the credit in the world. A big moment for them to not seize as far as the Blues go.
00:45:23
Speaker
Akira Iwani wasn't supposed to play this game and still ended up starting. And he played himself a stormer. He got himself on the line. And he keeps saying, I don't want to sit. But Steve Hansen says, listen, you need to see this guy at least once for me, please, because I need him fully
00:45:43
Speaker
Rested by the time because I'm I'm sure when the when the rugby championship rolls around He's gonna be one of those guys That's kind of the sacrificial lamb that like alright Maybe you come in and you're a bolter and you and you get into the the Kiwi squad for for Japan But really you're just kind of that guy that's gonna play that that that tournament Because he doesn't want to play anybody high-end, but let's seriously let's let's have some real talk here Real talk how many more matches of the blues gonna play?
00:46:11
Speaker
Uh, I would estimate probably the last two are coming up here, right? So about that about about resting ywani Can we can we go back to that idea because guess what he's gonna get a shitload of rest coming up soon Yeah, he probably is so, uh, you know, I I realize yeah hansen's probably not not terribly pleased that that
00:46:32
Speaker
He's he's getting that much time, but at the same time You have other guys you got to worry about absolutely that that are going to be playing Much more rugby right then you want he will be right and he and his brothers did the same thing like don't rest me dude I don't I don't want to rest they eventually did right, but I don't want to rest so You know I mean
00:46:52
Speaker
Hey, I I love the competitiveness out of the two of them, you know It sounds like it comes from the family and it's not just it's not just one of them It sounds like it's something that's built into the jeans there When you have multiple siblings and cousins and everything all that Coming from one family that the plays at a high level like this Yeah, you got to think there's some competitiveness there and and
00:47:16
Speaker
Oh, wicked. So much. So much competitiveness. The matches that they must have played in the backyard. In the backyard, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah, no argument on me, man. So yeah, Blues and Bulls draw 22-22. And Bulls are left a little bit scratching their head. Blues are hoping, hmm, I'm wondering, hmm, what could have been? What could have been?
00:47:43
Speaker
Lot could have been yeah, not much is gonna be Nope Rebels and more toss man. What the hell rebels like I don't know who they are anymore
00:47:55
Speaker
I don't either. I really don't. This doesn't look like the high flying team that we saw at the beginning of the year. No. It's like somebody figured out there. We talked about having a plan B. And I don't think anybody knows where the plan B is in Melbourne right now. Other clubs got to watch a little bit of film. I don't know what I mean. There's a lot of film out there on Quake Cooper. But that wouldn't be the only thing that they'd be watching. No. And they're just seeing how they're using their attack.
00:48:23
Speaker
Uh, you got it. Yeah, that's what it is. Come get another plan Yeah, so it's it is a problem. He did get over the line um in this one little nice little cut but uh Curtis Rona who I said the other thing was last week of the week before
00:48:39
Speaker
He's got a nice step on him, he runs some really hard lines, and he eventually got one on the edge from, I think it was Beale, and he finished it. And then he got another one, I believe it was on the edge, I think, fully, it helped with the break. He popped it back inside the Grey Wolf, Adam Ashley Cooper, and he dove over, so he had a hand in a couple things here, so good on him.
00:49:03
Speaker
Yeah, but Yeah, this is not this is not the rebels team that I remember watching over the last a little over the beginning part of the super rugby season So I'm certain I'm sure Dave vessels is wondering fuck. Everybody is gone I know Mariko car about he has turned into himself into a quite a beast sure, but you know, they're still missing some things here
00:49:26
Speaker
Yeah, curious one had himself a stormer and it was just it was just something else that I don't know. So wartime is kind of keep themselves alive and You know rebels are rebels are definitely in it still yeah, they're not but then they really need to start figuring out what the hell they're gonna do when people start to Because I just I look at their forward pack and I think that's probably the part that really I had a question mark before Even when they were winning and now I'm really starting to question it
00:49:55
Speaker
I know they have a couple of guys in there that are probably talented enough to play for the wallbeasts, but other than that I'm not sure their depth is really good No, so they need to they definitely go back and figure out what the freak they're gonna do when their backs can't get anything done Because I love most of their backs. I really do
00:50:10
Speaker
Matt to move it played 12 this in this match, which I love that move Yeah, but it looked like that. He just I think he's still trying to get feet underneath him down in Melbourne I know he's been playing for a while. He's probably also very tired. Yeah, let's be real. He's been playing a lot for luster too, right? So I think he's a little tired I know he's a little injured but but yeah, he's I think he's also very tired. So rebels fall to the war toss 15 to 20 and they are Still scrapping for one of the final quarter final spots. They got a shot war toss due to now after that one So there you go
00:50:40
Speaker
Brumby's and Sun Wolves. Wow. Brumby showed up and they played very well. Another small earthquake going on right before the game. I was like, God damn it. Maybe we need to get away from this freaking venue. I know that they won't move it, but it was a little dicey. Yeah, it started off as a decent match and then the Brumby's pulled away.
00:51:07
Speaker
Like this is this was not bad at halftime. I think it was only six or seven in it. So this was not bad at halftime. But as the Sunwolves tend to do, they fade and they did. Masawaera and and Samaki actually had very, very good games. They found a couple of breaks and they were able to do some damage and get over the line. But really, if they didn't get into the hands of those two guys, that was pretty much where it ended. Hayden Parker's kicking boots weren't exactly on fire in this one, so that didn't help.
00:51:37
Speaker
So, it was a little rough. Brumbies were basically just picking where they wanted to go and doing as they pleased. Their backup hooker got a hat-trick in the second half.
00:51:53
Speaker
I mean, not unlike the way Feinga has gotten a couple of them. He ended up getting over the line on a couple of malls. But I think he had one that was not quite that that easy. But, yeah, backup hooker ends up getting the hat trick as Feinga comes off pretty early.
Jaguares' Form in Super Rugby
00:52:08
Speaker
So, yeah, Brumby's take care of business 42 to 19 in Tokyo and keep themselves on top of the on top of the Aussie conference.
00:52:19
Speaker
So do you mind explaining to me where your Chiefs have been this whole time and where the fuck that performance came from? Because bravo to them. This game was played in Fiji, by the way, which good on Super Rugby for putting this on the need. We'll talk about that in a second. But yeah, so Chiefs put up a shocker and beat the Crusaders with Richie Mwunga in the lineup, by the way.
00:52:43
Speaker
Kieran Reed was in the lap, too. So this was not a no-name team that they knocked over. No. And you look at the guys who weren't playing for the Chiefs, too. But they still, I mean, it's nice that they got Sam Kane back. It is. It is. And somebody proposed the idea of having both Sam Kane and Artie Sevilla on the field for the All Blacks at the same time. I don't think that's a terrible idea. I was like, oh, you could sign up for that. I'm going to need some new pants for the rest of the show.
00:53:13
Speaker
Yeah, it was I was like, oh, that's yeah, because I mean the thing for the all blacks that they've been talking about is who's going to play six and it, you know, Jerome Kano was a big void when he when he left. But I think that's that that is a good idea. That's that's what Warren Gatlin likes to employ.
00:53:31
Speaker
I don't love Warren ball. I do like that part of it though where you have two sevens on the field because they're both Trust me Both these guys are big enough and tough enough to play you could put arty at six and right have him be your burly guy and sam king can be your fetcher Yeah, and arty is just basically another fetcher in in in as a deputy Nothing wrong with that. There's a there's a Some some good problems to have like wait, which do if you do I put it six? Which of you do I put it seven? Yeah
00:54:00
Speaker
I mean cane is the bigger body, but I honestly I think arty would serve better at six. I think so than same cane Just the physic the physical presence he brings Absolutely. Yeah, it would change that whereas was canes much more of the like you said the fetcher
00:54:14
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely Yeah, so this so the to the chief game, uh, brad rubber is looking more and more the part of uh, the all-blacks third choice nine Yeah, I mean well we you know, we we've talked personally for a long time about the unfortunate uh, Circumstance of qg parinara's birth where Yeah, whereby he's he's stuck
00:54:40
Speaker
Playing behind Aaron Smith. Right. Whereas he was born anywhere else or anything. Oh, he started pretty much anywhere else. Right. It's almost starting to look this kind of the same. Similar for Brad Weber. Yeah. Yeah. So there's that. Celacula got over it. He's a Fijian. So he got over to score in front of his homeland and several Reese who is also Fijian by birth, although he's eligible for the All Blacks.
00:55:05
Speaker
He also got over so that was that was cool to see the two of them get over the line and put on shows I thought that was great
00:55:13
Speaker
It was weird to see Leonard Brown and Nankaville play flipped roles, 12 and 13. I was like, I'm not sure that was a good idea. I think they eventually went back to their normal, what they're used to roles, which was the best idea possible, because Leonard Brown belongs at 12. He's a quick-footed, very dynamic, yes, very tough, tough center. If he doesn't end up in the All-Black squad, then I'm gonna wanna know what the hell Steve Hanson's on. I understand they have a lot of options,
00:55:43
Speaker
He needs to be somebody that's at least in the training squad if not on the plane. He's somebody who can You know as much as you know You can talk about all the things the all-blacks do one of the things Leonard Brown does is he makes something out of nothing? So yeah, he makes some people miss in very tight space He's gone like a shot. Yeah, absolutely
00:56:05
Speaker
Alright, I missed this one tackle, but you kind of did it with a step that was not quite at full speed. All of a sudden, he's at full speed and he's gone. And the fullback has a chance to adjust, but he wasn't even looking there. He was looking for his help for the next phase. And all of a sudden, Leonard Brown's gone, so he's got to be.
00:56:27
Speaker
Certainly in contention to to get on that plane. Yeah, and I think I found the answer for the Chiefs and it's Jack DiBreguinci He is he looked pretty good. Yeah, and he's He never seen he sorry he he was doing and we talked about like his kick meters and
00:56:47
Speaker
He was taking the ball to the line very well. And that's something that Marty McKenzie's not necessarily a fan of. And so I think that's great for him. You know, Marty McKenzie's, you know, 10 slash fullback by trade. Right. Doesn't it isn't necessarily something that's going to give you a go forward from a 10 position. Debra Sini did very well with that. And I thought he was definitely a huge difference maker in this team.
00:57:09
Speaker
It brings a little bit of the—as much as I—and he's even starting to wear on him the Johnny Sexton method of being a very physical and attack fly half, even though he's not maybe taking the carry and taking the tackle, he's going to sacrifice himself to put somebody through possibly.
00:57:29
Speaker
And you don't really see that in any super rugby. You don't see that kind of 10 so there was any seems to be bringing a Just a different style that it's gonna it's I think teams can adjust to it because we've seen it with it with sexton Yeah, it's possible to shut it down. But if that's not what you're used to seeing it's like It's almost like kind of the t-bow time thing where it was It wasn't that he was a good quarterback wasn't he was doing anything good. We can solve it
00:57:58
Speaker
Right. It was that, wait, we don't see this anymore. So what do we do here? We have to be disciplined. Yeah. So it's something that could potentially... This might be a short term thing. It might not be. Because again, if they're not preparing for something like that on every week, that could be a kind of a boost. So at least it's something...
00:58:19
Speaker
Something good came of all this Damien McKenzie thing. Maybe maybe it's that the Chiefs found some good backup 10. Right. A good backup 10 and I think they did. It was it was very good. So yeah, Chiefs down the Crusaders and they are they keep themselves alive. It's not it's not a it's not a it's not a foregone conclusion by any means. But hey, you know, still fighting. Things have happened. Yeah, still fighting, still fighting, you know. So yeah, 40 to 27 to the Chiefs and that's a that's a big one for them.
00:58:50
Speaker
Yeah, it really is that's uh That's a stand-up and take notice just in case you can't sleep on them. Yeah. No don't sleep on uh reds and hagglotties, um Good for the hey good for the jags, you know to step in and and they've they've taken they've actually taken control of the south african conference now So good on them. I mean, no, we talked about it. Nobody wanted fucking control of this conference and jack said
00:59:16
Speaker
Okay, well, we'll take it. Yeah, you know so good on them for stepping in and just you know saying our turn. Yeah good You know, they play some flashy stuff You know, they have the likes of creepy they create I think on the high end of the most turnovers In terms of getting the ball back. So I mean that's pretty good for them they're definitely there so they're definitely not a team that you can just like it and
00:59:42
Speaker
Don't get isolated against them. That's for damn sure. So yeah, they know where the try line is and they also know where the ball is usually. It's funny, I look at some of their guys and their list, some of their forwards are listed as like second rows. I'm like, really? I thought he was a Lucy.
00:59:59
Speaker
And basically every guy I think on their team could serve as a loose forward because that's just how good they play. And they're very dynamic all over. And it helps that they have a pretty quality front row in the strong. But you can get away with that if you... You can get away with having a very light back five if your front three are high quality.
01:00:21
Speaker
Yeah, and you know, I think it was, was it, one of their wingers I think was somebody that usually plays midfield and he served very well on the wing, Carreras, I think it was, so it was good. Cubelli who's usually there starting nine, they didn't miss a beat without him. This girl looked really good, had a nice, I think it was him, it was a shoulder ball just like, I think it was Orlando or Moroni coming around on the edge and just
01:00:51
Speaker
just off his shoulder nearly broke the line but they ended up popping popping it over about a phase later but i was like oh that's a good shoulder ball and whoever stopped him i don't remember who stopped him but whoever stopped him good for him reading that and being able to stick him because most people that would have broken the line and got and that would have been a try but they did eventually get over um so good on the jaguars uh one note
01:01:14
Speaker
There's a certain Fox Sport pundit in Australia that doesn't think that the Jaguars belong in the competition because they think it's the Argentinian national team, which isn't entirely true because there's still guys they're missing. They could use, like, Fregallo doesn't play for this team. I know that they would love to have Santico Cordero on this team.
01:01:34
Speaker
You know, there's still got uh, nicholas sanchez doesn't play for this And again, there's only that's only three names that i'm listing But the point being is they belong in the competition just because they've all of a sudden decided to not be the freaking whipping boy anymore Yeah, doesn't mean that they don't belong in the competition. That's what they want. They want somebody to beat up on that's not Yeah, you know Some from south africa or or new zealand. Well, listen, you you you had one and you let them go. Yeah, so deal with it
01:01:59
Speaker
Get over it, man. You had one and now you're kicking them out. So, you know, you're not going to be able to kick these guys out just because they aren't the whipping boy. You know, get out of here, man. Shut your face. Get over it, man. There doesn't need to be the gatekeeping at all. Although this only can be these three continents or whatever. They've proven that they belong here. High-level competition for high-quality teams.
01:02:25
Speaker
And they've proven it. Yeah, and they've been you know, the high water is belong I I do think this the Sun Wolves do I think they should be giving more given more time. I do too But nope, but yeah, it's it's uh, it's it is unfortunate that They had to give the axe to that team so I but you know with them giving the axe to that team what you don't need to be giving the axe to the high water is just because I
01:02:51
Speaker
They're not basically just what it's what it feels like it feels like if it's not from one of these three countries Then they don't belong in super rugby. That's the stupidest friggin sentiment. I've ever heard in my life Yeah, so yeah get over yourselves guys like listen There's a reason that team that players are jumping ship from your clubs to go to other clubs in Europe So you ain't that frickin good yet. So get over yourselves. All right
01:03:13
Speaker
I mean, yeah, who is it? Australia's probably going to beg for Will Skelton to do something that makes him eligible. They're going to roll out the red carpet for him. And it's like, well, why could you? You didn't make Will Skelton into what Will Skelton is. The Saracens did. Yeah. So it's, you know, Will Skelton came to the Saracens. He was still fat when he was playing in your conference, last I checked. Right. Last I checked, he kind of sucked.
01:03:40
Speaker
It wasn't that good. He was out of shape. That's for sure. Right. So it's, you know, the Todd's certainly weren't doing him any favors. So. Get good. Please, please, please, please. Um, yeah, so, uh, reds fall to the Jaguars 23 to 34 and they are, the Jaguars are still on top of the South Africa conference and reds are in DT trouble. They are, they're wondering where the hell, where the hell it all went wrong.
01:04:09
Speaker
And the Jags are, you know, they're really helping themselves in that respect. And then, you know, obviously the the Bulls aren't, but now they said that the heavy water is certainly they're separating themselves. I feel like this is the time where, you know, you put up these these winds and like that that that are.
01:04:28
Speaker
Yeah, they found good form at the right time. Sorry, they definitely have. So get on them. You can't sneeze at that by any means.
Hurricanes vs. Sharks Recap
01:04:42
Speaker
Sharks and my guys, the Hurricanes, got over the line just, it looks a little bit better than it was. The Hurricanes jumped on pretty good early, Bowden Barrett hooked up with Geordie Barrett to create one scintillating looking try.
01:05:04
Speaker
Uh, not a little mappy. Well, he's kind of a unstoppable wrecking ball right now. So speaking of guys who can make something out of nothing. Yeah. Um, Oh, there's two tacklers on top of me. Please let me just carry on and run through them. Um, so he's, he was creating havoc. He eventually got himself over the line on top of that.
01:05:24
Speaker
One of the big stories was the Sharks turned down kickable penalties to bring themselves a little bit closer. There were probably four or five that they turned down that were somewhere, okay, kickable is probably on the edge. But, you know, there was probably two or three that I think they probably said, yeah, let's have a shot at goal. And, you know, you look at the score line here.
01:05:46
Speaker
30 to 17. It sounds like a lot, but if you got six points on there on top, then that gets a real interesting that becomes a real interesting game. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Big time. Wes Houston becomes the big man once again and scores what eventually turns into the clincher.
01:06:03
Speaker
Got a little squeaky at the end, read Prince up, not read Prince up via feet to get sent off of the red card for a high tackle. I don't think Nick Barry had his best match. I know he's a better referee than this, personally. So I'll give him a pass. This wasn't his best one. There was a wrap on the tackle, but he said because it was forced and it ended up on the neck, that's why he gave him a red card.
01:06:33
Speaker
Okay, so there's I mean there is what it is. I mean five feet does not exactly the shortest man known to man Yeah, but I so I'll give him the pass got a little scrappy at the end One of the I don't know I think it was one of the Prius tried to clean out already while he was waiting First one of his teammates to the pick and go or to pop it and go whatever it was
01:06:57
Speaker
Instead of taking said counter-ruck, he decided, no, I'm going to counter your counter-ruck and put you on your ass. And that kind of set it off. And, you know, the match was already over shortly afterwards, but it all went off. I don't know if there'll be any fines or if Nick Berry was smart and just said, you know what, I'm not even.
01:07:14
Speaker
friggin bothering with this. This will be up to the commission and to this will be up to the to the panel to determine whether or not there's anything punishable here. So I'll let I'll let them deal with it. We're gonna end the match now. I was like, thank you. There's no need to like add additional cards on to a match that's done. So literally, it was done. So yeah, Dane, Dane, it was good to see Dane Coles back. He was he was hot and ready. He was
01:07:36
Speaker
fired up at the end of that little scrap. So I want he went flying into somebody he was pissed. I don't know what the hell they did. But yeah, so if you want just a tiny bit of entertainment outside of this match, just go watch the last five minutes. No, that's where it came from. Obviously, as hurricanes went 30 to 17, and they are in the driver's seat for that fourth and final home quarter final spot.
01:08:03
Speaker
uh lions and stormers to end the weekend uh wow uh quagga smith he ain't bad it's okay yeah so this is a lions team sans el tinyachis too
Lions vs. Stormers Recap
01:08:15
Speaker
and they they they did some really good things you know those two statements i i i i'm just saying those two statements back to back
01:08:26
Speaker
Very interesting. Yes. Yes. Sean Reynolds did very well. Not the best goal kicker. I will say that he he missed a few kicks that you would hope a professional level player can hit. So that's probably the one part of his game. He definitely needs to continue to develop. But yeah, but if he's uh, if he's making the plays in the loose that that yeah, yeah, genshees isn't making
01:08:50
Speaker
Uh, maybe it's worth the trade-off. Yeah Something there something something there i'm just saying I say you don't have an argument out of me. You don't have an argument out of me, man. Um, so I mean yeah, he tackles right?
01:09:07
Speaker
Yeah, he doesn't tackle terribly. That's for sure. So, well, then there there's a, you know, I know that's already done. Now we're up to two things and, uh, you know, to, to, yeah, Jen, she's can, can, can hit the, the goal kicks. Yes. But he's on. Um,
01:09:26
Speaker
Yeah. All right. I'm done with that statement. That's the end. I'm good. That's all I've got to say about that. Yeah. Um, so it was, it was a, um, it was a close game and then the Lions just turned it on. It was close. And then it was, it was 13, 10 at half. Oh my. Um, clog a Smith scored two.
01:09:48
Speaker
No, cozia scored scored that 35 minutes Quagga. I only had the one. Okay. Oh, no, he had the two Yeah, the second one after halftime. I was looking for him. Yeah, Quagga Smith scored scored two Total. Yeah, I could see ya. Oh his try. He just bullied through like three guys. I was like not bad profile back. Oh
01:10:06
Speaker
I'm slightly impressed. And there were some good end-to-end tries on both ends, but in the end, I think that's not the Stormer's game. Herschel Yanchis did continue to look very good. I don't think the green and gold jersey isn't quite something he's going to be able to do.
01:10:22
Speaker
This World Cup, but I think in the future, I think he needs to, I think he definitely needs to start planning his trips around the summer tours and stuff like that, and European tours. So, good on him. Stormers, that's not their game, the end-to-end stuff, so they do end up following 4122 to the Lions. Lions are right back in it. So, there you go, keeper going, and that's gonna make the South Africa Conference very, very good. Lions taking advantage. See, that's what a quality team does.
01:10:52
Speaker
They take advantage of when the teams that are in front of them stumble a little bit. Yeah, they all did. Except for the Jaguars. It was the only team that didn't. Bulls tied. Sharks fell. Sharks fell without a bonus point, even. And Jags won. Yeah, OK. But still, and there's a lot of teams still in contention for these final Wildcards box here. You look at the Wildcard teams, and of those teams, only the Hurricanes are ahead of them. Yeah.
01:11:21
Speaker
So, uh, the lions are doing all right for themselves. They might not have seen the last of the lions. Well, and so oddly enough, they'll, they'll, they'll be matched up this weekend. Let's go to pick them. Pick them, pick them, pick them. Man, we only got a few matches to pick now. Yeah. We're down to only one competition. Yeah. What the hell? Shoot. Yeah. Yeah.
Competition Ending Debate
01:11:50
Speaker
Okay, what do we got we are coming I mean we're coming we're coming down the wire here
01:11:56
Speaker
Well, not exactly are. Oh, not in our pickup by any means. Jeez, I'm but in this competition. That's a yes. If I could basically pick anything that I wanted to right now and I think it would turn
Crusaders' Odds vs. Rebels
01:12:08
Speaker
out okay. Well, I'm up 111. Yeah, I'm up 11. Yeah. I mean, I don't I can't go blind, but you know, I can probably
01:12:20
Speaker
pick a couple, you know, solid ones like, I'm probably not going to pick against the Crusaders this week, you know? Right. That's probably a good idea. You know, granted, they just got pantsed by the Chiefs, but I think that's all the more reason to not pick against them. Right. Well, especially the other reason is their competition.
01:12:38
Speaker
Yeah, Rebels haven't been playing well.
Highlanders vs. Bulls Preview
01:12:40
Speaker
It's too bad. All right, so let's start with Highlanders Bulls. Yeah, the lead-off match for Highlanders coming off the bye. And Bulls, less than stellar performance. I don't know if Pollard's back. That's the only thing with the Bulls. Right. Just have no fucking clue what they're going with. If he's back, then they have a shot. But the Highlanders just need a pretty effing strong team.
Reds vs. Blues Match Discussion
01:13:02
Speaker
So I'm going to rock them. I don't know about you.
01:13:06
Speaker
I guess you do. I'm going to go right alongside you. Yeah. Reds and blues. This is snooze bowl one for the weekend. Snooze plate challenge one. Look, I have no other rugby competitions to distract me from watching all the super rugby this weekend. I still might give this a pass. Still might pass.
01:13:34
Speaker
Fuck you're still gonna make me pick though. Well, yeah That's the point of pick them. I'm gonna go with the Reds Okay And I'm not happy about it, but I would be equally unhappy picking the blues Yeah, I can't I can't pick the blues. I'm gonna pick the Reds. I can't You're just trying to block me now. No No, I can't pick the blues not after Harry Plummer slash or Terry Black. Oh
01:14:00
Speaker
I couldn't figure out where the hell the goalposts were. Are you kidding me? I'd rather back Bryce Hagerty. At least he knows what the goalposts are, along with Sam McCarevey. Yeah. Okay.
Super Rugby Match Predictions
01:14:10
Speaker
So that's the Friday matches, or at least Friday where we are. Crusaders and Rebels. We talked about it. Crusaders, that's kind of a no brainer.
01:14:20
Speaker
Uh, oh, here we go. Here we go. Taz Brumby's Brumby's on top of the Aussie conference. Taz maybe every time that I have to say every time that I think the Taz have found their form and have, you know, finally woken the hell up, they, that's what they do. That's how they do. This is what the water Taz do. Yeah. Is, is they, every so often they're like, Oh, look at us. We're actually really good. Oh, cool. All right. Continue to be good. Nah.
01:14:46
Speaker
Spoken as a guy that used to follow the war. I Mean look I'm used to that. I picked three clubs the last three years. They've all done the same fucking thing. Yeah laid a complete egg, right? The curse of being gloves are continuous unabated Luckily, it doesn't transfer over to the premiership or any European state. Thank Christ. It's all south of the equator. Yeah I am useless south of the equator
01:15:14
Speaker
I'm a curse off of the equator. Yeah, you want to tell your wife that? Yeah. I toss. No, no, no shit. Sorry. Scratch that. Reverse it. Brumbeast. Brumbeast. Rethink. Rethink. Go back. B button. B button. Brumbeast. Yeah. Frig. I hate this.
01:15:40
Speaker
All right, Wartos, prove me wrong. Go with him. Yay, I have a chance. Yeah, I'll do that. Well, here, you can do whatever you want. I'm picking the Hurricanes next game. Yeah, I'm picking them too. Especially since they're still in South Africa and managed to win game number one in South Africa. And maybe the Lions pooped themselves out. Who knows? Yeah, I don't think Warren Whiteley is back. So that's good news for the Hurricanes. Genshi's my play, which is also good news for the Hurricanes.
01:16:09
Speaker
I mean, I'd backbone Barrett one on one with him. There you go. Stormers and Sun Wolves. Sorry, Sun Wolves, you're on the road. I'm picking the Stormers. Although this is a team that they could just jump up and surprise. I will say that. And they've done it twice on the road already. Granted, it was both Aussie teams, but just saying. It's possible. It is. Anything is possible.
01:16:34
Speaker
It's not going to happen. Not in this one. Anything's possible. What's possible and likely are two different things. Very. Stormers.
01:16:42
Speaker
Yeah. All right.
Sharks vs. Jaguars Analysis
01:16:44
Speaker
And then, um, sharks and jaguars. This is really for the sharks lives right now. Um, for a team that started off, you know, again, we talked about the South African conference. Nobody wanted to take control of it. The Jaguars have done so by getting a six point lead on the lions and they're in control of their own destiny at this point. And I credit to them. So, uh, dude, give me the RGS.
01:17:07
Speaker
Um, and I am once again gonna back the shacks Okay, because I mean I I do like what they some of the pieces they have for sure Look and they're and they are traveling but two and three are So in that conference you get the lions So they're they're gonna know going into this match that what happens with the bulls They're gonna they're gonna have seen the bulls lose to the hurry the highlanders probably
01:17:29
Speaker
um, i'm not sure about the timing between that match and the uh The hurricanes. I don't know if they're going off at the same time. Um, I bet you the lions hurricanes is just slightly earlier, right? So it'll be about a 10 a.m Kickoff here as opposed to the sharks match, which will be which is in one. I'm sorry So that'll be probably about two three o'clock kickoff here. So um so I I could
01:17:56
Speaker
I could see the, uh, the headquarters kind of taken their foot off the gas and the sharks have a really great opportunity. So I'm going to play the team with, um, with more to gain from winning. Fair enough. Uh, and that's why, that's why I'm going with the sharks, not because I think they're better than the, the headquarters. I just feel like if, if the headquarters were going to take a week to just take a breath before they, they get to the playoffs, um, this would be the week. Fair enough.
01:18:23
Speaker
Because their top competition in their conference is likely to be limited. At least one of them, yeah. At least one of them was going to do it. I would bank on that.
01:18:34
Speaker
So all right shocks it is I think the sharks bully their way up to the Into the quarter to the second place in that that conference and possibly into
Conclusion and Contact Information
01:18:43
Speaker
the quarterfinal. There you go All right, and you took the I did I took the jogs So, yeah So everybody you can please email us, you know, we like I said, we like emails fancy where we podcast at gmail.com and
01:19:02
Speaker
It's all these fun to read reviews as well, so please review us on iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify. Download us, definitely do that. Tell your friends to download us. We don't care about listening. That's for suckers. That's your problem. But yeah, download us, subscribe to us on those formats where you find us.
01:19:22
Speaker
I started to say, enjoy the replay of whatever super rugby match you're about to watch unless you're from one of those regions. Cuz for us here in the States, we're just waking up and watching rugby. Yeah. But other than that, everybody have yourself a good week. Enjoy the rugby and thanks for watching this week. See ya.