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Season 7- Episode 1- Ross & Rachel (Premiership Preview) image

Season 7- Episode 1- Ross & Rachel (Premiership Preview)

The Fantasy Rugby Yanks Podcast
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45 Plays3 months ago

It's ANOTHER season of those American rugby knuckleheads. Welcome back friends, on this episode the Yanks are discussing all things Premiership, discussing all things for each club, and looking at their potential finishes. Did the Saints do enough to reload and repeat? Who is the most volatile of the clubs? Who is on the hot seat and who may be a dark horse getting into the top 4 this season?

Also, we do our heroes and dicks of the summer. No prizes for the hero both guys picked for this past summer.

As always, kick back, relax, grab something cold to drink and join us fam!

Check out the TFRY Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyRugbyYanks

Ask us questions via Twitter: Jarrod- jdyke8man & Ben- admrablsnackbar, and #AskTFRY.

Send us your thoughts for the show and questions for upcoming shows via e-mail fantasyrugbypodcast@gmail.com. Of course, we welcome feedback via e-mail, twitter or by rating/reviewing the pod on Apple Podcast

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Transcript

Introduction and Milestone Reflection

00:00:30
jarrod_dyke
Hello everyone. Welcome back. It is season seven. This is the fantasy rugby, Yanks podcast. My name is Jared Dyke.
00:00:37
Grumpy Old Prop
I'm Ben Glauser seven. What? Wait.
00:00:41
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. Right. so I was looking at, I was like, what season are we on? Holy shit. We're on seven.
00:00:46
Grumpy Old Prop
That seems off, but okay.
00:00:47
jarrod_dyke
We are on seven.
00:00:49
Grumpy Old Prop
I'll go with it.
00:00:49
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:00:50
Grumpy Old Prop
Wow. Yeah, I know it was seriously.
00:00:51
jarrod_dyke
Lucky number seven.
00:00:57
jarrod_dyke
Ooh, that's amazing. That's making, there we go. Thank you. so That's making bad things happen.
00:01:02
Grumpy Old Prop
I am beardless tonight. Otherwise I'd be.
00:01:03
jarrod_dyke
Please.
00:01:04
Grumpy Old Prop
passed out by, by Pickham.
00:01:05
jarrod_dyke
That's all right.
00:01:08
jarrod_dyke
yeah
00:01:11
jarrod_dyke
and those And those of you that are going to keep track, Pickleman has changed spots in our agenda too. So that's that's earlier now.
00:01:15
Grumpy Old Prop
It does. So you don't even, yes, it's it's in the first, it's in this pod, not the fantasy.
00:01:18
jarrod_dyke
but
00:01:21
jarrod_dyke
It'll be in this pod.
00:01:21
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.

Engagement and Shoutout

00:01:23
jarrod_dyke
So anyway, um, find us on your favorite podcast app, share, download rate, review, all that good stuff. Um, all the fun things.
00:01:34
jarrod_dyke
Um, anyway, um, make sure that you find our good friend, George and by Morbia, the fancy, or we gank. It's a busy time of the season because we're all just about to start tipping off pro 14's in.
00:01:46
jarrod_dyke
If you're in any leagues that involve that, which I think is FRW is the only one I know of. Um, but other than that, um, still, you know, two big leagues kick off this week.
00:01:57
jarrod_dyke
The rugby championships ah is obviously going. So if you're in one of those and you're taking him as advice, you owe that man a drink for sure.
00:02:03
Grumpy Old Prop
Either way, we're getting into a new season of rugby, a new year of of of rugby, um or wrapping it up as you know the rugby championship. But it's it's a a yeah preemptive by Emma Beer.
00:02:17
Grumpy Old Prop
Thank you for the work you're going to do for us and and all the advice we're going to to us snuffle from you.
00:02:18
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. Yeah, the man's gonna be busy.
00:02:26
jarrod_dyke
All right, anyway.

Police Violence and Systemic Issues

00:02:32
jarrod_dyke
Know the segment hasn't gone away. There is no discrimination here on this podcast, nor should there be in sports or in life.
00:02:38
jarrod_dyke
um One thing to touch on, but one thing to really dig into. I will let you lead the charge on this one, sir.
00:02:44
Grumpy Old Prop
Fair enough to to return to our roots here, which was um a lot about police violence. We saw um some really massive and unnecessary police violence in New York City ah recently in the last day or two with um they've they've been really trying to crack down on fair jumpers, which OK, I kind of get it.
00:03:03
Grumpy Old Prop
Um, but to this extent, they, they shot a guy and killed him over a two 90. He jumped to jump to turnstile and they shot him. Um, not only did they shoot him, but they should shot like three other people, um, because their cops and their douche bags. Um, Oh, so, and one, so one guy's not going home ever. And one guy's going home with like brain damage and other people are going home with a shitload of trauma. So thank you cops. Um, this is what your tax dollars go to people. Let's stop that.
00:03:30
jarrod_dyke
And the the mayor totally bottled that too as well.
00:03:31
Grumpy Old Prop
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. And they they they they said they found a knife and they showed it and then that's not the knife. And apparently they can't find this guy that this guy had a knife and probably didn't have one like, they're just full of shit.
00:03:42
Grumpy Old Prop
um Right.
00:03:44
jarrod_dyke
That's it. That's it to say.
00:03:46
Grumpy Old Prop
um So anyway, that's it's unbelievable. And I'm sure by the time we pod next, um there'll be more news on it. So um maybe we'll do a follow up there.

Racism and Xenophobia in the UK and US

00:03:55
jarrod_dyke
Right.
00:03:55
Grumpy Old Prop
The bigger thing I want to talk about is, um, the scary shit that's going down and nobody really seems to want to do anything about it. Um, and this is, you know, we're, we're, we're obviously in the U S but, um, we have a kind of a rugby home in the UK as it were. Um, and it's, it's actually involves both regions where, um, there's been like the earlier this year, there was some, um, serious violence. I'd call them programs against, um, Muslim ah immigrants in the UK.
00:04:25
Grumpy Old Prop
um and in, um at least in England and Northern Ireland, um stoked of course by right wing dipshits. And then we're we're starting to see that now here in the US, um with against Haitians, um who are ah wonderful, like first off, um
00:04:33
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:04:38
jarrod_dyke
Right.
00:04:42
Grumpy Old Prop
Educate yourself on Haiti, please go do read up on it. see See like they were the first they were a slave colony of France um rose up over through their oppressors and have been paying for it ever since from both, you know from France from the US when you get from from everybody.
00:04:46
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:04:59
Grumpy Old Prop
um Nobody's forgiven them for um for freeing themselves, which is fucking ridiculous. And even now they're, um they're being targeted just for, again, for being Haitian. um And it's kind of scary, like they're shutting down schools and things like that, because people are really worried that there's going to be, you know, shooters. I mean, it's it's one thing in the UK when it's just a bunch of fucking hooped up douchebags trying to start brawls and and you know maybe beat people.
00:05:30
jarrod_dyke
And.
00:05:31
Grumpy Old Prop
And that's bad enough. In the US, you have to worry about like someone bringing an AR-15 and just shooting as many black people as he sees because he figures they're all Haitian.
00:05:40
jarrod_dyke
Yep.
00:05:41
Grumpy Old Prop
um
00:05:44
Grumpy Old Prop
That's like a serious concern here. um And yet nobody's doing it.
00:05:46
jarrod_dyke
Hmm.
00:05:48
Grumpy Old Prop
I mean, shit, we're even having um assassination attempts against <unk> Trump. from from conservatives, mind you. um From Republicans.
00:05:58
jarrod_dyke
Because they don't know that he's going to win.
00:06:00
Grumpy Old Prop
And, and it was like, whatever. So um ah please send us an adult, we need one.
00:06:09
jarrod_dyke
Need an adult.
00:06:09
Grumpy Old Prop
I need an adult.
00:06:10
jarrod_dyke
I need an adult.
00:06:11
Grumpy Old Prop
um But seriously, there's this is, if if you had like, it's, it's hard.
00:06:12
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. Yeah. We all do.
00:06:17
Grumpy Old Prop
I know. um But please, if you if you're hearing stuff, if you, you know, see stuff, let's, you know, say something, speak up, because it's not going to go away.
00:06:26
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. I call it out.
00:06:28
Grumpy Old Prop
If you just kind of like, duck your head and be like, I don't want to get involved, get please, please get involved.
00:06:35
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, just, just never works that way. and Sounds like the easy thing, but not going to do anything.
00:06:36
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:06:40
Grumpy Old Prop
Right. Because that that whole, you know, silences consent, like the people who are saying stuff, especially if you're white, like us, you know, we have people who will say things to us. Me, I'm be i'm bald and I have a beard.
00:06:52
Grumpy Old Prop
um So plenty of white people think they can say things to me. And I'm like, yeah I'm not that kind of white guy. Baldy bearded white guy. I'm not that. You'd pick the wrong guy to say that to.
00:07:03
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:07:05
jarrod_dyke
Wrong. You picked the wrong target, buddy.
00:07:06
Grumpy Old Prop
Right. Anywho, don't be dicks, please.
00:07:10
jarrod_dyke
Unquestionable.
00:07:11
Grumpy Old Prop
Let's let's be on dicks.
00:07:12
jarrod_dyke
Please.

Patreon and Future Content

00:07:14
Grumpy Old Prop
Anywho, let's talk.
00:07:14
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, agreed.
00:07:15
Grumpy Old Prop
right that's What's this thing with this round ball that I hear so much about from the kids these days?
00:07:22
jarrod_dyke
The Oval Ball? Well, there's still the Patreon that we got to plug because we do we do like to make a little bit of money off this every once in a while.
00:07:25
Grumpy Old Prop
Oh, that's true. I like money.
00:07:30
jarrod_dyke
Every once in a while.
00:07:31
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:07:32
jarrod_dyke
Not a, this is not a end-all by any means whatsoever, but we do appreciate everyone that contributes every year.
00:07:37
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm.
00:07:38
jarrod_dyke
And of course we'll be back this year with the good stuff. Um, I'll be back with some variation of boomer bust. Hold on a second. Drop things.
00:07:47
Grumpy Old Prop
And I'll have something about, yeah.
00:07:48
jarrod_dyke
Dropping stuff over here.
00:07:48
Grumpy Old Prop
And I'll, I'll have something on the sheet. I don't know when, but I'll like, it doesn't really help in the first couple of weeks anyway. So, um, it is.
00:07:56
jarrod_dyke
No, it's a guessing game.
00:07:58
Grumpy Old Prop
So I'll, I'll, I'll have stuff up soon.
00:07:59
jarrod_dyke
Bit of a guessing game. Yep. Uh, huh. All

Evolving Podcast Format

00:08:05
jarrod_dyke
right. Uh, so let's do, so one thing we're going to do this season is really try to be timely in terms of this pod and then try and be very timely with our, with our, with their fantasy pod.
00:08:13
Grumpy Old Prop
Um, yeah. yeah
00:08:16
jarrod_dyke
We're going to try and just bang, bang, boom, hit a few more things other than just the games and maybe, you know, not be as boring.
00:08:20
Grumpy Old Prop
Right. It'll, it'll, it'll be a little bit more narrative based rather than game reviews. So like more like, what did we learn?
00:08:29
jarrod_dyke
Hmm.
00:08:30
Grumpy Old Prop
Um, what did, what did we know that we that's been reinforced? Um, how stupid are we for thinking something? Um, you know, cause we'll, we'll, you know, yeah, but it is going to be more, um, let's, let's tell a story of the season rather than just talk about the game.
00:08:38
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. We have those moments too.
00:08:47
Grumpy Old Prop
and recap it, because by the time you hear us, you've seen the game at least once.
00:08:48
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:08:51
Grumpy Old Prop
So um instead of just talk about, oh, what a great play by this guy.
00:08:54
jarrod_dyke
Odds are yeah.
00:08:56
Grumpy Old Prop
and and know How about we'll just say, this is what we you know this is this is our ah our takeaways. And um this is, you know again, what we've learned, what we've been wrong about.
00:09:07
Grumpy Old Prop
But mostly what we've been right about, because we like do it.
00:09:08
jarrod_dyke
Yep, totally.
00:09:09
Grumpy Old Prop
Okay. I like being

Rugby Team Prospects: Bath & Bristol

00:09:12
jarrod_dyke
You like being right. I mean, you're wrong, it's more fun, but you know, different story for a different day.
00:09:12
Grumpy Old Prop
what?
00:09:14
Grumpy Old Prop
Well, that's half the fun.
00:09:21
Grumpy Old Prop
yeah ah it's It's like a third of the fun.
00:09:21
jarrod_dyke
Literally half.
00:09:29
jarrod_dyke
Jesus, you're good you're really all about it.
00:09:31
Grumpy Old Prop
I'm in coaching mode. I have to be right all the time, or at least most of the time. I know.
00:09:35
jarrod_dyke
Oh, good luck with that. shez um Oh my God.
00:09:38
Grumpy Old Prop
At least let me think it, right?
00:09:41
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. I mean, you can take it and then have to deal with it later.
00:09:42
Grumpy Old Prop
yeah Yeah, the people out there know, they know the truth.
00:09:48
jarrod_dyke
All right. Uh, let's go to the to permission preview. Uh, we'll quickly hit on team by team and then we'll talk about, you know, overall standings and all that good stuff.
00:09:54
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm.
00:09:58
jarrod_dyke
Um, bath last year's runners up.
00:10:05
jarrod_dyke
names a plenty out, but nothing that's going to like make a huge shift.
00:10:06
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm.
00:10:10
jarrod_dyke
I don't think like to me, Josh McNally is probably one of the biggest ones.
00:10:13
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:10:14
jarrod_dyke
And then the youngster war boys is unfortunate, but he's got to play a lot more healing.
00:10:19
Grumpy Old Prop
Right. I get it.
00:10:19
jarrod_dyke
So I get it. And healing is trying to make a push to get themselves into the premier ship.
00:10:24
Grumpy Old Prop
Right. And, and we're boys is more of a, of a long-term thing anyway.
00:10:24
jarrod_dyke
So.
00:10:28
Grumpy Old Prop
Like he's not going to be a of ah consistent contributor to bath the way they're there.
00:10:29
jarrod_dyke
Mm hmm.
00:10:33
jarrod_dyke
And they have Orlando Bailey still.
00:10:34
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:10:35
jarrod_dyke
So, you know, assuming he's not going anywhere yet.
00:10:38
Grumpy Old Prop
Right. So good.
00:10:39
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, but that may change. Let me change.
00:10:42
jarrod_dyke
And in, we'll see what the sevens guy is.
00:10:44
Grumpy Old Prop
Guy Pepper. Yeah. Yeah. We'll see.
00:10:50
jarrod_dyke
They got another South African product because that's original.
00:10:52
Grumpy Old Prop
But I like I like Francois Vamovic, so I think that's good for them.
00:10:53
jarrod_dyke
um Yeah, he's actually, he's done well everywhere he's gone thus far in the premiere ship.
00:10:58
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, right.
00:11:00
jarrod_dyke
So I'll give him that.
00:11:00
Grumpy Old Prop
um Guy Pepper is to me a little bit of a mystery, though, for for both sides, because like you're going you're going from I mean, like he was going to be the man in in Newcastle, which I mean,
00:11:06
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. I know.
00:11:14
Grumpy Old Prop
What does that say?
00:11:15
jarrod_dyke
Totally.
00:11:16
Grumpy Old Prop
um But like what's he's entering a rotation that's like super deep.
00:11:25
jarrod_dyke
Well, it is where it isn't because they've lost Clute, they've lost Van Velsa.
00:11:29
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:11:31
jarrod_dyke
Both of, both of them are gone and those were, those were more bodies in his way. Were they good bodies?
00:11:35
Grumpy Old Prop
No, but they would they would not be in his way.
00:11:35
jarrod_dyke
No, but they those were more bodies that would have been his way.
00:11:37
Grumpy Old Prop
He's better than both of them.
00:11:39
jarrod_dyke
I agree, but it doesn't mean that there won't get picked because, you know, coaches are silly sometimes, uh, Alfie and Mar, um, yeah, one of them is getting hurt during the season and it's usually Alfie.
00:11:41
Grumpy Old Prop
Right. Yeah, that's true. Yeah. But you're still looking at Ted Hill. You're still looking at miles read under Hill, Barbary, like there.
00:11:52
Grumpy Old Prop
Although he looks skinny.
00:11:53
jarrod_dyke
So I haven't seen any of the pictures recently now.
00:11:54
Grumpy Old Prop
I don't know if you've seen him. I saw, I saw an update. I was like, where, where'd the baby fat go? I mean, he's still, his face is still a little chubby, but his middle looks nice and his middle looks nice in the svelte compared to last year.
00:12:02
jarrod_dyke
You still a house, yeah.
00:12:05
jarrod_dyke
All right, but I mean, that's true.
00:12:07
Grumpy Old Prop
He's still Bayless, too. We i didn't mention him. So it's there's a lot there. It's one of those like he's going to get his opportunities, but it's not going to be he's not he's not the. The number seven for that team like he doesn't own that jersey and he won't.
00:12:19
jarrod_dyke
No.
00:12:21
Grumpy Old Prop
So. um Yeah.
00:12:22
jarrod_dyke
You got to, you got to believe that they're going to fight on both fronts too. And that does take a deep squad, especially if anybody in that back row goes away for internationals coming up or six nations either or.
00:12:27
Grumpy Old Prop
True.
00:12:32
Grumpy Old Prop
True. Yeah, Underhill will be probably be going to hell should be going.
00:12:36
jarrod_dyke
Right.
00:12:36
Grumpy Old Prop
But yeah,
00:12:40
jarrod_dyke
Bayless probably will be gone at some point.
00:12:41
Grumpy Old Prop
yeah probably he should be too.
00:12:43
jarrod_dyke
Usually, usually gets a look now and again.
00:12:44
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:12:44
jarrod_dyke
So, you know, all those things.
00:12:45
Grumpy Old Prop
All right. but and And to me, like my questions around um or my my my storylines for Bath are like, can they continue to build their clear threat to win the championship?
00:12:58
Grumpy Old Prop
And yeah, I had that not not enough back row positions for all their stars.
00:12:59
jarrod_dyke
totally Yeah, I'm I'm curious with their back three and yes, it's it's solid it's good
00:13:01
Grumpy Old Prop
um So it's really, can you know, they they took a huge step forward this year. Can they get over the hump? um Or will they hit like ah have a little bit of a ah hangover?

Rugby Team Analysis: Exeter, Gloucester & Harlequins

00:13:22
jarrod_dyke
I'm And not the Gallagher did a did a ton of I often find myself more annoyed than not
00:13:28
Grumpy Old Prop
No, but I mean, i I still think Tom...
00:13:30
jarrod_dyke
Did, is it ah is it truly addition by subtraction?
00:13:34
Grumpy Old Prop
What, to get rid of... um yeah I think so.
00:13:36
jarrod_dyke
Gallagher.
00:13:38
Grumpy Old Prop
I think Tom to Glenville should be there 15 and I don't think it should have been close.
00:13:42
jarrod_dyke
i'm I've never argued against that, that's for sure.
00:13:43
Grumpy Old Prop
And I think it's going to be one of those like, you know, getting, getting the coaching staff out of their own way by saying like, okay, they had that this is hard on for Gallagher that that I don't really understand.
00:13:57
Grumpy Old Prop
Um, but to Glenville is a better player and much more. I think him working with Finn is going to be, um, not to mention the other guys, but still, I think they're both, you know, the Glanville is a good like playmaker to me in the in the mold of an Alex Goode type.
00:14:14
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:14:15
Grumpy Old Prop
Not I'm just the type, but I think so.
00:14:16
jarrod_dyke
Yep. DeGlamville, Muir and Coco will probably be there starting back three. I think one player we definitely need to keep an eye on. um There's a lot of young names on this team as well besides the ones that we, besides some of the guys we've mentioned already.
00:14:31
jarrod_dyke
Louis Hennessy had a wonderful um junior world trip well championship. for as men as well as was, he was definitely the standout.
00:14:41
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:14:42
jarrod_dyke
So ah keep your eyes on him. And we know he we know he kind of made a bit of a splash last year too with that, but yeah, keep your eyes on him and what he does.
00:14:46
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:14:49
Grumpy Old Prop
Well, Beth need.
00:14:50
jarrod_dyke
He's listed as a midfielder, but might be able to move in a couple of spots.
00:14:51
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:14:53
Grumpy Old Prop
I was going to say Beth really needs centers though.
00:14:54
jarrod_dyke
We'll see what they do with him.
00:14:55
Grumpy Old Prop
So, you know, that's it.
00:14:58
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised to see him get chucked into like fullback.
00:15:01
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:15:03
jarrod_dyke
So just, just an idea. I don't know. I don't know what I don't know, but that's a possibility.
00:15:07
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:15:13
jarrod_dyke
Uh, Bristolians, we, they've had quite a churn to say the least. Um, some good, some bad.
00:15:24
jarrod_dyke
I'm i'm really sad to see Magnus Bradbury go. I was a huge fan of his.
00:15:26
Grumpy Old Prop
But but that trade that that is like a one for one trade.
00:15:27
jarrod_dyke
If you've been listening to us for five seconds, you know that.
00:15:31
Grumpy Old Prop
um and mata And I.
00:15:33
jarrod_dyke
Him and Mata, yeah.
00:15:37
jarrod_dyke
Well, Enbrigot the younger player.
00:15:39
Grumpy Old Prop
True.
00:15:40
jarrod_dyke
I will say that.
00:15:40
Grumpy Old Prop
True.
00:15:42
jarrod_dyke
Not to say that I'm not trying to take anything away from Bill Mata, no way.
00:15:44
Grumpy Old Prop
No, but I mean, i Bristol are are really I think they kind of have to be in like a win now mentality, although they're doing it, they're doing a little bit of a build, they're getting a ah bunch of young players into.
00:15:56
jarrod_dyke
Mm-hmm.
00:15:56
Grumpy Old Prop
Um, which they need, but I think this is one of those, like, I think first off, I think Pat Lamb is in, that's on a hot seat. And if, if they, even if they finished, like, I think it'll get the full year, but if they finished like they did last year with, you know, it took a late surge just to get into it.
00:16:14
jarrod_dyke
Mm hmm.
00:16:15
Grumpy Old Prop
And, and, but it, you know, it started, and if they just started decently, they'd have been in, um,
00:16:18
jarrod_dyke
It did.
00:16:25
Grumpy Old Prop
So like, and they're, they're a threat to finish anywhere from the top to the bottom of the table. Like really, who knows what the, cause the last couple of years they've started slow.
00:16:32
jarrod_dyke
Depending on how things shake out, yeah.
00:16:34
Grumpy Old Prop
They've started slow and sometimes they've stayed slow and sometimes they've, they've gotten hot. So if they can just get a little bit going, um, I think they'll be all right. I think losing Kyle Sinclair wasn't that big a loss.
00:16:47
Grumpy Old Prop
That's my hot take for them. I liked house and you you is listeners of the pod.
00:16:50
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, I guess if you, I did too.
00:16:52
Grumpy Old Prop
No, I'm a fan of Kyle Sinclair. I just don't think he's been that guy lately.
00:16:57
jarrod_dyke
can vouch Yeah, injuries in England duty has obviously been a thing.
00:17:04
Grumpy Old Prop
He is,
00:17:04
jarrod_dyke
Gens will lead from the front when he's in the team and when he's available, but Gens is 29. He's slowly getting to that, you know, that, that threshold of 30.
00:17:14
Grumpy Old Prop
but for a prop, that's, that's not, you know, the end all be all, but it does mean that you can't, um,
00:17:14
jarrod_dyke
So we'll see.
00:17:18
jarrod_dyke
No.
00:17:21
Grumpy Old Prop
You can't depend on him to be one of your better, bigger carriers. He's going to have have to pick his spots after a while.
00:17:26
jarrod_dyke
Right. Right. They have.
00:17:30
Grumpy Old Prop
But I've been big on, uh, um, the Heath. Um, I think he's, he's come on strong, like super strong lately.
00:17:36
jarrod_dyke
Yep.
00:17:38
Grumpy Old Prop
And I think he's going to continue that. I think he's actually, but he might be better than Singler now.
00:17:44
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, and there's there's still plenty of names that go through this, like, especially that can like the like their back line of fire.
00:17:49
Grumpy Old Prop
Yup.
00:17:50
jarrod_dyke
No out and out fly half not named AJ that I see as a problem. Maybe they solve it during the year. Maybe that maybe one of these young guys steps in. I don't know if James Williams really is.
00:18:00
Grumpy Old Prop
I mean, James Williams has been, has been, um, capable of stepping in.
00:18:06
jarrod_dyke
Capable is probably the best word to use.
00:18:07
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:18:08
jarrod_dyke
I don't know if that's ideal.
00:18:09
Grumpy Old Prop
No, it's not ideal.
00:18:10
jarrod_dyke
um The Grunthonner Brothers is is an interesting look for me. I think playing in a more open style system for them will be beneficial. exitter
00:18:18
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:18:19
jarrod_dyke
um
00:18:21
jarrod_dyke
Upside, you know Joe Batley had a wonderful year.
00:18:23
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm.
00:18:25
jarrod_dyke
We'll see if he continues on his way. I think there's a lot to like, but I and i don't disagree with the fact that this could be you know them in the top two or somewhere near the bottom two.
00:18:35
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:18:37
jarrod_dyke
It's really. a volatile possibility all around, you know, all around.
00:18:41
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:18:44
jarrod_dyke
So i'm I'm interested to see, to watch and see how this goes and goes with these guys.
00:18:50
jarrod_dyke
yeah Speaking of the dipshits. um
00:18:55
jarrod_dyke
Taylor, how could you let Patrick Shickerley go?
00:18:57
Grumpy Old Prop
yeah I mean, he was one of their, the scary thing is he was one of their bigger threats.
00:18:58
jarrod_dyke
Oh my!
00:19:04
Grumpy Old Prop
and attack with, um, from their forwards, which is, I mean, they have some others not, don't get me wrong. Um, but he was consistently one of their bigger line break guys.
00:19:16
Grumpy Old Prop
I know he's coming on late, but every so well, you know, when you, especially, when you know, it showed up in the fantasy game, which is hilarious. Like he was actually a prop you might want to consider cause he'd go for a good long run, um, or two a game.
00:19:25
jarrod_dyke
but
00:19:28
jarrod_dyke
But It was like what is going on here
00:19:30
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah. And, but they don't have much else. I mean, Vincent needs help to get, you know, some space.
00:19:41
Grumpy Old Prop
Tuima is fine. I like him. Fisselow, same thing. Capstick we like, but when he was playing lock the other day? What the fuck? Over and with Vermeul, is how is forulen how they're gonna rely on Jacques Vermeulen again.
00:19:50
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:19:56
Grumpy Old Prop
How's that gonna work?
00:19:58
jarrod_dyke
And root.
00:19:59
Grumpy Old Prop
and roots. Geez, they're just so plotting. Although my big, um you know, my hot take for them is I think they might fare better without Henry Slade for a bit.
00:20:13
jarrod_dyke
I think it takes the centerpiece away and helps them be my more div diverse.
00:20:18
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:20:20
jarrod_dyke
This maybe gives Joe Hawkins some space to, to spread his wings a bit, which he's shown glimpses.
00:20:21
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm. Yep.
00:20:26
jarrod_dyke
So I'm not going to, you know, take it, take him down. And he means whatsoever. um Maybe why it gets plugged into the centers for a little bit, which we know his ability to mighty to coming in is going to help a little bit as well.
00:20:33
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:20:38
jarrod_dyke
I think they need to move on from Harvey Skinner and let will Hayden would play as much as possible this year.

Leicester, Newcastle & Northampton Insights

00:20:45
jarrod_dyke
take the lumps early and I bet you by mid-season that they they could have something really awesome if they let him steer the ship for a little while.
00:20:53
jarrod_dyke
I just don't see enough good from Harvey Skinner when he's out there. like he We've all had the fly half that just caught and got rid of it and did nothing else.
00:21:01
Grumpy Old Prop
Yep. Yeah.
00:21:03
jarrod_dyke
And more often than not, not every game, but more often than not, that is what he does.
00:21:06
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:21:07
jarrod_dyke
he's not a threat and I know not everyone's going to be a Finn Smith or a Marcus Smith or a Finn Russell. I get it. That's not what I'm asking him to do. You still need to do a little bit more at a professional level in this league.
00:21:16
Grumpy Old Prop
yeah
00:21:19
jarrod_dyke
That's that's the facts. I think Hayden Woods shown it. I would like to see him, you know, be allowed to spread his wings just a little bit.
00:21:26
Grumpy Old Prop
I agree.
00:21:27
jarrod_dyke
We know that's not a possibility from fucking Baxter and Heifer, but just throwing it out in the universe in hopes.
00:21:29
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:21:36
jarrod_dyke
Hope you hope, hope, hope.
00:21:38
Grumpy Old Prop
I still see them.
00:21:39
jarrod_dyke
You're holding, say you're holding something back, I can see it.
00:21:40
Grumpy Old Prop
I still see them finishing towards the bottom of the table.
00:21:45
Grumpy Old Prop
I just don't see what like, again, every other team has gotten, I would say has gotten a little bit better or stayed moderately the same.
00:21:45
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:21:56
Grumpy Old Prop
um
00:21:56
jarrod_dyke
You mean Will Goodrich Clark and Jimmy Roots isn't going to solve all their problems?
00:21:57
Grumpy Old Prop
We'll talk about. I'm sorry to say no.
00:22:07
jarrod_dyke
Shocker that I am interested to see Franco Molina, the Argentinian second row.
00:22:11
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah,
00:22:13
jarrod_dyke
Look, look, look, had good spots in the rugby championship so far.
00:22:15
Grumpy Old Prop
yeah that's fair.
00:22:18
jarrod_dyke
So I'll throw that out there. um I'd say of their skill for the scouting department. That's a that that's a that's at that tally is right there. Good for you. Well done. Oh, Gloucester.
00:22:33
jarrod_dyke
and We talked about lambing on the hot seat, like skips has got to have the hottest seat in the premier ship. Like, like, yeah yes, harder than dimes by far. I don't care.
00:22:43
jarrod_dyke
Like dimes has a problem that everyone knows about.
00:22:46
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:22:46
jarrod_dyke
So he should have plenty of wiggle room to do what he needs to do.
00:22:47
Grumpy Old Prop
Exactly. Exactly. um ah So I think Lamb gets the full season no matter what, unless shit goes very, very wrong. Skivs has got to be like, you have five games to show us you got something.
00:22:57
jarrod_dyke
That's fair. Yeah. And and's gonna he starts with a tough task right away too.
00:23:06
Grumpy Old Prop
a little bit. Yeah, you know, yeah it's no.
00:23:08
jarrod_dyke
It won't be fun. Tell you that much.
00:23:11
Grumpy Old Prop
But yeah, I know that saris even even at home, um even at the home.
00:23:17
jarrod_dyke
they didn't they couldn't do They couldn't figure it out last year with them.
00:23:19
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:23:20
jarrod_dyke
And that was during the World Cup.
00:23:21
Grumpy Old Prop
um but like
00:23:23
jarrod_dyke
So take that for what it's worth.
00:23:23
Grumpy Old Prop
but then there's you I like the Christian Wade signing. That that really fits what Gloucester have have traditionally been. So I think that's excellent. That that gives another um threat in that back line. But now we're going to go to the other. Thomas Williams and Gareth Anscombe.
00:23:46
Grumpy Old Prop
There are people who are impressed by that. and
00:23:50
jarrod_dyke
And some more so for me.
00:23:52
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, yes, I will agree with that.
00:23:54
jarrod_dyke
The only thing that stopped and come from really blossoming is his injuries.
00:23:57
Grumpy Old Prop
True, but now you know, but.
00:23:59
jarrod_dyke
You know, I think the talent has been deep and and well, well documented.
00:24:04
Grumpy Old Prop
But injuries, the most important ability is availability.
00:24:04
jarrod_dyke
But as you said, yes, yes, yes, yes, it is.
00:24:08
Grumpy Old Prop
um
00:24:09
jarrod_dyke
I am an agreement.
00:24:10
Grumpy Old Prop
So yeah, the people who are impressed by that, none of them are me.
00:24:10
jarrod_dyke
but
00:24:13
Grumpy Old Prop
I'm just like, okay, I could, I mean, I want, you know, you know, longtime listeners of the, of the pod. No, I, um, I consider Gloucester to be a side piece of mine.
00:24:25
Grumpy Old Prop
Um, I still wish them well in that I wish them no particular arm, but I, I'm going to be watching through my hands this year with them.
00:24:26
jarrod_dyke
Mm hmm.
00:24:38
jarrod_dyke
Mm-hmm. I think you had a lot of fans a lot of their fans a singleton coming back is interesting as well You know loan back from too long for I presume a little bit.
00:24:43
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm.
00:24:48
jarrod_dyke
I don't think it's gonna be I don't know if it's the full season but in any case, I mean did We'll
00:24:52
Grumpy Old Prop
Losing Fraser Balmain is going to be and and especially to the Saracens is um it's massive. That's such a loss.
00:24:58
jarrod_dyke
talk we'll talk about that in a second.
00:24:59
Grumpy Old Prop
That's such a loss for for i for Gloucester.
00:25:01
jarrod_dyke
Oh, yeah, Lloyd, Lloyd Evans total loss right there
00:25:02
Grumpy Old Prop
Oh, and wait, we got this far without talking about Johnny May.
00:25:07
jarrod_dyke
i
00:25:10
Grumpy Old Prop
But like, yeah, he did.
00:25:11
jarrod_dyke
Didn't he go to protee deux as well? I mean that speaks more to what the problems are in the league, but still like Interesting choice.
00:25:15
Grumpy Old Prop
It does.
00:25:18
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:25:18
jarrod_dyke
Okay. and I lost I know lost it too. So I'm not totally shitting on it.
00:25:20
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, but laws is going for fun.
00:25:21
jarrod_dyke
I get it.
00:25:22
Grumpy Old Prop
john Johnny, Johnny, I again he may guess he is, too. But like, that's really the that's all.
00:25:26
jarrod_dyke
I Hope so
00:25:26
Grumpy Old Prop
But that's the highest level Johnny May can play. He's he's a championship level um pro de level. He's not he's not top 14. He's not premiership.
00:25:38
Grumpy Old Prop
um That's not his level anymore. So I think that, you know, he's not just going for fun. He's going to continue his career as much as he can. Laws is like, yeah, I'll go fuck around and pro detail.
00:25:52
jarrod_dyke
a
00:25:52
Grumpy Old Prop
It's like ah um a retirement, um you know, having fun in retirement. It's like, you know, going to, you know, playing for like a D3 side or something like that after you its you're done playing D1.
00:26:02
jarrod_dyke
Right.
00:26:04
Grumpy Old Prop
Like, let's go fuck around.
00:26:05
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. Let's go fuck around a little bit.
00:26:07
Grumpy Old Prop
But like Anscombe, I don't know is a big upgrade over Hastings and ultimately.
00:26:12
jarrod_dyke
I'd say talent wise, yes. But again, your, your point about injuries, not that Hastings hasn't had his own, but so maybe a slight uptick.
00:26:17
Grumpy Old Prop
Right. Yeah. Yeah. Fair.
00:26:21
jarrod_dyke
I think that's the, I think that's the first way to go.
00:26:22
Grumpy Old Prop
That's fair.
00:26:25
jarrod_dyke
Uh, Quinn's.
00:26:27
Grumpy Old Prop
I mean, they signed TT, so how can you not love them?
00:26:29
jarrod_dyke
I saw he was coming back to London. I was like, good for you buddy.
00:26:32
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:26:34
jarrod_dyke
Sorry it's there, but that's okay.
00:26:35
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah. Yeah.
00:26:36
jarrod_dyke
Um, I don't get what the fuck people think at Lee half penny has left. Like. Raisin Roberson obviously figured it out and he's, yeah we're going to talk about him in a little bit, um but what the shit?
00:26:46
Grumpy Old Prop
Yes, we are.
00:26:50
Grumpy Old Prop
i Yeah.
00:26:54
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:26:54
jarrod_dyke
I like the East girl signing, you know, when Jones is a solid prop and they lost like five of them. So they kind of needed it.
00:27:00
Grumpy Old Prop
right
00:27:01
jarrod_dyke
Um, so between him and summit, let me tell you, that'll help. I, I, you replace, you're replacing will Edwards slash Lulellina with that.
00:27:14
jarrod_dyke
Why?
00:27:15
Grumpy Old Prop
Well, I mean, they, that's not like they don't have guys waiting in the wings. They've got players. So it's not, I mean, gosh, I hope this isn't just for, for a starting gig. I mean, green is your is your guy. So what does it matter? and I mean, I still think it's going to be Nick, Dave and Kaden Murley out there and and green.
00:27:35
jarrod_dyke
It should.
00:27:36
Grumpy Old Prop
Um, yeah.
00:27:37
jarrod_dyke
It should be.
00:27:37
Grumpy Old Prop
And, you know, Northmore, I think is is solid as a center at this point. Um, not like he's very good. I'm not saying solid.
00:27:44
jarrod_dyke
Well, he made them able to let Esther Hazen go.
00:27:45
Grumpy Old Prop
He's not right.
00:27:49
jarrod_dyke
And that wasn't their favorite choice, I'm sure, but as well.
00:27:50
Grumpy Old Prop
Well, I think, I think Anyan Wu is, is waiting in the wings there too. So I think Anyan, I mean, we saw him when we were there.
00:27:55
jarrod_dyke
Yep.
00:27:59
Grumpy Old Prop
However many years ago that was now, I don't want to think about it.
00:28:01
jarrod_dyke
Yes.
00:28:02
Grumpy Old Prop
I mean, he's only, he's still only 23.
00:28:03
jarrod_dyke
he He got played with an Ashlight game, didn't he?
00:28:04
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah. You had a huge match.
00:28:06
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:28:06
Grumpy Old Prop
Um, and he's 23 now.
00:28:07
jarrod_dyke
Mm-hmm.
00:28:08
Grumpy Old Prop
So I think they're like, okay, we're, we're, we're, if you're, if you're going to do it, you're going to do it now. So yup.
00:28:12
jarrod_dyke
This is the time to do it. Will Joseph's young. Yeah, they've they have a nice core of you know prime guys, really.
00:28:18
Grumpy Old Prop
But they're all, I think all of them are under like 25.
00:28:23
jarrod_dyke
They're all like 25 and under, give or take.
00:28:24
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah. Like green's 26 shit.
00:28:25
jarrod_dyke
Green's 26.
00:28:26
Grumpy Old Prop
I mean, I thought he was going to be like 28, but like, yeah, how old is Marley?
00:28:30
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:28:32
jarrod_dyke
25, I think.
00:28:33
Grumpy Old Prop
He's 25. And Nick Davis, 25.
00:28:36
jarrod_dyke
Mm-hmm.
00:28:36
Grumpy Old Prop
So it's like, yeah, bring a guy in who's, who's been there just to, to, you know, be the, be a coach in the locker room and moving the right on the other side, moving.
00:28:39
jarrod_dyke
Yep.
00:28:43
jarrod_dyke
Yep. There's lots of reason to be happy about this. I would say that the same Finn Baxter, the summer he had.
00:28:49
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah. Right. Oh, he's been amazing.
00:28:53
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:28:53
Grumpy Old Prop
And then also Dom Brant and the forwards taking over captaincy. Um, And Chandler Cunningham South has had um had himself a great summer.
00:28:59
jarrod_dyke
Yep.
00:29:01
jarrod_dyke
You got a great summer too.
00:29:02
Grumpy Old Prop
So um there's there's ah still a lot on the up here.
00:29:03
jarrod_dyke
Yep. Mm hmm.
00:29:09
Grumpy Old Prop
I don't think Lee half penny fucks that in any way.
00:29:13
jarrod_dyke
No, i if they're smart about it, no.
00:29:14
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:29:15
jarrod_dyke
And if he's there to be a veteran presence and, you know, a la Richard Wigglesworth for Lester a little bit, you know, a little bit ago.
00:29:22
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:29:25
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:29:25
jarrod_dyke
Okay. you It's not bad. It's not a bad move. I just wouldn't be checking them out there because you're going to be subbing them off in 10 minutes.
00:29:28
Grumpy Old Prop
Right. Right. And um yeah, i I don't see these guys missing out top four again.
00:29:37
jarrod_dyke
Be tough. They'll, they'll be, they'll be in the mix.
00:29:40
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm.
00:29:41
jarrod_dyke
Unquestionably. I don't think it, I don't think that's a hot take by any means whatsoever.
00:29:45
Grumpy Old Prop
Right. No, it's it's it's um you know, that wasn't my hot take on them. That was just my my expectations.
00:29:50
jarrod_dyke
No, I know that.
00:29:51
Grumpy Old Prop
I think I think they're going to come back and um get back into it.
00:29:57
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. I think most of them had that too. Uh, let's go down to the tigers.
00:30:07
jarrod_dyke
Jasper, big loss, obviously.
00:30:10
Grumpy Old Prop
And you didn't really yeah.
00:30:12
jarrod_dyke
That's kind of it.
00:30:13
Grumpy Old Prop
Well, I'm Nick Dolly. I think at this point it's going to be a big loss because.
00:30:16
jarrod_dyke
If he had been healthy, like he he was another one that had problems with health issues, and that was, granted that was due to his knee just getting absolutely wrecked, but, and that sucks.
00:30:19
Grumpy Old Prop
True, but.
00:30:22
Grumpy Old Prop
like Yeah, but who who do you got who do you got at a hooker now while Montogers away?
00:30:31
jarrod_dyke
I'm Charlie Clare.
00:30:31
Grumpy Old Prop
He's not bad, he's not bad, but I i still rate Dolly over him by a by a fair bit. But again, as you mentioned, that's when he's healthy. Um, yeah, but another year, Dan Cole, um, who I feel like, so my, my hot take about, you know, about there is, um, the last year's Dan Cole was like the lion in winter.
00:30:41
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, need to be a little healthier for his for his own.
00:30:57
Grumpy Old Prop
And now he's, he's, I think that was like his ah swan song in a way. Like I'm going to give it one good go. And then I don't think he's going to, I don't think he's going to back that up.
00:31:10
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, yeah, yeah Probably not Yeah, I mean Yeah, I
00:31:13
Grumpy Old Prop
He's 37. That's tough. it's it's not you know He just put so much mileage on himself and and really pushed pushed through and did a great job, but it's really hard to do that back-to-back at that age. no I think that that last year was the the the last great year for Dan Cole, and I think now it's going to be like the farewell toward Dan Cole, which is big for that. That's that's huge. I mean, Joe Hayes is is he's coming into his own, and that's excellent. but
00:31:42
jarrod_dyke
he should He should be, he should be the number one, honestly.
00:31:42
Grumpy Old Prop
But that prop, that, yeah, that prop room is not, not anything i'm I'm writing home about.
00:31:52
jarrod_dyke
It's Nicky Smith and Joe Hayes, that's it.
00:31:54
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah. Okay.
00:31:58
Grumpy Old Prop
Okay.
00:31:59
jarrod_dyke
That's it. Right, a lot of people are waiting.
00:32:01
Grumpy Old Prop
And then you.
00:32:04
jarrod_dyke
Finn Cardiff talked about him last year a little bit as well.
00:32:05
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm.
00:32:08
jarrod_dyke
um So we'll see if he emerges and the question is obviously gonna be, Who the fuck are they replacing Jasper with? Now Jasper is not someone you just plug and play by any means whatsoever.
00:32:18
jarrod_dyke
That is a, that has a special number eight unquestionably. But I don't, to me, I think the best potential in their back row belongs to Ileone.
00:32:33
jarrod_dyke
I don't think he's there yet though.
00:32:33
Grumpy Old Prop
No, I don't think I don't think so maybe but I don't know
00:32:40
jarrod_dyke
So I think you're, I think the answer is probably gonna be Levenberg in the end.
00:32:42
Grumpy Old Prop
Uh, I honestly, and, and with full, full honesty, and I'm saying this with my, my full chest, I guess. Um, I guess, yeah, no, I'm saying it. I'd rather put fucking Chezzam back there than Leibenberg.
00:32:57
jarrod_dyke
and Yeah, they're not gonna do that though.
00:32:59
Grumpy Old Prop
Like, give me George Martin and Harry Wells, in that lock room and Chezzam over fucking Leibenberg. You got to be kidding me there. Um, I just haven't seen much from him in a long time and, you know,
00:33:08
jarrod_dyke
Mm.
00:33:15
Grumpy Old Prop
So that's that.
00:33:16
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. Well, that's, that's all that's going to go. Uh, I mean, you got, they'll have JVP more, more available this year.
00:33:20
Grumpy Old Prop
And then.
00:33:24
Grumpy Old Prop
Yes, they will. That'll that'll help.
00:33:24
jarrod_dyke
That'll help.
00:33:25
Grumpy Old Prop
And Whiteley's been been quality, so that'll help.
00:33:26
jarrod_dyke
They'll have a lot.
00:33:28
Grumpy Old Prop
And they get gets them another some other scrum have to who's still there.
00:33:28
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. Since he's moved.
00:33:33
jarrod_dyke
Probably shouldn't be. Let's be honest. Um, I, I'm at, I guess this is just cover for while Pollard's away, but ball of all of it to me is just kind of weird.
00:33:43
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, it's not a.
00:33:45
jarrod_dyke
Like. And I know the they're probably gonna roll Shillcock out there if we're honest over him.
00:33:48
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm-hmm.
00:33:50
jarrod_dyke
If I had to take a total shot in the dark.
00:33:52
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:33:54
jarrod_dyke
um they're They're gonna, and they have some, they you know Isaiah Parise, I really like him coming over from Taz. I think he's gonna provide them a little bit of punch up the middle of that.
00:34:06
Grumpy Old Prop
Him and Kata as a, yeah.
00:34:07
jarrod_dyke
you know, apart from when Kata played in there, you know, and but Kata didn't play in there all the time.
00:34:11
Grumpy Old Prop
True.
00:34:11
jarrod_dyke
So, and let's be honest, Kata got himself carded a couple of times, that didn't help either.
00:34:13
Grumpy Old Prop
He did. No.
00:34:16
jarrod_dyke
um i I want to see this team, and I know that's not the lesser way, but i i the talent that exists in the back line that I see before me tells me that this ball needs to fucking spin just a little bit more and get a little bit more air and I think things will go well.
00:34:28
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm. Mm hmm.
00:34:37
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, I mean, Bassett, Hassell Collins, Watson make make a good like rotation at wing.
00:34:39
jarrod_dyke
But we'll see if that happens.
00:34:44
Grumpy Old Prop
Freddie Stewart needs to find his his mojo again. um Really with for for Lester, my my hope for them is that they finish above Exeter.
00:34:56
Grumpy Old Prop
That's like
00:34:57
jarrod_dyke
God, it should.
00:34:58
Grumpy Old Prop
That's my my goal for them, I guess. I don't know that they're going to challenge for top four, but um I think they should if they if theyve finish above the Exeter, I think that would be a good ah solid season.
00:35:11
Grumpy Old Prop
That means they're, you know, sixth.
00:35:11
jarrod_dyke
Mm-hmm.
00:35:15
Grumpy Old Prop
Around there, which would be actually pretty good for this for this, the squad as it as it currently stands.
00:35:15
jarrod_dyke
Right.

Deep Dive into Saracens & Sale

00:35:22
Grumpy Old Prop
Sad to say, I am a like, hey, and I wouldn't mind being wrong.
00:35:22
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, let's see how that goes.
00:35:25
Grumpy Old Prop
I kind of I do like some other players.
00:35:29
jarrod_dyke
Yep, me too. Newcastle, lots going on here. Lots go you know lots of lots has gone wrong. um Yeah, it's...
00:35:42
Grumpy Old Prop
They made some good, good decisions. Um, some good decisions like Mattias Moroni, good decision.
00:35:50
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:35:52
Grumpy Old Prop
Well, Koki Koki.
00:35:52
jarrod_dyke
Hmm.
00:35:53
Grumpy Old Prop
Well, I mean, you know, out of the league. Yes. Um, Rory Jennings. Yeah, fine. Bye.
00:36:00
jarrod_dyke
Hmm.
00:36:02
Grumpy Old Prop
I don't understand some of the guys that' like Cameron nailed like. Oh, okay. Like Alex hurl.
00:36:09
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, beats me. I mean, yeah, they need another hookers really what it comes down to.
00:36:13
Grumpy Old Prop
hey
00:36:15
jarrod_dyke
Alex, hu I don't mind that much he was he didn't get the chance to flourish at Gloucester. He showed plenty of flashes at Worcester when they when they were a thing.
00:36:26
Grumpy Old Prop
That's true.
00:36:27
jarrod_dyke
grant That was in a team that was pretty dog shit, but he was one of the few bright spots when when he got his chance.
00:36:33
Grumpy Old Prop
That's true.
00:36:35
jarrod_dyke
Kieran Wilkinson coming over, I'm guessing is going to get a little bit more time to play than you would have at Leicester. So that's the decision for him on that move. And then we'll, and then the rest, it's like, yeah, we'll see what happens.
00:36:48
jarrod_dyke
Like, um, Ethan Grayson, good luck. I mean, coming over from Legion, Godspeed, good luck.
00:36:53
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm.
00:36:55
jarrod_dyke
Um, it's going to be a different story. Tell you that much right now. Squad players at best for the most part coming in, but really, you know, man, guys going out too. So it's like, all right, whatever.
00:37:06
jarrod_dyke
That was the difference.
00:37:06
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:37:08
jarrod_dyke
If we're honest, if we're honest, I,
00:37:15
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, like blue Myers kind of going to still be the guy, the guy and we'll see.
00:37:19
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:37:24
jarrod_dyke
I mean, you know, we saw some flashes of like Louis Brown last year. We know Radman can scoot.
00:37:32
jarrod_dyke
It's just going to be, can these guys play rugby together and do it in a way that's going to enable them to compete?
00:37:44
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:37:45
jarrod_dyke
Dimes is ah is going to always make a team, a bunch of hard asses.
00:37:48
Grumpy Old Prop
right
00:37:49
jarrod_dyke
How much is that going to help them?
00:37:50
Grumpy Old Prop
I don't think so. They're already hardasses just for living in Newcastle. um like I think they kind of need some some skill.
00:37:56
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, probably are.
00:37:58
Grumpy Old Prop
That's been one of their biggest problems is they can't really move the ball around and then really attack with any flair. So.
00:38:05
jarrod_dyke
I think we see Ben Redshaw this year more often.
00:38:10
Grumpy Old Prop
i yeah
00:38:11
jarrod_dyke
So I think we'll see.
00:38:11
Grumpy Old Prop
okay
00:38:13
jarrod_dyke
I think we'll see him, you know, very young, young, up and coming player.
00:38:15
Grumpy Old Prop
I'd like to see that.
00:38:17
jarrod_dyke
I think that'll, I think they'll do them a lot of good, um, played.
00:38:21
Grumpy Old Prop
But they're, they're most likely to relegate.
00:38:26
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, well, because they're gonna have to play whoever wins the championship.
00:38:28
Grumpy Old Prop
I think so.
00:38:30
jarrod_dyke
Am I am I wrong about that? Is that what it is? Okay, so kind of like the second relegation spot in France right now, which that game was very interesting last year, I will say that.
00:38:34
Grumpy Old Prop
Even, even so.
00:38:43
jarrod_dyke
Double adult players, the defending champions Northampton. And we'll get into the two S teams and then we'll move on. um Tom West, yep, sorry, we couldn't play you much buddy.
00:38:55
jarrod_dyke
Both Wallers are gone.
00:38:56
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm.
00:38:57
jarrod_dyke
Tom Cruise is gone. Sam Medivacy has moved on. Obviously i mean we talked about Laws and Ludlum are both gone. Big names, no question.
00:39:06
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, huge names, but.
00:39:08
jarrod_dyke
um
00:39:10
Grumpy Old Prop
But this is all like I still like what they've done because they they're they're. They won with some old guys, but they already have guys backing up ready to go and especially bringing Kemeny and I like that.
00:39:23
jarrod_dyke
Mm-hmm.
00:39:24
Grumpy Old Prop
But now Tom Pearson's gonna have a lot more of a go.
00:39:25
jarrod_dyke
Yep. That's a good move.
00:39:29
Grumpy Old Prop
And and Sam Graham too. um <unk> therere you know There's spots that are open. you and alex colle You still have Alex Coles who can still lead that um that lock division.
00:39:39
jarrod_dyke
Yep. And I like, I like a lot of what I saw out of both Chonyamanga and Mayana Banua last year.
00:39:44
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, right.
00:39:44
jarrod_dyke
My Avenue was away for a little bit, but, um, yeah, I like it a lot.
00:39:47
Grumpy Old Prop
And i I can't wait to see, I think we're gonna see more of Tara Kafar this year.
00:39:48
jarrod_dyke
They still have truck.
00:39:52
Grumpy Old Prop
And I'm looking forward to that.
00:39:53
jarrod_dyke
Yes, I think so too. I am too.
00:39:55
Grumpy Old Prop
And Manny Yogan, like, I mean, that we saw a lot of him anyway, but, um, there's, there's some young talent coming across there and that that to back up the positions that they, where they've lost guys.
00:39:55
jarrod_dyke
That's going to be awesome.
00:39:59
jarrod_dyke
Yep. Yeah.
00:40:04
jarrod_dyke
yeah
00:40:05
Grumpy Old Prop
So it's not, and then now, you know, Alex Mitchell still, Alex Mitchell, Finn Smith is, he became Finn Smith last year.
00:40:15
jarrod_dyke
Yep. Yeah.
00:40:16
Grumpy Old Prop
So he is Finn Smith. Like he's, he's, ready he's good to lead them.
00:40:18
jarrod_dyke
yeah
00:40:20
Grumpy Old Prop
Um, You know, Dingwall and Hutchinson had kind of rough goes last year in patches. So they get a chance to back themselves up. And then you still have a couple yeah that, that back three is okay.
00:40:30
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, with some good players in there too.
00:40:36
Grumpy Old Prop
It's all right.
00:40:36
jarrod_dyke
yeah Yeah.
00:40:38
Grumpy Old Prop
It's playable.
00:40:39
jarrod_dyke
Time to believe Seiberg's only 25. I can't believe he's only 25.
00:40:43
Grumpy Old Prop
That's ridiculous too.
00:40:45
jarrod_dyke
Tom Seiberg, yeah. yeah um Got the the the glass of E8 back there, George Henty.
00:40:49
Grumpy Old Prop
The tall glass of V8 holy crap He does Me too it's there I still have them as my number as number one, but it's gonna be tough to unseat them And
00:40:52
jarrod_dyke
Yes, he is. Yes, he is. Anybody plays so well. It's just like you, you've earned a nickname, my friend. Well done. Well done. and so That's what that's when it comes to in this. I, I like their chances of getting back to the final, honestly.
00:41:13
jarrod_dyke
Yep. Uh, sale.
00:41:21
jarrod_dyke
I don't see a ton lost. And I know a lot of people will be like bullshit.
00:41:28
Grumpy Old Prop
No.
00:41:28
jarrod_dyke
I don't. I don't see a ton gained either.
00:41:30
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:41:30
jarrod_dyke
People say Naya Klavu. He's got as many injury problems as Tulani did.
00:41:33
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah. Right.
00:41:35
jarrod_dyke
So that's really not gonna work. Will Addison looks I'm I was a big fan of him watching him at Alstern especially the Champions Cup but still like a you get, let the ball get spread around.
00:41:47
jarrod_dyke
And then then the days they did were the days that made life hard on people. And that's why we have people like Tom Roebuck and that we're talking about, you know, a bunch, but are you going to let it get spread around?
00:41:54
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:41:58
Grumpy Old Prop
Right. They have a bunch of like, they have reading Roebuck and a bunch of role players in the back row in the back line.
00:41:59
jarrod_dyke
It's always a question.
00:42:03
jarrod_dyke
Mm hmm. Yeah, so we'll, we'll see. I'm interested to see how NaClavu fits in. Should he stay healthy? And then it's like, you know, like in that apart from Bevin rod, someone needs to step forward.
00:42:26
Grumpy Old Prop
Like Johnny Hills there.
00:42:30
jarrod_dyke
Right. Hard waiting to happen.
00:42:31
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, not yeah he no, he'll be, he'll be asked by the referee to step forward to receive, to receive his card.
00:42:32
jarrod_dyke
Um, a Paco could.
00:42:37
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. Come here. You off.
00:42:39
Grumpy Old Prop
yeah Step forward, step off.
00:42:44
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, right. Um, I would like to see a pocket. I don't know he's only 20, but a pocket who had some good steps last year. I'd like to see him step up.
00:42:51
Grumpy Old Prop
Yes.
00:42:52
jarrod_dyke
He could, he has the potential to do it. Um, here in Andrews played pretty well when he, when he joined the squad. So I'll throw him a bone as well. Other than that, someone else needs to really emerge from this type five group.
00:43:03
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm.
00:43:04
jarrod_dyke
And that's a, that's a lot of players by the way. Um, and they need. both those Dupree forward boys to just revert back to days of old and right.
00:43:16
Grumpy Old Prop
Like three years ago. Because like, I don't know. Okay. True very question, because I think the answer is no.
00:43:20
jarrod_dyke
I think
00:43:23
Grumpy Old Prop
Did sale ever get both of them on the field at once last year? And it may have maybe I may be early on, but not since like December.
00:43:29
jarrod_dyke
early on. I think early on. Yeah, they had a hard time with that one. It goes a little bit to their praying style and
00:43:41
jarrod_dyke
This is a little bit on him, but it's a little bit on and Sanderson as well. Like Raffy Quirk, in order for sale to be good and to be dangerous, Raffy Quirk has to be the best nine in this squad.
00:43:55
Grumpy Old Prop
yeah
00:43:56
jarrod_dyke
Like ah you're not neither neither you nor I are a huge fan of Gus Warren.
00:44:00
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah I'll risk I have respect for what he did last year because he he had a couple of good games and showed up But I still think quirk is your he's so so much more there's so much more potential there
00:44:01
jarrod_dyke
It's not really a mystery lie.
00:44:13
jarrod_dyke
Mm hmm. Yeah, agreed. And, you know, it's an aging fly half room, though. I got those two guys probably got a couple more years within them, maybe more, but
00:44:22
Grumpy Old Prop
But, but.
00:44:26
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, they don't have the, you know, unless I got a plan to play Tom Curtis a bunch, then, you know, it's, those are your guys.
00:44:31
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:44:32
jarrod_dyke
And that's where it's at. Massey white could be again, another one of those with these younger players to step forward in, you know, we're talking about him at the end of the year as, you know, a breakout player of the year, possibly we'll see.
00:44:45
Grumpy Old Prop
Right. But like back to to know to Ford though, like he's 31. And speaking of someone who has at one point been 31 and playing, like it was around that age when you're you're healing, you know, you're Wolverine healing, tight you know, speed, it goes away.
00:45:02
jarrod_dyke
It's gone.
00:45:03
Grumpy Old Prop
and and And Ford is still like, ah what, he weighs like 50 pounds soaking wet.
00:45:04
jarrod_dyke
It's gone.
00:45:08
Grumpy Old Prop
um He's going to get smashed a bunch. um He's going to, he's going to lose a step and he's going to be much more of a, of a, a target.
00:45:18
jarrod_dyke
Right.
00:45:19
Grumpy Old Prop
Better, you know, you need something else there. Cause he's, he's going to need some, uh, he's going to need a minute every so often.
00:45:25
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, I
00:45:31
Grumpy Old Prop
Oh, and I just respect a time of clarity earlier and I need to apologize for that. He's.
00:45:36
jarrod_dyke
Yes, I also noticed his name as well.
00:45:37
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, um i I didn't mean to do that. But at the same time, reading Roebuck or your bank, you're locked in starters. So Flaherty's your guy, he's your rotation guy. um So kind of points still stands, you've got wings. But who's getting the ball?
00:45:55
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, it's gotta get spread out there.
00:45:57
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:45:59
jarrod_dyke
It really does.
00:46:00
Grumpy Old Prop
And then not only that, but then you need threats on the inside too. Cause it's like, okay, if they're, if the only threats are on the wing, we can kind of play easy on the, you know, middle of the middle of that. That's bad news. If you don't, if you don't have a threat up the middle.
00:46:15
jarrod_dyke
Right. So we'll see what, what emerges for them in that, in that, in those cases. Um, all right. So sale fighting for top four, maybe a crappy quirk has his bet.
00:46:30
jarrod_dyke
It goes back to old raffy quirk.
00:46:31
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm. Yeah, ah I still I think they're fighting for top six.
00:46:32
jarrod_dyke
I think maybe that's the way to go with it.
00:46:35
Grumpy Old Prop
I think they're in the.
00:46:36
jarrod_dyke
Okay.
00:46:39
Grumpy Old Prop
They're in the Lester Exeter. um
00:46:44
Grumpy Old Prop
That that tier of teams now, that maybe they do, maybe they may maybe they dig their way up like they did last year. um But I think, ah you know, I don't think you're going to get.
00:46:53
jarrod_dyke
possibility.
00:46:55
Grumpy Old Prop
I think Harlequin's also kind of fucked themselves over a little bit last year that they won't do. And Bristol still going to, you know, are going to be, you know, up there. So I don't think they're locked in for it, you know.
00:47:05
jarrod_dyke
Right.
00:47:10
Grumpy Old Prop
And I didn't see that like you were saying, I don't I don't see them have taken major steps forward. So I see them more in that that sixth region.
00:47:19
jarrod_dyke
Right.
00:47:22
jarrod_dyke
All right, ah our guys, and then we'll get out of here. Well, not get out of here, but we'll move on.
00:47:25
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:47:26
jarrod_dyke
um Talk about a few things, then we'll get out of here. um So one thing, and this is gonna be blasphemy, so so many things.
00:47:37
jarrod_dyke
I liked a lot of their prop signings because the one of the biggest areas of services have is giving away scrum penalties. And I don't care if we win scrum penalties. I don't give away any.
00:47:47
jarrod_dyke
And that's that was my biggest. That was definitely the biggest problem with especially with like Mac. Oh, like Lago V. Bullock became more valuable because he could get in there and just hold his own.
00:47:57
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm.
00:47:58
jarrod_dyke
And it was like, ah like, Judge, love you, dude. Thanks for what you did.
00:48:02
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:48:02
jarrod_dyke
But audio, sore I'm happy with you to go. Maco, same. Love you, dude. Adios. Have and have a have a trip. Tom West is probably the only one i'm I'm pissed that we lost. And it's hailed just retiring was probably the right move because Portfella fucking can stay healthy.
00:48:13
Grumpy Old Prop
Right. But, but Fraser Balmain.
00:48:15
jarrod_dyke
But Balmain will hold the help. And this brand new kid looks great. I will say that. So thus far that and then you don't be scary.
00:48:22
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, he does. Hello.
00:48:24
jarrod_dyke
Hello. How are you, buddy? Good to see you back.
00:48:28
jarrod_dyke
OK, so great. We got that. And then there's still plenty plenty to like otherwise. So, OK. problem one nailed on where we don't need to do that shit no more.
00:48:35
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm-hmm At
00:48:38
jarrod_dyke
Um, and then it's like, about that, about that.
00:48:41
Grumpy Old Prop
least you saw a feral pilot English. Oh Wait a second
00:48:50
jarrod_dyke
So the, and then, yeah, let's start right into it. I mean, it's, it's the elephant in the room. I am obviously very sad that he's gone.
00:49:00
jarrod_dyke
It was a painful ending. And I will, nobody's gonna, nobody that wears a black jersey will ever forget what he did for the club. But we have a 21 year old and a 25 year old that both look fucking awesome.
00:49:15
jarrod_dyke
So, okay.
00:49:18
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah. and And let's, yeah, I'm quite all right with both of these two.
00:49:20
jarrod_dyke
Really?
00:49:24
Grumpy Old Prop
So I also think that maybe, that you know you know, putting cards on the table, I think this is a ah ah ah fifth place team.
00:49:36
Grumpy Old Prop
Just because, yes just because of that, um, that, that losing your 10 and, and captain and like lifeblood in a way of the team, um, someone who just drove them to be better and no, no disrespect tomorrow, obviously has taken over as captain.
00:49:37
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, i'm I'm good with like six. yeah
00:49:50
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:49:51
Grumpy Old Prop
It's the right call. Um, and he'll lead them, but it fast brought something.
00:49:57
jarrod_dyke
I think he's going to be an inspirational leader, honestly.
00:49:59
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah. Yeah. fa Faz was much more of a, you get it done or my boots going to be up your ass.
00:50:00
jarrod_dyke
I think you will be.
00:50:04
Grumpy Old Prop
And um so they're going to change a little bit.
00:50:05
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:50:08
Grumpy Old Prop
It's going to take them a while to find themselves. That's all. That's, I think that's the issue. And and both, you know, both those, these flyhaves, Johnson and Burke are going to be fine.
00:50:12
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, I agree.
00:50:17
Grumpy Old Prop
Be just fine. No doubt about it. um It's just going to take him, take him a bit.
00:50:22
jarrod_dyke
Finally got fucking rid of all the lead Davies, too. God damn it. Oh, God damn.
00:50:26
Grumpy Old Prop
That's nice.
00:50:29
jarrod_dyke
That was nice.
00:50:29
Grumpy Old Prop
And I even like, you know, I know it's short term, but I like bringing in Calum Braley.
00:50:29
jarrod_dyke
Thank you, God. And.
00:50:32
Grumpy Old Prop
I like the way he plays. That's he's much more that type of the type of player that they, I think so too.
00:50:35
jarrod_dyke
I think I think we're gonna see Charlie Bracken a little bit this year. I think this is finally gonna be the year we finally see this kid. He's looked great for England under 20s for the last couple of years and I think we'll finally we'll see him.
00:50:43
Grumpy Old Prop
Hmm.
00:50:49
jarrod_dyke
Probably won't see his his brother yet, but I think this is the year we're gonna see him.
00:50:50
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:50:56
jarrod_dyke
Is it Elliot that they were talking about? Maybe that might be a possible guy to keep your eyes peeled for.
00:50:59
Grumpy Old Prop
Okay, okay. What does he what position is he play?
00:51:01
jarrod_dyke
Tobias Elliot, back three.
00:51:02
Grumpy Old Prop
He's not showing up on the Okay There yeah, mean that they need another one of those shit Well, I mean they do they they need rotation guys cuz you know Maitland's gone Lowington retired but both of them retired.
00:51:09
jarrod_dyke
Right. Well, yeah,
00:51:16
Grumpy Old Prop
It's that's yeah
00:51:18
jarrod_dyke
since he's away right now, laws coming back will be huge. Like coming back and being healthy, like between him, And Tompkins and Hartley in the midfield.
00:51:29
jarrod_dyke
Love it. s Spink getting rotated in there.
00:51:30
Grumpy Old Prop
Yep.
00:51:31
jarrod_dyke
Um, since he stepped in great last year at 13, but really his, I think his best spot is that 14 shirt.
00:51:31
Grumpy Old Prop
I like that.
00:51:37
Grumpy Old Prop
I don't disagree.
00:51:38
jarrod_dyke
Honestly, um, would look and letting, letting Roddy kind of hang out on the other side or, or pardon either one fine.
00:51:40
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm-hmm. It was fine.
00:51:44
jarrod_dyke
Um, I think, I think you'll see spank get shown up, chucked over to, um, 14 a little bit here and there.
00:51:47
Grumpy Old Prop
Oh, I didn't we see, didn't we see part and play pretty well at 15 too? Or was it, who am I thinking? Am I thinking of someone else?
00:51:54
jarrod_dyke
And then he played wing.
00:51:55
Grumpy Old Prop
Okay.
00:51:55
jarrod_dyke
He played mostly wing.
00:51:56
Grumpy Old Prop
Who am I thinking of? Let me go back to their full roster.
00:52:04
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, then I don't know. um I thought I just thought Parton had some some skate to him again, like a young Alex Gooden in a lot of ways.
00:52:07
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, it was a lot of waiting for him.
00:52:11
Grumpy Old Prop
So he's much more on the way.
00:52:13
jarrod_dyke
He does, but he's they've they've been employing daily at fullback a lot still.
00:52:15
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:52:17
Grumpy Old Prop
I kind of liked Elliott fullback because he's not that threat at 13 anymore. um
00:52:23
jarrod_dyke
Thank you. I think you just can go.
00:52:24
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:52:25
jarrod_dyke
Honestly, I think that's the next guy to leave the club if we're honest.
00:52:25
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah. But but he's got that that huge boot. So if you kick it back to him and he's you know, he's there, he's going to return it with with some interest. So
00:52:34
jarrod_dyke
i I'd say it's probably the one thing that's keeping him on the field at the moment.
00:52:36
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:52:38
jarrod_dyke
It's not to say a lot, but it is. ah Yeah, so Tarrison's probably outside the top four for first time and a bit and that, but that's understandable.
00:52:45
Grumpy Old Prop
In a bit, but.
00:52:49
jarrod_dyke
And, you know, in a year where you're just trying to build yourself back up after losing a couple of notable guys that did a lot of good for the club, but yeah, they're, they're gone and, you know,
00:52:54
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:52:57
Grumpy Old Prop
And I have no problem being wrong about that. if That turns out to be wrong.
00:53:01
jarrod_dyke
Oh, yeah, i same. Same, same, same. Finalist.
00:53:11
Grumpy Old Prop
i I'm trying to manifest this because I think it's really what I want to see. um And i I think it's going to be Quinn's Saints.
00:53:23
jarrod_dyke
You know, you got to stop copying my fucking homework, dude.
00:53:24
Grumpy Old Prop
Sorry.
00:53:27
jarrod_dyke
I, I'm in a great, that was what I had in my head this whole time. and I was like, I think Quinn saints is, is it Marcus finally, not finally, but you know, it's, it's a show to run now in terms of England, but yeah.
00:53:32
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:53:38
Grumpy Old Prop
and Smith versus Smith in the it's almost like spy versus spy from from Mad magazine kind of thing um And I have um the other the other semi-finalists I have our bath in Bristol
00:53:43
jarrod_dyke
Haha. I'm the old B yeah. Oh man. Maybe, maybe, but yeah, that's, that's what I'm thinking too. but but I like a lot of what they have.
00:53:57
jarrod_dyke
I think that's fair, honestly. Honestly, but then, you know, we talked about guys that could sneak in there and wouldn't be shocked, but yeah, I think don't get so penisy.
00:54:05
Grumpy Old Prop
I mean, I wouldn't be shocked if Saracens are in there. I wouldn't be shocked. I really actually wouldn't be shocked if if Sailor in there just because, again, they could penis their way in. um yeah
00:54:18
Grumpy Old Prop
But outside of outside of those, i I would be surprised if if Exeter show, I'd be so obviously shocked if Gloucester show, but not
00:54:19
jarrod_dyke
Uh,
00:54:26
Grumpy Old Prop
It would be one of those. Wow. Okay. I could see it happening. But like, you know, that that's the one that would be like shocked, but not fully surprised. Like they did it.
00:54:35
jarrod_dyke
I feel shocked.
00:54:35
Grumpy Old Prop
Okay. Like they, they actually, yeah. Like they actually put it together. Like that's scary. Um, but like, yeah, then exit or Lester Newcastle or.
00:54:51
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah. Yeah.
00:54:53
jarrod_dyke
Yep, cluster sitting down there probably.
00:54:54
Grumpy Old Prop
glouc Like I said, Gloucester, I would be i like, I could see them like somehow put catching lightning in a bottle. Maybe, you know, once they fire skivs catching lightning in a bottle.
00:55:04
jarrod_dyke
That would be, one I think that's honestly, like, unless Gibbs has got something really creative up his sleeve, I think that's what it might take to get them up to top four.
00:55:11
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:55:13
jarrod_dyke
Just that galvanization of, you know, your response, we, you feel responsible for someone getting sacked.
00:55:14
Grumpy Old Prop
Like that, you know, firing Guzy did for someone else. Yeah.
00:55:19
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. Yeah. You feel responsible for it. And you're just like, boys, we got to do better.
00:55:22
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm.
00:55:23
jarrod_dyke
And then that just kind of wakes you up and like, okay, we, nobody's safe. Like let's go.
00:55:27
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:55:30
jarrod_dyke
We'll see. So we're gonna do some various segments, and this isn't quite one we're gonna do, but we will talk about things of

Heroes of the Summer

00:55:39
jarrod_dyke
this nature. But um our heroes of the summer. I don't think it's gonna be a mystery what either one of us ours is.
00:55:46
Grumpy Old Prop
My, my, well, as soon as we you say heroes, I think, um, my mind, obviously Jeff's too Marvel as one does. Um, and what do we know about Marvel heroes?
00:55:57
Grumpy Old Prop
They have the alliterative names, you're Peter Parker's, youre you're Stephen Strange, you're Bruce Banner's.
00:55:59
jarrod_dyke
Foulable, but awesome.
00:56:05
Grumpy Old Prop
And and as as it turns out, both of my heroes of the summer have the double double letter names. um for the For the men, it's Abadad Zebeth who has
00:56:18
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:56:20
Grumpy Old Prop
Again, if you're a returning listener of the show, you'll you you'll have known a couple of years ago, he's not one of my favorite players because he was kind of just the hard ass. And what has made him an amazing player lately is he's so good in the loose.
00:56:30
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:56:35
Grumpy Old Prop
He will beat you in the, he will beat you with his head. He'll beat you with his legs. He will beat you anyway. He has to beat you. And if you know what, he's got to beat you, beat you, he will beat you. Um, which, right.
00:56:45
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, he has that penalty too.
00:56:47
Grumpy Old Prop
Which kind of makes it, you know, that now it's an L it's a fun element to him rather than just all he's got. And so, um, Yeah, i' um I think he has has taken a huge step forward and and deserves a lot of credit and and has really, this is this has been the summer of Eben, at least on the men's side.
00:57:05
jarrod_dyke
Quite.
00:57:08
Grumpy Old Prop
And then...
00:57:08
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. I say I think we both have key rows of the summer otherwise and It's the US women's seven scene, but it's ah but of course it's like spiff Cedric, like good job.
00:57:19
Grumpy Old Prop
Yes, this is Biff Cedric, the double S.
00:57:22
jarrod_dyke
cool ah but a Truckster heard around the world, like jeez.
00:57:28
Grumpy Old Prop
14th minute of the bronze medal match.
00:57:33
jarrod_dyke
It was weird. i was So I was in my my my telehealth virtual um therapy appointment and I'm just like, hold on one second doc.
00:57:38
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:57:41
jarrod_dyke
like something awesome is about to happen.
00:57:42
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:57:43
jarrod_dyke
I'm watching this play develop. I'm like, oh, she's like, I'm guessing they won. I was like, yes, they did. Yes, they did.
00:57:52
Grumpy Old Prop
the
00:57:52
jarrod_dyke
And it was just my favorite was Sammy Sullivan on the sideline.
00:57:54
Grumpy Old Prop
He's like, no, no. Shut up.
00:57:56
jarrod_dyke
She's like, all right, everyone shut up, shut up, shut up.
00:57:56
Grumpy Old Prop
Shut up. Cause you got to make the kick.
00:57:58
jarrod_dyke
You can read her mouth. It was ah it was um it was incredible. Like I, you know, and Alona Maher is just a is it just a ah national treasure and in many ways and just
00:58:05
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm. Right. And it's transcending the sports world, which is good. Like, that's she's obviously a major hero this season.
00:58:11
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:58:14
Grumpy Old Prop
um But that's Beth Cedric breaking the tackle and.
00:58:14
jarrod_dyke
Yep. No doubt.
00:58:18
jarrod_dyke
You know, and she got a bad tournament up until that point too.
00:58:21
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:58:21
jarrod_dyke
So that's one of those lessons like don't freaking quit.
00:58:24
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:58:24
jarrod_dyke
Even if you've had a bad day, just don't bloody quit. And she didn't have a great tournament up to that point, but obviously that can just erase a lot of problems if you do something like that.
00:58:28
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
00:58:32
Grumpy Old Prop
It's certain and it did. It was like, that's, she went from, you know, okay, we need her to get better to, you know, yeah.
00:58:34
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
00:58:39
Grumpy Old Prop
Hero of the tournament. Yeah.
00:58:41
jarrod_dyke
You got, is it you got better.
00:58:42
Grumpy Old Prop
yeah i got but ah
00:58:45
jarrod_dyke
Yeah. And I mean, just, oh, and you know, I, I love so many of those players too. And it was just like, you know, my two favorites are, are definitely Alona and then Sammy Sullivan.
00:58:51
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
00:58:54
Grumpy Old Prop
yeah
00:58:56
jarrod_dyke
And then obviously our our girl, k Christie, the Hershey bear.
00:58:59
Grumpy Old Prop
Absolutely. Uh, who I was what a week away from being able to coach, unfortunately. Um, but, uh, no, yeah, it was, it's a great team in there.
00:59:06
jarrod_dyke
tert
00:59:09
Grumpy Old Prop
Good group of gals. Um, it's only much more fun to watch than the men were. Um, yeah.
00:59:16
jarrod_dyke
so Yeah, yeah the right thing happened with them and But and and and congrats to Bidwell and Testy like ah that was awesome The two of them just like you know, and those that don't know Zach test story like he had a huge injury I think it was in Rio wasn't it and just never recovered from it.
00:59:19
Grumpy Old Prop
So, um,
00:59:24
Grumpy Old Prop
Oh, absolutely. but Yeah.
00:59:33
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm-hmm Well, it was playing 15s they had him they threw him in at fullback and he like had like a a seizure on the field Yeah No
00:59:37
jarrod_dyke
And so obviously That's right, that's what it was That's right. That's what it was. Thank you for correcting me on that. um Yeah.
00:59:48
jarrod_dyke
And just, I was like, what happened to testy? And yeah, it, you know, it was not awesome, but he's, he's made it. ah He's made this his thing. He's made, he's got made himself a, an awesome coach and, you know, Testament to him.
01:00:02
jarrod_dyke
The fact that he was coaching in the Olympics and coaching a ah medal, um a team that medaled like, yeah, awesome.
01:00:05
Grumpy Old Prop
Right.
01:00:07
jarrod_dyke
Great for him.
01:00:07
Grumpy Old Prop
And he's he's also a fantastic human being as someone who's spent significant.
01:00:08
jarrod_dyke
And and Emily, of course. Yeah.
01:00:13
jarrod_dyke
Well, you've, you you had a chance to meet him, didn't you?
01:00:14
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, I've ive played that way. I toured with him. He was he' was on the McAfee team that I played on. So I I spent a fair number of weeks.
01:00:18
jarrod_dyke
That's right. That's right.
01:00:23
Grumpy Old Prop
You know, teaching him some old school things like like a poison every rose has its thorn. I mean, one of the one of the props from New York where we're teaching him. He's like, what is this? It's like, yeah, I came out after you're born. Shut the fuck up and listen.
01:00:36
jarrod_dyke
Yeah.
01:00:40
Grumpy Old Prop
You're watching what was it? It was, uh, was it, it was beer fest, I think.
01:00:41
jarrod_dyke
ah yeah
01:00:42
Grumpy Old Prop
could So I think that's what it was in.
01:00:44
jarrod_dyke
Oh yeah. That, that tracks, that totally tracks. Yeah. ah And I mean, we're not going

Frustrations and Disappointments

01:00:53
jarrod_dyke
to end us.
01:00:53
Grumpy Old Prop
No.
01:00:53
jarrod_dyke
I don't know. Cause we're going to do pick them in a second here, but Dick's like.
01:00:58
jarrod_dyke
Mine it's ah shared it's razor and DMACC really. It's definitely on razor, but definitely on DMACC too. Like, especially after this last game against South Africa.
01:01:04
Grumpy Old Prop
Well, look, deep, D max, not D max, not putting himself in at 10.
01:01:08
jarrod_dyke
No, I know that, but still like, well You're you're told to kick the goddamn points. You still couldn't fucking do that sometimes. So it's like Yeah That's
01:01:15
Grumpy Old Prop
Well, so yeah, and mine, mine is also razor. And to me, it's because we've been waiting so long for this to happen. It's been like the ah bigger will there won't they then like Ross and Rachel, not really.
01:01:27
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah. Um, like, um,
01:01:31
jarrod_dyke
a good one Hope most of you are old enough to understand that
01:01:33
Grumpy Old Prop
yeah. So like it. We've been waiting for it for so much. And then he goes and he's like, OK, well, look, I'm going to coach this exactly the way I'd coach the the Crusaders.
01:01:45
Grumpy Old Prop
And it's like, that's not that's not how this works. You can't take an Ethan Blackadder at six and this and a Sam Kane at seven and just be like, we're going to go and win with that. Because first off, Sam Kane showed he was cooked at the World Cup.
01:01:57
Grumpy Old Prop
He's done. Fucker is done. I shouldn't call him a fucker.
01:02:00
jarrod_dyke
and Yeah, shouldn't be around.
01:02:01
Grumpy Old Prop
Guy is done. Right. Like Don Don.
01:02:03
jarrod_dyke
Yep.
01:02:05
Grumpy Old Prop
There's no point in having him out there. You might as well put already, you know, I mean, to be fair, he learned from that and he he started to TT afterwards. But um but he still started came. So he didn't do both.
01:02:16
Grumpy Old Prop
But Blackadder is just a guy.
01:02:17
jarrod_dyke
No.
01:02:19
Grumpy Old Prop
He's not he's not getting that done. And then you see Damien McKenzie, the guy who literally pissed away a Super Rugby Pacific Championship without firing a shot. Like even the coaches are like yeah it felt like we didn't even fire a shot in that and because because he's like, yeah, I just want to kick for goal.
01:02:36
Grumpy Old Prop
And he he's so erratic at it.
01:02:39
jarrod_dyke
That never get none that was go wrong, right He's one player of the year as a 10 by the way just throw that out there
01:02:40
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, it's like he's your 10. Like you've got Bowdoin Barrett, who's who's an excellent 10 and a real 10. And honestly. Right. I'd be much I'd be OK if he said, OK, we're going to put Bowdoin at 10 and Mackenzie at 15.
01:02:56
Grumpy Old Prop
I'd actually be all right with that. I wouldn't be, you know, totally happy. It should be Will Jordan. And then you have Talia and Caleb Clark and that other douchebag in the mix, too.
01:03:04
jarrod_dyke
Mm-hmm
01:03:06
Grumpy Old Prop
And I do mean to call him a douchebag.
01:03:08
jarrod_dyke
Yep, no that that's accurate.
01:03:10
Grumpy Old Prop
Um,
01:03:10
jarrod_dyke
That's an accurate statement. That's not a slip of the tongue. That's an accurate statement Yeah, it's feast or famine and that's not a way to live in test rugby
01:03:14
Grumpy Old Prop
but it's like, Mackenzie just, I don't, people, again, people see his highlights and they think, oh, he must be a great player. And what you don't realize is when he's not making those highlight plays, he is shitting the bed constantly.
01:03:29
Grumpy Old Prop
No, it's not, it's not, it's not going to work. So, um, and it's not working for him. Shocker. So I, I, and maybe he's, maybe this is part of, maybe he's like, I got a, you know, a Razzie style plan.
01:03:44
Grumpy Old Prop
Um, but I'm not seeing it and I don't like it. So yeah, that's why he's the yeah like, just following you you, we're doing the same homework.
01:03:48
jarrod_dyke
Nope. Nope.
01:03:52
Grumpy Old Prop
Like we, like we said, Robertson's my, my Dick of the the summer.
01:03:52
jarrod_dyke
Yep. Yeah, right. Ridiculous summer. No show. Yeah. Close runner up Scott Lawrence from the United States, but different story for a different day.
01:03:59
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah, he's once again, once again, we need an adult.
01:04:01
jarrod_dyke
I can spend, we could spend 90 minutes talking about the bullshit that's been going on with that. I'm not getting there.
01:04:10
jarrod_dyke
yeah
01:04:10
Grumpy Old Prop
I was really hoping they'd sign. Actually, I was really hoping that they would bring test in. I know he's a sevens guy, but still.
01:04:17
jarrod_dyke
Hmm, maybe. Yeah, that's still may yet happen. Still may yet happen. All right. um Let's let's do pickums and then we can get out
01:04:26
Grumpy Old Prop
All right.

Upcoming Rugby Matches Predictions

01:04:28
jarrod_dyke
of here.
01:04:28
jarrod_dyke
um Starting off with over we got double header on Friday night, Newcastle and bears in the tune.
01:04:31
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm. I still have bears away. I'll still take them.
01:04:38
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, this doesn't bother me a bit Bristol.
01:04:39
Grumpy Old Prop
I don't think this is I don't think Newcastle are breaking the ah streak this week.
01:04:45
jarrod_dyke
Not this week, not this week. Uh, there's other teams.
01:04:47
Grumpy Old Prop
I feel like we haven't seen this in forever.
01:04:48
jarrod_dyke
They can do it against, uh, bath North Hampton.
01:04:53
jarrod_dyke
Gee, where did I see this one before?
01:04:54
Grumpy Old Prop
um I think I'm going to pick the same result as last time, too, even though it's at that at the wreck.
01:05:00
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, no, I, I'm, I'm in, I'm in the North Hampton.
01:05:03
Grumpy Old Prop
Mm hmm.
01:05:03
jarrod_dyke
This, for this one, um, uh, Suxeter and Lester.
01:05:08
Grumpy Old Prop
Only because they're at home, the the chefs.
01:05:11
jarrod_dyke
Same, same. I'm so glad they brought that commercial back. Those that don't know, I don't pay attention to a fucking thing when it comes to the NFL, but I knew that commercial was back when i and I saw it and I fucking laughed and cheered, both in one.
01:05:24
Grumpy Old Prop
Yeah.
01:05:25
jarrod_dyke
It hurt, but it it was awesome. all right ah Late match on Saturday, Gloucester and Saracens.
01:05:34
Grumpy Old Prop
I think saris take it cuz I don't think lost like they're they're both the both in transition both these clubs and um But Saracen's have the horses still Yeah No,
01:05:37
jarrod_dyke
I do too.
01:05:40
jarrod_dyke
Mm hmm.
01:05:44
jarrod_dyke
Yep. Yep. And I think it's they have glosser have not done enough to change what happened last year in the same picture.
01:05:51
Grumpy Old Prop
and and I think Saracen's even even still like, you know There's there's still new tens that are gonna be playing for each club But I think Saracen's still have the better ten and that's to go around the the better team basically 1 to 15 so
01:05:53
jarrod_dyke
That's that's my point.
01:06:03
Grumpy Old Prop
um Except maybe Christian weight he might be the one player who's lining up against someone who's not better than him Mike I have to see who's who's who he's lined up against Sail cuz they're at home
01:06:04
jarrod_dyke
Right. One x factor for sure. Yeah, definitely an X factor for them. We'll find out. right And then sale Quinn's on Saturday.
01:06:22
jarrod_dyke
Yeah, and I thought about this. And I don't think they've won this fixture yet, Quinn's least not for a little bit. So I was like, I fucking hate doing this, but I'm gonna do it.
01:06:32
Grumpy Old Prop
yeah
01:06:33
jarrod_dyke
So and my only reasoning is because they have not managed to win this fixture for a bit on that. Yeah.
01:06:42
jarrod_dyke
All right.
01:06:44
jarrod_dyke
All right, friends, we are back in the saddle.
01:06:45
Grumpy Old Prop
We are back.
01:06:46
jarrod_dyke
So Ben and I are going to go over to the fancy corner in just a hot second.

Closing and Listener Appreciation

01:06:52
jarrod_dyke
But if you're not going to join us over there, we do appreciate you for joining us again for our seventh season. And um just thank you for coming along for the ride.
01:06:59
jarrod_dyke
We'll catch you guys next week. Enjoy opening weekend, friends. Have a good one.
01:07:03
Grumpy Old Prop
Later.
01:07:06
jarrod_dyke
Cheers.