Transcript
jarrod_dyke: Hello everyone. Welcome back. It is season seven. This is the fantasy rugby, Yanks podcast. My name is Jared Dyke.
Grumpy Old Prop: I'm Ben Glauser seven. What? Wait.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah. Right. so I was looking at, I was like, what season are we on? Holy shit. We're on seven.
Grumpy Old Prop: That seems off, but okay.
jarrod_dyke: We are on seven.
Grumpy Old Prop: I'll go with it.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: Wow. Yeah, I know it was seriously.
jarrod_dyke: Lucky number seven.
jarrod_dyke: Ooh, that's amazing. That's making, there we go. Thank you. so That's making bad things happen.
Grumpy Old Prop: I am beardless tonight. Otherwise I'd be.
jarrod_dyke: Please.
Grumpy Old Prop: passed out by, by Pickham.
jarrod_dyke: That's all right.
jarrod_dyke: yeah
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: but
jarrod_dyke: It'll be in this pod.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah. Yeah, the man's gonna be busy.
jarrod_dyke: All right, anyway. Know the segment hasn't gone away. There is no discrimination here on this podcast, nor should there be in sports or in life.
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.
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: And the the mayor totally bottled that too as well.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: um Right.
jarrod_dyke: That's it. That's it to say.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Right.
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.
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
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: Right.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
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.
jarrod_dyke: And.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yep.
Grumpy Old Prop: um
Grumpy Old Prop: That's like a serious concern here. um And yet nobody's doing it.
jarrod_dyke: Hmm.
Grumpy Old Prop: I mean, shit, we're even having um assassination attempts against <unk> Trump. from from conservatives, mind you. um From Republicans.
jarrod_dyke: Because they don't know that he's going to win.
Grumpy Old Prop: And, and it was like, whatever. So um ah please send us an adult, we need one.
jarrod_dyke: Need an adult.
Grumpy Old Prop: I need an adult.
jarrod_dyke: I need an adult.
Grumpy Old Prop: um But seriously, there's this is, if if you had like, it's, it's hard.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah. Yeah. We all do.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah. I call it out.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, just, just never works that way. and Sounds like the easy thing, but not going to do anything.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: Wrong. You picked the wrong target, buddy.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right. Anywho, don't be dicks, please.
jarrod_dyke: Unquestionable.
Grumpy Old Prop: Let's let's be on dicks.
jarrod_dyke: Please.
Grumpy Old Prop: Anywho, let's talk.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, agreed.
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?
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Oh, that's true. I like money.
jarrod_dyke: Every once in a while.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: Not a, this is not a end -all by any means whatsoever, but we do appreciate everyone that contributes every year.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: And I'll have something about, yeah.
jarrod_dyke: Dropping stuff over here.
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.
jarrod_dyke: No, it's a guessing game.
Grumpy Old Prop: So I'll, I'll, I'll have stuff up soon.
jarrod_dyke: Bit of a guessing game. Yep. Uh, huh. All 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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Um, yeah. yeah
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.
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?
jarrod_dyke: Hmm.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah. We have those moments too.
Grumpy Old Prop: and recap it, because by the time you hear us, you've seen the game at least once.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: So um instead of just talk about, oh, what a great play by this guy.
jarrod_dyke: Odds are yeah.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: But mostly what we've been right about, because we like do it.
jarrod_dyke: Yep, totally.
Grumpy Old Prop: Okay. I like being what?
jarrod_dyke: You like being right. I mean, you're wrong, it's more fun, but you know, different story for a different day.
Grumpy Old Prop: Well, that's half the fun.
Grumpy Old Prop: yeah ah it's It's like a third of the fun.
jarrod_dyke: Literally half.
jarrod_dyke: Jesus, you're good you're really all about it.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Oh, good luck with that. shez um Oh my God.
Grumpy Old Prop: At least let me think it, right?
jarrod_dyke: Yeah. I mean, you can take it and then have to deal with it later.
Grumpy Old Prop: yeah Yeah, the people out there know, they know the truth.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm.
jarrod_dyke: Um, bath last year's runners up.
jarrod_dyke: names a plenty out, but nothing that's going to like make a huge shift.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm.
jarrod_dyke: I don't think like to me, Josh McNally is probably one of the biggest ones.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: And then the youngster war boys is unfortunate, but he's got to play a lot more healing.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right. I get it.
jarrod_dyke: So I get it. And healing is trying to make a push to get themselves into the premier ship.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right. And, and we're boys is more of a, of a long -term thing anyway.
jarrod_dyke: So.
Grumpy Old Prop: Like he's not going to be a of ah consistent contributor to bath the way they're there.
jarrod_dyke: Mm hmm.
jarrod_dyke: And they have Orlando Bailey still.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
jarrod_dyke: So, you know, assuming he's not going anywhere yet.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right. So good.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, but that may change. Let me change.
jarrod_dyke: And in, we'll see what the sevens guy is.
Grumpy Old Prop: Guy Pepper. Yeah. Yeah. We'll see.
jarrod_dyke: They got another South African product because that's original.
Grumpy Old Prop: But I like I like Francois Vamovic, so I think that's good for them.
jarrod_dyke: um Yeah, he's actually, he's done well everywhere he's gone thus far in the premiere ship.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah, right.
jarrod_dyke: So I'll give him that.
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,
jarrod_dyke: Yeah. I know.
Grumpy Old Prop: What does that say?
jarrod_dyke: Totally.
Grumpy Old Prop: um But like what's he's entering a rotation that's like super deep.
jarrod_dyke: Well, it is where it isn't because they've lost Clute, they've lost Van Velsa.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: Both of, both of them are gone and those were, those were more bodies in his way. Were they good bodies?
Grumpy Old Prop: No, but they would they would not be in his way.
jarrod_dyke: No, but they those were more bodies that would have been his way.
Grumpy Old Prop: He's better than both of them.
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.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Although he looks skinny.
jarrod_dyke: So I haven't seen any of the pictures recently now.
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.
jarrod_dyke: You still a house, yeah.
jarrod_dyke: All right, but I mean, that's true.
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.
jarrod_dyke: No.
Grumpy Old Prop: So. um Yeah.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: True.
Grumpy Old Prop: True. Yeah, Underhill will be probably be going to hell should be going.
jarrod_dyke: Right.
Grumpy Old Prop: But yeah,
jarrod_dyke: Bayless probably will be gone at some point.
Grumpy Old Prop: yeah probably he should be too.
jarrod_dyke: Usually, usually gets a look now and again.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: So, you know, all those things.
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?
Grumpy Old Prop: And yeah, I had that not not enough back row positions for all their stars.
jarrod_dyke: totally Yeah, I'm I'm curious with their back three and yes, it's it's solid it's good I'm And not the Gallagher did a did a ton of I often find myself more annoyed than not
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?
Grumpy Old Prop: No, but I mean, i I still think Tom...
jarrod_dyke: Did, is it ah is it truly addition by subtraction?
Grumpy Old Prop: What, to get rid of... um yeah I think so.
jarrod_dyke: Gallagher.
Grumpy Old Prop: I think Tom to Glenville should be there 15 and I don't think it should have been close.
jarrod_dyke: i'm I've never argued against that, that's for sure.
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: Not I'm just the type, but I think so.
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.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
Grumpy Old Prop: Well, Beth need.
jarrod_dyke: He's listed as a midfielder, but might be able to move in a couple of spots.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: I was going to say Beth really needs centers though.
jarrod_dyke: We'll see what they do with him.
Grumpy Old Prop: So, you know, that's it.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised to see him get chucked into like fullback.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
jarrod_dyke: Uh, Bristolians, we, they've had quite a churn to say the least. Um, some good, some bad.
jarrod_dyke: I'm i'm really sad to see Magnus Bradbury go. I was a huge fan of his.
Grumpy Old Prop: But but that trade that that is like a one for one trade.
jarrod_dyke: If you've been listening to us for five seconds, you know that.
Grumpy Old Prop: um and mata And I.
jarrod_dyke: Him and Mata, yeah.
jarrod_dyke: Well, Enbrigot the younger player.
Grumpy Old Prop: True.
jarrod_dyke: I will say that.
Grumpy Old Prop: True.
jarrod_dyke: Not to say that I'm not trying to take anything away from Bill Mata, no way.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Mm -hmm.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Mm hmm.
Grumpy Old Prop: And, and, but it, you know, it started, and if they just started decently, they'd have been in, um,
jarrod_dyke: It did.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Depending on how things shake out, yeah.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: That's my hot take for them. I liked house and you you is listeners of the pod.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, I guess if you, I did too.
Grumpy Old Prop: No, I'm a fan of Kyle Sinclair. I just don't think he's been that guy lately.
jarrod_dyke: can vouch Yeah, injuries in England duty has obviously been a thing.
Grumpy Old Prop: He is,
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.
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,
jarrod_dyke: So we'll see.
jarrod_dyke: No.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Right. Right. They have.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yep.
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.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yup.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: I mean, James Williams has been, has been, um, capable of stepping in.
jarrod_dyke: Capable is probably the best word to use.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: I don't know if that's ideal.
Grumpy Old Prop: No, it's not ideal.
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
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: um
jarrod_dyke: Upside, you know Joe Batley had a wonderful year.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: It's really. a volatile possibility all around, you know, all around.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
jarrod_dyke: So i'm I'm interested to see, to watch and see how this goes and goes with these guys.
jarrod_dyke: yeah Speaking of the dipshits. um
jarrod_dyke: Taylor, how could you let Patrick Shickerley go?
Grumpy Old Prop: yeah I mean, he was one of their, the scary thing is he was one of their bigger threats.
jarrod_dyke: Oh my!
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: but
jarrod_dyke: But It was like what is going on here
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah. And, but they don't have much else. I mean, Vincent needs help to get, you know, some space.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: How's that gonna work?
jarrod_dyke: And root.
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.
jarrod_dyke: I think it takes the centerpiece away and helps them be my more div diverse.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: This maybe gives Joe Hawkins some space to, to spread his wings a bit, which he's shown glimpses.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm. Yep.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: I think they need to move on from Harvey Skinner and let will Hayden would play as much as possible this year. 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.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yep. Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: And more often than not, not every game, but more often than not, that is what he does.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: yeah
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: I agree.
jarrod_dyke: We know that's not a possibility from fucking Baxter and Heifer, but just throwing it out in the universe in hopes.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
jarrod_dyke: Hope you hope, hope, hope.
Grumpy Old Prop: I still see them.
jarrod_dyke: You're holding, say you're holding something back, I can see it.
Grumpy Old Prop: I still see them finishing towards the bottom of the table.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: um
jarrod_dyke: You mean Will Goodrich Clark and Jimmy Roots isn't going to solve all their problems?
Grumpy Old Prop: We'll talk about. I'm sorry to say no.
jarrod_dyke: Shocker that I am interested to see Franco Molina, the Argentinian second row.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah,
jarrod_dyke: Look, look, look, had good spots in the rugby championship so far.
Grumpy Old Prop: yeah that's fair.
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Like dimes has a problem that everyone knows about.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
jarrod_dyke: So he should have plenty of wiggle room to do what he needs to do.
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.
jarrod_dyke: That's fair. Yeah. And and's gonna he starts with a tough task right away too.
Grumpy Old Prop: a little bit. Yeah, you know, yeah it's no.
jarrod_dyke: It won't be fun. Tell you that much.
Grumpy Old Prop: But yeah, I know that saris even even at home, um even at the home.
jarrod_dyke: they didn't they couldn't do They couldn't figure it out last year with them.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: And that was during the World Cup.
Grumpy Old Prop: um but like
jarrod_dyke: So take that for what it's worth.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: There are people who are impressed by that. and
jarrod_dyke: And some more so for me.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah, yes, I will agree with that.
jarrod_dyke: The only thing that stopped and come from really blossoming is his injuries.
Grumpy Old Prop: True, but now you know, but.
jarrod_dyke: You know, I think the talent has been deep and and well, well documented.
Grumpy Old Prop: But injuries, the most important ability is availability.
jarrod_dyke: But as you said, yes, yes, yes, yes, it is.
Grumpy Old Prop: um
jarrod_dyke: I am an agreement.
Grumpy Old Prop: So yeah, the people who are impressed by that, none of them are me.
jarrod_dyke: but
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Mm hmm.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm.
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
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.
jarrod_dyke: talk we'll talk about that in a second.
Grumpy Old Prop: That's such a loss for for i for Gloucester.
jarrod_dyke: Oh, yeah, Lloyd, Lloyd Evans total loss right there
Grumpy Old Prop: Oh, and wait, we got this far without talking about Johnny May.
jarrod_dyke: i
Grumpy Old Prop: But like, yeah, he did.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: It does.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
jarrod_dyke: Okay. and I lost I know lost it too. So I'm not totally shitting on it.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah, but laws is going for fun.
jarrod_dyke: I get it.
Grumpy Old Prop: john Johnny, Johnny, I again he may guess he is, too. But like, that's really the that's all.
jarrod_dyke: I Hope so
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: a
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.
jarrod_dyke: Right.
Grumpy Old Prop: Like, let's go fuck around.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah. Let's go fuck around a little bit.
Grumpy Old Prop: But like Anscombe, I don't know is a big upgrade over Hastings and ultimately.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right. Yeah. Yeah. Fair.
jarrod_dyke: I think that's the, I think that's the first way to go.
Grumpy Old Prop: That's fair.
jarrod_dyke: Uh, Quinn's.
Grumpy Old Prop: I mean, they signed TT, so how can you not love them?
jarrod_dyke: I saw he was coming back to London. I was like, good for you buddy.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: Sorry it's there, but that's okay.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah. Yeah.
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?
Grumpy Old Prop: Yes, we are.
Grumpy Old Prop: i Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: right
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.
jarrod_dyke: Why?
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.
jarrod_dyke: It should.
Grumpy Old Prop: Um, yeah.
jarrod_dyke: It should be.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Well, he made them able to let Esther Hazen go.
Grumpy Old Prop: He's not right.
jarrod_dyke: And that wasn't their favorite choice, I'm sure, but as well.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yep.
Grumpy Old Prop: However many years ago that was now, I don't want to think about it.
jarrod_dyke: Yes.
Grumpy Old Prop: I mean, he's only, he's still only 23.
jarrod_dyke: he He got played with an Ashlight game, didn't he?
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah. You had a huge match.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: Um, and he's 23 now.
jarrod_dyke: Mm -hmm.
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.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: But they're all, I think all of them are under like 25.
jarrod_dyke: They're all like 25 and under, give or take.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah. Like green's 26 shit.
jarrod_dyke: Green's 26.
Grumpy Old Prop: I mean, I thought he was going to be like 28, but like, yeah, how old is Marley?
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: 25, I think.
Grumpy Old Prop: He's 25. And Nick Davis, 25.
jarrod_dyke: Mm -hmm.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yep.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah. Right. Oh, he's been amazing.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yep.
jarrod_dyke: You got a great summer too.
Grumpy Old Prop: So um there's there's ah still a lot on the up here.
jarrod_dyke: Yep. Mm hmm.
Grumpy Old Prop: I don't think Lee half penny fucks that in any way.
jarrod_dyke: No, i if they're smart about it, no.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right. Right. And um yeah, i I don't see these guys missing out top four again.
jarrod_dyke: Be tough. They'll, they'll be, they'll be in the mix.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm.
jarrod_dyke: Unquestionably. I don't think it, I don't think that's a hot take by any means whatsoever.
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.
jarrod_dyke: No, I know that.
Grumpy Old Prop: I think I think they're going to come back and um get back into it.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah. I think most of them had that too. Uh, let's go down to the tigers.
jarrod_dyke: Jasper, big loss, obviously.
Grumpy Old Prop: And you didn't really yeah.
jarrod_dyke: That's kind of it.
Grumpy Old Prop: Well, I'm Nick Dolly. I think at this point it's going to be a big loss because.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: True, but.
Grumpy Old Prop: like Yeah, but who who do you got who do you got at a hooker now while Montogers away?
jarrod_dyke: I'm Charlie Clare.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, need to be a little healthier for his for his own.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, yeah, yeah Probably not Yeah, I mean Yeah, I
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
jarrod_dyke: he should He should be, he should be the number one, honestly.
Grumpy Old Prop: But that prop, that, yeah, that prop room is not, not anything i'm I'm writing home about.
jarrod_dyke: It's Nicky Smith and Joe Hayes, that's it.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah. Okay.
Grumpy Old Prop: Okay.
jarrod_dyke: That's it. Right, a lot of people are waiting.
Grumpy Old Prop: And then you.
jarrod_dyke: Finn Cardiff talked about him last year a little bit as well.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm.
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: I don't think he's there yet though.
Grumpy Old Prop: No, I don't think I don't think so maybe but I don't know
jarrod_dyke: So I think you're, I think the answer is probably gonna be Levenberg in the end.
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.
jarrod_dyke: and Yeah, they're not gonna do that though.
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,
jarrod_dyke: Mm.
Grumpy Old Prop: So that's that.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: And then.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yes, they will. That'll that'll help.
jarrod_dyke: That'll help.
Grumpy Old Prop: And Whiteley's been been quality, so that'll help.
jarrod_dyke: They'll have a lot.
Grumpy Old Prop: And they get gets them another some other scrum have to who's still there.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah. Since he's moved.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah, it's not a.
jarrod_dyke: Like. And I know the they're probably gonna roll Shillcock out there if we're honest over him.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm -hmm.
jarrod_dyke: If I had to take a total shot in the dark.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Him and Kata as a, yeah.
jarrod_dyke: you know, apart from when Kata played in there, you know, and but Kata didn't play in there all the time.
Grumpy Old Prop: True.
jarrod_dyke: So, and let's be honest, Kata got himself carded a couple of times, that didn't help either.
Grumpy Old Prop: He did. No.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm. Mm hmm.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah, I mean, Bassett, Hassell Collins, Watson make make a good like rotation at wing.
jarrod_dyke: But we'll see if that happens.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: That's like
jarrod_dyke: God, it should.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: That means they're, you know, sixth.
jarrod_dyke: Mm -hmm.
Grumpy Old Prop: Around there, which would be actually pretty good for this for this, the squad as it as it currently stands.
jarrod_dyke: Right.
Grumpy Old Prop: Sad to say, I am a like, hey, and I wouldn't mind being wrong.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, let's see how that goes.
Grumpy Old Prop: I kind of I do like some other players.
jarrod_dyke: Yep, me too. Newcastle, lots going on here. Lots go you know lots of lots has gone wrong. um Yeah, it's...
Grumpy Old Prop: They made some good, good decisions. Um, some good decisions like Mattias Moroni, good decision.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: Well, Koki Koki.
jarrod_dyke: Hmm.
Grumpy Old Prop: Well, I mean, you know, out of the league. Yes. Um, Rory Jennings. Yeah, fine. Bye.
jarrod_dyke: Hmm.
Grumpy Old Prop: I don't understand some of the guys that' like Cameron nailed like. Oh, okay. Like Alex hurl.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, beats me. I mean, yeah, they need another hookers really what it comes down to.
Grumpy Old Prop: hey
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: That's true.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: That's true.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Like, um, Ethan Grayson, good luck. I mean, coming over from Legion, Godspeed, good luck.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm.
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.
jarrod_dyke: That was the difference.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: If we're honest, if we're honest, I,
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, like blue Myers kind of going to still be the guy, the guy and we'll see.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
jarrod_dyke: I mean, you know, we saw some flashes of like Louis Brown last year. We know Radman can scoot.
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?
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
jarrod_dyke: Dimes is ah is going to always make a team, a bunch of hard asses.
Grumpy Old Prop: right
jarrod_dyke: How much is that going to help them?
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, probably are.
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.
jarrod_dyke: I think we see Ben Redshaw this year more often.
Grumpy Old Prop: i yeah
jarrod_dyke: So I think we'll see.
Grumpy Old Prop: okay
jarrod_dyke: I think we'll see him, you know, very young, young, up and coming player.
Grumpy Old Prop: I'd like to see that.
jarrod_dyke: I think that'll, I think they'll do them a lot of good, um, played.
Grumpy Old Prop: But they're, they're most likely to relegate.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, well, because they're gonna have to play whoever wins the championship.
Grumpy Old Prop: I think so.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Even, even so.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Both Wallers are gone.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah, huge names, but.
jarrod_dyke: um
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.
jarrod_dyke: Mm -hmm.
Grumpy Old Prop: But now Tom Pearson's gonna have a lot more of a go.
jarrod_dyke: Yep. That's a good move.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yep. And I like, I like a lot of what I saw out of both Chonyamanga and Mayana Banua last year.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah, right.
jarrod_dyke: My Avenue was away for a little bit, but, um, yeah, I like it a lot.
Grumpy Old Prop: And i I can't wait to see, I think we're gonna see more of Tara Kafar this year.
jarrod_dyke: They still have truck.
Grumpy Old Prop: And I'm looking forward to that.
jarrod_dyke: Yes, I think so too. I am too.
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.
jarrod_dyke: That's going to be awesome.
jarrod_dyke: Yep. Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: yeah
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yep. Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: So he is Finn Smith. Like he's, he's, ready he's good to lead them.
jarrod_dyke: yeah
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, with some good players in there too.
Grumpy Old Prop: It's all right.
jarrod_dyke: yeah Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: It's playable.
jarrod_dyke: Time to believe Seiberg's only 25. I can't believe he's only 25.
Grumpy Old Prop: That's ridiculous too.
jarrod_dyke: Tom Seiberg, yeah. yeah um Got the the the glass of E8 back there, George Henty.
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
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yep. Uh, sale.
jarrod_dyke: I don't see a ton lost. And I know a lot of people will be like bullshit.
Grumpy Old Prop: No.
jarrod_dyke: I don't. I don't see a ton gained either.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
jarrod_dyke: People say Naya Klavu. He's got as many injury problems as Tulani did.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah. Right.
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.
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?
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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.
jarrod_dyke: It's always a question.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Like Johnny Hills there.
jarrod_dyke: Right. Hard waiting to happen.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Um, a Paco could.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah. Come here. You off.
Grumpy Old Prop: yeah Step forward, step off.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yes.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Like three years ago. Because like, I don't know. Okay. True very question, because I think the answer is no.
jarrod_dyke: I think
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.
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
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: yeah
jarrod_dyke: Like ah you're not neither neither you nor I are a huge fan of Gus Warren.
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
jarrod_dyke: It's not really a mystery lie.
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
Grumpy Old Prop: But, but.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: It's gone.
Grumpy Old Prop: and and And Ford is still like, ah what, he weighs like 50 pounds soaking wet.
jarrod_dyke: It's gone.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Right.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, I
Grumpy Old Prop: Oh, and I just respect a time of clarity earlier and I need to apologize for that. He's.
jarrod_dyke: Yes, I also noticed his name as well.
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?
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, it's gotta get spread out there.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: It really does.
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: It goes back to old raffy quirk.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm. Yeah, ah I still I think they're fighting for top six.
jarrod_dyke: I think maybe that's the way to go with it.
Grumpy Old Prop: I think they're in the.
jarrod_dyke: Okay.
Grumpy Old Prop: They're in the Lester Exeter. um
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.
jarrod_dyke: possibility.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Right.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Right.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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.
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.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm.
jarrod_dyke: And it was like, ah like, Judge, love you, dude. Thanks for what you did.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right. But, but Fraser Balmain.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah, he does. Hello.
jarrod_dyke: Hello. How are you, buddy? Good to see you back.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm -hmm At
jarrod_dyke: Um, and then it's like, about that, about that.
Grumpy Old Prop: least you saw a feral pilot English. Oh Wait a second
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: So, okay.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah. and And let's, yeah, I'm quite all right with both of these two.
jarrod_dyke: Really?
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, i'm I'm good with like six. yeah
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: It's the right call. Um, and he'll lead them, but it fast brought something.
jarrod_dyke: I think he's going to be an inspirational leader, honestly.
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.
jarrod_dyke: I think you will be.
Grumpy Old Prop: And um so they're going to change a little bit.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, I agree.
Grumpy Old Prop: Be just fine. No doubt about it. um It's just going to take him, take him a bit.
jarrod_dyke: Finally got fucking rid of all the lead Davies, too. God damn it. Oh, God damn.
Grumpy Old Prop: That's nice.
jarrod_dyke: That was nice.
Grumpy Old Prop: And I even like, you know, I know it's short term, but I like bringing in Calum Braley.
jarrod_dyke: Thank you, God. And.
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.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Hmm.
jarrod_dyke: Probably won't see his his brother yet, but I think this is the year we're gonna see him.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
jarrod_dyke: Is it Elliot that they were talking about? Maybe that might be a possible guy to keep your eyes peeled for.
Grumpy Old Prop: Okay, okay. What does he what position is he play?
jarrod_dyke: Tobias Elliot, back three.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Right. Well, yeah,
Grumpy Old Prop: It's that's yeah
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.
jarrod_dyke: Love it. s Spink getting rotated in there.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yep.
jarrod_dyke: Um, since he stepped in great last year at 13, but really his, I think his best spot is that 14 shirt.
Grumpy Old Prop: I like that.
Grumpy Old Prop: I don't disagree.
jarrod_dyke: Honestly, um, would look and letting, letting Roddy kind of hang out on the other side or, or pardon either one fine.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm -hmm. It was fine.
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.
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?
jarrod_dyke: And then he played wing.
Grumpy Old Prop: Okay.
jarrod_dyke: He played mostly wing.
Grumpy Old Prop: Who am I thinking of? Let me go back to their full roster.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, it was a lot of waiting for him.
Grumpy Old Prop: So he's much more on the way.
jarrod_dyke: He does, but he's they've they've been employing daily at fullback a lot still.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: I kind of liked Elliott fullback because he's not that threat at 13 anymore. um
jarrod_dyke: Thank you. I think you just can go.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: Honestly, I think that's the next guy to leave the club if we're honest.
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
jarrod_dyke: i I'd say it's probably the one thing that's keeping him on the field at the moment.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: In a bit, but.
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,
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
Grumpy Old Prop: And I have no problem being wrong about that. if That turns out to be wrong.
jarrod_dyke: Oh, yeah, i same. Same, same, same. Finalist.
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.
jarrod_dyke: You know, you got to stop copying my fucking homework, dude.
Grumpy Old Prop: Sorry.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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
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.
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.
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
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
jarrod_dyke: Uh,
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.
jarrod_dyke: I feel shocked.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah. Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: Yep, cluster sitting down there probably.
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.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: Just that galvanization of, you know, your response, we, you feel responsible for someone getting sacked.
Grumpy Old Prop: Like that, you know, firing Guzy did for someone else. Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah. Yeah. You feel responsible for it. And you're just like, boys, we got to do better.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm.
jarrod_dyke: And then that just kind of wakes you up and like, okay, we, nobody's safe. Like let's go.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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 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.
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?
Grumpy Old Prop: They have the alliterative names, you're Peter Parker's, youre you're Stephen Strange, you're Bruce Banner's.
jarrod_dyke: Foulable, but awesome.
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
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, he has that penalty too.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Quite.
Grumpy Old Prop: And then...
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yes, this is Biff Cedric, the double S.
jarrod_dyke: cool ah but a Truckster heard around the world, like jeez.
Grumpy Old Prop: 14th minute of the bronze medal match.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: like something awesome is about to happen.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: the
jarrod_dyke: And it was just my favorite was Sammy Sullivan on the sideline.
Grumpy Old Prop: He's like, no, no. Shut up.
jarrod_dyke: She's like, all right, everyone shut up, shut up, shut up.
Grumpy Old Prop: Shut up. Cause you got to make the kick.
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
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: um But that's Beth Cedric breaking the tackle and.
jarrod_dyke: Yep. No doubt.
jarrod_dyke: You know, and she got a bad tournament up until that point too.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: So that's one of those lessons like don't freaking quit.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: Hero of the tournament. Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: You got, is it you got better.
Grumpy Old Prop: yeah i got but ah
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: yeah
jarrod_dyke: And then obviously our our girl, k Christie, the Hershey bear.
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.
jarrod_dyke: tert
Grumpy Old Prop: Good group of gals. Um, it's only much more fun to watch than the men were. Um, yeah.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: So, um,
Grumpy Old Prop: Oh, absolutely. but Yeah.
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
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: The fact that he was coaching in the Olympics and coaching a ah medal, um a team that medaled like, yeah, awesome.
Grumpy Old Prop: Right.
jarrod_dyke: Great for him.
Grumpy Old Prop: And he's he's also a fantastic human being as someone who's spent significant.
jarrod_dyke: And and Emily, of course. Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: Well, you've, you you had a chance to meet him, didn't you?
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.
jarrod_dyke: That's right. That's right.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah.
Grumpy Old Prop: You're watching what was it? It was, uh, was it, it was beer fest, I think.
jarrod_dyke: ah yeah
Grumpy Old Prop: could So I think that's what it was in.
jarrod_dyke: Oh yeah. That, that tracks, that totally tracks. Yeah. ah And I mean, we're not going to end us.
Grumpy Old Prop: No.
jarrod_dyke: I don't know. Cause we're going to do pick them in a second here, but Dick's like.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Well, look, deep, D max, not D max, not putting himself in at 10.
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
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah. Um, like, um,
jarrod_dyke: a good one Hope most of you are old enough to understand that
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.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: He's done. Fucker is done. I shouldn't call him a fucker.
jarrod_dyke: and Yeah, shouldn't be around.
Grumpy Old Prop: Guy is done. Right. Like Don Don.
jarrod_dyke: Yep.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: But Blackadder is just a guy.
jarrod_dyke: No.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: And he he's so erratic at it.
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
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Mm -hmm
Grumpy Old Prop: And I do mean to call him a douchebag.
jarrod_dyke: Yep, no that that's accurate.
Grumpy Old Prop: Um,
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
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.
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.
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.
jarrod_dyke: Nope. Nope.
Grumpy Old Prop: Like we, like we said, Robertson's my, my Dick of the the summer.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah, he's once again, once again, we need an adult.
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.
jarrod_dyke: yeah
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.
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 of here.
Grumpy Old Prop: All right.
jarrod_dyke: um Starting off with over we got double header on Friday night, Newcastle and bears in the tune.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm. I still have bears away. I'll still take them.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, this doesn't bother me a bit Bristol.
Grumpy Old Prop: I don't think this is I don't think Newcastle are breaking the ah streak this week.
jarrod_dyke: Not this week, not this week. Uh, there's other teams.
Grumpy Old Prop: I feel like we haven't seen this in forever.
jarrod_dyke: They can do it against, uh, bath North Hampton.
jarrod_dyke: Gee, where did I see this one before?
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.
jarrod_dyke: Yeah, no, I, I'm, I'm in, I'm in the North Hampton.
Grumpy Old Prop: Mm hmm.
jarrod_dyke: This, for this one, um, uh, Suxeter and Lester.
Grumpy Old Prop: Only because they're at home, the the chefs.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: It hurt, but it it was awesome. all right ah Late match on Saturday, Gloucester and Saracens.
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,
jarrod_dyke: I do too.
jarrod_dyke: Mm hmm.
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.
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
jarrod_dyke: That's that's my point.
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
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.
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.
Grumpy Old Prop: yeah
jarrod_dyke: So and my only reasoning is because they have not managed to win this fixture for a bit on that. Yeah.
jarrod_dyke: All right.
jarrod_dyke: All right, friends, we are back in the saddle.
Grumpy Old Prop: We are back.
jarrod_dyke: So Ben and I are going to go over to the fancy corner in just a hot second. 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.
jarrod_dyke: We'll catch you guys next week. Enjoy opening weekend, friends. Have a good one.
Grumpy Old Prop: Later.
jarrod_dyke: Cheers.
