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Episode 37: Season Finale! (Super Rugby Final)
30 Plays6 years ago
The last one of the season folks! In the season finale we chat about the new law that's been implemented immediately, big name injury scares, the Premiership Schedule release and how the World Cup effects that. We chat about the Super Series in California, and the upsets there. Of course we chat about the final that we did NOT deserve in Super Rugby and chat a bit about TRC.
A BIG thank you to all of you that downloaded, subscribed, reviewed, e-mailed and supported us this year. Special thanks goes to The Rugby Magazine and their staff, Fantasy Rugby Draft, Draft Rugby and our friend The Fantasy Rugby Geek. Last, but not least, a thank you to our wive's, they put up with our antics and smiled through it all.
SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER
Follow us on Twitter: Jarrod- jdyke8man & Ben- admrablsnackbar
Email fantasyrugbypodcast@gmail.com with questions, feedback or just to say what's up.
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Transcript
Introduction and Season Finale
00:00:08
Speaker
Hey, everybody. Welcome back. It is the fancy rugby podcast. My name is Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Garza. God, I've only stumbled just once in this last one. Yeah, so. You wanna redo it? No. No, let's roll on. Last one.
00:00:26
Speaker
Last one for the season. It's gonna be weird. Yeah, not doing this anymore We're gonna do for a little while. I'm sure we'll play keep you entertained, you know, like go on vacation Yeah, you know that whole thing Maybe play a little bit of rugby.
Podcast Availability and Format
00:00:39
Speaker
Yeah a little bit of rugby Upstate New York in in particular. Yeah Drink some beer. Yeah, I'll drink some beer first Don't have to ask me to speak enough
00:00:52
Speaker
And everybody make sure that you've got us on Google Play, Spotify, iTunes. Actually, YouTube has been posting our podcasts as well. Really? As audio only files, obviously. So yeah, it is available there too. So if you're not a fan of the podcast apps as it is, then there's that too. Fascinating. So yeah.
00:01:18
Speaker
This would never work as an actual show. People would be recoiling in horror. They just turn it off. Just turn it off for five seconds. They'd be like, the fuck is these two idiots? What are these mugs doing here? Fucking Americans. Dummies.
New Rugby Law on Axial Loading
00:01:35
Speaker
So the new, in news before we get into the little bit of rugby that there was on the weekend, the news on the weekend besides that is a new law change that went into effect with immediacy, like it's in effect
00:01:53
Speaker
And it's not one that people necessarily know about, unless you're, I mean, really, I don't know if this was going on beyond high level, anywhere besides high level stuff, but the quote unquote axial loading of the hooker. And for those that don't understand what happens, and if you've ever played hooker, it ain't a picnic. No. On your neck, and you can, I mean, you've played hookle. Although it's still better than, look, it's still, even with that axial loading thing, with the, you know, you got two guys resting their heads on your shoulder, kind of under neck.
00:02:23
Speaker
um like kind of your right where your neck meets your your shoulder yep um maybe for like tom young's it's i don't know what the hell that would be um but your upper upper upper trap upper neck or lower yeah no he doesn't have a neck uh lower chin definitely doesn't have that um it's it used to be worse before um they they tightened up the scrum because you would just be like bashing into each other and there's no protection whatsoever for the hooker
00:02:53
Speaker
So it's gotten better, but this will help even a little bit more. I've
Impact of Law Change on World Cup
00:02:58
Speaker
never experienced it to the point where it was too much of an issue for me, but that's only because I was used to a little bit more of an impact. I'm like, hey, this is nice. I don't give a shit what they're doing to me there. But yeah, they're just kind of resting their heads there. To me, the biggest danger
00:03:16
Speaker
isn't so much the the resting the head there at the be like right at the scrum right before set or whatever it was yeah between vine and set it was more the fact that if you rest your head there that means you have to dip down yeah in the scrum as you're coming in and that can lead to collapsed scrum so i'm guessing
00:03:37
Speaker
why this went into effect with immediate effect was because guys are, the scrums are, it does make the scrum a little bit dangerous because guys are diving down to come in. And if you're not, if you're not as talented, uh, in the scrum, you can just, you're going right down, right down. Yep. And because you're ducking your heads down, so you're, you know, it's, it's just not good. So the interesting thing for me isn't so much just the rule change, but does this going into the world cup,
00:04:05
Speaker
Right.
00:04:18
Speaker
So those front rows are gonna be able to experience, and it might not be they're starting front rows, who knows how that's gonna work, given that it is a World Cup year, but that experience, does that help them for scrums in the World Cup? Right. It'll be a little bit because it'll be more of a live atmosphere in a test situation. Other teams do have warm-up matches to play, so they can experience it then. But again, the difference between Test Rugby and Friendly's is
00:04:46
Speaker
It is pretty noticeable, usually. So they do have they do have those games to get used to that law. And maybe they'll try and keep the intensity up in the scrums and nowhere else. But we'll see. So they might get they'll get used to it a lot, a lot more. Yes, that's true. A little bit more experience. Yes, that is a true, true statement. And so yeah, maybe early on, we see the TRC teams really putting the boots to people in the scrum, but then maybe they figure it out later on in the tournament.
00:05:14
Speaker
We'll see Yeah, I mean you get a month till crunch time in the tournament anyway, so but I like I I do like the idea of putting in laws immediately if you if you Have a good idea that they're gonna help the safety of the game safety of the game. Yes I think this I think is a good change for that. Mm-hmm maybe not for the reason that they've stated exactly but well the terminology people were scratching their heads and you know for me axial loading to me made total sense and I'm like, well, it's right I
00:05:43
Speaker
I do what I do so it's something I've heard about 20 times you know since I even since I was in college but you know not everybody has that experience so that definitely made some people scratch their heads like what the fuck you talking about boy I'm just like yeah sorry I knew but I forgot that everybody else didn't know
00:06:03
Speaker
Anyway so the new law very very good stuff to try and cut down injuries a lot of International props and hookers have sounded off saying this is a good idea. Yeah Couple injury scares this week in or in recent weeks Johnny Sexton has dislocated his thumb He's probably gonna miss the initial warm-up match for Ireland To start their campaign. What does he need a thumb?
00:06:31
Speaker
I mean, it's nice to have all five fingers on your hands. So four to six weeks. So the thinking can probably just skip the Italy mattress is the first one that they're playing in the warmup. Might help the rest of him heal. This might actually be a good thing. Yeah, might let them take you down a notch just a touch. And then poor guy gets named into the team and pulls up with a hammy, Sonny Bill Williams. So he's looking.
00:06:57
Speaker
That's still not that. It's going to be a race. So I think he'll be fine for the World Cup assuming nothing else pops up. But the hall box did kind of want him for the TRC. And it looks like he's got at least missed the opening weekend, which will be next week in Buenos Aires.
00:07:13
Speaker
Damn, it him. He should be like what two to four weeks. So he'll play enough Yeah, just over two weeks. Yeah, it'll be just over two weeks and we're about two weeks on the nose from it from that actually a week now But when this occurred, it was a little over two weeks So yeah, he's he's heard his he's heard his hame just a bit He was paint up pretty pretty good this year for the blues too. So I think he could use a little R&R as well. Yeah
Premiership Schedule Critique
00:07:42
Speaker
in the northern hemisphere we had a big day and it's the fixture announcement for the premiership and while we had some very I don't think colorful is the right the right word but very very spot-on commentary from one of the coaches
00:08:03
Speaker
Chris Boyd came out today with a little bit, this is a very short interview, maybe a couple seconds of them asking him what he thought of the schedule. He said he was surprised to find out, they were shocked to learn that they played each team in the Premiership twice, once at home, once away. Once they get over that shock, they'll begin preparations for the season, something like that.
00:08:27
Speaker
Wow, you couldn't be more sarcastic if you tried. But perfectly dead man in the way, you know, of course you'd see an American coach give a little bit of a wry smile at that. He was just like, no, this is surprising. Didn't bat an eye. Well played, sir. Didn't bat an eye.
00:08:44
Speaker
So, the interesting thing about this year's schedule is it's pushed back because of the World Cup. They've actually front-loaded all the Prime Cup games, the Prime Cup round-robin games in the front. So that's why the curtain raiser is technically in September for domestic rugby, but it's
Premiership Cup Importance
00:09:04
Speaker
the Prime Cup. And I believe I heard a fly half, a certain fly half called the Mickey Mouse Cup.
00:09:11
Speaker
So, yeah, again, nobody cares that much about it. Yeah, it's great for the young kids in teams, and they get a run, and they get to showcase their skills, and this is where some really cool stories can start to pop up like Maro Tozhe many years ago now. But, you know, the likes of that can happen, and that's great, but nobody's gonna really watch that much of it.
00:09:39
Speaker
that's just how it is. Bristol Bears and Bath Rugby kick it off again though at Bristol as they wanted it. I was like oh okay so we're gonna we're gonna redo this one aren't we? If you guys didn't if for those that didn't watch the opening fixture last year Bristol came up with their
00:09:59
Speaker
Their first win right away in the premiership after getting newly promoted uh, downing bath bath got the better than uh on the flip side at the Uh at what they called the clash which actually took place at twickenham But yeah interesting um first weekend opening up here, uh chiefs Open up with the near playoff queens
00:10:22
Speaker
Quinn's sale opened up with Gloucester Gloucester are obviously coming off a amazing an amazing season the defending champion Saracens host Host Northampton and that's gonna be a should that should be a humdinger right? Yeah, and then Worcester warriors host Lester and wasp will hold host the new boys London Irish
00:10:45
Speaker
And that'll be the Sunday fixture. That should be an interesting match. Both teams have a lot of turnover, obviously. So it'll be interesting to see how that's going to be a battle of who adjusts quickly, the fastest as a club.
00:11:03
Speaker
Absolutely. Yep, the yeah, so the prim rug the only other prim rugby cup Matches that will happen after October 12th, which is the last round robin game will be the first and the eighth of February and then the final will be the 14th and
00:11:24
Speaker
And those are those are weekends that you presume either there that the English squad will be prepping for six nations or in six nations so that'll that'll be a good break for the non international participants.
00:11:39
Speaker
Yeah, and the the finals all the way at the end of June 20th, right? That's it's a little late late in the year kids They did say that the schedule was gonna get a little bit stretched out, which I don't know if it's good or bad I've heard mixed signals on it. So
00:11:55
Speaker
I like that. I like how that goes. I mean, June, yeah, late June, you're going to roll the playoffs for the premiership right into the playoffs for super rugby. Yeah, pretty much. Pretty much. It's, there's no reason to assume otherwise. Um, and also say for us as, as Sarri's fans, um, looking at it from, from this moment in time, I liked the way they're ending the season.
00:12:21
Speaker
and that they've got the last what five games of the season are wasp oh no i'm sorry six let's go six because that'd be the london irish who there yep who knows what they're gonna be who knows wasps who again who knows what they're gonna be right sail who should be okay that's kind of they they might be a they might be a playoff team exit who will be a playoff team yeah and then wuster and bath who might be well wuster might be going down right so i i would
00:12:47
Speaker
And I would assume Bath's going to be mid to low. I assume the three teams that people will speak of the most in terms of who's going down this year will be Worcester and Bristol and London Irish. Although I think London Irish and Bristol will have a little bit more to say about that than Worcester will, unfortunately. And at this point in time, I think Bath is a sneaky contender to slide down.
00:13:12
Speaker
Yeah, we'll see that I'm not saying that they're I'm not saying that they're they're a Lock I'm saying that if I if I was gonna place an outside bet on a team That would be being you know in contention for relegation late in the season I would put it on Beth myself. Okay, I think I think they're I'm not terribly impressed with them. I
00:13:35
Speaker
Yeah, we'll see. We'll see how that comes about. They still have a hiking cup rugby as well. Right. Champions Cup rugby as well. So we'll see. I called it the old times. But yeah, this so there's that let's see what the I want to like it take a look at the last weekend of the tournament of the of the season here.
00:14:00
Speaker
So Round 22 features Gloucester hosting Northampton, Lester hosting Quinn's, Irish hosting Bristol, Sail, and Worcester, oof, kick-walk. Saracen's hosting Bath, and Woz hosting Exeter. God bless you, Woz, good luck.
00:14:24
Speaker
Oh man, that's rough. That hurts. Yeah, if they're in a similar position to where Quinn's were last year, I have a feeling that that will not end well for them. Just gonna venture a guess out there.
00:14:41
Speaker
And the big question for Exeter isn't going to be will they be in contention for the premiership? Of course they're going to be in contention for the premiership. They've written this book many times now. The question will be what can they do in Europe?
00:14:56
Speaker
how can they can they find a way to balance out rocking up in europe and the premiership because they've yet to really figure out europe they know how to do it in the premiership um you know and we talked about when the when the champions cup came and and went and when the uh when the draw came and went right uh
00:15:15
Speaker
They yeah, they had a good Final match against Munster and really put up a decent showing even though they got beat but it was at Tillman Park so that's really hard hard hard to sneeze at but It's it still means it was a loss, right? It still means that they didn't qualify and it's still another year. They haven't qualified for a Champions Cup yet So I don't know if this is something that Rob Baxter needs to bring in outside help consultant like coaching wise to be like, alright, listen, I
00:15:44
Speaker
This is our bugaboo. Get us over the fucking line. You know, get us into the knockout stages and we'll consider it a success. I mean, anybody that wants to go against Exeter on the knockout stage, good luck. I don't envy you at all.
00:15:59
Speaker
So we'll see how that goes. Looking forward to it. It'll be nice. The Rugby World Cup schedule does overlap still, but not nearly to the effect that it would if they had started in September, obviously. The final for Rugby World Cup will be Saturday, November 2nd.
00:16:20
Speaker
So there's a good chunk of overlap there. There's a good three weeks of overlap. So you will see some stars. So if England pulling England, you may see guys available for the second or third week. Well, and Sunday, October 13 is the last pool play game.
00:16:41
Speaker
Okay, so that'll be that'll be the week before the the the combo opens up. So we'll see how that goes. I would suspect that anybody coming back from World Cup 2 is going to get at least a couple of weeks off to be like, all right, you're broken. You're very battered and beaten. Yeah. But we still need you for the long haul. So take a few weeks off, rest up, and then we'll bring you back in when you're ready to go. Right. So if you're you know, if you're playing fantasy rugby early in the season,
00:17:08
Speaker
You might want to uh, maybe take a if you want to put somebody like amara toji On your uh on your squad, you know, tuck him away somewhere. Don't don't expect him around till for uh, Oh late november. Yeah, late november easily. Yep. So you're you're probably looking at him missing a good quarter of the season. Yeah a good five six rounds easily
00:17:30
Speaker
I'd say good five rounds you probably expect when I miss so yeah, there's there's that Well, we'll do a preview show from come September and we'll expand on all this much more You know, we'll talk about the season and obviously fantasy implications up and down the board and all that good stuff Um
00:17:52
Speaker
So the Women's Super Series, there was a fun little notable score line that popped up this past week. There have been a couple, the last round. So first off, the fourth round is going on at the moment.
Women's Super Series Highlights
00:18:08
Speaker
Yes, it is, actually. Right now, England is playing. I'm sorry, England. The US is playing Canada. Big rivalry. Right.
00:18:17
Speaker
I'm as they say in South Park, but Canada. Yeah, I Love Canada. I love you except when our teams are playing gets precisely and then it's it's you know, then it's it's it's brother bowl here And but uh and earlier earlier this evening England played France and England school
00:18:39
Speaker
Just squeaked it out. Yeah, I was I was reading about it and But earlier the the previous round first off England just squeaked by Canada, right? Yeah, I noticed that's one of those red flags like maybe we don't do that next time. Yeah the game the game changed on a dime when Emily scarat came in if you can imagine that
00:19:03
Speaker
All of a sudden England started putting a point. She's kind of good. She's all right. But the bigger shock to me was France upsetting New Zealand. Right. Which we always talk about it. France always has one. Got one in the tank, right? And they had that game. They just beat the shit out of New Zealand. Wow. Just kind of they moved the ball well, used the boot well, which they actually did against England earlier today.
00:19:32
Speaker
Yeah, so the French came out with it. And I'm not sure what side the Kiwis used. They're still having trouble because so many of their players retired. They had a fairly old side. And it wasn't just that they had an old side. It was they had an old side. Those girls were good. I mean, all of them played for the barbarians earlier this year. Yeah, we talked about that.
00:19:52
Speaker
Yeah, so um, they all retired played for the barbarians and now um, new zealand's putting together the next uh, Next group that that still don't quite know how to win these games. Um, not quite there. Yeah, so I'm not it was surprising because I expected new zealand to win that as anybody should um, just because france has been underachieving the other issue is that france didn't didn't have one of their best players in there, which is uh nda Right? Yeah, who was we they had a problem? They had that problem at the six nations. Yeah. Yeah
00:20:19
Speaker
Um, I thought she played in the six nations. Yeah, she did but I thought she I thought she was a little beat up in that she was Yeah, but she's been playing really well, but then she she took a foot injury Yeah, and wasn't available for that match. That'll hurt and yeah
00:20:34
Speaker
As happens when you play a bunch of games in short order like they're doing. That's true. So she couldn't play. So that's that's a key. And she was she was one of those like she's really good but also a little bit disappointing because she's too athletic. She was she used to play eight and she was just not quite athletic enough to play eight at that level.
00:20:53
Speaker
um at least at a high level international like at that standard you know we're talking about like yeah that you know talk about splitting hairs right and so they move her to second row and that's really where she belongs at this level and and she's come on amazingly she's her her play has improved a lot
00:21:10
Speaker
Dynamic second row ball carrier can do you a lot of that. Exactly. So she's like a very dynamic second row versus a kind of lumbering eight man. Yeah, you don't want that. You don't need that. Exactly. And the French have a very fast back row now. So that's been helping too. That helps. Do you still have a couple of fetchers in there?
00:21:29
Speaker
Right. But England looks like they're going to take it. Although we'll find out on Sunday when they play New Zealand. Yeah. Which will be who. Well, you know, I don't know what that should be now. I have no idea. It could be a shit show. Right. Find out, I suppose. But yeah. And right now the U.S. is losing 7-3.
00:21:46
Speaker
Okay, good. Oh, I'm sorry twelve eight some something Yeah, they scored a try and then Canada scored a try about five minutes ago and then right after that the US Took it over the line. Well, okay. So well then so we're still charging along there. Yeah. Okay good Go Eagles. Yeah
00:22:10
Speaker
Okay, two two games that are far more boring. Oh my god So in contrast Really, let's be okay. Let's be real if you think about the finals we've had this year at least the ones that you and I have watched You think about the premiere ship final you think about the hiking cup final the chavies cup final?
Critique of Super Rugby Final
00:22:33
Speaker
Think about the MLR final and what classics they all were. We were doomed for a dud. I've heard that the, what was it, the Prem Cup final? Yeah. That was a good match too. We didn't get to see it. No. What was that, the Saints versus the Sarries? Yeah. Yeah. Like some amazing finals all around and then you get this super rugby. We were kind of doomed for a dud, I suppose, at some point. I mean,
00:23:01
Speaker
It's one thing if you get a dud that's like an old-school Super Bowl, you know 55 to 3 Where one team just realizes from the outset that they're fucked and just kind of packs it in says yeah, all right good season boys This was not that this was a very poor representation of rugby. Yeah, which is really unfortunate. I
00:23:23
Speaker
Um, yeah, like the procedures didn't play. Well, the haguares Did not play, you know, and and here's the thing that that surprised me You saw the the clips of oh and you saw it during the you know, right before the match the haguares in the um, the semi-final And maybe it's because it was at home. I don't know but you saw their reserves and their supporting players
00:23:50
Speaker
All there and we're right in the tunnel like going fuck. Let's go And hump and pumping up their guys and just hopping around and going nuts And then you saw them come out for that match and they were flat. They were like, yeah, let's go guys. Let's go. It's like What happened what what happened you guys yeah like
00:24:12
Speaker
Do what works. Yes, absolutely. Absolutely nuts. Wrap up your team, get them going. You're going to need it to play the Crusaders. Yes, no kidding. Like, let's go. Yeah, absolutely. And they did not get that. That's for sure. So Crusaders take home the big one in Super Rugby, 19-3. They don't care how it was. They're happy to win. They don't care. They do not care at all.
00:24:38
Speaker
Ball was a bar soap, number one. That did not help. That didn't help at all. Nobody could hang on to that freaking thing, man. Just nobody could hang on to it. I don't even know what to say about the Jags offense.
00:24:55
Speaker
So, and they kept talking about it and somebody needed to hit this kid over the head with like a two by four or something and light it on fire. Bonilla just, he was dropping back into the pocket making it very obvious he was about to kick and he kicked these garbage balls right back to the Crusaders.
00:25:10
Speaker
You know, the Crusaders back three was Reese, Havelian, Bridge, neither of which I feel like kicking to. I don't know about you. And these were not contestable balls. These are ones that are going right to these guys. Way, way too shallow and or not enough air underneath them.
00:25:26
Speaker
right and it's like somebody is one of these veterans out there needs to slap him over the head and be like listen if you want to kick can you stop going into the pocket and just kick like you're attacking right you know so yeah and I think you know Justin Marshall was actually commenting on commenting on I was watching it too I was like
00:25:43
Speaker
Why are they kicking? Why the fuck are you kicking? You can't kick against these guys. They're gonna eat it. And yeah, the Crusaders will kick back, but they were happy to just return, pin you back, and yeah, okay, you kick for touch.
00:25:59
Speaker
But the difference is certainly this week, and they spoiled one every once in a while, but the Jaguars line out last couple weeks was just taking everything from both sides. This week it wasn't the case. They did spoil a couple because they are pretty good.
00:26:16
Speaker
But, you know, the Crusaders lineup has just so many good targets, despite the fact Scott Barrett missed this match. But, you know, Dunshey did just fine. Sam Whitelock, Karen Reid, Matt Todd will go up when need be. It's, you know, whether Douglas will go up when need be. It's too much for them to just bank on that.
00:26:39
Speaker
So I was a little disappointed in that. Their defense was unbelievable. I will give them that. They had no fucking clue what they were doing on offense. But their defense was very good. They were very, they were very tough. Lavonini was one that stood out for me. Matera ended up getting mayor of the match. So he was he was everywhere. He was everywhere. I was like, I mean, I didn't think they'd give it to a losing player. But if you're going to give it to one, if you're going to give it to one, that was pretty good one. There was one try scored in the match.
00:27:07
Speaker
Tony Taylor. Somebody at least picked out. Grant, he didn't do a whole lot else besides that thing, but you know, Sam Whitelock with the offload back inside. Oh, was it Matera with the ludicrous offload out the back that they almost scored off of? I was like, what was that? And then some airhead freaking knocked it on in the end. I think it was Moyano or something like that. I was like, no, what are you doing? You idiots.
00:27:34
Speaker
Hang on to the ball. Yeah. But I was just watching that, like, when is this going to get good? Is it going to get interesting? Is it going to get interesting? No. No, it's not. Nope. It didn't get that interesting, that's for sure. I think I texted you. I'm like, I have 10 minutes to go in this match. And I don't know why I'm still watching you, except for the fact that it's a championship. Yeah, except for the fact that it's final. I didn't even watch the, you know, one of my favorite things to watch is the trophy presentation, because that's just fun. Yeah. Watching dudes act like little kids. Always true. Right.
00:28:02
Speaker
As soon as the final list was like I'm done. Yeah, I have no interest I was so I was so done with wasted far too much of my time watching Yeah, I was I was very done with it as well I Give the crusaders credit, you know, it was it was kind of it was kind of a an alarming sign for me when
00:28:23
Speaker
the Crusaders who have been going for the jugular all year start kicking for penalties. I'm like, something's going on here. Something's up. And I'll give the Jags credit. They tried to go for the jugular a couple of times. They just absolutely botched it. Just completely messed it up. And they had one where they conceded. There was the one where they almost got over. Goodhue ended up intercepting the pass and I think the Jaguars got pinged for a knock on in the passage of play somewhere.
00:28:53
Speaker
And then the jags commit a penalty or whether I think it was a free kick infringement But still you give you give the crusaders free chance to clear their lines like what were you doing? Yeah, hold that scrum. Make them freaking booted under pressure. Don't give them a free kick. What's wrong with you? I know the crusaders I think the crusaders end up missing touch, but
00:29:10
Speaker
Still, you're all the way back at the 50, not at the five. There's a big difference between having the ball in those two places. You know, it's just, you know, put Richie Muong under pressure and he'll kick it just beyond the 22 probably, not out by the 50. Right. Because I mean, what do you have to worry about? Do you think that they're going to walk that scrum anywhere? Like, I mean, to be fair, this is the one, this is definitely the one area that the Jaguars are having a huge issue with.
00:29:37
Speaker
both in their semi-final and their final, which was the scrum. Thankfully, their lineup was dominant, so they didn't have to worry about it too much, and they knew which set piece to go for when came time.
00:29:49
Speaker
Even still, like, just hold your, hold your freaking scrum, man. Hold your scrum and make them, and make them work. You know, don't be, don't be silly and, and, and just, you know, give away a silly free kick for the, you know, pan down or whatever the hell it was. And then he dropped the knee. To be fair, Joe Moody was actually doing a pretty poor job of binding for a good first half of the match, at least. Yeah. They didn't pick him up on that one. The prop went down to his knees and then didn't really try to get up quickly. So it was like, as a prop does sometimes. Yeah.
00:30:20
Speaker
Well, I'm here. Slowly get to my feet. OK, I'm good. Really, excuse me, really unfortunate to have such a it was a it was a pretty good season right down to right down to the final day of the regular season. Right. But and then to and then to have this just be kind of the.
00:30:41
Speaker
Yeah, the dud that it was, I was like, oh no. Not with a bang but a whimper. Yeah, a wee bit. Just a wee bit.
Scott Robertson's Achievements
00:30:49
Speaker
So the Crusaders claim three in a row. Scott Robertson's the first one to get three in a row as a coach and three in a row as a player.
00:30:58
Speaker
says something about him. Is he going to be on his way to Auckland next year or Wellington? I don't know where the headquarters is for NZRU. I think it's, I think it might be Wellington, but either way, you know, is he on his way to rugby HQ in New Zealand for, to succeed Steve Hanson? He says no, but I don't believe him for a fucking, I'm going to wait.
00:31:20
Speaker
Because I mean, you know, if you're if you're a coach with any class, you don't talk about a position that already exists. Yeah, if somebody's already in a position. Right. Even if you know he's gone. Right. You don't you don't do that. No, then you know, it just causes too much drama and got to have respect for your fellow coaches.
00:31:38
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. And they send Roron O'Garr off as a winner. Karen Reid's leaving, obviously. Matt Todd's leaving. Good number of guys. Frank's is leaving. Can I join his brother up at Northampton this year? Right. There'll be one good, scrummy Frank.
00:31:57
Speaker
Um, so there is, there's that super. I mean, it wasn't the final we deserved, but you know, really, again, we, we, we were spoiled with some good finals this year. So unfortunately the, the law of averages catches up. Hopefully, hopefully the, uh, the world cup finals is.
00:32:14
Speaker
Oh god, that would be that'd be at this point would to have that right be the the dud of the year I can't imagine that wouldn't happen It's just too many different different styles of club like the crusaders are like you said They will win whatever way they have to win. Mm-hmm, and that's different from most other
00:32:32
Speaker
Clubs like a lot of teams will win the one way that they know how to win, right? You know even if it's like, you know, I feel like the saris can beat you multiple different ways, but it's entertaining It's usually it's usually at least fun to watch But yeah, it's the Crusaders in Ireland are the two teams that are like they could win the most boring games ever Yeah, don't care. Yep. They don't care the freaking Jersey Devils of There you go. There you go. That's a good reference. So
00:32:59
Speaker
Super rugby final moves on and so question shoot Who would win? The European champions or the super
Hypothetical Match: European vs Super Rugby Champions
00:33:09
Speaker
rugby champions? I don't know I then there's often been that question posed and I would love to More rugby is good, but more rugby is also bad for players. So it's really hard to
00:33:21
Speaker
You know, unless there's like, unless somebody's willing to put like a million dollar prize on the line, nobody's gonna put out their best team. Yeah, right. Nobody's gonna put out their best team for that because that's just how it is. But it would be very, very intriguing to see how that went. I mean, I'd back the guys from London, but I would not sit there and I wouldn't walk over it by any means whatsoever. No.
00:33:46
Speaker
Um, yeah, but that would be that would be it's always an interesting what if yep, always a fun what if to see to think about yes, because of course you have you know, two theaters are a plethora of All-blacks now and then and then obviously, um serisons are our plethora of england players now and then and and welsh and a little bit and a little bit of welsh a little bit scottish so yep american guy too on on top of that. So yeah And one spring block two spring one spring one spring. Yeah, so
00:34:16
Speaker
But yeah, there'd be a lot of contrast, and it'd be very interesting to see, and there'd be a lot of star power in that type of game like that. But like I said, I'd back the series, but it certainly would be a squeaky one. Yeah, we got a little time for this. TRCchat, let's...
00:34:38
Speaker
have a thought about this. I try not to. Yeah, thinking hurts my brain too. So there obviously this is going to be a very odd TRC this year because every coach is like please
00:34:53
Speaker
don't get hurt. Please don't get hurt. So, it brings about a question of rust versus rest and all that good stuff and you know, is this is this person ready to fall off and get hurt or do they need to get moving and do we need to light a fighter under their bum? So, a little bit of this, a little bit of that. Right. I I'm not sure.
00:35:19
Speaker
So then because you have a bunch of different teams with different goals Right, New Zealand obviously looking at the World Cup Clearly South Africa should be looking at the World Cup. I imagine that they're not looking at anything less
00:35:33
Speaker
Australia and Argentina now, those are the two wild cards because Both need to gear up for the World Cup and both Absolutely have to they're in a position where they have to risk their players safety, right?
00:35:52
Speaker
just to get the team kind of together and working as a unit. Although it's a little bit easier for the Haguares, but the Pumos because the Haguares are basically their national team. There's a good number of them that are going to be on this Argentinian team, no doubt. Right.
00:36:14
Speaker
There's a those I I feel like I'm looking at south africa and new zealand to underperform Um, yeah, i'd try and bring it possibly bring along some backups. Just fucking right. I would say like you'd probably see both teams Alternate like one week one match. They'll start like seven starters and eight reserves or something like that Yeah, and then the next week they'll start the like a different seven starters and and and reserves
00:36:42
Speaker
and get guys' rest and whatnot, whereas I would assume that Argentina and Australia would just start the 15 that they want to see and see those combinations and how they work in preparation for the World Cup. New Zealand could still easily pull it off.
00:36:59
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I think it's gonna hurt South Africa more because they don't have that same level of second tier talent No, probably not. I mean they do have some amazing talent that the team there's there I mean there were some shock names that were on the list Maybe they're there for a reason. I guess it's their chance to find out and prove For us to find out and for them to prove it. Yeah
00:37:23
Speaker
So, yeah, it'll be it'll be very interesting. I met and then there's one. I think there's one other one or two other warm up games that each team is going to play as well. Not nearly as many as the Northern Hemisphere team. I think each one of those is at least playing four. So to knock that rust off. So we'll see what happens. It'll be interesting.
00:37:45
Speaker
You have to assume that the teams that are on these lists are the ones that are getting carried over to Japan. But I'm not going to assume shit because there's definitely room to make change. Maybe somebody gets healthy. Maybe somebody falls very out of form. Who knows? So don't get married to the team, but expect to see a lot of the same names at the same time.
Season Thank You and Listener Stats
00:38:11
Speaker
Alright. So, as we said, our last episode of the season, there's not a ton to talk about because there's not a ton of rugby out there. I mean, we've talked about all the rugby we could that was on. We're at the tail end. We're all dried out, guys. I'm out. I'm out. I'm all out. And they don't really want to hear about the Union Point Sevens, so... Nope. They don't need to hear about that, trust me.
00:38:38
Speaker
unless somebody had the lightning bolt go up their ass. That's about it. The only thing that happened, didn't happen. Didn't my best to make sure that didn't happen.
00:38:47
Speaker
So, for Ben and I, we want to thank everybody, especially for this. I'll try that again. We want to thank everybody for downloading. We had over 500 downloads this year. I suspect by the time this episode launches, we'll be at like 550-ish, something like that.
00:39:08
Speaker
So that'll be that'll be cool or by the time this is all the downloads plus I had never I didn't actually account for like the YouTube Listens. Oh, yeah, so there's probably about 50 or so on there on top of that. So yeah, we're you guys all made a made a decent podcast of a couple a hammerhead so
00:39:25
Speaker
Thanks a lot for that. We especially especially want to thank the folks at the rugby mag Fancy rugby draft draft rugby for constantly tweeting and liking and retweeting our our shit our bullshit Thank you. Thank you very much to our to our friend the fancy rugby geek Thank you sir always for always supporting us and for forgetting behind us and for pulling us along because he's been at this a little bit longer than we have yep and
00:39:51
Speaker
But he pulled us along because he's a good sport and because he's a good person So we thank him and we thank him for walking welcoming us into the the fantasy rugby community with open arms so the the two episodes were the Six Nations review and the Mega rugby weekend one that got the most notice. Okay for the Twitter poll. So that was that was cool Too bad their preview didn't get in there, but that's okay. Yeah
00:40:18
Speaker
Although the person that commented on or reviewed our podcast did mention that episode, so I'll take that as a small victory for my favorite episode at least. We had listeners from quite a few places. Obviously the States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, aka Holland, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, France, Russia, Canada,
00:40:45
Speaker
I love you Canada. Ireland, South Korea, and Taiwan as well. That's fascinating. Yeah. So I mean, maybe it's just a friend. It was just somebody that normally listens to it downloading it there. But hey, we're still traveling. That's still cool. We are a great vacation listener, by the way. I know people that do it. And you know what? I would honestly suggest us for long plane rides. That's true. That's true.
00:41:11
Speaker
Here in the States, we had, I think, 16, 17 different states, something like that. Obviously, Massachusetts, we're broadcasting from just outside Boston, so hello, or recording, whatever it is. California, Michigan, Maine. Of course, Maine. Yeah, I know. I'm from Maine originally. My friends are all just like, oh, hey, Jared's doing something stupid. Let's see what's up.
00:41:34
Speaker
Maine, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, Georgia, New Hampshire, Nebraska, and your homeland, Pennsylvania. So yeah, we had listeners and we had from all over and it was really cool. And this was a fun experience for Ben and I to get to know people from abroad. So that was great.
00:41:58
Speaker
to be welcomed into a greater community, too. Like you said, all those places, especially from my end, the fantasy rugby mag, or the rugby mag. Yeah, they were great folks. Like both of those organizations and people, I thought they were very nice to us and promoted us.
00:42:16
Speaker
Yeah, more than you know, we didn't even ask they just kind of they just did it Yeah, we added them, but they were just like no no no we need to we need to get this out there So here right so I think that was great much appreciation to both of them. It's It's it's crazy to do something like this just for us having fun Yeah, you know we sit around and talk rugby all the time just us so why not put it on record and see what happens
00:42:40
Speaker
Yeah. And so it's heartwarming to see that there's people out there looking to grow the podcast game. Yeah. Makes me believe the universe might have something good to give. Sometimes I have my days where I'm like, fuck people. But there are other, these things, these types of people are the ones that just give you hope that, okay, maybe shit ain't so bad. Right. So yeah. Thank you guys so much for doing
Plans for Next Season
00:43:05
Speaker
this.
00:43:06
Speaker
for helping us and dragging us along. So for next year, we're definitely gonna have, for next season, we're definitely gonna have some, maybe some more tweaks. I definitely plan on getting a new logo of some sort. You know, I slapped that sucker together. Just because. You need a logo. I was like, oh really, I do? Crap. Slap. Done. This is very much a slapdash thing. There was literally like, Jared talked about doing this,
00:43:31
Speaker
For like a couple weeks just as an idea and we're like, all right cool, mate, you know, we'll talk about it maybe yeah in a little bit and then as You just go and do it and cheers to you sir Yeah, thanks. I was um, I was I was bored one day. Really? Let's be real about this
00:43:51
Speaker
I don't know how the hell I was bored, but I was. Because I have plenty I could have done probably, but this sounded way more appealing than what I've had to do. It turned out to be a good thing. For our potential, we have a couple more people that want to join us. Also, James, thanks for coming on and adding your rugby knowledge to our program.
00:44:19
Speaker
Those we had what three episodes that we did with them and yeah, all of them were fun. Fantastic. Yeah, so he added a lot and I hope he Uh, he helped his he'll be back days as a guest star not over. I'm sure I'm sure he'll be back We have a couple more people that want to come including Somebody on the international level. Oh, yes
00:44:37
Speaker
So, and I won't say who, I won't say who, but yeah, so we have some cool potential. I was also thinking maybe one day, one time next year we'll do like a live one, broadcast live on YouTube or Twitch and maybe give that a shot and see how it turns out. I don't plan on doing it here. Right, we'll find a space. We'll find a better space, but yeah, I think it'd be really cool. There's two more people that need to be thanked, that we have not thanked here. Okay, fire.
00:45:04
Speaker
Our wives. Oh god. Yes The bosses Not to be forgotten. Yes. Thank you for your patience. Yeah and your understanding is we we banish your wife to the Leave yours all alone at home. Yeah mines at home with the dog and cat. Mm-hmm wondering why her wondering what the hell is going on here So yeah
00:45:32
Speaker
Yeah, they definitely need a bit of credit. I was toying with the idea that maybe we need a host next year, so we'll figure that out. Maybe it happens, maybe it doesn't, but I'm not going to be married to it. But at the same time, if something happens, then I'm all for it. Look, if it's good enough for Jimbo and Goody, it's good enough for us. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Find us our own weird fish.
00:45:56
Speaker
Yes, I use that line, but I use it on purpose this time So yeah, that'll be great We are gonna we like we said before we're invited to write me World Cup Fantasy an expert sleep, which would be great experts We're the bottom of the expert Look if that's what you want to call me. All right
00:46:22
Speaker
I'm not going to say no, but I'm going to laugh a little bit. Yeah, absolutely. That's true. That's true. Oh, for any way that gives a shit, which is probably zero people, but I wouldn't pick them. That's not a new thing. Dick. You had like two bad weeks and I just took it from there. Yeah. And you were kind of playing catch up the rest of the year. To make some bad decisions and I just kind of put the screws to you on that one. Yeah. Yeah. I had one week where I went like 10 and 0 or something like that. Right. That did it for me. I was like, that probably is going to do it.
00:46:52
Speaker
because we had no separation at that point. But yeah, so that'll be great. It'll be, what was the other thing I had in my brain? I know I had something else in there, come on. Good luck. Yeah, good luck searching that cavernous dwelling in there, precisely.
00:47:10
Speaker
I did knock on my head once it sounded hollow. That's probably not a great sign. I witnessed that. You used Craig's head for it. Yeah, that's a thick one too. Oh, God. So yeah, and we will do both competitions for Prem.
00:47:28
Speaker
We are gonna do our own our own league. So stay tuned to You know the podcast I'll probably put out like a little bit of you know, a little easter egg. Hey, guess what? So on so forth So we'll keep the we'll keep the leaves leagues open So when we when we when we announce them get in there get in there. I know the tier Bless you. You got you gotta die
00:47:53
Speaker
Oh, too much beer. Words that I don't usually have an issue with. That's like a burp cough right there. I don't know what the fuck that was. Wow. Wow. I'm glad we got that on recording. Some sort of strange creature just creeped out of Ben. At least it was this hole. Yeah, that's true. That's true. I'll give you that one.
00:48:13
Speaker
I know TRM doesn't do a cap on participants, so that's good, but obviously we're gonna limit prem FRD because you need to, otherwise your player pool just gets really diluted. It sucks. We experienced that in the Super Rugby. We did. We had a team or two too many. Well, two teams too many. Yeah, probably two teams too many. That's okay. It was the first time.
00:48:39
Speaker
We are experts, but we're learning. Yeah, still learning, still learning. Uh, we'll do, and we'll do both for a super rugby one that rolls around next February. Um, and obviously we're going to continue doing the TRM six nations, which we had, I think we had a lot of fun with just because, you know, a lot, there was a lot of participation in that one. So, um, some of our teammates were trying to get it on. It's like, uh, you guys are like a week too late. Sorry. So, uh, we'll, we'll keep doing that. And, um, as long as you guys keep downloading them, we'll keep appreciating you. And that's cool.
00:49:06
Speaker
So until September, we will see you guys next time. Thanks everyone. Cheers. See ya.