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Season 2- Episode 21- Herrick's Return (6 Nations Preview)
24 Plays6 years ago
Twice in one week, how lucky are you!? Well, perhaps not that lucky, but yes it's our 2nd episode in a week. This episode we are joined by our old friend James and his adventures. We recap the important action from the Premiership this past week and then get right into it. We dive head first into the 6 Nations squads, weighing out their chances, their head scratching picks and discuss the players to watch as we start a new World Cup cycle. Of course, we give you our thoughts on start sit for The Rugby Magazine 6 Nations fantasy game. Kick back and tune in for the fun!
Have a question about your lineup on as the clock ticks down for game week start? Ask us questions via Twitter: Jarrod- jdyke8man & Ben- admrablsnackbar, or by using #AskTFRY. Send us your thoughts for the show and questions for upcoming shows via e-mail fantasyrugbypodcast@gmail.com. Of course we welcome feedback via e-mail, twitter or by rating/reviewing the pod on Apple Podcast.
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Transcript
Introduction and Anniversary
00:00:07
Speaker
Hey everybody, how's it going? My name's Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glaser. We have our old friend back. It is a year anniversary, the first time I've done this, gentlemen. Yeah, that's true. This is the first pod that we had you on last year. Yeah, it's good to be back.
Upcoming Sports Events
00:00:23
Speaker
This wonderful week of sport that we have ahead. Six nations starting up in the weekend. Super Bowl weekend. Barstool's rough and rowdy, but we'll move past that.
00:00:36
Speaker
Yeah, I know right and super super rugby kicking on as well. Yep as well. So yeah, good to have you back Good to have you bud. Let's crack these freaking brewskis here
00:00:47
Speaker
I'm ashamed to just call these brewskis.
Podcast Engagement Drive
00:00:49
Speaker
Everybody make sure that you check us out on Google Play, Apple Podcast, Spotify. Tune in. Download us. Subscribe to us. We just want to download, right? No. Yeah, make sure you give us a rating. We want to know what you think. We don't care if it's a one star. It's OK. But five stars are preferable. Five stars are preferable. But we're OK with one. One doesn't hurt. Let us know that we maybe suck at something. Give us more information than we had before.
00:01:16
Speaker
Rather here that we sucked in nothing at all. Yeah, that's a that's a true thing Make sure that you are looking at your fancy fancy mag upgrades.
Fantasy Rugby and Community Involvement
00:01:24
Speaker
Everybody that's obviously jumping in for six nations Definitely should be having a peek at that because it's short and sweet and you and you have no time for mistakes Right. That's only gonna help you it will And plus help the guys out. Yeah, we got it. We gotta be campaign up up and going on I don't know what the number was last time but it's they haven't hit it yet and we need to help them, you know
00:01:44
Speaker
There's well over a thousand of us that play this thing. Everybody puts the recommended amount in, which is, I think, only 10 pounds. We'll get home. So let's get this going, guys. We only got a few days left to get it done. I'd hate to see these guys not be able to run Super Rugby this year. It'd be a real shame.
00:02:01
Speaker
And also, we have an impromptu FRD league that's been started today. We have three spots left, so if you're listening to this and we still have three spots, make sure you hit either Ben or I up. Or you can email us, email us, fantasyredbypodcast.gmail.com.
00:02:19
Speaker
And then to check out George, this is a good time to check out George with two leagues starting like we talked about. He's gonna be just spinning out content left and right. So if you. And for those of you who do not know George as well and love him like we do, he's fantasy rugby geek. Yeah, that one. Pretty much everywhere, all social media. So look up fantasy rugby geek. You'll find him. You'll find him. So yeah. And buy him a coffee. Yes, absolutely. Buy him a coffee. It's good karma. It's only good karma.
Player Transfer Rumors
00:02:48
Speaker
Let's go to player movement that Has it wasn't a badly kept secret, but it was kind of a thing that we all know Coming down the pipeline a little bit Kyle Sinclair on the move to Bristol Bears from the Quinn's A couple weeks ago though. It was Ellis Genge that there were potential rumors of him going there. He's from Bristol and
00:03:14
Speaker
and he may, he may yet still go there. Yeah, but he just resigned with Lester. Did he? Yes. Okay, I did not know. So I think it's a year extension or something like that. Obviously, prior to the Saracens news of the relegation, you know, Lester, we're feeling the heat. And a lot of those top players, your George Ford's, your two laggies and stuff, Johnny May, probably, they have a clause, obviously, in their contract saying if you get relegated, if Lester gets relegated, they're, they're gone. You know, because they don't want to be playing
00:03:44
Speaker
They don't want to be headed to Doncaster in the middle of winter. I don't think anybody does. To Donny. I think this is a better move for bears anyway. I'd much rather have Sinclair than Gens. Yeah, we know your feelings. Yeah, you all know my feelings. That's not a mystery by any means whatsoever.
00:04:00
Speaker
Sinclair it fits. So I saw a video somebody already posted that was meshing John a fella and And Cal Sinclair and just them doing similar things It's terrifying on a rugby pitch and it's like well, that's a pretty good tight-head combination. You can't really go wrong with that
00:04:17
Speaker
Right. Sinclair, he's injured right now, is he? Or no? He's in the squad. OK, good. OK, I just haven't heard much from him other than this signing. I think this is also a big move for him because he's from basically not far from where Harlekins play in Richmond. He grew up in that part of sort of London. So that's a big move, I think, for him to leave that part of the UK. Even though Bristol's not too far away, it's still the south of England where people make sense.
00:04:46
Speaker
They do have weird accents though. I suppose that happens sometimes. Bit of good news. We'll start with the good news and then
Remembering Kobe Bryant
00:04:55
Speaker
obviously the bad news. We'll start with the good news. Fattyloaf at ICU. Yes, saw that.
00:05:00
Speaker
breathing on his own, which is fantastic news. Hopefully that baby steps are still coming, but I hope that means he's going to eventually, you know, at least be able to move on his own. Yeah. Everything seems to be very positive. So, so that as long as the news is continually positive, then I'm sure he'll get where he needs to go. Keep, keep sending those good vibes out there, guys. Yeah. Break time.
00:05:23
Speaker
And then this is not relevant to the sport we're talking about, but the really sad death of Kobe Bryant, we have to acknowledge it. It's world news. We can't sit here and ignore it as much as I want to. Yeah, it's definitely, especially scrolling through social media, a lot of athletes from around the world I think were inspired by Kobe Bryant because from what I've read and learned about him, his work ethic was like,
00:05:51
Speaker
nobody else's what I would practice for hours and hours and hours, even though he was, you know, he was arguably one of the greatest best. Yeah. Yeah. And I think one of those things was, you know, one of the quotes from something was like, you know, talent is overrated. Yeah, it's kind of it's all about practice. And it's all about putting the effort and time in. So just all around great ambassador of sport. Sad to see one of the one of the greatest go
00:06:21
Speaker
It shows that in—at least it's very rare in America where you see someone that competitive who's also trying to be a good person and actually treats other people with respect.
00:06:37
Speaker
I realized that he yes, he had his faults and he was young and stupid and yeah and learned a lot as even as he got older definitely there was a An issue where he said something untoward towards a referee. He called him a slur that we're not gonna repeat here. Nope
00:06:54
Speaker
and he learned from that and actually became an advocate and worked with GLAAD afterwards and did all sorts of like he actually owned his mistakes and worked to be better and wasn't just a no fuck you I'm doing this my way um even but even when he was competitive it was all for the good of this like he would talk about practices are competitive like we're doing things we're trying to win
00:07:15
Speaker
even in practice we're gonna make it more competitive in practice and And it's not because I want to win just because I want to win it's because I want to make you better I wouldn't if I beat you you can learn something from it if you beat me I can learn something from it and Yeah, he said exactly I think I probably listen to the same interview but one where he was saying, you know guys are gonna hate me in practice because I'm gonna make you work and I'm gonna I'm gonna you know work you so hard and shut you down and make you feel like shit, but
00:07:43
Speaker
You're gonna you're gonna be happy once we've got a game seven of the NBA finals Yeah, which you know, that's what this is we're gonna pay off. So I mean It's it's it's it's a bummer I don't think there's there hasn't been an athlete like that. That's sort of of this, you know new generation of athletes No, that hasn't sort of gone like this the last time Something like this happened was like a Roberto Clementi or something. Mm-hmm
00:08:10
Speaker
where it was just, you know, the transformative player. I mean, I realize he's retired, but barely. Yeah, not that long ago. So he's basically still inactive, you know, he's still very active in the league. Right. Yeah. And active with the WNBA in 2016. Huge, huge advocate for women's sports. Right. Obviously, he's got sadly one of his daughters was with him in this crash, which is just makes it all the more terrible. It's not, you know, doesn't. Yeah.
00:08:38
Speaker
just our thoughts are with the Bryant family and their loved ones, and it's just very, very sad news. Okay, let's, let's, let's,
Rugby Premiership Surprises
00:08:47
Speaker
speaking of sad, let's go to the prem real quick. Shit. Yeah, speaking of sad. Why, what's so sad about the premiership? There was some huge, there was some huge results this weekend. It was kind of shocking at the very least. Let's, let's, let's pick from the front, from a few of them, Friday night, Saints going down to the Irish,
00:09:08
Speaker
Wow. And at a last minute, Parecki gets over the line after I charged down from I think Coleman got it. What the fuck were they doing? Can I can I? I was waiting for you to ask that. You have the like, there's what? Two minutes remaining. If you are a professional team, I mean, I hate that we can't do it at our level. You're a professional team. You should be able to do pick and goes for two minutes. That's maybe what?
00:09:36
Speaker
Eight eight picks yes at the most depending on how fast the referee wants you to use exactly You don't really have to do much Just kind of work it and then just kick it out the back of the tri zone and everything's done But instead no no no first off you you're you're kicking away possession to a team that Their wings have torn you up all game
00:09:57
Speaker
Yeah, you don't might not want to do that and then it gets charged down anyway, they're both they both had good games hassle collins Especially was of note in that one. Yes, he was So I mean well well done to London Irish, but the Saints, you know as much Since since yeah, there's a little bit of the chip on the shoulder if you want to talk about Saracen's winning because
00:10:17
Speaker
You know, they pay people. No, they win because they do don't do stupid shit like you just did. Yeah. Like when they do, they pay for it, but they don't do it nearly as often as this. Exactly. And that's the difference between championships and non-championships. All right. Chip off my shoulder. And move on. Yeah. So Irish go down 1620 or go down win 1620 at Franklin's Gardens. First time in like five years, six years, something like that. Yeah. First time in five years that Saints have lost at home in the prem.
00:10:41
Speaker
Damn, and and yeah, Northampt didn't having a pretty good season. Yeah. Yeah, so This season it's gonna there's gonna be a lot of this I think there's gonna be a lot of this well, especially the week after the Hammer comes down and now you don't have to worry about that. You can see the results with Saints losing at home exit or losing at home Lester who looked unbeatable the last couple of weeks
00:11:06
Speaker
Looking blah at bath. Yeah, like there's definitely you can sell the teams that have taken their foot off the gas pedal a little bit this week Yeah, because of I believe it's because of the news. Yeah. Well, and they're also missing England players That doesn't also truly help either. No Some more than others. I mean exit or one. Yeah missing too much
00:11:26
Speaker
Not a ton. I don't want to talk about the match too much, but Bath Luster had her friend Sam Roberts on comms. Yeah, I listened to some of that. I watched some of that as much as I could. I asked him what he did, who he pissed off. He said the rugby gods are just not kind to me these days. But let's talk about the one that you and I were watching on Saturday, Bristol Gloucester. That was a little bit more like it for Bristol. It was. For sure.
00:11:50
Speaker
Good to see them kind of opening it up a little bit and obviously Yeah, they couple guys that looked a little pissed that they weren't in the camp. Yeah, he was being one I think the theme of the weekend though was definitely eight men that did not get picked by Eddie Jones that were out to free Yeah, and I tell you that before we jump into most that it was a nice because there was no premiership football. I
00:12:09
Speaker
This weekend it was nice to put on NBC Sports in the morning and have live rugby I noticed that I was wondering why it was all There was like no So it was great to see that I only tuned in towards the end of that Bristol glossary game But I saw those two tries from Bristol towards the end which was just young ins Yeah, I just you know glossary just fell apart. I
00:12:32
Speaker
They did. They completely fell apart. Yeah, it was it's clear. It's clear that they're missing Cipriani. Yeah, I was like spitting chewing gum holding them together without sips. So just a little bit more pressure and yeah, and I mean it you and you can tell it's funny that you can see that we see some of these clubs not giving a shit about you know, the Scots and Welsh
00:12:56
Speaker
Yeah, and then, you know, you have McCall who just doesn't want to play anybody that's been picked in the six nations because he doesn't want to do that to them. Yeah. Um, who else did, I think, did, I don't think Northampton played anybody that was picked either way. Oh yeah. Hutch played. Yeah, right. Cause we talked about that on the, uh, on the draft, uh, because Pierce Francis got hurt and everybody's, I know if I'm this, this Scottish national team, I'm like, get Hutch out now. No, no, no, no.
00:13:20
Speaker
I saw what's his face Reezamit was was playing for Gloucester over the weekend so and and so we're prediction is he potentially my Big a start this week Yeah, that was interesting to see him playing in the wing with a little bit of an injury fear a week ago I believe yeah, I don't know to be not a big deal. Thankfully. Yeah, so
00:13:44
Speaker
Yeah, interesting stuff to bet, you know, England players get their rest. Everybody else can get on the pitch. And then obviously the Sunday game was a big one for both teams. It really came down to be in a big one for Holler Quinn's 41-14 over Saracens.
00:14:00
Speaker
I saw I saw the tweet and it summed it up very perfectly Alex Donbrandt's playing PlayStation and with his little brother. He has a cheat code He hasn't even told his little brother what the controls are so he looked amazing And I'm sure we'll get to this, but I just don't understand Eddie Jones's Thinking sometimes and I'm sure everybody else can agree with me. Head scratching A. Jones. What are you gonna do?
00:14:23
Speaker
But yeah, I mean incredible try that he put together with that Danny care finished off and then the offload and then our man policy got over big. Yeah, it was good to see him getting starts and and really sort of putting that effort in and being recognized as a actual American Premiership player. He's come on real strong the last couple of weeks he's played.
00:14:46
Speaker
Yeah, he's playing that old Jamie Roberts role that they really like to have, that big ball basher at the inside center. Jamie Roberts of the Stormers now. Yeah. I mean, that sounds pretty good, though, you know, not to get sort of sidetracked here, but coming to the end of your career and decide, fuck it, I'll go play in Cape Town.
00:15:05
Speaker
He got engaged as well. Oh, really? Yeah, why what to like someone from South Africa? I don't know Whoever I assume a girlfriend. I mean, what is he as a Cambridge or Oxford degree? I'm pretty sure I'd sign up for that. He played in the one of the varsity games he did He's you know, two-time lion tourist. Yep Whales superstar now is living it's you know, enjoying the Sun in South Africa and Cape Town. Oh
00:15:32
Speaker
Could be a good time to jump ship, I suppose. Yeah, a really good time to jump ship. Yeah, spending the winter months in England. In the depths of, yeah, no. Good move. I think I'd marry him, too. Yeah. Yeah, so anyway, yeah. And then one more note, Dom Morris getting over in his debut. Yay. Or his debut this season. He has played before, but. Yeah. And last minute start, Brad Barrett scratched late.
00:15:59
Speaker
I mean good on the kid for getting over and you know, he definitely looks like he's gonna he doesn't do a whole lot Dynamically definitely looks like somebody that that that weather was designed for though He was running straight running hard and making hits and that's that's pretty much all you could do with that type of weather
00:16:15
Speaker
Maybe, you know, you could do worse as a center than that. Not to go down this one, but do you think that team we just saw there for Saracens, is that what we're going to see next year? That might be close to it. Yeah. Oops. You know, there should be a couple of changes in and out from that.
00:16:34
Speaker
Obviously, Wigglesworth won't be on that team. Cocker's won't be on that team. Nope. Callum Clark. He might go, yeah. He might leave or he might stay, depends on him. I mean, as long as he doesn't break someone's arm or something. Guy's a psychopath. Yeah, he looks like he's a crazy guy every time he steps on the pitch. Yeah. But yeah, so it's going to be about, I think, probably about that talent level, maybe a little bit more or less depending on the week. Depending on what happens.
00:17:00
Speaker
um and who gets who moves on and who decides to stick it out anyway yeah some some of the squad players may say i'm i'm out and some may say i nope i'm here for the for the duration you saw a report i although you know is you have to take it with a grain of salt that there might be other teams that don't want sarrison's players because they're gonna go right back depending on who they are because they don't want sarrison's to come in like they know it's a one-year loaner because sarrison's gonna come right back up
00:17:27
Speaker
Um, so they don't want basically like a mole. I think it's like, yeah. Cause that's what they need. They, they need to know what you know, they can look at film and see what you do. It's very much an open sport. It's not really, it's not really going to change a whole lot. Right. Your line out calls, big freaking deal. I can figure those out in 10 minutes. Stop.
00:17:45
Speaker
Okay, let's get to the real meat of this sucker right here.
Anticipation for Six Nations
00:17:49
Speaker
Six Nations. Yes, I am so excited. James, put it back in your pants. Finally, International Rugby is back when it matters. The best tournament out of the year is here and we can all forget about that World Cup final.
00:18:05
Speaker
But you can at least. James has been dying to forget about that. Let's go to... Go ahead, Jesus. Good news, James, is that South Africa are not in this competition. The bad news is that New Zealand are not, so England can't beat New Zealand again. Yeah, you know what though, but that was incredible. Oh, it was a great game. It was obviously an amazing game. Let's kind of go through squad by squad here a little bit. Let's go to the defending champions, Wales.
00:18:33
Speaker
Yeah, it's gonna be interesting with the new coach Wayne Pivak who with a name like that I thought he was Welsh, but he's not he's from New Zealand. Yeah, I just went back and re-watched some of the barbarians game against Wales You know Wales are coming in strong again though. No Gareth Anscombe because he's knee. He's got that knee. So You know
00:18:58
Speaker
you know, what's his name is going to go into him bigger? Yeah, back into 10. Probably. Well, they've called in Jared Evans, they've called in Owen Williams as also possible fly half options. So we'll see. Then they're not locked into the squad, obviously.
00:19:13
Speaker
Yeah. It's no good. I mean, the whales always show up. They always rock up to this tournament. Reese Webb will be back in the mix. I couldn't believe that news. I was like, wow. OK, he's finally actually making sense. Holy shit. Yeah, I know. Because he was before he was too long. He was amazing. He was starting. He was on the Lions team. I couldn't understand why they were just like, yeah, you're not going to play for us because of some stupid rule that we made up two years ago.
00:19:41
Speaker
Um, but you know again, i'm just looking at this. I didn't realize this many caps but alanwin jones captain as usual 134 welsh caps and he's he's rocking up for more Yeah, who knows I think this is one of those how many more matches does he have in him especially even especially at this level
00:20:02
Speaker
He's not gonna play this weekend and guarantee you that yeah. Oh, yeah. No That's one thing but at the same time the You know, he's gonna play especially at this level. He's gonna play what he can so I I'm not surprised that he's he's coming back for this one I wouldn't be surprised he comes back to the next one just because He's a badass like that, but I would also not be surprised if this was it Toby felt out is
00:20:30
Speaker
He's back in the lineup. How long is he gonna last? Yeah, I know he's you know, he's as fragile as Billy. Yeah, so Interesting to see what happens. They got a good back row even without him. So like that's that's like that's that's like gravy That's on top of it. I love their talent all around. That's the bacon on the gravy right there Brought into this like yeah, that's the bacon on the gravy right there Because you look at the guys who they've brought in for this, you know fellas I was back with them mariardi navidi
00:21:00
Speaker
Right, I'm saying the new guy like guy some players who weren't there last time. So like though the will roll ins is and oh, yeah, let me resam it Nick Tompkins all these guys that they kind of brought in I cannot wait to see Nick Tompkins in a
Team Changes in Six Nations
00:21:14
Speaker
Welsh shirt, right? I'm so looking forward to seeing this kid play a level
00:21:17
Speaker
I feel like they lost some important players, but their talent overall has gone up. I'm never a Wales fan, but they're going to come in as one of the favorites next to England for sure. I think PIVAC's going to pretty much pick up where Gatlin
00:21:40
Speaker
Left off. Yeah, hopefully not that stupid Warren ball, but you know, yeah, it got done but still it was ugly shit Names names on here that might surprise you on their team sheet for at least for the initial start
00:21:56
Speaker
I mean, I don't know that many Welsh players, except the bigger ones are the ones that play in the premiership. Right. Because, you know, no one pays attention to the Ospreys. Definitely not the Ospreys right now. Poor guys. Sorry, Squidge. You know, the Blues or, you know, and the Dragons. So I am so baffled at how bad the Dragons are with the talent that they have on that team. I don't understand it.
00:22:18
Speaker
the whole um Guinness or whatever yeah pro 14 is just it's all very confusing yeah same but i agree with that the best thing for those guys they get to go to south africa in the middle of winter our winter in their summer yeah and they probably enjoy that i'd be jumping on that tour yeah that's not bad and you know and then uh other than watching the well irish teams play each other
00:22:39
Speaker
It's not really. Yeah, it's tough to talk to really stomachs. Sorry, guys. But you know, it's gonna be exciting. It's gonna be good. Are whales in Italy or they? Is it at the principality as they call it? It's at the principality. Oh, yeah. Well,
00:22:57
Speaker
There that makes sense opening up there. You know what I was a little upset about though last year. They had a Friday night Game game. It was Wales France kickoff and that was it was it like for something our time here in the East Coast It was so nice to rock out of work and go find a pub and watch that watch that. Yeah, I was into that I am very drunk
00:23:17
Speaker
They're going on all on Saturday and one hour apart Yeah, so you can't walk like that's annoying. You're basically not gonna watch the middle gate No, or you're gonna be kind of split between Sunday games, right? Yeah England France is Sunday. Mm-hmm look crunch
00:23:35
Speaker
Yeah, um, that's right. That is so maybe um, maybe it's just okay. It's just the first two then later It's not until the final weekend that all the games are on Saturday. They usually spread them out well enough to be able to watch them all. Yeah Let's go let's let's go let's go to the next one. Um Well, the one that was probably got probably had the biggest bit of news in the most recent time Scotland
00:23:58
Speaker
Yeah. It's a shame because it's just bad news after bad news coming out of Scotland after the World Cup and the fine that they got now. So many retirements. John Barkley, Tommy Seymour is not going to play that level anymore. Did Richie Grace say he was done? I don't think so. I think he's fighting to try and get back in. Oh, yeah. Good for him.
00:24:25
Speaker
You know, and now, I mean, it's great to see Stuart Hogg is captain, exciting stuff. Laidlaw, thank God he's gone. Yeah, Laidlaw's finished, but now, you know, whatever happened this past weekend with Finn Russell, I guess he rocked up.
00:24:43
Speaker
a little drunk a little drunk or something drinking at the hotel i heard really like you can't yeah it's one thing if you go out and have a pint yeah and maybe you know three or four yeah yeah and then you come back and you handle your shit so he gets back to your room and then you can yeah yeah don't be drinking at the hotel like don't have that like keep that shit out away from the team like if you're just drinking there and everybody's watching you just get pissed
00:25:11
Speaker
or you're just in your room drinking or whatever it was like you're forcing the the the staff's hands as far as this is what we got to do because we can't lose face right yeah it's uh yeah you know what he should he shouldn't he should know better but however he did uh rock up back to harassing and uh spank who'd they play cast or Montpellier or one of those two
00:25:34
Speaker
One of those two, it was like 24-0 or something, and then took that photo, team photo, with his top off, just like saying, come on, Stewart Townsend like wasn't. Let's go, dude. It's only for the week, I think, so I don't think he's been dismissed completely.
00:25:49
Speaker
I think if Townsend was dumb enough to do that He'd probably be putting his job in jeopardy because I think it's kind of on the edge right now. It should be I'm not sure what we talk, you know, people will talk about Eddie Jones and results and stuff like that I think Townsend needs needs results more than a Jones does
00:26:06
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, I know. Now that, you know, Duncan Weir has been brought up. I mean, there's if you can't have Finn Russell, your second choice is always Duncan Weir, right? Oh, my God. I was just I saw that. It's like, what? There's got to be someone better in Scotland. He is. Weir's moving himself towards the Andy Goodmold. Just get a little chunkier every year. He's always been a thick dude. He's a square. He basically is.
00:26:34
Speaker
He looks like I'm born of those people from Minecraft
00:26:43
Speaker
It's not untrue. It's okay. It's if it's true, you can't be that bad Couple of newbies on the Scotland team obviously we saw the likes of Hutch before but now he's you know Hopefully this is now him getting solidified into this team. Why the fuck he was not the World Cup. Nobody nobody will ever know except Stuart Townsend and
00:27:04
Speaker
Alex Craig from Gloucester getting a shot, which will be kind of fun. I honestly was a little shocked that he got called up. I know he recently made his debut for Gloucester in this season, or at least started getting more consistent playing time at the very least. I just was...
00:27:21
Speaker
little head scratcher like really this is this is your best second row option that you can call in okay not his best obviously this this guy's in front of him but you know i was like wow okay this is the level that you're going i mean at least he's going for youth right so i'll give him that right how's that because he's he's got to inject some there's
00:27:38
Speaker
You have your Johnny Grey's 25, so that's kind of you're set at one for for the next couple years, but I mean other than that You're looking at Grant Gilchrist and Ben Toulas neither of whom are lighting the world on fire and they're both late 20s So yeah, they're gonna they're gonna look elsewhere for some
00:27:57
Speaker
Yeah, and some youth there. Gregor Townsend actually says about five hours ago, someone reported that the door is open for Finn Russell to return. Okay. Okay. So. At least he hasn't closed it yet. Yeah. You know what? We'll see. This game will be interesting. I think it's still going to be close, Ireland, Scotland. Oh yeah. I don't think it's going to be a blow away by any means.
00:28:18
Speaker
Obviously Greg Lidlow's gone, thank you God. It's not a mystery that we were not fans of his, so let's just call that. His replacement will be one of three people and I'm gonna take a stab and say it's Ali Price. Definitely Ali Price. I do like watching George Horn when he plays for Glasgow though, I have to say he is
00:28:42
Speaker
bags of energy ready to go. He wants to quick tap everything. So you got to at least appreciate that he runs that night. He does run that good inside scrum half line, which you really hope that you can get yourself a scrum half that can finish, finish moves off the way the way the one Cobus Reinach likes to do. So yeah, you got to like that. You got to like the way they compliment each other. Obviously they do it for Glasgow. They'll do it for Scotland to Ali Price and George Horn, I think.
00:29:10
Speaker
Yeah, so that'll be interesting to see what that team selection is like come this weekend against Ireland. Why don't we go to their opponents Ireland and see what we got here. Andy Farrell. His Ireland. Wow. His head's scratching and all that, man. I never thought.
00:29:29
Speaker
I think he's just been involved with Ireland for so long that it was just that sort of natural move. He's been with them basically since the unfortunate debacle in 2015. So my biggest question for Ireland is, because the players are, yeah, they have the turnover, some of the turnover, obviously at the captain's position.
00:29:54
Speaker
I want to know if they're going to change their style of play. That's my biggest not not with Johnny Sexton still at 10. And that's kind of disappointing. I think Sexton can run a different style. I mean, because certainly less, you know, the crash ball, less, you know, playing just off the 10, maybe because he can't I've seen him play open at times. So it's possible for him to do it. I would I'm hoping I'm hoping that I mean, again, how many how much more time does Sexton have?
00:30:22
Speaker
Yeah, I'm sure he's holding out for that next Lions tour, but that's also a reach. That's a reach. That's a big reach. I think the things that can change it is Cootie coming in at nine, whether he'll be started over...
00:30:37
Speaker
Connor it's going to be tough to unsee Connor Murray. Yeah, I know the form that he's been at John. Oh, yeah. He's been in like, come on. No argument. You got you. You got to look at him. But you're right. If Cooney were 21 or 22, instead of 29, I would. Yes, I'm with them. So they're all into the fire with them with. Yeah, Cooney and Connor Murray being just a year age difference.
00:31:01
Speaker
I don't know how if you're going to make that drastic a change, although it's the same thing. You have that, you know, now, maybe instead of going 60, 70 minutes with Connor Murray, you give him you just split it right down the middle, maybe 40, 45, one. And then for for for Connor Murray, and then you bring on Cooney's as your finisher with with the big energy and and the flair. Yeah, that that, you know, while the other team has gotten the shit kicked out of him for the previous 40 to 50 minutes. Yeah. Yeah.
00:31:31
Speaker
I think that that could go a long way. He scored like nine tries already this season or something like that. I thought that was just a champion's cup. He can kick goals as well. The guy calls himself the flop machine.
00:31:46
Speaker
Yeah, he's turning on. The handle has been pulled many a times, apparently. I'd really like to see him- You know something about the DJ? Yeah, just a little bit. Now and again. I indulge. We talked about- we got there first. I was going to say it's going to be a little sad without seeing Rory Best.
00:32:09
Speaker
rock-up and that's why I was going to sing that too much today yeah cup but you know what god the guy's a legend of the game we'll never forget that white scrum cap yeah I get super iconic you know much the same a couple of there's a couple of guys out there that you know the blue scrum cap we talked about of the blue sucker I can't remember his name but yeah we talked about the other day but yes very much very much iconic who
00:32:36
Speaker
million dollar question probably for Andy Farrell and his forwards coach who is his replacement because there's some names on here that a lot of people may not know heffernan herring and the other one tell her tell her I if I had my gut gut instinct I'd say Kelleher but I think it's gonna be herring
00:32:56
Speaker
It's going to be like, I mean, Kelleher is 22. Right. So I love the form he's been in. Yeah. For, for Leinster. But they're Ireland. They're going to want the experience more than anything. So they'll bring him along. I would imagine that he's going to be their starter next year this time. That'd be great. But, but yeah, I'm guessing it'll be Herringer Heffernan starting with, with Kelleher as the backup for every match. Yeah, I'd be all right with that.
00:33:24
Speaker
If you, if you're Andy Farrell, who backs up Sexton? Burn, er, er, burns.
00:33:32
Speaker
Oh, Billy Burns, I'd really would like to see him get out there. Me too. He's definitely a little more expansive than either of the other two guys. Yeah, he's got a great story. I think he deserves a shot. Ulster's been playing pretty well this season. And I just, you know, listening to that interview with him on the Rugged Pod was pretty interesting. He is a character, that's for sure. I mean, he is such an Englishman, but whatever. I think it would be really interesting to see him out there.
00:34:01
Speaker
Yeah, I think it'd be I think it'd be fun to see him out there and uh, I think it's it's worth a shot for ireland I think they this is this is where all these teams this right? We got a year just after the world cup between alliance We got a year to alliance tour more than a year, right? I think this is time as you can tell with some of these teams france especially so we get to it and england uh time to experiment
00:34:25
Speaker
bring in youth, see what happens, you know? What's the worst that can happen? I guess you lose, but. But I mean, what's really like as much as as a great a tournament as this is, is that, you know, especially right after the World Cup coming six months or so after the World Cup, how vital is it to win this tournament for especially for a team like Ireland? Ireland, it's important, I shouldn't say. Yeah, because their World Cup wasn't that great. Right. No, for for Wales or England.
00:34:53
Speaker
It's not and France even showed really well at the World Cup for that for France. So yes Stupid vomit. Yeah, so so these teams are have done really well for themselves. They don't really need to prove anything So now it's time to start thinking about the future. I don't think Ireland have done that nearly as well as the others Which causes me some concern because I really want to see Ireland update their game to modern Yeah
00:35:23
Speaker
Um, let's go to the team. Nobody's going to talk about, uh, Italy. Well, Sergio Parisa though. I mean, he's going to get his farewell game. Finally. The man deserves. What was the deal? He wasn't included in the squad, but he's going to, he's like a provisional or I don't know. He's like a provisional. He'll play one game. I think it's one home game. Whatever the last home game is definitely deserved. Um, yeah, I don't know. You know, then who's their new captain to the hooker? No, no, no, no, no, not held on. Where is he?
00:35:53
Speaker
we should know this we don't look professional surprise surprise they don't have that marked out what do we say on what we say when we're on that podcast sam oh yeah it sounds like yeah we had a little break and like screw it just we screwed up and couldn't figure out who it was yeah anyway um uh
00:36:13
Speaker
Pellegrably fun to watch because he's a god. I love that guy. He's a great player Tommaso. Alan is still there. He's he's quality. Yes, you know high quality. I think if anything
00:36:28
Speaker
I really would like to see if Italy could beat Scotland. They gotta beat somebody. But it's just, you know, Italy needs to win. I mean, they got a couple, you know, wins in the World Cup, but they weren't like, you know, against huge teams. But they could take Scotland now. I think I think Scotland is vulnerable and Italy could do it. We'll see. I mean,
00:36:50
Speaker
that a goal of mine at one point is to go to rome and watch a game uh... cuz i feel you'd be into one interesting atmosphere and to by decent weather uh... it's a great it's a beautiful city so ever so i've heard uh... species named the captain abigail
00:37:07
Speaker
He's otherwise known as biggie He's the hooker yes, so yeah, he's he plays for zebra he's he's actually kind of old he's 28 But it's it'll be good to see so he may not be he may not be their captain come next woke up Yeah, long-term definitely not so I'd be looking towards a Brahamstein for that person. Yeah, that's a possibility I
00:37:31
Speaker
No, he's not he's not young but yeah, it's not a bad idea Tommaso Allen's probably a name that was on people's brains In that case as well. I'm glad to see Callum braley. Yes, me too cuz he's been he's been out
00:37:45
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Well, you got buried in the depth chart first at Gloucester, unfortunately. Didn't he tear his knee up or am I thinking of someone else? I'm thinking Ben Velicott, who used to play for Gloucester but doesn't anymore. He swapped jerseys with Joe Simpson. That's correct. Is Luke McLean still on that team?
00:38:02
Speaker
Because that guy shows up year after year after year. Not this year. No? Okay, maybe that was it. He's 32 and he's been like an Italian staple for years. An Australian Italian staple. Yeah, well, Bromstain's South African, an Italian staple, although he's obviously very good.
00:38:22
Speaker
And my one of my favorites is Freddy Rooza the guy had play second row, but he can he has the skills of a back row He's one of the few bright spots that are in this team along with the likes of like pull entry But Braille and not to mention I feel like whenever Italy and France play each other though It can be a close game. It was last year. It was last year And it could be this year cuz that youth on on France so maybe Italy if you're listening just go for it, man, I
00:38:48
Speaker
Yeah, go for the jugular every time dude You have nothing to lose. Yeah, nothing to lose. Yeah, nothing to lose. Um, Jaden Hayward, yeah, Jaden Hayward played pretty well, but I bet you his time's coming to an end soon here Um, yeah, so it it we'll see how they do it's it's always a hit or miss, you know, you hope yeah everybody in this room and everybody out there in in world rugby is hoping that they can finally crack whatever fucking wall they've been hitting the last
00:39:15
Speaker
10, 20 years and break through to be a good tier one team. Yeah. Having more tier one teams is good for rugby. You know, the reason it's not that you can only have seven or eight tier one teams, it's that there's just that huge gap between eight and nine or whatever it is. So like I would, I'm hoping that gap gets close, close, closer and closer to, to be in nothing every, every year.
00:39:43
Speaker
Let's go to let's go. Let's go to France. Yeah, let's talk about the youngins. I lately blow short Edwards. Just get me Get up there and smash him. All right Yeah, Jim La France Just we happy with France and all the would be I mean imagine
00:40:06
Speaker
I mean, they need something like that to come in and just kind of shake up the... I'll give them that. They've been very reluctant to bring in outside help from anywhere that's not France. And so at least they've gone that way and decided, all right, let's try this. What could possibly happen in this year, at least, where there's nothing really to lose?
00:40:26
Speaker
Yeah, and I think for France, right, great to see youth. But the way that some of the French players have been playing in the top 14 has been pretty electric up until now since the beginning of the season. There's always flair in France. But maybe we'll start to see that come back again.
00:40:44
Speaker
Decent World Cup, you know, they didn't get a chance to play England because of that typhoon. Yeah, this is that game finally Would like to see France bring back that that that French flare of your area Because that you know, I think people miss that rugby
00:41:01
Speaker
Well, that's some of the best rugby to watch. I think that the structure that they implemented for the World Cup helped with their performance in the World Cup, but I don't think it really killed their flair. I think they still had fun within the structure that was presented.
00:41:17
Speaker
I think the youth of this team represents that, saying, we had that completely unstructured play, play, play for so long. A lot of the players that they've let go and replaced here
00:41:33
Speaker
Are a part of that and they're bringing the young guys and saying this is how we want to play a little bit more cohesive and less Do whatever the fuck I feel like Yeah, that's easy. And so I think you're gonna see it. I think you're really gonna see a good mix with with France I think they're gonna do I think they're gonna do very well for themselves this this tournament even with the youth I think that that that if anything is gonna be some of these young guys
00:41:56
Speaker
Sorry, there's some names on here that I'm really excited. Absolutely I know I heard that Camille shat is injured. Yeah, so he is I don't know if it's out for one game or whatever Yeah, who's the it's not vodka tower. It's the other one that Someone was saying is the best Zebo is saying the best player on player right now the other winger of racing tomorrow
00:42:24
Speaker
Teddy Tomah. No, Teddy Tomah's fantastic. He's another Pacific Islander sounding gentleman. The only one I could think of would be Rocca, but he plays for Clemo.
00:42:35
Speaker
Yes, maybe. I don't know. Never mind. It could be Varkatawa. If he's talking about his own team, it's Varkatawa. Yeah. He could have been talking about Rata. I think he's been playing lights out, too. Yeah. Because he's somebody who's still largely untested on the international stage. He only has three caps. But he was certainly tearing it up for La Rochelle in the Champions Cup, at least from what I saw from him.
00:42:59
Speaker
Oh, rotas. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. He's freaking I I am so excited to see him on the world stage And get him and get him out there in this competition and then obviously ben and I talked about this a little bit you know hope and pray and cross your fingers that this is the the decision that everybody wants them to make and that is to put
00:43:18
Speaker
Into Mach at 10 and DuPont at nine. Yeah, and just let let let the let the chains off and let them play Let them play to their abilities because the two of them combined I think could make some really fun rugby to watch and really attractive rugby to watch
00:43:34
Speaker
So and they've got help. I mean like the you just look at the back lines that are possible here and And it's fantastic. I mean you got fiku and playing incredible. Yes for for for paris. So you have those two in the centers and I don't know. I don't know enough honestly about every toe and and vince don't To form it at a given educated opinion, but then you know teddy thomas rottos panode and then run us
00:44:03
Speaker
And Ramos like all yeah, you can fill into the other guys elsewhere, but that right there That's amazing. That's that's fantastic, and it's still you know the four of them have a combined 35 like under under 45 caps
00:44:19
Speaker
And they're only going to get better, right? So you can talk about the lack of caps there, but they're certainly good enough to overcome that. Yeah, it's going to be pretty. It's going to be pretty awesome to watch Lebleu hopefully come back to their prime. And it's going to be the game against England is going to be at the state of France, which again, also bucket list for me. The atmosphere there I heard is just incredible because the chanting I've been to a France England game at Twickenham, but the Allais Lebleu chant and that
00:44:48
Speaker
That goes off all the time I bet and it's just apparently it's it's something like yeah, nothing else So and that stadium is incredible. It's massive. Yes, so not small it is a for little crunch is it's an incredible place to especially to start the six nations to start and the six nations at There that France England is awesome
00:45:09
Speaker
Yeah, it's gonna be a pretty wild game. Let's go to England. Let's talk about the guys we both know. A little bit of this, a little bit of that, but still the same. We're missing people through injury. We're losing people because of God knows why. We're keeping people because of God knows why.
00:45:30
Speaker
More importantly this is the thing with Eddie Jones. You've only seen a couple interviews recently you wonder you know, where is his head right now as well after this World Cup because He somewhat achieved the goal was to win obviously, but I think the main goal was to get to the semis was his like Target his big target. Yeah
00:45:50
Speaker
and um there hasn't been much talk really from him his usual sort of nature and um it makes me worry a little bit i mean maybe it hasn't started yet but it makes you worry just a little bit that he's got his mind elsewhere yeah i mean i don't know what his goal is for this team no
England Rugby Strategy Concerns
00:46:08
Speaker
he hasn't really stated anything i mean he's
00:46:11
Speaker
I mean, yeah, he hasn't said anything, but even just looking at the team. So with France, you know, okay, they're transitioning. They're looking for the future. They're not playing, though they still could win. They're not taking themselves out of contention with the team that they picked. But there's still a clear goal. Whereas with some of the selections that Eddie made here, I mean, like keeping Youngs and Ford, I don't understand at all. Nope.
00:46:37
Speaker
I know, well, Ben Young's has always been like the go-to scrum half, but yeah, I guess. You're at a point where you can find another scrum half. Yeah, no, I know. People are pissed about that. His service was god-awful at the World Cup. Yeah. He had some bad stories. Willie Hines is old as well, too. He's like 32. Yeah, that's another one. I'm like, who? Why? So I have six players who they just absolutely, for me, should not be on the team. Those two, Ford and Young's, Ellis Genj, I don't really like, although I kind of get it.
00:47:07
Speaker
and Launchbury Yules and Devoto. Launchbury's injured so he's out for the first game at least. We still put him on the team and I love Launchbury certainly as a player in the prem but I don't even think he's a top talent in the premiership level
00:47:23
Speaker
So that kind of, and then I guess same goes for you. Um, and same goes for actually pretty much all of these guys. They're all there. They're guys. They, they can, yeah, you can fill them in and they'll play and they jags, they won't hurt you too bad, but they're not going to, they're not world beaters. Yeah. Jags. Just a guy. Just a guy. Um, and then I'm kind of on the fence about done.
00:47:42
Speaker
um marler certainly because i thought he was retiring did you i think everybody did and and cruz is on that even though i i like him when you get paid 25 grand a game retiring is tough yeah yeah he showed he showed that when he signed up for the world cup again yeah but there's so many guys that they could have brought on this team too that again same thing as france wouldn't have wouldn't have killed him and we talked about dom brandt we kind of alluded to simmons
00:48:08
Speaker
I think, yeah, I think that'll be the big question is if, so, and here's the thought that it seems that he's gonna go for, and this is somebody that thinks they have inside knowledge. I don't know what the fuck it is. I don't know what their knowledge is, but the thought is that they're gonna put either Loz or Tojay at six, and then it'll be Earl at eight, and then either Underhill or Curry at seven, and then the other one will come off the bench.
00:48:36
Speaker
That's the thought. I mean, that's that's fine. But I why not? Why not put a team of burners out there? Why not like tear up the road? And when you're an argument out of me, man, like if you could put a back line together of Curry, Underhill and Earl, why why wouldn't you? Because that's not a joke. You could still you could still have laws and a tote as you're starting locks and still get the same value out of them in both in the line out and in the loose, like.
00:49:05
Speaker
You know, what's an interesting inclusion is Jacob Umaga Coming in love that and I so he's so young. I I love that But what I don't like is that Marcus Smith's been passed over for him That's the one I would have to I think I would have preferred to see either both of them or Marcus Smith over Jacob Umaga not to take anything away from Umaga I think he I think the situation he got tossed into at was where soap Waga was hurt and
00:49:34
Speaker
sick and not informed and then they thought they were going to have Goparth and he's not he was not healthy to start the year and then Billy Strels kind of eh, he's ready to leave town anyway. So for him to step up and at least put in some, he finally shook off the nerves and put in a couple of good performances. Yeah, it's impressive. Marcus Smith played well this weekend. Did he ever? But I still like, I'm a little skeptical of him on international rugby.
00:50:01
Speaker
I think there's only one way to find out though. Yeah, there really is I think though when you think compared to George Ford, I think he could be better than George Ford. That's kind of where I am. Like how fast is your 10? Have Smith and Umaga as your backup fly have so that you play fast for the other 60 minutes and then your reserve gets 20 or something like that. You know, have a heavy starter split there, but get them time.
00:50:27
Speaker
in some of these matches. Yeah, the only way to find out is you throw them in. What's Ford going to prove to you that he sucks still? I hope Ollie Thorley gets to prove himself as well. He finally gets a shot here. You know, I never understood why McConaughey was involved in the World Cup because there's no sign of him here. Nope. That was just as very strange. He took a hard dip after the World Cup. Yeah. That was, you know, and then
00:50:55
Speaker
Who was that backup hooker that came on the World Cup? Singleton. Yeah. Yeah. Well, he's got, he's got, he hasn't got a lot of game time. Jamie George, eight minutes. So, I mean, as far as Singleton goes in terms of moving to a successful team, it's a good move, but as far as his England career goes, it might not have been so good.
00:51:14
Speaker
Yeah, but it'll be interesting again though England strong looking good as always a couple question marks here with just where Eddie Jones's head at where the the team is at with Saracens as well involved with that issue. They say everything's fine and it's sort of Well left out, you know, but also
00:51:37
Speaker
are they going to bounce back uh on the big stage again i would like to see it always because i love england um but and again them and wells are favorites but i still there's a little bit of apprehension going into the six nations with england i'd imagine after all that's happened yeah because you never know what what what team they're going to put out really and then what how did how uh how they're going to play together especially and with the youth because there's going to be that mix of veterans and youth and and and how well do they mix
00:52:06
Speaker
Yeah. Let's go. Your player that you're going to look for, doesn't matter which team, the one player you're really excited to see out there and want to see what he does. Oh, no, putting me on the spot or anything.
00:52:22
Speaker
You know, I mean, first off, the certainly honorable mention could be Jake Peledry, although he's played a little bit at this level. Um, just hasn't, it hasn't had enough time to really form an opinion at it, but I really want to, I want to really want to see how he does needs to cook more.
00:52:38
Speaker
And, uh, but it really comes down to the, you know, looking for the future. I want to see what, what's, what's coming down the pike. And to me, if, if for the, the, the format he's shown in the, in the prem, uh, and in the, and the champions cup level, it seems like he's ready. And so I really want to see what Louis Reesamit does at this international stage, uh, at this tournament.
00:53:02
Speaker
Yeah, that's a phenomenal pick. I agree. I would think, and he's so young. Right. This would be, and you know what also we didn't really mention was the potential of George North going into the centers and putting- He's played a little bit there for us today. Yes, and this becoming his well's position now. I think Cooney, if they give him a shot, although it looks, I've just done some research, it looks like Connor Murray's gonna get the nod over him.
00:53:28
Speaker
But maybe he comes on and lights up the scene. Great to see that. And you know, Entomak, this is his second Six Nations, I think. I think now he's been through one. We can definitely see something, some flair from him.
00:53:44
Speaker
uh for me it's gonna be it's gonna be about max degan the the eight man from wenster and now been called into the ireland squad i want to see i hope he gets some playing time um there you know and he failed to deal with some youth so the likes of him and caylen doris are in this team
00:54:01
Speaker
Um, the both of them, I really want to look, but I liked the way Max Deegan looked in the champions cup for Lenster. So I'm really excited to see what he does. Um, he could be a similar eight man to Don Brant. And the fact that he's a good carrier, he can, you can make some moves. So we'll see, we'll see what happens with that. Um, obviously, you know, hard to unseat CJ standard when he's willing to go out there and break his face and all that stuff. But, you know, um, we'll see, we'll see how it goes. Oh, there's one new guy on Ireland.
00:54:30
Speaker
Have you heard of this guy? Devin Toner? I know, he's back. Oh my god. No Sean Klein. I think Andy Farrell is telling not so subtly that Joe Schmidt might have made a mistake with that one by picking Toner back for this one. Let's go champion Dark Horse and then I think Witten Spoon we can all guess, but unless you have an outside opinion.
00:54:59
Speaker
My champion, I'm going to go with the reigning champions of this with Wales. They are bringing a strong team again. They've brought in not just the very similar team the last time, but that much more talent, I think, with some of the new guys, like the Rhysammit, like the Will Rowlands. I'm looking forward to seeing where Will fits into that squad, because we've seen what he can do. He's been a great player for Watson.
00:55:26
Speaker
And, and, and Josh Adams, obviously again, just, just see, can he continue his rate? Yeah. His try scoring rates. Nick Thompson's Nick. Tomkins is going to have something to say about that. Cause he's going to poach one of those to try or two away from Josh. I hope so. You think grand slam or you think they're going to.
00:55:44
Speaker
Lose some points on the way. I think I don't think they're gonna know I don't think they're gonna go undefeated I think they're gonna lose one, but I still think they they pull it out England is playing in Cardiff so that is Playing at France and at Wales that's That's that's a rough go for them tough ask and and again with the changes that they've made or and not made I'm I'm struggling to pick England on that on this one. Yep dark horse
00:56:13
Speaker
France. Gotta be. Because I was this close to saying that it would be France, but then you got to realize that, you know, yes, they do have that one. I feel like they have that one game where they'll fuck it up. They'll win when they shouldn't. I think they're going to be able to play a lot more cohesive than they have in the past. I just don't know that they have the horses certainly basically at the outside the front row and the forwards.
00:56:43
Speaker
i'm not loving what i'm seeing no we'll see um wooden spoon italy fiddly yeah same same you know what i'm gonna go scotland just to be just to be different be different uh champions england yeah i'm not surprised out of your face yeah dark horse gotta be france yeah i think that's gonna be wooden spoon i'm gonna say the italians because um you know yeah they're italy it's tradition
00:57:11
Speaker
poor bastards. I really want them to win something. Win a game. I hope they beat Scotland. I do. There you go. Yeah, unfortunately, I'll agree on the other two fronts with Lily and France being wooden spoon and dark horse. And I was talking about it today with actually one of my
00:57:29
Speaker
one of my youngins on the team I coach I think Ben is spot on where whales get back to back six nations championships but they aren't going to go undefeated they're not gonna win another grand slam it's it's so fucking tough to win a grand slam let alone to win two and a
00:57:47
Speaker
like you saw England you saw Ireland and England they both had chances to win back-to-back ransoms they both screwed them up yeah so it's just I could see it happen hard it is like I wouldn't bet money on it I would bet if I got a good it's got good odds I throw some money down and see if I could win but I wouldn't know no I feel you on that one
00:58:07
Speaker
okay um so let's keep it with the six nations theme here and we'll do um trm start for uh six nations all right and i believe sir ben is the is up here first so uh wales v italy
00:58:22
Speaker
So it's hard to know what kind of lineup whales will bring to this. I'm guessing they're going to use this as a training run because it's Italy. Right. And it's hard to know exactly where teams are going to be strong and weak as everybody's changed a little bit.
00:58:40
Speaker
There's still some points that are pretty consistent, too. But from a fantasy perspective, so again, this is all fantasy. Naveedee, Tipperick, Tompkins, Adams, Reece Dammit are guys who, if they're in that lineup, play them.
00:58:55
Speaker
My sits are when I when I say sit it's because you would think these are players you want To to have on your team because they're great fucking players. They don't They don't do fantasy. Right doesn't translate to fantasy points all the time. So dan bigger had a fantastic six nations last Last time out but didn't score shit for fan at fantasy. Well, no, it's true. Fantasy scoring was not good
00:59:18
Speaker
Same for Liam Williams. So those are two guys who I don't, I would not bother having on your squad, really. As much as I love both players. For Italy, you want to start Andrea Lavati, Frederica Ruzza, from Stein, Jake Peledry, Tomato, Tomato, Tomato Tomasso, Alan, and Luca Morizzi. And don't have on your team Sebastian Negri. I made that mistake last time. Yeah, same.
00:59:47
Speaker
It's a trap. It is a wicked trap. It's not worth it. It's something you'd think you'd want to have, but don't. No, no, no, definitely not. Definitely, definitely not. I got the honor of doing Ireland, Scotland, take five in the last 12 months here, it seems.
01:00:07
Speaker
Let's go, so let's start with the Irish. The easy names that you're gonna throw in there, Murray and Ryan, they were top 30 points scorers in TRM last year. You're gonna do that. Scotland were a little suspected second row last time around, so we're gonna go ahead and play the other guy too. It depends on which one it is, but either Ian Henderson or Devin Toner, I don't care.
01:00:29
Speaker
CJ Sander is another one that you're gonna throw in there Props are Scotland are terrible against props. They did bad again in the World Cup in TRM They did bad last six nations in TRM. So guess what? We're wrong with the props We're gonna assume but they're both key and Healy and tech for long Jordan lama's been tearing it up and so is Gary ringo. So play play the two of them Jacob Stockdale It's really hard to sit him The one place that the Scots have been very tough is
01:00:56
Speaker
Um, or two, there's two places, uh, fly half and hooker. So if it's Rob Herring, it doesn't matter who it is. Sit him. We're assuming it's Herring right now. Sit him Sexton. You're going to sit him too. You, you can find another option besides him. I promise you should have at least three fly-offs in your team. Pick one of the other three, the other two that you have. Um, and then Peter Armani so highly selected in this format. I don't understand. He doesn't put out points. Like every once in a blue moon, he puts out a good performance. Scotland.
01:01:26
Speaker
We're gonna go, I'm gonna go Allendale. He actually is one of the best-going profs in the last six nations, and he did pretty well at World Cup as well. Stuart McNally, a flanker playing hooker, you're playing him. You're also gonna, he's versatile. He's one of those guys that you can actually play in either position, so. He's the Harry Thacker of this competition. He is, he is. Ireland are actually also not great against second row, so you're gonna play Grant Gilchrist, who was one of the top scorers last year as well, and Johnny Gray.
01:01:51
Speaker
Jamie Ritchie is also somebody I would go with as well. Guys, you're gonna sit. Hastings, Hugh Jones, Hutch, sorry Hutch, love you buddy, but not this time. And the name that everybody's gonna go, Stuart Hogg.
01:02:06
Speaker
Yeah, he's not a big fantasy producer. No, he isn't. So in La Crunch, it's fairly easy on the England side, because most of their better players are also their bigger scores. So basically, their front row. Jamie George, Makovita Pola, Kyle Sinclair. I think, are they going to be the starting three? I'm OK with that. And I would, if they're your starting three, you're probably going to do pretty well in this competition. Ben Earl, just because he's a burner, you never know what's going to happen with him.
01:02:35
Speaker
Yeah, if he plays eight, man, right? Absolutely. Pretty much any position, though, because he's going to get the ball on the loose and. Oh, yes. Yeah, you hope. And then Johnny May tore this competition up. Yes, he did. Have him on your team. He always scores for England. Yeah, he always scores. Whatever it is, he does it.
01:02:52
Speaker
And then Thorley or Watson, whoever's that other wing, England love using their wings. Watson's injured. Well, then it's not gonna be Watson. It'll be Thorley. Go with Thorley. Sit, George Ford, Nellie Daley, because again, they don't produce fantasy points. For France, I had Cammy shut, but don't start him. He's injured. He's having a shot.
01:03:14
Speaker
Then you think that the players we've talked about already that Antoine Dupont Roman and to Mac Teddy Thomas but Tom Ramos Sit Fickew and Pinot just because England shut down center is pretty well
01:03:28
Speaker
Although Pinot might end up on the wing. He might. But I'm assuming he's not. Because again, we talked about the French availability of those back three. Yeah, Pinot might probably end up on the wing. I think he didn't score well in the last competition. I think that's why I left him off.
01:03:47
Speaker
Fair enough. All right. Um, so let's, let's do, um, start city of the week for the six nations. Um, my start. That's funny that you said, said his name to not start Liam Williams. Okay. Um, if you start, obviously this is assuming he starts for, yeah, for whales. He just doesn't score much.
01:04:07
Speaker
No, but you know what? This is the one team you probably can do it against. Eh, probably. Yeah, that's the one thing you could probably, this is the one team you could probably do it against. All right. And your sit of the week? Uh, well, I already mentioned it and the draw, if your draw dropped, it's not going to go through the floor. Sturt hog. Yeah. Um, and my, my start of the week is going to be Jamie George assuming, again, assuming he starts, um, because he's just going to put up points and points and points. Um, those hooker throws, man. Yeah. And my, my sit of the week.
01:04:40
Speaker
This seems like it's a painful one for you. You got a shit back there that you need to squeeze out? No, I'm just trying to. I guess I'm going to go with Elliot Daly. OK. Highly owned and. The people, it's a trap. People pick him up because they know the name, they know the speed. Yeah, he doesn't do much for England. No. He's not really a 15. I don't think he scores all that well at 15. No. If he's playing 15, look out. That's not a good idea at all. I agree. I agree. I agree. All right. Let's do a wee bit of pick him here.
01:05:10
Speaker
I picked up a game on Ben last week having gone away from my heart and tried to use what little brain I have in picking Quinn's. But you got more opportunity now, Ben. There's a lot of opportunity here. You actually could completely flip the script depending on how we pick these things. Exactly. And fuck it, once we get to Super Rugby, who the fuck knows? I have no idea either. So it's a crapshoot first week.
01:05:36
Speaker
Kidding me. All right. He also don't want to throw top league in there some Kobe Steelers. Oh my god TT shining arcs Whatever team are you starting tonight? Yeah, no, I just saw a clip of where he reached over an entire mall pluck the ball out
01:05:54
Speaker
Through it like like you're throwing in soccer a couple clips of that Did you see the his uh, the restart where he caught the restart and just Rumbled ran through everybody like he is a giant among boys. Yeah There's so many players playing in that in that league right now and after the the World Cups Everyone's paying attention to it because it's it's exciting Japanese rugby, right?
01:06:22
Speaker
Yeah, I still don't understand why Will Gania and Quaid Cooper are playing for a D2 team in Osaka. Well, I know why Quaid Cooper is, but... Everybody shits on him, but I still like him. He had my heart for a little bit last year and then he... And if you want to listen to an incredible interview, there's an interview with him and Isaac, I forget his name, a former NRL player that has his own company now, Media, and he's doing clothing.
01:06:50
Speaker
They have an hour and a half interview between the two of them on the guy's podcast called The Ice Project. It is so fascinating to listen to everything that Quid Cooper can finally say about Brad Thorne, about what's his face, former Australia coach, Cheka, Robbie Deans, just everything. He opens up. It is really, really good.
01:07:15
Speaker
I'll have to look that up. All right. That's that one's going in the list. Yeah. The ice project. Shout out to the ice project. I've got some I've got some driving to do coming up here. So I've written that down. So it is very good. Yeah. All right. Well, we should also tag them on Twitter when we release this. Fair enough. Let's.
01:07:34
Speaker
Let's go ahead and start with Six Nations here. Almost there, boys. Wales, Italy. Is there any doubt? Nope. Okay. The next two will be obviously far more intriguing. Ireland and Scotland at the Viva.
01:07:53
Speaker
Ireland's gonna win that. Yep Yeah, it's uh, yeah too much of a great atmosphere. No fin Russell It's gonna be no magician. No Ireland is still a tier one team Scotland is Both lost to Japan though, that's true. Yeah. Yeah, they should be a tier one. Let's be real And then look lunch on Sunday
01:08:20
Speaker
It's coming with me. Yeah surprise surprising that picks them I Will give it to England only because they have far more experience on their team right now And I'm not saying that it's it it's gonna be the only factor and I'm not saying it's possible that
01:08:37
Speaker
France beat them, it's gonna be by a hare. I think it'll be close, it'll be great to see how France has changed, brought in youth, how Sean Edwards has brought in that northern... Just smash him! Get up there, smash him! Well, Vacatower can do that. Yeah, so, but obviously I think England.
01:08:57
Speaker
Again, I think it's going to be the locks and the back rows for France that just aren't up to the task.
01:09:10
Speaker
Right. So they don't have anybody helping the other team anymore. So that's positive addition by subtraction. But that was mostly Wales, I think. So anyway, but I just, I don't see France being able to win this only because those, you know, when you look at that, there's that big a match up. There's those five guys right there. And you look at the talent difference between their, their five there and England's five there. And
01:09:38
Speaker
It's no competition and England will take advantage of that. Let's go to the Super Rugby opening weekend. So put you on the spot. Are you riding the same team this year?
01:09:53
Speaker
I had thought about making a switch, but I think I'm settling on the Chiefs. At least for another year. It's your lucky team. They actually made the playoffs this year. The last couple times you switched, you ended up with a loser. I was thinking about coming back to the Blues, because I like the changes that they made. They made some good changes. I'm going to watch a lot of them. But I think they're just going to be a side piece. I'm going to stick with the Chiefs. Fair enough. All right. Good to hear. Good to hear. A little bit of loyalty out of you. All right. So speaking of Blues and Chiefs, first game. Chiefs. Chiefs.
01:10:23
Speaker
Chefs, yeah, I think they're gonna have I think Damien back coming back. Yeah Now playing for them Yeah, I think they're gonna be in some pretty good shape plus the weather looks beautiful in Hamilton right now Happened and that was gimme gimme Over to Australia Brumby's and I Took cheese, okay
01:10:47
Speaker
I think the Reds are, maybe this is what, his third year involved. Brad Thorne. I think it seems like he's kind of, he's gone with youth for the captain. They got a couple decent players in there. James O'Connor, other than- Spade's gone across the way there. Yeah, Spade's there. James O'Connor, other than him posting on his story that chemtrails started the Australian bushfires, which was then quickly deleted.
01:11:16
Speaker
fucking idiot yep you smoking the grass over there buddy I think Reds are gonna be my question is I saw a story that was basically wondering if James O'Connor was gonna move to fly half which played it before looking at the rest of the Reds team that would actually make a lot of sense
01:11:35
Speaker
So I'm, I'm, I'm hoping that that happens. Well, don't they have Isaac Lucas or whatever the guy's name is? Rada? No, Isaac Rada is the lock. Isaac Lucas is, um, he sometimes plays either nine or 10. Uh, and he just has been around with, uh, the Reds for a long time. So we'll see. He's one of the younger guys that's probably from around Queensland, Brisbane area. That's, it's, you know, on his way up.
01:12:01
Speaker
Yeah, I I would I love the stuff that's coming through for the Reds backline, especially. So for me, I know they're going to be away from home, but I'd like to see them. I think it's going to be the Reds. Yeah, I have the Reds in this, too. The Brumby's just they had some play. They have held the front row. That's
South African Rugby Team Changes
01:12:22
Speaker
a fact. That is a fact. But what else do they have? That's going to be the big question. I mean, they've courage, Ronnie, but who's getting the ball?
01:12:30
Speaker
I mean, thankfully, he's playing 12 and 13. Right. So if they have current running banks, I just don't know how they're getting the ball. Yeah, that's going to be the question. And to the third derby in a row here, Sharks Bulls over to South Africa. Both teams massively changed over big time with so many big names on the departure for many reasons. But there's two names that are still on one of the teams, Lucaño and Mack, my pimpy.
01:13:00
Speaker
Yeah, and these guys had the South African teams had a warm-up game a couple weekends ago with their superhero jerseys I forget the results of those but I Think that yeah, it looked like there's a lot of young talent on on all these teams Yeah, it seems like that's what's coming through there. So yeah sure. Yeah, I'll go for the sharks as well. Mm-hmm
01:13:24
Speaker
Yeah, I I want to actually make up some ground here, but I don't want to lose any ground I feel like that might be a place to I think this is a this is a little bit of a trap for that So yeah, I'm gonna stick. I'm gonna go with the with you guys Okay fun rules rebels in Japan.
Super Rugby Team Predictions
01:13:43
Speaker
It's gonna be rebels. Yeah, it's Gonna stack their team to move is gonna be playing ten this this weekend. Yeah, I
01:13:49
Speaker
You know they got Caleb Petty Yes, they got Hodge It's gonna be that's gonna be a fun. You know Billy Meeks some English. Yeah, Tom English is great Yeah, so we'll see yeah, I'd like to see the rebels maybe hopefully you know
01:14:05
Speaker
Sir something up finally finally You look at the Sun Wolves and they have turned over all but three players from their team last year, right? So it's hard to it's hard to really back a team that has zero content and this is their last year and super rugby Potentially it potentially potentially but likely yeah, it's likely it sounds like
01:14:22
Speaker
the idea might have been to get all the Japanese players into the top leagues. Yeah. We get a TV deal out of it. Yeah. I don't hate the idea. Um, it's unfortunate to see them fade from super rugby, but I don't hate the idea as a, as a contingency plan. Yeah. So we'll see how it goes. But yeah, rebels, rebels all the way here. Uh, let's go to the Sunday crusaders and war ties, defending champions, probably get off to a pretty fucking good start in New Zealand, in Christchurch. Yeah. The ties look good though, as well. Um, Mac Mason's going to be playing 10 this year for them.
01:14:52
Speaker
Yeah, Curly Beale just got engaged. Good for him. What? Poor woman wanted to date that face. He's got a nice wallet. That might be true. That's good looking. Yeah, I suppose that can be good looking sometimes. Oh, man. Stormers and hurricanes. Hurricanes traveling away. I really want to pick my hurricanes. But no, I think Stormers are going to take it. I think this still has a good amount of players from the World Cup spot, right? It does. That's the problem.
01:15:22
Speaker
They're going to be riding that high. I think hopefully, I hope that South Africa won that the attendance is going to boost at these rugby games. If anything, maybe they've done something with the pricing of their tickets and allow a lot of more people to get in. I hope so. I think Stormer is going to have this one. You've got to figure economics. If you can lower the ticket price but you end up selling more,
01:15:47
Speaker
You know, it's only a net positive, just an idea.
01:15:54
Speaker
And I'm not going against Cia Calisi. Yeah, that was my other thought, too. I was like, all right, I won't go against Cia. I may have already pissed him off by not putting him on my team before. And then over to Argentina, the runners-up from last year, the finalists from last year. That was a soft runner-up, though. It wasn't the prettiest runner-up, that's for sure. We talked about it at the end of the year last year. That was not the final that we were hoping for. But you know what? The law of average just caught up to that. It did.
01:16:24
Speaker
Um lines have had a lot turnover too. That's the that's the other thing that's in my brain Um, they still have lost marks. Yes, that's a big that's a big log of smith. Yes another big wash Yeah, both playing in the top league and he's had huge impacts recently surprise
01:16:41
Speaker
Yep, so it's tough. That's that's a lot to lose. Yeah, we mentioned him last week. I'm sorry Yeah, you know what also like Argentinian rugby just kind of a disappointment this past World Cup so but yet their super rugby team is fantastic and
01:17:02
Speaker
Yeah, so we'll see we shall see um Yeah, so as we wrap it up, uh, make sure that you are Number one, um, we just talked about a little super ruby back the trm Uh fundraiser here for them to be able to run their their comp their super ruby competition. Uh
Support and Contact Information
01:17:22
Speaker
Ben, I love their other competitions. You will not hate them. It's a fairly complex competition compared to the other ones. So let's get on that. These are awesome dudes on top of that. So do that. And hey, if everything goes through, you get a free upgrade. If you also want to donate the required amount.
01:17:43
Speaker
Right. And as always, it's a six pack. So, you know, you can, you can afford to give up a little bit of a beer for the entertainment value that you get from these guys. Yep. And then fancy rugby podcast at gmail.com hit Ben or I up on Twitter. I will put start set up this week. Ask TFRY will be in effect for this weekend. We'll be making sure that we check that hashtag.
01:18:07
Speaker
We had one slip-on of the radar a few weeks ago my fault But last week we had a couple good ones. So that was that was that was good I'm sure I hope it helped other people buddy nice to have you guys a Pleasure, it's great to finally feel like we're getting back into rugby again. Yeah, even though you guys do this every week for me for you Yeah, so as always thanks for James when he joins us and is in graces us with this present
01:18:33
Speaker
We'll be back next week after the Six Nations. Enjoy Le Crunch, and we'll talk to you guys next week. Have a good one.