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Episode 16; 6 Nations Preview
28 Plays7 years ago
Man what a fun episode this was. We had a third man in (James) and had quite a few laughs. Played a little game of, Who Would You Rather Have. Talked about what type wooden spoon gets handed out to the likely recipients of it this year and oh, right, we did talk about rugby too. We talk about all 6 teams, some of the stories that have come out about them, their rosters and what the possibilities are for each in this competition. We also give a little love to the ladies and chat a bit of the Women's 6 Nations as well.
Don't forget to join our 6 Nations Fantasy League on The Rugby Magazine website. Look for Fantasy Rugby Yanks and click join, no password required. We talk about some of the strategies to apply with this particular fantasy competition and format.
Follow us on Twitter, Jarrod- jdyke8man & Ben- admrablsnackbar
Email fantasyrugbypodcast@gmail.com with questions, feedback or just to say what's up.
Music by Royalty Free Music provided by http://www.soundotcom.com
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Transcript
Introduction of Hosts and Guest
00:00:08
Speaker
Hey, everybody, what's up? It's the fantasy where beings podcast and apparently I can't talk today. I'm Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glauser. We have a special guest with us here today. Say hi, buddy. How's it going, guys? I'm James Herrick. James is a another teammate I've been in mind. He's had the misfortune of meeting us a couple of years ago and we haven't been able to shake him since. So no, especially plenty of nights of drinking. Well, that'll do it. That'll help.
00:00:34
Speaker
That'll help, definitely help. Well, speaking of which... Oh yeah, why don't we do that early? Just because. Oh, I jumped the gun. That's all right. You didn't know. You didn't know any better. That's on us for not opening our faces. Yeah. We do it enough. Might as well have just told you that. Well, those Scrum Habs, you know, they're always eager to get the beer in them quickest.
00:00:56
Speaker
Yeah, James is not like bearing myself. He he runs with the backs. I don't know. I don't know why we like him. But, you know, I would like to just squash that beef. We're all rugby players. We can we can all just be happy to be on the field together. No, I don't know. Backs versus forwards. I raise my my my second first beer to that.
00:01:17
Speaker
There you go.
Podcast Availability and Listener Engagement
00:01:18
Speaker
All right. So don't forget everybody. You can find us on iTunes. You can find us on Google Play. You can find us on Spotify. So make sure you check us out there. Give us a rating. Send an email to the show if you want. We'll give the email in the show notes. What are we going to do? Oh, yeah. Don't forget you can join Ben and I in our Six Nations Fantasy League on the rugby mag.
00:01:35
Speaker
It's just the fancy rugby yanks right now. We have three guys in there because our friend from the UK has joined. Oh, that's cool Yeah, I'll join for sure So we're we're on that. So if you want to play along with us, that's cool You'll also be able to chronicle Ben and I's
00:01:51
Speaker
Season after our draft this past Saturday in Super Rugby, right? Which is an oddly listen to pod. Yeah, so that was high listen rate I don't know it also we also marked a couple of new territories with that one too. It's true So that's probably got something to do with it
00:02:08
Speaker
Peter, what do these American idiots have to say about the sport we love so much and have played way longer? You're right, you probably have. Doesn't mean we don't know anything. Right. Even though we are Americans and American rugby is what it is. Right.
00:02:22
Speaker
James you're not you're not full. You're not full red American. No, I I I deceive a lot of people with this accent but grew up in the UK have a British passport Get enough drinks in me. I could sound pretty English. Yes, I've experienced this goes down well with the birds Yeah that I believe I can get away with it. Sometimes people people are silly like that, you know. Yeah. All right so couple
00:02:50
Speaker
couple stories even as of recently that have come out. England squad has dropped to 25. Eddie Jones dropped him. Brad Shields is not going to make this match, but Farrell should. That's a bummer about Brad Shields. I think, especially with him coming into, well, he was thrown into the England scene pretty much
00:03:12
Speaker
The second he found out he could qualify for England while he was over in New Zealand and he was like, you know what? I'm gonna I'm jumping ship which not a lot of people do in New Zealand Although there's a you know, the talent pool is right. Well, and then Hanson came out and said oh I were to pick them this tour. It's like yeah, okay Sure Don't believe you watch that nose grow, baby
00:03:32
Speaker
Yeah, I'm just I'm disappointed because I
Eddie Jones' Selection Decisions
00:03:35
Speaker
feel like the wasps are misusing him because he's certainly not the impact player that that he was over in in super rugby. No, so I'm hoping that I was hoping to see Eddie Jones see if he could use him a little bit more playing to his strengths. Right. Well, I mean, he was first choice blindside for the whole November for the whole autumn series. So you can't
00:03:58
Speaker
I mean, it's not bad. No, it's not bad. It's a it's a good start for him. Obviously. I just wanted to trash wasps for a minute. Well, yeah, me too The the recent Jack Clifford got sent home as well head injury. Yeah possible, you know
00:04:15
Speaker
They said no HIA, which I don't understand why you send somebody home if you're not going to give them a head injury assessment for a head injury. What happened? I see. I didn't hear much about that. I think there clearly is a sort of changing of the guard in England. You can look first originally with Danny Care not selected, which I was a little bit disappointed about.
00:04:35
Speaker
So the guy i think he's he's obviously in england's number two scrum half or is eddie jones likes to put it ben young's is the starter dan daddy care is the finisher right uh there's that new guy dan robsen coming in who's who's who's to come off an injury i think yeah yeah yeah he had a torn acl or something like that yeah yeah
00:04:53
Speaker
So there's that another Dan leaving is Dan Cole. We haven't didn't see him in the. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I got the list right here. He just got dropped. He did. Which is, you know, I think he's he he might be twenty nine or thirty. He looks like he's 40. He looks really effing old. He's a proper prop. Yeah. Yeah. That's that's a fact. That's a way to look at Billy Vunipola. How old is he? And he looks like he's 40. He looks old as hell. Yeah. Like good lord. That man looks grizzled like a freaking
00:05:21
Speaker
Hard hard veteran of 50 years old and he's you know, what was he 30 maybe? Yeah He's like he's like he's against 20. It's yeah It's interesting. It's good to see Owen Farrell back But I thought you know with those
Wales' Rugby Strategy and Key Players
00:05:34
Speaker
injury with that injury concern that Danny Sipriani would finally get another recall but
00:05:40
Speaker
You know Sometimes I feel bad for him. Sometimes I don't the guy can't seem to he can he'll play well and then he'll go off and do something stupid We call it good sips and bad sips. Yeah, it's like he'll be amazing and then all of a sudden out of nowhere. It's like Who the fuck is wearing your jersey? Yeah, they just did something so he just still didn't surprise
Ireland Squad Changes and Injuries
00:06:02
Speaker
Jersey and is impersonating him
00:06:04
Speaker
or driving drunk. That, too. Yeah. So that and then Mike Brown, who grew his hair back and clearly has fooled. Yeah. Eddie Jones. No, no, no. I'm Mike Brown's twin brother, Jeff.
00:06:20
Speaker
And it's gotten back into the squad. So, yeah, I mean, I don't know. I'm I'm partial to England. I'm an England fan. Right. Well, UK passport will do that. Yeah. I've you know, maybe that's what goody needs to do. Yeah. I feel his hair out. The guy the guy needs something. He because he he he deserves a chance. Yeah. No, I. Ben and I talked about it.
Predictions: Ireland vs England
00:06:42
Speaker
Probably the most surprising selection was probably the photo.
00:06:46
Speaker
Yeah, the backs really because you know Robson didn't has looked pretty good for the loss. So I can't really There was a plethora of scum halves that Eddie Jones could have picked cares probably the best number two. Yeah, but Devoto was definitely a big shock for me because and I thought that should have been good and you know Yeah, but whatever I but he devote has been sent home along along with the rest of that that truth that I
00:07:12
Speaker
Ten list of ten guys I'll just read them out real quick Dan Cole Ben Earl Ben Moon Brad Shields, obviously Jack Singleton, Joe Kakanasinghe, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph, Ben Teo, Ollie Thorley. Teo also has an injury I believe that's part of the reason. Yeah, so it looks like Manu Tulagi. I wonder what part of England he's from.
00:07:36
Speaker
Yeah, he he is is looks like he's in line for his first six nation start in six years Let's say that six times fast, right? Which is I think it's exciting the guys played a lot for England. He went on an Alliance tour He's a battering ram. Yeah. Yeah, but he's missed out on a lot of rugby over the years So it's you know against a very good Ireland team. I
00:07:59
Speaker
They're gonna want I must well be interesting to see him in bun yaki go toe-to-toe Yeah, those two I when I was in Ireland last year I asked where we're in Ireland Bundy hackies from and they said oh, oh the part of Ireland where you get son So help partners Henry Slade that'll be
00:08:23
Speaker
Everybody, so we talked about, had a conversation about it. I think Slade is in great form and he has quietly earned his spot in that team for sure. Yeah. You know, he doesn't, he is not a flash in the pan, doesn't do anything flash either, but very consistent, very reliable. I'm very interested to see how that, that 10, 12, 13,
00:08:45
Speaker
Plays out because they that there are so many options That that you could go with and I saw that that trending a lot on twitter today as far as okay Do you plays there? Do you put phas at 12 with too lucky at 13? Do you bring too lucky into 12 and play something like slayed or
Fantasy Rugby Team Selections
00:09:02
Speaker
even maybe daily at 13, right? With with barrel at 10. Well, if the the the thought is if daily plays 13, then he'll probably be
00:09:11
Speaker
Making way for Mike Brown at fullback. So not that I think that's bad, but I think that's great. I Don't know what I really don't know what Mike Brown did in terms of extreme nonsense To lose his place really. Yeah, I mean, I think this is a Jones just getting cute and sometimes he gets cute He's a he's a complex character Eddie Jones smelling himself a little bit. Yeah. Well with the knoll thing I think that's pretty what was where did that come from? I don't know
00:09:41
Speaker
And then Austin Healy being oh, I was I predicted the future Austin Healy. Can I if I ever meet you? I'm gonna shake your hand because you're You know, you're a well-known player. I'm gonna slap you. Yeah He comes out with some outrageous statements. Yeah, he does I know Eddie Eddie Jones has been saying some interesting things. He wasn't afraid to say that he's Spied in the past something like that something like that was it leads
00:10:06
Speaker
That sounds like the Patriots. Well, see, Leeds and I got nabbed for... Yeah, yeah, yeah, recently in the championship or something. Yeah. Yeah. So we'll see what kind of recussions come of that. And I'm sure that's going to lead to everybody in sports. That pendulum swinging one way and overreacting to it. And then, whoops, it'll come back to the middle eventually. But there'll be some sort of overreaction as we well know.
00:10:30
Speaker
So let's, well, might as well talk about the opponent of England. Oh yeah, there's five other teams, right? Yeah, there is. We favor the English on this podcast only because Ben and I both play Premiership fantasy and Champions Cup fantasy. We're both Saracens fans as well. So that's going to kind of lean us towards England a lot and getting into the English. It's the players we're most familiar with. So it just makes it that much more natural to pay the most attention to them. Right. Plus they're exciting to watch. Come on, guys.
00:11:03
Speaker
Well according to John Mitchell Ireland are boring or we'll put and that's a good point that was that that was that headline this week is that Ireland's gonna try and bore England because you know you have Johnny Sexton who's a tactical playmaker and a great kicker and then also Yeah, Connor Murray can kick which sometimes whenever I see him lining up on the team I'm always shocked but he can
00:11:28
Speaker
He puts him away. Yeah, and then he's his his box kicking is up there with the best in the world too. So Ireland really have come on as far as
00:11:37
Speaker
And we talked about it before, but but more creative attack in recent years. Yeah, which is why I think that's really what's put them over the edge as far as they're a top tier team to becoming the the number one threat. That's right. The all blacks, the all blacks. That's why they are, you know, are winning against England more often than not recently, it seems. It's because they're they're they're not just boring teams to death. They can. They still can. They did. They absolutely can. Yeah, they smashed the hell out of New Zealand, but it did the job.
00:12:05
Speaker
Right, so they can win in multiple ways now, and that's going to give them the edge, I think.
00:12:11
Speaker
Well, they have a Jacob Stockdale, right? He's, he's on fire. He's, you know, that kid is incredible. Yeah. Yeah. My God. Champions Cup. He was in, he was in good form. He's still in good form for his club. Obviously last year in this competition, he lit, he lit the whole thing on fire by scoring. And I think he scored in every game. Yeah. I, I don't know the stat, but I remember watching him score a try against Italy and Chicago this fall. Yeah. Where he, I think chipped over the winger and he's good at that. He ran past the whole team. He's shown he's pretty good at that. So.
00:12:41
Speaker
Yeah, I wonder, they're, they're exciting there. You know, yeah, I remember the days of, you know, would be a nightmare to go to Dublin. It still is the Aviva stadiums, one hell of a place to be. Yeah. But you look back at that, you know, there's a long time ago, well, not that long time ago, but I think, you know, mid 2000s or whatever England went to Cork Park.
00:13:01
Speaker
which is a traditionally a Gaelic sport. Yeah, you know, they hate English sports there. And in Cork Park, the history is that, you know, in the 19 early 1900s, the English army came in during a live Gaelic football or hurling match and they ended up killing
00:13:19
Speaker
Including a couple players during a yeah, so there's there's all this history in Cork Park So Ireland's always been at Dublin especially has been just a very very tough place to go and play for the English Because they really just they don't like them. Well England's perspective though. I'm really glad for Ireland's policy about you have to play in Ireland to be on the national squad because I mean Stockdale's Dangerous enough they added Zebo to that mix too. Yeah
00:13:46
Speaker
Yeah, exactly the form he has in the top 14. Yeah He's he's lighting the world on fire for us in big time So I mean we enjoyed watching him in the tape. It's a couple last couple weeks Yeah of the of the pool play and yeah, I think he potted three or four and to get into games I'm just seriously disappointed that he's not in this just for the spectacle of it
00:14:08
Speaker
Right, yep. I understand Island's policy because they want to keep as many players around as possible, but you're probably not wrong in the fact that Zebo probably should be in the squad. It doesn't say that he can't be picked, it's just that you're very unlikely to be picked when you don't play for one of the four provinces. It happened to Ian Madigan, he basically got outcast when he moved out of
00:14:30
Speaker
when he moved away from Munster. Hasn't seen the Irish team since. It plays for Bristol now, but you know. I think Joey Carver is better than him. I do. I don't disagree. You know, I think there's been a pool of talent that's come through and Carver is one of them that is just, you know, Madigan's good and all, but he's, I think ever since then.
00:14:48
Speaker
They caught him crying at the end of, you know, that iconic video of him clapping at the end of one of the, I think it was a World Cup match from last year. I think they wanted to distance themselves, but something wrong with showing a little emotion. What's wrong with you? You're not supposed to show emotion. You're Irish. Except for anger. Yeah, that's the only emotion they're allowed to show, maybe.
00:15:13
Speaker
There was a reason that an injury to the Irish one of the forwards and I'm I'm blanking I Didn't happen to see it. Yeah, I know that Or at least it was a race against the clock. I know it's Sean O'Brien might still be out
00:15:28
Speaker
Yeah, but I don't think that's as big of an injury. Peter Mahoney, is he still? He should be okay. He should be okay. I'm excited to see, wait, Tig for long? Yep. That's always tough to say. Tig. He is a monster in the scrub. Yes he is. You know, watching that guy play is just, it's scary. I wouldn't want to ever- Oh, Henderson. Yeah, Ian Henderson.
00:15:52
Speaker
Yeah. He's a, he'll be a big, he'll be a big mess if they don't have him. Right. That's right. I do remember that. Cause he didn't play, he came, yeah, he came off the last Ulster game injured. Right. That's what it was. Yeah. He got hurt in the champion's cup. Yep. That was a, that's a big scare. I mean, they do have tight burn, uh, Jack Ryan.
00:16:11
Speaker
Tony, Tony's not anybody I write whole about, but he's not bad either. So his experience. Yeah. Well, they talked about it. He runs the lineup pretty well, apparently. So if you don't have that or anybody that can do that, then you have to rely on him to do it. Right. And he's solid on defense. So it's not as though you're.
00:16:29
Speaker
He's like 610. He better be solid. Exactly. So it's not he can fit into what Ireland's trying to do. He's not going to be a he's not going to be everything that Henderson is. He won't be a world leader. He has to fill in. But but he'll be he'll be fine. I'd be I'd be interested to see like a Ryan Henderson second row pairing. I don't think Schmidt will do it. But if it were to happen, I'd be interested to see it. Because I think as far as pure players go, they're probably the two best locks that Ireland have.
00:16:58
Speaker
and I really enjoy watching the both of them because they both work their socks off, take a ton of carries, and make a boatload of tackles. What else are you going to ask from a Type 5 player? Really? Especially as effective as they are with those, they don't just make soap tackles like our buddy, George Cruz, has even come out to admit that he kind of makes soap tackles, but that's okay.
00:17:26
Speaker
But they don't they they come out and they stick it they stick it right to you and put you down So it's I I like watching the two of those guys play for sure. But to james's point. I want to get back to the front row because Yeah, why would I be excited about talking about a row? I'm glad i'm sitting down here. Otherwise, it would be pretty evan. How excited I am to talk about it
00:17:45
Speaker
But I really like Ireland's front row. For long it's great. Healy, McGrath, and then you have their hookers. And even Sean Cronin coming up too. I tell you, it's interesting how the game has evolved. Your front row will completely change out by at least the 60th minute, if not maybe a bit earlier.
00:18:10
Speaker
Unless your name's Michael Vodafola. Yeah. Yeah, there's very few who can do more than that. You know, so it's it's to have a complete, you know, replacement of front row that can essentially are as good as the starters is, you know, I think it's key how much they, you know, the game has changed. I think, you know, not too long ago, you'd have guys that would either the play the full match.
00:18:33
Speaker
And just you kind of just deal with them getting tired and maybe change out a couple guys here a couple locks here and there But now it's you know that whole scrum almost changes by the time you get to that five Forward split on your bench most times so and if not sometimes you go six You know and just deal with like a half-back replacement and some random back that you know is versatile That's basically what a lot of guys will do especially a club level
00:18:58
Speaker
Yeah. But this is looking like, you know, people like Kena Healy, Rory Best, Devin Donner, some of the elder statesmen, I suppose. This is probably their last six nations, maybe. Maybe. Certainly. It's a World Cup year. You're either thinking about retirement after World Cup, or you're thinking about shopping yourself out to France.
00:19:19
Speaker
Yeah, where the money is. Or going for a stint in Japan because, you know, why not experience that wild and wacky culture? Well, apparently their rugby is like less demanding in terms of how many matches they play a year. So I guess the training's brutal, though. That's what I've heard. It's quick. I mean, just they zip that ball around. Yeah.
00:19:41
Speaker
but you know if I mean look at the guys that in not to get off topic but some of the you know, Dan Carter and Adam Ashley Cooper have gone there and played and and Matt ghetto several seasons of Japanese rugby and And are still fighting fit. Yeah Adam Ashley Cooper just signed a new deal with the war does okay, so I heard you might but I know maybe it's maybe there's something in the water and
00:20:03
Speaker
Yeah, could be well wolf. I guess we'll find out in in september When everybody when everybody kicks off. Yeah, but I was just about to ask that same question though. Is this rory best's last? I'd say it's besties last Yeah, I think it's gotta be I can't I can't remember what a war horse you just can't I mean He's not what he used to be anyway, which is I mean, he's 36. What are you gonna do? Yeah, but he's just not
00:20:32
Speaker
I can't imagine that the toll is taking on his body makes it worth it for him. He could do it. He could still do it for another two years and still be selected. Maybe not be the starter, maybe not be captain, what have you. But he could still be on the squad, but I don't know that I don't know that he's that kind of guy that's going to just stay out there because he can.
00:20:52
Speaker
He's a he's a you know, he's a he's a figure at ease. He's a leader, someone. I think, you know, if you're on that Irish team, you want to you follow him to the ends of the earth. So a lot of those guys would do, you know, and I don't know. And I probably I would. He seems like it's just someone about him. So it'll be it'll be very interesting to see. I think going into the Six Nations, Ireland's Ireland's clearly the favorite.
00:21:18
Speaker
But I think the way in which so many other countries are competing right now, especially obviously England but Scotland It's gonna be Scotland who's also saying they're they're they're trying to win the whole thing, right? I think it's a little premature for them But uh, maybe but you know, it's there should be a time for Scotland to win this whole thing I think there I think there will be and we'll get why don't we get into the Scottish team now? I
00:21:44
Speaker
is depth and issue for Scotland right now, because they just had a couple of injuries get hit. They called in an academy player, Youngen, to back build the squad. I'm sure they'll eventually cut him, much the same Eddie Jones did with his players that he just recently cut. But I mean, they're first line players. It's really hard to beat him. It really is. But it's the guys that come in at the end of the game, you know, you're talking about making seven, eight subs.
00:22:15
Speaker
Does the how big is the drop off with the Scottish team? Is it? Not is it shallow enough that they can hold on to matches at the wedding and do they have enough quality to maybe come back if they need if they need to nick a pen or a try late to win it? I I mean, we obviously we love hog and Finn Russell does things with the ball that don't belong in the game, but somehow he still makes them work. Yeah, but
00:22:42
Speaker
The question is I think you know what they have Italy is their first first game. I think that Friday Yeah, whatever it is. I think I Think they're lucky with that probably you know because they they could put a few tries on board and then probably take the Put off the pedal just a bit of a training match. Yeah work on their systems work on their
00:23:06
Speaker
Exactly. So well, you know, that's a that's a really good question. I don't to be honest, I'm not don't know enough about the Scottish team except for the big names. You know, I want to see them succeed. I think Connor O'Shea is he's interesting. No, is that Connor she's not their coach, is he? No, that's Italy's coach. That's right. You're thinking Townsend.
00:23:27
Speaker
That's a Gregor Townsend. I think he's also a good coach too. So I, I don't know, Scotland have a, they have a good chance. I think they, I don't know their schedule, but I think they could definitely take the poor old French. They are, they are going to have to go to Twickenham. That'll be the litmus test probably to see.
00:23:48
Speaker
at least where they are maybe then it's not going to be like what wins them the tournament it'll be a it'll be a litmus test to see where they are and what they might do in japan in the fall yeah i think that's what really i think scotland should and i think they are focused on on the world cup
00:24:05
Speaker
more so that like this should be like kind of a training run. Well, and I thought I think they should have been the semifinal this lot in 2015. I think they got a lot of say they got robbed. They got hosed. I really I look at them because I scratched my head and I was a little bit I was a little bit under the influence. And I still said that call was bad. I was just like, wait a minute. That didn't look right. No. How'd that happen?
00:24:26
Speaker
But I think for Scotland and going back to what we were just talking about, and I'm not saying this just because again, I'm a front row, but focus on that. But when it becomes, when it goes late into the match against an England or an Ireland and you've got, you know, fresh leg lions out there for the other squad.
00:24:50
Speaker
Against your guys who are I mean, they're not bad. They're just not that quality right? Yeah, that's gonna that's gonna Show and that's gonna be what that's gonna be the difference. I I firmly believe I hope it happens now, but I mean probably believe that I could see that like even if it's a close match I
00:25:08
Speaker
They just give up a scrum penalty in a bad situation because ultimately the you know, the backups for those other squads. Yeah. Are going to be outclassing them. Yeah. I don't think we do the Scottish front row justice without talking about WP now and the through the legs pass he had in his last Champions Cup match for Edinburgh.
00:25:27
Speaker
I was like that was not advised but yeah coming from a prop. It looks pretty fun. I Mean, it's modern-day rugby now these guys, but you know back in the day props were just yeah to give them the ball and smash up, you know Right up the up the guts There's no excuse for a prop to to have dick hands And I know they do write that down for you at home, but I
00:25:55
Speaker
You know, they're on the field too. They should be able to handle the ball. It doesn't take that much work. Just Don't throw it around with your friends. Don't kick it. That's the problem props like to get training and it's like stop doing that that you never get you shouldn't do that You do it in training just to have a laugh. Don't do it in the game You dope right now at this point You should be able to catch and pass and all that because that's where the value is We've talked a couple weeks ago about them devaluing
00:26:23
Speaker
the set pieces in certain ways as far as, you know, being pure power and all that more towards technique and speed getting in and out of the set pieces and into open play. So props that can't do stuff like that shouldn't be playing at that level. No, probably not. You know, you have like, you know, Adam Jones who love him as a scrumager, love him as as a coach now. Yeah, I think he can do great things. But him saying, yeah, don't give me the ball. I want to rock 40 times a game. Yeah.
00:26:52
Speaker
That's out of a skull. That's why I got the ball. That's why I played rugby. I wanted the damn ball Let's be real about this Any big guy we've had teammates even at our level who have probably been decent front-row players Outside of the fact that they cannot catch the ball. Yeah, and so it's just you can't play Yeah, you get benched
00:27:15
Speaker
I still think, you know, I'd take Tommy Seymour and Stuart Hoggs for both two players that are, and looking ahead to fantasy, I suppose, the guys having on the, on your fantasy team, because going up against Italy, poor guys, I, you know, they're gonna put a couple tries past them for sure. Maybe, you know, one each. Definitely. I mean, just the speed. Stuart Hogg is a magician. Yeah, he's an absolute magician. Among other things. You know, yeah, when I remember when he was first
00:27:43
Speaker
brought into the 2013 Lions squad. You always have your reserves over the Scottish players because, you know, they've never been as good as the other home countries. Right. But he's evolved into, I'd say, you know, one of the best pullbacks in the world. Yeah. Yeah. Hard to argue that.
00:28:04
Speaker
Let's um, let's start talking fantasy. What's that? I also have to mention uh, johnny gray as just his tackle machine tackle machine Yeah, and that's gonna get you a shit ton of tackle rinse repeat tackle rinse repeat. Yeah, and we'll get to that Yeah, we'll get to our squads later. Um, let's talk about Scotland's first opponents, Italy Well, it's it's hard to it's hard to expound on them, but I do have one thought and that's Benetton is Second in their conference in the pro 14
00:28:34
Speaker
And I got to believe that that's got something to do with the fact that they only have three or four players playing outside of Italy that have been picked for the squad. I'm trying to think of the ones that have been picked. Parise is definitely one. Campagnaro is in the team as well. And I think there's one more and I can't remember who it is off the top of my head.
00:28:55
Speaker
Peladri probably would be in the squad if he was healthy. He absolutely would be in the squad if he was healthy. Maybe that's the third or fourth I'm thinking of, but Ian McKinley, probably their de facto starting fly half at this point. The I-Man. Yeah. I don't know what else to call him, which is terrible, but it's impressive. He rocks the Rex specs, baby. Yeah.
00:29:18
Speaker
People towered him for Sexton-level play when he was first coming up in Ireland, but obviously the eye injury was just something that just takes it. It's going to take its toll. There's no question about it. There's nothing to be done about it, unfortunately.
00:29:32
Speaker
But he won't, he'll start over Tomasso Allen, who I think is a decent player. I do too as well. For homegrown Italian rugby. Well, I mean, you gotta think Connor O'Shea might have a little bit of, might have a little favoritism towards one of his countrymen. Yeah, yeah. You know, but. He's not from we doubling in Rome or something. Something like that.
00:29:54
Speaker
but yeah, I Give the kid you got to give the kid credit and either case like yeah, he's got venison playing pretty good stuff and he's got Italy not being They'll probably still be the wooden spoons be real about this, but they're no longer the conversation piece of
00:30:11
Speaker
Georgia should be in the I know and they and that was good because Italy proved everyone wrong this this fall right where they beat when you beat Georgia Yeah, and that would that needed to be done that I hope that lays that to rest because Georgia obviously they're an up-and-coming rugby nation
00:30:27
Speaker
They play good stuff, but not for the same level. They all look alike. Big, scary-looking, balding gentlemen. But, um, potato-head-looking men. But, uh, Italy, I mean, you know, there's only so much you can take so I'm glad that they laid that to rest.
00:30:48
Speaker
I think I heard somewhere read somewhere that this will be Sergio Parisa's last six nations And I think obviously he's gonna play as well like 40. I think how long is that guy played for me? He's 35 35 35. I don't believe that change is the hair in his head
00:31:08
Speaker
He's his hair's disappeared, but he is literally the man has not looked like he's aged and I feel like he was you know went to like the 2003 World Cup, which I'm sure he didn't but No, he definitely didn't my math is probably That's okay. Yeah, he definitely was at the o7 World Cup. Yeah, he definitely was
00:31:29
Speaker
Um, but the fact that this guy at number eight is still dominating that position. I mean, it's not somebody that you blink when somebody says, Oh, Sergio prez has been picked. You don't go, Oh, why he'd still like, Oh yeah. De facto Italian captain. Yeah. Yeah. Even if he's not, he definitely is somebody that they all look to and say, Oh, uh, Sergio, what do we do? Oh, okay. We go that way. Cool. I follow you.
00:31:54
Speaker
It's like when the two Burgomasko brothers, if you remember them, those guys played for years. Yes, they did. And that was just shocking with their just locks of ridiculous hair. And then I think at one point, one of the two played for that pro rugby that lasted for the one season pro rugby that was here, Sacramento or something like that. That was a joke. Yeah. Tell me about it.
00:32:19
Speaker
But if you look, if you look at Italy's squad, they only have like a handful of players who are over 30. There might be there might be six or seven. OK, so overall, so Connor O'Shea is thinking more towards the fall than he is right now. But, you know, I'm also thinking that they're.
00:32:36
Speaker
Not only is it good that they're still in this competition, but I'm hoping that this bodes well for the future for them. As far as they've got a lot of guys who are young, they're 25, 26, who could play for another six or seven years if they hold true and again, don't get replaced. But if this works out for them, then not only could they remain in Six Nations, but maybe they're building towards something that's more competitive in Six Nations again.
00:33:06
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, it's a good thing, and we've talked about this, it's a good thing when certain teams like Scotland and England are doing well in rugby in general, because if they're on the low end, and there's such a huge gap between them and the rest, you know, rugby is just not as enjoyable. It really isn't, you know, to just see teams like Scotland and Italy for years get absolutely thrashed was just
00:33:31
Speaker
It was not a fun thing to watch I mean if it's your team of course you enjoy watching try after try getting run over even that gets boring after a little while so It's a good thing to see Italy at least by giving a team a fight making teams earn it
00:33:44
Speaker
I hope they, I think they have a good chance against France. Um, there's, you know, and that would be, that'd be pretty exciting to see. I mean, it would be devastating for French rugby because yet another loss heaped on them. So many people ate the French. I don't mind them. You know, they're, they're, they're good people. I, you know,
00:34:06
Speaker
Good people is okay, but some of their rugby is just annoying as hell. Listen, I went to France on a school trip when I was like 13 and I like was exposed to like everything bad. So like, you know, dirty French porn that was sold in every store.
00:34:25
Speaker
Like we could buy like little pocket knives there on the school trips And firecrackers were sold basically like you could buy me grocery stores and I was just like Remembering it at that age. I was like France is incredible
00:34:42
Speaker
like this is the best place on earth I'd never want to leave the women could shave their armpits but that we need to take a trip to France
00:34:56
Speaker
No, I have nothing against French. I do love French people. It's more that rugby-wise they piss me off. So the referees piss me off a lot. Jared and I have talked about that a lot. We've had extensive conversations about that.
00:35:16
Speaker
It's more of a plot. Oh, yeah, he did something at the back of that that rock. Whatever play on. But we should know how to pedal. Yeah, that's just play on. So, you know, consistent, you stupid. It's what makes them great as people. Just whatever is what makes them shit at refereeing, first off. And it annoys me when I watch them play actually play rugby.
00:35:42
Speaker
They used to have this French flair that has I think it's starting to come back with What's his Baptiste Sarah that the Scrum half who that guy I said sort of Stuart hogs a magician this guy is an illusion He can do things with that ball that are just Behind the back passes no look passes and he's tiny looks tiny on the television. He does he kicks as well He's pretty he's a pretty good kicker. Yeah kind of a French tradition to have a Scrum half kick
00:36:11
Speaker
Yeah, Morgan Parra, I think I saw him his name on the list, but I don't use on there. I kid that guy also for sport, you know, of just getting your body smashed to pieces there. There are, you know, guys on these teams that I cannot believe are still still still running.
00:36:26
Speaker
Para's come out and said that France do need to take a more team first mentality and Sounds like he wants to be the guy that people run their heads through the walls for cuz I mean if you're gonna pick one personally for me Bassaro is not the guy I'm running my head through a wall for and that's probably more than him
00:36:42
Speaker
Yeah, I'd you know it's and and I I think that's I don't know where that comes from unfortunately I think he's I've obviously seen some videos of him saying inappropriate things during games That you know shouldn't there's no place for rugby for things like that So but yeah, I don't you know, I don't really know What Bastra is like if you know, I always won't follow the Australian players that are over in too long They seem to love him to death but
00:37:10
Speaker
I I think there's a it's fallen a long ways from when they had the enforcer to ball Is this there's a difference because she ball I think was much more like
00:37:27
Speaker
He would turn around if you didn't like the way you made a tackle or you didn't hit that rock hard enough, you had to deal with him. Yeah, that's not somebody I'm dealing with, that's for sure. Right. Because you're like, okay, yeah, I'll do it. I'll do it, right? I'll do better. I'll do better. I'll do better, boss. But with Bastero, he just...
00:37:48
Speaker
He just seems like a fat load, unfortunately. He doesn't seem like the guy who's doing the things the right way. He just seems like he's overly aggressive. He reminds me of somebody who Americans, who look would love 10, like five years ago, six years ago, Tolkien would have loved that asshole. As far as, oh, he goes out and smashes somebody. That's what we need. It's like, no, we don't need somebody who just goes and smashes somebody. We needed to go out to have somebody who can smash somebody, but knows when to take a step and hit a gap instead of
00:38:18
Speaker
He was man of the match. I think against England last six nations where yeah, he has his games He has his you're right. Yeah, and if you're if you if it's one of those nights at the Stade de France and they get that a la le bleu chant going that Stadium is like nothing you know, you got that siddle those those horns that
00:38:40
Speaker
They'll always have that going. There's something about it, though, that I've never been, but I've been told just the atmosphere is electric. I don't doubt it. I don't doubt it for a second. France England, Le Crunch, as they call it, is apparently unlike anything else. I also, you know, it's unfortunate to see Teddy Thomas not in the squad because I think of injury. The guy has had an incredible season.
00:39:06
Speaker
Yeah.
00:39:20
Speaker
This is going to be my last season for the international team or just overall for rugby. And I will play at the World Cup, basically, is what he said. He goes, after the World Cup, I'll retire. Basically saying, I'm going to play. You better be sure of that, dude. What about the young prodigy, Intimac?
00:39:48
Speaker
I don't know enough about me. I mean I I saw his name pop up Initially this season and I said hold on a second. That can't be the same guy. No, it's not. It's his dad We talked Ben. I thought I had a conversation about this already. But man, it was just like you've got to be kidding me That's just effing kid. Oh The place for to lose. Yes, he does Wow. Yeah
00:40:10
Speaker
He's part of that resurgence and then yeah, right to lose was a rugby powerhouse 10 years ago and now they've just you know, they died off and now they've just really
00:40:21
Speaker
I think if Toulouse are doing well, both in Europe and in top 14, then the French team should be at least somewhat formidable because that's where a lot of their players traditionally come from, along with Clermont having a rough, rough year. But those are the teams that I think of when I think French rugby, certainly the first two off the top of my head are
00:40:46
Speaker
to lose in Claremont so if and to lose like had had a nice rough patch where they tried to go the too long out and buy a lot of players and it just didn't really work out. Yeah the Galactica is. Dixitois obviously has been out of the game for a while but they leaned on him for probably a little too long when even when he was around so it's um it's good to see Toulouse kind of leading the way in the
00:41:08
Speaker
To get away from the way French rugby has gone with the whole mercenary thing I mean Montpellier had what five French players in it the other week That was it as a start in the starting lineup of 15 guys. I was like yo, that's not really great That's not a good thing for French rugby. So but a team like to lose obviously has a ton of them. So
00:41:27
Speaker
Yeah, well, uh, pick a moles is playing for Montpellier. Yeah Just just doing a little research. He's only made since 2017 since he joined from Northampton 12 appearances And that's probably due to injury. Yeah, I'd say it's probably doing injury but still it's just a rough look for you know, and he's always been one of the most formidable number eights in the game Yeah, I mean he made a huge impact when he moved to Northampton
00:41:52
Speaker
Yeah, and he was the only good thing out of that French team during that New Zealand, France, what was it, semifinal in the 2015 World Cup? Oh, yeah. Where they just, France just got smashed by the All Blacks, but Pickleballs was the only shining star of that team. Yeah, I remember that. I remember that quite well.
00:42:12
Speaker
So I'm looking to see Ramos too. I think I'm excited to see what he brings to the table Yeah, he's definitely gonna be the second banana to Camille Lopez more than likely but I think when he comes on he's gonna have an impact
00:42:26
Speaker
Let's look at their opponents. Wales. Wales. Ben knows I'm not necessarily, I'm with the rest of the world. I'm not necessarily a fan of Warren Ball, as it's called. I am so tired of him. Yeah. Why can't he just go away? He's going soon, thank God. But we got to deal with him until after the World Cup. And I can't like take it. I mean, maybe if it's like a league club that will take him on. But if any international team
00:42:56
Speaker
Brings him on board or the all blacks consider bringing him on board. I think it I don't think he's I don't think he's gonna be yet. Thank God, but
00:43:03
Speaker
I just, he just, he gets way too much credit that he deserves. I don't like him. It's Welsh rugby's average at best. No, well, that's, I'm, it's. They're not as good as they should be. Exactly. That's really what it comes down to. They have a shit ton of talent. Like, just looking through their roster and I'm thinking, why, you know, we're talking about Ireland and England and we're talking about France and Scotland maybe jumping up and showing some life.
00:43:32
Speaker
whales should be right for talent for talent, certainly with England, they should be right next to them. Yeah. And they're not. I see. I mean, we see the names that are on this list. We talked about a guy. We talked about him the other week. I'm glad to see him in there. Tommy Young. Mm hmm. You know, that's right. That's great. Yeah, that does me heart good to see him in there. I obviously our boy, Liam, Liam Williams is in there. Mm hmm. Probably.
00:43:56
Speaker
Sanjay Willis. Sanjay Willis. That's his Instagram and Twitter. That's right. It always confuses the hell out of me. I'm like, Sanjay Willis, who the fuck is Sanjay Willis? That's right. I call him Beaker. He looks like Beaker from Sesame Street.
00:44:16
Speaker
I think Well, it'll be interesting to see who they start at ten either Gareth Anscombe Or bigger yeah or damn bigger Because Gareth Anscombe I think played ten during the autumn International and they really liked him there and they liked him there and he played pretty well He had a little bit of something extra to go with that. Yeah, there's more of a
00:44:40
Speaker
not unlike Sexton in the tactical play, but I just don't think he has that extra bit of flair that Sexton does. So that's what they're looking for. He was an example of a New Zealand player that just, I think, wasn't reaching the full potential, especially with that talent pool they have over there, with the Barrett's ahead of him. And that's probably why I think whoever in his family's Welsh, why he came over, played for, he plays for Cardiff, I think,
00:45:09
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. So he's good. He he he's he's a talented player. Hadley Parks and other Kiwi now. Welshman, I suppose. Yeah. No, you look pretty good. He's he's I think he's very excited about starting, you know, at center. He's a big, big unit as well as a unit. Yeah. He and Davies would be a fun, fun pairing to see. Yeah. Jonathan Davies, I think he's healthy. Yeah. Yeah. So he's still a world class center. Yeah.
00:45:39
Speaker
I think they might put Ken Owens at eight. Not if they have Ross Moriarty. If they have Moriarty, he's good to go, which I think he's going to be. I think they'll be okay. I don't know. Owens put in a real good shift. He just might be a... No. Yeah, they did have kind of injury scare slash thoughts. Liam Williams was a scare, but he should be okay. Moriarty was a scare. He'll be okay. Gareth Davies, their scrum half, he should be all right. Dan Biggar being another one.
00:46:07
Speaker
We have penny is definitely gonna miss the first two weeks though. That's That's easy, you know the guy can kick I'll give him that but I think he also has been he's been used a lot He's been in the wars. Yeah. Yeah He's a very old 30 years old. Yeah Yeah, he's been injured somewhat head injuries. Yeah, we talked about guys who look like they're older He doesn't look like he's older. He just
00:46:31
Speaker
Gotten the shit kicked out of him over the years. Yeah. Well, I do I feel bad for him cuz he's a he's a good player and it showed I think in the lion series, you know, even though that's reaching back a couple years he didn't play as much as You know, I think Yeah, he was expected to yeah, there's a bigger there's they're better players out there
00:46:54
Speaker
It's good. It's great to see Alan Gwen Jones, of course leading that team. He is, you know, clearly is just an incredible captain, incredible leader. You got to have respect for that guy. If not, you got to be scared of that guy. Talk about a player that you run through a wall for.
00:47:10
Speaker
So we talk about Lee Halfpenny being 30 years old, and that's kind of a surprise that he's that young, based on the mileage that's on his body. Alan Wynn Jones is only 33. Only 33, because he's- You say only 33, because you think he's like, well, almost 40. You think he's pushing 40. Exactly. He's been around forever. He's been playing at that same level for forever. Oh, yeah. He's been in class for a long time. And you just figure, OK, we're kind of hitting the back end of his career. But as a lock, he could probably play for another five or six years, if he wanted to. Depends on how much he wants to grind into it.
00:47:40
Speaker
Yeah, who was oh Josh Naveed II the guy read locks. Yeah, is he also I think he's also Someone that grew up in New Zealand as well But when you looked at the back row and we talked about this with like and I'm gonna I love Tommy young so I'm gonna talk about him and you know as his D as it were You just love him cuz he's die young son. Oh
00:48:07
Speaker
Yeah, well, but he's good though, Tommy. He's great. He's fantastic. But we talked about it. If he was going to be English qualified or Welsh qualified, where does he fit in? He doesn't fit into the starting back row by any means. You have Tipperick, you have Moriarty, and you have Nvedi at the very least. So he's not going to fit into the starting back row by any means.
00:48:27
Speaker
Should he go on the bench? I think so. But, you know, obviously Faletau's out so that I think that's what gave him a little bit of room to to really give him his opportunity. So I hope he makes the most of it because we saw a couple of guys do that with England last year. Sam Underhill certainly made an impact. Yeah. You know, it's still such a huge miss for for England to let him still let him walk. Yeah.
00:48:48
Speaker
Because especially if you're looking again, we're bringing going back to that fucking idiotic idea. But you're talking about bringing Noel up to the flankers and you have young available for you. I mean, I think I think his dad was very much encouraging because so are these. No, I mean, I get it. I'm not saying you're going this way.
00:49:11
Speaker
Right. I think he's going to be great for Wales long term. Yeah. And I just think that's a huge miss for England given what they need. So I wish him well. I hope he does really well. OK. Kind of stick in their eye. Yeah. All right. So let's we're going to play a little game here. It's called
00:49:28
Speaker
Who would you have instead? I'm sure many of you played this game when you were younger and in college, but we're not there anymore. Ben and I are married. James, you have a nice lady. But the England squad, who would you not pick and who would you have instead? I don't think George Ford is that good.
00:49:51
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, I think I understand why any Jones wants him there because I think he's a he's a Decently tactical player, but he doesn't have that physical presence definitely not there's they can obviously that that northern connection between you know Farrell and Ford, you know Especially in the England squad if you're from the north they like to stick together because they play a lot of rugby league up north right and the South are all the posh boys and
00:50:19
Speaker
But I think Danny Cipriani should be in that squad and I think Danny Kair should be in that squad. He just signed another two-year extension at Harlequins and I think you know he still is the second that's second scrum half that is
00:50:40
Speaker
He can come into that game and he can change the tempo. He can score a try and he can also kick as well. I've seen him several times kick a drop goal if there's a penalty advantage and it's just something he'll do and it'll just completely swing the tempo of the game.
00:50:56
Speaker
No, I think that's yeah other than that the England squad Ollie Devoto I don't you know, I still don't know enough about him. He's plays for Exeter, right? Yeah, he's been on the fringe for a year after year Again, yeah, Supriani could have been put he's another playmaker that could have been put in there and I don't know watching Joe coconut cooking a cica. Yeah, it's a mouthful. Yeah, this fall was incredibly impressive
00:51:24
Speaker
Yeah, there's also a unit too, especially on the wing and going back to your point about devoto watching him play for Exeter
00:51:32
Speaker
I don't see him making the plays that I would expect an international player to make, especially for England. If he's not dominant at that level, then I'm not sure why he would get picked over someone like a good. I mean, I realize that you're shifting around people, but at the same time, if I'm going to have one of those players, if it's coming down to Devoto at whatever position or good at whatever fucking position. Yeah, because he can play anything. Right.
00:52:01
Speaker
He'll play anything too. He doesn't care. Right. That's what I'm going with. I'm going with the guy who just can dominate any game at any given point. Whereas Devoto, you're just not going to see that from him. He'll play a role and maybe that's why he's on the squad because they want a certain role. They have a certain role in mind for him.
00:52:20
Speaker
But from a talent perspective and from a you know, it's Late in the match against Ireland and you know, I'm good is still a threat on ya Devoto is just a guy out there on the field with your probably Jersey on yep I think I'll agree with you that I'm not terribly at the moment. I'm not terribly impressed with Gens
00:52:43
Speaker
Yeah, he's less than impressive for me, but whatever. I don't know that I would have him, but I also don't know that I would have Dan Cole, aside from the fact that he's been there for a while. Yeah, it would be relying on him. Yeah, Alice Genshu, you always thought it was going to be this sort of... I mean, he is a force, but you're right. You haven't heard much about him, because in the England scene, you have guys like Kyle Sinclair now, who is just... That guy is a hybrid. If he can... Yeah, when he's on, the same thing as the other guys we're talking about. Yeah.
00:53:11
Speaker
When Sinclair's on, he can do amazing things. But then again, when he does have that hot and cold streak. Yeah, absolutely. All right. This is the part where we talk about the ladies for a little bit. Ben has so kindly done a little segment for us with the ladies and women Six Nations. Not as popular, but
00:53:36
Speaker
Still worth the mention because the game doesn't grow without the women. Exactly. And hopefully we can grow that a little bit more. And hopefully we can get the Six Nations Rugby website to actually list the squads out the same way they do the men. That would be pleasant. We discovered that, unfortunately, recently.
00:53:53
Speaker
But there's real unfortunate and still unfortunately it to my mind and I'll be watching the matches So I'll have a report each week. There you go, but There's really only three teams involved in this and of them only To have a chance at winning and it's it's gonna come down to France in England Ireland is that third squad? Yeah, and I list that
00:54:18
Speaker
Just as we talked about in previous weeks, and we talked about a little bit earlier, I hinted at it with Ireland, not there, they had that defensive system down pat, but their offensive creativity just isn't there. And Ireland women.
00:54:35
Speaker
are a little bit behind the men in terms of incorporating more creativity on attack. There are a lot more smash, smash, smash. That worked for a while, but now that these other teams are improving and their structures are getting better, it wasn't working. Now, they're moving away from that and towards that creativity, which could bode well for them, but I'm not ready to put them on that level with England and France.
00:55:05
Speaker
The English team are amazing. They've had great success throughout the years. And the difference between them and France over the years, to me, has been, again, getting the French to play 15 is one. So they've had amazing talent in France. All the concept, right? Yeah. They've had amazing talent in France, but they've had a lot of individual skill that they've favored over team play, it seemed.
00:55:30
Speaker
They've been putting that together now. They've been fucking snotting everybody so France have so amazing to me It's gonna come down to England versus versus France right England again. I'm not sure about what they're bringing to the table They've had a couple of ladies retire recently who again I'll bring up most capped Woman in history and most capped England player period in history no small feat
00:56:00
Speaker
so yeah as a prop so uh again good for her enjoy the retirement but that that doesn't you know that that now they're bringing in uh a new breed of players who uh we'll see what they do so i'm excited to see what this six nations brings to the table it'll be on flow rugby so
00:56:23
Speaker
I hear the name Emily scare it. Yes on the England team. Oh, she's amazing Yeah, I've seen her sort of run circles around people. Yes, and because of the fact that they don't have the rosters online I can't get I see maybe one of the players who's retired. Oh, really? I just can't remember
00:56:40
Speaker
Yeah, I don't I tell you I wish I knew enough about the English women's rugby team I just know it's always yeah them France Yeah in terms of and then New Zealand obviously international in the US they're up there Yeah, you know, they're definitely punching above their weight, which is pretty pretty cool to say actually. Yeah. Yeah
00:56:58
Speaker
So the women's sick nations will come down to those three teams and it probably will just come down to England versus France As the winner Italy and Wales and Scotland have a little bit of a ways to go. Yeah last I checked So I'll be like I said 20 years ago on the men's. Yeah, you know, I'll have a report each week as to how they're all doing maybe we'll have a Seasoned women's rugby player to help us out with that. Yeah
00:57:23
Speaker
Alright, so let's, hey, we like to talk about fans here once in a while in this thing. I'm gonna pull up my squad, Ben, you go ahead and pull up your squad. So the Ruby Mag likes to pick, lets you pick five players per country max. You can pick 30 players total, obviously. Those that can't do the max extends five.
00:57:43
Speaker
that's 30 there's a pause there i had a total brain fart wait a minute short circuit okay 30 that's where it is shoes on jared and your pants that one's not big it only gets a 21 anyway is that like a half
00:58:04
Speaker
Okay, so I will just go through this is my tentative starting squad because I'm gonna wait to finalize it until the Team sheets have been announced and I haven't even done my starters. Yes. Yeah, so I picked mine just out of just a sheer hope mostly Mako Jamie George furlong McNally who qualifies as a flanker. So I put them on the wing
00:58:25
Speaker
Those hooker throws baby those those get you points in this in this variation Sam Skinner. I slid into lock. He's probably gonna play flanker a Toge pikimo standard Davies Farrell bakutawa hog actually qualifies as center. So I threw him into center along with Ben Bernoulli Maitland and Anscombe qualifies as fullback. So I put him in fullback
00:58:47
Speaker
I'm gonna probably I'm gonna change my kicker and my captain as well But my captain right now is Jamie George and my there you go. My kicker will obviously be feral zoomies healthy So I'm gonna take a different tack on this because again, I haven't named my starters. I'm gonna talk about the squad that I have from each Yeah, each country so from from England. I have a whole bunch of Saracens
00:59:08
Speaker
You know so shocking for any of us Mac of a Napola Jamie George Maro toji and where is he Owen Farrell and then of course the Not technically a Saracen yet, but Elliott daily hopefully signs that news comes any day now From France. I have a Poro Yeah, where's my next French player? I don't think I have too many from a picamole. I
00:59:37
Speaker
You better have pikimo para. Yep into Mac cuz yeah, I'm Looking forward to him and that's it. So I still have some that wishful thinking for him. Yeah, yeah Yeah, cuz you well cuz you can chop and change this without penalty on your points, right? Oh, I can still get off so you'll be okay next week. You'll be cab owned, right? From Wales. I have Rob Evans Ken Owens. There you go. Alan Wynn Jones
01:00:06
Speaker
Where's my next Wales player? Hadley Parks and Steph Evans.
01:00:11
Speaker
Yeah. I have, I have North. I'm skeptical of that though. I'm nervous. He's one hit away from just being right. Being done dead. Yeah. Um, good Lord guy from, from Ireland. I've got, let's see where I start. I start with Ian Henderson, who it looks like is a, has a broken finger. So maybe, maybe not. That's a, that's a, I may be dropping him, uh, O'Mannie, Connor Murray, not terrible, uh, ring rose in Stockdale. Yep.
01:00:38
Speaker
And then from Scotland, I have McAnally, Gray, Laidlaw, Hogg, and Hugh Jones. Yeah, Laidlaw doesn't quite do it for me.
01:00:51
Speaker
If I'm going to pick a halfback, I've got, I've got Garrett Davies and Connor Murray as my halfbacks. Um, and I think I have one more just in reserve. I mean, I, yeah, I mean, I have Para and Murray and, and, and Laidlaw as my, as my scrum have. So I'll always have somebody at least to play a week there and a backup.
01:01:09
Speaker
Yeah, you and it's always key to pick with this variation to pick two or three specialists, especially with the hookers and the halfbacks because most those guys don't play more than one position in this variation. So and that McAnally that McAnally flanker flanker option is excellent. As you said, it's the flankers are
01:01:32
Speaker
Exactly. Thacker is amazing. It is a flanker putting him in there because they get the points that they earn here are much more valuable in the line out. Yep, then the runs that they that most flankers are getting you can add up points for hooker.
01:01:46
Speaker
Real fast. And then who else am I missing? Did we go over Italy? I have Lovati and Negri. Yep. Parisi, of course. Yeah, kind of need to. And I think that's, oh no, Tomasso Allen. Yeah, I have Allen on my team too. I have him on my bench.
01:02:05
Speaker
But yeah, I think there's hidden, you have to find talent in the Italian team in this variation because again, you can only pick five of each. So you're probably going to have to play an Italian player at some point with injuries and all that shit. And the fact that you can only make one transfer a week after this weekend kicks off. So.
01:02:23
Speaker
going to be a little dicey. You might have to roll, you have to roll one of those powder blue shirts out there once in a while. Hopefully a winger is something because they're the only ones that seem to be, you know, that are an unlikely forward on the, you know, just meters out from the trial line.
01:02:38
Speaker
Yeah, it just crashes over by chance. That's generally how Italy seems to score their tries. Right. And that's kind of why I think I'm pretty forward heavy among the Italian squad. I got three of their forwards and really only the one back.
01:02:54
Speaker
I think I have more backs and forward on the Italian squad. I think I have Ben Bernoulli, Allen, Paris A. But yeah, that's not much. That's about all I got for Italy. I can technically grab two more before the game starts, so I probably will.
01:03:14
Speaker
So like you said, I'll probably be dropping into Matt because he won't be starting. I just like the fact that he's on the team. So I wanted him on my squad. Yeah, you know, it is where it is. Yeah. Yeah, it's going to be keeping eyes out on the on the when they announce the squads. I think I expect Thursday probably. Well, for the early game tomorrow, unless they have already.
01:03:33
Speaker
Um, no, probably Thursday, Thursday is usually the other two, the other two games for Saturday. Yeah. So by kickoff time, which is around 245 over here, you have your shit set. Yeah.
01:03:48
Speaker
I usually check it like Friday morning before I go to work. It's usually my time to be like, all right, where are the squads? Who do I get? Who do I start? I'll set that, and then. Oh, I'm at work way earlier than that. I get done with a session, and then I get on. And usually right then and there is when they're announcing the team. So I'm just like, yeah, that's my prize. Well, no, I always do it before work. I would never do something like this at my desk. Lies. Lies. So many lies. So many lies.
01:04:33
Speaker
Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Never.
01:04:43
Speaker
Yeah, so I got I got two games up on you. No big guy dick Yeah, I gave you a chance with the cast game. I know I couldn't come through. Well, what are you gonna do? Yeah, you know happens. All right, um, I Will let age go before beauty. All right, so the first round we got we're starting with the France Wales, yep Going going France. Yeah with the home squad. Yeah probably a good call
01:05:10
Speaker
Oh, do I go counter and give you a shot or? You know what? Yeah, you know what? First game in France, if they let themselves down, they'll be. Yeah, in France against Wales, like we're saying, Wales underperforming a little bit. France at home with a lot of passion. I think the Welsh are going to come in there and I think even though I'm the biggest fan of the Welsh, I think they're going to come in and take away a very close win. OK, I can appreciate that.
01:05:38
Speaker
You know, I think the momentum might be on the Welsh side here. OK. All right. Scotland, Italy. Let's go back to the old man. I got I got you. I can give them to you afterwards. So Scotland, Italy. Yeah, I think we know where I'm going with that.
01:05:56
Speaker
Yeah, I think I don't think anybody here is gonna argue with the sculpts around the bullet. Yeah. Yeah. No, it's it's gonna be a It's a William Wallace massacre. Yeah, but the other way and they're at Murrayfield, which is not helpful at all Well, not for Italy anyway. No, not for yeah, this at least if it was in Rome, it would make it a more considerable possibility All right, and the big one at the Aviva
01:06:22
Speaker
Who takes the W home and who gets the leg up to a possible trip of crown I? and grand slam Ireland's got the form and I just I don't I Don't see them losing at home not I think they're gonna be up for this I
01:06:44
Speaker
As they always are. Yeah. Rarely are they not. But I think all the intangibles, because I mean, you look at the squads, they're so talent for talent. Yeah. You're not going to pick on that. It's got to come down the intangibles. And Ireland at home really wanting to put a stamp on
01:07:04
Speaker
that they're the team to beat, not only in Six Nations, but in the World Cup. Right. I think what they call it in Bull Durham, they want to announce their presence with authority this year. And this is their chance to say that, yeah, 2018 was our year, 2019 is our year, too. And that starts, I think, on Saturday.
01:07:22
Speaker
Alright, this is where I'll give you a chance to catch up because Ireland are notoriously slow starters in this competition. Yeah, look at last year's game against... I was in Dublin for it. Oh yeah. Watching it at a bar there and it was... that was mental.
01:07:37
Speaker
that that must that must have been scenes just like out the ass yeah i pretended i was irish that day oh yeah a lot of people probably thought they were your own safety probably oh my god yeah and the freaking as i hate to say the cajones on section just nut that drop ball like yeah give it to me i got this boys it was a double reference of balls there yeah
01:08:02
Speaker
absolutely alright so I'm going to I am going to say it's England I think they I think they smash and grab as they say look I'd love to see England win don't get me wrong I'm going with my head over my heart yeah I'm not going over my heart I just know I just know that Ireland suck at first games even if they're at home
01:08:18
Speaker
Yeah, well, so the last time England won in Dublin was 2013. So that's six years ago. So there's another do their duo win. I'm having a tough time. My heart is saying England, but my mind is saying Ireland. Yeah. But I think I'm just I'm going to go with go with my heart over this one. Ooh.
01:08:38
Speaker
And say England's gonna again a very very very tight even pull it out to be tight It's not gonna be a for try run away. No run away. It's gonna be a naked at the death type of thing and I think it'll be interesting to if England do lose and What Eddie Jones has to say about it? Yeah, yeah, well, he's always got something to say Windows I'm looking forward to seeing what he has to say. Yeah, right so who
01:09:07
Speaker
Who wins the six nations? I think this is going to be kind of a, I think it, as we get later in this competition, you might see some of these teams take a backseat because they're thinking about what's going on in the fall. So just kind of some, some food for thought on that one. Again, I think, I think some of these teams, like Wales and Scotland and even Italy are real, are those, those I think are the three squads that are looking towards, building towards the world cup. I think.
01:09:36
Speaker
Wales I think is my fourth team in all this. I think they're gonna come out on top of the other three, that group of three. And then I think the realistic contenders are again, just like in the women's game, Ireland, England, and France. And in this case,
01:09:58
Speaker
You know, I want, I'm going to take a wild card pick on this one because I could see them just coming at like kind of putting it all together and just kind of taking advantage of weaknesses on other squads. But I would like to see France win this year. Okay. Six nations. So I don't think, I don't think they're going to win.
01:10:15
Speaker
But I'm gonna go with them anyway. Just as a wildcard pick. Ben's hoping for Bastille Day, apparently. Fucking love Bastille Day. What could be better than you storm the fucking prison, bring all the political prisoners and chop people's heads off for being dickheads? The French could have a fucking heart. I mean, current political environment might be a little sketchy with that.
01:10:40
Speaker
I'm just saying they have some good ideas, that's all.
England's Chances in the Competition
01:10:43
Speaker
Yeah, careful what you wish for. You know what, I think this is the bogey for England, and since I've picked them in this, I think if they take care of this, I think that's it. I think that'll be them. They'll take this competition. I do agree with that. I think if England wins this game,
01:11:06
Speaker
Yeah, it all depends game. Yeah. And I kind of regret saying that I think I want to win it. But, you know, it's I don't know. Or did I pick England? I can't remember. You went with your heart, but you can you can still say Ireland. I don't know. So I'm a possibility. I think I think if England can win this game, then I think the tournament's theirs for the day.
Italy and the Wooden Spoon - Humorous Banter
01:11:26
Speaker
Who's the wooden spoon? It's going to be the Italians, unfortunately. Yeah, it is year after year, but hopefully some improvement there.
01:11:36
Speaker
It's a wooden spoon, maybe a nice rubber hand to hold onto. Yeah, at least... I don't know, wooden splinters into your hand. You know, maybe it's a well-sanded spoon, you know? Something they could use to stir their pasta with. Yeah, there you go. We're contoured for pleasure. Oh, God. Oh, God. That sounds painful to me. In Italy, we like this. Don't deny it until you try it.
01:12:03
Speaker
Oh, all right. Jeez. I know we took a turn for Mario porn here. Oh, Lord. Oh, man. Plumbers, right. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Uh huh. They plumb something. All right. Oh, my God.
Podcast Wrap-up and Listener Thanks
01:12:18
Speaker
All right. That's that's everything we got for you guys today. Thank you so much for listening to our Six Nations preview special. Thanks for thanks for coming over, buddy. We appreciate it. Yeah, this was fantastic.
01:12:29
Speaker
Yeah, I'm glad we got a third voice on here. It's like when I first started, I was glad I got a second voice on here. So now that we've had a third voice on it, I think this is a good thing for us. And I'm really happy that we had this happen.
01:12:42
Speaker
Hopefully it's entertaining for you guys out there.
Listener Engagement Encouragement
01:12:45
Speaker
So make sure you email the podcast if you want a fancy rugby podcast at gmail.com. Look Ben and I up both on Twitter. We are, we'll put our Twitter handles out there. Download us on iTunes, Google Play, subscribe. Get the downloads in there. You can download and not listen. It's okay. Just tell your friends. Tell your friends. It's okay.
01:13:02
Speaker
download us so we can go up the charts here eventually. But other than that, thank you very much everybody for
Preview of Future Content
01:13:08
Speaker
listening. We will be back next week for obviously a nice recap of all the action that we just previewed and we'll hopefully eventually get back into some premiership soon here. A couple weeks away, but that's okay. You know, premiership takes a backseat to international. It's going to for a while. Yeah. And then after that, and then around the same time, we'll have super rugby kick in again too. So we'll have Lewis to talk about in a couple of weeks, but we'll do that next week to talk about
01:13:57
Speaker
this weekend's next. Thanks a lot, everybody. Cheers.