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Season 5- Episode 5- We’re A Little Excited (Premiership Round 3)
30 Plays3 years ago
It's another one of those yammerings from those American dopes that like rugby. On this episode, of course we have to talk about the unfortunate things happening at Sixways and how fast we can hope it turns around. We also discuss what it takes to be a "Feeder" team for a club. Yes, we take a look at the action from this past weekend including final weekend of the TRC and looking back at the team's performances, and yes Round 3 of the Prem. All this, so much more and we can't wait to see everyone. Grab a cold one and join us, then join us in real life too!
Check out the TFRY Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyRugbyYanks
Ask us questions via Twitter: Jarrod- jdyke8man & Ben- admrablsnackbar, and #AskTFRY.
Send us your thoughts for the show and questions for upcoming shows via e-mail fantasyrugbypodcast@gmail.com. Of course we welcome feedback via e-mail, twitter or by rating/reviewing the pod on Apple Podcast.
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Transcript
Introduction and Travel Plans
00:00:02
Speaker
It is... The Fantasy Europeans. My name is Jared Dyke. I wanted to say it's stupid and let's move on, but then you kept going. I'm Ben Glauser. I don't like any way anybody gambled that. Collusion! Collusion!
00:00:27
Speaker
Hey, everybody, it is the Fancy Rugby Yanks. My name is Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glauser. Let's go. Let's go. We are on the eve of our departure. And I don't know if I can sleep tonight, but I probably should because I'm definitely not sleeping tomorrow night. Yeah, I'm like trying to figure out if I want to take like a what was like a melatonin or something like that with me and pop that before we get on just zonk. But then I'm worried about being wobbly when we get there. So I'm like, all right.
00:00:55
Speaker
It's not that long a flight. I cannot hold you up anymore. Right. Yeah. I did it when I was playing. I can't or when you can't do it no more. All right. Most of them we were drinking more than playing, but yes, that happened to that happened to speak of the drinking. Oh, yeah. That's right. The problem. We got them. I can have one tonight. Yeah. That's right. Find us on your favorite podcast. Share us on your favorite podcast app.
00:01:25
Speaker
Download rate review. That is a nice color. And I really like this. I'm just so it's out of stock now. It was, I mean, it's a pride beer, so. Of course. Yeah. I remember those. Yeah. Cold brew coffee, cream ale. It does not look like what you think it is. It is very light and it tastes delicious. That's cool. I was too worried about the whole coffee thing. I was like, it's not really what I want in a beer. I have had, you know, obviously,
00:01:55
Speaker
You're like that, but that's the only thing that that's the only thing that made me pause in buying. That's that brewery around the corner. We like that. Love that. There's that.
00:02:11
Speaker
Obviously we want, we encourage you all to buy our good friend, the fancy rugby geek, George, a, uh, a coffee and, or a beer, however you wish to determine man's man's busy, busy. We know this. And if you're anywhere near the front of your FRD after three weeks, he's probably one of the reasons to make sure you tip that we'll talk about talking on the fancy vlog. Cause he's actually doing really well. Um, yeah. Bastard.
00:02:42
Speaker
As always, there is no discrimination here on this podcast. There's no discrimination or should be and should be no discrimination in sports or in life.
Denmark's World Cup Protest
00:02:50
Speaker
So we have Ben and I were just discussing the statement put out by the kit maker of the Denmark football team for the for the Qatar World Cup.
00:03:01
Speaker
We don't wish to be visible during a tournament that has cost thousands of people their lives. We support the Danish national team all the way, but that is the same as supporting Qatar as a host nation. And we talked about, you know, all the human rights issues that this country has. And, you know, they got this via corruption that was eventually found out, which is the fact that they didn't pull a 180 and they still had time to do it, tells me there's still a lot of corruption going on.
00:03:30
Speaker
I can't believe how corrupt those people are. Yeah, we'll still take your money. We'll still do all those things. Don't worry about it. Just awful. So kudos to Denmark and they are slick looking kits on top of it all. Nice. Yeah. Kudos to them.
00:03:46
Speaker
Um, I, uh, those, those of you that are listening to this will obviously be hoping Christian Erickson makes it to this team. Erickson had a really unfortunate summer a couple of years ago, playing. Yeah. Real scary stuff in Euro 2020. That was, that was really terrifying stuff. So hopefully he's back this summer and we don't have to see anything similar to that because that would just plain suck. Yeah. Just plain suck. Um,
Worcester's Administration Issues
00:04:17
Speaker
So obviously we have to talk about the, uh, the elephant in the corner over there. It's Worcester and they've been suspended. They've gone into administration and the process has begun. It is. It was, we all knew it was coming, but it still was like, it happened. Yeah. And cause you just still held out a hope that, uh, some hail Mary miracle was going to hit and.
00:04:43
Speaker
Nope. And you just feel for everyone. And yeah, I'm at a loss. I don't like, I don't get what the owners were doing. We're thinking. I mean, I get that like you want to still be involved in you. Like you're really good. But I mean, come on.
00:05:02
Speaker
like, the writing's on the wall. You're out. You fucked it up. You don't get rewarded when you fuck things up, right? What are we, a fucking socialist society here? Do you get rewarded for failure? No, we're capitalism. We, you know, like, do good shit. And unfortunately, they're like the bad kind of capitalism, which, well, yeah, it's capitalism. But either way, they're
00:05:24
Speaker
They're like, we want to still make our nut. First off, who's going to do business with them ever again after this? Why would you work with them? I would not work with these people. They're untrustworthy. They'll go back on what they say. They'll set deadlines and then bypass them. I really hope somehow they can get away and just get nothing. You fucking lose, get the fuck out. Absolutely. I don't know how that would work. Neither do I, no. It's just not right.
00:05:53
Speaker
It's like, yeah, why would you think people would want you to stay? No way, no way. The whole thing will come out where we find, you know, the forensic, you know, financials will come out and this will, we'll know the truth. And that's how it is.
Financial Transparency in Rugby Clubs
00:06:14
Speaker
In honesty, though, I think we all need to just rewind and kind of look back at PRL and RFU. And, you know, once the Saracens thing happened, why the books weren't open back up for everyone still makes me scratch my head a little bit. So I definitely want... You have to put some of the blame at their feet, undoubtedly, because they could have easily done this. Especially because we could be having the same conversation about wasps. I mean, it won't be exactly the same because they're actually trying to do things the right way. I get it.
00:06:46
Speaker
But wasps are not in a good spot. And there's allegedly two other teams that are not. So. Yeah, we need to do it. Yeah. Have a look at the books and the worst part to me of all this is that if there are Worcester players who are who want out, they actually cannot leave yet because they're not employed by Worcester. They're implied employed by like a contracting company. And that company is not in
00:07:12
Speaker
Technically, no. That company is apparently fine. And it's like, OK, well, but, you know, who owns that? It's probably, you know, the same. It's probably these fuckers. But like, you know that. Yeah, that's that's fucked up. Like, it's almost like they, you know, yeah, they're really screwing the pooch all over the place. So with that, though, the latest. So we talk about trying. I'm a realist, but man, I'm trying to stay optimistic on this one. Right.
00:07:35
Speaker
The optimism right now is from the potential new buyers which we won't hear a whole lot from until things finally are settled down and the person that was assigned as the administrator or at least that's leading it and both are very much in the mindset that they want to get this team back on the field ASAP and when they say ASAP, they're not talking about six weeks, eight weeks, they want to do it
00:08:01
Speaker
maybe the Quinn's game, which is probably not realistic, but after the buy, they're really, really optimistic and like we want to get back on the field then. Now, for the situation that we're currently in, that is a really good outcome. Did we want to be there to begin with? Hell, no, of course not. We're here now. So let's look at the best outcome from here forward. And that's it right there, I believe. If they get things in line and are able to play that Quinn's game,
00:08:29
Speaker
wow, wow, all I can say. But you know, there's been statements saying these potential buyers do have the money and are willing to put in the money required to get them out of this bullshit, which is great. So fingers crossed that things can go. I think the I think the article said warp speed. Yeah, fingers crossed that they can go warp speed. And we can talk about
00:08:55
Speaker
you know, Duhan Ben-Amurba and Gareth Simpson in and Joe Batley in the ways we want to talk about them, which is them running around on the pitch. Right. Fingers crossed. And, you know, for Worcester and in the pram.
Player Transfers and Impact on England
00:09:11
Speaker
Yeah. Yes. Although, you know, yeah. And then the women's team obviously as well. But also it's not it's not on on the
00:09:24
Speaker
It's not on the agenda here, but I do want to put in a quick word about Sam Simmons leaving for Montpellier. Yes, yes. Ouch. That is news that can only get crowded out by a club. By something like this, right? Right. Because that is huge. That is big news. That's huge. Like, we've seen what happened with Zach Mercer, right? You can't just let these guys walk out of the country.
00:09:51
Speaker
And I know Eddie's not big on on salmon and maybe he didn't show so well in his in his play there because he's like he is more in the attacking end and Eddie likes, you know, defense first and last. And only and. But it's like he's still a guy, you know, same same thing could be said for Mercer, but that's a guy that England needs right now. You know, it's.
00:10:18
Speaker
Yeah, it's to me, it's not good for England, but at the same time, it's really not good for Exeter. So I'm going to... No, you know, we'll talk about the game itself, but...
00:10:34
Speaker
Barring this past weekend, we don't know what their answer would be without Sam Simmons. Right. Yeah. And he was so much of their attack for so long. And now it's like he was and he was this past, even though it was it was, you know, they said we'll get to it, but it was a scoring, but. It was still. Sam Simmons, like doing this, setting a lot of shit up that that opened up that space. So that's yeah, can't be can't be ignored. No, I agree.
Freejacks and Gloucester Connection
00:11:07
Speaker
Another note that I want, that I want to go over real quick and we'll just, I'll pose this question. And if, if we can, if we come to the same conclusion, then we, maybe we can move on quickly. If you are responsible for one or two growing, like generally growing one or two players that end up on a club, are you now a feeder club?
00:11:29
Speaker
Like, can we consider the freejacks a feeder club to Gloucester right now, really? No, no, because like they don't really play in when it matters, right? Right. It's like, okay, great. You're in the system. Like, Jack Reeves is tearing it up for him in the Prem Cup. Now, I'm not discounting the Prem Cup because it's a fantastic competition. But it's not like he's doing it in the Prem. He's doing it in the Prem Cup.
00:11:53
Speaker
So that's not your ace. That's not your top side. That's your, your, yeah, guys, we like in the future that, you know, you might come along and then, um, shit, who was it? Um, and Roddy had a small spot. Yeah. He had a small spell. And if Peledry wasn't hurt, like who knows what, you know, and Ben, uh, Ben Morgan, if he wasn't hurt, like who knows what, what kind of ride he would have had. If he would have even had the cup of coffees that he had last year. And it's like,
00:12:18
Speaker
Now, that's a team that that like you draw some players from and work with because they're talented. That's about it. I appreciate the connection that we that the free jacks may have with Gloucester because it might be nice to foster. But providing one or two players on the team, not a theater, doesn't make it a theater club. So there's another podcast out there that might want to note that. Just say, just say. Especially when they've only that that theater club that we're talking about only provided one player.
00:12:48
Speaker
like outright developed, absolutely. Right. Yes. Because they may have some other players on the team who made the free jacks and then moved to that feeder club, but that doesn't make them a feeder club. That just means like this is where the free jacks put their guys. That doesn't mean anything. Yeah, that's it.
00:13:05
Speaker
Yeah. Well, the depth that said theater club sucks because we kicked their ass this weekend. Yeah, exactly. Which I enjoyed wholeheartedly. That's always good to be. That's the other thing is that's the one I like the most, honestly. And that's the other thing is everybody hates them and has hated them even before they were they had become they became right. No, this was not a team that was well liked. So it's like one of these like, don't their culture sucks.
00:13:28
Speaker
Yeah, and it's like you talk about culture and all that stuff like, yeah, yeah, it's not. And especially, yeah, for the, you know, for the podcast that is kind of pumping it, it's like.
00:13:40
Speaker
guys, like you're not, you're obviously not a part of the new England rugby scene. If you don't understand that, like you're just, you're fans of the free jacks. That's great. But anyone who's been involved in the, in the new England rugby scene knows that everybody hates that club. So yeah, that's not that well liked club by any whatsoever. Like, you know, you know, Boston and the Wolfhounds, we, for 80 minutes, we fucking hate each other. But outside of that, it's mostly like,
00:14:04
Speaker
You're okay. You guys are all right. We can hang out. Yeah, I enjoyed thoroughly having a having a piss up after afterwards, but then they're great. Right. Worcester is always great to hang out with. They're they're always a fun club. God damn weird. That's OK. It's OK to be weird. I'm right with weird. I could do weird. So it's not like that they're good or that they're bad or whatever. It's just that they're fucking assholes. Yeah, no, they've they've not they've not had a good culture even way before they got good.
00:14:32
Speaker
No, these are guys, they put out free jacks in their second side in a sevens tournament and a social sevens tournament. It's like, you're putting guys who not, you know, again, kind of like how these are Gloucester players, like Reeves is a Gloucester players, you know, third tier guys on, on their free jacks, but still they parked them at this club and they played them on the B side in a social tournament and sevens over the summer. And it's like, what a joke. You can't get guys hurt. Like this isn't what they're not, they're not, that's not who they're playing as. This is like, especially sevens in the summer. It's like college kids. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:15:04
Speaker
No, they're not ready for that. That's bullshit. No, no, no. That's kind of the shit that they pull, so. Try again, kids. Try again.
Rugby Championship Review
00:15:13
Speaker
Let's look at the end of the TRC, the rugby championship, because while it was semi a photo finish, obviously we could not have the same match times and such because time differences and all that shit.
00:15:32
Speaker
It's, you know, it was, it was going to come down to the last day, just the same. And that's, that's where you're at the, and the spring, the spring box came up just short and.
00:15:45
Speaker
as much as a New Zealand one. All right, we'll talk about them in a second. I do want to give mad kudos to Michael Cheka and the Argentinian coaching staff and the players, because they showed that they can be problematic for this competition, which is only good for this competition. Now, I remember once upon a time, they were talking about bringing in Japan. I hope that is the case. And we can continue to see a similar pattern
00:16:12
Speaker
for Japan to grow and get better and to continue to be one of these teams that we want to watch. Because I'll tell you, in the wins that Argentina had this year, the grand, they only had two. And even in some of the losses, I liked a lot of what they did. I really did. And, you know, we saw
00:16:30
Speaker
I'm going to tell you to just take that captain's armband and wear it well, and that does well, does good things for them. So, you know, 2023 will be very interesting with these guys, and they're only going to get better. I know we got a fall scheduled to come up here with the November Internationals. That'll be very interesting. Carrera says a 10 is only developing. Like, he only started playing that. Was it last year, I think? Yeah. Started playing 10 for them, so...
00:16:59
Speaker
Very interesting. Usually plays fullback for Gloucester. Maybe he gets to run at 10 for Gloucester when he seems away. Maybe so I very, very good for them. Really excited about that. I have to say.
00:17:11
Speaker
for South Africa, this is not the most hated team I've ever seen. I liked a lot of what they've done in this competition. I've had, there are times where they're, maybe I'll change the on and we'll see what they do, but their play was not of something that I was just annoyed with, where there are moments where I was just like, what are you assholes doing? Of course there was. Because it's South Africa, what are you gonna do?
00:17:37
Speaker
But I know my pimpy after the try was a little much. Yeah, that was that's probably the one moment I can think of it if that's it. Okay, fine. We live with it. Right. And other than that, and other than that, this team, I really liked watching it. And I'm not sad to say that. And that's, again, that's only good for rugby as well. So and I saw some helmets say, Oh, their play was so boring. I'm like, I actually kind of like did I wasn't one of those guys that was
00:18:01
Speaker
I'm just going to go in blindly and say that. That's exactly it. I didn't I can't say I found them boring. I didn't find them. I mean, they're still not terribly structured and attack. They're not. They weren't terribly daring attack. They spun it wide when they wanted to, which was that was cool. But there wasn't like the. It was just like, oh, hey, that's open wide. Let's just run wide. It wasn't they didn't really still challenge to go. It was just when it was when when it was available, they used it, which was cool.
00:18:30
Speaker
So, yeah, that makes it that makes it entertaining rather than just, you know, crash ball to to to just, you know, throw a body, you know, when you're fucking. Huge ass locks at somebody in they were there were incredibly physical in defense. That was fun to see. Yes, they are. They're they're a tough defense to play against, no doubt. And then but we also saw that that teams are are. Starting to it seemed like to me anyway, the teams that play well against them.
00:18:59
Speaker
kind of said, OK, yes, you're going to hit us. We're not going to poop ourselves over it. And we're not going to try to play. They didn't try to play their game. They're like, no, we're going to play our game. And and they found holes in the defense, which made the game that much more exciting because now South Africa had to score. It wasn't going to be like a 10-6 match where it was like, oh, this fluke ball bounced one way off of a high ball. And then South Africa scored like that seems to be
00:19:23
Speaker
a lot of what they do in the in the close defensive games, they actually had to play some attacking rugby too. So that that made it for more fun. Yeah, totally agree.
New Zealand's Rugby Challenges
00:19:33
Speaker
On the on the note and idea of New Zealand and yes, they want they've won the competition. Creekly. Yeah, very, very, very quickly. And I think everybody can admit that. You know, this could. Is this
00:19:52
Speaker
Something to build on or is this like just hanging on by a thread? That's hanging on by a thread. It's the same spot, but it's a matter of which way they're going. This isn't a win where you're like, of course they won. This is a win where it's like, how did nobody end up ahead of them? Yes.
00:20:10
Speaker
And they're not like, there's a thing in the NFL of the, you know, the mystique of the Oakland Raiders that used to be a thing. And even when they were bad, you still had to be like, fuck, we're going to Oakland. This is going to be terrible. Or, you know, wherever they were playing at the time. Yeah, either way, there was there we had to deal with the black hole. You had to deal with the like, it was intimidating to play them. And now they're kind of just like another team.
00:20:36
Speaker
And that happens over time. And even after they weren't, didn't, you know, they still had the mystique even after they were no longer as good. And I feel like that's kind of where New Zealand are. There's still the mystique around them, but it's wearing off. Like, unless they put forth a dominant performance in the World Cup, they're not going to have that extra mental edge of it's the all blacks. Yeah, everybody's going to be very aware that this team is very beatable at this point.
00:21:06
Speaker
we'll see what they do this fall, obviously. And that, that may, that may show a lot more, but we'll, I guess, you know, obviously we'll find out. And I wonder,
00:21:23
Speaker
if this was maybe the best back line they could put together with one or two exceptions because you had Bowdoin Barrett on the same field with Richie Mwanga, which I was kind of calling for a little bit. I understand you take something a little bit away, but still it's Bowdoin Barrett. It's not like you're losing anything. You really aren't losing anything.
00:21:45
Speaker
Will Jordan needs to be in this team no matter what, doesn't matter where he plays. I liked the look of Caleb Clarke for the most part with the exception of he's had a couple of hammerhead moments so he needs to improve if he's going to hold his shirt. Yeah and I think that's experienced so hopefully that helps. Yeah and I'm glad they had the you know
00:22:05
Speaker
They just wanted to try Jordi at 12. I don't know if you put a lot wrong. Could he do better? Probably. But that's a new shirt at a different level. Like, yes, he played there for the Hurricanes for a little bit, but that's still... It's so different. It's a different level from, you know, from club to all the way up to international. It's so much faster. Yeah. And it's a different... It's still a different role, too, with the All Blacks. I mean, even though it's kind of the same, but... Sorry. I think if Foster was going to be a little smart,
00:22:35
Speaker
I think two of us are check and Barrett might be your one and two for your 12 shirt right now going into the autumn. Try it. You're going to play some very different styles as you did obviously here in the rugby championship. We only got one game in that with this.
00:22:52
Speaker
with this pair. So try it with these guys, see what happens. And I think you might find yourself a really good 12 out of here. That's not David Haveli. I think it would have been better for everyone to have us to check changed over like what, two years ago? Cause he's not, he's just not ready yet. He's not like, he's not all that great at the club level yet.
00:23:18
Speaker
And I don't think he's anywhere near ready for internationals. So that's my only concern there is like his impact, like, you know, for what we think he's built to be. He's I'm not seeing that. So like we got to worry, you know, to me, it's like work with what you got, not with what you think you might you might have, because like you have to show it first, I think. And I don't think that's happened.
Australia's Rugby Improvements
00:23:44
Speaker
Maybe not. And if that's the case, then obviously there's a lot of concern going around in that. Right. That is their that is their bogey share right now. Really, really is. And for what they want to do, that's about seven. Well, not right now. Not with probably there. But that's true.
00:24:02
Speaker
That's true. I did like that back row quite a bit. Yeah. Oh, yeah. That's a great back row. I'm into that. You got all kinds of time for that back row. All kinds of time. I do wish that they would get, by E, more minutes. Yeah. I feel like he's going to be more vital than they're anticipating this summer or this next fall, excuse me, in France. Because how old, Retallic?
00:24:31
Speaker
Okay, so yeah, so here's the thing. Retallic is kind of broken. Although he's incredibly effective when he's in. He's just a monster whenever he plays. So if I am fielding the team, if I'm picking three locks really in that, I'm going with Retallic and Barret and Vai.
00:24:56
Speaker
as my game day three. And I might rotate them around, because you can. But that, to me, those, to me, are the three most effective locks right now. All respect to Whitelock. But again, we're on the other side of the to be about to check thing. Whitelock, to me, lately, has been like, your reputation is carrying you at the moment. It is.
00:25:21
Speaker
And yeah, I say that with all the facts, obviously. He's used his smarts to keep up. Yeah. You know, but he's not doing the things he used to do. He's not like he used to do shit that like Maro Toji would be like, damn, how'd you how'd you feel for that one? And that's I'm not seeing him do that anymore. I'm not seeing him really do the little things that you used to see him do that made him different.
00:25:46
Speaker
And now with Vali, the way he plays, especially in the loose, it's like a different kind of impact than, than Whitelock used to have. But to me, Vali is more impactful at the moment. Right. And I hope he gets more minutes because it's only going to do this to the good, especially in the long-term. I have a question for you. Shoot. Is it true, insulting or both?
00:26:11
Speaker
that Australia actually might be still the most improved team from, from this competition. Both probably. I think Australians will feel a little, a little bit insulted by that, but at the same time, there's, there's still so much room for this team to grow. I hope, I hope they aren't writing Bernard Foley into the fall. Good Lord. No, no, no, no. Please don't. Yeah. No, no, no. That's not your option.
00:26:36
Speaker
It is, they may be, they're probably that connect with Argentina on that one in terms of most improved. And while they might, you might feel insulted, but it's still saying a lot that you've gotten better. You still haven't like necessarily moved the needle per se, but you've got, you've visually gotten better. I can see the good things that are coming for this team. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Right.
00:27:01
Speaker
And before it was like, I think David, I think that he's assigned David to an extension right now as well. Because I think he's actually done a really good job. I think so too. So I didn't need to go and especially if Fauzi gets fired after this year from New Zealand.
00:27:19
Speaker
I know they like to promote within, but they might have to get away from that because at this point, within is only coaches that have been there for a year or so. Got Robinson or something. Yeah. And it'll be up in the air and it might be Renny or Robertson. And that'll... So if Australia's smart, don't even let them have a thought of it. Go sign them to an extension right now. Yeah. That's my... He's doing good things and there is a very bright future.
00:27:45
Speaker
I'll agree. They get they do have to sort out the 10, though, because, you know, we've talked about little SEO and how he's slender and can he hold up in a comp? And this is the first time he's played significant minutes and he didn't finish the comp. No, he didn't. So we know he still has to bulk up a little bit. He's not he's not fit to take the Johnny Sexton to eat and get the fuck in the gym. Yeah. That's the end.
00:28:14
Speaker
Because especially at the international level, he's not running away from anybody. He's not winning any races. So slow down a little bit, bulk up and live. Yeah, be able to take the punches, man. Because yeah, his distribution is really what helps that team. I mean, they have the runners at all positions. So it's like, okay, now then they have a good distributor there.
00:28:36
Speaker
You know, his job isn't to run, so let someone else do it. He's got to bulk up and take the hit because they're coming, whether or not he's ready for him. Yes, they are. Quaid's still an injury concern, left, right, and center, which when he's playing, he's magic, but he also can't stay healthy. No, he's not. He's not getting any younger by any means. You still need to worry a little bit about the future because if it comes down to, you know, it's pretty soon, it's really only a little issue.
00:29:04
Speaker
Right. And that's it. And there's one name I want to put out there that might come good in the next year, and he might be a bolter. And I don't know if it's this is toll shot that are. Rees-John Passitoa from the Western Forest could be someone that turns into a bolter if he takes another step in his development. I thought he took a pretty good step this past year, but still not there clearly. If he takes another step in his development,
00:29:33
Speaker
maybe he turns into a potential international fly half and they give him a run in what will be another truncated rugby championship. And we'll see. Maybe, maybe. That would be interesting. That is a conspiracy theory like beta right there. That's all that is. That's just a thought. So I just wanted to throw that name out there just for everybody to
00:29:58
Speaker
And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention, although I did say his name earlier, but Cora Betty being just taking a huge step forward. Totally, totally. Yeah, we were not fans of this player on this podcast. And yeah, because he was the physicality wasn't there. I haven't seen a player change their attitude towards the game like that since. Fucking I just had his name and lost it because I was talking too much South Africa in the wing.
00:30:27
Speaker
Why am I the one that brainlock now the crazy stepper? No. Fuck the whole Havana. Oh, Brian, Brian Habana, who used to be a total.
00:30:38
Speaker
kind of diva wing. And then like when he hit his mid twenties and wasn't like, he could still fucking outrun you, but really needed to change his game. He became just a fucking monster. Like you don't want to run towards him because he's going to lay out. Absolutely. To me, he was, you know, when I, when I was first getting into rugby, I would watch him and be like, man, he, because he reminded me of one of my teammates who was like, like he was a wing too. And it's like, he given the ball and he's, oh yeah, I'll score. No big deal. But it's like, Larry, we need to make that tackle. No.
00:31:12
Speaker
So yeah, like he always reminded me of one of my teammates and it was like, but then it changed. It was like, okay, no, well done. So yeah, to me, Corbetti is, and I'm, yeah. And I realized that I'm putting him in the same sentence as Havana, but that was a Havana like turnaround. So let's see more of that. More of that. He might be in that category if he gets that, if he keeps approving. Exactly. So.
00:31:34
Speaker
Because he's scoring tries too. Yeah, he's off that duck, which is going to be helpful.
Premiership Rugby Highlights
00:31:42
Speaker
Let's go to the premiership and talk a little bit about what's going on with that. We'll start with Friday night and some wildness at Bath Bath and Was.
00:31:56
Speaker
We saw a phenomenal return and some weird ass hair from Jacob Umaga. Yeah.
00:32:05
Speaker
Yeah. Hair makes them stand out. That's for sure. Right. Like you're you're you're what are you in a competition with Tom Dunn right now? Like, although done supposedly is cut it. So. Right. So that's good. I hope I hope we're done with that. No pun intended. Fuck. Yeah. And wasps, you know, stop me if you've heard this one. Get out to a huge lead. What 30? Yeah. Three one seven and half. Right. So obviously game over. Right.
00:32:35
Speaker
Good thing they managed to get another eight to draw otherwise. This is like, yeah, like really the bath, the problem bath had is they just gave up too much in the first half. Really? Yeah. Like if they had had just like, you know, gotten their heads on fucking straight.
00:32:58
Speaker
They could have won this and, uh, yeah, they just let up too many, too much, too many easy tries to start and, um, and wasps clearly can't handle it. They can't, they can't hold their shit because it's the third time now that they've, you know, scored big and then, you know, the, what, the, the first two, they lost. And so I think, are they, are they, are they wanting to know just the first, the first one, the second one, they lost them both, but the first one, they scored big. The second one was kind of a meh.
00:33:29
Speaker
Oh, yeah, no, that was, oh, that was Bristol. Yeah, they were always, right. They were always kind of behind there. They were always in trouble with that one. The first one, yeah, obviously against Gloucester. It was, it was obviously some great play from Jacob Umaga that put them forward. Their whole back row stood up between Carr, Willis and Willis and just really, really good stuff. Will Porter is showing why he should have
00:33:58
Speaker
the nine shirt and not Dan Robson, which is for opponents terrifying because it's not like Dan Robson is nobody. No. And you can bring him off the bench and you can be like, you know, we have, you know, we'll do that, you know, yeah. 50 minutes, you get 50 out of will. And then now you have to deal with arrested Robson. Right. And we saw the return, the return of form or somewhat of Josh Bassett.
00:34:24
Speaker
You got two on this one, right? You got two, he's a good dog. Yeah, damn. You actually had 10 tackles by this list here. Damn, that's pretty fucking good. Yeah, and right, he made that...
00:34:38
Speaker
Yeah, I was joking at the time about how pure skill that was to to kick it off fish into himself like that. But that was well done to finish. You know, they don't they don't ask how they ask how many. Yes, they do. They ask how many. It wasn't graceful, but it got the job done. It did the the hosts. We saw we saw them kind of come alive, obviously, in the second half. But there was there's one player that does the
00:35:06
Speaker
talk about being a complete wing and I think he's nearly there. Wilmure from from Bath just he does the dirty work and we saw him, you know, take snag kickoffs off people's hands and stuff like that, which is really great stuff from a wing in general. If that's all you got out of a wing, you'd be really appreciative, appreciative of it. Right. But he's more than that. And he's showing that and this is the Wilmure of two years ago, last year was kind of meh, it was meh, this is the Wilmure of two years ago. And
00:35:34
Speaker
If Coca comes back to form and Europe plays well, and I know Pierce Francis was kind of a cute idea, but play Orlando Bailey. He's got the skills to make this team click. There's a lot of good things to like about what's going on with Beth, and Ben Grant can be very happy about it. I know they haven't won, but there's still better things going on visually that we see at Beth right now than there was this time last year. Right, they're putting up fights.
00:36:03
Speaker
Like they're not, last year I felt like they just seemed gassed a lot. And just not like, and by that I mean like just they had nothing in the tank. As far as not, it's not a fitness thing, it's more of a like heart thing. They're showing heart, they're showing that they wanna be in it and they're doing good stuff, it's just not.
00:36:28
Speaker
The opponents are too good. That's that's that's all, you know, and that's saying that with with these opponents being lost, but they're just not.
00:36:37
Speaker
Not playing at a prem level just yet, but they're, they're so much closer than they were last year. Right. I mean, Bristol was one thing, but Bristol didn't play that all that great, that match. Yeah. Either way, it's exciting. That's all I care about. They're playing, they're playing high score, like they're playing high scoring rugby and participating in the scoring, which is, is, yes. You want to do that when you get into a high scoring match, usually. Right. And I think that's the difference is last year, they weren't participating in the score. Right.
00:37:05
Speaker
Let's go over to Ashton Gate, Bristol and London Irish. So before we get to the actual match, I want to say, you know, we've been talking about finances and all that stuff and ways to increase your profile and, you know, get more engagement out of the club.
00:37:24
Speaker
after gate was packed pretty heavily like the most packed I've seen that place for a while and it was because I think they had some sort of like family package deal that they gate that they were doing and yeah it was probably a slightly discounted chick ticket but
00:37:40
Speaker
You know, the upside of doing something like that every once in a while is you bring people in that are going to buy merch. They're going to buy concessions. They might come back as well, especially if they're not. They've not been to Bristol very often or if they're new or newbies. So, you know, especially you get one of the kids hooked and the whole family's in.
00:37:58
Speaker
If you got multiple kids and one kid's in, he's just like, it's like, well, this kid's driving this bus. I guess we're going to bring the whole family to this thing next time. Right. Like if he had fun or she had fun, then then they're going to want to come back and this was a fun match. So this is a great match. Yes. So kudos to the, the team at.
00:38:18
Speaker
um at Bristol that they came up with that and and got the that that's and that's what players want right there that right there that type of atmosphere that type of crowd that is what players want to play in front of right stuff like that you know same for the wreck the wreck was rocking yes probably literally yeah so in the sense might be a little questionable over there
00:38:38
Speaker
But yes, so it's, that's the type of stuff that players want to play in front of too. It gives them, it gives them extra juice. And then with that, we get some better rugby. And I'm not saying it's always going to be that way, but clearly that is part of the, part of the equation. So good, but to the actual rugby. It does help that like, you know, Genjis from the, like Genjis back and he's from the area. And that's like, it's, it's always good to have a, like a real hometown guy.
00:39:08
Speaker
Um, on the team, like connecting to fans, it's like, you know, I was just, you know, he was just like me when I, you know, so it's like, there's that connection and that does drive the fan engagement too. Yes. So that was a huge get for them. Totally. And the actual rugby was pretty good too. Yeah.
00:39:25
Speaker
We had lots of points to be put up. I want to see a foot race between Henry Arendelle and Will Jordan. I want to start them on the 50 and see who gets to the trial line first. Can we add resamit to that too? Oh yeah, of course we want to do that. Chits and giggles. Because damn, those three are on that level. Yeah, they're all just about the same level. They're just lightning in a bottle.
00:39:49
Speaker
Unfortunately, AJ did give the pass that gave Arendelle the leeway to go. But when you're given the license of freedom that you are with Pat Lamb, sometimes that is kind of the other edge of the sword that you fall on. But for the most part, AJ had a really good game, so it's not to take away. That is just one error. I think everybody can admit that. Right. I mean, he even played 80, right, AJ? Yes, he did. He finished a little play.
00:40:14
Speaker
Right. And yeah, because Oshidi came on for, no, for Bedlow. Yeah. So I think that tells you something that it's like, OK, like obviously.
00:40:24
Speaker
Um, obviously, uh, he didn't completely cock it, but, um, so, or at least he's playing. Yeah. Cause it's not completely his fault, but no, no, he attacks the line too, which is something for me that I like, you know, fly half and, you know, he doesn't, he does, he does pick his spots. He doesn't just do it blindly and hope that something's going to work. He does pick a spots and music quality player. I just wish he was playing for a better country. Sorry. Uh,
00:40:54
Speaker
Otherwise, though, we it was the else getting show again, sharper of the day, like loose again and made a couple of people look silly. And yeah, scoring tries again. And then we have to mention the Laheaf try because that was well, yes, delicious. And being the decider as well. Right. We saw we saw one thing that we saw, and this is
00:41:19
Speaker
Maybe a credit to Kyle Sinclair that we just didn't give him, but I didn't hear a lot of people giving him like, well, Goodrich Clark was struggling in that scrum. Yeah. To the point where they decided to bring in for steady early. And that's not Sinclair's game. So if he's gotten better at that, that's pretty terrifying. It's it's potentially frightening. Yeah. Yeah. That's that's that's pretty scary right there.
00:41:47
Speaker
The, I guess, and you know, we both we both aren't huge fans of this guy, but the the Morahan try was just. It touched like five people, six people's hands. I was like, that is it. That is a glorious try when it and it's all it was mostly designed that way, too, which is. Just a piece of art. I mean, that's very, very, very. So.
00:42:11
Speaker
Yeah, I loved every minute of that. And it's, you know, I'm kind of like, but if Morahan is going to finish, what can you say? You know, this, these are the kind of tries that, you know, a lot of things would go right. And then like Morahan would fuck it up or like not for the past when he should. But this time it's like, no, just okay. Square the tribe. Cool. Excellent. Good job. Yeah. Like, yeah. And the Irish, we obviously, we talked about Arendelle, uh,
00:42:39
Speaker
There was still some good things. The first try of the match was great from Ben White. And that is also just the type of stuff you want. And that is the stuff that makes a good scrum half good. You need to run that line and not as many scrum halves run it as should, honestly. I think we saw Simpson benefit from it last week and just somebody show that to every youngster that wants to be a halfback because that is the line to run every time.
00:43:09
Speaker
And overall, this was not a terrible performance from London Irish. They just ran into a really good team and they had one moment of knuckleheadedness with the yellow card on white for a high tackle.
00:43:26
Speaker
Really, that was, I think that was it, no? They don't have the one yellow card, right? Yeah, that was it. Okay, so really improved. And they've talked about, they were talking about, it was Fitz Hardigan on the, he was very fast, that was with him on comps.
00:43:44
Speaker
Yeah, it was so they were talking about improving the discipline because obviously the week before they wore themselves out with, you know, having 12 on the field against our panel. That just even if you don't give up points like gases, you it's awful. But it's, it's better for for modern Irish for their sake, less cards, decent, pretty, pretty decent, even Rodgers and Pearson were everywhere. Yeah, they'd like almost 20 tackles a piece of thing pretty ridiculous. So
00:44:14
Speaker
better from London Irish, but obviously I think we're looking at a really tough team here in Bristol to expect much more than what they did. Honestly, they got losing bonus point and bonus point try at their place. Right. What are you going to do? Right. That's more than you would want. You know, if this was two years ago, you'd be like, holy shit, we did that. That's awesome. Like
Leicester vs. Northampton Analysis
00:44:38
Speaker
Yeah. And this and this might be that level team again. Right. Exactly. The Bears look just as good. So that's that's the quality, quality loss, I guess, from from Irish. You'll talk football term. Yeah. Let's go to the gardens and.
00:44:57
Speaker
Things were looking rosy for the Saints until about, oh, what, 68 minutes? Sixty-some minutes, yeah. Yep. Right where I am in the game right now is I'm watching it. Oh, you're watching it. Yeah, I just saw the Martin try. It's like, OK, well, George Martin, like, first off, as we as we started this, I said to Jared that, like, I don't know what's going on. I just saw Jimmy Goppert almost almost score a try and sand wheels. That's right. And it's like, holy shit, like, that's going to be that kind of it's going to be that kind of party.
00:45:27
Speaker
And, uh, yeah. And if, if George, if Martin's scoring, it's, it's that kind of party and it's off of a fluke, you know, the little accidental boot forward, like it wasn't even an intentional kick. It was a bad pass. Yeah. So, Oh, it was an intentional. Okay. Mitchell knocked it either way. He gets into the bin too. So, Oh, nice. Yeah. This is all falling apart. This really fell apart for them at the end. So it's.
00:45:53
Speaker
Ill-discipline does it again, really. That's where it is. And it's, was truck rightly or wrongly carded? It doesn't matter, honestly. You know, Dixon saw fit to card him there and he had warned, he had been warning them because they were, there were quite a few penalties on the trot there, unfortunately. But whether they were near the gold line or not, some referees wouldn't do that because they weren't near the gold line and some do. And that's, and Dixon decided,
00:46:20
Speaker
You're pissing me off. Have a seat. Yeah, that's how it is. Right. Don't don't get in the referee's bad side that badly as a team. No, especially with the amount of penalties that were coughing up. That's just never going to end well. You know, you're playing with fire either way. So unless you took advantage, we saw the same the team on the other side not do a damn thing with their advantage in the moment, at least obviously, it wore out the exiles as we were talking about before. But
00:46:48
Speaker
for the Tigers to just realize where the space is and take it and just, you know, put them to the sword as quickly as possible. They did it, you know, and this is this is the they are the champions of England. Let's not forget that. Right. So that is that is a thing still. Yeah. And the Saints are still not. Not at that level yet. No, not quite there.
00:47:11
Speaker
I do want to point out on the Northampton team, one guy that's played really well in the first three games and was not somebody that's really made the mark. He's not made the mark he has this year before and that's Alex Coles, the big lock from Northampton.
00:47:26
Speaker
playing really well like and you know Dave ribbons right now and uh-huh he's still he's really grabbing the grabbing it with both both hands right now yeah imagine him and ribbons back like that yes and then you look on silica lotto you sell laws you're like yeah it's it'll be an it'll be a nice pack for them to prefer um for them to pick from over there no it's happy um bill dawson and company
00:47:51
Speaker
Before Lester, and I do want to point out that Lester did some very smart business today and got a lot of the youngsters re-signed for longer term deals that have come good. There's a Martin TVP and, and Stewart. Yeah. Big ones, big ones for them that are doing. Yeah.
00:48:09
Speaker
doing work in different ways. And, you know, we're seeing just a glimpse of what Ben Portley could be, which is going to be terrifying for teams for years to come. Yeah. Martin is clearly just a dog that works his ass off. And that and that's fine. That's really starting to show not just by the eyes, but also in the stats. So credit to him. And then Stuart is. Yeah, he's developing into a world class fullback. Right.
00:48:39
Speaker
There's nothing there's nothing bad to say about him right now. No, no, really. He's not. Yeah, he's obviously not on the level of the guys we were talking about earlier, but like that could be coming because that is not far. Right. He's got that. He can put it together. We also missed talking about Andy year and extending with with the bears. Oh, yes. That's right. Twenty twenty six. That was actually kind of a fun graphic, too. I had never seen it before. That was cool. I like that.
00:49:07
Speaker
Well, yeah, let me see who this is. And I was like, Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's pretty cool. But the Tigers are are back in are back in it. And they're only going to get better because they got Montoya and Visa coming back. Whether or not they get a week off is going to be interesting. I'm guessing they do. But yeah, find out. And Freddie Burns played a lot better than he had in the first game. So credit to him. And I know we missed the last couple because of concussion, but credit to him for not completely cocking it up this time.
00:49:36
Speaker
Yeah, it's a good on them. And then let's go to the place that you and I are going to visit very, very soon. Very soon.
00:49:49
Speaker
Over to the stone X days. I can't wait. So I I was I I turned this game on onto my phone so I could have the audio go to my cars Bluetooth and I just put the I put the phone in the center console so I could yeah, so I could just listen to it and I am that wacko that is just Screaming at the top of their lungs in their car. My windows were closed. Thank God and just you and I'm hooting I'm hollering. I'm clapping. I'm banging on my steering wheel and there's definitely people in traffic that they come fucking crazy
00:50:20
Speaker
Holy shit. Yeah, that was the second half. Yeah, understanding of the day. Overall, even like holy. Holy shit. Holy rugby Batman. Yeah, I mean, it was this was wild. Right. I mean, mailing started off right from the jump saying, yeah, let's have some fun. Yep, definitely. Right.
00:50:45
Speaker
And then, of course, the obvious Valor Pava Ruskin, who everybody had pegged as being basically the best player in this match. Just slides over the top of that. And I showed my kids that, Jack, I'm like, this is what you don't do, guys. Don't just dive and lose your feet, because then guys do this and just dive over the top of you and fall on the try line.
00:51:07
Speaker
that's why we say low to high so that because they went high to low and he just slid right over and he went low to high and slid right over the top slid right over the top like oh thank you yeah it's real easy falling over that one and we saw so
00:51:21
Speaker
Obviously the most hilarious moment of the whole thing was Jinx putting his arms out when Earl got the try. Yeah. Cause I think Daley was, I'm pretty sure Daley was his best man.
00:51:38
Speaker
Oh, that's great. Yeah. That was I thought he was celebrating scoring because I thought he he was happy. He ran a good dummy line and took out a defender and then they showed it from the other side. It was no, he was free. He was annoyed. He was pissed. He was annoyed. It's so funny. It's so funny. I mean, the guys want the tries. You know, you can't blame him, but he's still celebrated. So it's fine. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Of course. He's like, hey, what's up, man? Like, come on.
00:52:03
Speaker
What the fuck did I do to you? But then we and then we have the we all that we talk about, it's very often talked about.
00:52:12
Speaker
those last five minutes before a half. And what happens in those last five minutes can, even if you just had to have a solid goal line stand or just keep a team out, it's huge. And the Saracens didn't, and that gave Gloucester a shit ton of momentum to go into the second half with. And they rode the hell out of that, like a freaking tsunami wave, big time. Tui Tui was a monster though, even before that. He was a pain in the ass. He was a pain in the ass. And that was interesting to me because like,
00:52:42
Speaker
Again, I've heard good things about Tui Tui that I never saw his whole time with London Irish. OK, that I see. I see it here. I mean, of course, you know, Gloucester can bring that out of out of a player. And now I'm seeing what I think people expected to see, but I certainly never did it at Irish. So I've got to give him credit. He's another guy I've been critical of because of that.
00:53:10
Speaker
Now, okay, no, they're all right. Albert, I see you. You're noticed. I, it's, you know, it was one of those gotta see it well we've seen it so cool. Let's, let's see more of it. Yeah, because I enjoyed that. And you had to wonder how much, how much
00:53:27
Speaker
trouble that they might've been in for Gloucester with three midfielders and a fly half on the field in their back line with Harris having to go about to wing. Cause thoroughly got pulled out and 12 streets coming into the midfield and Lloyd Evans still at fullback because they don't have the full compliment of their players. And I think it speaks high volumes about how little George Skivington trust Kyle Moyle, who is a true back three player and didn't bring him on at all.
00:53:57
Speaker
And, you know, they were talking, there were talks about how good he could be when he first came to, you know, guy's first game for lost during. I thought he played well. Like, I mean, you know, obviously we don't see him all the time. I've only seen the times he's been given a chance to play. And I guess it was two years ago, I thought he was dynamite. Last year, he kind of disappeared. Yeah, he definitely turned into a ghost and people in the, you know,
00:54:23
Speaker
Will the league adjust to you? Your turn is to adjust back. If you can do that, then you're probably going to be a pretty good player. If you can't, then you're going to, it's going to take you a while to either, you know, figure out how to be a good player in this league, or you're just going to probably end up going by the wayside. Right. Or find it, you know, find a team that's coached by Steven Diamond and he'll throw you on there, like the wings he preferred when he was at sale. True. True.
Saracens vs. Gloucester Recap
00:54:48
Speaker
Yeah. Some of them weren't, weren't, weren't fantastic. Right.
00:54:52
Speaker
So the final bits of the match and Gloucester played so well in all the way up to what, the 60th, 70th minute when Hastings hit the penalty. But obviously the series had already started the comeback trail, Josh Hallett had scored good for Josh Hallett. Love it. Another midfielder that we could probably use because we're going to be losing a couple of them at some point here.
00:55:17
Speaker
already lost and we lost one in this match. So yeah, if he, and because Duncan's not a guy that you want to rely on, unfortunately anymore, you know, he's just not that guy. And, um, so yeah, they need somebody to, to step up as, as, as a guy, they don't, you know, the, the guys that they were there like stalwarts when, when it was international time or, or, or kind of, you know, well, one of them retired for a few years now. And now this one's getting a little bit older and more broken. So yeah.
00:55:46
Speaker
Yep. Turned to call it a day. Yeah. Um, we, we saw more Reuben to hospital, which I loved. Didn't put a foot wrong. So hopefully that means good things going forward. Um, and then we, then we saw the front row takeover and the pack takeover. And obviously Tom, Tom Wilson Croft is not, I I'll say he he's not talked about enough as this, as this, as this, you know, back up to Jamie George, like,
00:56:16
Speaker
He's, he's extremely good. He comes on. He's all, especially if he comes off the bench, he's like another back rower. So, cause he'll take the ball, carries well, tackles well. Yep. And he plays like another flanker for, you know, basically like, yeah, he's like a six or seven basically from hook. Yeah. I, to me, like I,
00:56:42
Speaker
I rate him higher than a lot of, a lot of other starters in the league and some, some who are in the England discussion, including some who people think should be the, uh, the starter for England. Yeah. Fuck off. And it's like LCD. I don't, there's so much to his game that I'm not, you know, that that's there's so much to Wilson Croft's game that LCD just doesn't have. So, um, I like his game a lot. Yeah.
00:57:09
Speaker
So yeah, credit to Tom Wilson Croft and the entirety of the replacement bench, they used them all and they all made an impact in a lot of, in their own ways. And it's, that's, that's a great, you know, 20, full 23 win. Yeah. And especially to get the, to get the, that last conversion Farrell from the touch, like any discussion about this guy not being world-class is erroneous. And I want to hear none of it. Like, what the, like you, he just, he,
00:57:38
Speaker
The game is on the line. And from the sideline, he frigging does it. He hit it and he knew he hit it. He's like, I got it. I'm good. I was like, God damn, you don't do that if you're not hot, like world-class. You don't. Any discussion that goes on from here on out is just completely stupid. Like get the fuck out of here. No way.
00:58:00
Speaker
Absolutely. No way and just yeah love it and he knew what he needed to do He's like, you know what? My boys have just done a whole ton of work for me. So here's what we're gonna do I'm gonna nail this so we can go home winners. Yeah fucking he hit it and he knew he got it I was like
00:58:18
Speaker
How many people can do that and say, yeah, no problem, guys. We got it. And you didn't do it in an arrogant way. He did it because he's like, hell, yeah, I hit that perfectly. And, you know, that's one of those ones where, you know, you've hit it so well. You're like, yeah, that's the one. And then you see the other ones where you kind of lean and try and put the English on it and do the Carlton Fisk thing. Yeah. That was not this one. No.
00:58:42
Speaker
No, this was a that's yup. Count it. Let's go have a beer boys. Absolutely. So, you know, demons not fully exercised from last year with Gloucester, but.
00:58:55
Speaker
much, much better, just the same. Certainly. And it's good for Saris to get, I mean, it's important that they did win this match for, and especially with the wind, like that was a, you know, that was probably a 10 point wind, which was what made me nervous because it was like, okay, I didn't think they'd got enough points in the first half. Right.
00:59:13
Speaker
But then they matched them exactly point for what? No, almost exactly point for point 21 to 22. So it's like, OK, good job. Like you held off the wind when you winded your opponent. I think that says a lot to me. Yeah. Because that was a big win. That was that was super helpful and super hard to kick into and all that. And that's the other thing. Farrell was kicking into that win. It's not just that there was a.
00:59:38
Speaker
Um, you know, a ballsy kick that was like from the touchline into like a 10 point wind. No, no, thank you. But thank you. Thank you. And then, um, the sad, but sad, but happy, but sad story.
Worcester's Victory Amidst Struggles
00:59:56
Speaker
Let's go to six ways and Worcester's very inspired performance against Newcastle and the crowd, the team, the, the,
01:00:06
Speaker
everybody, everybody that just made this thing happen for them. Right. Good on you. I, I was watching this and I was nearly speechless. I was like, Oh, my God, this is a great day for Will Stern unfortunately comes in the shadow of such a bad thing. Yeah. And I will say that they're incredibly fortunate that this match was against the Falcons. Yeah. They rocked up, they knew who they were playing. And they said, you know what, we're good.
01:00:36
Speaker
I don't think they really want to care. They were rocked up and put it out there anyway. Of course, of course. But I mean, whether or not whether or not the result would have happened. Exactly. That's that's where they get rewarded for it. That's that's, you know, so that was good and good for Kovacic. Seriously, like, yeah, this is like, get it, you know, gets his reward to like. You know, comes back to the club like trying to build what he, you know, kind of where he started and and and build himself and yeah.
01:01:04
Speaker
So I was, I was happy to see him get over. Yep. No, he played well when he came on. And was that him that was sitting in the middle of the pitch in that picture? Did you see that picture? I haven't seen it. No, it was a picture. It was, it was a player. It was a Worcester player. I think it was him, but I could be wrong. Just all everybody had left and he was still sitting in the middle of the pitch. So that was him. Maybe it was, maybe it was one of the kitchen or brothers or something like that. But yeah, somebody that had been there for a while, I think.
01:01:31
Speaker
Well, if it was Kitchener Brother, he would have had a dunce cap on, right? Graham, yes. Andrew, no. Yeah. So it was a very inspired performance, and Newcastle just really laid down. There was not a whole lot that they could do, and they didn't have anything in the locker to do for themselves. And it was really just...
01:01:55
Speaker
Yeah, it was less than awesome from Newcastle. It really was and certainly proved my thoughts about their 10 situations, that's for sure. Yeah. Both of them.
01:02:09
Speaker
Neither was good. No. And they still, they don't have centers and that's problematic. They don't really have a fullback. They'll get the Matias' back soon. Yeah. No, they're done. Right. They need that. They desperately need that. Yeah. And they need a better fullback. You're right. I agree with that. And they still need a back row.
01:02:30
Speaker
I mean, Blamire is still, is still, is, you know, the most effective back rower and he's a hooker. Right. And he came on, you know, with 22 minutes ago, like, come on, come on. Like, what the fuck? Yeah. Well, Baldur's got a lot to improve on. Worcester are folding basically. Well, not folding, but they're going into an administration as a club, but they still have like.
01:02:53
Speaker
some decent players at each position. It's just, you know, their problem has never been so much their talent as in just their continuity. Yeah, Newcastle. Yeah, that's all I'll say. Yeah, problems. Enough said. Problems, problem. Let's go over to Sandy Buttcrack.
Controversial Exeter Win
01:03:21
Speaker
I'm sorry, Nick Mullins, they're racist. Call them what they are. They're not old heads, they're racist.
01:03:29
Speaker
Like they're not die hard. It's none of that. The worst part is that they're playing that song. What was it? Shake Your Tail Feather or whatever it is that uses the chant. So it's like, oh, we're just playing the song. This old pop song. And it's like, come on now. We don't know what you're doing. Like there's no need for that at all anymore. We're done. We're past it. That was the whole point. Yeah. Move on.
01:03:50
Speaker
Yeah, that's right. Karma gets you in the end. Not quite here, though, but really, if the Quinn's can look at themselves hard, don't spot any team 25 points. Exactly. Just don't. Yep. You know, don't spot any team 25 points because if you look at what you did otherwise, my dog's now up. If you look at what you did otherwise,
01:04:16
Speaker
It was absolutely fucking fantastic. Like anybody that says otherwise is a freaking idiot that just Marley Northmore green Marcus like
01:04:30
Speaker
Yeah, even Archie White like wow. Yeah. You know, just yeah. And Danny care should have started this match right from the outset. And I know they want to try and give gel time a little bit more time. But but no, he was he was like, it turned out. Everything turned out when when he went off. Oh, totally. Yeah, came on. That was that was it. That was it. Clearly.
01:04:57
Speaker
So it's, it's really, yeah, it's absolutely ridiculous. What, what he could do when he came on and yeah. Yeah. Just so much good that could, you can hang your hat on if you cleanse, but you can't spot teams points. It doesn't matter who they are in this league. And no, I don't love Exeter still, but.
01:05:18
Speaker
Don't spot on 25 points because they still find a way to put you to the sword, even if it's semi-illegal. Well, that's just for reference. You and I have this problem because it's like when a line is involved, like when the midfield line is involved.
01:05:35
Speaker
Refs use it as a marker. If you pass it across the line forward, that's obviously a forward pass. I'll use that. Here, you see a player tackled and you can see where the stripe is to mark off the 15 and the 5 for the line out. You can see he's not entered the gap between them. He's just on top of the H kind of thing.
01:06:03
Speaker
It's caught like halfway into the like into that line, like it's almost at the I think it was the 50. And it's like that's use that say like here's we passed it, he was at this you know he was relative to those lines he was here. It was caught here, that's clearly a forward pass.
01:06:24
Speaker
It was within the laws to go back and look at that one, too. It was. It was only, what, two phases back? It was one phase. It was one tackle after that. That was when the tribe was scored. And that's why they could look at it. And if they had done one or two more phases, whatever, then it becomes relevant. So that's how it is. But because we are there, we can go back and look at it. Exactly. And even so, we need to be able to make the decision that's there for us to make. And
01:06:48
Speaker
I don't like Tempest anyway. I think he's one of the worst that they have. And he's still coughing. They can't tell me like COVID is, yeah. The fucker is still hacking up along every time he's reffing. Yeah. And I just, but credit where credit's due certainly to Schoenza who, yeah, I don't know. We were talking about
01:07:13
Speaker
Maybe this is the answer to no Sam Simmons. Maybe. We don't know that for sure. But maybe. I mean, he's clearly doing this. Then, right? Yes, that is the answer. Yeah. And especially if it's him and CapStick running together, that opens up a lot. So, like, you can't just have the one runner. You need two. And I think, yeah, to me,
01:07:39
Speaker
Capstik and Shunzi can be a hell of a pair. And, you know, if you're talking, if you want to play a lock in the loose forwards, this is the guy. Not Dave Uwers. Not Dave Uwers, because Dave Uwers can't do shit that he could do there. You put him at lock, because that's the kind of thing you need a lock to do. Yeah, Shunzi's your flank. He's your six, right there. I agree. I agree. Like, to me, that's him saying, yeah, the six jersey is mine.
01:08:09
Speaker
It should be. I agree with that. Although I mean, even though he's playing at seven or whatever, is he playing at seven? Yeah. Yeah, but we may see the back row altered this week. So we'll find out. Yeah. And anybody that tells me, the next time I hear the bullshit about Ian Whitten or Jack Knoll being amazing defenders, I'm just going to show them the replays of the fucking shit that they got schooled with. They got pantsed a couple of times. They did. And just looked really ridiculous.
01:08:38
Speaker
And playing simple, Ollie Woodburn scores in this match. Jack Knoll does not. And I'm not saying that because of the obvious that he didn't. But there are things that Ollie Woodburn did that made the things go in this match that Jack Knoll doesn't make happen. Simple as that. He doesn't. And anybody that says otherwise is stupid. The most I saw Jack Knoll in the match was at Rock Time.
01:09:07
Speaker
He's your fucking wing. Or when he was running by him. Or that too. Man, that made me laugh. I was like, that's a center and he's scooting you buddy. Right. I mean, come on. That's, that's not, he's not even club quality at this point, let alone international. I don't get it. He's definitely not international. Right. I mean, come on. What are we, what are we fucking doing? You know, you need something more than a, um, a rucking wing.
Player Performance Critique
01:09:35
Speaker
You know, okay, great. He knows where Eddie wants him to be on, you know, a high ball or something like that. Okay. Okay. It's the ball in his hand. Yeah. Like you need someone at that point who's going to run away from people and he does the opposite. He goes up for contact and he's not. And we saw things like, we see things like Joe Cocosenga and Nemani Dolo coming off the wing and being used as a battery ram.
01:10:02
Speaker
Jack Nold is not the body type of a batting ram, nor does he run with the effectiveness of that either. Right. So, it doesn't make sense to me. Is he hardy enough to maintain that? He's too frail and will break easily. Yeah, and he has, and he's shown propensity to injury. So, yeah. I know Koka and Nadol has spent time in the shelves, but at least they got the body mass to help. Yeah. Honestly. So.
01:10:30
Speaker
That is that. All right. Or you could just go with a wing like Hayden Murley, who you don't need to worry about physicality because no one ever fucking touches. No one touches. Yeah. Lightning in a bottle. Yeah, that works too.
01:10:46
Speaker
And they still don't even have a lineup out yet. Nope. I mean, they didn't even use Nick David in this match, which was shocking for me. So, yeah, there's this this this Quinn's team is scary. Yeah. I mean, the exit, you know, again, good on the exit for opening it up a little bit more. And thankfully, that's great. Lord, I mean, he kind of had to. But yeah, I'm not there's that defense is not what it needs to be. No, the twins may look like Swiss cheese, especially in the second half. Right.
01:11:19
Speaker
All right.
Hosts' London Travel Plans and Farewell
01:11:21
Speaker
That is that. And yeah, some of you may be listening to the spot and we're either in the air or we're where you are. Turn around. Or we may be handing you a beer. Who knows? Yeah. Also that.
01:11:41
Speaker
Also that I like listening to the pod. You're listening. Yeah. You're probably just listening to the two of us babble. Sorry for you and feeling wondering, you know, asking yourself very deep personal questions about like, why did I do this to myself? Oh yes. So yeah, you haven't figured it out yet. We're on a, we're on our way to London tomorrow. We'll actually be landing Friday morning.
01:12:06
Speaker
And we're going to go find a place to watch Falcons and Bears. So if you want to join us, that's what we're going to do. Hit us up. We'll try to put it out on the socials if we can, as to where we will be. So you can come. No, I can tag it when we get there. Flip us off or whatever it is. Yeah, if you want to give us a kick in the ass, it's all right. We accept. We will do. It's OK. Promise.
01:12:32
Speaker
I don't know what I did, but I'm sure I earned that. Thank you. Yeah, probably true. Same for me. If you're coming along to the fancy pod, we'll see you over there. But if you're just one of those folks that like to stick around for the pod pod, for the rugby pod, we will catch you next week and we'll be recapping many adventures and many stories. Remember them all. Yeah, fingers crossed. Until then, we appreciate you all for listening and have a good one. Later.