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Season 2- Episode 47- The End of An Era (Champions Cup Semifinals)
28 Plays5 years ago
It is the latest from those dopes in North America. Naturally neither of us could keep our yap's shut, so this was a long one. We got a bit stuck in to a few things, but sometimes you just can't help yourself. If you are looking for a certain bit of material, feel free to fast forward to the time stamps given. In this episode we do a little informal go around with the Saracens loanees in the Premiership. We get stuck in to ways to keep clubs afloat while fans are not allowed back into the parks. Of course we cover the European action from the semifinals in both competitions (16:21), cover the start of round 21 in the Premiership (46:27) and of course it's our bad fantasy advice with start or sit (1:00:09) for all the remaining matches in the Prem, including that draft championship weekend. Tune in for all the banter and a couple of laughs!
Ask us questions via Twitter: Jarrod- jdyke8man & Ben- admrablsnackbar. Send us your thoughts for the show and questions for upcoming shows via e-mail fantasyrugbypodcast@gmail.com. Be on the look out for an invite to our cross-format competition for fantasy rugby competition featuring the likes of us and our good friend The Fantasy Rugby geek. If you don't get an invite, we can get you in on the lower tier so you can get promoted for the following season.
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Transcript
Introduction and Show Kickoff
00:00:08
Speaker
Hey everybody, welcome back to this the fancy rugby game. My name is Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glaser. Let's roll. Let's get into it. Oh man. This was, this was just good and bad.
NBC's Rugby Coverage Issues
00:00:19
Speaker
But first of all, let's just lead with this. Fuck you, NBC. God damn it.
00:00:23
Speaker
Yes. Even today, too. Yeah, I know. Like, what are you doing? What are you doing? Somebody please, like, do something that doesn't involve these guys. Good God. Like, I don't know how they make that mistake at all. And they had the game, like, they had all the games starting like an hour early on the site. So, like, I'm like, wait a minute. I had to go check to make sure that the time was right because the feed starts.
00:00:47
Speaker
Oh, it's just so bad. And, you know, and the shitty thing is they have they have while and poor carbs who we hope gets better very soon and is able to beat this latest bout with cancer. They're making them do their fucking dirty work and say, oh, yeah, that's they said it will be fixed. It's like, no, no, no. You need somebody on the other end. That's not you two to answer these questions because it's not your fucking fault. It's theirs. Right.
00:01:14
Speaker
you know it's unfair to them to put them in that position to apologize for them so so for the people who don't know um we got to see 80 minutes of the challenge cup semi-final uh between bordeaux and bristle right which how how long did that match go for 100 minutes that went 100 so yeah yeah so we got to see 80 minutes of it and then they just cut cut the feed yeah we we missed the fun stuff we missed all the fun stuff we missed the fun stuff at the very end so it didn't turn into as much a squeaky bum time as it could have been and
00:01:43
Speaker
Yeah, but that's still fucking nbc like come on man. That is You know, we're already in it. We're already in a grumpy mood towards this whole rugby presentation thing and then yeah the next day happens and then the next day happens and you're like, you know what i'll take Missing that 20 minutes. I can we trade? Yeah Yeah, thank you Not yeah, but hey, all right. Well, and we'll get into that later. I have a lot I have
00:02:09
Speaker
Opinions, if you can imagine.
The Beers and Podcast Platforms
00:02:11
Speaker
That's a shocker. Let's open these. I need beer. I do too. I need one. What are you drinking these days? Um, this is Springdale and it's, um, it's a mocha stout. It is quite tasty. Mocha at this time. Bold choice. Um, yeah, trust me. Don't have that much effect on me. Um, obviously make sure that you find us on your favorite podcast apps, Spotify, Google play,
00:02:42
Speaker
And we really appreciate all you that listened to us. Cause yeah, we've been, we seem to be chugging around along in terms of numbers. So, um, thank you much for all you guys that are hanging out with us and spending time with us, even, even through our long episodes, which is, uh, which, you know, maybe they don't listen to the whole frigging thing, in which case I don't blame them, but still to download it, we appreciate just the same. Much
Travel and Fantasy Rugby Tips During COVID-19
00:03:04
Speaker
appreciated. You know, there's, um, yeah, I know it's probably easier when they're the longer episodes because of, uh,
00:03:05
Speaker
Apple podcasts, all the good places.
00:03:10
Speaker
Like that much else to do I was talking to one of my co-workers in Canada today and they're like, mm-hmm So because I took a day off on Friday and they're like, did you go anywhere? They're like wait, you really can't go anywhere. Yeah. No No, we live in the third world third world freaking country. Damn it, right? So hey our podcast hour and a half podcast. What's the fucking difference? Yeah, right Yeah, it was um You know, um, so we'll do our we'll do our spiel here and then we'll get into some other things. Um, and
00:03:40
Speaker
TRM upgrades obviously, if you haven't got them yet, then I'm pretty sure at this point they'll carry over. Don't quote me on that. You'll have to talk to the guys over there. But either way, through the semi-finals, the TRM still plays through the finals. Remember that. So, a partnership. So don't sleep on that. Okay? Don't any of you out there forget that for sure. We want to... Ben had a problem earlier. That's why he's saying this.
00:04:15
Speaker
Obviously, check out George. Hopefully, you had some success with his tips from your FRD semi-finals this past weekend.
00:04:26
Speaker
Yeah, it was tight quarters to try and find a team. I participated last week, but not this week because I was like, you know what? I'm just gonna let everybody that's actually playing in a final and semi-final because I'm in the bottom bracket. So I was just gonna take players that people are gonna use. I was like, all right, I'm just gonna be nice and leave everybody. There you go. I'm not dropping anybody I have, but you can keep the guys that are out there.
00:04:55
Speaker
So yeah, make sure you check him out.
Rugby and Racism
00:04:58
Speaker
As always, Black Lives Matter around here, you know, racism is wrong, plain and simple. If you are oblivious to that at this point, then you're probably listening to the wrong podcast. I doubt if you're still listening to this and you've listened to us since the restart at the very least, you're probably not thinking that way. But if this is your first episode, welcome, bye-bye.
00:05:19
Speaker
But hey, you're welcome to sit and listen. But know that we disagree with you wholeheartedly, especially on that. That's kind of a subject. Especially this is an inclusive game. If you're in for rugby, there's just no room for any sort of judgment or bigotry in that kind of way, because it's an inclusive sport. Everyone can play, everyone should play.
00:05:45
Speaker
So we want to make a space for that. And we want the world to be like that. Cause fuck if it isn't great when we can make it happen. Everybody needs to live. Um, um, oh, but I know you want to talk about Nika. So let's go, let's go with that first. Um, okay. I mean, it does. It does. It broaches on a, uh, another subject, but yeah, it works cause we're going to talk about the champions cup. So let's, let's get there. We'll get there eventually here, which is where it kind of, but it flows from that.
Saracens Players and Criticism of Clubs
00:06:12
Speaker
So you can look at the players who have left Saracens. All of them have made, you know, we talked about the four big ones, at least still in the prem. All of them have made major contributions to their team every time they get to play.
00:06:33
Speaker
It wasn't so much that for Max Maylands until the last couple of weeks. Then all of a sudden he's getting more playing time. Boom. He's putting tries over. He's setting up tries and playing 10, playing 50, wherever you want him. That guy, the same guy he was with Saracens.
00:06:48
Speaker
and look at how much better he makes Bristol. Same thing with Ben Earl. I mean, they're good. You can make a lot of teams better, let's be real. Right. And then Ben Spencer is a major contributor to Bath's, I wouldn't say resurgence, Bath's surgeons. Surgeons, yeah. No, they've definitely surged at the table for sure, and he's been a key part of it. He's been unbelievable for them.
00:07:14
Speaker
And Singles has given Gloucester some good depth at that hooker position. They really needed it. Sorry, I was miscounting him. Yeah, I know. He started the club and then he went to Western. It's an on and off again thing. Yeah, we love Singles just the same though. It's complicated. I think it's the relationship status.
00:07:43
Speaker
Yes, that's definitely. What the fuck happened with the Saints and Ezekiel? First off, why did they bother signing him? I guess. You know, I don't know. Well, so I'm pretty sure David Bins is leaving after this year, after the season. So he's only there for now. You know, they have moon and they have wrestling in a while. I don't know how long they're going to be there for.
00:08:07
Speaker
you know, you and I both will probably agree that a sequel is better and he's more versatile because he can play sex, although laws can do that too. But still, he gives him depth. Again, I think there's one more guy there than they plan on having come next season. Yeah, I guess just what's the like, that team is in desperate need of some, some runners at the flanker position. Harrison's
00:08:31
Speaker
good. Um, he's, he's, but he's better in like close quarters. He's not really, I don't see him as an open field threat as much. Um, he's a very powerful runner, but not terribly. He's not, he's not going to scorch you the way, you know, some of the other eights, like a Simmons or even like a Ben Earl would.
00:08:48
Speaker
They don't really have that, right? That's a dimension they lack to the point where they have, you know, I think they see Ezekiel and laws just as sixes. I don't think they see them as, oh, I mean, Ezekiel is playing lock when, when laws is in, but it's like, he's killing it when he's in, but he's just not, he's not in and they're not, they're not winning. No. And it's like, so why did you bother signing this? Like you look at all the things these other Saracens players have done when they left and you don't say, you know what, maybe, maybe I got some of that and I'm just sitting on it to sit on it.
00:09:19
Speaker
So and you're right, maybe it maybe it really was for a next year thing and this all happened Faster than they expected it to happen. I guess you know, yeah for sure that's I mean, I'm sure that's right back at this point of the season still so And some other players and whatnot. But yeah, I just I don't get it At this point. I don't see why they're not using him as much Make them better and I'm you know ribbons has been amazing. I
00:09:45
Speaker
No question about it. He's been a great player, obviously. But, but they're, whoever is playing at the other lock has not been so impressive that I'm like, man, they really should be sitting as Equay and bringing him off the bench in this. No, I agree. You know, and they're, they're trying to develop moon and whatever. And rush general has a good game and a bad game every once in a while. So, you know, he's hot and cold and not really super consistent. So take that for whatever it is. Yeah, I just, I don't know. It's like, you don't see the answer, right? You don't see, um,
00:10:16
Speaker
Say Bristol again, pick them one. If you're like, you know what, we have our seven. This guy's been our seven for a while and we love him. So Ben Earl, you're going to be there. Our guy off the bench and
COVID-19's Impact on Rugby
00:10:27
Speaker
and you just sit there and wait. No, they're gonna be like, yeah. They tried that, it didn't work. Yeah, it didn't work. And then they started winning it. Like shit, we gotta play this guy. Yeah, they're like, ah, nevermind, we gotta play you. Right. And I guess the same thing happened kind of with Maylands, but it's like, you know what, they actually learned a little bit from it. And I don't understand why continuously you see a Northampton team out there that has Ezekiel on the bench. Yeah. It's not a guy you bring in to sit. Mm-hmm.
00:10:55
Speaker
No, not typically, not somebody I think of at least. Yeah, I do remember the other thing I want to talk about. They've obviously decided that there won't be sports in bands at sporting events for a little while in the UK and it's really got a lot of people in rugby worried and I can't say I blame them.
00:11:20
Speaker
I'm in the middle and I get both sides at this point. I don't want people getting sick and dying for the sake of sports. It's not worth it. But at the same time, if
00:11:34
Speaker
If there's, it seems like there's a pretty massive belief that they can get, they can get under control. And I mean, across the board in the UK, just about so, or that they can, that they can do it. And they were trying it and it seemed to be okay. I don't know. I don't know the numbers. I don't know the reaction, what the,
00:11:53
Speaker
what the number said after they did those few games where they allow people in. Um, they also did it for soccer as well for the permanent league. So I don't know what those numbers and what happened afterwards, but I didn't, I didn't hear a whole lot either. So presuming that I didn't hear much on this side of the pond, whatever splash was made wasn't big. So it's, it's concerning only for the sake of, I don't want to see any of these clubs have to go belly up.
00:12:22
Speaker
No, but here's what I don't understand. Why play the games then? If it's going to crush your league, then you say, we cannot operate under these conditions. And they're also fucking it up, might I add. I saw a fantastic suggestion by, and I wish I could cite them and I feel bad.
Virtual Fan Engagement Ideas
00:12:50
Speaker
I will make sure I can see if I can figure out who it was saying sell virtual shit, sell virtual access, sell behind the scenes stuff here. You're 50, your $50 ticket gets you access to this level. You know, you get to, um, propose a fan question to one of the players and they'll have them answer it on Twitter or something like some, some honest bullshit like that. That's like still creates engagement like going to the game. Um,
00:13:19
Speaker
That's like, that's valuable. Fans want accessibility too. That's another thing that would be. Right. Like, bro, you don't need people at the fucking park to actually make money off of the event. So, if you can't sort that out, then yeah, don't play the game. Like, if it's not economically viable for the good of the premiership, for the RFU, maybe that's what you say. Look, we can't support these matches.
00:13:49
Speaker
because of, because of the conditions, but they really should grow. They should figure their shit out. Like it's not, it's not that hard to get like a little bit of access to, you know, a little bit extra stuff like a sideline pass. Like they have a camera up and down the sideline that you can open on your phone or something like that. And you can hear what's happening and you can see what's happening right there on the sideline. Something it's, it's,
00:14:14
Speaker
It would not be difficult to do. No. But you've got to set up the infrastructure for it. You've got to have the want to. And shit, I'm American. I'm not buying a ticket to see Cyruson's play or any premiership team play. That's over there because
00:14:29
Speaker
I'm not going over there. But Jared and I have made it a habit and a lot of rugby fans in the US have made it a habit to do that as much as we can. You see a rugby match in the US. I mean, um, uh, fuck, who was it? Uh, Rob Carney. We had to, I mean, we had to talk about Rob Carney's.
00:14:48
Speaker
out of Ireland moving on with his career. One of the things, one of the matches he cited as, you know, he only really cited two of the big, you know, the big ones that, you know, stood out for him. One of them was Chicago. Right. Against the All Blacks. I mean, obviously, obviously. I mean, and they beat the All Blacks too, that helped. But he was talking about the atmosphere and how it was a green wave there.
00:15:11
Speaker
And it's like, yeah, we fucking love rugby here. If you, if you fucking build it, we will come. Right. You put like a $20 something, you know, take, here's a virtual ticket to a, to a, a premiership match. Yeah. It probably splurged for, for a couple of season. I try, I try, I try once or twice. Yeah. Yeah. Just to see what it's like. Yeah. It's definitely put the.
00:15:34
Speaker
put the money out there. Right. And that's something that you can do to create engagement that they're like, think about how much money that could generate. Yep. It's, um,
00:15:45
Speaker
There is a solution out there. I hope we find it. That much I know. There is a solution out there. I really, really hope we find it. This is an amazing sport and it's not as big outside the bubble as we want it to be. But we don't want it to go down either. We don't want it to go down either. So don't kill it for the sake of a few matches that whatever. They end up hurting people in the long run anyway. Yeah.
00:16:14
Speaker
So let's find the solution out there guys, because yeah, we don't want the sport going down. Nobody does. Nope. Okay. Let's go the action. Why not?
Challenge Cup Semi-Final Recap
00:16:25
Speaker
Champions Cup this past weekend, Challenge Cup this past weekend, semi-finals. Both competitions will be English against French in the final. Let's go to Challenge Cup on Friday night. I mean, for the 80 minutes we watched, it was fun. That's all I know.
00:16:44
Speaker
It was really good to see Harry Randall starting back out there again and looking very much like Harry Randall. Taking quick taps, ready to push the pace of the game. I am so happy to see this kid out there because I absolutely feared for the worst when he went down against Worcester. So yeah, really happy to see him out there. And I mean, fuck, on the other side, Jolly Bear. I mean, that was pretty much game when he went down.
00:17:14
Speaker
Things went real sideways for them. Yeah. What moves he had, I mean. He played for France for a reason. Right. Slippery as a motherfucker and blow by. He was a major problem for Bristol. I did not expect him to be that much of a problem, but yeah, he certainly opened my eyes a lot. I've been impressed by him, but not like,
00:17:43
Speaker
We're like, oh, that's not that this was like, holy fuck, this guy's crushing it.
French Rugby Talent
00:17:48
Speaker
Yeah. And not against a bad defensive team too. No, no. Pat Lamb definitely likes his defense. So, um, yeah, it's a, you know, he's obviously, he's, this is, this tells you what they have in the locker at France. Cause we saw the, the two on fly half, who was also a young, young 10 who played pretty well.
00:18:11
Speaker
they have Jolly Bear and then they have Bootier who can play 10 if needed. So it's, and so can Ramos if needed. So that tells you in terms of what they have now, obviously the last two, I just said, that's not their primary position, but there's worse stand ins out there. Yeah. So, you know, it's, um, it's a, it's a lot of, it's a lot of good youth in the French team, which, you know, hopefully excites people that, um, enjoy the French flair of
00:18:29
Speaker
Obviously they have Intermac and then they have they have
Saracens Team Dynamics
00:18:38
Speaker
rugby that they, uh, that they tend to present. So.
00:18:41
Speaker
But this was, they made it interesting all the way down until we had to go to extra time. Yeah, I mean that was definitely, I did not expect it. I thought that Bristol were going to...
00:18:54
Speaker
pop away with it earlier, but it seemed as though they just needed to wait till like 83 minutes or so. And then all of a sudden, boom. Yeah. And then, and then it was at Maylon's at Winona. O'Connor goes over first. O'Connor goes over first. That's right. From Maylon's. Yes. Okay. That's another thing. Has any single player been helped as much by the Saracen's diaspora as, as Peuso O'Connor? He has been on fire out of nowhere the second half of the scene.
00:19:20
Speaker
um in into here where he's you know scoring a try off, you know off the bench um, but just uh He's been able to really display what he can do in ways that he was not earlier Um, and that may may not be so much him as it is or the saris as much as it is rad rodra, um, of course all of them combined but uh, it's really good to see pierce getting getting his due like that and scoring that big try for them was good stuff it was um
00:19:48
Speaker
Yeah, it was just an absolute crazy ass match. You couldn't make it up. You really couldn't, you know? So I mean, in terms of spectacles and
00:20:02
Speaker
things that matches you want to present to people that don't know what rugby is. This was a hell of a product to throw out there. So I would, yeah, if you haven't watched it yet and you can go watch a replay of this match, do it. Hopefully you get the full replay on like us.
00:20:21
Speaker
as we already betched over. Yeah, I had to just watch the highlights at the end to see what actually happened. Yeah, and of course, Rod Rodder just decided this game was going to be, he was going to take over this game at some point. I was just like, that's how good he is. He just decides. He just decides. He's like, yeah, I'm doing this. Yeah, you know what's going to happen. You're just kind of waiting for it.
00:20:43
Speaker
Absolutely, so but yeah Bristol make their first European final ever so good for them Of any sort, you know say what you will about the Challenge Cup They play some good teams and they're just the same So, you know three of these four teams are really fucking good I gotta say of the final four in the Challenge Cup. So
00:21:01
Speaker
yeah it's not it's not so much of a joke i take some of these teams against some of the the champions cup teams it didn't make the knockouts definitely um there these are solid teams this isn't uh yeah it might just be as you know the lower tier competition but it's
00:21:17
Speaker
You know, so here it's still good good quality except for fucking lester. Yeah, I do want to applaud frank murphy I thought I thought he had a really good match. Um pretty consistent. Let him like let him play so Um, I do want to applaud him. Yeah, extremely consistent. It was that was yeah I think we were we were texting about that and with them to each other like how impressive he was like I I didn't agree with his calls sometimes but
00:21:40
Speaker
He was consistent with them. As long as he made the same one over and over again, I don't care. Yeah, as long as I'm seeing that, then fine. Whatever. Screw with me in my interpretation. Like, wait, you just call that differently. God damn it. That's not helpful. Yeah, and as long as you clearly communicate what the play is, you know, is it a tackle content? All right, cool. Then play on. Like, there was a, yeah, you know, you hear...
00:22:05
Speaker
there's at least one match where the referee's like telling the team that don't play it, don't play it, then they play it. And it's like, well, what the fuck did you think? Yeah, right. That never ends well. I'd still much rather that than the, you know, immediate go to the whistle without a warning when it's not really necessary. So I'd much rather the referee talk than blow his whistle right away or hurt. Absolutely. Yeah. At least play the advantage for God's sake. Yeah. All right. Let's get this over with.
00:22:34
Speaker
Um, yeah, over to a lot of false. Um, you know, there's a lot to say about this match and you know, I, I'll, I will give as much of a positive spin on this as I can. And it's just the number one, Jackson, right? Number two 50 holla dude. That's how you never got an England cap. I have no fucking idea. Um,
00:22:58
Speaker
the England coaches have obviously been drugged up beyond all the leaf, and or they just don't like your dad. I don't know which one, but one or the other. Yeah, this was a team that really they were one bounce away from getting to the final.
00:23:15
Speaker
Yeah. One little thing going their way from getting to a final.
Saracens Match Frustrations
00:23:20
Speaker
I love what they brought to this until, and you know how I felt going into the second half where I was like, okay, it's time to stop going for points. It's time to start going to the corner. And they just never did. I did have a thought about that.
00:23:34
Speaker
and that that's kind of that's that was my only that's my only problem with the way this aries played is that they they knew at some point it would come down to to someone needing to score a try and or at some point they would need to score a try just to to make sure that they could win the game um and unfortunately they they waited until rossing scored theirs to to really kick it into to gear as an attack um and really go for the jugular so i was i'm there was then at that point
00:24:05
Speaker
you know, it was like, yeah, 76 minute. You waited too late. It was just, it was just, they waited for an opportunity that presented itself a couple of times and they didn't take it.
00:24:15
Speaker
So disappointing that it came down to tactics, not anything else. Literally nothing else. And these two teams were so, so even. And, you know, and Rossing didn't do anything special other than the one thing that got them to try. That was the most special thing they did the whole day. Everything else honestly was crap.
00:24:39
Speaker
Yeah, it wasn't great. If you're honest with both teams, weren't necessarily impressive. Um, if you're honest with it, you can't tell me that Ross didn't do anything impressive. You know, other than that, Zebo and Teddy Tama and Vacatawa, like Vacatawa. Yeah. He got, you know, Finn and Vacatawa combined for that. But other than that, man, they were just,
00:25:02
Speaker
not, you know, every time they're getting the ball, you're like, oh shit, this is going to be maybe is this is opportunities. This is opportunity never was. Cause they just got shut the fuck down. Um, that, that obviously credit to Saturday's defense there. Cause they were just in the position to not give them anything. Right. But what's, you know, got crushed. He, he and Tom, all were both getting picked on. Um,
00:25:25
Speaker
they got that once I was in their heads, they were in trouble. Yeah. Um, Emoff was the one I was worried about. I was like, I'm not worried about this Evo right now. I'm not worried about Tomah. Cause I know, I know how to beat him. Emoff's good enough to be able to overcome all the things we could have thrown at him. And he finally popped up at the end, obviously. Yeah. But that might, you know, he was just the finisher.
00:25:44
Speaker
Yeah, right. But he and he's not he's not one to get put off by all the stuff that Tomah and Zebo were. That's the thing. Like he's not one to have that thing going going in his brain. We're like, oh, shit, you know, and you just have that brain fart where you're not in position.
00:26:00
Speaker
Imoph is always on his game. Doesn't matter what's happened to him yet. That's why he's that good. So, um, and not saying that Tomah and Zebor are bad, obviously, but they just, they had their moments in this match, especially.
Pre-Match Strategies and Tributes
00:26:11
Speaker
And I was thinking about Tomah before the match. I was like, if we pick on him, I bet you he's not going to like life. So, um, and he didn't clearly, um, no, he wasn't happy.
00:26:20
Speaker
Loads of credit to the boys. I love the Saracens team. I didn't think Nigel had his best match, but in the end, it came down to one play that we could have made and we didn't and they did. Yeah. So, c'est la vie. Right. That's a way to knock out rugby. Yeah, it is. You have to be on point the whole time because shit's going to go your way even though you don't deserve it. So... Yeah. Yep.
00:26:47
Speaker
Yeah, that's just how it goes. Yeah, I do want to give Nigel loads of credit for Finally pinging somebody for fucking the use it call used it he called it twice And it rebrand did it nothing with it. Just waited forever and even ben k was like, yeah, that was a really fucking slow He called use it before
00:27:08
Speaker
Ereborin had gotten to move the ball, and then Ereborin pulls it back to the back of the rock. And he's like, I told you to use it. And then he's like, all right, well, now I'm going to turn to the other side of the rock. And Nigel's like, all right, fuck this shit. Yeah, absolutely. I give you five chance.
00:27:25
Speaker
Yeah, so good I'm yes, and it was funny though, so I didn't there's no there's no hit record of this unfortunately, but um Because I meant to text you after that then I decided not to because I didn't want it to come back and fuck us. Ah, um, I uh, I said, you know between that the the five second rule and the fucking offside on a restart, um
00:27:47
Speaker
I'm like, they got to start calling a lot of this shit. Yes. Of course. Uh, they're, they're, they have been offsite on the restart. Yeah. Oh, there's, there's so many offsides on the restart. It's not, it's, it's not just one team. It's it's a lot of them. It is. No. Cause it both, both, he could have called that every, every restart.
00:28:04
Speaker
just about, yeah. So this was a disappointing result for the Saracens. This will be the last real meaningful game they play along with the likes of, you know, the two guys that just come to mind and you say what you want about the Saracens, your heart breaks warm, Wiggles and Brad Barrett just, you know, you don't know where their career is going to go after this, especially with
00:28:31
Speaker
The pandemic going on and really screwing a whole lot of things up. But man, it's hard to, hard to not love what the two of these guys have done for this club. And you know, Brad Barrett talked about captains that will run, that you'll run right through a fucking brick wall for. He's on that list for sure. And it's, it's
00:28:58
Speaker
Yeah, it breaks your heart a little bit to see him. And then Wigglesworth, you know, he, he toodled, um, a couple, a bunch of scrims at this point, but namely the guy playing for Bath right now, Spencer. Um, you know, I don't remember who was, I might've been actually Austin Healy making the point about,
00:29:16
Speaker
Wiggles and Neil DeCock kind of basically being blended into one scrap map with Ben Spencer because DeCock like to take those snipe runs every once in a while and that's not Wiggles game but he knows how to do that box kick quite well as we've all seen and Spencer's got both which has made him
00:29:36
Speaker
Yeah, which has probably made him in a lot of people's opinions. England's starting to come out. He should be. You know, so, um, Let me get those Lester guys out of there. Just, you know, hats off to cap. That's off to Wigglesworth. We love you guys. Great careers.
00:29:53
Speaker
You know, there's a lot of silverware and there's a lot of medals, you know, that are out there and you got them on and you deserved them all. I don't give a shit what anybody says. So we love you guys. You guys are the best. I can't wait to see what you guys do in the last couple of weeks. And that's the thing to me in the long term for Saris, you look up and down this team, the 23,
00:30:17
Speaker
And, you know, it's not a team that, you know, everybody's like, oh, fuck it. You know, like they cheated. They were only there because they cheated. It's like, no, this team, this team, like, and who knows what Exeter is going to bring? What if Rossing wins? It's possible that this is the, you know, the Saris were the toughest out that their stuff is toughest.
00:30:38
Speaker
matches that Rossing had to play all you know all competition and it's like this is not and this was not the best certainly not the best Saracen side um certainly not in a champions cup that i've ever seen so like they're they're not they're it's not talent it's the way they use it it's not that they bought these things it's that they can develop these players yeah and develop them within an attitude towards rugby and i hate the word system but that's
00:31:07
Speaker
It's just teaching them how to use what's around them. Yeah, and it's that kick chase game which was great all day between both Maitland and Lewington. And people were shitting on it beforehand when the initial salary cap thing broke. If you doubt the Wolfpack defense right now after this game and the last game, you absolutely are just a hater. There's no convincing you of anything else.
00:31:34
Speaker
I have no time for you. Move on. No, and even people, I, you and I both know the person we're thinking about, or at least they can't take it up. Just shitting on them hard. Like can't stop, can't stop, won't stop. And everybody is just like, dude, stop. We get it. You hate them. Just stop. You're, you're, you're just making a mess of yourself. You're really embarrassing yourself. So please, yes, you guys, you know who you talk, who I'm talking about. Fuck you. Shut up. Okay. Yeah, it's, yeah, it's silliness. And you know,
00:32:06
Speaker
Yeah, it's it's a you know, a culture that you build and I know that again, it's all
00:32:11
Speaker
um, cliche, but at the same time they work well together. They play good rugby with each other. It doesn't matter if it's, you know, Wigglesworth or Davies or, or Whiteley, they're still going to, you know, they're expected to play to a certain level, you know, you know, they all are expected to box kick like Richard Wigglesworth, you know, they're all, they're all expected to do that.
00:32:34
Speaker
Cause that's what, that's the way the salaries play and it, you know, it's not, Oh, you know, this person's a passer or a distributor. It's no, they can do a little bit of everything. And you know, we may ask them to do more of one thing or another, but they still need to do it all that. There's a reason that Wigglesworth wasn't starting over, over Spencer a lot of the time. And it's not cause Spencer is, you know, or, you know, it's not cause Spencer is a better box kicker. It's because he can do all the other things too.
00:33:00
Speaker
Correct. Like they just, they'll learn you up, you know, it's not, you see wasted time on every other club. You don't really see it so much on Saris. There's not many people that went to Saris and got worse or left Saris and got better.
00:33:17
Speaker
You know, there's a, there's a reason for that. It's a short list, short list. And, you know, and we were in, you know, we're getting into it. I know. Sorry. We'll, we'll get off this in a second. Um, look, you won't have to hear it for two for another year. So I know. Right. Um,
00:33:34
Speaker
You know, and say what you will about the salary cap. When you break it down, game check to game check, the Saracens were under the salary cap by that. What they didn't realize was the gray area that they were fucking with was actually kind of the salary cap too. That's the difference, okay? I need everybody to understand that. So what these players were being paid on the field to do their job was the same under the salary cap.
00:34:00
Speaker
Now, did the Saracens try and help these guys off the field and do it without, you know, getting approval and, you know, using their brains? Yes. Absolutely stupid. They were reckless. They didn't use their brains and they didn't do the things they should have done. But when it comes down to who's getting paid how much money for their game check because of what they're about to step on the pitch and do, it was equal across the board. So there's a reason that they haven't taken away any of the fucking championships. So. Yeah.
00:34:29
Speaker
say that let that be for what what you think it is okay right there's that okay um let's go let's go the other one because it was still that was still so good match too um susan exit uh over at sandy park um i mean this was a different team that
00:34:47
Speaker
Exeter weren't ready for in some fashions, but it was funny cuz they listening to Rob Baxter He did not seem worried at all when they talked to him early in the match. He was so calm cool and collected I was like wow this guy either is an arrogant pricking about to get all shoved in his face or he is on something and he was right on the money I was like, oh damn, okay Good for him because his boys figured it out Yeah
00:35:16
Speaker
I mean, it took them a little bit to, to, to feel it out just before halftime, but once the dam was broken, that was kind of it. Yeah. Yeah. Really it was, you know, they scored, but, um, yeah, they scored 30 minutes, right. But again, right before half. Yeah. So the scored in the, you know, in the meantime, um, but
00:35:37
Speaker
Yeah, no, like an exit or just that team that can that can choke you out. So yeah, it's it came down to that essentially of they scored when they needed to and then just kind of, you know, and just played rugby and let to lose wear themselves out.
00:35:55
Speaker
Yeah, they kind of did. And really, that's exactly what happened. You know, it's, you know, there was some, they had the very nice try that got them kind of start, kick started their, their game. It seemed to lose with, um,
00:36:10
Speaker
Obviously, the shocker of the day, Colby was involved. Yeah. It's the same thing. You know he's going to do something that's going to give him points because that's just who Colby is.
00:36:26
Speaker
Absolutely. Um, but yeah, and you know, we're all going off as, as a, as a loss at your line out for sure. So that's a problem in, in that sense. Um, but yeah, I think, I think when Colby had to, had to leave this game, I was like, there goes that, there goes whatever. I mean, they had some, they had that nice try at the end that looked real pretty, but that was all for, you know. Yeah. Well, when you, um,
00:36:52
Speaker
Right. When, when you're bringing off Cheslyn Colby, putting on a former, what, Lester tiger.
00:36:59
Speaker
Zach Holmes. Yeah. Yeah. Um, no, sorry. Yeah. I mean, that's a heavy step down. Yeah. That's a, that's not an equal change by any means. You know, they'd already, if they hadn't already, uh, usually that then they might've been okay. Uh, LaBelle probably could, uh, should have absolutely pulled it off. Obviously ended up getting himself over the line with some good moves. Um,
00:37:23
Speaker
But yeah, it might have been rough, but nope. No, as soon as Zach Holmes came on, I'm like, oh wait, well that's definitely game because you...
00:37:31
Speaker
They needed Colby at his peak to just get on the board. Um, yeah, just catch up. It's just not going to
Exeter's Strong Performance
00:37:38
Speaker
work. Nope. Yeah. This, I mean, good for Exeter. This is, this is a team that's got a lot of good players. And I really, I really do like Exeter at, you know, when you, when I look through one through 15, I love hog, I love them on paper, you know,
00:37:56
Speaker
And yeah, well, I like all these players, you know. I'm a big Jack Gandalf fan, really him, you know. But, you know, it's... You're big on both the Exeter props. Yeah, I don't... Really, the foursome that they have is pretty good. I'm sorry, not the props, the hookers, yeah. Oh, yeah, I love those two. I'm more of a fan of the props. I was ahead of myself.
00:38:22
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, I like them too. I like Moon. I like, I like Williams. I like Hepburn. You know, they're all, they're all very quality players. You're like, you're like Yandel and Cowan Dickey a lot more than I do. Not that I'm saying I don't like them. I'm just that you're, you're, you're big on them. Yeah. Well, Yandel's been through a lot. So I, uh, I have a ton of crap for him and I love the Simmons brothers, you know,
00:38:44
Speaker
Those are, it's hard to not like them. Slade, hog, knoll. You know, I really like all those pieces and, you know, I love a clarity for, you know, what he's got as a youth. But fucking Tony Rowe, I cannot stand. He is such a petulant child.
00:39:01
Speaker
especially when this when this salary cap he he did not act with any bit of class whatsoever he just started throwing mud immediately and just the most five-year-old thing i'm an uninvited you to my birthday party man i'm like all right yeah so in fact it's just the same way which is why i'm like
00:39:24
Speaker
I want, I really would, I would like Baxter if he wasn't such a huge douche. I don't like, I don't know how else to say that. Like he, he, I have a lot of respect for the, for the variety of the way he can coach that he's actually kind of modernizing their game, but just stuff it. Don't act like you've been doing, you've been playing like this for, for five or six years and, and first, you know,
00:39:50
Speaker
You're sitting there with Stuart Hogg, you know, you had Cordero, you've had all these guys in and out of your squad who've been, you know, international level players too. Like what the fuck are you moaning about? So just play your game. Like it's not, it's not Saracen's fault that you don't, you don't have an expansive game and can only play one way. And look, now they're, now they are actually, you know, they've learned some variety in their game. And here they are, you know, yeah, they're still scoring tries that, that Harry Williams try was as,
00:40:19
Speaker
as exitters it gets. Yeah, absolutely. Well, both of them, yeah. Both of them, yeah. The Sam Simmons try too. Same. As exitters it gets, but in the meantime, they're also still playing real rugby. They're not just looking for penalties and, and, and working the ball. They, they actually can win in multiple different ways. So I have a lot of respect for that.
00:40:38
Speaker
But stop being a douche, Baxter, and just... Row, yeah, the two of you. Row, like, yeah. Okay, stop. I just, I can't, yeah. Yeah, just handle it with a little bit better class, you know? Just try. You know, really, I would love to see what the shoe on the other foot would have been with Ray and Row, and if Row was, you know, the one shot, because I thought Nigel Ray did everything he possibly could to just...
00:41:03
Speaker
You know, put the fire out is not put the fire out, but you know, try not to make a big deal of it. It was going to be a big deal no matter what. So he's like, you know what, you know, even just by the saying, you know what, we're not even appealing this shit. Like we're done. We're just going to eat it and we'll deal with it. You know, so it is what it is. And, you know, I think people have come around since then to say, yes, this is a club that will be missed by the prime. Yes, this will be a club that's missed by Europe. They'll be back in a couple of years. We assume as long as there's a championship that gets played.
Saracens' Future Prospects
00:41:31
Speaker
And even with all that, they would still have been in, if they, uh, shit, if it was, um, what if it was the original penalty, then they would actually, they would be ahead of Lester right now. So, and I can promise you, they'd be a little bit more ahead of Lester because they wouldn't have fucking dialed it back so much sometimes. Exactly. They'd be at 64 points without the, uh, they weren't, um, penalized at all.
00:41:58
Speaker
So it's like they're they're still not even after they got rid of you know, though but the extra players They're still a fucking good team. So yeah, I'll be back. It's a won't and it won't take long like as much as you know, you want to
00:42:15
Speaker
Yeah, unfortunately, the championship isn't doesn't have a ton of parity to it. So, you know, and that's how it's gone for the last, what, five, six, seven years. Right. So, you know, that it hasn't been a Saracens either. It's been a
00:42:31
Speaker
It's been a Worcester. It's been an Irish. It's been a Bristol. Who would have been this year? Like a team that just fucking sucks. This is a team that is actually good. That's being punished. So yeah, I know those championship teams aren't going to know what the fuck hit them. No, it's going to be, it's going to, it's going to suck for them. And then Cyrus will be right back here and.
00:42:52
Speaker
Yeah. And then, so we'll take a two-year break from the Champion's Cup and then we'll see you in, what, 2022? Something to that effect. Something to that effect I would put my money on. Yeah. All right. Yeah, trust me. It'll be interesting to see what happens in their absence. We'll be back, motherfuckers. Don't worry about it. You know, I want to talk about, but I don't want to talk about that much to the lawn and luster. I don't want to talk about it all, except for the fact that,
00:43:21
Speaker
How much longer do we have to pretend that George Ford is an international 10?
George Ford's International Status
00:43:26
Speaker
Oh, God, he was terrible this match. Missing tackles, which isn't a new thing. He misses tackles all the fucking time. People just don't bother pointing it out. People bitch and moan about Owen Farrell's tackle technique. At least he puts the guys on the fucking deck. George Ford just friggin' Toro's them. Oh, hey! Good God.
00:43:44
Speaker
this matador. Right. And so I would, yeah, I'd say that's a bigger problem than a fucking scrum to be honest. So if you want to look for a blame about the South Africa, yeah. Um, maybe you're 10 who can't fucking tack. Although I think he actually played a good match that match. Um, or maybe it was Ben Jones that played a good match. Yeah. Ford was fucking garbage this game though. You can't say it enough. Kicking a ball dead on a penalty when you're right close trying to go for the corner.
00:44:13
Speaker
good god right what is wrong with you that's a that's a rookie mistake you know that's a high school kid to make that mistake right night come on man what are you doing like that it's just it's he makes the mistakes that you can't you can't make that in that situation you can't do it if you want to win a knockout stage match absolutely not much less on the road um so so bad so bad so yeah
00:44:45
Speaker
Whatever. I did like Bryce heme scoring on them though. Yeah. Yeah. Good to see him. Large gentlemen. Yeah. He looks pretty good. Just doesn't matter what the color of the uniform is. Right. So good on them. And okay. Wait. Okay. We have to, we do the one thing we cannot leave this without mentioning.
00:45:07
Speaker
what happens between now and October four that prevents the champion, the challenge cup final from taking place. Cause if there's anybody who's been a fucking mush this year, it's been fucking Sergio Parisi. Right. I know. I know. I know the guy's just been, Oh,
00:45:28
Speaker
So I'm really looking forward to him to watching him play in a final 16th, but yeah. Yeah. Okay. Sorry. 16th. Close enough. Yeah. God, I hope the guy gets to finally play in a goddamn match.
Bath's Impressive Comeback
00:45:44
Speaker
A super meaningful match. Not that these haven't been meaningful, but yeah, the guy just, I need to break.
00:45:50
Speaker
I just want to see him finish something, whether it's a season, whether it's, you know, the World Cup, whatever it is. Whatever it is. Six nations. I know. Hopefully he can finally finish that. Good God. Yeah. Oh man. He needs closure. Yes, he does. I agree. Yep. The man's in closure. He's done enough. He deserves it.
00:46:12
Speaker
No question. He doesn't deserve to win because Bristol do, but that's unfortunate that he's just in the wrong color for that match. That's all. Wrong color. Sure. Big guy. Losing his closures too. It is sometimes. Uh, man. Um, let's go to the first two matches that take, took place in around 21 already for prem. Um, it's going to rewind the last Tuesday. Uh, bath and gloss star bath pulled it out of the fire. They, yeah. Um,
00:46:42
Speaker
You know, and I mean, you know, did, did Beth or did, you know, well, not gloss to definitely kind of let it go a little bit. Let's be real about this. I mean, they, they, they just kind of, oh man, they just had a complete brain fart about it. You know, they really did. I mean, they were crushing it. And then it just kind of like, I mean, for some reason, I, I'm not sure that they're connected that, that right now, right around the time that, uh,
00:47:07
Speaker
No, because it wasn't, it was before Jake Pledry came off. It was right around the time Jake Pledry was coming off. Yeah. The wheels kind of started to come off. Yeah. And they put on somebody good. Jordan Reed is not bad. Bad. No, but Pledry's made the scene go. Yeah. Like, um, maybe, maybe take Ackerman out and move Pledry to eight. You know, I don't know.
00:47:33
Speaker
Yeah, Pludgery has been muscling people around and just doing everything he possibly can to help this team and they just can't get out of their own way. Yeah. You know, they really can. Like, what was, what were Pludgery's numbers? He had 40 meters, he had 16 fucking tackles before he left the field. Right. Like, good God, more, I don't even know. I don't even know. Like, what do you, this guy just has done everything and
00:47:57
Speaker
Yeah, so Skivington's new so you got to remember that you do have to remember that but still man. Yeah, pull your head That really was the the first you know 40 minutes was was really the best Gloucester looked in a while So let's give him that And it still wasn't quite there
00:48:17
Speaker
I wouldn't call that their best team either. It was, it was a healthy mix. So, um, and I think they know where they are, right? They're, they're not, they're not going anywhere special at this point. They're, they're, they're pretty much shielded from, I Worcester couldn't might,
00:48:36
Speaker
Wooster has the potential to overtake them with with two bonus point wins, but considering Wooster, I don't think that's happening. That's happening. So they're, they're, they're solid at top eight. Gloucester are, which may be good for enough for at this point. No, it is good enough for champ. It is. It is. Cause Lester's about so, so with the fuck did they care? I mean, though they didn't know it at the time, but at the same time, it's like they know Lester aren't winning that. So it's like they're, they're where they are. They don't need to, to win so much as try,
00:49:06
Speaker
thing, try to, to work with each other on, on, you know, developing cohesion within whatever skipping gym wants them to do. So it's, it's not going to result in wins, but it's going to result in improvement in the long run, hopefully.
00:49:19
Speaker
Yeah, I, God, he's got to hope so. Cause they've done too much. They've done too much work to lose to an eight ranked. Yeah. If they, if they had, if they had lost that, I would have been really disappointed for Stewart, who was in company because, um, the team overall has just played so well. Um, you look through, you look at one through 15 that's played very well since the restart. Um,
00:49:47
Speaker
You know, it's really hard to say otherwise. And, you know, they brought in guys like DeGlamville or, well, they brought up DeGlamville. Red Path has played pretty darn well since he's been called the pawn. You know, and then Matt Vasey's played pretty well since, you know, he joined the team beforehand. But still, since the restart, he's definitely been a big influence on them. So.
00:50:08
Speaker
It's and they're only getting better because of Joe Cocoa's thing that we saw in this match like, good God, how much better can they get? So it's done the up, done the up and they deserve to be where they are for sure.
00:50:24
Speaker
And yeah, when you're up like that, that you win that game. That's all. They're feeling it, and they should, because they're a solid squad. Yeah. And you know, I do want to point out this one guy, and we scratched our heads when he was picked for England. He's kind of giving everybody the middle finger now, and that's Tom Dunn. Yeah.
00:50:48
Speaker
Yeah, he's yeah, he's I think he felt a little disrespected when people like why is Tom none in the team and he's showing some pretty good skills Yeah, obviously he knows you know
00:51:01
Speaker
It's not a skill, but it is being able to steer your team over the line for tries. But other than that, you know, he's still a good line-out thrower, he's still a good tackle, and he's got some leadership qualities that you really want in an international side. So I gave him loads of credit for what he's done since the restart, for sure. So loads of credit that I'm done. Yeah, I would take him on my team.
00:51:26
Speaker
Yeah. He's like now he's been, and then that's what he's shown. He's gone from the, yeah, you could do worse at hooker than Tom Donne to, uh, no, no him, please. Like, absolutely. I would pick the whole front row. Honestly. Oh, they, they're amazing. Definitely. Yeah. Yeah. That's a, that's an excellent, excellent starting front row. And that team, the other side is not bad either. Um, in this particular instance as well. So.
00:51:51
Speaker
pretty good stuff for this one. That was a tough matchup for that front six. Either side. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and then, you know, talk about teams pulling it out of the fire about, um, earlier, earlier today, as we, uh, as we recorded this on Monday night off the presses. Yeah. You know, this just in Jack Wells is pretty fucking good.
00:52:15
Speaker
Yeah, I wish they kind of gave him the other try that they took away, but, you know. Same. Oh, you got a captain? Yeah. He's only my vice. I hadn't got to my captain. I was like, oh, shit. I guess I got a captain. I didn't change much from last week.
00:52:32
Speaker
I'm glad I played the guys I did in the last couple of games because now I don't have to do too much rearranging. Although I'm sensing I'm going to need another walk soon. I got boned because I didn't get to change my Gloucester players out. I thought I would have time and then work got in the way. And I was like, that's right. That was sad. So yeah, I have fucking Varney and Riese and Slater starting and I don't know that all of them would have started. So,
00:53:02
Speaker
Yeah, well, I mean, Slater and Reece Sam at least played. Bronny was nowhere to be found because we had that Willie Hines sighting. Right. I didn't have a chance to go and fix any of that, unfortunately. So I have some players that didn't score me as many points as I'd like, but Jack Willis and Tom Willis, to a lesser extent, did not disappoint. No, absolutely not.
Chris Robshaw's Final Game Reflection
00:53:27
Speaker
You know, this was...
00:53:29
Speaker
Yeah, I was watching. I was like, Oh yeah, that's right. I completely forgot about this. This is, this is Chris Robshaw's last game at the Stu. Yeah. I was like, Oh shit. That's right. And it's, it was a shame that he doesn't get to do it in front of, you know, fans or anything like that. Um, even if there was a small amount, um,
00:53:47
Speaker
You know, cause he has been, he's been a tough bugger for them for a long time. And you know, so I, you know, I have my opinions about him, uh, the way he handles himself off the field sometimes, but as a player on the field, he's, it's hard to do work worse at six. Right. Really is. Right. And even, even now that he's in kind of the, the downswing of his career, he's still fucking handy. He's still a guy I would not turn away as a six by any means. So he's not what he once was, but
00:54:14
Speaker
It's one of those like today. He was though. No, he put in shift today. So yeah, we bit of inspiration that it seems right and Just it's I felt really bad for him and fucking guy. I am pretty pissed at Ilya Ilya That was so silly. What are you doing, man? What are you doing? Yeah, it's it's late It's after the pass and you just fucking
00:54:45
Speaker
Why are you so dumb? Why are you so dumb for really doing like that's it was just not as soon as you saw it on replay like I didn't see it I could I didn't catch it live but no I didn't either I was like back to the replays like yeah that's a red that's not like you are not coming back and we had a good guy the decision was in the hands of a good official too so that was the good thing too
00:55:11
Speaker
And even if you want to wine or say that maybe a yellow should have only been a yellow. Maybe you didn't buy the whole hand over the head thing, but it's like, no, he dump tackled him. Fucking, that's no regard for player safety. Just because the other player had some regard for his own safety doesn't mean you can dump him like that. No.
00:55:35
Speaker
Yeah, just a really, really selfish move for on a team that's winning and doing well for to take yourself out of it, which just was not not good, especially with the the firepower that that was have not only at this in the starting 15, but off the bench.
Harlequins' Lineup Criticism
00:55:53
Speaker
Fuck. I mean, he scored a try. Tom is young, like young. You don't want to bring on Tommy Young when you're there up a man like, yeah, definitely not. You want to be tired. You want your teammates to be tired and dealing with him.
00:56:05
Speaker
Um, without you, I don't know, man, no way, you know, and, you know, he didn't, he didn't have a whole lot of impact on the game, but Alfie Barbara, he was on the bench and we said, we've seen the town he possesses as well. So that's not really a great situation that, um, Elliot put, you know, and he got thrown into the starting lineup as well. Cause Baldwin.
00:56:26
Speaker
build a late fitness test on top of it. So that was also less than helpful. Um, I thought Scott seal stayed on this field way too long, far too long. Wow. Yeah, there was definitely a time in the second half and I'm like, I thought you,
00:56:43
Speaker
had Danny Care on your bench for a reason. Like what do you say? What do you say? What are you doing, man? What are you doing? That was bad. Yeah. You know, he gave Marcus Smith some really bad worm burners and you know, he knocked the couple on and had to really do some funny, fun, fun, not so fun, dance moves to get ahold of some of them. And I'm like, ah, that's not
00:57:04
Speaker
what I want from my Scrum half from Marcus Smith. I'm like one of those knock-ons, I'm pelting him the ball back at him because I'm so annoyed. Like that was bad service from Scott Steele. I know he's better than that. He had a bad day. You know, that's too bad. You know, had a good day off the bench. Alex Dombran had a fucking day off the bench. What the fuck's he doing on the bench to begin with? But hey, you know, I don't know shit about shit.
00:57:29
Speaker
Right. Well, I understand if you want, you know, you want to give some guys some time and all, but I mean, you know, cause you really need to see James Chisholm out there.
00:57:38
Speaker
God, just bench Will Evans then. Good God, man. Like, come on. Well, I mean, he only played, I didn't realize Chisholm only played 19 minutes. Yeah, he came off injured, but shit. But it's like, well, that's, that's, that's your plan. Yeah. And Dom Brand needs motivation, right? Yeah. Um, no. So if he doesn't have enough from Eddie not picking him. Right. Um, so now, yeah, he's, he's double pissed and he did take it. He took it out on wasp pretty well. Yeah.
00:58:06
Speaker
That he did, that he did so that I did. Just unfortunate though, Quinn's really, and yeah, so what I think I texted you at half or something like that, I was like, Pat Lam's like, what the fuck? You're killing me over here. I mean, that was big for, you know, if, if wasps lose that match, they remain at what, so they got the bonus point with the, that Goprath try, I guess.
00:58:36
Speaker
So they were, they were at 61 points, which meant that Bristol, all they would have to do is win twice and that's it. That's, that's it. You don't even need the bonus points. You just need to be two wins. Um,
00:58:51
Speaker
And, and, and they're in the top, they're in the, the semi. So it's like, now all of a sudden you're looking at your breasts. So you're looking at, at a double kind of, um, but potentially, yeah. Yeah. So, but now you can focus. Well, he'll still, I'm sure he'll still focus on the wins if he can, but obviously you want to win that hardware.
Bristol's Top-Four Hopes
00:59:10
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. It's nice if the decision's made for you, in other words, I guess. It is. It is. It's like, so, I mean, trust me, I can guarantee you the Bristol players are all like, no, we want to fucking go. Absolutely. They do. No, nobody's that dumb. Nobody's that dumb. Yeah, so. And Quinn's, you know, too. I mean, top six, I guess, doesn't matter at this point anymore. So they're guaranteed of
00:59:40
Speaker
Um, next year. Yep. Of Europe next year. So I guess it's not, not too damaging a loss, but damn, they Rob Stroud deserve better. And, uh, yeah, absolutely. And yeah. And I thought the team played their hearts out up until it just kind of fell apart. Right. Oh yeah. Okay. Unfortunate. Um, let's do this. Let's, let's, uh, did this silly start set thing that we like to do around here and try and make bad decisions for all y'all.
01:00:10
Speaker
Okay, Bristol and Lester. Lester, one of the leakier teams in DRM. They do stand up against fly apps, but this might be the wrong fly I have to play against. We'll find out which one it is. Either way, I don't think. So I'm guessing this is a dialed back Bristol team after this past weekend and they also played extra time, remember? So I think it'll be a FOA and not Sinclair. So he's okay. By the way, I don't have any sets for this team.
01:00:37
Speaker
I mean, I don't have, there's probably somebody you should sit. I don't have anybody off the top of my head. So, um, it gets Lester. Uh, yeah, exactly. Um, uh, for, yes. Um, Cape on or Thacker. I don't care. Uh, Holmes Bowie would be the other option. Obviously joy is Louis to a, yep, whatever. Fine. Uh, Dan Thomas, Earl Hughes, whoever plays go for it. Uh, you're in a Randall. You can't go wrong.
01:01:00
Speaker
Mainlands are sheet is the likely 10 one of the two tens. They're both fine. If you have them play them party I would be fine wherever the hell they play in him and if he's playing I don't know if he's still hurt. I know he's banged up for the for the match this past weekend Leo a pia tauze Owen Lloyd all or our green lights. Yeah, there's gonna be a lot to like there's gonna be some cheap options out there for Bristol So keep your eyes peeled if you are looking to fill fill slot on a last-minute thing
01:01:31
Speaker
So on the other side, Bristol are not once the, are no longer the outfit they used to be. Um, middle of the restart, they were kind of getting to be a tough team to play against. They let up a lot of points. Um, mostly their, their kids have let it up, but it's, they all had their, their ranking fall. They're now seventh in TRM. Um,
01:01:54
Speaker
There are some players that you want to play for Lester. Gens, I would play Claire, but not Youngs. Green, Leibenberg, Cam Henderson's actually a fairly cheap option and he's done pretty well since he's coming to the team. If you have talent, we'll play him, but don't sign him. Ben Youngs is fine this week. I'm not going to besmirch you for that. I will.
01:02:17
Speaker
If you haven't played him, you've paid the price for him. Ford, if you have him already, again, same thing, you might as well. But Henry, only if he's playing fullback there, this is not a team I want to play Henry at 10 against.
01:02:36
Speaker
Yeah, I just don't trust it. Matt Scott's actually an okay play. And then Dolo, if you signed him, okay, don't go bother in signing him. He's really expensive right now. Maria Maria Ball, same thing. Harry Potter's done really well in pretty much every match he's played. So I'm going to give him a thumbs up. He scored this past weekend. He did. He did. And that did not look comfortable in the way he scored. Back in half. I was like, Ooh, that looks painful. Not fun. No, not at all. Cole Lavernini and George Worth have a seat.
01:03:08
Speaker
On to another who-in-the-fuck-knows-what's-gonna-happen-here match. Worcester and Saracens. Yeah. So, yeah, Saracens have that defense, but at the same time, we're in the situation now where you can kind of throw them out, you know, throw them out the window because these two teams don't have anything to play for, so you don't know who's bringing what, especially on the Saracens, and they're kind of mentally gassed.
Fantasy Rugby Picks and Strategies
01:03:32
Speaker
They might just want to, you know, play some of their kids.
01:03:36
Speaker
So on the Worcester end, I'm starting. Ethan Waller should have a pretty big game out of the prop spot. Bresler and Kitchener should do very well for themselves. Ted Hill, Cornell Dupree also I think will feature heavily.
01:03:54
Speaker
Francois Huguard and Duncan Weir I think will be excellent starts on the sit end. I'm going some surprise with Niall Annette. I don't think the Hooker is going to have a great game in Loose. He may make his bones in the lineup, but I'm not sure how many opportunities they're going to get anyway. Yeah. And Matt Kvessick who
01:04:13
Speaker
Plays more like the kind of eight that saris tend to shut down. So I don't think I don't think he's gonna do as well as he normally does or he has been doing I think cornell dupria plays more like the kind of flank. It's weird. Like he's he's he is more of a runner than an eight and kavastic is more of an eight than a flanker. So That I'd make that switch even though, you know, saris usually shut down the eights I think kavastic will be their eight that they shut down on the saris end cream
01:04:44
Speaker
He's cheap, could help for another week or two. And Wollstonecroft, same thing. Very cheap. I think he's going to get some time. I think, like I said, they're going to go with their younger lineup. Yeah, going down to six ways. Right. Kopoku and Hunter Hill, Sean and Rafael, Janko Venter, Manu Vinopola, Roddy Sagan, and Will Hooley, those right out your starts. And Sit, Sosino, and Dom Morris, because they're not big point scorers.
01:05:05
Speaker
Great to pick up.
01:05:13
Speaker
Dom Morris played really well this past weekend though. He did he did I don't know if it's translating to points, but he he played he played so well like the future of that Yep Center is that there I think they could be in good hands with Morris. Yeah, I like the kid
01:05:33
Speaker
All right. Exeter in London Irish. I'm guessing this is going to be a change side for Exeter. But you know what? It doesn't really matter. London Irish give up points to fucking every position except second row. They're bottom four in everything but second row. Wow. They're 12th in TRM points against. So shock of the day, you guys.
01:05:55
Speaker
What's that? Yeah. Locks are still going to put down. Yeah, because that's the way they play, right? So this is, and this, they may play guys that don't exist in the game right now. So just keep your eyes kind of peeled for that lineup. But for now, for the guys that are out there that are owned, that they might play, Yandel, Francis Skinner, Whitty. I mean, Sam Skinner, not Harvey. Will Whitty, Lonsdale is a great, a great pick. He's a tackling machine.
01:06:23
Speaker
Caps sticks not a bad play either. Hidalgo Klein does really well when he starts. So give that the thumbs up. Steenson, yep. Hendrickson, yep. I'm thinking Dolman's gonna play 13. Even if he plays fullback honestly, he's probably okay.
01:06:38
Speaker
fukundo cordero give her the thumbs up um if innard's your hooker uh jack innard and now pass dave dennis no kori baldwin no uh alex cuthbert no um hodge has is the one name that i'm kind of in the middle on
01:06:54
Speaker
If you have them already, I guess play them. Don't bother signing them though. That's the one guy that I was watching and waiting back and forth with. Other side, Exeter actually kind of leaky as well. And I think that's... It's kind of a leaky team that they're putting out too. I think it's because of the times they've had to put up the youngins.
01:07:12
Speaker
No, Irish have some decent options to throw out their superstitions. A lot of them are cheap, not all, but a lot of them. Hoskins is the thumbs up, along with Creevy, even if Cornish is their hooker, he's not a bad play either. Kepu, if you got him playing, Danelle has been awesome for them. D'Shavas is another guy to consider. He's not in anybody's team right now, at least not by the percentage on TRM, but if you need a lock and a pinch, he's not a bad option right now. What's that? Sebastian D'Shavas. Okay.
01:07:42
Speaker
Um, not a bad option. He's like 140 or something like that. Two is two is a yes. Cow and Rogerson. Yep. Uh, me and yep. He's actually done really well when he starts. Uh, for the most part, Rona's the only center I would put a, any, any value in whatsoever right now. I'm assuming he's healthy. Um, they've had a couple of weeks, so then maybe they've gotten healthy. Uh, lower out, Ollie Hassell Collins and Homer are all big ones for me. Um, my only sets are the two halfback pairs of Phipps and Tom Riddle. Hmm.
01:08:12
Speaker
Cool. And start of the week. Did your start of the week already play? He already played. He actually did okay. Hold on. Let me see. You got 29 points. So I was by rule prevented from picking my, would have been start of the week, which was, which was Marcus Smith. But I picked him like two weeks ago. So I kept it. So yeah. So I picked Dan Robson.
01:08:38
Speaker
As my start of the week also not bad also not a bad option Yeah, and he got the I think he got the most points of any. Yeah of any of the Watts backs So nice. Yeah, and only it looks like for now only Gaskell and and Jack Willis Outscored not bad. So yeah, I could have done worse good pick
01:08:59
Speaker
Uh, mine hasn't played yet. Um, this guy's always a solid performer whenever he gets the nod. That's a, that's a win. Um, um, he's going into a really poor team. Hopefully you haven't used your kicker spot yet. Um, as one, um, on one of the options that was already played, you know, whether it's Smith or priest or whoever, um, uh, my start of the week is, is a Exeter club legend, Gareth Steenson. Nice. That's a, that's an excellent selection for this week. Like it, um,
01:09:28
Speaker
for my, so Robson and Steenson. On the other side, the sit of the week, mine plays tomorrow, so you might know. So I'm gonna get it out now. Dan Bigger has been... Not great.
01:09:47
Speaker
poop. And yeah, no, I shouldn't say poop. But fantasy wise, he's been poop. Yeah. He's doing everything he possibly can for that team. He's throwing kitchen sinks out there and just nothing's connecting. No. And then he's going against sale. Enough said. Yeah, I know. Sorry, buddy. There's not a whole lot to be done about that. You know, it's just
01:10:08
Speaker
Yeah, it's really tough sled in the barrel. Yeah. Yeah. Sorry, buddy. Yeah. I love him. Love you guys. But yeah, not this week, man. Not this week. All right. Um, so for the last meaningful game for a while for the Saracens, we're going to move on to the next week here. Um,
01:10:31
Speaker
Jeez, it's Saracens against Bath. Their old friend, Ben Spence, is going to wander into the town. And really, this could be a lot on the line for Bath here, depending on how results go. We'll talk about picking on a little bit here. Jeez, you know, I almost feel bad, but the Saracens are going to go full noise.
Saracens vs Bath Match Preview
01:10:51
Speaker
I don't see why not. I really don't see why not. These guys may not play for a while.
01:10:56
Speaker
True. And I'm sure Eddie Jones wants some of these guys to get a little bit more action before the automations and the wrapping up of the six nations and so on and so forth. Guys still isn't eligible, correct? He's got two more games. He's got two more games. No, actually, yes. No, I'm trying to think. How many? No, he missed four. So the midweek game would be his last one. Okay. So he's eligible for this game. Okay. I thought he... Oh, did he get reduced? I thought it was six. It was five.
01:11:23
Speaker
Five. Okay. Well, then I found it wrong. I believe it was five. I could be wrong. If I'm wrong, please somebody tell me I'm right with that. Anyway, Saracen's are probably gonna do a full noise. Batha built themselves as a pretty good outfit defensively in TRM, especially FRD. Not as much. Oh yeah. Also, FRD final week. Yeah. Random cowboy. I got two of them I gotta worry about. I only have one against you. Excuse me.
01:11:50
Speaker
Starts shocker of the day, Mako and Jenks, yep. The front row, yes. Rhodes, Morrow, Farrell, Daly, Alex Goode, thumbs up. TRM onlys are Billy, Maitland, and Lewington. Outright knows, Kock, whoever's playing the other lock position, whether it's Swinson or Calum Hunter Hill, Jax, Wiggles, and Barrett, Pineham.
01:12:14
Speaker
back, uh, back for bath. Saracens are still a pretty good outfit too. If you want to listen to Ben before, um, third and fourth in each competent in each format respectively, but it's still the bath bath guys are still pretty strong. So you have a few guys that you have to make a tough decision against. Um, yeah, I know it's less than fun for all of us. Trust me. Um, the, that front row, you got to start it, you know, Stuart Obano, uh,
01:12:42
Speaker
Tom Dunn, you got started. It's really hard not to. I understand that they'll want to not because if it's, you know, if you know the, what they're going up against, but do it, just do it and stop, stop, stop asking questions. Front row as well on FRD. Go for it. Stuke, Mercer, Underhill. Yep.
01:13:01
Speaker
Ben Spencer against his old friends. Yep. Priest. Yes. JJ. Joe. Sophie. Yep. Where are you? Mcconaughey. Yes. Um, you'll, they always find a lock to, to just kill. And I think yields is going to be it. Um, foul towel. Not worth it. Matter of AC. He's listed as an OB and FRD. So no, and no, um, Watson's not done it for a while. Rocco's not done it for a while. If you want to gamble on clunking and singing an FRD fine. That's, but don't, don't go signing them.
01:13:39
Speaker
Yeah, there's not much to pick over here for Lester. I'm not sure what kind of lineup they're going to be putting out if they want to just give guys arrests as they're winding down. But as you said, they might want to, you know, Eddie might ask them to play their international players, which means they should probably just give everyone a rest. Except I guess for for Gensch. But I still wouldn't sign them anyway or I wouldn't or I wouldn't play him anyway because he's way too expensive.
01:13:57
Speaker
On you. On to me. On to Lester versus Harlequins.
01:14:08
Speaker
And this, again, is, yeah, as you said, is, uh, FRD. So, um, Hunter Leibenberg and Tommy Rafel are your starts in both formats. Nice. Either TRM or the draft. Um, George Ford and Harry Potter, I would sit in TRM, but start in, in FRD. Um, the front, like I said, uh, the Lester front row, sit them. Um, Ben Young sit in either format.
01:14:31
Speaker
On the other end the Harlequins front row are a big big start Scott Baldwin in DRM if he's hopefully he's playing at that point Would be a start now in for the for the both formats. We're looking at Stefan Louise Alex Dombrandt obviously even if it's on the bench probably start him anyway He's shown that he's shown good promise. Otherwise Yeah Danny care Marcus Smith
01:14:57
Speaker
Marchant looks like he and Esther Houston can combine on some things. Yeah. That's a thing that makes a noise. And Mike Brown, who also was just a bad pass away from throwing Marchant clear for a try today. And then James Chisholm, I'm assuming he'll start. He's a sit in TRM, but start in draft. And then sit in either format or have a body Morris, like Hayden Murley.
01:15:27
Speaker
No argument on me. Um, Gloucester and the Saints, we talked about the Saints already there. They're a wheelie. He and in both formats, even as well as we've gotten here, um, Gloucester are going to be a team that could be playing for something. We don't know what they're going to be playing for, but they could be playing for something if things have gone. Um,
01:15:43
Speaker
the way that they didn't want them to. So, with that, Balmain, Repava Ruskin, Singles, Front Row, go ahead. Slater's ES in both formats. Piledry, Doi, Ackerman is okay in both formats. Heinz or Simpson, yeah, okay. Harris, Atkinson in the centers, yeah, do it for both formats. Re-Zamit, Thorley, yep.
01:16:08
Speaker
In FRD only, Garvey or Elemono, any block with a pulse is worth it. So if you're that stuck, then yeah, fine. 12 trees is definitely an FRD play because he takes our kicks. Banners, if he plays fullback in FRD, yeah, why not? You know, he's going to get some easy meters. I don't love Ludlow and I don't love Sips this week. Just both are fucking ice cold. Yeah, they are unfortunate. Snakebit right now.
01:16:34
Speaker
Yeah, just a bit. Glosser, our fifth, so not too strong, but third in FRD. So fifth in TRM and third in FRD. So that's just really bad news for anybody that's playing a lot of Saints out there. The really obvious ones are going to be the ones that you're going to look to. Heywood is the only member of the front row that I would play. I would not play that front row, no way.
01:16:58
Speaker
the obvious, the obvious of laws, seek way ribbons is still a decent start. Um, yeah, the secret, whatever it is. Um, we'll sit, we'll find out, I guess. Um, and Gibson chair, if he's out there, if he's the, if he's starting in there. Yeah. All right. Cool. I'm all right with it. Um,
01:17:19
Speaker
Taylor and Mitchell, yeah. They'll both be good for your both spots. Bigger, yep. Proctor's been pretty consistent, so go ahead. I only have one guy that's FRD only, and that's the big tank, Naira Voral. You've rolled the dice on the whole year.
01:17:36
Speaker
And if you got to the final, do it. Okay. He actually gets, he seems to get decent points in, in FRD that he doesn't in TRM. I don't. Right. Yeah. Beats me. Obviously the format change, obviously. Um, like I said, no front row T amount of Harrison.
Exeter and Bristol Line-Up Speculations
01:17:50
Speaker
I don't love Ludlum in this particular matchup or the centers, Hutch, Francis, Dingwall, none of them. Nope. To all in for a bank. Nobody. Nope. Nope. Nope.
01:18:05
Speaker
So I went, and for my next match too, I'm assuming that these teams that are in their respective finals may put out just some garbage teams just to get themselves a little bit of a rest after the beating they put themselves through. So, but at the same time, if we're talking an Exeter and you don't know who to fucking start or sit, that's on you at this point. So I'm going to give you their, if they put out a B-side lineup. Right.
01:18:30
Speaker
And same for Bristol. So suck it. If they put up their phone, always line up. You know what to do. So for wasps, start their front row. We could still have a decent day, as we've seen, because they're pretty damn good in the loose, even if they get kind of humped in the scrum.
01:18:48
Speaker
Tom Cruise, then, is your start from the easy start from the front row if he's hooking. You want to play him. Will Rowlands, again, eats up points, and then that back row that we talked about. I have Jack Willis, Tom Willis, Tommy Young, because that's what I want to see. So, please. When we get to see.
01:19:12
Speaker
Yeah, Dan Robson, Jacob Umaga, starts in both. So all those people are starts in both formats. The only changeover is Zach Kiberige, who I would sit in TRM, but I give him a shot in the draft format. It might be worth it.
01:19:29
Speaker
On the Exeter side, some guys you mentioned, Richard Capstik, Don Armand, if they're playing stardom in both formats. Guys like Joe Snow, Harvey Skinner, and Vikender Kuderer, just as you said, I would sit them in TRM stardom in draft. But again, if they're playing their full noise team, yeah, stay away from the 12.
01:19:50
Speaker
And one of their wings will probably not get too many points. And you'll pick the other one. Well, no, that's the one you'll pick. The other one will be the one who you thought about picking and didn't. Yeah, but you know what to do with their full noise lineup. I trust you. We trust you. We're trusting you, okay? Don't screw it up. Sail versus Worcester. Worcester, super leaky, not a new thing.
01:20:18
Speaker
And there's some quality options for sale. Sale will probably be playing for something in this weekend. So you can bet that you're going to see some decent ones. I don't love a lot of other props. You mentioned Harrison. That's the only guy I would consider playing if I've signed him already, honestly. If I haven't signed him by now, I'm probably not doing it. And I cut him.
01:20:42
Speaker
Yeah, there you go. Exactly. Um, but Acavon and Murrah, I definitely play. Um, I would, I play the front row against this team. They're kind of bad. So go ahead. Um, Dandubria, Curry, Ross. Yep. Um, Faf is where it is probably okay in this, in this spot, especially on FRD, especially on, Hey, FRD against, what street, are you kidding me? That's true. FRD. Yeah, fine. Yeah. Um, yeah.
01:21:06
Speaker
AJ, big old thumbs up if he's there, Ted. Tui, JBR, yep. Luke James might be playing fullback as a, as a, as a midfielder in FRD. So yes. And if you're stuck in TRM, this is the team to probably roll him out there
Sale's Strategy Against Worcester
01:21:21
Speaker
too. Sam as well, you know, it's Worcester.
01:21:24
Speaker
the hell are you talking about, man? This is Wooster. This is nowhere in the middle. This is Wooster. I understand your sentiment. One at a time, Jack. One of them will hit. I'm not trying to protect the future. I'm just telling you, it's probably worth the rollout.
01:21:43
Speaker
yards. Okay. This week, um, against this particular team, uh, don't still don't play JLDP in FRD. Like he's, he's playing lock. It's really hard to score points from lock in that format. Um, yeah, I don't trust Rob Dupree in this in TRM, but if you're fucking stuck at a fly half, I guess that's your spot. That's your guy. Um, so almost been pretty well done pretty well in FRD. Um, and again, if you're stuck, hammers is, you could do worse against a worse opponent. So
01:22:14
Speaker
And as we've already talked about this is a complete no-fly zone for player for fantasy players And this is the wrong fucking team to have this happening to them But there are some probably some false hopes that you can cling to There's some guys that have done pretty well all year. So we'll we'll roll that out right now Waller
01:22:32
Speaker
Yep. Um, Annette, they usually have a hooker that does the starting hooker used to do terrible. It's the backup that just gets absolutely slaughtered. So, um, the, the, the front rows of no fly zone though. And never a day, no way. Um, uh, Bresler and Bresler Hill and Lewis I like, um, don't love,
01:22:51
Speaker
uh, Cornell or GJ. Nope. Uh, Kovacik. Yeah, I think he'll be okay. Um, I think he's going to make a lot of tackles, which that helps. Um, none of the halfback combos at all. Huggard, Sturl, we are just, no, um, I don't love venture in this. Ollie Lawrence has some,
01:23:08
Speaker
Has a skill set that I think can cause problems for sale. So I'm going to give him a thumbs up. The wings, one of them usually does okay. So Huard or Nick David, depending on what they put out there. And if Chris Pennell is out there and you're counting on him, man, you are desperate. Oh, I know. On to the last match of the weekend, which would be London Irish versus Bristol.
01:23:34
Speaker
So same as last time, um, for Bristol, if, if there go full noise, you know what the fuck to do, which is everybody just talking. But for the guys who are, you know, you know, not really sure if they're playing, if they, if they roll out of B side squad, if they're, they're just kind of ready to, to, to give themselves a break, um, still start their front row. Um, it's,
01:23:57
Speaker
Joe Joyce, Ed Holmes, Atwood, whoever's in there, start them in both formats. Chris Cook would be certainly a start in drafts. Yeah, absolutely. I guess he wouldn't be worth a look in TRM because, fuck it, you don't want to pick him up. And then along the draft lines, Tiff Eden and Yoan Lloyd would be guys worth looking at if they're starting.
01:24:23
Speaker
Other than that, again, full noise team. You know what to do. You know what to do. Right. On the other end, London Irish, um, also start their front row because I think they're still going to be doing damage. Um, that goes for Ollie Hoskins, Allen Dell, Creevy, the same, you know, all the guys you just mentioned a few minutes ago. Um, George, not, I think would be a big start here and to a suey. Yeah, I like him. I, and I'm going with whoever's at nine, whether it's Nick Phipps or Ben, me and, um, give him a start.
01:24:52
Speaker
Gave a start to Voldemort. Let's move past it. And Ollie Hassell Collins and Ben Lowder are star starts in both formats. You're becoming a death eater. I'm not, no, I'm just saying he might get you actual points. Oh, okay. As long as we establish that. Really, if you really need it, if no other tens are available, go for it. You can sell your solids, okay. Yeah, I'll get you some points. Congratulations. Oh, shit.
01:25:18
Speaker
okay um yeah this is so my start of the week um i'm i'm anticipating bristol having to play for something so um it's gonna be from bristol it's gonna be from i mean this is gonna be a duh general not yeah that's a big time
01:25:40
Speaker
Yeah, so that's going to be a joy moment there. But yeah, my service better off. And I didn't go back in time to check this one. I think we're good. I'm going to go with when all else fails.
01:25:56
Speaker
look who Lester are playing and, and, and pick out somebody who might score a lot of points. Yeah. And I'm looking at one Alex Dombrandt sitting there. Yeah. I mean, I'm going to think he's going to be scoring a lot of points on, on Lester. So he'd be my start of the week for that, that week 22 mashup. Yep. Not a bad pick. Whatever format you were in.
01:26:16
Speaker
Yeah. So for the week, this is guy that a lot of people have rode probably for quite a while, but man, he's going into the exact wrong team to get to play in your championship week. So look elsewhere if you have him and he's just starting halfback. My say of the week is the halfback for Worcester. Oh, yeah. Harsh. Yeah. Staying in the same game.
01:26:42
Speaker
Um, for my sit of the week, uh, is, is going to be his, uh, halfback counterpart in Duncan Weir. So it's not, it's not a good place to go, man. This is a dark place to have to go. It's a very dark place to be. And, uh, Worcester are not built for that. Nope. Nobody. Nope. Nope. No, it's not from, not out of those two at least. No, no. Yeah. So just, I mean,
01:27:07
Speaker
he's going to be
Match Predictions and Insights
01:27:08
Speaker
pulling his hair out by the end of the match. All those, that, that, that, that just, you won't notice. Yeah, that's true. That's true. Okay. Um, pick them, uh, North Hampton and sale. That's a kind of a no brainer for tomorrow. Yeah, it's sale. Yeah. So Bose point went on that.
01:27:36
Speaker
For sale, hell yeah. Yeah, okay, so that brings them up to 64. Okay, and that's, they're currently holding the last on my final spot. Bristol, Lester, Bristol. Bristol, I think it put out, both these teams, I mean, you gotta figure it's gonna be a B squad game, and I think Bristol's B squad could be Lester's A squad, so. Yeah, uh-huh. I'm, so we got Worcester and Saracens.
01:28:04
Speaker
I think, I think Worcester goes full noise and Saracen's probably some of the kids. Yeah. Sorry, some of the kids. So I think, I think this is Worcester.
01:28:14
Speaker
I, I, I, I'm going to kick saris. Okay. I don't, I, again, I think that there, especially, look, if anybody is going to be pissed right now, um, manuvo, Napola has every right to be a little bit. Fuck you guys. I'm going to start scoring some points. Exactly. And, and I think this is going to be a show me game for him. So, um,
01:28:40
Speaker
Okay. Yeah, I'm going to go with Saris. I think they have the bench to be Worcester's full noise team. Okay. Yeah, we'll find out, I suppose. I use their Irish. I use their, no question about that. Okay. So looking at- Yeah, I'll go with an Exeter.
01:29:00
Speaker
Yeah, they'll be fine. Saracen's in Bath for around 22. Every game is kicking off at the exact same time, so nobody can get cute. Saracen's in Bath. So you talked about Saracen's getting full noise for this.
01:29:20
Speaker
Yeah, but man, can Bath overcome that? If one team can, I think Bath can. There's only two teams that I think that it would be a weird match or tough right here. That's Bath and Exeter. I think every other team, I think Saris would just want to give a fuck you, but do they really want to give a fuck you to Bath?
01:29:48
Speaker
They don't have a reason to. And it's Ben Spencer. Do you really want to fuck over Ben Spencer? So I don't know. I think Bath end up winning. I think that's going to be a, that could be either a marvelous exhibition of rugby or like a 6-3 match.
01:30:07
Speaker
Could be could be I'm gonna take the Saracens. Okay, goodbye middle finger game Lester and Quinn's I'm gonna take the Harley Quinn's even though they're traveling They're gonna want to redeem themselves for Rob shops last game. Yeah, and Lester have nothing to play for There's no no interest in this game other than to play against Harley Quinn's yeah, I agree
01:30:37
Speaker
Gloucester, Northampton. Gloucester seals their future and champions come up next year with a win, right? Yeah. Yeah. We finally get off the Schneider. Yeah. And against the team, it just doesn't know how to fucking win right now. Right. We said it, but we said it a couple times now. WOS and EXR. WOS will probably have secured everything they possibly can. And WOS have got, they want to make sure that you get a home semi-final. So, I'm going to take the WOS. Okay.
01:31:07
Speaker
Oh, you say Exeter is kind of proof. Yeah. Exeter. Yeah. I'm guessing that they probably don't want to show everything for their last night. They've been playing enough matches lately. Again, I think they're going to, I still think they're going to throw a B side squad out for this one. So I'm going to go with this also. Yep. Same. Same. All right. Um, sale and Worcester, um, sale could be playing for the playoff live. So they're going to throw everything out there. So I'm going to take the sharks.
01:31:35
Speaker
Me too. Even with their backups in, they still play that fucking tough ass defense. And their backups aren't even that... It's not like they have that many players to rotate through. So they're still going to be playing some of their... Some of the good players, yeah. Some of the good players. And they're going to still want to make sure that they're in sync. Now they're getting back into that... They're a team that wants to get into that every week rhythm rather than midweek games and stuff.
01:32:04
Speaker
Yeah, I think they're going to get back on track with that. Yep. Um, sale sale. So that gets the bonus point. Um, probably. Yeah, probably. It's Worcester. Yeah. That's what I'm thinking too. Okay. And then, um, Bristol, Bristol, uh, training run for Bristol. So they're going to get ready for, and they probably, and they probably both point that. So what could happen?
01:32:34
Speaker
this would be a real tough ending for bath is if the Saracens beat them and Salem Bristol both win then because Beth I've played 21 games so they're only six points up now
01:32:48
Speaker
Yep. So yeah, a bonus point win puts Bristol in and shooting distance and then another win or just two wins puts them over if that's all they have. Yeah. And you know, I gave, because we split the difference, I gave back to as if they got a bonus point and a bonus point try. So what about sale? Um, what about sale that they winning both are, we have them winning both their matches. Yeah. By a landslide because they're playing saints tomorrow and they're playing, um, we'll start a Worcester on Sunday.
01:33:19
Speaker
Yep. So yeah. So you see that Steve Diamond talking about they need to build their Academy system because they can't, they can't rely on signing seven or eight South Africans every year. He's realized that now that a couple of them got hurt, you dope. The hell you doing? Like, yes, we could have told you that like two years ago when you started doing this, you fucking idiot. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I can't just go, just can't go raid the sharks fucking system every time. That's the other thing, like,
01:33:49
Speaker
dude, you don't, you know, you want to bitch up again. Sorry to bring it back to the saris, but it's like their guys are all, all of their best players are homegrown sale. Can't say that at all. I would say not. Yeah. Tom Kurt, the Curry brothers. It's about it. That's about it. Yeah. Even, you know, even AJ, even AJ is a transplant. Yeah. Well, he came from Connick. Right.
01:34:12
Speaker
So it's like, yeah. Well, we'll see how these midweek games go and then hang on to those seats, kids, because it's going to be a bumpy ride on Sunday. We'll see how it goes. You know, I really hope apart from Exeter, everybody puts out full noise teams and just gives it a go. Yeah.
01:34:33
Speaker
And I understand if Exeter doesn't because they'll have secured everything they can possibly ask for in terms of the Premiership semi-final. So just move on from that. But yeah, it'll be very interesting to see how this thing plays out. So when we talk to you guys next, we're going to be talking semi-final.
01:34:51
Speaker
Yeah, we will. And we'll have, so yeah, keep in mind that you will get, I think they turn on unlimited transfers for the semifinal for TRM. So you'll, you still need to stay within the budget, but you still, but you'll have, so you can kick out all those shitty Irish and lesser players you have in there and you can pull in some of the playoff team. But guys, just keep that in mind. You can, they limit it to a certain number of guys per team, like seven, I think, per club.
01:35:21
Speaker
Right. And then it'll, it'll increase as they move. Obviously. Yeah. Once they go to the final, it's like, it's like 10 or 15 per club. So yeah. So we'll talk to you guys next week. It's going to be a lot of fun, but until then, have yourself a good week and we'll catch you guys next time. Thanks for coming along.