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Season 2-Episode 31- New World Order of Rugby (Super Rugby Aotearoa Preview)
32 Plays5 years ago
Back into the swing of things, 2 pods in 3 weeks, so close enough. On this episode of TFRY, your favorite rugby playing boneheads from America talk through a whole lot of things. First off, if it wasn't clear, we support Black Lives Matter and believe that everyone should be treated equally, anyone that doesn't believe in that, well we won't be friends, that's for sure. Besides that, we talk about the spill all pod of a former England player from the 2015 World Cup and the confirmation of things we've long suspected. We chew through what the rugby world could look like in January 2021 with a possible new world calendar about to be introduced. And of course we talk Super Rugby Aotearoa and have a look at the 5 teams that will be dazzling the world starting this weekend. All this and more so kick back, and enjoy the banter.
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. Of course we welcome feedback via e-mail, twitter or by rating/reviewing the pod on Apple Podcast.
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Transcript
Intro and Gratitude
00:00:08
Speaker
Hey, everybody. Welcome back. This is the Fancy Rugby Inc. My name's Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glauser. We are back. We have a shitload of stuff to run through it. Our list looks a lot longer than it really is. Some of it's like two seconds stuff, and some of it will be much more in-depth stuff, as you and I both know. But yeah, we've got a lot of stuff to get through, and hey, thank you, everybody, for providing us content. Yes, hashtag content. It's good to be back. I mean, we were going to definitely be able to
00:00:36
Speaker
go through with it with the New Zealand Super Ruby competition, but shit.
Podcast Platforms and Updates
00:00:42
Speaker
We got so much more now. We do. All right. How's your beer? Let's crack. I'd have a beer. Let's crack on. Ben is still sipping away. It is Baxter, none of the Free Jack's IPAs. Yeah, I'm running low though. Yeah. I'm going to need a refill soon. The liquor store by you carries them, right?
00:01:04
Speaker
They do generally I'm not sure if I can I'll have to check the drizzly up and see if I can go Yeah, yeah, this is a lifesaver. It's been awesome So yeah Make sure you're checking us out on Google Play Apple podcasts Spotify all that stuff rate us You know, I know it's been a while since we've been there on the reg here But we will that's gonna change really soon here really is
00:01:31
Speaker
at least for until August-ish or so. Good enough. Yeah. Sign me up, man. It's better than nothing. Yeah, no kidding. As long as we can see it. Yeah, that's another part that we need to dive into as well.
Fantasy Rugby and Social Issues
00:01:50
Speaker
So yeah, as always, thanks to our friend, George, the fantasy rugby geek, he's an awesome dude. If you're gonna be playing on, apparently draft is gonna be trying to put together some sort of seven week competition for fantasy. So I haven't done a whole lot of diving into that, but I did see that. So plan on me diving into that for when Australia kicks off as well. And of course, thanks to our friends at The Rugby Magazine, they've treated us very well and they've been very kind to us.
00:02:20
Speaker
when they start to kick off again in August. Make sure that you guys are checking out stuff with them.
00:02:33
Speaker
Let's just, Ben and I both have very similar views on this stance. If you've been under a rock for the last week, you'll notice that the Black Lives Matter movement has picked up steam and rightly so. It's taken some of us a little while to get into this fight. But since we all have nothing to do.
00:02:58
Speaker
No, but seriously since things have just escalated to the point where Those of us that actually want good in the world Can't just sit on her ass anymore Those of us that had that had the luxury of even doing that so yeah, then I both believe strongly in
00:03:17
Speaker
Equality and you know, we both play rugby and I don't know how you play a rugby and don't believe in that really With the amount with the backgrounds that come from the sport it like just all walks and shapes you know, yeah, they're your friend they're your their friends they're your brothers and sisters and and so it's not like I don't know how you can play yeah, I don't know how you can be around rugby and and harbor
Rugby's Culture and Broadcaster Criticism
00:03:43
Speaker
Judgmental thoughts about others because there's no judgments like we were open books With each other and it's not like no, you know, everybody's got the same problems Everybody's got the same, you know hopes and dreams. So it why should we make you know? others have more problems just because of you know, how where or you know, I
00:04:04
Speaker
or where they were born and what skin color they have. So it's like, you know, it doesn't matter. It's so different from even football, where it's coming from football, which is much more, you know, even though you're in a similar situation, it's such a different
00:04:24
Speaker
culture and attitude like look at the Drew Brees reaction. Yeah, where he's got he's playing with guys like, you know, telling them they're telling their stories on Twitter and whatnot. And it's like Brees doesn't know this, like he doesn't realize that it hits home to the people that he's around and cares for and works with. Like the you don't get that
00:04:47
Speaker
in rugby everybody's it's such it's such more of a communal uh team than football is where it's tiered where the quarterback can do whatever he wants and it doesn't matter yeah i know right and then the the guy on the shit list that's barely made the team you know doesn't even doesn't matter what he thinks yeah so yeah and even that trickles into the um the the
00:05:09
Speaker
the way broadcasters talk about it too. Like, you know, how, how often do they talk about all the smart scrappy white ride receiver or something like that? Whereas, you know, the black guy who does the same exact stuff is the always athletic and, and, and so shifty in this. And it's like the way they describe them is, is different. This is very different. Whether it's conscious of subconscious, it is different. Right. Um,
00:05:37
Speaker
So that's one thing that will always keep me with rugby is that it is a community. We care for each other and really hate has no place anywhere near a rugby pitch. Keep your hate to yourself, man. It's not welcome here. And can we talk about how awesome it was that the Bristol crowd that went and
00:06:03
Speaker
Bristol wins again. Bristol wins again. Somebody said something about, well, you're destroying history and somebody's like, that's kind of the point. That was kind of the point. Just got to point that one out. There were a lot of people who were like, I didn't even know this story behind this guy. He was just a guy. It's like, oh, well now I'm glad he's gone. Now they know the story and he's like, yeah, well, it wasn't important to me now.
00:06:30
Speaker
If it's important to somebody else to get rid of it, then it sounds like a winner to me. All right. So yeah, he has no home here with...
00:06:41
Speaker
the fancy rugby inks or anywhere on a pitch. Um, so if you have other thoughts, then please just remove yourself from, you know, our general vicinity. Yeah, please. Let's put it as nicely as possible. There's a, there's a bubble around me and it expands quite widely because I'm wide anyway, but you know, um, yeah, just get, just get the fuck away from me. Um, anyway,
Player Updates and MLR Expansion
00:07:02
Speaker
Um, some more uplifting stuff. I mean, there was plenty of uplifting stuff concerning this. Um, Michael Fadiilova out of the hospital. That's very well on his way out. That was, that was beautiful to see. Again, comparing him to the Ryan Shazier situation that we had over here, Ryan still doesn't walk, right? No, he doesn't. Um, so it's good to see where Fadiilova is after a short period of time that that's, uh, it's very encouraging.
00:07:27
Speaker
Yeah, agreed that. Yeah, I mean, obviously, the whole thing with it being we talked about it with our friend, Sam.
00:07:35
Speaker
and how innocuous it was. And it just turned into this real scary thing. Fats, we're glad you're walking, buddy. It's really good to see. Maybe we'll get you back to the pitch, but you know what? The first thing, the first battle's won. You're walking. Yeah, I'm guessing he'll be around the pitch. Yeah, probably not on it. Certainly not anytime soon. But hey, I'm really glad to see the guy walking and even jogging a little bit apparently. Yeah, it's fantastic. That's awesome stuff.
00:08:04
Speaker
Um, all right. So let's um, let's keep, let's go rugby stateside here. Uh, I know. Well, we'll talk about, we'll talk about one team that's not nearly as painful. Um, so the Dallas jackals, uh, have been added to MLR and now that's like the third Texas team now that I don't get. Um, I think they need to,
00:08:26
Speaker
They need to unite two of these. I don't know which ones. I don't care which ones, but there's no way that there's no way that we need three Texas teams in MLR. Get the hell out of here. Like if you, I know Chicago wants in, put one in Chicago, please. I would, you know, it belongs in MLR. Yeah. I mean, come on, fricking Ruby weekend for at least the last few years and hopefully a few more. Yeah.
00:08:52
Speaker
you know so that I am you know so there's always something to complain about with this team yeah there is then the we so this confuses the hell out of me we're gonna have in one league the gilgronies
00:09:08
Speaker
No idea. Again. And the Guiltini's. What the actual fuck is that? Guiltini, what the fuck is this? What are we doing? What are we doing, MLR? Why? I don't understand. Apparently, which is face oils is going to be
00:09:26
Speaker
the coach with the LA team. I'm just not calling the LA team. I'm not calling. Yeah. Um, yeah, apparently they're going to, he's going to be the coach, which is pretty, I was like, Oh, I know exactly who that is. Wow. Who is it? Uh, Stephen Hoyles. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I was like, Oh yeah. Okay. That's a pretty good one. Okay. So anyway, yeah. Um, but, and then what else, what else I see?
Coaching Changes and Financial Concerns
00:09:52
Speaker
Um, coaching wise, um,
00:09:54
Speaker
the house, San Diego's coach stepped down. Frank, why can't I think it was me? Um, but I guess Zach Zach test is going to be a co-coach. Oh, nice. Part of that, part of that franchise now as well. She's wise. Former, former teammate of yours truly. Testy testies, testy. Good stuff. Love that kid. He's got a kidney more shit. No, he's not. No, he's not. Um, so yeah, that is a thing now.
00:10:21
Speaker
Good for him. That's great. Yeah. I mean, he obviously had a scary end to his career too. He did. That was extremely frightening. So, shit. Can we also talk about some, can we move on from LMR to another similar social issue with rugby? Yeah. Out in the Midwest.
00:10:42
Speaker
their uh the the Glendale Merlins yes oh yeah have decided to cut the city of Glendale has decided to cut the entire women's program from from the team the WPL and that club must be in deep deep doodoo if they're leaving the MLR and then there because that was that was the Raptors and then their
00:11:03
Speaker
And then they're doing this, like, what is going on behind the scenes there that we don't know about? Because this is, none of those are positive signs right now. Yeah. And it's also kind of, you know, again, in the environment in which we're in, how can you justify cutting the women's programs without touching the men's programs at all? Oh, 100%. No, I totally agree. It's completely unjustifiable. Yeah, absolutely. Well, I mean, hey, they're welcome to come east if they want to.
00:11:32
Speaker
You know some of them just like two of the uh, the merlins just left, uh, boston women to go out there. So jokes on them for them. Uh, oopsie daisy Yeah, something glendale sort yourselves out boys. Yeah, there's something going on there that you are not telling us and i'm not sure I want to know because Um, you like who's embezzling? Let's go. Yeah, let's do this Yeah, um
Rugby Culture and Coaching Dynamics
00:11:59
Speaker
Two deeper subjects that we can get into before we can't just super rugby here. The House of Rugby podcast with Sam Burgess that aired last week was a rather interesting one and definitely cleared
00:12:17
Speaker
And for me, it kind of told me kind of what I already knew. Yes. But more just confirmed it and makes me dislike a few people even more than they already do. So yeah, it doesn't, it, it, it makes perfect sense. If I'm looking at the facts of the matter from the outside, everything he said made sense to, to do everything he alleged, kind of. And it's,
00:12:48
Speaker
Look, there's teams that are universally hated. And there's usually a good reason for that. Everybody has their teams that you're like, man, I really don't like them. But if they were looking to win a championship, South Shore are rivals at the moment. If they were playing for a national championship, I'd be rooting for them.
00:13:14
Speaker
I don't like them over a few other people. I can think, Oh, that's for sure. Right. So you have to be like a real asshole to be to the point where people are like, you know what? Fuck you. I just don't want to ever see you win. And that's a culture. And yeah, I, you know, the culture that Burgess was talking about is very much like the culture around England rugby, that every, why there's a reason why everybody hates them.
00:13:43
Speaker
Um, yeah. Yeah, that, that, that got, and it got to a personal level too, because he was, he felt like he was being portrayed by his coach. Now I, now if you look at the coaching history and we're gonna, we're talking about Mike Ford, of course, um, if you want to leave Georgia side, we know, we know the ups and downs of George Ford, um, many downs, a few ups. Um, but if you look at Mike Ford and
00:14:12
Speaker
his history and you look at the history of Bath when he arrived, it went from him being the defense coach and Gary Gold being the head coach. And then Gary Gold shifted to being director of rugby and Mike Ford being head coach. And then there's no clarity as to why Gary Gold left. And it's widely believed that Mike Ford pushed him out. It's widely believed. And then they had one, one game.
00:14:40
Speaker
or they had one year where they were amazing and Burgess talked about it. They got to the file and then they didn't turn up against Saracens. Um, a lot of people have a hard time turning up against Saracens. Um, and yeah, and he, you know, Burgess is very, and the one thing I can appreciate about that and I wish, and like Haskell said, I wish was more off, was more often like respectfully, but very, very straightforward told him what was on his mind and you know,
00:15:07
Speaker
He told Mike, he's like, I don't think we turned up and they were looking for every excuse in the book for why that file didn't go that well. And then the World Cup comes along and Mike Ford's spinning. He directly asked him, can you stop?
00:15:21
Speaker
And Mike Ford continued to do it. So that's the thing that just makes me want to punch him right in the face. Like that is, you know, this is a guy that's on your club and you're supposed to, you know, be, have his back. Oh, well, you didn't get the fucking England job. Good thing you didn't. Cause that would have been an even bigger embarrassment than 2015 and Stuart Lancaster had. I promise you that because George Ford would have started every game and he would never come off the field.
00:15:45
Speaker
Yeah. And you ever noticed that the people who push other people out and undermine others, they're, they're never as good. I mean, they're, the only reason they're doing it is because they can't get it done on their own. And it's like, if you have that kind of, if you, you keep doing that, you know, to, to the number of people, like, um,
00:16:07
Speaker
Yeah. My wife's coached with an absolute knob who could not coach to save her life. And my wife, Jess was like, okay, you know, maybe we could do this and that. And just, she wouldn't listen to her. And Jess had plenty of opportunities to be like, you know what? I'm just going to stab her in the back and get her out. And she didn't do it because she doesn't need to. She'll just get a different job. No, it's fine. A better job.
00:16:29
Speaker
Right. And that's what you do when you're upstanding and actually good at what you do. If you're not good, yeah, you just tear someone down and replace them or something. And it's like, well, is that really what's good for the club or is that just what's good for you? Yeah, exactly. And again, yeah.
00:16:49
Speaker
George Ford, there's a reason he starts more often than he should, really. He's not the best 10 on his team. Nope. Not in England, at least. No. And he's certainly not the best. Yeah, he's definitely not the best 10 in England. There's plenty better right now. But yeah, Ford, there's some connection he's got that keeps him
00:17:13
Speaker
You know, again, that's, that goes back to culture. They, they, they use him cause they know him and he knows enough about the right people or friends with the right people. Yeah. And you know, that's, that's how they do. Yeah. And I mean, Mike Ford's on the staff over, over at Lester now, like Jordan Murphy, watch your back, man. How's Lester doing there? They're kind of shedding everybody. They're not good. They're not good. And we know, and we know that the likelihood is that they're going to be a heavy favorite for,
00:17:43
Speaker
They're preparing for it. When the new season kicks off, we'll talk about that in a minute.
00:17:48
Speaker
So yeah, it's very interesting. I mean, Sam Burch is an angel by any means whatsoever. Let's just state that he's kind of a shitbag when it comes to like being faithful to his wife and all that stuff. And we know this, but it doesn't change his perspective as an athlete and who he was in the locker room. It sounds like he, you know, the way he is did a lot of good for South Sydney Rabbitos and they ended up winning a title for themselves.
00:18:15
Speaker
Um, because he basically just told him, um, yeah, we, we fucked it good guys. Like we, we did nobody to blame but us and they fixed it and then they won a title. So, you know, and it sounds like Russell Crowe is like his best friend. Sign me up.
00:18:30
Speaker
A lot of this is making sense too, on that end. I mean, yeah, he's kind of a dick too, but you know what? If Russell Crowe's gonna say, you can live in my apartment, which I'm sure was a very nice apartment, while you play for me and make lots of money, I would say yes. Thank you much. Yeah. So, you know, I can't say, I can't say I blame the man.
00:18:51
Speaker
No. And again, it does take someone like that to air laundry like this. So it's like, you're not going to hear this from a saint. So from what we heard from, from Sam, but at the same time, as you said, it does clear up a lot of
Global Rugby Calendar and Competitions
00:19:06
Speaker
things. It's like, you know, things that you thought things that you were, were pretty sure were true. Yeah, they're true.
00:19:11
Speaker
And if you've ever had a meeting about a meeting, go ahead and listen to that podcast and you'll just feel so justified or ask. But yeah, you know, it's, and he didn't, you know, go, come go onto that podcast cause he's friends with Haskell and he wanted to shoot the shit. And the, you know, a story came out and this was the story, you know, you know, the host Alex, who is a nice guy by the way, um,
00:19:36
Speaker
asked and just asked. I mean, he was smart and asked some of the right questions, but really he didn't like lead him on beyond a few good questions and Burgess just took it. They seem to be doing a fantastic job during this COVID. Yeah, that and the Nigel Owens one. Right. And between that, it's like, you know, that they're kind of to me, especially with
00:19:58
Speaker
Good either way he is. You know, we somewhat covered that earlier. Have they recorded anything? I don't know, but Goody's just an ass. So I don't even like paying attention to it. Yeah. And especially in today's climate, it's like, no, you're, you're basically wrong about everything, dude. Go away. Hamilton's been doing some cool stuff. You had Squidge on his lockdown interview series. That's really cool. I'm not sure I'd pictured Squidge.
00:20:24
Speaker
Look at me so I'm not one to talk but exactly, you know Hey, we're for all shapes and sizes here, too. Yes, we are just it's not just colors and genders and everything definitely not So it's yeah Law people that suspected a few things about that team got their confirmation from that and he caught a lot of shit for that for that team too Which was really unfortunate, you know, he does best so here's what it is. Um
00:20:55
Speaker
We alluded to it earlier, the World Rugby Calendar. This is interesting. I read it up on it a little bit, and this is kind of, I think this is around the same idea of what they wanted to do last year with the Nations League, but it wasn't, the Nations League wasn't all thought out, let's be real about this.
00:21:14
Speaker
player welfare was not well thought out. And, you know, there were a couple of teams that weren't really into the whole relegation promotion thing. Grant, a few of them weren't going to be likely be threatened by it, but, you know, exactly. Some people, some people do that, especially where you have teams like
00:21:30
Speaker
Ireland and Scotland whose teams aren't used to relegation for club. Yeah for club reasons. I think England was okay with it Maybe not. Maybe England was also a stinker. I can't remember Anyway, this was this was your this was last year. So you can't remember at all. Anyway, there's there's a belief that in a few on the 15th was today so next week they'll be looking to talk about a way to align the rugby calendar so
00:21:59
Speaker
The Rugby Championship and Six Nations kickoff in similar time frames. And they'll be run for the Lions and they'll potentially have a January kickoff for Premiership Rugby. Okay.
00:22:17
Speaker
And then going and that would end it into, you know, late August with that break of those competitions in the middle. So that sounds, that sounds fine. Yeah. I, I, I mean, that's like talk about neutral feelings. I have neutral feelings on this. It doesn't, but it's, it's different. So it's weird, but I'm not saying it's bad either.
00:22:41
Speaker
So maybe that's something that's okay. So, but I also liked the idea of crowning the possibility exists to crown a world club championship. Possibly. Yeah. Because you could, you could make it out of the Northern hemisphere, out of the Southern hemisphere and you know, you alternate to match whatever. Yeah. Yeah. You alternate who hosts it. And yeah, that'd be fine. Just like the Superbowl. You move it around.
00:23:08
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, yeah, that could be a good fun one right there. I mean, shit, how much would you love to see like Saracens or Leinster versus like Crusaders? I think that'd be a great match. I mean, because we have, you know, especially where both Leinster and Saracens have guys from the Southern Hemisphere on their squad. So it's,
00:23:37
Speaker
Yeah, it's pretty crazy. It's a pretty crazy thought and I like it. Yeah. But even if they don't, at least it's all kind of standard and it helps with those internationals matches and everybody's kind of on the same footing there. It equalizes things. Yeah, I'm not sure. This is kind of a self-centered thought, but I'm not sure what MLR lands on that, whether we keep the same schedule or if the calendar
00:24:05
Speaker
Um, shifts in some way. I don't, that's unclear. So what the, the MLR started in March. I think so. Yeah. And it was February, February. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. That's right. That's right. Cause I got it. That's right. Cause we shut it down in March and they got like what four matches in. Yeah. Something like that four or five. We're about to, we're about to go there. Right. Um,
00:24:34
Speaker
This is really unfortunate, but yeah, so It's um I don't have a problem with it. I actually don't it's it's gonna be weird. Mm-hmm You know, I have I enjoy my fall rugby, but you know, obviously there'll be other things to watch it's not a big deal Yeah, that's the other thing is it helps like it really does separate football season out to In a way, but again, there's international matches to be played at that there is yes there is and I think you have a
00:25:05
Speaker
I think, and I think they were talking about, um, autumn being that window. Yeah. And, uh, and I'm okay with that timing up, man. You know, we're already, we're already with our clubs at that point anyway. So, and then they could standardize some of those club regulations. So kind of like how New Zealand does it, the players will have to like the, um, international level players will be kind of club limited in a way. Um, um,
00:25:29
Speaker
maybe have mandatory rest periods or something just to maintain them. Cause they'd be playing from, they could be playing literally all year if they really want it, you know, a Mac, maybe like a match or two a month when they, you know, in those international windows, but still you're playing all year. Yeah. So that'll be,
00:25:49
Speaker
Very interesting to at least. Yeah. But I am. Yeah, again, I'd be okay with it. It doesn't it doesn't bother me so much. I know Stephen Jones came out and bitched about it. Look, I remember people bitching about the high tackle rule. I remember people bitching about the scrum, the new scrum cadence. Like it's funny. Everybody always bitches about the scrum cadence.
00:26:13
Speaker
Right, but it's I tell you like we're we've uh, so i've been watching some old matches with my club with our club um over this time and we watched one from like 2009 And the way the scrum was back then where it was just like you line up a meter apart and you fucking smash each other smash each other and
00:26:33
Speaker
And they're like they were talking about it and they're like because I mean they may have seen that or very early in their careers, but they're They're um, especially the young ones aren't old enough to really remember watching rugby like that or uh for the most part and
00:26:48
Speaker
Um, but they're like, the scrums take forever and they're, they're not good. They're not settled. They're, they're just kind of dicking around and the balls in and it's just a mess. And uh, and it's like, yeah, so people bitched about the new cadence and we're like, Oh, they're taking away the fucking hit. And it's like, yeah. Cause it's not about the hate. It's about the scrum. Yeah. Yeah. It became way too much about the impact at, at, at, at engage. Right.
00:27:14
Speaker
And like, so yeah, you know, we talk, people talk about these things and they whine and then the, but they, then the quality gets better and then they're okay with it. Like this is something, this isn't being done to line anyone's pockets. This isn't, this wouldn't be done to. They're trying to save rugby. Right. That's the thing. They're trying to save rugby. They're trying to, yeah. And they can get away with it because it's not like it gets terribly hot in England in the summer. It's not like it gets,
00:27:41
Speaker
It's gonna be a lot more human than they used to, but that's gonna come down to some fitness and making sure you got plenty of water. And if you need to do the water break thing, do the water break thing, it gives a shit. Really? Another thing that, while we're on this similar topic, a thing that Nigel Owens brought up, and I've
00:28:03
Speaker
Initially, I was very much against it. Don't fuck it up. Yes, definitely don't fuck it up. That's definitely one. Two, it was, let's put it this way, if I have my choice of rules that get implemented,
00:28:18
Speaker
I hate that kicking rule. You and I have had an extensive conversation on that. But if I had to choose between that and maybe two less substitutes, I'd pick that.
Rugby Substitution Debate
00:28:30
Speaker
I'd pick that. And yes, you still have a full front row on the bench. You'd have the same substitutes on your bench, but you just would need to pick them a little bit more wisely. That's all.
00:28:43
Speaker
And I'm okay with that. That wouldn't bother me a bit because it might make a prop have to fucking last 80 minutes. Now we know there's a few that can. But they're high end quality guys.
00:28:57
Speaker
So is that terribly healthy though? Is that like good over the long haul to make, you know, eventually some scrubs going to have to play two 80 minute matches in a row and maybe the next match and he blows his knee out or something like that. Cause he's just physically exhausted from it. Right. And that comes down to them looking after player welfare. Yeah. Um,
00:29:16
Speaker
So, I mean, you may be stuck substituting your over row, and then you're stuck with one forward sub. Or you're stuck with, you know, one back sub. And that's just how it would be. The way it's going with hookers now, you almost don't need a sub there.
00:29:34
Speaker
Like there there's yeah there's a lot that can go forever. Most hookers can go 80. I mean you generally only take a hooker out because you're like all right my backup I want to get him a run and get him like you know use him as fresh legs. Correct. So if anything it would just take away the hooker sub likely most hookers would be asked to go the distance. You know the yeah and yeah I'm okay with it because again it'll and Nigel Owens made the point you know it'll make guys be a little more fitter
00:29:58
Speaker
Maybe you can't be this big burly dude as much as I love seeing those clashes cuz I saw one, I was watching the first Northampton and Leinster game this year at Franklin's Gardens. I think it was Moon and Toner, just boom, I was like, that hurts. But yeah, I love seeing it, but at the same time,
00:30:19
Speaker
I don't need to, I can look for other shit. It's fine, it doesn't bother me. So I'm okay with guys maybe just getting a little bit leaner. I mean, it's going in that direction anyway. Yeah, that's going in that direction anyway. I'm partial about the front row because there's so much more pressure that goes on the front row.
00:30:39
Speaker
than any other position. And you really do for safety because it's so much aerobic work plus anaerobic work. There's so much lift, like your legs are just jello by the end of the, you know, by the end of the match. Oh, I know. I played 80. So it's like, yeah, I mean, I'm sure you've played enough now. I just, you've moved your way from the back of the scrum up to the front. Yeah. Yeah, playing 80 there is not fun.
00:31:07
Speaker
No. It's so different from playing lock and flank. It is. Well, you don't please if you're a flanker and you ain't doing shit in the scrum. No, no.
00:31:18
Speaker
I didn't do anything when I was an eight man. Are you kidding me? Push the guys, push. Hey, I got the ball. All right. Let's be real. That's just how it goes. When they talk about, oh, power, that eight man bringing the power through the middle of this. No, he's not. He's hanging off. I'm keeping them squeezed to make sure they don't go anywhere. But that's it. That's all I'm doing. And I'm waiting, waiting, waiting. Where's that pain in the ass crumb half? Okay. He's over there. Later. Yeah.
00:31:42
Speaker
That's what I know. No, the DA man did not drive that scrum over. That never happened. Maybe a rudder. I'm a rudder. I definitely am not the engine on that one. No way, man. Not fucking once. Nope, nope, nope, nope. Second row, yes, definitely. Definitely have to shove. I have no other job.
00:32:01
Speaker
I have had second rows win my scrum for me. Yeah, I'm not going to lie to that. There's been times when maybe the guy across from me beat me clean, but I could suddenly get a shove that, where would that come from? Cool. We're going forward now. Yeah, no, that's definitely a tougher job, but please. Like, Aitman is like, yeah, it's definitely the glory position because
00:32:23
Speaker
Defense, you're expected to chase, but you don't get there 90% of the time. You're allowed to go back and return kicks. Yeah, we got onto another subject. That's all right. Anyway, the replacements. That goes back to the front row, I think. You should be able to be given a full front row sub.
00:32:45
Speaker
Yeah, that was, if you need maybe an injury if needed, like, and that's it, you know, I think, I think cutting, I think cutting two subs is not that bad idea with an emergency. It also kills experience though.
00:33:00
Speaker
Like what if you're going to give a guy 15? That's 15 minutes at that level that he he'll he'll maybe find something about his game He needs to work on or just get used to the speed of it. Right? Um, well, that's where an academy that's where academy and b games come in and stuff like that So yeah that that will help and I understand there's nothing like playing a premiership game, right? Nothing like playing a pro 14, you know derby game like you know, the iris derbies and the in the skys from whilst derbies stuff like that there's nothing like playing those types of things and I get it but at the same time like
00:33:30
Speaker
Yeah, we have to also consider, you know, do we need to make this? And because it's all about, and Owen's made the point, it is, pardon me, it is all about, you know, looking to cut down the injuries. Yeah. And that's what it really is. And, you know, looking at those impact injuries.
Coaching Evolution and Player Roles
00:33:47
Speaker
Right. Those, there's nothing we can do about those at the time.
00:33:51
Speaker
You need to figure out how to dial them back in another way. I think they're doing a great job of it, to be completely honest. Even without this kicking rule idea, I feel like it's also a coaching thing. The coaching is getting better. You can see that we watched the Lions tour from South Africa.
00:34:17
Speaker
And the fucking lions were just running like crashes right into like a forward wall and like running right in and just like bashing away at it and it's like you look at it now and even even the Traditionally bash it up countries Even Scotland does a good job of running at angles and running at shoulders now not just running right into double tackle like they have some pretty magical and
00:34:41
Speaker
And Ireland is moving away from that entirely. So like the coaching is getting better around that. That was always going to be a thing that needed to get better with the coaching. Like you got to get rid of some of these dinosaurs that are just like, crash, crash. Like you kidding me? Like, you know, I, I honestly, if I see me personally, if I see a team that's crashing,
00:35:03
Speaker
in tight somewhere, there better be a goddamn purpose to it other than just that, just to do it. Because if I don't see a purpose to it otherwise, I'm like, okay, you're a fucking cowboy. Good to know. So yeah, I know. We can think of a few people. Um, so yeah, what would be calendar potentially moved, um, prepare ship start dates now been set to August, uh, to finish this current season and then potentially restart the year.
00:35:33
Speaker
January maybe they and there's some rumor that they might even be able to get Europe in between Then and and the start of the new year, which you know, I think a lot of people would be okay with I would like to see what we do going to Dublin That'd be fun. So yeah, I'm okay with it. I'm all right with it. I don't hate the idea we need to save rugby somehow and this might be the answer and yeah, if If enough brains go get put together and there's some logic put into it then yeah, I'm all right with it. Yep
00:36:04
Speaker
So to current rugby. New Zealand, super rugby. This is gonna be fun.
Team Updates and Listener Engagement
00:36:11
Speaker
So there's some faces we didn't think we'd see, and there's a new face that we were like, holy shit, where'd that come from? Dan Carter signs with the blues to eventually be in the same team as Bowdoin Barrett, so that's terrifying.
00:36:26
Speaker
I know I know Dan Carter is not the same as he's like 43 now I get it but still he's got the skills. He's still the right those don't go away Those don't go away. So he's gonna be and he's gonna be I mean, I know and Bowdoin can play 15 So what if you know, they guys yeah, so they stay move him back, you know, they bet the last time they played together
00:36:47
Speaker
And I think they did, they won some sort of trophy in that match, but I don't remember. Could have been too much of any big deal otherwise. Yeah. So like that, you know, they have experience doing that, you know, for like maybe the last 20 minutes of a match or something. Yeah, that'd be my guess.
00:37:08
Speaker
Here's the real question though between between the two of them who beats the shit of the scrum half first just stops playing the match to beat the shit out of the scrum half Well before we went on this enforced hiatus Sam knock was not doing too bad
00:37:24
Speaker
True, that's true. So hopefully he can pick up his form again or someone can pull their head from the tricks of their cheeks. So yeah, it'll be fun. Sam Whitelock has returned to the Crusaders. And so he's now gonna be available, which is terrifying because they had a shitload of guys that could place four, five, six. And now they add him to the mix, which is, oh my God. Oh, that's just so scary. Please no.
00:37:54
Speaker
So Crusaders are gonna be obviously a handful as they usually are. Artie Sevilla, looks like he's gonna be ready to roll. And that excites me as a Hurricanes fan. I'm gonna be so excited. He's probably playing eight and packing down at eight. In the meantime, since we've been doing this, Chiefs captain and now All Blacks captain, Sam Kane.
00:38:22
Speaker
been picked long, long line of loose forwards being picked for our, uh, for our last captain here. And he's got a hell of a pair of shoes to fill playing seven and being an all blacks captain. Yeah, I, I, I'm not, uh, you know, I, yeah, I, I'm not, I think they could have done better. I'm sorry to say, I mean, there was a lot of people that wanted Aaron Smith.
00:38:48
Speaker
Which, yeah, look, I like Kane a lot. Don't get me wrong. I just, for New Zealand, seven, I don't, like you said, there's a lot to live up to there. I don't see him as an individual player. And again, that's why it might not just be the talent, it might be his attitude and the leadership skills that he has. So again, I'm just looking from a player perspective. And I guess you could say the same thing about Kieran Reed. Guys who just do the work, they're not, like, he's not,
00:39:17
Speaker
Oh, a standout. Very rarely. Even when I watch the Chiefs.
00:39:24
Speaker
I'm like, oh, Kane's there. He did, he cleaned up some things, but it's not like, holy shit, that run by Sam can't like, that's rare. It happens. Um, but it's not like you're, you're just overwhelmed by the awesomeness of him except for doing little things, right? No, I mean, we're not a splash player. Just a guy again, gets it done. And that's cool. That's a, you don't need a splash player to be your captain. No, Richie was a Richie was a, I mean, people are just still the cows come home, but
00:39:55
Speaker
Most people agree he was the greatest, greatest ever. So yeah, you know, it's, it's really hard to compare that. So to be, to be fair to, to Sam Cain. Um, yeah, it is a tough bit of shoes to fill, but they also have a different mentality with this team.
00:40:13
Speaker
that stuff like that doesn't usually get in the way. Right. And if it does, then they address it and they address it hard. So, um, and again, it's gotta be okay. It's about his leadership. That's again, like the same thing with, um, with Kieran Reed, like, you know, fantastic player, but not a transcendent,
00:40:35
Speaker
like good for his time and and very good for uh for what he does um just so so that's the problem when you think all blacks and you want to see the all blacks captain you're thinking like the best player in the world not like the guy who's just the steady guy getting it done so it's but that's just the image so that's in my own head i'm making that up
00:40:57
Speaker
I mean, it's not it's not completely wrong. So yeah, I mean good on. Hey, congratulations. Same team. You've been named all blacks. Congratulations. There's a lot of people that would be stood in line to begin being your shoes. So yeah, like
00:41:15
Speaker
deserving of it, but I'm just, I was just thinking about him as the long, the pantheon of New Zealand players. Oh, I mean, this is a pantheon of New Zealand players. A lot of them didn't wear the armband. You know, so, you know, it's, it is, you know, Dan Carter was never captain. You know, he played, he played in the wrong era. He's playing with Richie McCaw. And then before that, it was Tan Humaga. So yeah, good luck.
00:41:39
Speaker
Yeah. Sorry. Fantastic people. So what are you going to do? Um, well, that's just it. Like Tana Umaga and, and, and, uh, Mikaar are fucking, they were, they were great players. Yeah. Yeah. But then you look at, um, but then you look at, I think the guy that came before Tana was Xavier Rush. That wasn't anything special.
00:42:03
Speaker
Yeah, but I wasn't really filing rugby back then. So what the fuck do I know? Was it Russia or was it Thorn? It might've been Ruben Thorn and not Brad Thorn, Ruben Thorn. Either or. I don't remember which one it was. Maybe they both had a chance. I don't remember. Anyway, again, neither one of them blew up the field. Yeah. So, you know, it's okay. It happens. Yeah. I'm not knocking the decision. I'm just kind of, I was just surprised by it is all. Yeah. But then again, yeah. Cause like when you go from the Umaga and Mikala, even Reed, I was like, huh,
00:42:33
Speaker
That's interesting. But I think I but read if I you can see him bring more to the table then Then I see them what's on the field. Yeah. Yeah, so maybe maybe he'll have his chance Yeah, and he'll help root and he'll get you have to prove everybody right or wrong Yeah, and you know Aaron Smith was obviously a favorite to take that chug Let's get to the Highlanders and his team
00:42:59
Speaker
Major Aaron major has said that he wants to do away with Josh. You want he playing 12 Can't say I'm sad about that Because I'm not sure that system was working. Yeah, I'm Nope, I would not complain either. Yeah Yeah, I don't think I don't think it was working very well They had some good games and they had some really bad games with him there. So and it's not it's not necessarily you know, you you you're
00:43:25
Speaker
force a square peg into a round hole. You know, it's he, he, he's young. Don't develop as a 10. He's going to be a great 10. No, it's just don't develop as a 10. Damn it. It's not, it's not that bad. Um, so we'll, we'll, uh, maybe that writes the Highlander ship and they can, you know, get this competition started, um, in a good way. Yeah.
00:43:46
Speaker
So it's gonna be fun. And if you are listening to this and you live in the United States, can you please do us all a favor and bug the living shit out of ESPN to get this thing on here? Because currently they don't have an agreement in place.
00:44:03
Speaker
Um, we've both we've both have heard different things at different at different junctures. Um, i've continued to make a stink in the last three or four days Each day just bugging the shit out of the staff Out of the person uh, the sports staff there just like what can I do for you for i'm like this? No, no, no, no this you need to do this now so uh, yeah, uh, somebody else helped me out here with that
00:44:25
Speaker
cuz I need to we need to get this shit on air because if we can't what I don't understand what the hell the What is wrong with the math here? Okay, they had a deal in place For super rugby and it was due to run until at least July. Yeah So where did the pieces pieces fall apart between then and now? Yeah, I don't I don't know shit about shit, but I
00:44:49
Speaker
Well, I also know that there was an issue. I just saw a tweet right before coming on here, or maybe it was a little earlier today, but it was somebody saying that, I can't remember which nation in the UK was saying, oh, we have confirmed that we'll be able to watch it on this service. I think it was Ireland.
00:45:09
Speaker
I can't remember what service it was, but it was like, they're just getting their shit sorted out too. Like, this isn't just ESPN. I think this was kind of like, oh, free for all, who wants in? And it doesn't seem like anybody in the US has said yes yet.
00:45:25
Speaker
Make me a goddamn fucking executive and I can make shit happen, let's go. Yeah, it's really frustrating. This should be one ticket on ESPN. Could you imagine them showing highlights and replays of Super Rugby? Oh, I would. They got into Korean baseball.
00:45:43
Speaker
Yeah, I know. Let's be real. They should carry this. We're going to have a real sport with a crowd. New Zealand has lifted their band for COVID-19, so their country is up and running
00:45:59
Speaker
as normal with the exception of a travel restriction. That's it. Yeah. So all the shops, all the restaurants, everything's open. They crushed this fucking thing. So, good on you New Zealanders. Are you taking applications for immigrants? Because I would be very interested in coming there. I'd like to study their ancient hobbit dwellings. Yeah, something like that, right? I want to know more about the Maori. Oh, well them too. Yeah, no, I would just go over there and
00:46:27
Speaker
binge on rugby and Lord of the Rings. So yeah, no kidding. Is Peter Jackson available?
00:46:36
Speaker
So yeah, yeah, if you live in the US and you plan on watching this competition, you need to bug the living piss out of ESPN. Yeah, please do. Get it onto ESPN or ESPN Plus and get it on those airwaves because I want to watch this shit, man. Yeah. I'm at the point where I might just contact, what was it? Like either like NBC Sports Gold 2 and see if they can do it. Look, if it's not for grabs, like Fox Sports. Yeah, if this is a free-for-all, Fox is on by Disney now, so.
00:47:06
Speaker
Oh, so it's all the same. Yeah. What the fuck? Yeah. Oh yeah. That happened like four months ago, man. I didn't process that. Or rather offensive. Yeah. It happened. Yeah.
00:47:23
Speaker
There's a couple of contracts that are, that are under Fox right now that are getting transferred over to ESPN next year. Okay. So yeah. Uh, there's that. Cause it's like, look, just like they had their air in the Bundesliga and putting the frigging cheer track over. Oh God. That annoys me. Well, we won't need that. This with this competition. Right. That's good. Right there. Yeah. Um, yeah, I know. Freaking glowing puck. Right. Fox is the worst.
00:47:54
Speaker
Oh, you ain't dead, man. No, Fox will go ESPN or NBC Sports. NBC Sports, one of those two. Who grabbed my ass? Where's my pen? There it is. Yeah, pick them. Yeah, we got, we got pick them.
00:48:19
Speaker
I'll have my sheet prepared next week. I forgot to do it. It's okay. When was the last time you had to prepare it? Oh God, March. Easily. Easily. And we've had a lot of shit happen between now and then. So we have, what are the matches? I can't remember about top of my head. Islanders versus the Chiefs and the Blues versus the Hurricanes.
00:48:43
Speaker
Okay blues hurricanes, that's right. You did say blues hurricane. So I Say a lot of things though, that's true. All right, so highlanders home in Home to the Chiefs Well, if we're gonna go based on form that both teams were in before this whole thing when fucking pear shaped I'm gonna go with the Chiefs
00:49:09
Speaker
Yeah. And I, I am too. Cause I, I, I'm going a little bit by that and just, I, I think they're just a better team. Not just on form. Um, they're, the chiefs were, were, were showing that they had some good shit and the Highlanders weren't. And so, I mean, but it's also the Highlanders have clear holes in their team. So it's not that they're not showing like,
00:49:35
Speaker
but they're like, they just weren't putting it together. It just didn't look like they had much to put together. Yeah. There was, there was definitely some pieces much in the night. And they, who was it that had the injury that frigging like the ankle was it. Yeah. James. I can't remember. I think that's how it sounds. Yeah. I said, yeah, she's my, he's the captain. So that's, yeah, that's kind of the foot that went the wrong way. I was like, Ooh, that's not supposed to happen. Yeah. I'm betting he's not back. I'm gonna go on a limb on that one.
00:50:04
Speaker
Probably not. Blue's hurricanes. Shit. If this was like March, I would have picked the hurricanes, but yikes. I got it back. This is week one. Yeah. I'm going with you actually on this one, just because again, I don't trust the Blue Scrumhalf connection yet. Yeah.
00:50:32
Speaker
Could happen but that could have just been lightning in a bottle earlier this year and just maybe like two or three good games in a row potentially. Yeah so I kind of and the hurricanes were kind of again, it took them a little bit take to Get things together, but they were getting it together and showing exactly what they've always been So I have no reason to believe that that would go away No, I agree Yeah, I mean
00:51:01
Speaker
Hurricanes were certainly figuring it out. You know, uh, what's his face? Basha garden. Basha was doing really well. Um, you know, filling some shoes, which he's going to be facing tomorrow. Um, so, you know, yeah, there's a little bit of bragging rights at stake for, for certain individuals. Oh yeah. Here. So, Oh yeah. I think, I think Odin's going to want to put on a, uh,
00:51:31
Speaker
Hell of a show nothing else No, I totally agree so that'll be yeah, I mean, I mean look away crusaders fans cuz Sorry Yes, I'm by them and I was like, oh shit like once upon a time that was a huge robbery, you know I'm talking like holy shit like you would never have thought of Dan Carter going to them
00:52:02
Speaker
So right. So it's like, OK. Or any. Yeah, it was right now. All right, then. Rules have changed. Yes, they have. Covid changed a whole lot. Yeah, yeah, I did. So we'll see. We'll see how that goes. That plays out.
00:52:24
Speaker
Anyway, all right. Well, we will move you back to talk about this at the very least because we might have to only go by highlights, but we will still chat about it and see what happens and ESPN get off your ass. But until then, make sure that you're
00:52:42
Speaker
You subscribe to us. Fantasy Rugby podcast at gmail.com for any questions or, you know, just to say, Hey, what's up guys? We welcome it to you at Ben and Ryan on the Twitterverse. We're going to be talking about rugby next week. I can't wait. I'm so looking forward to having something else to talk about. Yeah, same. So it's going to be a lot of fun.
00:53:08
Speaker
Check us where you find your favorite podcast. Until then, we'll talk to you guys next week. Have a good one, everybody. Thanks for coming along.