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Season 3- Episode 11- We Go Again (Premiership Return)
29 Plays5 years ago
We are back to doing the actual pod things! It's the return of your favorite American Rugby knuckleheads. In the episode we have a look at the personnel movement from and around the Premiership. We have ourselves a quick peak at the squads for the upcoming 6 Nations tournament. We dive into ranking the back rows for reach Premiership club, I'm sure we caused some controversy there. Of course, it's the return of Start or Sit, for Round 7 this weekend, and a quick glance at the upcoming fun in the Champi-Yanks League. Crack one open, if for no other reason because Ben didn't have one, kick back and tune in.
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. Use #AskTFRY for your lineup questions this weekend.
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Transcript
Introduction and Return
00:00:08
Speaker
Hey everybody, welcome back. It is the fans for the Yanks. My name is Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glaser. And as usual, broadcasting, recording just inside Boston, Massachusetts now, just inside now, no longer, no longer outside. You've welcomed us inside. Yeah. Hey, it's good to be back into this whole thing. You know, we did the thing we did this past weekend, but you know, it had been a while between the last recording and then. So
00:00:35
Speaker
And we actually have things like games to talk about this time. Yeah, we actually have just some fun
Acknowledgments and Thank Yous
00:00:39
Speaker
though. Right. Although it's fun, but not just frivolity. Right. Right. We have actual knowledge to drop out. Well, such as it is knowledge. Yeah. Whatever you want to call it, you know, um, beer, you hear me, you hear me blazer. I have a beer.
00:01:01
Speaker
You only hear one today because I'm a beer list today. Someone's not feeling great. I'm not my best. But that's okay. The show must go on. Obviously you won't hurt. As we say in the biz.
00:01:23
Speaker
Huge thank you to George for steering the calamity ship that was this past weekend for pod 100 celebration. That was well done to him too. That was fun. That was a lot of fun. So and obviously you want to go check him out and buy him a coffee. And if you're having trouble with your team name for any of the competitions, he's got a nice little list there.
00:01:48
Speaker
I think Malcolm's team name is on there. But yeah, there's a couple of team names on there that I just had a chuckle at. So if you're struggling for team name ideas, go fish one of those out. He's got a list on there.
Rugby Union and Player Movements
00:02:03
Speaker
TRM.
00:02:04
Speaker
obviously they're supporting rpa and project restart which is uh restart rugby excuse me which is huge um so get your upgrades with them because that's that's where that's coming from so that's what we and that's what we want uh everyone to uh to buy because that's that's such an important thing with
00:02:21
Speaker
RPA and restart rugby and you know all the things that they provide for the players when they're done and even during their careers. It's not great in terms of like the efficiency of the system, but it's what they have and if it's what they have we need to reinforce it, you know.
00:02:39
Speaker
Although it was interesting to hear Ellis Gensh talk about, I think it was last year. He tried to start something similar, but it would be more independent of PRL and the ownership and stuff like that. RPA is very intertwined with the clubs and it's not
00:03:06
Speaker
It's not a job anybody wants in terms of being the representative. And he got X amount of messages back and he said it was disheartening.
00:03:20
Speaker
I think it was Dan Leo that said, dude, we got way less response than that when we started the Pacific Island union that they have now. So, you know, keep going. And you gotta start somewhere. And I agree, you know, if you need, you really want something that's independent of the league, you know, if you really want to fight for the players. Right.
00:03:43
Speaker
So that's the, so, uh, again, it would make sense that the pull that the league would want them to be intertwined because now you've already, you know, yeah, infiltrated the union. So you don't really.
00:03:53
Speaker
You don't have to deal with the things like the NHL and the Royal Hand Egg, as it were. That's why I don't understand. Why wouldn't there be so much support for it, though? I'm kind of with Genji on this. This should be something the players would be like, yeah, let's do it. Yeah, I don't think they understand it. That's the thing.
00:04:15
Speaker
I think that's the thing. They don't quite understand what it is. And obviously with their only experiencing being RPA, not to say that RPA does nothing, but not being super over the top either. Maybe they want to stick with the devil they know and that's not great, but it's what it's at. So yeah, support them while we can.
Social Issues and Sports
00:04:38
Speaker
Big time.
00:04:39
Speaker
As always, Black Lives Matter with us at T4i, it's an ongoing issue that we need to always just really bring up and, oh man, even the thing you and I were talking about, personal color that
00:04:57
Speaker
A woman of color that wouldn't bow to her, her, her, her significant other. And he almost killed her, literally almost killed her. I don't, I exactly exaggerate in those terms sometimes, but I'm not kidding. He thought she, he killed her. Yeah. Like Jesus married Joseph. This is an American football player, by the way, who, who did all this. And suddenly I don't feel so bad about not watching the NFL. Yeah. I.
00:05:23
Speaker
That's something that, you know, it doesn't seem to be as prevalent in rugby. There's a reason there's certain players that we are not particularly fond of and because of stuff like that, but it's not, it's not like that. That was something else that was, that's fucking scary. And even if you think about like, what an Irish when they, when they signed PJ, um,
00:05:48
Speaker
the sponsorship that went, that went bye-bye for them. Like the sponsors for those clubs talk, you know, they, they see, they see what you do and they, they go, Oh, this is what you're about. Fuck that. We're done. We're not doing that shit. You know, and it's going to be a shit for it. So be eating shit for it. And they kind of still are. So yeah. And I can't wait for, I think they're ready to get rid of like, it's like, I think so too. Yeah. I think they're at the end there. It's not working out anyway. He's not really,
00:06:18
Speaker
Is he their best 10 right now? Maybe, I don't know. But do they have something they can grow? Yeah, I totally do. I haven't seen Theo play enough 10. I want to see this kid play. They're not making a semi-final anytime soon. Just let this youngster play and say bye-bye to that. So that's that.
Technical Challenges and Improvements
00:06:41
Speaker
And thank you to everybody that's gone ahead and either download or watch pod 100 as well. We wanted to celebrate with you the whole thing when
00:06:49
Speaker
pear shaped with the technology because, you know, I'm not super technology savvy, but I think I know some things. And when I think I know some things, I like commit to it hard and it doesn't always work. So that was 100 percent my fault. But we'll figure it out next time, I promise. Yeah, it was it was a mix of it was really ultimately asking technology to do too much like to distribute one stream to three different places at once was a little sometimes that can be a pain in the ass. Yeah.
00:07:18
Speaker
So we'll figure it out next time. I'm going to use a technology person over here so I don't have to do it. Oh man. But anyway, thanks to everybody that's enjoyed it and hopefully everybody had a laugh as we were laughing our bums off as well.
00:07:34
Speaker
to the news cycle. Player movement moving around. Let's start with Paul Gustard getting a job. Number one, he left his job at Quinn's since we last did one of these and getting a job with Benetton. I was like, okay, that's a get for them. That's a real good get for them. Yeah, I'd say so. That's
00:07:55
Speaker
Yeah, that's that's that's that's that's Quinn's loss. I'm sorry. I don't know what Quinn's thought they were doing without it. It sounds like there was a disconnect between the front office and and dust art. So I feel like I from what I can tell at least an interpretation that I've seen of his of his announcement was kind of that like.
00:08:20
Speaker
They weren't letting him do everything he wanted to do, which they were putting kind of limitations on what he could do as a coach or, you know, how he wanted to operate the team as far as, you know, here's how I want you to play rugby.
00:08:37
Speaker
Which is teams do occasionally and I don't quite understand. I can think of a couple of the example that comes to mind often is things really getting just the managers that.
00:08:52
Speaker
The worst is because you have head coaches that don't get to pick the groceries, but they still have to make the recipe as it were. I'm like, all right, I don't get to shop, but I have to still make dinner. So you're going to deal with what's on the field if you're not letting me shop. So most coaches in that league are
00:09:12
Speaker
have their hands tied and they're rather annoyed by it so um this is not dissimilar from that it sounds like so i'd be annoyed too so gustard might have had the blessing in disguise by uh stepping away
Player Transfers and Team Strategies
00:09:23
Speaker
there
00:09:23
Speaker
Yeah, and it's the club that certainly will let him do whatever the fuck he wants, because what else do they lose? Really, what do they have to lose? They want to be a name, and we saw it in the Champions Cup last year when they made it, and they were problematic for almost every team they played.
00:09:44
Speaker
And the thing that's interesting about Italian rugby to me right now is that their attack is at that high level. It's there. It's that they don't defend well. They're bringing in Guzzi to be a defense coach.
00:09:59
Speaker
And I know that's not Italy, it's Benetton, but still same idea. You can instill some good defensive minded ideas into a player and they can carry out two. He's essentially coaching the Italian national team.
00:10:16
Speaker
But not on that level. So yeah, if he instills just communication techniques and adjustment techniques, things like that with that team, that can make them dangerous because it really is them just having their heads up their asses at times on defense. Yeah. Oh, just a wee bit. Yeah. Just a wee bit. And then they snapped up.
00:10:43
Speaker
They snapped up a WAS Academy coach as well. I used to play for them. I can't remember. Andrea, I think was, it was the name. Anyway. So they're, they're looking to make moves obviously. So at least, at least these guys are.
00:10:57
Speaker
That's impressive. Yeah, go get somebody. That's a good move. It's a good combination for both of them. Yeah, I agree. We'll see how that goes for them. We had a rather large, and I mean physically large signing, going to Ulster and Leonin Nakarawa going from Glasgow to Ulster, which is big for them, obviously, and I mean that in so many ways.
00:11:25
Speaker
I guess he's surplus at Glasgow now, which I don't understand, but okay. One man's losses, another man's gain. But it's surprising that he went to Ireland. Just like you thinking someone like that would go somewhere that they pay him better and it'd be a little bit more fun. He's going to get kind of, I think he'll end up getting a little bottled up.
00:11:54
Speaker
Well, I think it seems like a little bit more open. Yeah. Also just playing pretty good stuff. I will go. I'll give them credit. They're not playing. Nothing's, you know, they're, they're trying to play. So I haven't watched enough of them. So yeah, I mean, with stuck to, we talk about the players that aren't used well at net international level, but I use well at club level.
00:12:12
Speaker
like Jacob Stockdale plays for ulcer and they use him quite well. So we're, we're talking about, you know, stuff like that. Um, McCloskey plays for this. That's a good club. I think, I think he can, he'll have an immediate impact and we're talking about him and then, and then, you know, I think Carter still on that team and just like, yeah, there's some that has a team they're, they're pushing for, um, the final cause for the, uh, for pro 14, cause there's only, I guess only the top two in each conference in pro 14 this year make the final and that's it.
00:12:42
Speaker
So one each conference. So, yeah, good luck with that. Because they want to launch the new competition, like kind of a
00:12:52
Speaker
an exhibition competition before they do the, bring on all the South Africa squads for the official season next year. Um, so that's how, that's what they're going with there. But yeah, Ulster should be, should be a little bit of fun to watch at least with him. I mean, God, he's only going to bring a little bit. Yeah. Oh yeah. It's going to be, it's going to be hard to watch at first, certainly where he's doing stuff and they're likely, huh?
00:13:16
Speaker
Get on my level. Yeah, exactly.
Squad Announcements and Strategy for Six Nations
00:13:21
Speaker
Get on my level. Yeah, get on my level and just get off of my hip. That's all you need. Also that. Definitely that part. He'll make it happen, I promise. Yeah, he'll do well with that. So that'll be interesting. Chris Ashton finds another Premier, Premiership club going to Worcester. I don't know about this move. I knew he was on his way out of Quinn's, but yeah, got me beat.
00:13:45
Speaker
I. I want to make a comment that I just can't because it's not inappropriate, but try not to. He he gets around, doesn't he? Yeah, he is a little bit right there. Yeah. Is there a team he hasn't played for in the program? At this point, there definitely is. I'm trying to. Oh, yeah. It's like Irish Exeter.
00:14:10
Speaker
Yeah, he hasn't played for Exeter yet, yeah. I get the sense that he wouldn't play for Exeter too, having played for the Saracens for a few years at this point. Yeah, it's just kind of funny how he's like, oh, I'll just go to another prep team. I'll go to another prep team. Yeah, I mean, most teams will take him, so.
00:14:25
Speaker
Yeah, but what is that? Honestly, at this point, I'm wondering what it says about him that he he's like been on a series of like one year, you know, one a month deals like he's not really. I don't know. I find it surprising because he was great at Saris and it was, you know, tough to see him go.
00:14:45
Speaker
And now he's just, you know, team to team to team. Nobody really likes him. Yeah. I don't get it. I'm fresh out of ideas here, buddy. You got me beat. So that's that six nations around the corner and squads have been announced.
00:15:04
Speaker
You and I talked about the guys that we were really excited for getting the phone call. Two guys that are the glaring obvious ones for Eddie Jones are Odagu and Harry Randall. And that is just awesome for Harry Randall. I am so happy for that kid.
00:15:22
Speaker
And the bears are happy for, I mean, you can tell the bears are just eating. They're ecstatic for them. This is the sign of a good club that you want to go to. And this is why people are going to Bristol at this point. Pat Lam is a guy that people want to play for. And it's just, it's definitely a club that you're just like, you're juiced to play for. You're just like, yep, that's exactly the guy I want to play for right now.
00:15:45
Speaker
And he's like, he's their guy. So they grew him from from a pop. We won. Yeah. So, yeah, of course, they're going to celebrate him. And then that's but then that's great to see, though, that that he's getting that opportunity. And it's great for the club that, you know, puts it like you said, it's on Justin, you know, Ben Earl playing for them is is is one thing because, you know, that's like you said, someone who came to them because he wanted to be there. Same with Max Maylands.
00:16:14
Speaker
Harry Riddle was their guy and they turned him into this. So it's like they show that kind of development now. That's a huge organizational win. Not just for Pat Lamb as an organization. That's huge. That's as big as winning the European hardware last year.
00:16:32
Speaker
Yeah, that's a big deal for them. So good on that kid. Tom West got the phone call because Joe Mahler has to pull out. And if there's a front row that's had it for Wash this season, it's either him or McIntyre. And obviously, he got the phone call. So good on him. That's a big one. He's only 24. He's not super old. So that's good. He's been playing really well, too. Yeah, he has. He's been taking strides.
00:16:59
Speaker
Yeah, and Underhill dropped. Who'd they call in for that one? Willis, duh. Oh, right. Because that was a tough decision. That was a really tough decision. And then, you know, you have the whole, the shadow squad where guys are going to be not necessarily trained directly with the team, but they're going under the same protocols, which I think means they're going to be in the bubble. Because those are the guys that Eddie Jones doesn't want to lose too.
00:17:27
Speaker
potential contact tracing outside of his scope. So yeah, so these guys. Right. So it doesn't seems like there's going to be some guys that aren't going to be available for this weekend. And it's a pretty good list. But it's, you know, I think we were just discussing it a little bit before we started recording. It's a fair list because it really every team is fucked pretty equally by all. Quite, quite.
00:17:54
Speaker
Yeah, I'm kind of okay that he's done it this way, if that's what it is. Because if anything, it's good for the prem too, because they don't have any team that's like, oh, well, we're missing this guy, and you're not missing really anybody. I mean, except for London Irish. They're missing one, Dell, but that's it. That's it, yeah.
00:18:13
Speaker
Yeah, but I mean, so they might benefit from this period. I don't know. We'll find out. And France announced there that this is going to be a really tricky thing. Obviously, the French government have put up a huge wall of late trying to have per clubs are trying to play right now. So the whole the whole possibility of playing this thing right now is still up in the air. Yeah.
00:18:36
Speaker
might be in five nations we'll find out if they don't want if they don't want to allow players um yeah teams into their into their um country and to their borders um no role on intimac he is still broken so um but they still have jalibare
00:18:55
Speaker
They have Jelly Bear. An excellent chance to write who played in that. Yeah, so who the hell and Jelly Bear there? Yeah, so who the hell played there? That final that played really well. Carver now. Yep, so they'll be fine in terms of position, but he is just such a special player that he it does take a little bit off. It does take a little bit off, but still, you know what, though? Jelly Bear has shown.
00:19:25
Speaker
amazing things and carbonyl has had been okay. I'm not going to, you know, he's not been great, but, but jolly bear, especially at the club level was, was, he was destroying the, uh, and champions cup. And they did quite well. He, he's not into Mac, but that doesn't mean he's not as good as into Mac in just different ways. Like he's, he's a playmaker. So, uh, yeah, he might not have the experience, but
00:19:52
Speaker
Yeah. Supposedly, initially, Gregory Aldrich was declared unfit to play, but then played for La Rochelle. And I think they changed their tune on that. But this is not unusual. We saw this with them in the World Cup in a couple years ago with Ramos. They sent him home for injury concern, but then he played his club game the next week. I was like,
00:20:15
Speaker
Was he hurt? Did you share he was hurt? Maybe that's how these international camps are and they're just brutal. Maybe it's a little bit of a, yeah, you're fine. You don't need to be here for this. We'll say you're injured for now so that you don't go through the trainings they're putting them through. Yeah, sometimes they can be pretty brutal. Just be fresh, be ready when we need you. Yeah, well, in this case, at least he's only a hop skipper and a jump away and not like half a world away. Exactly.
00:20:45
Speaker
Scott, let me talk about one Cameron Redpath for getting his phone call for this country rather, excuse me. Just great for him.
00:20:58
Speaker
I need to play international level and we know that it is right. Shitty for bath. And, you know, we know it's good in the long run to shitty. Yeah. Two, two tens to the tournament. Yeah, it's definitely they are. Well, the priest give the phone call for whales. Yeah. He's on the team.
00:21:17
Speaker
Oh, did he? Okay. I didn't even know that. I'm sure how much I was paying attention. So they carry in three tens. Interesting. Hold on. No, I don't think so. I was thinking sheetie and getting them. Oh, that would be Bristol. So yeah. Wrong bees.
00:21:32
Speaker
Yeah, good try again. But yeah, and you know, he obviously is aware of Karen Redpath as of Eddie Jones semi-reluctantly to pick the younger generation. He slowly brings it through. And unfortunately, it means some guys die a really slow, painful international death, which is just ill.
00:21:56
Speaker
Redpath Redpath's problem is his timing to be to be blunt, because the right now England has 10s and experience 10s so when they're finally smart enough to get rid of George Ford, and just have have Farrell be there, he'll do that for another like four years or so.
00:22:15
Speaker
Um, so that point red path is 25, but then once he's read, once Faz is ready to step away, there's still that generation of like the Marcus Smiths and the Magas, um, who are already in the system and already on the, on the radar ahead of him. Right. And it's like, there's, so there's really nowhere for him to go there. So, um, just good on, on Scotland for saying, you know what, fuck it. We'll, we'll take you. He wasn't, he, I don't think he would ever have played international for England, aside from maybe a one call up and that's not fair.
00:22:45
Speaker
Yeah, that sucks. Uh, so let's hope that trigger Townsend can open things up just a wee bit. Yeah. That'd be, that'd be nice. It would just like, let them, let them play, play, play. Just have a little French and let them play. Yeah. You're not going to get an argument on me. Um, for the Azuri, um, you know, Geraldine is calling it good. He is, he's hanging them up for, um, for Italy. And I would be surprised if he's about to hang up entirely. He's 36. He's not super young.
Irish Rugby Transitions
00:23:15
Speaker
in terms of a, um, an international hooker. But yeah, so he's calling it good. Um, and we'll see. Can the Italians finally pull their head out of their ass? We'll find out, I guess.
00:23:30
Speaker
Maybe, maybe not. I'm doing a little alphabetical order here, Ireland. I will say, Johnny Section looks funny with his head almost picked. I haven't seen it. It looks silly. I was like, what is that? Yeah, he's a.
00:23:49
Speaker
He's an odd-looking individual anyway. Yeah. Shaving yourself down to Chrome Dome may not have been most advisable by those stairs there, buddy. Oops, Daisy. I will say, I think we can start to turn over
00:24:05
Speaker
the Irish 10 Jersey to burn because he's, and Sexton's the captain, so it's gonna be hard to take it away from him until he's like done, which is again, one of those slow, painful international deaths that in terms of a career.
00:24:21
Speaker
Right. Yeah. Hopefully he kind of, hopefully he sees the writing on the wall. Like he, this is, this is turning into a Ben Roethlisberger situation, a Brett Favre situation where you really need someone to go up to something, like tap him on the shoulder, be like, you're, you're done.
00:24:37
Speaker
You're done. Get off the fucking field. Come on. It's embarrassing. Get off something like that. Sexton, it's also the game has changed and it's not his game. It's like two things that are wrong. He's getting older and doesn't really have it anymore because he gets the shit kicked out of him because of his style of play.
00:24:57
Speaker
that silo play is also out in favor. It doesn't really work anymore because the defenses are too strong and that that's too simple to fool international level defenses. So yeah, it's just for the, for the good of Irish rugby, they should be ready to move on from him, but it's going to be one last ride at least. And maybe that's what they're doing. I mean, you know, they'll, they'll take this year and then head, you know, start prepping for
00:25:24
Speaker
the World Cup with their their sections, not playing in the next World Cup. So this this might be his, you know, farewell. Yeah, it might be. You know, he obviously has aspirations to make the Lions this summer. I don't see how not sure it's happening, but that's what's that's where it's at. You know, Keenan. Young young outside back for Lancer in Ireland. I think you're going to see a lot of them.
00:25:54
Speaker
And if Andy Farrell's smart. I agree. I thought he was a bit of an unknown entity to anybody outside of the Leinster system before we restarted after lockdown earlier in the fall. But he became very known very quickly. Yeah, I contribute like that.
00:26:19
Speaker
he's quite good. So yeah, and he, and he, uh, I think you're going to see a lot of him, whether he plays fullback or, um, or, you know, Wayne, whatever it is, I think his talents certainly back, um, back the pick if he gets in there. So we'll see how that goes on him. And then the well squad. Oh boy. Wayne P back. What a headache you have created for yourself in many ways. Um,
00:26:47
Speaker
So we presume Dan bigger is going to play 10. Um, you know, and scum is not, he's having a rough go with that knee. Like he's on the squad. No, I know that. And you know, that would obviously be their preferred guy, but to Dan bigger's credit that he stepped in and really hasn't made a miss.
00:27:06
Speaker
Anska much, but he is a very good player. So if he were healthy, you'd pick him at the blink of an eye as long as he was, you know, fit. So there's that. So we got some old war horses in the squad besides bigger Lee halfpenny. Dan Lydia made the squad, which I was like, whoa. Everybody's pretty stoked about that. Yeah. I mean, good on him for, you know, kind of resurrecting it. Tipperick has, you know, is getting up there in age. He's
00:27:34
Speaker
Definitely a leader though, so they're not going to take him away. But yeah, I was like, wow, that's a pick right there. Didn't even consider that. But hey, what are you going to do? It's too bad. I feel like Thomas Jones kind of falling off the radar a little bit, which is too bad. I thought he was
00:27:53
Speaker
on his way but yeah it doesn't quite they they picked a really old back row if you look at it there's you know you're looking at 30 33 30 31 and then 24 and a 23 year old yep so it's like it's just a gulf there oh quite yeah so it's just that's that to me is surprising that you have like
00:28:16
Speaker
you're going to have like some, either somebody can barely move at this point, you know, no, no, uh, no disrespect. I will them in the VD is 30. He can still get around the pitch a little bit, but I'm foul towel and Lydia are going to be pluggers more than anything. So hopefully these young guys can, can be fetchers too. Right. Um, we're going to, we're going to see, uh, resamit hopefully for the first time in six
Welsh Rugby Strategy and Six Nations Pressure
00:28:42
Speaker
nations. Um, obviously we saw him in the fall, but.
00:28:45
Speaker
Um, be good if you got the adjustment cloud, got his first phone call as well. He's played, he's played pretty well for his club. So on him and it'll be, yeah, this is gonna, this, this is the time that you're going to see guys like Townsend Andy Farrell, Wayne Peaback on the hot seat.
00:29:04
Speaker
because this this is the time you've you've had Townsend especially because he's already been around yeah he's already been around the the pressure needs to be put on that man end of story um so we'll see what happens um you know again Andy Farrell and Peabec they've had a little over
00:29:23
Speaker
a little over a year and was with various comps to get it right. So hopefully the product looks good. Yeah. Cause Farrell's been getting there, barrels got there like that. And that's honestly, that is, um,
00:29:38
Speaker
going to be the biggest problem for Pevac and Townsend is that arrows come on and instantly you can see Ireland moving towards a more open game. And maybe they didn't quite win last time, but they're on the back, Ireland's back on the come. And these two are still, well, Scotland is still in there and Wales is back. Has gone super mad, yeah.
00:30:02
Speaker
You know, which is too bad. I wasn't a fan of Warren Ball, but they found a way to make it work. Exactly. At this point, he adapted his game, though, like that, that they were playing a much more open game. And that's when they became the world number one. And then he kind of rained it back in. He's like, OK, now that we can do that, let's go back to it. It's like, what do you know? Go back to what you were doing before. It was better, I promise. Right. Get your eyes back here. Yeah.
00:30:29
Speaker
But Townsend just has no excuse. Yeah, I'm not. Yeah, he's out of time. He's out of time. End of story.
Premiership Rugby Back Row Analysis
00:30:37
Speaker
Let's talk about.
00:30:39
Speaker
The last part was fun cause we did the, um, the captains and then the 10. So I thought, you know what, everybody loves everybody backs their own back row by the clubs, um, and premiere ship. So I said, you know what, let's talk about it. Why not? Um, so for bath, um, I have Mercer under hill foul towel. Any argument there? No. And I, I think that's an excellent back row right there. Right. Uh, Bristol, I have Hughes, Earl, Louis Tua, no argument there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's right.
00:31:08
Speaker
Simmons, Vermeulan, and youwers for Exeter? I think that's what we'd have to go with, yeah. Immediately down your head. Gloucester, probably Paledry, Ludlow, and Ackerman.
00:31:23
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. As it stands right now, I'll tell you, there's nothing else that they could have, but that's all right. Um, Quinn's Dom, Brent Evans, and they love Chisholm. So I guess that's where we're at with that. That's not quite law day, huh? No. Um, yeah, but it's not right. No argument. I mean, uh, Lester, I'd say your best back row there is probably Taufua Vis and Leibenberg. Yep. Maybe mixing George Martin in there, but, um,
00:31:52
Speaker
Yeah, I'd say right now. Leibenberg is the only one that's a baby, but he's been there starting seven for all seasons. So he's been there for quite a bit. Yeah. I wish probably to a Suey Rogerson and blair Cowan. Yep. Um, new castle. I think we talked about this vendor vault. Wilson Graham is probably their best back row and they can get them all on the field. Yeah. Uh, North Hampton, I'd say right now it's probably Tiamana Harrison laws and Ludlam.
00:32:20
Speaker
Right. Because if laws is there, they'll pump the zook and the lock. Right. That's usually what it is. Sale was a little tough because we have a lot of moving pieces in that back five, as it were. Curry without a doubt, DDP without a doubt. I mean, JLDP feels like a default, but at the same time, it's probably their best option.
00:32:44
Speaker
as far as back row players, because then you have the other, the very tall Dupree going into lock and Beaumont also bumping into lock as well. So I think that's it. I would go with the twins and Kerry, who's also a twin, but not the right one. Was is probably Jack Willis, Thomas Young and Barbary when he's healthy.
00:33:10
Speaker
or shields or that's got a few rotating guys in there. Just pick free wasps and put them in. It doesn't matter. They're probably, they're pretty good. They're pretty good right there. Yep. Yeah. And Worcester is Hill CDP, uh, Cornell, Dapria, and then either crevasse or mama probably.
00:33:32
Speaker
Those ones I've been getting the nod mostly this year. Yeah. I will go slash there. We'll go either way. Either one. It's not really going to affect much. Yeah. Well, yeah. Neither one of those last two guys is moving the needle a whole lot. And even the other guys aren't really moving the needle a whole lot this year. So they're just not a good back row right now. Yeah. He'll get picked for England though. So I don't get it. Although it's Worcester. Maybe he's doing a hell of a job and
00:33:58
Speaker
Maybe he's really, I guess we'll find out this weekend if he doesn't play for them and they get tongued. Beth. So of that.
00:34:08
Speaker
Do you think wasps are probably the best back row? So I mean, just to put him into like segments, like wasps, wasps, bath and Bristol to me are in that top. And it's scary to say even maybe Lester there, the way they've been playing.
00:34:29
Speaker
so i'd like that's what i would do i'd say look there's this these four are in the certainly in the top conversation everyone else is vying for the second tier right and i mean a back row with sam simmons is amazing but that's their back row that's their back row like i like vermulan and i thought we haven't seen a whole lot of them this year because he's been he's been hurt um
00:34:52
Speaker
I mean, there's not many years you talk about a piano back, my goodness, the way that dude runs, I'm just like, like, can you stand up straight?
00:35:02
Speaker
Like he's a big old square block head job, but you know, yeah. And I don't want four locks on the field for my team. That's why you're, you're, you know, and I realized how much work Sam does, but imagine if he had to help, right? You know, he could make a line break and offload to someone else or even better. Someone else makes a line break and he can offload to him. There's so much more that could be done if, if, if Exeter had more than one loose forward.
00:35:29
Speaker
Yeah, I'm not arguing with that one. It's so frustrating. Yeah. And I really like, I really like the, you know, you want to talk about just a group that's tough, that Newcastle back row, but if they can get Vanderbilt, Wilson and Graham,
00:35:51
Speaker
You're not running through any of those guys. You really aren't. I'm not saying you can run through any of these back rowers, but those are two guys that can tackle for sure. And the work rate, especially for Wilson, which is why you got Pickering and without a doubt, the work rate for all three of them is also super high.
00:36:09
Speaker
And that's what makes Sam Simmons and Jack Willis so good and Earl. And, you know, the ones we love to talk about is the work. Right. And really, it's it's what makes those guys really good. So they're right there. They're not like the.
00:36:22
Speaker
the speedsters. They're not the ones who are going to be breaking the line, but they're the ones who are, when you need a play to be made, if you need, whether it's a hit, whether it's a, you know, a clear out of a rock to make a tackle or just take, take a hit up before something else, you know, before your actual play, those are your guys. Like, absolutely. Those are your guys. And we saw a new castle with, um,
00:36:47
Speaker
with their first game this year and Gary Graham and the work he was willing to put in for them and like in the job he did to get them a win. Like, yeah, that dude, that dude does not quit. That's the best part is they give each other breaks because of their work rate. So as a whole, they, they're like greater than the sum of their parts because of it. It's not fair. Yeah. I will say, you know, as much as we're talking up any, all these back row, the back rows we are, is there any back row here that you would just like not want to start a team with?
00:37:24
Speaker
Not really, I mean, I'm not really a fan of Gloucester's or the Saints. I'd struggle with that. I'm not seeing. Well, I mean, I can see, I can pick out, here's the thing for me, I can pick out a piece that I'd take all day in each one, Pledry and Ludlum for sure.
00:37:43
Speaker
Oh, that's true. Poladri. I forgot Poladri was involved because he's hurt. And yeah, I agree with both of those. And the same thing with Exeter. I won't say I'm Simmons, but I don't want what comes with it. Yeah, you don't want the baggage. And I guess, like you said, we'll find out about Wooster. Wooster is really the one. I think that might be the one where I'm like, you know what?
00:38:05
Speaker
I can pick up any one of them I would love as depth. Let's put it that way, but I wouldn't want that to be my core that I'm starting a team with.
00:38:16
Speaker
And we, here's the thing, we've seen flashes from all four guys we mentioned in the Worcester back row here, Hill, Cornell, Dapria, you know, Kvesic had a couple of years where he was amazing. Mamas had some flashes and then, you know, Hill, the first year he got the call for England and he was playing out of his skin. And Dapria is just one of those big battering rams that's like, he's almost the same mold as Tui Tui, like,
00:38:41
Speaker
big body can, can run in the loose when given, when given the chance, but not going to like outrun you. Yeah. He's not going to finish unless he's inside the 22 maybe he's not outrunning anybody. He's getting dragged down.
00:38:55
Speaker
Wooster can't finish this year anyway. Oh, that's true. So he's not even getting the ball when it's in the 22 because they're just turning it over. Yeah. They're finding ways to give it up. Good Lord. Good grief. Um, yeah. So let's, I, I, I, I, again, not too many back rows. I would throw away. I still think the potential of Hill is good enough where I would take him. So
00:39:20
Speaker
Yeah, I would and especially if you're you know, throw a backup in there with with Sam Lewis, because I would want him like that. I guess that would be it. I would want those two and not the other three so much. Yeah, I just haven't seen we haven't seen hide in her hair of of St. Louis. I don't know what Solomon's has got a problem with him for what but maybe injured.
00:39:40
Speaker
I mean, I hope I can give them that benefit of the doubt. I'm trying to. I really do. I really want to give them that benefit of the doubt. But as of right now, it's kind of tough.
00:39:51
Speaker
Okay.
Premiership Match Previews
00:39:52
Speaker
Um, Hey, let's talk about some pretend rugby, um, starter set. All right. Hey, here's the good news. One total case tested positive. And that was a staff member in, in for all 12 commercial clubs. So fingers crossed. We have a full slate of games this weekend. And we can actually all play some fun fantasy rugby and not lose our heads.
00:40:17
Speaker
Um, let's go Friday night. Um, Oh, Bristol, Bristol and bath. That's me. Um, Hey, bath bath giving help points and top position legacy candy in, in both formats. Um, finally giving away the most points to wings and TRM on a point support game basis. Stupid. So, uh, yeah, that, that, that definitely caused them to go a little tipsy. Um, anyway,
00:40:43
Speaker
start and sit for the Bears. Bowie should be back. Hello. That's definitely a yes. Thacker, I think he was back as well, or if not, he's close. Bubbles is fine too, if need be. More hands should be healthy as well, and he's probably going to have a spot on the field because he's lost a couple of the guys have left, namely Yoan Lloyd. So he should have room.
00:41:06
Speaker
And why wouldn't you play him on the opposition side where it's kind of a. Bedlow is definitely going to play 10 again, I think with sheet out.
00:41:16
Speaker
probably okay to play him in FRD. I'd go find something else in TRM though. Yeah. Even against this team that just surrenders points. It's just, you know, it's one of the, he's going to be one of those guys at this point, just like all these points and he's not getting any of them. That's going to be the sad part. Um, bath are actually tough against props. And even without Stewart or Abano, I would still give that, uh,
00:41:38
Speaker
bit of a caution in there. So yeah, Fola and Jan Thomas, probably you'll find somebody else. They're not really points. Jan Jan might score a point or two. Right. Fola has the more bigger potentially just expensive. So yeah, if you have them, man, if you don't, don't bother.
00:41:57
Speaker
Well, yeah, Jan actually had a big, he had one big week this year, so hopefully he can. He has the potential, but not, no. I'm not playing him. Peerser Connor, believe it or not, Bathard, actually tough up the middle. Yeah, but he might be on the outside. If he gets pushed to the outside, then he's probably,
00:42:17
Speaker
ignore all the things I'm about to say. But if he's playing in the middle, TRM probably you can go ahead. But the really tough spot, Beth is FRD midfielders, like just not surrounding a whole lot of points there. So find another midfielder. And that's really tough to say because midfielders are hard to find. Bristol are still top four in both formats. Tough sledding for real outfits in either format, just
00:42:45
Speaker
put up a big red stop sign. It's not going to be good. I believe they're top in both in terms of the front row group, NFRD, and then both hookers and props. They're not friendly again. So I would give that a caution for Bath. Spencer's going to be mad. So we're playing him.
00:43:07
Speaker
Zach Mercer is actually still good. It's the one spot that Bristol give up points, which is the back row slash eight. Stukin McNally, they're not too, the problem with lineup time for against Bristol is not for the locks, it's for the hookers. So yeah, go ahead and play Stukin McNally. If you got them, I like McNally a lot actually.
00:43:28
Speaker
Yeah, me too. Priest, FRD only. Because he's probably going to be... He's probably been your starting 10 for a while and you're not going to go away from it, but it's really tough to play him. Unless you mention him for no reason. Well, that's your... Like your dumbass. Although that worked out fine for you in some ways. Certainly did. Squirrely, run matchup to get going. Maybe an FRD if you're stuck. He needs to find it again. DeGlamville, C above.
00:44:01
Speaker
Definitely not an option unless you've already got him and you are really stuck.
00:44:06
Speaker
onto the other match on Friday, which is going to be a fucking which is going to be one I don't watch too much of fucking dog shit. Lester and sale. Sale are still going to have that defense. It's not what it was, but they're not really missing. Sanderson's there now, though. Yeah, so it's not going to turn that around in a week, but it's going to be better than it has been.
00:44:33
Speaker
And Leicester are missing their major impact. Quite a bit, yeah. But that still means so. Wigglesworth, maybe in TRM, but not in... I'm sorry. Yeah, maybe TRM, but not in FRD because what he does doesn't really score points. No. In TRM. I'm sorry, in FRD. Correct. I'm guessing either Diaz Bonilla or Henry at 10.
00:44:58
Speaker
If Diaz Bonilla is playing there, start him. Henry, maybe in FRD because he is a 10, so you're actually getting 10 value. And then outside of that, the aforementioned Jasper Reese should be an option. Other than that, the sale really shut down the loose forwards, so I just wouldn't go there. But again, he'll still put up points on his own.
00:45:28
Speaker
And then outside of that, it's really Nodolo, Van Vic, Stuart, Potter, whoever that back three is, because that's a pretty fucking decent option at back three. And Lester will have a 10 that will be able to get the ball there. So you hope, I think so. Because like I said, Henry's been better, at least a 10 and a better distributor. So they'll still get the ball out there and those guys will put up the points. On the other side,
00:45:55
Speaker
Uh, no dandipria. So not really that many players to trust. Um, Acre should be big here in the next, uh, over the next little bit. So if you don't have him on the rugby mag, uh, pick him up. Um, cause you're just going to leave him in. Um, and AJ is a pretty good option, but outside of that, there's just nobody on sale who's going to be putting up points that on a consistent basis that's worth having on your team to be perfectly honest.
00:46:23
Speaker
Yeah. The last couple of starting labs have not wowed me by any means whatsoever. No. So it's, I don't, I think it's going to take a while to develop that, that attack. You know, Sanderson hopefully we'll, we'll have some input on that because he has some familiar area. I would assume with what he's doing. Well, when he's coaching the defense against that attack, and I'm sure he's, he knows what's the, what's to do in that case. Exactly.
00:46:46
Speaker
Alright, Gloucester and Northampton on Saturday. Northampton, another team that are just giving away points for funsies. You have a point, you have a point, you have a point. Everybody gets a point. Everybody gets points against Northampton. So for Gloucester, Lloyd Evans,
00:47:05
Speaker
Northampton are awful against Ted's, playing on like 30ish points in TRM. That's the kiss of death, I know, but still. Yes, yes, for sure. Repava Ruskin, I know Northampton are decent against props, but this dude's just been a beast this year for them. So go ahead and give it a, give it a thumbs up, double thumbs up. Well, those actually been very good this year as well and against this team, I will definitely give him a thumbs up.
00:47:27
Speaker
So go ahead. Northampton actually aren't too bad against the front row for FRD. So maybe reconsider that if you can. I realize people are in a pinch right now. You mentioned Val and with Jamal Ford Robinson. They may score a try. Right. Depends on which one plays. Yeah. So we'll see how that goes. Anyway.
00:47:51
Speaker
Ackerman, not for me. New contract, but he's still not for me. Nope. And then any hooker that's not named Jack Singleton, I would pass on. Cherry and lights on the other side are a semi-tough matchup. Top four, TRM at the very least in terms of points against per game. Going up the middle is tough and 12s is back, so that's not going to help that at all.
00:48:15
Speaker
So for that for Northampton Ludlum definitely their best forward. If not, it's a sequel. So either one of those guys is fine. I would go ahead and give that a thumbs up. You know, I was going to say.
00:48:30
Speaker
You know, of the two centers, and again, I said centers are tough. Whoever's playing 13, if it's touch, if it's proctor, go ahead. That's fine. I will give that a thumbs up. On the other side, whoever's playing 12, don't play them. If it's touch, if it's, you know, you know, whatever, if it's, if it's proctor. So don't play that.
00:48:51
Speaker
Grayson, this is probably the time to play him in FRD, but only in FRD. Don't play him anywhere else. Pretty pleased with shirt on top. Do not play him. Yeah, no. Big T is still a fucking paperweight. So don't play him. If you have to in FRD, I get it. But man, if you can help it get
00:49:12
Speaker
He gets, he actually gets points in an FRD, um, better than TRM. So I think he does like a little, like a little shrug off of a tackle is a point in, in both, but the point in, in FRD is bigger. So yeah, he'll get, he'll get you like 10 points. You know, like I didn't see him do anything, but he'll get you 10 points equally in both. Correct. So yeah, that's where I would deal with those.
00:49:42
Speaker
Onto Wooster hosting Exeter. Fuck, who knows? This is going to be a fucking weird-ass match because I just don't know what to expect. Exeter have been leaking badly, although they've been leaking against good teams. Right.
00:50:01
Speaker
But on the other, other hand, their fucking forward pack is, is away. Um, there's a few guys. Yeah. They're missing for their starting five. Um, and that, and I think a couple backs. So, um, yeah. Yeah. Uh, you know, but they have guys to replace them a little bit. So anyway, Worcester.
00:50:30
Speaker
fuck, this is going to be it. Like this is their best shot to take down a team like Exeter. So hopefully they're keyed up and ready to go. Ethan Waller and Island at their front row in FRD, I would say go for it. Even though, let me see the front, I didn't check the front row stats. Yeah, Exeter actually pretty low. In other words, they're bad against front rows. So this is a good opportunity for Worcester to get points there. I like Waller.
00:51:00
Speaker
Yeah. Um, and Annette can, can contribute to and loose, um, who guard, uh, the exit have been leaky around that nine 10 channel. So who guards a good option as always, um, Searle, maybe, uh, a pretty good option in FRD certainly, because he's going to get opportunities to run. Duncan, you called to the scrum. I believe he did. Ooh.
00:51:23
Speaker
I guess I missed that part. Unless I, unless I just made that up because I wanted to see it. Well, you want to see Billy trail. Yeah. Uh, no. Oh, so he's around. Okay. There you go. I had assumed I was thinking, I was still thinking about the, their autumn tests, which they, they didn't have Hastings or Russell for at least they have Russell now. Um,
00:51:44
Speaker
So yeah, then we are, we was a very good option in that respect. Again, as we were talking earlier, I'm not really big on the loose forwards. Ted Hill, maybe in FRD at this point, TRM, I just wouldn't touch him. He's been a little bit of a paperweight this year. Right. But then he'll just sit there and it's hard to get rid of. It's hard to cut. That is true. That is true. That's one of those, like you have to cut two to get one kind of thing.
00:52:16
Speaker
And then you have to worry about them being a paper week. Yeah, I'm not sure. So really outside of that, I'm not sure what to expect in the centers. And then the back three, they're strong. But Exeter are really strong against the back three. So I'm not sure I would.
00:52:35
Speaker
bother with Worcester's back three. On the other side, as you mentioned, Exeter's front row severely depowered. I'd probably look elsewhere on FRD. Locke's the same, but Sam Skinner will, when he plays, he puts up points. So look his way. And same thing in the back row. Sam Simmons, when he plays, he puts up points.
00:52:59
Speaker
Well, I mean, you may be familiar with him, but but keep an eye out. He's not bad. It doesn't whoever's at nine. Fuck it. No, no, no, no, no, no, like seriously.
00:53:14
Speaker
I've fallen for that trap. Even though I fell for the Hidalgo Klein trap. Yeah. Yeah. Don't, if you have no other scrum have to start an FRD, do not start because they're going to get minus. Exactly. They will lose points for you. Don't do it.
00:53:30
Speaker
Don't do it, I promise. Joe Simmons, a much better option in, I feel like in TRM than FRD, but I meant the other way around. Much better option in FRD than TRM. I have moved on from him in TRM and I'm not looking back. And then I hope it's Devoto Hendrickson in the centers. I know that you would love to see that, Jared.
00:53:54
Speaker
I think most Exeter fans would like to see that, honestly. If not, then I want to know why. And O'Flaherty, and maybe we could get the return of Francisco Cordero, because that would be delicious. You mean for Condo, but yeah. For Condo, yeah, that's what I meant. It's Francisco, it's fun to say. It's not Francisco. Francisco. Anyway, yeah, that's all I had.
00:54:18
Speaker
Yeah, let's keep going to Sunday Irish and Newcastle. The men in Brentford are middling to generous for fantasy defenses. Bon Appetit front rows. They are the surrender quite a bit there. So for the Newcastle Falcons.
00:54:38
Speaker
Afform engine, Philip endervault should be playing eight with with no Gary Graham. So away you go. This is a good week to play flood or common if they're playing 10. If floodplain 12 stay away, stay very far away. Peterson USA, USA plays a ton of minutes and wins a ton of line outs. He is one of their biggest lineup targets. So go ahead and feel good. Really, really good about that. Especially in TRM. On the other side,
00:55:05
Speaker
Orlando, I really love Orlando, but this is this week. TRM is probably a place you can avoid. You might be stuck with him in FRD, so OK, fine. Tom Penny is a well liked player, but also probably not a player you want to play this week, especially in TRM. Irish are tough against outside backs and fullbacks, and he's probably the odd man out in that in that case. So sorry, and any hooker that's not named George Maguigan, I would just check no way.
00:55:33
Speaker
Nope, nope, nope, nope. Falcons are a bit of a strange one. Tough in FRD, but middling in TRM, especially against tough against loose forwards in TRM. So that makes things very curious. Tui Tui did pick up right where he left off, so I'm okay with playing him right now. Hoskins, he's back. Play him, assuming he starts. You got like what, 52 last time? Yeah.
00:55:59
Speaker
Yeah, just do it and don't even think about it. Curtis Rona continues to perform for this club and he's playing 13 and that's just a place that Newcastle bleed. So go ahead. That's a bad place to bleed. Yeah, it's not a good place to bleed. I mean, if Irish can figure out how to finish, which they sort of did against Gwen's, then they could be in for an upset here.
00:56:22
Speaker
on the other side of the coin, Ollie Hassell Collins is now in category of I gotta see it, because I haven't seen it for a while. FRD if you're stuck, but that's it. Me and Vips, wrong opponent and they're not that great anyway, but Newcastle eat nines. So, nope. And then Tom Parton played so well last match and I feel so bad for saying this. TRM, no. FRD,
00:56:47
Speaker
Okay, fine. You're probably stuck with him anyway. So go ahead. Hopefully he breaks the line and gets you, gets you, you know, eight, nine, maybe 10 points. Not great for an outside back, but better than, you know, very little, but his potential as a player is the only thing I'm giving him the nod for an FRT.
00:57:06
Speaker
All right, you go through Newcastle, too. I missed. Yeah, I got the other one, too. Sorry, I lost racket time there. Wasps and Harlequins to round up the weekend. This is going to be an interesting match, mostly because who's playing 10 for Wasps? I'm assuming. I don't know. I guess in Coppereth. I'm guessing Goldman, which he will do incredibly.
00:57:33
Speaker
You know, but if they bring simple login, uh, that could be because he's been, he's been picking it up. So I pull back. Yeah, absolutely. He's played really well. He's not looking lost. And when he casted to come in to play that first receiver, he's been doing well. So, um, I'm interested to see what they do there.
00:57:51
Speaker
But as far as player recommendations, the front row, the Tommies at Hook, whoever's starting, would be a decent option for points here. And the front row should do well even without Alfie from learning on the back.
00:58:07
Speaker
in the Locks, Gaskell has been scoring. Yeah. And Raiden, Molly's hot, I guess. Molly's hot, maybe. And as I said in our discussion about the loose forwards, you could pick whoever starting in this back row. They could be the best back row in the league on this day. Yeah, they're playing pretty well.
00:58:31
Speaker
I would go with them. So yeah, don't don't shy away from that. Nines and tens. Nines. Yeah, I'm I would look probably about it's probably about a cut. If he's healthy. Yeah. So maybe, yeah, maybe not not TRM. Don't buy them in TRM. Great. Again, look at the 10 figure out what's going on there. I would avoid the midfield because with them, you know,
00:59:02
Speaker
that it's going to be like Le Bourgeois and.
00:59:07
Speaker
Maybe to young. Yeah, something like that. No, do you? You don't want either of them. No kind of avoid them. I'm interested to see maybe we get the return of Zack Hiberty. Maybe comes out of a shell. Yeah, well, he I think he was close the last time they were going to play, but they were just like then they weren't. They didn't want to rush him back after that head injury. Yeah, it was weird, but yeah, you could. Yeah, you don't play around with that. Yeah, I know that he was he was he was not.
00:59:34
Speaker
So I'm hoping he's coming back. On the other side, Quinn's, yes, the front row, Baldwin and TRM would be a good get it from the hooker spot. Go for the locks. The WASPs are 12th in FRD and 11 in TRM. That was before you made your final adjustment. So I'm just going to go with it for now. They're probably close to being there still.
00:59:58
Speaker
Right. So they're towards the bottom of the league. That's not a good place to be. Um, Dom Brant, any format go. Yes. Go. And, and Evans, as we've, has been lightened up certainly in an FRD. I haven't noticed him being particularly scoreful in, in TRM, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been.
01:00:16
Speaker
And speaking of nines and tens, Quins will have their nine and ten and that will be to Wasp's detriment. Danny Kerr and... And Mark Smith, yeah. Yeah, have fun, guys. Godspeed. Is Esterhuysen back, finally?
01:00:37
Speaker
I think his suspension's up. Yeah. So if they need a center, then he might be in. Look, look his way. And who knows where the yank has been. We both want to see Paula CK and Esther Heisen out there simultaneously. The 15 minutes he played, he played amazingly. I was like, what? So I'm like wondering.
01:00:55
Speaker
So that would be fun to see, especially those two against, um, with no, first off and no Fekito, but, um, specifically against like, Oh my not, that's me. That's mean. And then I don't know what the fuck they're going to do in their back three. Um, I guess Mike Brown is the only one I would talk about. Yeah, sorry. Uh, yeah. Brown and.
01:01:18
Speaker
But that's the only one I would really, depending on if Murley is back from his hamstring that he yanked right at the end of that last match. We'll see. Yeah. Yeah. So there's that. All right. Start starting sets of the week.
Fantasy Rugby Tips and Predictions
01:01:33
Speaker
It's interesting because we've talked about both of my start and sit throughout the course of this pod, so that's kind of fun. Yeah, I've had one mentioned and not so much on the other one that we've not talked about, but
01:01:42
Speaker
Um,
01:01:48
Speaker
We know who it is. So, uh, start of the week. Um, he's fresh. He's back to his hummingbaths and is going to get to opposite that like to sit under points to backs. His position in particular, isn't one that they, uh, love that they're super soft against super soft birthday. Um, but he's just that, he's just that special that I'm going to ignore that. Um, my start of the week for around seven of the prime is Bristol and Fiji center, semi rod, rod, rod. Well, that's just not, yeah, that's yeah. Okay.
01:02:28
Speaker
Um, so my, my, this guy you mentioned, um, as looking around potentially 30 points on the board for your FRV team. Um, and, and it cannot, the player has been putting up points, um, for his position and he's go, he's going against a team that is bleeding points at his position going back to last year. So Lloyd Evans is my start of the week.
01:02:33
Speaker
Yeah, I didn't think that was a bad pick. That's controversial.
01:02:52
Speaker
for glossary. Yeah. Nice. Yeah. It's a good one. Yeah. Be good to see him kind of come out of it too. All right. Uh, so the week, um, this kid seems to have a bright future, but everything that sale touches seems to go to hell. Um, with new coach Anderson in place and the defense somehow going to find another level for this, for this club, um, bad news for all opposition. Um, like I said, this kid should come good. Um, but this will be a bad week for him. My city of the week for round seven. The prime is Lester fullback, Freddie Stewart.
01:03:23
Speaker
Yeah, that could go poorly. That could go poorly. My set of the week, I'm actually staying in the same match as my start of the week. And this is a guy that we were just, we just been like, he got a new contract and we're just like, why? He's been just poop on the field and on the fantasy field. So just,
01:03:48
Speaker
put, put Rowan Ackerman down and leave him there and walk away. God help you if you signed him in TRM. I am so sorry. Get, undo, undo. They don't want to know if they have an undo button out here, but.
01:04:04
Speaker
Oh shit.
TRM Champions League and Closing Remarks
01:04:06
Speaker
Okay. Let's have a look at the, the comings and goings. I'm more of the coming praising boom. Um, in champions league. Um, let's see this week we got, um, George taking on Mark. Uh, I get to try and do my best to take down Anton. Yee. Um, Carrick and Duncan go head to head. And Ben has drawn Justin who kicked my ass with like five players.
01:04:32
Speaker
That was bad. Yeah. Good luck. Um, the other side of it, the TRM side of it, um, Anton leads the lay. Ben's Ben's falling close behind. Uh, I'm not too far behind either. One of you and George is right up my bum. And then it's Duncan, Mark, not bad, Mark. You're your third from the bottom for a guy that's never played TRM. So good on you, dude. Um, Carrick. And then Justin is currently the, uh, the foundation of
01:05:00
Speaker
He actually TRM after that zero pointer. At least he did it early and not late because he gave himself a chance to catch up. He just, he's going to have to take some huge swings. Although he did close a little bit of the gap. He's down to 300 points. It was like 500 at one point. So he's closing it down just a tiny bit, but ways to go. All right. Let's do some pick them and then we can piece the full goat.
01:05:28
Speaker
Um, all right. Friday night, Bristol and bath. Uh, I don't think there's a debate here. No, Bristol, Bristol. There's a debate with this one. Lester and sale. I like Lester. Yeah. I'm going to go with sale. Yeah. I'm going to go with sale.
01:05:50
Speaker
No, I'm not sure at all, but I'm going to do it anyway. Shit. Gloucester and Northampton. I'm going to take the cherry and whites out of King's home. Yeah, I got to go with them, too. Northampton are just. Yeah, they improved, but they're still not there.
01:06:08
Speaker
Although getting Gloucester are in desperate. Well, actually, no, there's no desperation mode at this point because there's no relegation. So or as it seems. Yeah. Yeah. What's your exit or?
01:06:23
Speaker
I want to say the word duh, right? Or whatever that means in French. Uh-huh. He's just B side pack and, and Sam Simmons are more than enough to be Worcester. Right. To get over the line once or twice, which is more than Worcester can do. Yes, this is true. This is definitely true. Um, Quince in Newcastle. Um, you know, that Newcastle team still knows how to win. Uh, I'm going to go with them.
01:06:52
Speaker
but I will give Irish. I'm sorry. So if I said Quinn's before us, I'm in London Irish. Excuse me. Yeah. London Irish and Newcastle. London Irish did play really well to get that draw against Quinn's and in a way they've won it because they got more points out of that match because they had the ball's point try to go with it. So in a way it's kind of a win for Irish. But yeah, Newcastle just have a winning way right now. And so I'm going to, I'm going to go with them.
01:07:21
Speaker
I'm struggling because we talked about the specific guys for a new castle that are driving them that won't be there. Right. Well, Graham won't be now. Graham won't be. And Wilson. And Wilson won't be. So that's one less of those guys. And Roderson is doing the work. He's doing excellent work, but he's also extremely young. He's been able to kind of latch on to the
01:07:50
Speaker
you know, the experience guys. So I don't know that the real, the engine room essentially for new castle will be there. Uh, so I'm going to go with the Irish. I think they're going to step up, talk to yourself into the Irish pick. Okay. Uh, this one's cleanse. This one's cleanse, cleanse and wasps. Um, I'm going to go with the wasp. I know that I'm going to be missing a bunch of bodies, but
01:08:15
Speaker
I still like what they can do with the guys that they do have.
01:08:21
Speaker
Uh, yeah, but, but you know, I look at the nine, 10, um, I know it's going to be tough to, it's going to be a tough sell. You know, Don Brandt, you know, Don Brandt is going to be mad about not getting the call yet again. Um, and we, we, we've seen in the past what he, remember when he, uh, tuned up Billy and it just absolutely undressed him, um, in, in the similar circumstance last, you know, last year. So.
01:08:48
Speaker
Yeah, I think Care, Smith and Dombrandt are going to be the game here. And Quinn's have enough, whatever way they're going to be starting at lock, they'll be fine. So I think they're going to have the better squad. So I'm going to go with the Quinn's on this one.
01:09:05
Speaker
Yeah. Hopefully we see Stefan Lovis back from injury. That'd be nice. That'd be nice. Yeah. So it looks like you and I are going to have either a gap or there could be some change or whatever. So there'll be movement in our, in our pickup here. That'll be interesting. So yeah.
01:09:26
Speaker
Thank you, everybody, for hanging out with us. As always, fancy your rugby podcast at gmail.com if you have questions for us, if you want to know anything about the pod life here in America, because it's clearly fucking weird compared to everybody else, I guess, or at least it's similar than a lot of people thought. Maybe that's more to the issue. Hey, just to bring us back to that, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security has issued a national terrorism advisory bulletin
01:09:55
Speaker
Yay, domestic terrorism. Oh, that's always fun. Oh, yeah. So that's where we are. So.
01:10:02
Speaker
Oh, fun. Awesome. Look where we are, America. Good job. Other than that, we'll be back next week. Enjoy the Premiership rugby returning. It'll be good to have it back. But until next week, we'll catch you guys then and enjoy your fancy rugby returning as well. Have a good one, guys.