Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Season 4- Episode 2- Quade the King (Premiership Preview)
30 Plays4 years ago
Now we're getting serious, it is the debut of our new format where you will get a double dose of your favorite American rugby knuckleheads. In this episode we talk about the goings on in the world of rugby including, that guy named Quade against the World Champs and also the Americans that made themselves rugby heroes out in Glendale this past weekend. We hit on the Women's action both domestically and internationally. Oh yeah, and this is our Premiership preview show too. Yes, it's a little longer than we'd like, but grab a cold drink and join us anyway.
Keep your eyes and ears peeled for our Patreon subscriptions! Aiming for this week, gods help us. In the meantime, ask us questions via Twitter: Jarrod- jdyke8man & Ben- admrablsnackbar, and #AskTFRY. Send us your thoughts for the show and questions for upcoming shows via e-mail fantasyrugbypodcast@gmail.com. Of course we welcome feedback via e-mail, twitter or by rating/reviewing the pod on Apple Podcast.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction & New Format
00:00:08
Speaker
Hey, everybody. Welcome back. My name is Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glauser. Here we go. The first the first actual episode that we're going to do pretty much like we're going to try and do all year. So hang on to your hats, kids. Yeah. I hope you enjoy the new format. Yeah. If not, just listen. Oh, let's let's crack these.
Listener Engagement & Patreon Teasers
00:00:30
Speaker
Let's do that. Gimme gimme. I'd have a beer. I'd have a beer.
00:00:37
Speaker
So obviously, if you like us, we'd appreciate a rating. If you don't like us, we'll take a rating too. Any feedback is always welcome. And it's pretty soon we may be able to ask for, you know, buy us a coffee or a beer or something in return for our services. Yes. Not too long off here.
00:00:57
Speaker
Not too long enough. Hopefully we can get ahead of FRD. That's really what I'm hoping. I'm trying to have it ready for this week. In the second episode this week, as in our new format, you'll hear about what the
Player Strategies & Lions Tour Updates
00:01:15
Speaker
the information that that will be offering for through our pat patreon that we hope to get up fairly soon. Yes. Yes, yes. In the meantime, go ahead and buy our friend towards the fancy where we geek a beer here, because he or coffee, however you want to phrase it, because he's going to become very valuable, especially with all the the rest stuff that's going on because of Lions tours and guys that are currently away with TRC and
00:01:41
Speaker
Yeah, just there's a whole lot right there. Just those two things right there. Nevermind the buys. So he's going to be instrumental in that. And if you don't want to do that, you can always just upgrade your TRM account, because it looks like they are doing the restart rugby again, which is great. I totally approve of that. I'm really glad for that one. So that's good. And then so grab that and make sure that you're not not slacking on your on yourself and you don't end up giving up some sort of forefront for coming and lasting in your league.
00:02:07
Speaker
I've heard some nightmare ones already, as always.
Anti-racism Stance & Exeter Criticism
00:02:12
Speaker
And as always, Black Lives Matter on this podcast, there is no room for racism. And speaking of racism, Exeter's finding some trouble here. I don't know what the fuck they're thinking. This is not dissimilar from last year when, and we'll probably tuck into them a little bit, when London Irish signed, or not last year, year before when London Irish signed a certain someone to their squad.
00:02:35
Speaker
at their putting in leadership position. Yeah, we'll kick that stone over in a little bit here. So yeah, I think it just needs to be very clear to everyone. Like there's a problem here, like especially when other clubs are starting to come out and say, no, you can't do this at our stadium. It should be a red flag. Right. Tony, Tony Rosen, asshole. So he doesn't care. So, you know, anybody that says otherwise, I beg to differ. Right.
Australia vs. South Africa Match Review
00:03:03
Speaker
Yeah. So let's check into the actual rugby stuff. Australia, South Africa. I now pronounce Quaid Cooper, king of Australia. Give the fucking guy a citizenship. Right. Holy shit. And, you know, there's so many there's so many people that wanted him to do bad, too, which is sad because they just don't, you know, they don't like his, you know, he is. He's a little bit like Finn Russell, where he's he's he's home.
00:03:31
Speaker
But like he apparently he used to make more mistakes in some people's eyes. I was like, OK, whatever. Well, yeah, they say about Finn, too. I'm I'm I'm not like this point. Yeah. Take the good with the bad man. There's not that much bad and there's so much good. I agree. Yeah. Like and again, can I can I say that? The expansive attacking rugby that Australia played
00:03:58
Speaker
put them in control of that match. Now, they dialed it back in the second half. They really, they went back into a shell. And that's what almost cost them the fucking match. But like, you know, that first half, they were just fucking running it. I don't know why they stopped doing that. But, you know, again, except for the
00:04:19
Speaker
the fucking hypnotism of South Africa. They put up fucking points against that team in ways that the teams that go into their shell do not. And it's like, that's how you win, right? Last I checked, you score more points. Score more points, you win. Yeah. And South Africa's defense isn't like it's
00:04:42
Speaker
Certainly not that stout once you get past that interior defense, which is incredibly fucking stout. Oh, it's extremely stout. It's hard to, especially that wall that, um, um, and DDA make. Right. You know, that's not fun. But I mean, like, fuck the South Africa seven is a lock. Right. It was most hurt this week. Right. Which I, so, so they don't have fetchers, right? Like Khaleesi, Khaleesi and Khaleesi couldn't last because they had, he couldn't be the only guy out there.
00:05:10
Speaker
really attacking, trying to approach. Yeah, that's not his thing. Well, I mean, obviously, besides that, you know, he's okay at that eight position.
00:05:20
Speaker
He's all right. God, what a brick shit house he is. Okay. But he was getting everywhere too. But he was pushing everything that was more like one up or just like one pass off the 10. So like you get it wider than that. And South Africa won't keep up with you for that long. I think I think if need about wants to do this type of lineup, he needs to put marks in at hooker because he can serve as a fetcher type his body type and his play style suits that so
00:05:47
Speaker
That also changed the match when he came in. Yeah, he was right off the right. You give him a second half right at the beginning of the second half now. Yeah. Yeah. Pretty much pretty pretty soon in. And that's, you know, I think they I think South I was sorry. I think Australia started seeing fewer holes in the wider channels. So I think maybe that's why they they shelled up a little bit, too. But yeah, that was that was a big change. Not that Menombe's fucking. No, it's not that he's bad, but like the the the lineup that they put together was not going to help.
00:06:14
Speaker
he was not going to do anything different than what six other guys on the team already were doing. Yeah. So, you know, that's just wasn't helpful to him. And that's not a knock on him. It's just his skill set. The shoulders. Yeah. That's the mixing guys. They had kind of limited his effectiveness long-term.
00:06:30
Speaker
So, and, you know, it's, God, you look at the impact guys on the other side too. The two front rowers, Kaitou, great for him. I'm so happy, you know, that's another guy that benefited from being on a pretty good force team this year. And then, and then Tupo.
00:06:47
Speaker
You know, we thought, you know, fucking blowing up that scrum, absolutely shit, rushing it to win the penalty, to win the match after fucking Reese Hodge, who I let out a huge scream. You said not an unmanly noise. Something like that. Found a new pitch, did you? Yeah.
00:07:11
Speaker
The dog perked up, it was very awkward. You got everybody's attention from that. Yeah, like, what's going on? And Jess is in the other room laughing. She's like, what's wrong with you? She kind of knows what's happening. But yeah, the Reese Hodge just aimlessly, like not, you know, it was like his third option. And it's like, no, no, no, no, no. Do one of the other two.
00:07:34
Speaker
Yeah, you have you have 90 seconds left. You put it up there and they come down with it. The match is over. Yeah. And it wasn't it was a good one either. That's a problem. Like, right. It wasn't good. No, like, and the story didn't go anywhere. And it took fucking forever to come down. So the South Africa defense, which wasn't there, had like 10 seconds to be like, all right, we'll just.
00:07:54
Speaker
form a line. Yeah, no problem. Fuck, just a absolute bone hetero play. And then, you know, when they were like, Oh, you know, they're gonna bring Hodge on to kick. I'm like, No, get him the fuck away. He's he's kicked enough. Like, like, that Quaid finished this when he started it. Yeah. And it was almost
00:08:15
Speaker
Rightfully, Hooper looked at him. He's like, like, if he wasn't sure of it, you go to Reese. Yeah. You know, that's the thing. But because he had not missed. Right. Of course, he's he's all he's I got I got this man. Don't don't worry. Don't worry about me. This wasn't like a long kick for by by that that level of international standards. You know, there were, you know, just inside the 15 at the 10 meter line, like that's
00:08:44
Speaker
you know, a 50 yard kick or 50 meter kick, you know, on the on the line to the to the dot. So it's like, yeah, you know, you trust a quick Cooper to hit that. You know, you bring in Reese when it's like, you know what, this is a 70 meter. We're going to hook it up and hope we win because we don't have anything else left. Yeah. Like, no, this this was quids all the way.
00:09:10
Speaker
Yeah, that's less than ideal. But you know, hey, it's where it's at.
USA vs. Canada Match Review
00:09:15
Speaker
So it and this exercise is a few demons for the Australians after they're certainly not so great run with against the all blacks. Yeah, it's like, look, there's a lot of teams out there that play pretty decently, except against the all blacks. But for some reason, you kind of go and have a brain fart like they're the they're not dissimilar in that way.
00:09:38
Speaker
Right. And so good on Australia. There's definitely some vindication there for every single one of those players who has eaten shit for the whole New Zealand thing. This is awesome. It's such a good accomplishment on their part. And to do it that way too. I'm happy all around. I got to see it. That was an exciting fucking match.
00:10:01
Speaker
So it's not South Africa that makes it boring. It's their opponents. South Africa were exciting because they had to match Australia at that point. So they had to do a little bit more. It made it so much fun. So hats off to both sides and especially to Australia because they won.
Spain's Women's Rugby Achievement
00:10:20
Speaker
Yep, absolutely. And then talk about exercising demons. USA in Canada. The Terminator.
00:10:31
Speaker
as the hat-trick hero, but so many other great things that were going on with the USA in this match. Like Ruben does. Yeah, oh my God. Fucking hell, that kid's good. I'm so happy he's a Saracen right now. Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing him. I think the Saracens are happy. By the way, did you see the Saracens did today?
00:10:48
Speaker
They brought in Joe Simpson. Joe Simpson for a month because Van Zell's suspended as well. Oh, okay. Interesting. That's not helpful. No. With Ruben being away and I'm sure he's going to have to go through some sort of process getting back into Europe. He's still from the US. Well, he's going to have to bounce right back out because we've got those qualifiers to him.
00:11:09
Speaker
So we got more qualifiers coming up soon against Uruguay. So hopefully we have him available for at least one of them. So let's go right into the difference that the 10 made. And we know who the 10 is. It's AJ McGinty. And I mean, it's no shock that it was such a difference, but holy shit, that is night and day. There shouldn't be that big a difference between one and two.
00:11:35
Speaker
You hope not. I think Luke Cardi would have been better in the last match, so we already established that though. Likely. But still. And just for that to be that bad, that much of a difference is not good. Like in me, maybe it's even one in three. Fuck. That attack still has to click. It still has to be the same speed and creativity.
00:12:01
Speaker
that it is with AJ. I mean, you know, maybe not to that level. Maybe you don't see all the things that he sees, but throw a fucking pass.
Premiership Teams' Performance & Potential
00:12:08
Speaker
Like... Yeah. And you'd see he was pulling the strings everywhere. And he wanted to move it wide, which is the one thing that we talked about last week that the USA 100% failed to do, which was get that ball somewhere outside the 13 channel and make things happen. And Dyer and Mattias absolutely took advantage of it.
00:12:25
Speaker
And we saw them putting them work and doing some really good stuff. Brahe at fullback settled things down a lot more. Yeah, I like him there. Well, McGee, that was great. That was a good call by Gary Gold. Yeah. So credit to him. Yeah. I mean, if we don't have hooli,
00:12:39
Speaker
And you know, we want to put we so and if Cardi was available, putting him back there, I have zero issue. But yeah, so if we don't have either one of those guys, then he's a serviceable fullback by all means. I like to look petty at 13. He looked pretty good. Certainly, we like to help Eddie at three. Oh, my god, I never thought and john submit made the move when he was older from hooker to prop and
00:13:04
Speaker
worked out all right for a few years. So it's not unlike it's not like this has never happened before. It's just a matter of, you know, is it gonna work? Yeah. And he's, he's hefty enough to make it work. So yeah, it worked. And that front row that front row just made life miserable for Canada. I'm, you know, I'm sorry, those
00:13:25
Speaker
there's not a whole lot that Canadians could have done the way those three were just they had it they had all over the park yeah and we had and like we said we're rockets were fired up bums we had yeah we had a lot going on with that one so and it's not it's not discredit to wengelewski and uh faucet and mullen but i mean these three these three guys play in
00:13:48
Speaker
two of the top tiers of European rugby in the world, like two of the best leagues in the world. And they play Champions Cup and high-end European rugby on top of it. So yeah, they're night and day. They know how to rugby. Yeah, they're quite good. It is the difference between
00:14:10
Speaker
those levels and the, um, the MLR, which is why we're so happy to see MLR guys signing overseas. It is such a good thing because especially when they're, they're American and not, you know, transplants two years because we need more Americans learning what professional rugby is all about because the, the, the shit that they get here is not good enough. Nope. It's not getting it done. We, they need more, um, than, than what coaches in the, in the U S are, are given players.
00:14:38
Speaker
Absolutely. But just the same, the U.S. overcome the deficit that they dug themselves last week up in Newfoundland. And they are going to be playing Uruguay in a couple of weeks time. But a month's time. But we didn't even get into the goal line dropout.
00:14:56
Speaker
Oh, and then DeHaas just nailing it. I have all the time in the world. Let's try this. I was like, okay, what's he? Oh, oh, oh, oh, he's doing that. Okay, that's happening. Very nice. Like, oh, it's going in. Like, what the fuck? And then, and then charge down for a try. Like, he was perfect on that. And because
00:15:17
Speaker
he was only in that position because I think he got fucked on the previous play or something like that. He was involved in that. And he just took one step back. Like, you know, there's a lot of players who in the especially in American players who will take a step back and fucking hit the rock. And he just took a step back and was like, no, the dead rock. What the hell is the point? Yeah.
00:15:37
Speaker
Um, but guys do it, um, and, and take themselves out of position to do stuff like that. So that's, that's the, what I'm saying is the difference, right? Um, even scrum heads will do that in the U S yeah. It's like, don't be there. You're better use as a charge downer and then a run back for a trier, like so much better than hitting a rock. That's already one. Yes. Yes. I agree. Um, let's, uh, let's, let's flip the script a little bit and let's go over, let's, let's go over to, um,
00:16:06
Speaker
the lovely people at the Elions Premier 15 is real quick. I know this is a Premiership podcast, but hey, it's still Premiership, right? But also let's go to the Rugby World Cup that's happening in Europe, the qualifiers. Spain shocks Ireland at the last second with the last second try. So they are so they put themselves on in the win column over there. But also been like Spain have been really developing that that women's program. It's like I feel like it's almost ahead of the men's probably as
00:16:34
Speaker
And it's it's so impressive to see and the joy that they take out of it. Yeah, I always I end up rooting for Spain whenever I see them, even over a generally friendly, you know, Ireland side. No, I want I like I like I like what Spain's got going and I support them for it because we saw how Ireland supports their players, which is of course, it's not nothing that's horrible for the women in them. But it's really fucking annoying that Ireland do shit like that while
00:17:03
Speaker
other team, you know, other nations are doing a little bit better. That's just like, they wouldn't do that here. That's just horrible. That's yeah, that's true. Like even here, that's bad. Even for here, that would be bad. That'd be bad. Like then they didn't think there that would be a problem. So I'm so fucking disgusted. And yeah, so I want the best for the women. I just don't want the best for the union until they fucking spurt their shit out. Yeah, same. Well, whales too. Yeah.
Upcoming Season Strategies & Player Changes
00:17:30
Speaker
And then in the other one, big one, Italy beat Scotland. So, Italy and Spain in the driver's seat right now to take that spot. Still got some game to go, but still, two teams that I'm not sure people were going to pencil into that qualifying spot.
00:17:52
Speaker
But here we are. Yeah, I remember Scotland being somewhat underwhelming from the from the Six Nations and they were unfortunate. So which was unfortunate because I thought they had some good players, much like we're used to seeing some really good talent that doesn't isn't getting the appropriate coaching because it seems it seems standard in Scotland these days. Yeah. Well, yeah, that's true.
00:18:13
Speaker
Oh, shit. And then the Allianz 15s. It's a three horse race right now between Saracens, Quinns, and Bristol, but honestly, you know, the Saracens women talked. I think they picked Durham, who's yeah, unfortunately, the competition for Durham is
00:18:29
Speaker
long gone for them. I feel bad for them. But last the previous week, they played WOS and WOS it was a back and forth fight away. Right. WOS, I think they just let it up at the end, or just couldn't get on the end. I can't remember exactly, but it was tight right at the end. Right. So it's not to say that they've run away with it. Quinn's have won handily twice. So we'll see what happens when they actually find some competition. In Bristol have won twice now. So
00:18:58
Speaker
I don't like Dave Ward as a fucking person, but maybe he's got something going on as a coach. And they seem to be playing the same kind of, um, uh, you know, expansive rugby that the men do. So he's bringing that, which, you know, cause he, I didn't like him as a player cause I thought it was a fucking meathead. Um, I was an asshole too. Yeah. But then again, I also think that probably if I was looking back at my career the same way, I probably would think somewhat similar about myself. So I'm trying to get, um,
00:19:27
Speaker
There's other guys like I saw the name as we were doing the sheet from last year, Greg Bateman, he was still on there. And I'm like that fucking asshole. There's a difference. Like I wordy, I think was like in the kind of Sidney Crosby thing of like, you're too good to be this much of an asshole, like just fucking be good. Right. I think more than, oh, you just can't do anything else but be kind of a dick bag thug. So, OK, what are you going to do? Play LA.
00:19:55
Speaker
Yeah, so Wardy, I'm giving him and apparently the the team loves him. So and they, you know, it's working. So, yeah, yeah. So good, good for them. And yeah, it's and it's great to see. Obviously, there's a lot of U.S. women that have migrated over that direction, which I love. So certainly it's something I'm going to keep an eye on throughout the season, more so. And I've encouraged also
00:20:22
Speaker
the girls on the team that I coached, hey, here's the league. It costs you nothing to watch it if you want to stream it. And most of these kids, most of these kids don't mind putting on their phone. They're just like, whatever. They're on their phone 24-7. Might as well get something to watch. So that's how I saw it at least. It seems to have worked because they've all found names that they liked. So I was like, yeah, that's cool. I'm down with that, man. So, yeah, keep an eye on that one as we go out through the season.
00:20:52
Speaker
Okay. Now the fun part, um, prep review. We're going to go through team by team, trying to just give a quick snippet and you got to solve for it and what to expect from said team. And then we'll go into something a little bit more, uh, interesting as far as like top fours and all that shit. So let's do the thing by the alphabetical thing. And so we'll start with bath.
00:21:18
Speaker
Editions and subtractions, unfortunately. Out priest in DC. I like this change. Yeah. Out goes judge, unfortunately. Don't like that. Duke Mercer. That's a big one. That's a huge one. That's a big one. Tearing up France now, so. Yeah, no shock there. Yeah. But yeah, in comes DC. Well, but has been promoted to centers.
00:21:44
Speaker
Yonker and Ray both brought in as those were guys we talked about last year. And then we and then Cosia is the other one to say. I know there's one more that we that we're missing here. But, you know, they they they didn't. It's like they had nothing in the back row. But Mercer is a huge loss at the same loss. But so because you're going to lose Faletau and probably under Hill. Yes. During, you know, during international. So
00:22:13
Speaker
Yeah, cozia obviously miles reeds going to play a huge factor this season. So, um, it's not like he didn't last year either. Right. Like I, but I, and I think he's more in the starter. Like, I think they're, they're top three right now are fallotail reed under hill probably. Um, you know, obviously cozia and Bayless will get in there too. Um, but those would be my top three for them. Right. And that's pretty fucking good back row. Even, um, yeah. Mercer is a huge loss. No, I'm not trying to, to,
00:22:44
Speaker
If you've listened to this pod, you know how much I love Zack Mercer. So I'm kind of in mourning that we won't see him and kind of angry right now. So let's move on. Yeah. And, and, and no, um, and no Josh Mattabasi either. Um, Oh, that's sad too. Yeah. Fuck. I forgot about that. I like seeing him smile when he breaks the line. It's like my favorite thing. Happy.
00:23:09
Speaker
That'll be a sad mess, unfortunately. And hopefully Red Path's healthy soon. Yeah. Was it Kelly's you did the other year?
00:23:17
Speaker
I thought it was his knee. I thought it was his ACL. Oh, even worse. Yeah. Not that Achilles is that easy to come from or anything like that. Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. I promise you that is not the case. Oh, wait. Never mind. What happened? Nothing. I was silly. Did you see a squirrel over there, did you? Yeah, I saw a ghost. OK. Not a boy.
00:23:41
Speaker
The team that finished top of the table by the end of the regular season last year, Bristol, ins and outs, not many force, some, a couple of force actually, because Maylands and Earl were both right. So yeah, exactly. That was yeah. I misspoke there. And then CLIP, which is, you know, people will say, you know, he is, he's an older guy, but man, he like leadership role.
00:24:08
Speaker
He was, yeah, he was, um, he was big, especially as the season were on, like he wasn't so much evident early. Um, but once they started playing like serious opponents and, um,
00:24:21
Speaker
And he was a 12. Um, he, he really helped guide that, that attack, uh, super helpfully for, um, um, what's his, but the 10, but I haven't even thought it was shady. Yeah. Shady. Okay. I'm gonna get back to names again. Um, but yeah, I really, you know, I see Ali, I really was impressed by him towards the end of the season. So, but it's also good that they, the players who played got, you know, got that kind of leadership.
00:24:51
Speaker
totally. So hopefully they can, I'm sure they'll find it within their ranks. Right. Um, I think, I think they're all in Maylands. We're, we're, we're fucking superior talents. No, no doubt. But they got some players you can fucking play there. Yeah. It's not like the Bristol is left with nothing. Right. He means whatsoever. It's just like, you know, a couple, a couple of weapons in their bag. They have, they have all sorts of other weapons. Like, I mean, shit, they can still put together a ridiculous center pairing, even without Seattle Pito. Um,
00:25:19
Speaker
with no worries and peers and Red Roger. That's not awful. Yeah, I think you'd live. Yeah, I think you'll live. They'll be okay. It's it's still the leadership, like you mentioned, and we'll see. So we'll see more of I assume we'll see more of Nalago and you look in and I hope so. And purdy this year with with that.
00:25:43
Speaker
We'll probably see more ahead. Yeah. Well, they're right. People seem to be excited about it. So I don't know what to tell you on that one. Yeah. About that. Yeah. You know. Yeah, he couldn't run last year. Every time he fucking broke the line, he did something stupid. Right. What are you doing, man? Freaking dope. Well, yeah, I don't I don't have that answer at the moment, but there we are. Yeah.
00:26:12
Speaker
So we've got that. And then let's go to the runners up of the premiership last year. And it's a position they're all too used to that lately. That this year. So, yeah, I mean, this is not this is not going to be a freaking cakewalk for anybody. It doesn't matter if it's them or whoever there's you talk about parody. Has the premise been this deep before?
00:26:38
Speaker
No, no, it's ridiculous right now. Fucking ridiculous. I see two, three, maybe four, five. There's seven teams, depending on how things go, maybe eight that crack the top four easily. Right. You know, depending on how things shake out, what I like that nobody would bat an eye at either. Right. Yeah, I think there's there's a couple of people would blink at and then.
00:27:05
Speaker
probably three that people would be like, no fucking way. Right. Like that's ridiculous that you could, you could take just that few teams and be like, yeah, there's no fucking, look at all everyone else. You know, these, these teams are not making it. Um, but it's not that many. It's, it's like really three, I think it's really, I have, I have like Worcester, um, Newcastle and the Irish, um,
00:27:31
Speaker
And not even the Irish, I'm a little even the Irish might surprise some people, so they could. But yeah, I like I don't I don't I still don't believe in them so much, but I mean, like that's just because there's so much other talent that they can just get swamped out. Yeah. So I don't know. So yeah, maybe only the two, maybe only Newcastle and Worcester. Maybe. Fuck. I'll back down on that shit. That's 10 teams and it's like, yeah, OK, I can see them in the top four.
00:28:00
Speaker
Pretty wild. Pretty, pretty wild. All right.
Leicester & London Irish Team Previews
00:28:05
Speaker
So we're on that. So, yeah, but, and, you know, there's probably one, I think there's one key guy that's missing for them. And that's Tom Francis. That's a huge, huge loss there. Because they're not what they used to be.
00:28:21
Speaker
They have been stronger and much more dominant in the past, and Francis was a huge key to that on his way out, so. They have many guys that they're going to probably try, it looks like, I would guess, and the best will win.
00:28:37
Speaker
And that's how it'll go. So good luck to those guys. Two, four, six, eight, ten, they're tearing 12 props. Right. So again, wow. That is some confidence in the position, huh? Yeah, it's, I mean, you're not going to lack, which is going to be a matter of, can you find the guy and
00:28:57
Speaker
Are you going to play Russian roulette? Are you going to play not Russian roulette, but just regular roulette the whole season with that position too. Because you need some sort of consistency at that front row position last I checked. And yeah, just kind of spinning the wheel and going that one is not really a great strategy for it. So good frigging luck to that.
00:29:20
Speaker
Your side piece, former side piece. The Glosserman. Yeah, I have multiple side pieces at this point, which is fun, but the saris don't seem to mind, I guess. That's what they tell me, right? Yeah. A rugby whore. What do you want from me? Yeah, you know. Yeah, I'm looking forward to this team with fucking Hastings. That one thing that they were seriously missing
00:29:49
Speaker
Uh, it was a fly half because steps just there. Yeah, I think we had to get off the field stuff, but, um,
00:29:57
Speaker
like even said that it wasn't always clicking with with Gloucester. So enter Adam Hastings, who's a much more kind of traditional in a way, 10 won't won't sips out. And that's the centers that they're going to have are frickin ridiculous, as are the back three. It's not fair. So Gloucester could be a lot of fun to watch, especially with we and good ready.
00:30:25
Speaker
apparently making people happy over there. So hopefully he, he, we get to see a lot of him. Yeah. Really, really looking forward to that there. That'll be, that'll be great. I'm so happy that he's there. Uh, and there's, they're, they're not missing talent anywhere, which is good. Right. It's just going to be a matter of, can they find the right blend? Yeah. And that could be a question. And you know, we talked about the back row last week, a little bit, and,
00:30:52
Speaker
There's a lot there, but you know, who's going to rise to the top is Jake. Pleasure needs to come healthy. Number one, that'll be their biggest. That'll be their biggest. That'll be the biggest thing that they hold their breath for is that and. Their their favorite pairing last year, I think was Atkins at 12 trees at 12 at 12, 13. But was that 12 trees because they they needed his boot because they really didn't have. I don't know.
00:31:22
Speaker
That's, that's where I, you know, I, I think they should be relying less on, on 12 trees this year with Hastings around. Cause fuck you want Chris Harris out there when you can. Yeah. And Atkinson was fantastic, but you know, Billy's not, not a 13 material anymore. And Atkinson's much better, much better at 12. So, yeah. So, and maybe we'll see the young George and kevlada rise up a little bit. That'd be cool. Like that as well. That'd be cool.
00:31:46
Speaker
Yeah, lots to lots to hope for for for Gloucester as there is with most teams in the season. Just time will tell. Kind of surprised the charples is around. Yeah, I don't know. I don't have the answer on that one. I mean, you know, no disrespect to the man. I'm just.
00:32:02
Speaker
I thought it in and did last season to be perfectly honest. So yeah, I was, I mean, sometimes he's just that, that one veteran guy that you need like two games out of, which was kind of what banners was now, but banners is obviously on I'm up. So maybe this is close to the end for him. Yeah. We'll see. We'll see. Yeah, we shall see. To the champions, the harlequins and the rich get richer just all over.
00:32:29
Speaker
Like they made like just six splash signings and transfers that will just really help that team. And that's fucking annoying. Right. Well, yeah, especially when you consider what happened at the end of last year and what we believe will happen going forward, which is Marcus Smith becoming an England player and hopefully that's a permanent thing, you know, fingers crossed and all that shit. That fucking better be.
00:32:53
Speaker
Yeah, no kidding. Tommaso Allen is a huge addition in that case. Amazing. Fucking amazing. Because they had nothing after... That's by far better than anything else they had in the locker, even beforehand as well. You know how we were talking about that? You can't have your number 110 and your number 210 be that disparate. This solves that for quids. Yeah, definitely. Big time. Definitely. Big time.
00:33:19
Speaker
you know, the the youngster Nick David, who we all really liked and nobody's, you know, thinking that's a bad sign whatsoever at all. So yeah, pretty awesome. He's think about it this way. Um,
00:33:35
Speaker
Nick David is going from a team that doesn't score tries to a team that scores tons and tons of tries. Um, and he scored tries at Worcester, which is not, it's rare for, uh, for back three players. Um, even some of the great struggle to score there. Um, but Nick David did not. So to bring him into Harlequins to replace Brown is just a fucking coup. Yeah. It's crazy. That's absolutely. I was thinking they really needed another center because they don't have enough.
00:34:05
Speaker
Oh, they don't have enough good ones, right? Right. Right. Marchant, Northmore, Esther Hazen. Right. Oh, oh, oh, I got one for you. They lost their hooker. Scott Baldwin. Right. Oh, wait. They signed Jack Walker. But they replaced him with a better hooker. Yeah, I like Jack. I do like Jack Walker. I do like Jack Walker. Fuck. Yeah. And I'm looking forward to see how Tomani pans out with Quinn's too. Yeah. I'm not going to oversell that one.
00:34:34
Speaker
No, yeah, definitely not. Damn, they have some. Yeah, the Quinn's are. They're not to be fucked with this year again. Nobody, no, no, no, they'll be good. There'll be another good one. Again, we talked about that. It's not satisfied winning one.
00:34:50
Speaker
No, they want a few and they want to probably put their flag back in the Europe as well. So yeah, you got to bring the quality all over the place and you got to have it in bags. You can't just have a few because you end up paying for it and it doesn't go well. All right. Lester, a team that's
00:35:12
Speaker
Changed a lot of things over the last couple of years. Both were starting to do some good things over there. And I think most people had welfare growth. I'm not saying the other part of it. That's so dumb. But team over there. Pretty good. Lots of additions this year, but still. Addition by subtraction. Getting rid of Thomas Lavinini. Yeah. Good Lord. No more yellow cards waiting to happen. Right. At least as we hope. Bryce Hagerty going over there.
00:35:40
Speaker
You know, Ben Stoddens, we'll go over there when he's done. Freddie Burns. Freddie Burns comes back. Freddie Burns. Yeah, love him. We see some, and we see, you know, from Saracens. Yeah. And then we see, wait, who what?
00:35:57
Speaker
Oh, oh, yeah. Yeah. Oh, Juan Pablo. Yeah. Wait a minute. We are. We have we have to see the other one. And we don't even have that right now. And then another snaming because we needed another snaming because the whole world needs another snaming season. I'm scared. And then a change in the armband. And so you and I talked about this and that was I am so excited about this for them.
00:36:27
Speaker
Um, sorry to just step on that because I really, as much as, uh, everybody's heard me rip on Lester, uh, both of us really, I think this represents something more than just a change in captain. I'm really hoping it represents a change in direction. Um, and I think, you know, obviously Freddie Burns signing, I think is another step in that direction too, even though he's not, not the spring chicken himself, but, um,
00:36:55
Speaker
Yeah. It's time to, it's, you know, it's time to move on from, and they have Jack van Portvileet coming in. Like there's a clear direction change from the Ben Young's and Tom Young's and George Ford's who, who just essentially ran that team, um, for better part of a decade, I guess at least. And it's like, that's not, you know, that didn't really, at least in the last couple of years, it hasn't, it's been going in the wrong direction. It hasn't been, um,
00:37:20
Speaker
It hasn't been positive in the end. They've been one of those teams that you're like, Oh, we play Lester. Okay. You know, but yeah, that's a, that's a rugby match. We'll have to play it if we want to win, but you know, they're not like, fuck, that's not what Lester used to be. Um, because rugby isn't what it used to be, but Lester kind of stayed the same.
00:37:38
Speaker
Yeah. I think we can, I think we can put a, put at least a pin in the hopes that there'll be something coming up. There'll be, there'll be better things to come here. They are off of my shit list officially. And then to my, all right, let's see what you can do kid. Well, if they're off your shit list, I imagine this team's going at least more in permanent ink, maybe less so pencil on your shit list with one in Irish.
00:38:02
Speaker
Yeah, not a fan. Sorry. I know we have a couple of Irish guys that are out there, but yeah. It's your team making shit decisions. We love you. I like everything but one thing with a lot of Irish.
00:38:23
Speaker
I hope that can be appreciated because that one thing is kind of a big thing and they're making it bigger and that's kind of. It's not a good idea. Just like we saw with with Exeter, don't don't poke a fucking wound. Just don't just leave it there. Just or or. It would be even smarter, but hey, I don't I don't make those decisions, right? You know, save the you know, fix the thing. But yeah, that's not.
00:38:50
Speaker
I'm not, I'm really not too happy about that. Nope. But other than that, there's a lot, there's a lot to like about this fucking team. There is, there is. I look forward to it. I just fixed that one problem. Although I don't like that they got that Blair Cowan was gone. Yeah. That's a sad departure. See that as a sad departure. He was, he was really fun to watch. And I don't think they,
00:39:15
Speaker
I don't think they really filled that role either, which is problematic. I mean, we'll see how some of these guys show, but they, you know, they really don't, they didn't make any, no, they, well, they didn't make any back row additions. So.
00:39:32
Speaker
So no, they're just fucking losing blair count. Yeah, I don't like that. So there. I'm sure, I'm sure it'll come to fruition that they, that they've made, made quite an error with that and have. Ryan is ready. I think he'd been hurt. So yeah, that's true. That could change the equation. Cause Matt Rogerson was good too. He's obviously a very solid eight leading towards good. So, but that's really only three of your, you know, three, three back rowers. You need more than that.
00:40:02
Speaker
Um, like they have guys who were there, but I don't know that there is nearly as impact as, as those three. And even, even those guys aren't like, you know, like three top players at their position. So that's kind of rough. It's not good for that. Great. Um, going up to the North.
Saracens & Wasps Insights
00:40:24
Speaker
The Falcons, Newcastle, one big addition, obviously, but like Broome. Yeah. Brownie going, going north. Nathan and all has joined him. Hopefully he can stay healthy. And, you know, no, Toby flood, Toby flood retires after a marvelous career. And so hats off to him, but leaves them kind of thin at the at the 10 position. It's
00:40:45
Speaker
Conan and who else? Yeah, I mean, well, flood was done at the end of last year. Oh, yeah. That's another that's another one that you're like, are we talking about earlier? It's like, yeah, they should have told me flooded. Like, yeah, just be like, yeah, I'm done. I'm good. Yeah, not not often. Not awesome.
00:41:02
Speaker
I will say and on the other, uh, back half back position there, scrum half, uh, Sam Stewart, I hope was starting to overtake Mickey young as, as that next guy. Um, there's nothing, there's just nothing in these half backs for new castle. I liked him a little bit better than I liked anybody else. So we'll say that. Yeah. So we'll see.
00:41:27
Speaker
Yeah. It's going to be a whole lot of nothing. Probably. It's going to be probably mid table for these guys and they won't be awful, but they won't be. They won't be great. I think that's, I think that's the most we can expect from this team. Yeah. Fantasy wise, make sure you have George McWiggin and Adam white rad one. Um, and maybe Sean Robinson, depending on where he's playing and Greg Peterson, but that's about, you know, after that, just don't worry. Like, yeah. Right. Um, yeah. Maybe Phil's Vanderbilt. Yeah. I didn't mind him too much. There's not much.
00:41:57
Speaker
there's not much productivity on this team. Unfortunately, even, even on paper, you're looking at it and you're like, who's, who's their main attacking threat? Yeah. I don't fucking don't know. Trying to figure it out. Yeah. I mean, Radwin, but you have to have someone between the, the, this from him, like somewhere in there or I should say between the rock and him or scrum or line out. Cause right now there's, there's just not enough there.
00:42:24
Speaker
I guess we'll find out. Northampton wants quite the apple of everybody's eye the way they played, but kind of faltered a little bit last year and cost them. Still some good stuff.
00:42:39
Speaker
Lamani comes in, Skosan comes in, Tommy Freeman's now an official part of the team, along with Tom James, who I thought equated himself quite well at half back last year. A little bit. So, you know, a couple of big ones, obviously a sequel, another one that goes back to the Saracens after time off. And then,
00:43:00
Speaker
Henry Taylor just hangs them up on them. They obviously saw, with that, they doubled down and said, all right, Chris Cook and Frank Lomani, done. Any argument about whether or not they have enough half-axes now out the window? Yarno, Augustus adds, it looks like everybody's favorite, or at least their favorite combination could be Harrison Ludlam and Augustus in the back row.
00:43:27
Speaker
We'll find out. She could do worse. Yeah. Harrison at six. Yeah. Augustus at eight and low limit seven. So, and then, you know, you always have the option of tossing laws onto the side. Right. Is it because their locks are pretty, pretty stacked as well. Yeah. They have a few good ones there. Not too, not too bad. So I know the team that if the, if it clicks with both bigger and Grayson, I think they're both super high quality playoffs, obviously bigger being the better one.
00:43:57
Speaker
And the outside talent, but that's again, that's again, you're not losing much when you, when, you know, bigger is going six nations and during the, uh, uh, the lion's rest period. Yeah. Also that, so that, that, you know, the saints are in a good position to, you know, there's, there's other teams that don't quite have the depth at key positions that that'll help them throughout the season. Correct. Correct. Okay. Um, let's go to everybody's favorite, not so favorite. Um,
00:44:26
Speaker
playoff team from last year sale. Uh, addition by subtraction a little bit here. Uh, lost, lost a couple of guys that maybe me, John Merozov, not, not, not awesome guys. So whatever. Not really. No, Tommy Taylor, Tommy Taylor comes in. Shoner comes in. McIntyre. I like Tommy, Tommy Taylor is an excellent backup hooker. Like if, if
00:44:53
Speaker
He is a guy who you when you you're bringing him off the bench and not that the sale need a backup hooker, but Langdon's pretty good, too. And it's pretty all right. But that just means that Taylor could play pretty much freaking every match just for the pine, which and that would be fucking excellent for them. You know, yeah, I'd like that pick for to help keep them healthy because that's really what what what hurt them down the stretch was that they're either front row kind of wasn't wasn't holding up and be there their depth there.
00:45:23
Speaker
Um, they got a lot of injuries and then they weren't really, yeah, I think the backups really weren't ready. Yeah. And, you know, the problem still lies in that 10 shows you when AJ is not available. Right. And, you know, Rob Dupree, uh, not his best position at this point. And on this team, at least 12 was probably better started a student for him. And I don't love that, but it's probably the answer. That's probably his best position for this team.
00:45:49
Speaker
And that's problematic for everyone because they kind of have a 12. Yeah, they have a good one. He's okay. And RJVR is not a 13. So it's like, they still have the same fucking problems that they had last year. And Tui being healthy should change that.
00:46:14
Speaker
But in the end, you still have the same problems because you still don't have a 13, which was their biggest problem. They still don't really have a fullback. Their wings are.
00:46:24
Speaker
They can take advantage when the other team is totally out their ass, but that's about it. Yeah. That won't happen too, too often. Right. So yeah, I'm not sure. I'm not sure what to expect from this, from this sale team this year. It could be good. It could be that I could see them just, you know, they also have that playoff hangover thing. Yeah. Sometimes it's a thing. Yeah. Sometimes it is a thing.
00:46:51
Speaker
to the return of the Men in Black, the Saracens. I think it'll be a reminder for everybody after the first game, although the first game is going to be a hell of a game, just the same. This is not going to be a race. This is going to be tough.
00:47:12
Speaker
Yeah, what little bit that they lost cross tail, I thought was a bit of a loss. That's unfortunate. And then and hooli, you know, I started to see who you have to learn. Yeah, of course, sad to see hooli.
00:47:27
Speaker
But, you know, the house comes in, Riccioni's in. I really liked this Riccioni signing. And I'm sure I mentioned it when they made it, but yes. Holy fuck. This kid's, he's 23. I didn't, he's been playing there for long enough now that I've kind of gotten used to seeing him and he's only 23. Like, fuck. That's, yeah, they're going to, and he can use a little bit of help and
00:47:53
Speaker
they're going to make him better and he's going to make them better and fuck. So we're going to, yeah, he's, he's probably your backup tight head for, for big matches. Yep. Fuck. No argument on me. Damn. No argument. And then they obviously have all the guys coming back from loans as well, which, right. Which only serves well serves them good. So heads up everybody. Yeah. Yeah.
00:48:17
Speaker
Yeah, they're back. Be ready. Yeah, it's going to be very, very interesting. To be perfectly honest, I think Crossdale is a much bigger get for Wasps than he is a loss for Sarries. And it's not like they didn't have something else over there. Right. They'll be fine. They will be okay, but it is kind of sad. It's like, no, get back here. Right, especially because he's young.
00:48:39
Speaker
Yeah, I'm very talented. And I liked what I saw of him a little bit. But yeah, so it's not like they don't have guys over there. 23. So but yeah, but then good. Go kick some ass at wasps. And he will speak enough. Those guys, quite a few signings.
00:48:58
Speaker
Um, they brought back needs and car a lot. And then, uh, buy off a Vita because, you know, a back grower from New Zealand never works. Oh, right. Uh, who guard is, has come over as well. Like they needed a, they needed a really quality because they don't have any scrum halves on losses whatsoever. None, none. Kind of a bad reporter.
00:49:20
Speaker
Um, yep. Stu comes in and kind of battens down the hatches in the back row in the second row there. So that's good for, that's good for him. Yeah. He's a big gap for them as a very good launch. You know, he's.
00:49:34
Speaker
He's going to feel it, you know, especially if he still if he continues to play for England, right? There's no Roland's anymore. So, right. And so it's basically launch Gaskell and Stuke now, which is not a bad thing for for Stuke shit. He'll be I mean, for for them, they'll be fine with that. Cardell's OK. But this, you know, Stuke is basically you're going to he's going to start with Gaskell and Launchbury probably. Yeah. Swapping.
00:49:57
Speaker
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised in any way shape or form. So it's a, it looks like a good outlet for the outlook for them. Uh, Worcester still no centers for wasps. They didn't, again, one of those glaring positions. Maybe they should have saved that whatever they spent on who guard, um, unless they know something about Robson that we don't, um, and, and put that in, into an outside center. Um, although, uh, eventually.
00:50:26
Speaker
I'm not sure when. Yeah. Knee. But that it's Fekitoa and Odagu are you 12 and 13? No question. Right. Um, so yeah, I, they still could have used another one, especially with Odagu out and he will be probably wearing a white Jersey. Yeah. I would say so too. I hope so for otherwise you need to go play for Italy. Right. Um, yeah. And then we'll start everybody. This'll be interesting to see what happens here. We have a lot of in comings here.
Premiership Season Predictions & Surprises
00:50:55
Speaker
Garvey, Baldwin, Willie Hines, and Will Chudley both. Vanna Merva on the outside there. Bailani, which doesn't necessarily put hair on your neck or anything like that, but still a decent player. Good ball carrier at the very least. Matt Garvey brings some leadership into the team. I like him. And Rory Sutherland.
00:51:19
Speaker
I don't, yeah, very solid and great signing it prop. I don't think this is going to be a team that you're going to want to try and knock over to like, without really, you're not going to be able to knock them over just because you show up. Like, no, and they'll have Lawrence and, and vendor available a lot. So, um, especially, you know, with Tui being healthy, if, if, you know, he gets the call from England, I doubt they would take Tui and, and Lawrence together. Very helpful.
00:51:42
Speaker
because they just do the same thing. So, yeah, him and Venter will make a formidable center pairing. But again, it comes down to, can they finish? And the guys that they got in aren't finishers, right? Heinz will occasionally go for a scoot. Yeah, Duhann will finish, obviously. But...
00:52:06
Speaker
again, we saw with Adams, he wasn't really lighting the world on fire with Wooster. It was when he got to the internationals that he started dominating. He sucked for Wooster. Yeah, just never quite did it. Just Juhan is a good name. Let's see if he can break some curses. Yeah, that squad is cursed. Let's see if he can do it. He'd be worthy of legend if he can do that.
00:52:36
Speaker
All right. Um, so surprises this year. Uh, you know, I think, I think bath will surprise some teams, um, for someone that's going to come back to haunt me. Um, but that's going to be my, uh, yeah, I think having a 10 and a capable competent 10, um,
00:53:02
Speaker
will, will be such a plus for them that, you know, priestland was, was, was good at times last year, but, um, yeah, I, I like sips a lot better overall, although that they could, they could totally blow up because it's sips. So, um, but I think they have some speed, they have some serious speed that, that, um, sips will try to get the ball.
00:53:29
Speaker
The priest didn't always do. So that's, I think, really where it could go well for them. Top four. Quinn's Bristol, Saracen's Exeter.
00:53:50
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, and you get a shit. There's so many, any of those names could easily drop out. That's the thing. Like you can't, I like saints. You got to see it. I think the odds are that, but yeah. Yeah. Like, I mean, Beth are not going to, okay, first of all, Beth are making top four. That's not where I'm going with that. Um, but they could make, they could be champions come next year. Top six. Yeah. We go back to that format, please. Right. Um, yeah. Top six.
00:54:20
Speaker
Add two more, basically. Yeah. Northampton. And. No, you know what? I'm going to go back on that and say Gloucester. Because really Gloucester has the better that that was the 10 that I was really that's where I was going. OK, I thought when I was thinking fly half teams, I knew that that bath did. I've had a beer, but Gloucester, I think will help them too. Yeah, it's true. He's a big get that that's not.
00:54:53
Speaker
And who raises the trophy in June? I'm going to say that the champs take it again. I am not in a like, as we said, look at all the guys that they that they added. There's not much in the way of weakness on that team. Nope.
00:55:15
Speaker
Nope, nope, nope, not at all. So I agree. And they they know how to do it. And they've got the best 10 in the in not the game, but in England right now, I'd say yeah, on the certainly on the islands, at least, I would say. Yeah, hard to argue, at least playing playing club, playing club, because we all know Finn is not on the island. Yeah, true stories over in France. Right. We'll see.
Conclusion & Season Outlook
00:55:43
Speaker
So
00:55:45
Speaker
Who knows it's going to be, it's going to be a fun one this year. But like none of them, none of those top four winning with exit or winning would surprise me only because they, I think all three of those teams could be Exeter. Yeah. Some bodies to start at least. So right. Yeah. It's going to be tough. It's going to be tough on them. It is. Remember the guys that were spending the year, I think they got at least one or two to go.
00:56:10
Speaker
I'll have a couple of weeks. And Sam Simmons has got to be arrested. And hopefully he's picked for England. He's going to be picked for England. He's got I think, you know, when him and Marcus, not Rashford Smith. Smith. Yep. Yep. Totally watch that. And I, I didn't, we didn't catch it. But I watched the, the Yohane brothers too. I was like, Oh, boy, I definitely Oh, I've never made that kind of mistake. I'll have I'll be having a
00:56:37
Speaker
I'll be having a couple of shots later for that one. Shit, that pelted shot. But yeah, no, like those guys have to be with England and Harlequins protected themselves and Exeter did not. They're not ready to play without Sam Simmons and Johnny Gray and Johnny Hill. Like they can't they can't lose all those people and still really depending on who they apply.
00:57:03
Speaker
Yeah, and scanner may go to go play with Scotland as well every once in a while as well. So that's right. So he's a quality guy to fill in there. So we shall see.
00:57:14
Speaker
Well, this was fun. This is the first episode for show everybody that's enjoyed. Guess what? We tried to keep it shorter for you, so it's more stomachable. Break this down into digestible parts. Yeah, this first episode had a lot to go as we go through. Not so much will happen. We had a lot of previous stuff, so bear with us. But just the same, we'll get it down.
00:57:39
Speaker
fantasy rugby podcast at gmo.com. If you want comment or questions, anything like that. Champions League will coming up soon. And two tiers as well. So we'll get into that on the next episode. But until until then, we'll catch you guys for those of you listening out tomorrow. And then we'll hopefully get you guys back here next week as well. So until then, we'll talk to you guys soon. Have a good one later.