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Season 2- Episode 1- World Cup Preview
24 Plays6 years ago
WE ARE BACK! We are excited to be returning for our 2nd go around this year with lots more to do and talk about because, well there's this tournament going on in Japan. It starts this Friday and there's some really good teams playing in it, never heard of it? That's cool, we have you covered. In the season 2 premiere we talk about all things Rugby World Cup, going through each pool, some players to watch and our predictions of who get the job done and hoist the Webb Ellis in November. Tune in for your favorite American Rugby knuckleheads once again. Don't forget to subscribe to us and also rate us wherever you can, we love feedback and what to hear from all of you.
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Email fantasyrugbypodcast@gmail.com with questions, feedback or just to say what's up.
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Transcript
Welcome and Introduction
00:00:08
Speaker
Hey everybody, welcome back. Did you miss us? It's the Fancy Rugby Yanks. My name's Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glauser. We are so happy to be back for season two. You ready to do this, man? I have been waiting for this. I know. And we had some fun in the off season. We got a new logo. We did. And that is a fantastic logo. It's well received. Yes. People are laughing at it, which is all I wanted, basically. That's what I wanted people to do. That was the point.
00:00:31
Speaker
So that's great. So everybody, we're really happy to be back with you. We're gonna have two episodes for you this week. This one and then we'll do a fantasy review one later on a
World Cup Focus and Podcast Activities
00:00:42
Speaker
little bit more. Today we're gonna talk about a lot of the World Cup stuff. But first things firstly, let's do our usual business here. Crack them open. Oh, you don't have to ask me twice. Texas size 10-4. I'd have a beer.
Listener Engagement Tips
00:01:03
Speaker
And as usual, everybody make sure you check us out on Google Play, Spotify, iTunes. Subscribe to us, download us, rate us, would be awesome. That's always helpful for us. And also, have you checked out your upgrade yet?
00:01:19
Speaker
I have, I haven't swam around in it too much, but I did look at it. I mean, it's nice
Benefits of Rugby Mag Upgrades
00:01:24
Speaker
to have all that. So I'm looking forward to having the upgrades this year from the Rugby Mag. They do have three different levels. We have the basic level. It's gonna be really helpful for one thing, really, that I think is everybody would find helpful and that's, it'll tell you whether somebody's starting or not. So that one thing right there is huge. So if you're just looking for basics and you want that little thing,
00:01:49
Speaker
Cool, they have something that's just that easy, but if you wanna ball out, they have levels all the way up to gold, so yeah, everybody make sure you check out your rugby mag upgrades and see if maybe you could find some use out of that, because I think we've already found use out of it just by knowing that little tidbit right there.
Jordan Crane's Career Move
00:02:06
Speaker
So yeah, um, news and notes, uh, Jordan crane is going to be done at the end of, at the end of this year, he's got joined the Bristol, um, coaching staff or backroom staff. One of the other, um, I mean, hats off to him. He said he's played, he's played some damn good rugby and he's somebody I've always, I've always thought well of.
00:02:24
Speaker
I agree, and I think he's timing this right. I think I asked a couple times last year why he was carrying a piano on his back. Just a bit. And you start to lose that speed, and you're not quite going to be the same player.
00:02:41
Speaker
Yeah, no way, especially in a back row position. You kind of need to be able to to to open it up a little bit every so often. Yeah. And even especially the modern day back rower where you're basically another center out there or even another wing. So you want you definitely want to be able to move about. But he's he's come through. He's one of those guys that survived a couple of ages of rugby going from mostly professional, but kind of still somewhat amateurish now to the game today, where it's just
00:03:08
Speaker
Unbelievably fast fitness and speed.
World Rugby Eligibility Rules Discussion
00:03:11
Speaker
Yeah, so hats off to him And then the there's a lot being made of the player eligibility rules that they're getting thrown around in I think people are kind of
00:03:23
Speaker
There's a couple things that I think are being missed. And one of them is, World Buggy did try and fix this. Now they took two steps forward, one step back when they said, okay, we're gonna make it five years, but it's gonna be after this World Cup. I was like, okay, you did everything right except that last part where you said you're gonna wait on it. I was like, yeah.
00:03:43
Speaker
Okay, they should have done it starting like two years before this world or a year or two before this world comes So so the guys can make their decision Ahead of like now. Yeah, or well a year ago a year ago and and So hopefully there's there's some wiggle room in there for that. Yeah, so guys can be like hey, um, I
00:04:05
Speaker
Yeah, can I can I just I was here or something or I don't know here, you know, I think I think it was James Lowe that was talking about how the guys like Klein is Irish by eligibility, but he's and I do find it funny because somebody pointed out he's like he's gonna be Irish eligible in like a year actually so I
00:04:25
Speaker
Do you really want to go down that road if Ireland picks up the phone and calls you and says, hey, you want to come play wing for us? Are you going to say no? Because I'm sorry, the Kiwis aren't calling you because number one, you don't play in New Zealand. Number two, I'm sorry, I love James Lowe.
00:04:40
Speaker
They got some talent there. They don't need him. And that's much more of a statement on low. Well, not low, but on New Zealand's death than it is on low. It's like, yeah. It's not to say that. No team would want to turn him away.
00:04:55
Speaker
But no, you know, you don't really if you don't want to if you want to not skirt rules and and what have you, then then fine. They got they got more than enough guys that they can fill those that same role. Yeah, I agree.
World Cup Pools Overview
00:05:12
Speaker
So what on the docket for us today is we're going to go through each pool. Um, we'll talk about some of the, we'll talk about each team a little bit and, you know, obviously our thoughts on how they'll do here. Some will be obviously very in depth. Others will be like pretty short and to the point, um,
00:05:28
Speaker
And then we'll talk about the knockout stages and what we could see there. Obviously winners, surprises, stuff like that. We'll talk about the X-factors for some of the big countries that are at this World Cup. And then we'll let you all go. So let's go right to pool A. And obviously- Can we just get pool A? It's gonna be my least favorite pool.
00:05:48
Speaker
Yeah. But I think it's I think it could be one of the more interesting ones because Japan being the host, obviously. And, you know, to the two bigger teams in this pool are not in great form. So that could lead to some interesting things. I agree. You know, Japan, Japan, Scotland could be a that's going to be a tough one for Scotland. And I know that they've been
00:06:12
Speaker
Scots have been crapped on in the in recent weeks because of their poor form and that they're going to play Japan at home. I don't think that's just like people giving them shit. I think that's a legitimate concern that they should have. Right. Oh, I I agree. I mean, Scotland, Scotland, I think is they made some odd decisions as far as who they put on the plane. They know Rory Hutchinson would be the big one. And they they haven't been playing terribly well to begin with. Nope.
00:06:42
Speaker
And, yeah, I see them as limping into this tournament, which is not a good way to be. No. Ireland stumbled their way into it, which is just a bit not for the reason that somehow they're number one, which is why I don't get the whole world. I don't get that. The world right now.
Debating World Rankings
00:07:02
Speaker
You know, once New Zealand got unceded, I was I was officially lost. I was like, I don't get how this is all working. It doesn't make sense.
00:07:09
Speaker
But it doesn't and it doesn't matter. Like I think people put a lot of stock in it. It's it's a lot. I put very little. I think New Zealand took pride in it, but I don't put a lot of stock. I think I feel like but a lot of people do. They're like, oh, you know, we want to be number one. It's like, what does that matter? Who hoisted trophy? If you hold the Web Ellis trophy at the end, I don't think that really is going to matter where you rank in the world. Just a thought. I don't really care what's got what I'm sorry, what what Ireland are ranked. They're not, you know, they're the best team in their their pool.
00:07:36
Speaker
But that's not saying much I'll and look who we'll talk about in the knockout stages, but they got it They're gonna have a tough matchup. Yeah way But I know the other end of this pool stage here and and I do think I actually do think that that Japan beat Scotland They very well could be that they're not gonna that we already know that they're not gonna surprise anybody. I
00:07:54
Speaker
But I think that they can just play better than Scotland can and they can do things that Scotland's that those centers are so like that There's nothing there. They're not attacking. I don't mind Chris Harris, but like that's it, right? Really? That's he's the only one that does anything for me
00:08:09
Speaker
Obviously, we have a a warm spot in our hearts for Dunk and Taylor. Dunk. But I was surprised he got on the line. I really was right. He hasn't yet. He wasn't even that like he didn't really play last year. And I mean, that to you sometimes. Yeah, he was injured granted. Yeah. But even the year before, it's not like he was any kind of world beater for Saris. He was just he was a solid contributor, which is what he's always been at.
00:08:34
Speaker
And he's yeah, but that's what that's a solid contributor at the premiership level not at the world club. Yeah, you're right. Everything everything raises all this the stakes raise the play has to raise and he's not the kind of guy who's going to be able to do that physically, I don't think. Let's talk about the team that's.
00:08:52
Speaker
Well, actually let's get into the Pacific island team that's in this similar Probably in my opinion at least a third of the three. Yes Fiji's probably one Tonka two and Samoa three which leads me to believe that this could be a rough pool for them Yeah, well, they'll blow out Russia
00:09:08
Speaker
because everybody's gonna blow out Russia. So let's talk about Russia for a second here. This
Russia's World Cup Challenges
00:09:13
Speaker
is gonna be an ugly World Cup for them. And I don't think anybody understands how ugly it's gonna be. They were technically the third team in their qualification tournament, but the other two got, a lot of them got disqualified because of player eligibility rules. So they're here by default.
00:09:34
Speaker
And I mean, Romania or Spain would have been one thing. And I thought it would have been cool to see the Spaniards here because that would have been another country to put their flag in the World Cup bin here. But Russia coming back and being the third best team in their qualification pool and getting thrown into
00:09:59
Speaker
The I mean, they're going to start with the host and I think the whole this is going to be bad. That's I don't know if you remember what the 90 1995 score for New Zealand, Japan was. No, we might see something similar with this with in this Japan game. It was bad. Yeah. And and seeing what the Japan did to the US and the US is not a half. I mean, they're not a great team, but they're not. They've got some solid players on it for sure. So let's put it this way. The US deserves to be in the World Cup.
00:10:26
Speaker
Yeah, we Russia Russia doesn't and they qualified number one out of their group, right? But Russia so Russia's that far down in Japan So the disparity is gonna be that much greater and Japan's one of those tier two countries. Let's kind of close the gap Well, they very much have so, you know, they're obviously their last little surprise in 2015 against South Africa put them on the map, right? But yeah, this this is gonna it's gonna be a rough rough World Cup for Russia I you might see a record for points given up. Honestly, I
00:10:55
Speaker
And I'm not saying that because of how good the teams are playing are. Grant, I think they'll have a hard time with the Samoans. The Samoans are going to freaking embarrass them. Going the other way, too. What's the what's the record for the fewest points scored in the World Cup? I don't know, but it's going to they might be pushing that one to pushing to record to set two records in one tournament. Yeah, two records. You probably want nothing to do and multiple other ones as far as disparity in score of individual games, too. It could be bad. It's going to be pretty ugly.
00:11:23
Speaker
Let's uh, so we said I we I think we're both in agreement that ireland win this group Can we get it do we get a surprise in japan sneaks out as I have them as I have them as as the second I don't think it's I don't think it's I think it's a lot closer Um, I think I don't think it's a stretch of the imagination I think it's a lot closer to a possibility than it has been in a long time especially with them hosting it right and you know, they're for
00:11:47
Speaker
Especially I think that Scotland Japan match come to is what it comes down to and I do think they win it Yeah, so and if they don't they're gonna put on a heck of a show just the same that's gonna be a one hell of a match Yeah, cuz everybody knows what's at stake. So I mean Scotland aren't stupid. So it's not like they're gonna well not too stupid. So they're not gonna
00:12:03
Speaker
go into it with thinking, oh, we got this because it's just Japan. They're going to realize the situation that they're in. I hope they grasp the situation because they will get caught with their pants down real fast. Really, the question is can they maintain their mentality through that because they get a little pressure put on them right now and they're just crumbling.
00:12:21
Speaker
Yeah. We saw Laidlaw just kind of fall apart. Goodness. Yeah. And they, they played the Georgians in the last, in their last two warmup games. And I mean, let's, let's be real and we'll get to the Georgia a little bit more in a minute, but they're going to be, they're going to be stingy. They're going to be a little bit of a pain in the butt to, to push away. So, and they, I think they showed it against the Scots in those two games. So we shall see what the Scots are able to bring after that one. Hopefully that kind of gave them a shake up to maybe
00:12:50
Speaker
Get them to get their juices flowing, but we'll see those. Yeah. Yeah, we'll find out First match they play the goods Ireland and that could be a bit of a deflator I could do show up right and do as they as we expect them to do
00:13:02
Speaker
especially because what Ireland is going to do is, you know, they're just going to defend, defend, defend. And Scotland is going to get frustrated because if they can't sort out an attack, that's going to, that could demoralize them a little bit. And then you come to Japan and well, you play Japan and now all of a sudden their attack is creative, to say the least. And they should be able to defend. So it's the same question of
00:13:30
Speaker
You get a little bit demoralized on offense Then do you get demoralized on defense too? If if japan sneaks one or two Uh line breaks past you all this like right quickly. Yep. How do you and they have and they have the ability to do it They do. They have some talent back there. So, uh, we shall see what happens. Uh Our our I think we both agree in the prediction that ireland are going to win the group. Um, japan May well come in second. Um, it won't be a shock
00:14:00
Speaker
Let's play devil's advocate with this one a little bit though. What happens if Ireland loses this opener to Scotland? How much of a shit show does this pool just become?
00:14:10
Speaker
A huge one. So I'm kind of rooting for it now. You're welcome. I put that idea in your head. Because now now that that Scotland Japan match doesn't actually decide as much the outcome. So. Yeah, now it now it really is that that round robin between those three is to who comes out, who can pull out. Yeah, it could be. Could make things interesting. Because one of those teams will probably has to pull out two wins. So yeah, of the other two, the other two. So which one is it?
00:14:40
Speaker
Yeah, so that would be fun. We'll see. So pool A, not the, it's an exciting pool, but not because of necessarily the teams that are in it in the form of the teams, but more because of the closeness that this could turn into.
00:14:56
Speaker
Pool B. Now, the first match in this pool determines the winner and the other, and really they can, both those countries can just coast to the knockout stage, which is bad news for both the runner up and the winner of pool A because both those teams will probably be pretty well rested.
NZ vs SA Match Preview
00:15:17
Speaker
They'll be able to rotate guys and not really have a lot to worry about.
00:15:21
Speaker
So, um, New Zealand, South Africa being the first game of this pool will be obviously a humdinger. It might be the, might be the match of the tournament of the knockout stage or the pool. Sorry. That one. Agreed. It should be, it should be fun. Um,
00:15:42
Speaker
Uh, I, I want to see, I want to say that Italy can, can give both these teams a run, but unfortunately it's just not going to happen. I think that they bring that.
00:15:54
Speaker
South Africa and New Zealand bring an element to the game that they're just not used to seeing yeah, so to say the least right and Yeah, the other teams are catching up, but you can't bring can't there's very little to do with a team like South Africa that has the just the Giants in the forward that can yeah, they've gone back to old school and
00:16:17
Speaker
But they can move so they have the athleticism, but they also if they feel like it can just steamroll you so Snaming and vermule in those there's no way on that one for me. Yeah, so then then you have Keep going. Yeah, you're good. Can we can we talk about Colby? Oh, yes. Can we talk about my peepee? Can we talk about in cozy? Um, well, they don't have uh tianti, but uh, they're they're substitutes for him. We're just fine. So yeah, I mean
00:16:46
Speaker
But they're like the the power up front and pace up front followed with the pace that's that's gonna be out wide They're gonna be a tough crack they are and and Italy's you know Even if you go with the the sub the reserves I mean you're still gonna go with two of those three that I mentioned at wing. Yeah, so You're gonna have to it doesn't really matter which one is coming at Italy. They're one. They're both gonna just gonna they're gonna probably have a day Yeah
00:17:09
Speaker
Go on in the park. I can tell you that as a as somebody that went and watched this team four years ago Brian Habana just had a day against the US and he was just having fun He was just running for fun and that that's gonna be a lot of the the South African backs This time around too. Yes, especially different opponents same result, right? I
00:17:32
Speaker
Namibia, you know, unfortunately, there's usually there used to be one guy that I knew right off the top of my head, and I can name him all day long, Jacques Berger. Obviously, he's done. He's walked away from the game a few years ago. You know, he was a great servant to that country. They've they've become the team that qualifies out of Africa, not named South Africa, which is great. But
00:17:54
Speaker
Yeah, I mean that's where Jockberg got him to but oh Man, well, I don't know it does set up The so we talked about South Africa New Zealand being the baby one of the most competitive match of pool play. Yeah Second most competitive matchup will play might be Namibia versus Canada
00:18:16
Speaker
Uh, maybe I, man, I have to, I have to say the Canadians are really disappointing the last two years or so. They, they qualified third out of the Americas. They had to win that Reperchage tournament in order to get that last spot. And it wasn't.
00:18:32
Speaker
that easy for them there. Now they have some great players, they brought some good guys and we'll talk about them when we talk about fantasy stuff. And obviously Arjun's the big one that jumps out because he plays for the Chiefs down in Wakado. But holy crap, this team's, this is one of those countries turning in the wrong direction and they're still in a world cup and they're gonna be in a pool with two of the best teams in the universe.
00:18:57
Speaker
Top two top five teams in my opinion. Yeah, you know without a doubt. Oh, yeah, I think I mean those like New Zealand would it would not surprise me if either of those two teams New Zealand or South Africa hoisted the trophy at the end right and I think those Shit that could be the final. Yeah, you know
00:19:15
Speaker
so it'll be tough yeah and we'll see what again Italy they have two wonderful servants to the game or I'd be in their country and that's Jodini and Paris a four and five royal cups for you for these guys that is unbelievable
00:19:32
Speaker
And I feel terrible for them being such quality players to have so many losses in international play under their belt. That's the downside of having that many caps with Italy. Right. Yeah. You're a great player, unfortunately. It's for Italy. And they are. They're great players. You know, Parisi is getting paid a boatload by too long when he leaves. So it is unfortunate, but Italy's not quite made the steps forward, which is, I think, one of the reasons why they let Conner O'Shea go or their
00:20:02
Speaker
Parting ways with him either way, so I think he's done plenty for the for the country But at the same time I'm sure they wish they had been a little further along than they are right now And they'll still win. I mean they'll still leave with with The pill I'm guessing they'll go to me too wins. Yeah, so that's that's not a bad World Cup Especially when you're automatically qualifying third Which is what you want right and when you're in a pool with there's you know in South Africa Come away with two wins tough. It's it's yeah It's tough sledding for sure so
00:20:32
Speaker
who wins the first game, therefore winning, and I guess this is when we get to pick them later. I have New Zealand winning this match. Okay. And then this pool. South Africa coming in second. So South Africa gets runner up and by our calculations would face Ireland. Yes. Oof. Oof. New Zealand played Japan. Yeah. And that would, that would be fun. And that's probably where Japan's tournament went in. Yeah. Sorry.
USA Team Predictions
00:21:02
Speaker
Pool C, our boys, the Eagles, and probably only inch out one win out of this one, unfortunately. So one of the, you know, because we're Americans, we'll just jump into the Eagles real quick. I expect them to take down Tonga and maybe inch a bonus point out of France. And that's it.
00:21:22
Speaker
I don't know. Or Argentina, one or the other. I hope they can stay with our, make it not too embarrassing against Argentina. Right. That's a team that I would like to see the US play well against. Well, especially in our region. Right. They're in America. They're kind of, that would be a good like measuring stick. We've gone up against their B side a bunch. Yeah. And done well and then. Not done so well. Not done so well, so.
00:21:45
Speaker
Um, but that was also we did not done so well was down there So it was really hot although it's gonna be really hot in this turn to be out there But both teams are traveling so it's not exactly it's not the uh, it's not quite the same, right? It's not the cozy home match. It's a nice. No nice away trip agreed. Um, so yeah us uh, obviously the I think England wins this group, um, assuming they don't take anybody too lightly Because that would obviously right they I mean they can't snooze against France. No, they can't or Argentina
00:22:15
Speaker
No, they cannot. That'll be bad news bears right there. Again, France and Argentina are two countries that aren't in the best of form again, and we talk about the French all the time. They find one. They find one performance usually, and where it comes is anybody's guess. So now what I'm interested in seeing for France is that they've actually implemented structure in their attack. They implemented the 1331. Hooray.
00:22:42
Speaker
Good for them. Uh, it's annoying as fuck to watch the game When after they have done that because the announcers will not shut up about it It's not as if it's some like amazing thing. No, it's just a structure. It's just a way to organize your team down
00:22:58
Speaker
But that's the one thing that we've been talking about for, at least on this pod, for a whole year about how there's just no structure. It's just play, play, play. So this I think will help organize the team and make them more dangerous if you can get them to understand their jobs better.
00:23:18
Speaker
Within what the team is trying to accomplish. Yeah, that's that's a huge benefit So I I don't know that they might be a little late that they did it in the run up to the run up They might want to try, you know, I might want to have tried that for six nations or something possibly something to that effect
00:23:33
Speaker
But that also means that for professional athletes, for these guys, it shouldn't take a lot to learn. So I think that could help organize them and focus their energies, which is really the big thing that that does. You don't have to think so much about, oh, man, where can I best fit? No, this is where I belong. This is where you go. Right here.
00:23:52
Speaker
So that'll help organize it and and make their attack a little bit more efficient. So I think I think that alone could give them a boost that that we need to factor in here against a team. You know, the teams like Argentina, they could give give England. They could. I guess what I'm saying is instead of having that one game,
00:24:09
Speaker
They could have two games. Hey, we could get two. All right. Right. And then maybe that turns into three in future tournaments. And perhaps like so by six nations. And they can finally break through. Yeah. And win a their two or three time finalists, I think. And haven't obviously haven't brought the big one home yet. Right. And I don't think they're going to be finalists this time. But I do think that they're going to be surprised. I think they advance. Right.
00:24:35
Speaker
So of the, so I think we're mostly in agreement as long as they don't take the foot off the gas too much, England take this pool. Argentina or France goes through which one? France. France? I have France. Okay. All right. Yeah. And I just have such a, I, if you'd asked me this six months ago, I would have said Argentina.
00:24:57
Speaker
No, no problem. Argentina have gone so far down. They didn't look they haven't looked great. You know, I really would think that, you know, mostly. And let's let's talk about the elephant in the room. They sent two guys home that they I have no idea why they sent them home for good and could arrow. Why? Yeah. What?
00:25:16
Speaker
Tell me who does. Who benefits from Cordero being at home. His club team in France does, but that's it. Those are two guys that should have been no-brainers like Penn, like permanent Sharpie on your roster. Cordero Facunda, like what is going on in this man's brain? I don't understand.
00:25:39
Speaker
Well, there's a lot of, you know, the pressure. This is where the pressure gets to coaches, not not during the tournament. It's it's and it will join the tournament. But at the same time, this is where you shut the bed. Now you have to think of your team, what you want to do. And we've seen that with multiple teams. I mean, you know, we've already talked about Scotland a little bit. I'll get to that a little bit more later. Yep.
00:26:00
Speaker
With with now we have Argentina we have some things to get to with England. Yep There's a lot of teams that you're like you left scratching your head wondering These guys are clear and obvious. They have to be on the plane. They have to be there and they're not but now with England that I think the odd thing is with England you can kind of make it an argument that they'll be okay with what they did and
00:26:26
Speaker
So with that being Cipriani and Alex Good, they can do all right without those two. They don't need them, but they certainly would help. They would be more help than hurt by far. For Argentina, they need Cordero. Yeah, I don't know. And I do love some of their pieces besides him, but at the same time, he makes people look silly with his feet. And they're tackling air.
00:26:52
Speaker
And it's not that they're tackling air. They're tackling air. And he's by them before they even made a move. And then the fullback back there is like, oh, he's tackled. And then, no, he's not. And then he has to react. But Cordero's off like a shot. So now you're catching up. Yeah, and he's fast, too, on top of that. So that's not good.
00:27:08
Speaker
I will say there was there was a surprise for me and we're in America so I might get flack for this there was a surprise on the plane for me and that's Mike Teo I you and I both don't necessarily love him I love him in sevens to be fair to be fair to be fair
00:27:28
Speaker
I don't know who else they bring instead of him. That's the only thing. Right. I mean, it's not like this team is good enough for anybody or any any one person is good enough in America to be like, yeah, that's a clear and obvious like you should be on the plane instead of tail. So that and that's that's the only issue with that idea. It's really hard. At least Madison Hughes isn't on the on the roster. He is not. That's that's a good thing. And nothing against Madison. He just doesn't have a great sevens player. Yeah. Fantastic sevens player.
00:27:57
Speaker
I am getting a little sick of the whole let's bring sevens players to the World Cup, because it is such a different game. We've seen guys play terribly that did that, and we see a couple guys that play okay. So we'll see. And the one guy, and we'll get to it when the US plays their first game, but the one guy that I'm really excited, and I hope the rest of the world gets to see how good he is, is Bryce Campbell.
00:28:25
Speaker
Like that dude is so good. He's going to play for London Irish this year. I hope he gets a lot of playing time with them because the guy is legit. He he could play center for a lot of clubs. And that's actually the the the interesting thing about the U.S. as much as we you know, we don't want to but as much as we kind of shit on them because we we want them to be so much better than they are. But that's their center combination is is legit.
00:28:50
Speaker
Yeah, but most teams would sign up for a la ck campbell center combination is not he's no He's played for Bristol, right? So, you know, he's he's not these aren't bad guys. No, you know, they're just playing So the really what's gonna kill it's not the the frontline starters that are gonna kill the u.s It's the depth because I mean you have a jamie get you look at these guys. They're you know, you could fill a front row with professionals and
00:29:20
Speaker
Premiere ship guys are you guys Paul Mullen? Who's played for Newcastle? To Fete and TT TD Lamos Atelier, you know, so these are guys that can That can play it at this professional level, but then you get to their backups It's like kilter brand and faucet and you know, and we like those guys because they're playing for our boy. They're our boys They're playing right in the US. We like them, but we're also very realistic about what we have with them. Yeah, that's the thing and
00:29:46
Speaker
I mean, it's not like you you have the what was it with with England, Jamie George and John Dickey. And it's like, oh, just rolling through guys that would be studs pretty much for anyone. And basically anybody else. Yeah. The US doesn't have that. Nope. That luxury. So it's not. It's just not what's up. Yeah. And with the game, the matches and the way the matches will go and the schedule, you're going to have to be playing some of these guys against top teams. Yeah. That are just not ready. You got to rotate guys because otherwise guys are just going to be too exhausted.
00:30:16
Speaker
So we're saying England and France sneak out of this pool. Yes. And England probably won't sneak out of this pool. This will be the opposite of what happened in 15 and everybody will be excited about that. So at least everybody in England and then France. So that'll leave them awaiting the winners and runners up of pool D.
Analysis of Pool D Teams
00:30:40
Speaker
Wales, Uruguay, Georgia, Fiji, Australia. There's some interesting teams in this one. Unfortunately, so here's the thing, Uruguay's not that bad. They've been put in a really tough pool with the best Pacific nations team by far, honestly.
00:30:55
Speaker
Um, best Eastern Europe team. Yeah. Like the best European team. That's not in the six nations in Georgia and Wales and Australia and Georgia, you know, Wales have been, we're the best year team in Europe this year. So, and you know, Australia who are, who find ways to rock up for the world cup, even if they haven't a bad year. So, I mean, they, they were finalists four years ago.
00:31:15
Speaker
There's no reason that they can't do it again as long as they can get their shit together On the same wavelength yes, yes, we're on it baby we're on it already starting off the year hot
00:31:38
Speaker
Yeah, obviously Wales Australia is going to be the match of this pool. I think Wales win it in their semi-ugly fashion as they do sometimes. And Fiji maybe beats Australia. I have Fiji as my second place to win this pool. Ooh, there's a fun one. Okay, okay, yeah. Don't tell anyone.
00:31:58
Speaker
I I I look at their lineup and I look at their team and i'm like wow That's a lot of good players and they can do some fun things of the ball That like there are guys on that team that just outright scare me, right? Like oh my god And it's just the question of can if and that that's what it goes back to it Can Australia get their shit together because if they don't have it against Fiji Fiji's gonna take it to him uh hot take if bernard foley starts that game they lose
00:32:22
Speaker
I agreed. If it's not Lili Afano, I fully. He's having a rough go of it. He's not in good form. Right. He's not with it. Simple as that. If anybody has if anybody is sitting here saying, no, that's bullshit. I don't know how much Australia rugby you watch then because Bernard Foley was not playing amazingly for the war ties and he definitely didn't play that well for Australia. So rethink that, please.
00:32:47
Speaker
So yeah, we'll see what happens there. Georgia, they are just gonna be, they won't win more than the game against Uruguay, probably. But what they will do is they're gonna break some bodies. They're gonna be a little physical. I was looking at their roster earlier. Basically, take your name and add Vili or Odza onto the edit, and that's a Georgia name. Like, holy shit. Yeah, I'm looking through the roster. I'm like, I can't pronounce these names. I know some of them are really good, and I know some of these guys. I just, holy shit.
00:33:16
Speaker
I was actually surprised to not see Givania from the wasp on this team. Yeah. He's a decent runner at the very least. He is. Obviously, they've figured out something that they like better. Right. And he's OK. I think he's a kind of take it or leave it kind of guy. Every so often, he does something amazing. You're like, wow, what the hell? Yeah, where's that from? Right. But he's someone who I can understand not bringing on the plane.
00:33:44
Speaker
Yeah, no, it and some of them make sense for sure. Trying to look at them, there was one more name that I had off the top of my head, but it's not that important. Obviously, Mabukaka Kata is obviously the big one for them. Yeah, he's just an animal. He's just an animal of a different proportion. So yeah, Georgia probably going to win one game your way is going to be without a doubt the webbing boy of this of this group, which sucks. Yeah. Australia potentially on the outside looking in.
00:34:13
Speaker
That's what I have, that's what I have. And Wales probably winning the group, Fiji sneaking into the second. Setting up a fun match, which would be a fun matchup, England against Fiji. Yes. That would be a very fun match. That would be a lot of fun. So I think that'd be really cool. So yeah, let's get into the knockout stage. So it'd be, according to what we've gone through is, first it would be Japan against
Knockout Stage Predictions
00:34:41
Speaker
the all blacks, yep, and Ireland against South Africa. And unfortunately, I think both teams from pool will be probably would win both of those matchups. That's how I have it. And then coming to see you would be England and Fiji. England probably would get it done. It would be again, like we said, a very entertaining game. It'd be a lot going on.
00:35:02
Speaker
I think England might shit their pants at some point. Probably. Because it'd be a little closer than they'd like. Yeah, they wouldn't wear it. But that's what Fiji does. They might not want to wear their whites for that. Yeah. There's a nice blue uniform. Yeah, keep a pair of depends handy there. Wear your brown shorts. Bring me my brown pants. And then France and Wales. Wales seemed to have France figured out over the recent years. So I'd say Wales takes that one.
00:35:30
Speaker
So that would set up a, would it be a Welsh? It's England versus New Zealand and Wales versus South Africa. Oh boy. At that point, we will all need changes of pants for those games. Those games are gonna be fucking belters. Those would be great. It'll be interesting for me to see, because, you know, going by history here,
00:35:54
Speaker
the the hex has been put on whales in South Africa as the recent champions of their regional tournaments. So is that how it goes? Do they do neither one of them win it? I mean, one of them is going to get to the final in this case, if this is if this is how it plays out. I will say this, the winner of that England, New Zealand game wins the tournament.
00:36:16
Speaker
See, I don't have it that way. No. So I have I have England beating New Zealand. OK. Only because Sam Underhill gets his revenge. Yes. Sam Underhill's revenge. Courtney Law's revenge. Never mind that. That too. So but I have it. I have England winning. I just I don't I it's hard to obviously it's hard to pick against New Zealand, but fucking everyone's going to pick them to win. So right. A lot of people. And yeah. And I.
00:36:44
Speaker
I think England have been have found something this summer that is they're they're ready to go. Yeah, I think they're they're ready to to do what they need to do. And that's been the problem with them again, especially in 2015. It's got to still have that taste in their mouth, whether just like I really want to redeem ourselves. Right.
00:37:03
Speaker
Like, that's one of those that if you're playing it on a video game, you just hit the reset button. You're like, I'm fucking playing this again. Exactly. That's not how it's going to happen. Right. It's not going to go down like that, man. So I think that they're going to do what they need to do to win, which.
00:37:22
Speaker
You know, that's what you have to do against New Zealand. It's not so much having your plan. It's okay because you know, they're going to punch you in the face. They know you know, they're going to do something. I mean, it's pretty hard. So so it's not it's then it becomes what you need to do to win. Yeah. And I think England are prepared to do that. And so I think that that I have them winning there. And then I have South Africa beating Wales setting up a rematch of 2007.
00:37:52
Speaker
with England versus South Africa, same result. I don't think I disagree with anything as far as the final goes. I think England get their second trophy.
00:38:07
Speaker
I would love to see it too. You know how I feel about South Africa, so... You've had some strong feelings in the past. I've had some strong feelings and I'm coming around and I'm now getting more... Because it is that they're not the big bullies. I mean, like I said, they can be.
00:38:27
Speaker
But they don't base their game around just beating the shit out of the opposition. No. And into submission and then stepping over them for a try. Now it's, no, I'm going to use my size, run gaps, run holes in your defense. And then we're going to give it to these fast guys. These really fast guys out here. Yeah. There's some some pretty wild stuff that's going on out there. Yeah. All right.
Potential World Cup Surprises
00:38:50
Speaker
So that and then we I think we've gone over our surprises as being Japan and
00:38:58
Speaker
Being Japan and Fiji getting out of their groups I think one of those teams getting out of their group would obviously be a shock and I don't think but I don't think either one's a stretch of the imagination at this point This is the most open world cup we've had in a long time. Yeah, it really is a lot of teams. There's nobody that's like super super Favorite. Yeah, there's teams that you you look at and think they're in good form but again, there's nobody like in 2015 it was like it was really hard to get pick against the same and
00:39:24
Speaker
Yeah, the same all the same all blacks team virtually that played in 11, right? So it was really hard to pick against them now. Now, there's a lot of changes right now. Yeah. So we'll see what happens. And yeah, I admit that the gap between the lower tier lower grouping of tier one and the upper tiering of the upper grouping of tier two is is is narrowing is very much narrowing. Right. And it's almost overlapping. I mean, look at Fiji being France last year. Yeah. You know, it was huge.
00:39:54
Speaker
Yeah, I think this is going to be, uh, you know, there's nothing that would surprise the wall. I shouldn't say that something's going to surprise me. Yeah. But when it comes to those teams, the, the Fiji's and the, and the Japan's nothing would surprise me for them.
00:40:07
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. So we got our surprises. We got our winners. We think Ben Ben's leaning. We're both fairly in agreement on who gets to the final. And I think we just split our. Yeah, we split it. We split the difference on who wins. But let's think about let's if teams are going to get to the final. Let's think about the players that need to
00:40:31
Speaker
they need and or that need to put in amazing performances for them to get to said final. And so as we as we like to call it sometimes the X Factor, right?
Key Players in the World Cup
00:40:42
Speaker
I have how many do I have 123456789. I have nine teams here. Yep. None of them are actually include Japan or Fiji. So we could probably delve into that a little bit if we have time. So
00:40:57
Speaker
Age before beauty, New Zealand. Who's your X factor for them?
00:41:02
Speaker
My X factor is Artie Sevilla. Good one. Because you'll get Kieran Reed at eight. Maybe not for the shag games. For the shag games, you're probably going to get Artie at eight. Probably. But for the top games, you're probably going to get Kieran at eight and Artie at seven or six. Right. And I cannot wait to see him with, you know. With the ball in hand. With the ball in that role.
00:41:28
Speaker
Reid is a very solid player. Obviously, he's the captain for a reason. He's a leader. He's a leader. He's absolutely a leader. He's not... And when he is a game changer, it's fucking fun, but that's rare. Yeah, he doesn't set the world alight. Right, no. He sets things up for those talented players to just not have to think. They can just run through a gap.
00:41:48
Speaker
But Sevilla can do all of it. And I think, you know, as as he goes with that with that role, so go the all blacks. Absolutely. So I kind of knew you were going to say Artie, so I didn't pick Artie. OK, I'm and even though he's probably not going to be ready.
00:42:08
Speaker
until a certain point, because, well, he doesn't really need to be outside of the first game. Brody Retalic. That's super dynamic second rower for New Zealand. You know, you talk about a guy that can change games just because, you know, feels like a threat. He's a threat from somewhere that you don't. Right. That you don't know. And he he spoils lineouts like he I don't know if there's anybody better at spoiling lineouts than Bertie Retalic. No. You know, and and that's there's a lot of guys that can do it well.
00:42:35
Speaker
And he's a master of the driving tackle followed by the this poaching that ball. Yeah, like that all of a sudden he'll just be like, you know what? You guys have had that ball for long enough. I'm going to knock your ass backwards and then get up and go to his feet and take it. Yeah. And take it from you again. If only he was just a little prettier.
00:42:54
Speaker
It's all right. His talents make up for it. They do. They do. So yeah, Bernie Vitalik. I'll go first on this one. South Africa. Mine. And we talked about him before. Colby. Yeah. Cezanne Colby. He is so good in the loose. You know, and we talked about guys that can make people miss. He's just...
00:43:16
Speaker
He's so goddamn good. And he provides that element that we talk about that South Africa were kind of missing for a little while, no longer being just the bullies. You have to be able to run around people too. And we saw Kobe do it for Toulouse and he does it quite well. So I would say he is a huge, huge factor in how well they do. And he's one of my four.
00:43:38
Speaker
So the first name I mentioned is just a guy we've been excited about watching ever since we saw him. We first saw him earlier this year, which is Herschel, Herschel Yankees. Yeah, geez. Yeah. He'll be amazing. I'm so glad he's on that plane. But he's one of three. Let me tell you that.
00:43:56
Speaker
He's gonna he'll he'll be an amazing he'll be fun to watch during their shag games because that's probably the time that's when he's playing that's when we'll play But other than that, it's that the three that I mentioned earlier the the Colby my pp nikosi, right? Those three are gonna be how that how those wings? attack and play is gonna be that
00:44:17
Speaker
Yeah, that's gonna be that extra that extra bump that the South Africans desperately need because they can do all the big the big bully strong stuff so well.
00:44:27
Speaker
I guess back over to me. Yeah, for Australia. To me, this one is almost a no brainer. Because it seems like he's been a catalyst for them starting to play very well this this over the summer. And that's Nick white. Yeah, so it's a good pick.
00:44:47
Speaker
I mean, they've had, you know, they've had FIPS, they've they've had Genya and and yeah, they've had other options that are just not they haven't been the catalysts. They've they've been solid players. Genya is definitely better than FIPS by far.
00:45:02
Speaker
Um, but now I think Nick white, I didn't expect it. I mean, he's a good, I'm not saying he's not a good player, but the, the spark that he seems to have provided them when he's in that game is, is completely different from what I've seen Australia recently. So, so I'm going, I'm going with Nick white.
00:45:19
Speaker
Yeah, I like that pick. Another guy that kind of went the same route as Nick White recently for the Wallabies. And he seems to have fixed all the issues that got him kind of shunned away. James O'Connor.
00:45:34
Speaker
OK, he is going to if he is on form, yeah, he, you know, to have that threat from a 13 position and, you know, and then and then they still have obviously some decent wingers to finish it. You know, he's I think he can just turn it on. He can turn a game on a dime with his ability and his skill. That's why he was so touted when he was young. Right. But obviously it's also the thing that probably filled his head with a bunch of bullshit.
00:45:55
Speaker
that got him to do all kinds of dumb stuff, that got him shunned out of Australia. But he fixed himself, he was able to make himself right against, while playing for sale here in the Premiership, or I stay here, I watch so much, I watch so much Premiership, I feel like I'm watching a home match.
00:46:13
Speaker
Um, um, but yeah in the premiere ship and he's just I commend him for that But I also think that he is he could be that extra guy Uh that uh, michael chekka picked that really is going to make a huge difference. I would love to see it. I mean that that's the difference between um What we were looking at with fiji going move it on and potentially australia that those I think those two guys are going to be I think I think we
00:46:39
Speaker
Name the two that are really going to be the decision points there. They have to perform. Yep. Agreed. Argentina. I'm going to say it. I'll say probably one that's obvious. Nicolas Sanchez as as that team goes, he goes. You know, we saw the hot water in Super Rugby.
00:46:59
Speaker
And Benia, Benia's not on the plane for a reason. And the reason is because Nicholas Sanchez has been playing so well in France and they really feel like he can be their guy again. He's been their guy before. He was the big, he was a big factor in them cutting up Ireland in 2015 in that quarterfinal. I think he, I think if he plays extremely well, Argentina, we'll see another semifinal. So that'll be, that's one for me.
00:47:26
Speaker
And I have it as there, I don't have any specific individual player. To me, it's their pack play. Yeah. Because if you look at their experience levels.
00:47:37
Speaker
everyone in their pack, almost everyone in their pack has significant experience at this level. And then you go out to their backs. And it's the same thing as we were talking about with the US, where they might have, you know, first levels, they had their first level, their starters are fairly experienced and talented. But then when they get together their reserves, it's guys who are going in to this World Cup with one or two caps.
00:48:00
Speaker
Yes, and that's that's gonna be a little terrifying. It's a little yeah, it's a little scary for that So that means that it's gonna be their pack if they're gonna win. It's gonna be through their forwards. Yeah, I agree That's not that's not back to pick either by any means especially with the likes of Gus creepy. Mm-hmm Sporting that sporting that team around
00:48:20
Speaker
um england yeah you sir so the x factor for england as far as i'm concerned is george ford whether or not he plays i'm i'm nervous that was that was my thing george ford i'm nervous there yeah because you have the you know
00:48:36
Speaker
Just and that really becomes an Eddie Jones question, but that you can't really you can't really do anything about that once the games start It's just if you have a Jordan he attacks so much and he cuts off He cuts off wide attacks when he probably shouldn't yeah tunnel vision
00:48:53
Speaker
Yeah. And and while that's great and we'll talk about him when it relates to fantasy a little later, it really is going to be can he play a true 10? And then what happens with Faz at 12? Like he has to be on the field. It's just weird to have an attacking 10 and a distributing 12. So yeah, I don't. It's unorthodox. So that's going to be I've talked to other England. I've talked to other English and they're scared.
00:49:19
Speaker
That that that that things could be coming a thing again. Yeah, and they didn't like it before and they know now I don't blame them I think the only person in the world who likes it is Eddie Jones. Yep, or Ford Because it wasn't for Eddie he wouldn't be on the team Faz and sips fuck it. We don't need you know, we have an actual centers at Center. Oh
00:49:38
Speaker
Yeah, done. So for me, and you can see what happens to this team when he's not in it, and there were two guys that I was really thinking of with this, but he's definitely the one that makes it go, and it's Billy V.
00:49:54
Speaker
Yeah, he's if he if he is healthy and ticking Good luck and you can see it early It's one of those things where he gets a carrier too early and a couple guys know but he's like and you can see him ready to You know, he gets his napkin and tucks it into his shirt. He's getting relaxed on buck buckles the bell a little bit Ready boys gonna be a long night
00:50:16
Speaker
Yeah, that's a true fact. So yeah, as Billy V goes, this team will go. If he's playing in four, man, he's healthy. Good luck stopping this team, because that's that goal forward ball that they need in order to be on the front foot. And he always seems to find a way to do it. It's just ridiculous how he finds ways to do it. So we'll see what happens with that.
00:50:43
Speaker
Ireland, and this, there's an obvious one that I could've said probably, and I didn't. And I'll explain my pick. I say it's Rob Carney.
00:50:55
Speaker
That's a good one. And I like it. And what it comes back to me for me really is one particular game. And it was the opening game of the Six Nations this year where he wasn't in. They had henshot, fullback, and it was clear that they were missing Carney. It was really clear. It was extremely clear. So if they don't have Rob Carney playing that position in the matches that matter,
00:51:18
Speaker
they are going to be in trouble. Yeah. So and he and he does he doesn't do anything spectacular. But he does all the things he's supposed to very well, right? So that's the thing. So for me, it's definitely it definitely comes down to Rob Carney, if he's healthy, and he's informed. Ireland will at least get to some of the places that they're thinking they will. If he doesn't, and he's not healthy, and he's not playing fullback, you can bet this is gonna be a big disappointment for Ireland.
00:51:43
Speaker
And for them, their X factor is their defense. And it's can they defend their way past the quarterfinals? Because they're not going to score 30 points a game. They're going to score 15 to 20. So it's can they limit the other team? And they're going to do that by beating the shit out of other teams on defense.
00:52:02
Speaker
And then, you know, kind of that same thing we were talking about with South Africa, just kind of stepping, you know, beating them up on, except the opposite. They're not powered pushing them back on offense. They're pushing them back on defense and then stepping over their crumpled bodies for a try. Yeah. Yeah. So that's that's a good that's a good pick. And the one thing that kind of like a shout to me for the I think we can't gloss over too hard is the the exclusion of Devin Toner.
00:52:31
Speaker
Oh, that's I don't you know, and I don't understand it. He runs, you know, he runs their line out. So I don't know who's going to run their line out in this walk up because all I know is in the stuff that I saw from them, it was not good. No, not with him off the field. It was bad. No bueno.
00:52:46
Speaker
Even when they look because it was the England match where they put him on late and it it improved their line out, but not enough. It was already fucked. It was. Yeah, it was. Everybody was like, yeah, we're fucked. Yeah. So, I mean, is it going to be and is it going to be Omani? Is he going to run their defense and their and their line out and their line out? Good Lord. Right. Good luck. That's all I get to say. So for for Wales, and I think this is going to be back to me. Yeah.
00:53:14
Speaker
It's Dan Bigger. Do I need to say any more than that? Dan Bigger. Yeah. No, I actually have Bigger as the same. It's pretty obvious why. He is the only actual 10 left. He's really making it.
00:53:34
Speaker
He really is going to have to make this team go. And we know he can. Right. We saw it. We've seen it before. It's not when when Anscombe went down and people were like, oh, man, that's it for Wales. I was like, no, it's not. What are you talking about? They're going to be fine. And would be my backup. Like, what are you doing? For any if you told a team that their backup fly half was going to be damn bigger, you'd be like,
00:53:55
Speaker
Done. Done. Sold. Slipped my wrist. Twist my arm here. Where can I buy the jersey? Right. So yeah, Dan Bigger, definitely a big factor. This team will go as he goes and I think he'll be, I think he's going to do some fun things for them. The skults, I'm going to stick with the same position for the Scots and go with Finn Russell. The magician, you saw it in that second half.
00:54:21
Speaker
of the Calcutta Cup this year and what he can make that team do. And if he is in form, he is fun to watch, number one. And number two, he makes Scotland really, really hum in their attack. So we'll see what happens. I'm sure Rossing's waiting for that to happen. But yeah, so we'll see what happens with that. But if he goes well and he's in good form and he's on it, then look out. Scotland's are gonna be, they may not be able to play defense, but they're gonna be a tough team to stop on attack.
00:54:50
Speaker
So my X-factors for Scotland, there are two guys that I don't think you would have expected in this situation. So how they do will be determined by the play of two players, Hugh Jones and Roy Hutchinson. Hutchinson's not on the plane now. Neither is Hugh. Yeah. The guys that sub them.
00:55:11
Speaker
No, no, no how well they they will only win if Hugh Jones and Rory Hutchinson play well Oops That's where I'm going. I'm I'm I'm significantly down on Scotland if you can tell and those two why Why aren't they on the plane? I'm going back into this thing. But what's the point, you know, you know Love Finn Russell
00:55:35
Speaker
Love him. Yeah, but he can only operate if there's people outside of him, you know, and you can't you can't have
00:55:43
Speaker
Fin, you know, a 10 and a back three and that's it. Yeah, it's your back. No, that's not going to do well. None of those other centers are really good attacking options. Certainly not on the level of those two. So I, you know, I agree with it. Fin Russell needs to be amazing and he needs to be the guy right now. Yeah. But the absence of those two is going to limit what Fin Russell can do, which is going to fuck the Scots.
00:56:07
Speaker
Right, and the reason that I picked out Finn Russell only was because I saw what happened when Adam Hastings was starting at 10. I like Adam Hastings as a club player. He's definitely not that good coming internationally, unfortunately. He hasn't turned that corner. So that's bad news to them. So that's why I picked Finn Russell out of that. But you're not wrong. That's a great pick. You're not wrong either. You're not wrong either. I thought we said Finn Russell myself, but I figured one of us would take that. The other two would shit on Gregor Townsend a little bit more.
00:56:34
Speaker
Yep. And then, I mean, the wild wild wild, one of the wild cards in this in this World Cup, the French. Oh, for me, it comes down to it comes down to Dupont. I played spectacularly for them in the six nations. He's done so well for his club. If he continues said form, I don't know why they're not at least going to do a little bit of damage, because I mean, the youth on this team is amazing.
00:57:02
Speaker
Has to be that has to be said, you know Yes, maybe they have some I would think we're both a little puzzled as to why Intimac was not starting in their late their last couple of games, right? So it's hard to it's hard to assume that they put Camille Lopez on the plane, which I didn't understand, right?
00:57:19
Speaker
So it's hard to know whether or not he's going to be starting there, too. So that's why it would be those two. Instead, I'm going to go with their structure, because that's going to be the difference. That's going to be, to me, that is, if you're going to talk about the next factor, that's it for Francis. Can it help them rock up on more than one game this tournament? Yeah, and they're going to need to. Yeah, because they need to. So that's going to be, that I think will change their game. Right.
00:57:46
Speaker
All right, I didn't print the Pickham sheet, but I have the grid right here. This is amateur bullshit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So let's do Pickham for this round, quote unquote, because that's how TRM has separated for their own sake, which is not a bad idea for us. Helps us get our shit straight a little bit.
00:58:10
Speaker
So let's, for the people out there, where is their date or week? What is their designation of weeks? Their last game that they have listed for this round, quote unquote, and we'll get into this when we get into fantasy, is Monday, the Monday game Wales and Georgia.
00:58:31
Speaker
Okay. All right. So it'll be Friday, Friday to Monday. Yep. And then that'll be start the next one, Tuesday to what have you got it. So, and we'll get ourselves sorted as we go through this, but let's start with this. Um,
00:58:45
Speaker
Japan and Russia, I think it's pretty obvious who we both want. Japan. Hosts. Yeah. I don't think that is any surprise to anybody. This is this is a big one to start this pool. Let's try a Fiji. Well, I picked him. So obviously I'm going with Fiji.
00:59:03
Speaker
You know if this wasn't the first game I might I might pick Australia Mm-hmm, but okay But since Fiji is probably gonna pull out a lot of stuff that they haven't shown right they can they can surprise him a little bit Yeah, I will go with the Islanders France Argentina Le bleu Le bleu
00:59:23
Speaker
Yeah, I just I need to see it from us from Argentina before. I agree. So a big one, big one, big one, big one. Probably the biggest. You don't know. It's not a big one. Well, it is. That's the funny. It is and it is. It is because it's good. They're both going to advance probably. Right. But it's a matter of all right. Who wins the group and who doesn't. Right. It just gives you a slightly better matchup coming. Yeah. And we're not coming out of it and looking for who's what's it. That's fair. You know. OK, so New Zealand out South Africa.
00:59:55
Speaker
I mean, I'm going to New Zealand because I picked him to win the pool. Yeah. Yeah. Let's put it this way. I think this is what they'll do if they start voting Barrett at 10 and not Mwunga and don't put Barrett at fullback. He's not right. Then yeah, I'll take the Kiwis. Italy, Namibia. I think we can both agree that's going to be Italy. Yes. Yeah. Here we go. Here's the fun one. Ireland, Scotland.
01:00:22
Speaker
Oh, that's Ireland. Yeah. Again, that's the defense like the Scottish set up their backs to defend more than anything. And that that's not what you need to play against Ireland. You need you need to be able to attack and have some creativity in the through the centers. Right. To beat, to unlock Ireland's defense. And they don't have it. They don't have it. So. Yeah.
01:00:42
Speaker
And then England Tonga as good of a game as I think Tonga will give them. The Rose takes it for that one. And then Wales, Georgia, again, I think Georgia's gonna smash the shit out of these guys and Wales will be needing some serious ice bucket time. But I think the Wales take it.
01:01:04
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, bigger is going to run them all over the park chasing kicks. Yeah. And some of these boys are big boys. They're big boys. They're not going to enjoy that. So the first 20 minutes, you know, first half are probably going to this will be a close match. But then, you know, that that 20 to start the 40 to 60 minute.
01:01:22
Speaker
period right there is I think when whales will really start unlocking Georgia and separate themselves permanently. Yeah. So, um, we didn't get cute when the pick on this time, but that's okay. Well, there'll be, there'll be a day where we, where we separate, but this is the, you don't get, you don't get silly in the first week. That's for sure. Um, so, uh, we're back.
01:01:44
Speaker
Thank God. I've been looking forward to this day since we did the finale in July. It's going to be a fun pod year for us, I think. We already gained a small following over the summer, which I was like, how did we? We haven't even been potting. We haven't done anything. Everybody, thank you very much for listening to us. Tune in for the fantasy preview later on this week.
01:02:07
Speaker
and we're really happy to be back. Let us know any questions, fancy rugby podcast at gmail.com. Make sure you check out TRM and join our group for Rugby World Cup Fantasy. It's just the Fancy Rugby Yanks. You'll find us there. We already have like 10 or 12 people in that one. Nice. So that's nice. We'll have a nice league, it sounds like. Yeah. It'll be fun. But in the meantime, everybody kick back, enjoy your rugby, and it'll be good. Thanks, everyone. Cheers.