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Season 3- Episode 24- Who Would Ref a Scrum? (Premiership Round 17 & Super Rugby Round 10)
34 Plays4 years ago
It is those American rugby knuckleheads, here to give your ears a bit of a buzz. We got into some interesting stuff on this one including the social media boycott that much of the sports world is taking part in and the problems that many athletes deal with on these platforms that need to be stopped. We tuck into the player movement and the horrible injuries we saw to a few big names this past weekend. Dive a bit into refereeing and some sort of art that seems to be believed still exist out there. Of course we dive into 6 Nations and England's victory in the final. We get around for all the action, phrasing, in Aotearoa, Prem and MLR. Sprinkle a little Start or Sit and you have yourself a perfect TFRFY podcast. Throw those feet up and join us with a cold one!
Ask us questions via Twitter: Jarrod- jdyke8man & Ben- admrablsnackbar. Send us your thoughts for the show and questions for upcoming shows via e-mail fantasyrugbypodcast@gmail.com. Of course we welcome feedback via e-mail, twitter or by rating/reviewing the pod on Apple Podcast.
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Availability
00:00:08
Speaker
Hey everybody. Welcome back. It is the fancy rugby games. My name is Jared Dyke. I'm Ben. Here we go. Uh, this should be an entertaining part of the very least because we have a lot of shit that we can dive into. That's not just matches. So a lot of off field drama. Um, just in the last recent days, we'll get to fairly quickly, but just real interesting shit. And a lot of, uh, games being moved around it. I don't know. We're going to talk too much about those.
00:00:34
Speaker
Not yet. No, probably, probably when we dive back into the next week. Yeah. We'll talk about. So you're, you survived your shot. You, you now have 5g capabilities. I do. My perception is greatly enhanced. Oh man. Yep. I have a fifth sense. Um, it's just me and Megan bang now.
00:00:57
Speaker
We always could. It's just a matter of risk. You always can. It's just a matter of what's the risk. Right. Yeah. Oh, I feel like that's a merit badge in COVID, like pandemic times getting laid. Right. Right. I mean, yeah, I'm yeah, as married gentlemen, I guess, shout out to the single people who
00:01:27
Speaker
who didn't go nuts with this stuff. Right. Right. All right. Let's get all the laid you deserve. Right. Let's pop some. I agree. Yeah, go out there and get you get yourself some action now. Alright, and obviously you want to check out check us out on Spotify, Google Play, all your favorite podcast spots.
00:01:51
Speaker
Download rate review, um, by our friend, the Francie Ruby geek of coffee. He's always deserving of it. And this weekend you're going to be looking for some real tips to hopefully survive your semi-final.
00:02:02
Speaker
And we take a moment to celebrate the geeks, what, second place overall finish. I think it was like fourth, but yeah, in the women's six nations, that was pretty wild. Out of 25,000. Woo wee, oh boy George. 500, sorry, that's 25,500. Like that's a huge comp, like there's- That's huge. There is a market for this, so. Yeah, that's great. Yeah, and they are talking about making that a different window from here forward, which would be great. I think that's only a good thing.
00:02:33
Speaker
Grab your TRM upgrades, restart rugby and restart weekends coming up as well. So grab those and support those guys out there. And obviously you get to have the inside track on who's starting in TRM as well. So that'll be helpful. Green Dot does wonders.
00:02:46
Speaker
As for TRM, I'm sorry, for FRD, though, because it's been a while since we mentioned them, and I feel like what gets complained about when it exists should get praised when they fix it. And FRD, congratulations, really good job, the Friday lineup notification.
00:03:08
Speaker
time, which was a fucking killer earlier in the year. They fixed it now, you know, we no longer notice it. So, so good job. Yeah, there it's no longer the chaos that it was. We haven't been nice enough to them lately. So that's fair enough. Good job guys. Yeah. Thank you guys for getting that sorted out and good on you. I know it's a small team over there.
Social Media Boycott by Rugby Clubs
00:03:27
Speaker
Um, black lives matter as always with this podcast and as it should, and there's no room for racism in this, in this world at all. It's, um,
00:03:36
Speaker
It's interesting, and I have this in the notes, but we'll talk about it now. We have a social media boycott going for rugby and football, proper football, this coming weekend. For Prem, it's not a big deal. There's only two premiership teams in action this weekend. But so from Friday until Monday, they're going to just completely go silent.
00:03:59
Speaker
because the point is completely accurate. So much hate gets spewed and violence gets incited on social media and they do nothing about it. Nothing.
00:04:13
Speaker
And then seeing what, um, you know, Simi Pam goes through and, you know, and we know it's, it's not just the racism aspect to there. It's, there's also a little misogyny misogyny, um, which is way too much around sports. It's better than it used to be, but that only highlights the people who.
00:04:30
Speaker
maintain that mindset. And it's worse for a player like Cimipan, who's both black and a woman and an awesome player and a doctor and still gets shit on his body. She's better than most of us out here, I hate to tell you guys. She's winning life right now. My wife, Cimipan wins.
00:04:52
Speaker
Yeah, she's she's beating you. There's no need to treat her like that at all. So and I'm really happy for Saracen's, not only Saracen's women, but Saracen's men are I'm sorry, Saracen's. Bristol Bears, Bristol Bears, women, Bristol Bears men are doing that boycott. And I'm sure part of that is with, you know, for for respect for her, too. Right. Yeah. I think all the prime clubs are now. Yeah. Exit her. Yeah. Sort your shit out, you fuckers.
00:05:22
Speaker
Um, but it's, it is, it's a, you know, I hope it, it rings to the social media companies. I know it won't be a lot, but, um, I do think it's just a, it's a huge problem. It needs to be addressed. Like you can't just go, go around fucking sending, you know,
00:05:40
Speaker
you know, just all this racist bullshit just because you're behind a fucking screen. Like, you know, if you don't have the cojones to tell somebody this to your face, don't be sending it over a fucking screen, you know, keyboard warriors. Like, yeah, there's again, it's sports.
00:05:55
Speaker
There's no excuse for being a dick like that when it comes to sports.
Impact of Rugby Injuries
00:06:00
Speaker
I do draw the line of politics because that actually affects lives. Blah, blah, blah. Yeah. Tell the politician they suck. Tell Kristensen that she's an asshole. But yeah, when it comes to sports, they're trying. They're trying their best, right? They fuck up. Trust me, they know when they fuck up.
00:06:19
Speaker
Yeah, no one's going to know it better than them. And they know about more of their fuck-ups than you do. Some of them, they know about the rest of them, and they hear about them after every match. Absolutely. Yeah, be nice. Give them the support that they deserve. And if you're pissed at them, just whatever. Let it go. Yeah, and certainly don't tag them in something that's
00:06:44
Speaker
You know, bashing them or hating or hating them and certainly not something that's throwing, you know, uh, super hate language out there. Like, no, just if you want it, if you have a criticism of them, cool. Say it just, you know, you can type the name and people will find it anyway. Trust me, but no need to tag them. And don't snitch tag. If someone says shit, don't.
00:07:05
Speaker
About someone without tagging them don't tag the fucking player. Yeah, the point was that they didn't want to tag them Don't fucking do it for them ass
00:07:16
Speaker
Slap, slap. Okay. We are opening up a second tier of Champions League. So if you want to get in on that, we need eight new owners. It's going to be the three FRD competitions and the two TRM competitions. And we are getting to the pointy end of our season here, and it's going to be fun. And we'll start introducing promotion and relegation. Don't want to be in that last spot.
00:07:37
Speaker
No ring fencing in the champion league. No, that crap. So we just get a better eye. If you're interested in it, we'll start putting it out there on the Twitters as well. Again, it's been one of the most fun experiences I've had playing fantasy sports. Right, and just so much to it.
00:07:55
Speaker
Because yeah, the group chat is fun too. Right? The talking. It's not just shit talking. It's a lot of good shit that's going on and discussion that goes on there too. Fantastic experience. And we're kicking each other's ass all over the place. It seems to be somebody's kicking ass here. Somebody's getting their ass talked there. It's always fun.
00:08:17
Speaker
That's good stuff. Alright, a little bit of player movement. So Owen Williams is returning to the prem. He's coming to Worcester. Worcester had a haul the last couple days between him and Bailana is going there. I mean, really, in the sense of Bailana going there, it makes sense for him because there's no room for him in that WASP background right now. Right. None at all.
00:08:38
Speaker
you know, not not with everybody healthy. And even with some guys injured, it's still got a few few bodies in front of him at this point, in my opinion, at least. I do remember when he when he signed from Saracen's to what told to watch people like why they let him go. Now you see why they let him go. He has some goods. He has some great he's had some great moments for them. He's not consistent enough. That being the big problem. Consistency. He is well rounded though.
00:09:06
Speaker
Oh, quite. Extremely. Oh, the injuries. Oh, my, the injuries. We saw a few of them in every every comp. Yeah, pretty much every comp. The biggest one in terms of the Lions has got to be George North going down. And that's just he I think most people had him on the plane. And that's just, oh, absolutely devastating for the guy and feel, feel terrible for him. It's just the guy is fucking snakebit.
00:09:34
Speaker
It seems that he's, he's so fucking talented. Um, and if it's, if, you know, it's not as somebody clearing him out, you know, taking a high shot on him, it's now, you know, his knee and that's just, it's awful. Yeah. Very unfortunate. Okay. And then, um,
00:09:54
Speaker
You know, one of the guys that, and we talked about captains a while ago, and one of the guys we agreed that you probably run through a wall for was Joe Launchbury and Port Joe as, as went and done his knee. And it just, that was, that did not look good at all.
00:10:08
Speaker
I was one of those, I hope that's not like what I think it is. And unfortunately it was, and you know, Lee Blackett, I think right after the match even said, yeah, this is probably, uh, one of the worst injuries we could think of. So, um, in terms of severity, I was like, Ooh, that's not great. And that's all, and that's without seeing scans or anything like that. So.
00:10:27
Speaker
I will say this, listen folks, if somebody walks off the field, do not assume shit. Cause if you tear your ACL, it's actually not going to really bother them that much in terms of pain. It's just going to be very unstable. Yeah. I just, I walked a kitted down. I carried my shit, including both my kit and my fold up chair to the car. Like I think with a tub of water or like a jug of water too.
00:10:55
Speaker
Um, because as you, as you do, when you walk back from our rugby match, um, yeah, and I, yeah, it was weird. Every, every other, you know, every couple of steps I took were a little funky.
00:11:04
Speaker
When you completely tear it, that's what happens. Yeah. But it doesn't mean that it works. I just want people to understand that because I've seen so many guys walk off the field. Oh, he walked off under his own power. I'm like, yep, still might want a CCL. I hate to tell you. And I'm not laughing at it because it sucks. I'm laughing at it because people just assume way too much shit. Exactly. And then Yann Oujet's career has come to a devastating end, it seems.
00:11:33
Speaker
It's just a terrible way to end a career. I feel bad because going back to my ACL thing, I thought my career was over. I didn't really have much to train for, and so it really did screw up my recovery. I worry about that for other people. I eventually got all right.
00:11:58
Speaker
It, it does hurt you mentally when there's nothing to, you know, when George North, there's every motivation for him to get back. Absolutely. For launchbury. Um, but for huge A for him to go through recovery is going to be, uh, uh, the true test of mental strength to, to, you know, not become a tubbo. Yeah. Right. And just not, not do the work that's required for an injury like that. That too.
00:12:25
Speaker
Yeah, kind of a bright spot. We did see Jack Willis sitting in the stands with a big old brace on, but hey, it was good to see him sitting in the stands and smiling, and which means he's back around the club, which means he's probably progressing well enough that they feel like they can handle it from there, which is great, because that's the point you want to get to when you're a player, because you don't want to be on your own for too long. It just sucks. Yeah. And he's had a rough call, as we know, as well. So good to see him back out there.
00:12:54
Speaker
All right, let's go on to the next one. This is something I was just like, I couldn't let this go this weekend, so I had to be able to talk about it. Name your referee that actually knows what the fuck they're calling when they referee the Scrum. I'll wait. I'll tell you this much, I love the fact that the TMOs are getting, or not the TMOs, sorry, the ARs are the ones who are making the call sometimes, because that needs to happen, because they can look at,
00:13:21
Speaker
You know, nearside whatever it is you watch on just that one thing and see who went down who pushed it because like, fuck, we saw in Yeah, in a couple matches where, you know, one prop like gets go gets forward the other prop just hinges so they fall in the, you know, the first prop with who's dominant.
00:13:42
Speaker
goes down and they're like, Oh, no, you went down. And it's like, no, he just let it fall. No, no, no. He let the buying go, Dick. Right. Like the, the other, the prop who didn't go down was the one who caused it to go down. Um, he gave, and, and I think there was even one on, um, in the free Jax match. I mean, that guy couldn't officiate any, Oh, he could not officiate a fucking thing. My goodness. Um,
00:14:04
Speaker
But the scrum, there was one scrum where the free jacks, first off, who was it? Oh, glory. Like literally walked to the scrum around and he ordered a penalty. Somehow that was their pen. I had no idea. I was like, did we watch the same scrum or am I crazy? And then they did it again. And the loose head for the free jacks.
00:14:27
Speaker
like flopped because his the the tight head for the old old glory came right in fall back now he pulled back all right that's right step back and yeah so he's clearly walking out and around like that's not hard to figure out
00:14:41
Speaker
Yeah. And the free jacks were going forward. Like even the tight head was going forward because their loose head was kind of going back and around too. And, and they called it on, you know, get the penalty to it's like, they're not, they were getting fucked. No, too many officials don't know what they're looking for.
00:15:00
Speaker
And that's, I can think of still a product of, I feel like the announcers, the commentators are doing a better job describing what's happening in the scrub. There's not much, like you only hear the old fogeys at this point say, oh, it's the dark arts. You know, the young guys are like, no, it's just all right. This guy's wheeling, this guy's. Yeah. It's usually, it's not too hard to figure out at this point.
00:15:22
Speaker
Right. Like, come on. That's lazy. Don't be doing like that. But the problem is that hasn't, that knowledge and understanding isn't making it, you know, to these, to these reps. Somehow isn't, yeah. Like get, get a couple of front row coaches in, into these refereeing clinics and, and have them talk about it and have them understand all the things that these guys do to cheat and, and get their, get the edge. Because if they can do that and
00:15:48
Speaker
then they'll be better equipped to see these dicey decisions that they're trying, that they have to make. So I just want the refereeing on the scrum to improve just a tiny bit, please. Just a tiny bit. That's all I ask.
00:16:05
Speaker
All right. And we talked about the social media. We don't talk about it much these days. Saracen's answered the bell. Yeah. That's why I mentioned them earlier. I saw it on the sheet and I mentioned them instead of bears because that's the word I was reading. But yeah, Sari's fucking stuck the fuck up and kind of showed their class and where they are within the championship.
00:16:30
Speaker
Right. Ferrell brought his, uh, his game, his a game to this one. It sounds like so. I mean, for all the people that were, you know, giving healing everything, because they won those two games and that in those families, I was like, don't be sitting there or too much right now. Cause there's, there's a lot missing from this, this boys in black lineup. And I don't know if you want to be poking that bear just yet.
00:16:54
Speaker
So it was, I'm glad they did it. I'm glad they answered the call when it came up. That was probably the toughest match they had left to play outside of obviously the semi finals in the final. But so that'll be interesting to see how the run into the championship goes here towards the final.
00:17:13
Speaker
Women's Six Nations. This was a good old fashioned arm wrestle. Oh man.
England vs France Women's Six Nations
00:17:20
Speaker
England and France. Yeah. Little, little nervy. Little nervy. Both teams. Yeah. And not much scoring, but that doesn't mean there wasn't much, you know, action. It was, it was good action. It was like,
00:17:37
Speaker
It was almost like, I feel like a lot of the game was played, I mean, it was 22 to 22, and then the defense would just be like, nope, steal a little, you know. Yeah, and that would be the end right there. Yeah. And then they would march down to the other team's, you know, territory, and then something, you know, the defense would shut it down, just excellent. You know, I think like the attacking could have been better, yes, could have been. But that goes to nerves, right? The passes weren't exactly transiting. Oh, definitely.
00:18:04
Speaker
And players had to kind of, they were, but they were good about saying, you know what, I'm going to eat the ball, eat the tackle rather than try to make something happen and fuck up there. So, so they were, you know, Nerves, but good decisions to make up for them. Didn't lead to the most like entertaining. No, but
00:18:22
Speaker
But you're looking at two teams that have talked both in their matches and both of them. And really we knew this was just a collision course coming in here more than likely, not to say that the other teams haven't improved, they definitely have. It's just- Ireland for one year. Yep, that was a big one. That was a big jump for them this year, I think. But it's not to say that
00:18:49
Speaker
Again, not to say that, but at the same time, these two teams had not played the quality that they were going against for a while. So it was definitely going to be some adjustment.
00:19:01
Speaker
Yeah. A little bit of feeling out. Definitely. You know what? They, they, they say it. It's, it's a little bit of a cliche. Um, but like heavyweight title fight, right? A lot of, a lot of trying to, to, um, figure out where, you know, where the weakness spots were. And the answer was nowhere. So that's, that's what happens. Yeah. Uh, India, I thought was, it was immense in this match for, for the French as usual. Just holy physicality that woman can do it.
00:19:27
Speaker
Yeah, she's not fucking around. Oh, and then, Hey, I love it when you call me big Poppy. Got the winning try. Love Poppy Cleo. Yes. She laid it on the line. Yeah. And came off with a shoulder injury. She's playing this weekend too. Fucking A. Yeah. She moved to six. So Hunter can come into eight.
00:19:48
Speaker
So it's great. Love that woman. Love that woman and Ronnie too, but definitely her. So congratulations to England women and getting the job done. And it was a fun match to watch just the same. It was very interesting tactically wise. So that's certainly made it enjoyable for nerds like Ben and I.
00:20:08
Speaker
Let's go to the a tiaroa chief hurricanes. The result is what we thought it was going to be, you know, but at least the hurricanes fucking put in the shift. They did. You know, I was, you know, they were not they weren't fucking around and they.
00:20:23
Speaker
You know, they came back. The Chiefs had momentum. So I'm biased here. So I'm interested in seeing how we've both viewed this match from different perspectives. Because the way I saw it, the Chiefs had like ascendancy for most of the match. Like it was theirs. And then fucking Billy Proctor. Sorry, yeah, Billy Proctor. Billy Proctor. That Proctor. Just what a dick.
00:20:52
Speaker
You can just come in and change this match like that. Obviously fair play to him. Other than Proctor there, I felt like the Chiefs really controlled the play for most of the match.
00:21:06
Speaker
But then, you know, the likes of him and Amua just, man, that dude's hard to stop. He gets going. It's really hard to tackle him. It really is. He's just such a bowling ball. I was just like, Ooh, that's going to hurt, isn't it?
00:21:23
Speaker
I need to give credit to Peter Gasolacula. Yeah, he played pretty well. Well, okay. He got over the line. To my normal point, that play right off the bat when he just fucking dropped the ball right on the goal line or the try line.
00:21:42
Speaker
Fucking dick hands. That's what we're going to see from Peter Guss today. I think he texted me at the same time, and I'm like, fucking Peter Guss is going to Peter Guss this up. But no, he put in a shift. So good for him. And as you said, the score to try, big try too. So good work for him. I'll let you.
00:22:05
Speaker
Um, well, so here's the thing. And there's a couple of things that are, that people are getting hot on and, and I see their point in it and I am annoyed to it to a point as well. Um, the, the kick chase, like I get, you want to get guys back and that's not, but kick chase when it's.
00:22:24
Speaker
And by the time, you know, the guy's taken three steps, it doesn't matter. The guy's already been put on side. So I was like, why are you penalizing that? That is so arbitrary and just stupid. That doesn't make sense to just go out and, you know, blindly penalize the guy because he took
00:22:42
Speaker
Listen, I get it, but with it, but they have that hole within 10 meters roll. Like, yes, that there's that too. So that, that should fix all those instances, but for whatever reason, they decide, Oh, let's grab this arbitrary guy that has no effect on the play whatsoever, but let's penalize him anyway. So let's do that. That makes no sense to me whatsoever. What doesn't matter which team it is. So I, I totally see people's point about that. And I'm annoyed about it too. I was thinking you were going to go the other way to the other, the other penalty, the, or the, um,
00:23:09
Speaker
the, oh, one more, uh, for the, and then you lose your advantage. We're going to go back to the, I understood, I understood what his point was one more. And then I'm going back to the advantage, not one more. And we're done. And the advantage over that makes no sense. Okay. So, so, and Colsey took it the wrong way. And I was like, no, no, no, actually I get what he's saying. And I was, I was like, wait, didn't you say, no, nevermind. That's not what you meant. Your word choice was poor, but I get what you're saying. The decision was right.
00:23:36
Speaker
You're not going to get advantage over in that situation. You're right on the goal line. But yeah, it was taken wrong. And I wasn't sure that because I saw you had been, you know, you texted me because again, we weren't watching at the same time. Jared texted me that he was pissed about Paul Williams. I thought that's what he was talking about.
00:23:53
Speaker
Oh, it was that final scrum decision. I was like, nope, that tight head definitely, the tight head definitely pulled the scrum down, but it was because it was the loose heads behind that was on the inside that he saw that. I was like, nope, that was just him being crafty. You are stupid. I thought it was fine. A good der. Of course you did. D-Max still had to hit it. I knew he was going to, but I was like, well, he might fuck this up, but he's not going to. You know what? And I'm okay. So I'm also starting to, um,
00:24:23
Speaker
You know, now that he's hit a couple of these big kicks that he had been missing recently, I'm starting to be okay with the smile. I think the smile is at this point, it looks fucking like he's trying to be cheeky. And maybe he is, but I also think it's a little bit of he's, it's visualization, you know, he's visual. It's a bit of his routine. I think at this point, really. And you know, kickers are weird like that. They have these strange routines, you know, as his old routine though, the robot. Yeah. The, the look, look, look.
00:24:52
Speaker
Yeah. And they cut it. They always end up cutting it down as their career goes on because they start to figure out what about that routine makes sense to them and what doesn't. The big arena is no longer the big arena that it once was. That was fun to watch as it used to be the old thing, but Bigger's calmed down, but he still hits his kick. So there's nothing really to hate about that at all.
00:25:14
Speaker
but the chiefs put themselves in a really good position. Yeah. We're, we're close. They need, they need to finish the job this weekend. They flinched. They know because they have more, they have more wins.
00:25:26
Speaker
Oh, I did not know that. Yeah, they have more wins. So they have two more wins than the Blues. That makes more sense. OK, I did not know that. They're through. I was looking at it. I was just like, did they? Nope. But anyway, I did that research because I was like, I was in that same spot. I'm like, OK, they're through. Yeah, cool. I'm good on them. So on the other side of it, though, Crusaders and Blues, yeah, Blues let themselves down a little bit.
00:25:51
Speaker
You know, and I don't think the considers played especially well. I just think the blues played rather poorly, honestly. Well, I mean, that's kind of that, you know, when you you're kind of gutted because, you know, going into the match that your season's over, essentially, it's kind of hard.
00:26:09
Speaker
Yeah, it was just, it's just too bad that they decided to pack it in. Cause if I'm, I mean, if I'm Leon McDonald, I'm definitely a little pissed and I am firing some rockets up their ass for this coming weekend. And then, and then the trans Tasman as well. But you also got to figure who's this really the senior leadership on the blues.
00:26:27
Speaker
See, I mean, it was Patuipuotsu, but he hasn't played. Right. So it's like, you know, they don't have a guy like the people we've been talking about, like the launchberries to really settle them down and, and, and keep them focused on the job. Right. Yeah. Their stars are incredibly young.
00:26:44
Speaker
Yeah. And they, so then, and then he had some calmer heads for sure. You know, Papa Lee could have been that guy, but again, he's not super old either. So, uh, you know, you feel like you just got to lean on somebody a little bit in there. Um, so, Oh, well, that's how that goes. But, and then we, we did get a, we got a surprise result on the other side of the, the C there with the force going into the semi-final. That is such a.
00:27:11
Speaker
I mean, think about this team last year. It was such a, they rocked, they stepped into this competition because they were like, yes, we want to play some more rugby and we want to be helpful. So we'll, we would like to join this competition, even though we're going to probably get our asses talked. And they did.
00:27:25
Speaker
And this year they've made every, they've made life difficult for every team they've played just about. So it's actually one or two. Yeah. And like their wins have been some last minute stuff. They've been gutting things out. It's just, you know, Jordan Ola Wafella with the hat trick. So, um,
00:27:44
Speaker
That helps. That helps. But, you know, Stuart Nolo fella scoring a hat trick. Like, that's, you know, that just shows they got players stepping up, you know, and rocking up for this from pretty much everywhere. Yeah, can't hate it at all. I still don't want to play against Tupou. Yeah, you know, Tupou, yeah, nobody does. I don't think he's informed. He seems informed. He's going to have a couple weeks to rest, too. So, look out, everybody.
00:28:13
Speaker
Okay, so and then let's jaunt ourselves up to the problem. Bristol Exeter, if you're a Bristol fan, I don't think you need to panic.
Bristol vs Exeter Game Strategy
00:28:24
Speaker
No, not at all. So this to me is I'm going to point you right back to what we were talking about earlier. And I tease this to the Saracens, right? They
00:28:35
Speaker
I think this was a really smart head game move on Bristol's part, because they don't need this match. This is not a match that they need to win to take the top. They're in control of their own destiny even after a loss like this. So yeah, you play some of your horses, but you also throw out some of your ponies and see what they do. This was not a full noise Bristol team by any stretch. No. But they played against a full noise Exeter team. 100%.
00:29:05
Speaker
So they've seen what Exeter are going to bring. They kind of got a preview of the game plan and how they'll use the players that they have.
00:29:16
Speaker
So it's free free game footage against their system for for Bristol. Yep. That's what this was. Yeah, with with mail-ins at 10 and not sheety. And yeah, some guys, some other guys, you know, Bedlow at 12. I think Bedlow is going to play in the fucking prem final. Hell no. Hell no. No. He's going to get the 23. No.
00:29:38
Speaker
Yeah, he probably he probably won't be on the 23. You know, we still, you know, hopefully Thacker comes back. But, you know, Burns obviously been their best, their best hooker without a doubt. Kepan's done a very good job substituting. So there's still something in the locker there. Oh, yeah. I mean, they have a fucking fantastic like this was not a team that like was sent out to lose. They would set out to compete. No doubt. Just, you know, this result was pretty much what was expected.
00:30:05
Speaker
And, you know, to the, to the chief's credit, you know, Sam Simmons is still pretty fast, even on one knee or one ankle, whatever it was. Just ballsy, great, you know, major props to Sam. 60 minutes on that bum, on that bum ankle. Right. And a lot of work done in that 60.
00:30:29
Speaker
And of course, we have to talk about Johnny Hill's boot. I was like, what the hell was that? I mean, of course, nobody's going to be home at bat because nobody's expecting him to fucking kick it. Right. But that's the thing. So here's the thing, forwards. Let me talk to you to come in, come in close and don't let your coaches here.
00:30:54
Speaker
it's okay to practice that because you never know off of a turnover, you know, you're going to be in space. And sometimes your best option is to hoof it. As long as you know, to keep it in, you know, and play and all that. I mean, when I mean practice it, I don't mean just fucking a problem, just gonna fucking launch it wherever. Who cares? No, learn how to aim, learn how to, you know, get the bounce you want. It's extra fun.
00:31:18
Speaker
um it can be and especially you get to do shit like that and everybody's like how the hell did you learn to do this like yeah i practiced it um but only if you don't just do it because fuck you'll kick it to touch yeah you likely will you'll shank it no learn especially learn a grubber right because that that really you know that's useful for most players you do no harm you know you get you get a little bit behind the line and then you put out a grubber for
00:31:42
Speaker
Um, you know, a player to go chase down, like we saw in one of the, oh, the Gloucester match, although it went directly to touch, like, you know, like, Oh, it's out there. All right. I'm just going to put the ball there. Let's try that. Just anywhere in that general area, he'll chase it down. No big deal. Yeah. Learn it.
00:31:57
Speaker
It's good stuff. Yeah, it's good. It's the good stuff. Love it. So Bristol, you know, fall, but really, I don't think there's a lot to be complained about exit or get what they, what they likely wanted out of this match was all five points or four, or they get five. They get five. Did I make that up? Oh, I don't know. They get the bonus point. No, they did not. They only scored three tries.
00:32:17
Speaker
Okay, well, that's their problem. But they do get the win, which was what was most important to them, to clinch that second spot. That's the thing. They don't need to be chasing that down right now. And right now it's on the wire. So it'll be interesting going to the running. Go to Saturday morning.
Referee Criticism: Matt Carley
00:32:36
Speaker
Matt, fucking Carly.
00:32:39
Speaker
God damn it, you suck. God damn, you suck. He really does. How is this guy an international referee? He's as bad if not worse than some of the French. What the fuck? He wants to be the star, right? It's the Matt Carley show. What I say goes, you're going to do as I say. And it's like, you know what? Just let them play rugby.
00:33:05
Speaker
Shame of refereeing like, oh my God, this guy could not have been worse this game. He really couldn't have and really wanted to fuck it for Quinn's really wanted to like God. Oh, I did. And like he got it. He got it in his head that they were they were the bad guy, even though really neither team was the bad guy. And then all that did all that did was start shit between the two teams.
00:33:31
Speaker
That's all it did. Way to go, Dickhead. You started the shit. You didn't even relax it. You just started the shit. Right. Good job. Yeah, no cooling it down. Just just making it worse. What the fuck are you doing?
00:33:42
Speaker
Yeah, nope. And he there, I've not seen a referee that just absolutely 100% wants to ignore his TMO the whole time. Like, I get it, you're the referee, you make the decisions, but they're there, they can see the pictures better than you more often than not. And, you know, give you some advice. And there's a difference between like,
00:34:01
Speaker
you know, being on the line and then being like, I think this is it. This is, this has been my interpretation the whole time. And then just being miles apart, which I felt like he was, he always is with his TMO. Yep. So it's like, Oh, God damn it. So, um, kind of killed the match. It did. Well, it almost did.
00:34:20
Speaker
until Marcus fucking Smith. I loved it. I was like, he did the same for him, didn't he? And I love the fact that he took the ball and just like, nope, I'm doing this. Well, some of us on their TRM teams through the C from Sam Simmons thinking, oh, he's going against Bristol. They'll contain him at least. He won't get 50 or 60. So I gave the C and the K to Marcus Smith and he was all right, but
00:34:49
Speaker
I was like, you know, every so often in this situation, Marcus Smith will like.
00:34:55
Speaker
to a little cut and score. It's like, can I please like going into that lineup? Like, can we just do that? I really would enjoy that. And so I was happy on so many levels. Yeah. And yeah, the man, the kid is so friggin good. He deserves to be an international player of some sort of quality on the fucking plane. There's no on that plane. I mean, damn, the quality of fly haves.
00:35:21
Speaker
are not really impressive. Yeah, there's Finn, there's Dan Bigger, and then who? Who else you got? That's better than Marcus Smith. You don't shut up. Sit down.
00:35:33
Speaker
Yeah. Brilliant from the man. On the other note, we talked about injuries. Will Evans. Shit, kid. Oh, that sucks. I hope. Get better, bud. I think it's a lower leg bone that broke there. Yep. So, get better, kid. He's been playing so good. Yeah, he played so well, and I hope he gets better sooner rather than later, and we can see him soon.
00:35:58
Speaker
One thing I want to talk about tactically, sorry that I missed. I missed my notes until just now. Yeah. I thought it was interesting what the Irish did for Esther Hazen. Basically gave him Stokes to run at. He put like a fullback at 12. It's like, well, all right, that's where he's going to run.
00:36:19
Speaker
And what it did was it just sucked in the attack. Yeah. He gained a meters, but there was no play out the back and the Quinn's got, you know, obviously lately they've been on a big, give it to Esther Hayes and to weaken, you know, soften up the defense. And then we'll, we'll spin it wide when they started coming, you know, coming down to guard against that.
00:36:39
Speaker
And, and suddenly they said, they're, they're using it like, here's a, you know, they're like a bullfighter. Like, here's your, here's your red cape run here, run here and here. And then, then, then, then they trapped him. Um, and heart quins just didn't have anything up, you know, outside of that. They really fucked up their attack. So, um, I was questioning it at first, but it worked really, really well. So really well done by the coaches at London Irish. Yeah.
00:37:01
Speaker
And they won't have been me in the rest of the year. He's left for personal reason, which is always a sad thing to hear because it means something went horribly wrong with the person privately, which is not what you want to hear about.
00:37:19
Speaker
Yeah. And Luis returned for the twins again, which is good. You know, they're better with him in the lineup. So hopefully we see him from the go in a couple of weeks here. Yeah. And he stays healthy too because he's been in and out. Yes. Yeah. And he's, and they need him going to the, going to the end here. Right. Yeah. And even for the running over the six ways, Worcester and sale Worcester made it interesting, but they were stirred it up in the end, but
00:37:47
Speaker
We had, we had a couple of good performances from guys on their team. Jamie Schillicock. Wow. That try was just masterful. I was like.
00:37:59
Speaker
I did not, I never thought I'd see that out of him. That was just brilliant. That was brilliant. That's a try, you know, you'd like, expect something like that from a Louis Rhysammit, just, you know, I'm gonna pluck it out of the air, flex my biceps, really cool, just hang in the air for that, if you don't frame it for a good split second, and then just burning my way to the... Totally. Just a fucking superhero try, almost literally.
00:38:26
Speaker
Yeah, right. It was just absolutely fantastic. I just couldn't believe it. And this was not the strongest sale lineup that we've seen for a while either. And it showed a little bit obviously with the score line being as close as it was in the end. I know they got a last minute one at the end and still had a shot at winning it. But
00:38:48
Speaker
Um, I mean, the best one I'm half on the field was without who got, oh my God, running the, running the correct lines that you need that, you know, kids at home, those are the lines you need to be running to support your, your, your backs and your, and your line breaks. Cause that, that's exactly what happens right there. You get those, you get rewarded with that every time.
00:39:10
Speaker
Oh, man. So it was and it was a I appreciate that that Worcester went out there and threw Finn Smith into the fire. They're like, hey, OK, let's see if you can swim. Of course, then they went out and signed Owen. Oh, Williams. Yeah. So who knows what they. I mean, they'll use them or they'll still use Finn Smith. I'm. Yeah, he's he's a baby. He's 18. Like, yeah, they need somebody with a little bit more veteran to
00:39:37
Speaker
to bring them through. They won't have weir next year. Searle is Searle. So yeah, they need some sort of veteran presence in that locker room that they can guide some young pups as it were.
00:39:51
Speaker
Yeah. And the, and the sale team, you know, there was a lot of the guys that you would hope would step up DDP, Curry, uh, were big parts of this thing. Um, you know, Ravi Quirk still looks every bit the part of a, of a premiership scrum half. So, uh, I hope that he was using him as often as possible.
00:40:09
Speaker
Yeah, I certainly certainly like seeing like what I'm seeing out of him. Yeah, totally. And then, yeah, they put it, you know, it's funny, they pulled AJ early, like they pulled Asia with nine minutes to go. And I was like, Hmm, is this a good idea? I don't know what good of an idea this is.
00:40:29
Speaker
And they almost paid for it. Yeah. Almost paid for it. But in the end, they did get it done. So we'll see. We'll see how this goes from here. The sale lineup. You and I have talked about it, you know, in private, I guess, you know, but we haven't mentioned it on the show.
00:40:47
Speaker
Uh, there's just Jono Ross basically on the outs at sale. I don't know. Cause there's, I heard something about suspension, but I also haven't been able to confirm that. So at least not, not from the prem or unless they've gotten sick of him and they, they're like you too many yellows. You're going to sit for a couple of weeks, but
00:41:07
Speaker
Right. I haven't seen him in a while. So I'm just wondering, um, yeah, he got a band back in March and I don't know that we've, but it was a one game suspension. So that's, that's what I'm pulling and seeing anyway. Um, yeah. So yeah, maybe, maybe they've just like, you know what you're done. Yeah. I would, I would appreciate that. I like what he could be, but fuck. Just don't like, don't like what he is.
00:41:31
Speaker
No, I think a lot of people don't. And Sanderson isn't a guy to fuck around. Dimes was such a like just bang the drum for him and like he's one of the best flankers in the permission. I'm like, ability wise, probably. But in terms of his personality, he's a shitbag. So no.
00:41:50
Speaker
You need both of those things. Sorry. You need to have some sort of like, you know, internal, you know, system that tells you, no, don't do this stupid helmeted play that's going to get me a yellow or a red. Right. And he doesn't turn it on. He doesn't or he doesn't turn it off, whatever, whatever you want to call it. So, no, sorry. He's not. He's just not. End of story. So there's there's that. Sorry, General. Bye bye. Speaking of hammerheads, let's go over to the Midlands, Derby, Western Northampton.
00:42:20
Speaker
The team we thought was going to come out on the side of this did, but man, it took some fricking, it took a little bit of heave ho. Did it over the line. A little bit of work. So yeah, I mean, look, Lester have been a pretty hard, you know, they're hard out lately. They are. You know, it was always going to be at least a little bit tough.
00:42:47
Speaker
you know, I liked, but again, always like what I'm seeing from Northampton here the last couple of weeks, even when they were struggling, it was because they were playing the fucking bristles and exiters and sales. Like, yeah, you're going to struggle against those teams. Absolutely. Now they're taking care of business against the teams that they need to if they want to, you know, they're still just on the outside of that top four, but
00:43:11
Speaker
They're, they're certainly, they're, there's a bigger gap between, um, sixth place in them than there is between them and second exiters at 58. They're at 50. Uh, I'm sorry. 50. Sorry. Nope. Oh, no, it's the same 58 to 50 to 42. So yeah, that's quite a bit. So it's, um,
00:43:36
Speaker
Yeah. And we saw, we saw the return of the money and the dolo in this match, which is never a bad thing for, in terms of just watching rugby purely really. Yeah. They were pissed. They're like, no, keep him off. Uh, and you know, we talked about guys that, you know, have just.
00:43:55
Speaker
stepped in and stepped up and really put in a shift for the teams. Dan Bigger played a good chunk of this match with an injury and decided, I can get this done. And he did. So good on him for jutting it out and understand. He gave up the kicks, which is probably the one thing that was going to absolutely kill his leg. So he was smart in that. But
00:44:20
Speaker
Yeah, it was a good job from him. We saw why Dave ribbons has been called in by Eddie Jones a couple of times. I wish he was used by Eddie Jones, but at least we saw why he's been called in. Quite good, quite good that man is.
00:44:34
Speaker
And I will say it was fun, because right at the last little bit with Lester banging down Saint's door, I was screaming for like, right off the line out, I was like, just run the Dolo right at Big Heart. Like, yes, be that asshole. If you want to win this. You got it, man. You got it. It's like, no, one of those. Oh, shit. The New Jack City.
00:45:04
Speaker
Yeah, I'm sorry I gotta do this to your blood. Yeah. And they did to their credit, it wasn't right off the line out they did it like I think a few phases later, but what I what I really like to see about that wasn't just that Lester did that.
00:45:25
Speaker
Um, bigger had back, um, they, they came up, they swarmed. He, I don't think, I don't think Nodolo touched Dan bigger. I think they, they came in like secret service and just stopped him. No, no, no. Like you don't, you don't touch him. So really cool. Um, how they, uh, how they adjusted, you know, both teams there, they, they played it perfectly and Northampton won it. So with, with the, the Heffernan.
00:45:51
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Young kid didn't have a shirt like until 20 minutes before the match, um, rocks up and wins, you know, wins the penalty that wins the game. Um, a bad kid, not bad at all. Not bad at all. Yeah. A couple of late drops in this match. Um, for Lester, you know, we, we saw, you know, I, I like, I've always liked count green. We saw some good stuff out of him and we saw the, you know,
00:46:15
Speaker
You know, he's such a hammerhead and he needs to just take it out of his game and he's going to be an unbelievable player. Jasper Veese, you know, has that momentary lapse of concentration where he does something stupid. But other than that, he's usually a fun player to watch. So like 90 percent of his game is fucking awesome. And the percent is just just fucking get rid of it. Get rid of it, dude. It doesn't do you any good. He's been watching too much. John Ross film. I get it. He put that shit away and focus on the rugby and you'll be fine.
00:46:44
Speaker
Indeed, indeed, a bit of a end of being kind of a walk for Gloucester Newcastle, but we saw the return of Lloyd Evans and boy did he ever. He was good. Yeah, he's quite good. He's quite good.
00:47:00
Speaker
He had the try, then you have a couple other kicks. It just wasn't going to hand. He would have had four tries in this match. Just didn't quite get there. May left this match early. Okay. I still don't understand what people get from May. I get maybe what he once was, but can we...
00:47:24
Speaker
Finally realized that he hasn't been that in like two or three seasons and move on I mean put it this way if Gloucester somehow and I don't think they can but if they somehow made the the top four Are they is Johnny May in their lineup? I don't know. He might be in there 23, but I mean you're gonna tell me they're not he's not they're not putting like Thor Lee and
00:47:52
Speaker
And we resammon on the wing. That's that easily without the second thought. That's a hell of a pair right there. Right. I just don't. Yeah, I'm kind of done with me. I think a lot of people are, honestly. So I hope so, because he gets that people are still pushing him because it's like, what the fuck is he doing? Yeah. Well, and we saw we saw the qualities that Willie Hines possesses. We just haven't seen him for a while. But they were on display in this one. Right.
00:48:22
Speaker
Good for him. Forwards. Again, young forwards, as I was talking about, did you see Ruin Ackerman second week in a row? When did he start doing good shit? Right. When did he become a rugby player? But it's, hey, it's entertaining as hell. And to have a little chip like that, especially when you're that forward out on the wing, yes, please. I'm sure Willie Hines is very happy with that right now.
00:48:49
Speaker
Yeah. As is Johnny May, who benefited from it last week. Right. Right. Right. Absolutely. Yeah. And, you know, and not to be lost on this, Newcastle had this game and they let it go.
00:49:02
Speaker
They let it go. Yeah. And this is, this is a team, you know, we saw them have success early in the season. This is now a team that's kind of come crashing back to earth a little bit. And you know, this is the championship team with a few, with a sprinkling of a few guys here and there.
00:49:19
Speaker
that came up. So it's not too, too many people's shock, but the same, you know, in the end they had fricking fused hair came off and they had to put blem iron on the, on the, on the flank. Cause they'd already subbed. They just subbed him on. I was like, Oh, that's not going to go well. Is it? So that always sucks.
00:49:37
Speaker
Can we also talk about Urbana? Good for him. Excellent first bite of the apple. Every time he was around the ball something good was happening for his team. Attack and defense.
00:49:56
Speaker
certainly wanted to watch for the future there. He looked very calm and in the moment and not at all. It wasn't definitely not too big for him, which is fucking excellent from a debutante. Yeah, absolutely. Totally. All right, let's jaunt up to the Rico on Sunday. Two names I'm going to throw out. Miles Reed and Jacob Umaga.
00:50:22
Speaker
And Jacob is back, baby. I think it's official. I think with conference again, which is, which is what he needs. He has the ability. He just needs to be confident in his abilities. Yup. And, and he certainly, um, it's paying off. I mean, three try assists. Uh, fuck that, that just excellent tendery. Um, good luck, you know, guy getting the line break and then, um, distributing and it's working really well. Right.
00:50:51
Speaker
Quite, quite. And you know, it's too bad. Just Beth had this match. They had this match and they just couldn't quite get it over the line. And this was probably the match of the weekend, honestly.
Recap: Bath vs Wasps Match
00:51:01
Speaker
And it just, ooh, man, so close. So close. Yeah. So far the Obama red card didn't help. And, you know, honestly, there's not a whole lot that Obama could have done. It's just like, that's when you're tired and you don't quite get the bend at the waist because you're tired and oops.
00:51:16
Speaker
Yeah, right. And you're also thinking, you know, big hit a lot of stuff. And then to not to take away the blame on Obano, absolutely red card all day. He was he was never going low. He was always going high. The player did dip. He was going to go. He was trying to for a big hit shoulder shot. And that's that's you know, that's the cost of doing business sometimes. You know, next time just cut him in half.
00:51:45
Speaker
That's absolutely what you gotta do, man. Yeah, that's absolutely what you gotta do. He did get a try before he walked away, though, so. Yeah, and there's another guy on that team. His name's Ben Spencer, and he's not too bad these days. I like how they mentioned, you know, when he came on, they mentioned about how all of his tries this year have come when he has been a sub, when he's been a reserve. Ridiculous.
00:52:13
Speaker
So like there is five minutes later score to try and foreshadowing there. Yep. Just a little bit. Drop in knowledge. Yeah. And Thomas Young got himself a brace in this one too. And that's, you know, it's good to see him back into form that a good Thomas Young in form for was is only a good thing. It like that dude on his game is really a nightmare to play against. So I hope we see that more often.
00:52:38
Speaker
Right. And that's kind of, um, yeah, you got, you talk about the guys who are coming back for wasps and, and as far as getting back into form, yeah, Thomas young, that'll be a big one. Um, and, and Jacob Umaga, those guys, I mean, how much better did, you know, he fucking, Michael Lebourgeois scored a try. Yes, he did. Umaga set up Lebourgeois. Like if you're getting MLB some tries, um, you're doing good. You did. You've done something, right? Yeah. Well done, sir.
00:53:06
Speaker
Yeah. You're doing something. All right. Yeah. So these, you know, the, and on for, and this, that's also why the launch brain injury is, is devastating. Cause you know, this is a wasps team that yeah, they, they, they still have a shot at, um, a top six.
00:53:24
Speaker
But, um, I'm sure they'd like that at, you know, the launch, where you're getting hurt really. Um, yeah, that's tough. Chances. Yeah. They need gas. Go back in a hurry. Cause if leaving a Douglas is that other lock, they're going to be in trouble. You know, well, Rollins is certainly fine, but man, they can't have a UI. Douglas Douglas has a little other lock. If they want to make another
00:53:46
Speaker
Another few weeks. I'm not sure you want to shove him in there. You two damn short. Jeez, he's tiny. He's a tiny. Yeah. But he's rolly polly. Just don't move backwards. Roll him downhill. Yeah. Go on. Just lay on the ground. We'll roll you. Oh, shit. The aforementioned free jacks game, disappointing result, bit ourselves a couple of times without a doubt.
Free Jacks Performance Review
00:54:13
Speaker
Yeah, Tookie Five's obviously the man at this point. Totally, totally the man. Me and Harry Boyle. I plead the fife. Yeah. Even the sub Barlow. They just, everything they did looked like they hadn't really practiced it.
00:54:32
Speaker
It was like, Oh, we're doing this. Okay. All right. And then, and as they're getting into the shape or as the, you know, the ball's being played, they're still getting into the shape and they're still not really in a position. Like, you know, who's getting the ball and who's in the support, who's not even a chance for a pass. Um, and it was really formulaic. There was no, uh, you know, it was forward crash and then maybe a forward crash off the 10 and then a back play like it was, but it was definitely it's forward, forward specs. And it's like, you at this level, you got to be able to attack. You've got to show that you can attack.
00:55:01
Speaker
from anywhere at any time. And, um, they're not together enough to be doing that yet. Um, just disappointing there. Uh, that's really, that's what frustrates me. It's like, I get that you're not, you know, we're not going to get premiership rugby level quality of play from the players. Fine. Um, at least look like you fucking met each other before the match.
00:55:22
Speaker
That'd be a good idea. That'd be kind of a good idea. I mean, they're good. That's the thing. They're excellent players. And Poland and Boiler are going to be fucking excellent when they're fully cooked, but they're still just been put in the oven. So, yeah, we're off. It'll be fun to watch, though. Yeah, they are fun to watch. And I'm not shitting on them or the product or anything like that, because it's still fucking high quality for what we've had in America.
00:55:49
Speaker
I'm just looking forward to when they, because they will get it together. They will. Right. I'm looking forward to that day. Same, same. I totally agree with that. Oh, yes, I agree. Yeah. So I'm hoping we see some, I'm hoping we see Josh Lawson shoved back in the second row and we can see Ntambu and Kenrati and the same back row together. I agree. I'm not, I'm not really. Justin Johnson. I'm really not a fan of the Freejax locks.
00:56:17
Speaker
No, Larson's our best lock and he shouldn't be playing sex. Right. So there's no doubt about that. You know, I will say if they wanted an Eastern Conference rivalry, I meant just fuck this Oh, glory team. Yeah, God, they were a bunch of points. Oh, good Lord, they play in t shirts. That's like, I mean, that's like something you can get a Walmart.
00:56:38
Speaker
Yeah. And, you know, and we're talking about this team wanted to start shit at every whistle, you know, throwing balls and faces and, you know, coming from not a reversal of the penalty. Like, Oh yeah. It was, Oh, don't do that. No, no, no. Fuck that. He's a professional. He's not supposed to do like, yeah, you're not reffing clubs here anymore. You're not reffing a guy who's playing his first match. And this referee like agreed.
00:57:01
Speaker
just did the same that he was. And that's why, and that's why you need TMOs too. Cause you need them to just buzz down and be like, listen, this is, this is, this is who started it. This is who did, who did all this shit. This is who you're penalizing. End of story on foul play and such like that. Even the AR told him, he's like, he threw the ball on his face. He was like, all right, well don't do that anymore.
00:57:18
Speaker
But that's what lights the fucking fire. You don't understand that. You don't want this shit to happen. You have to penalize that, not the other way around. That's how you stop that shit. End of story. Yeah, that was dumb. It was hard. It was hard. And that's why it's like, look, the players, again, the players aren't going to provide the premiership level quality. The referees, it's so much easier to provide that.
00:57:43
Speaker
You have to much easier to just know your shit and know how to officiate a match and know how to control a match appropriately and know how to not control when you don't have to. He stepped in a lot. And then he, he stepped in too much at times. And then when he needed to, to really step in, he would back off and just let, you know, understand whatever. So it's like, he just got every, a lot of things, not a lot wrong backwards.
00:58:05
Speaker
I can't say that I'm, I'm impressed with any of the MLR officials at this point. Mike lash might be the exception, but I probably need to watch one more game of, uh, of his, uh, of his. So other than that, that's, that's all I really, that's where it's at. So that's, that's unfortunate. Cause that is like the thing that can be good, as you said. Um, and we can, and you can correct a lot of issues with good refereeing. And right now we just don't have it. Right. So unfortunate.
00:58:34
Speaker
Better refereeing leads to better product. 100% all the time. And shit refereeing leads to shit product. It's not just the players. I hope there's a lot of referees in the US. Yeah, not all of them do it heavily, but find them. Find a referee that actually knows what the fuck they're doing. Please.
00:58:57
Speaker
Please. All right. Look around. Noah beat Atlanta. Noah lost Atlanta. Excuse me. Not sad about that. L.A. beat San Diego. Dave Dennis went looking for the TMO in that as well. I thought it was a good try from out. Yes, I will say that. That was really great for me. Eggs are a man whining about whining and asking for something he doesn't have yet. Utah was able to beat Houston.
00:59:25
Speaker
Toronto, I'm not, I'm not ready to play Toronto. My goodness. They are on a player on fire. 53 to 12. Woo. Yeah. And then, um, Seattle is just a shadow of their former selves. 42 to 15 or losing to the Gil Grownies. Like they did bring in the best coach. Supposedly. Rory Bess getting, getting a job with them, which is kind of cool. That's kind of stuff we need to help only to help the league.
00:59:52
Speaker
Well, once he found out that they were green, he was in. Right. Yeah, they do. Yeah, they need they need some help. It's not I mean, I'm fine with it. We need a new champion. I'm glad. Yeah, I think this I think this is the end of the reign. Sorry. Right. Yeah. Look forward there. They're mortal. Let's let's, you know, now the comeback begins, but yeah.
01:00:15
Speaker
Yeah. They also, they also had a ton of the Canadian players and I don't think they have as many as they used to. So, um, I think, yeah, that's, that was a big, that was a big exit. Well, that's, you know, I, I did complain earlier about talent dilution from expansion like this, but it also means that, you know, those players who are concentrated on a team like Seattle will disperse.
01:00:36
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. We need to stay at this number for a while. I know the jackals are joining, but that's it. Like it needs to stop at that for a while so we can build the talent pools up a little bit. Build the product. Yep. A hundred percent. Totally. All right. Let's do that. Starts the thing we do so well or so poorly, depending on who you ask. All right. I guess I'm going first, right? Cause I have the, the three of the Friday match. Yeah. Are the two. Yeah. Um, that'll be your hurricanes versus the Highlanders.
01:01:06
Speaker
for this book, neither team playing for anything, but for some fun. So I'm expecting to see more attack than defense. So from your Kaines, Karifi, Flanders, and the entire back line, Ruben Love, Rayasi, Laumape, Proctor, Julian Sevilla, and Jordy Barrett. Yeah, those guys will have some fun. And I do like Ruben Love, absolutely. And would definitely. He'll come good.
01:01:32
Speaker
On the other side, for the Highlanders, Shannon Frizzell, duh. He may know. You're going to play him because you could, fuck, you don't have many options. But you're still going to, I would still expect him to be pulled early. For some reason, he's like a 15-minute man. Might not be quite fit yet. For the Highlanders. Yeah. Nureki, Tomkinson, and Ioani are full goes. I have two of those guys. I like that.
01:02:00
Speaker
For for the big one in Brisbane Brumby's and force For the Brumby's Rory Scott starting an open-side flanker for the Brumby's and should enjoy a decent day out there against the force I think this is the end of the line for the force unfortunately as well
01:02:15
Speaker
But he should, you know, he's kind of a no-name, but open-side flankers usually will do all right. So go with that. Ira Simone. Twelter aren't usually our favorite, me or Ben, but he and the likes of Lomape are exceptions. Their skill sets overcome the 12 hole. Good day in store for him, I believe.
01:02:35
Speaker
Um, on the other side of the coin, Nick white, I understand half backs options are limited. So you're going to play them. Um, but keep your expectations to a minimum. He's only scored nine plus twice this season so far. And one of them you need kicks. So, um, there's that on the other side for the force, Richard Kahui presents a different skillset than the man he's replacing to beat the current Johnny, um, crafty bet on top of that. So I'd give him a, and he also could shift to the wing at some point in this match. So give him a thumbs up.
01:02:59
Speaker
Oh, a fella, did you see it? You're playing him on the off chance that he does anything close to that again, right? Even if it is against the property. So you're playing him. He had no business doing that. Anyway, there you go. And again, this is the one position you probably have a luxury of finding somebody else. Bernard Standard lose forward hasn't scored has scored 10 once so far yet to find the whitewash as well. So I'm not sure he's your guy. This is going into this one as well. So just go seeking elsewhere. Pine him.
01:03:28
Speaker
Back over to the out heroes blues versus Chiefs Chiefs with nothing to play for and every reason to just kind of take a rest. So, I'm not going to. There's no one for me to suggest on them because I don't know who the fuck's going to be playing I'm guessing it's going to be a.
01:03:44
Speaker
Um, probably. Yeah, probably trashed. That'd be one guy and terror on you. Maybe. Yeah. Um, right. Tarangi's probably started. Oh yeah. Yeah. And you're not going to, you're not going to see Damien McKenzie in this match. Um, yeah, it's, it might be a good week. Once the, uh, once the lineups are released, probably a little later tonight, maybe. I would guess that. Yeah.
01:04:05
Speaker
to probably go hunting, because you'll find a starter. I bet you do. One reason for me to stay up tonight. All the other guys will be asleep. Just crossed. For the blues, just fucking start everyone. Yeah. Because they're going to go full noise likely, because they have nothing to play for except pride. And they're going to go rock up.
01:04:31
Speaker
Yeah, I think so too. Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how that goes. Start a little week. It's a big match for this guy. I think I'll come through for his club. He's playing a team that doesn't tend to surrender fantasy points no matter the outcome or that tends to surrender fantasy points no matter the outcome. Sorry.
01:04:54
Speaker
With that, my start of the week for a week 11 of super rugby is wallabies and Brumby's number 10. No, a little CEO. That's a good call. I like it. I'm sticking with the same match and I'm going with a guy who.
01:05:07
Speaker
Um, what I've seen him do is it is, you know, whatever he does and it's not always the most impressive player. Um, but he has been lately. Um, but he always plays big and big spots. Um, even though he's not the tall, the biggest himself, um, started the week for me as Andy Muir head.
01:05:25
Speaker
Nice. I like it. I was thinking, I was like, Gary, this is either mirror hit or Tom banks. I couldn't remember.
Rugby Players Out of Position
01:05:30
Speaker
Yeah. I like either. I like it. That's a good pick. Sit. I say this once again, as someone that owns this guy in a league and, and I need to be, I need to be wrong about this. Um, but I think him playing way out of position, um, not in a good way. And the opposition that he's facing this week isn't going to do him a whole lot of favor. So my silly for a week left of suit rugby is how there's converted to outside back Scott Gregory.
01:05:55
Speaker
Oh, yes, I agree. God, at least you can't fuck up high balls anymore. That's true. This is why he's moved, but he's still not very good. On my end, I'm staying with the force on the Brumbies match.
01:06:10
Speaker
because the Brumbies are the top team against flankers. This guy has been sneaky productive. I picked him up, so I'm going to have to fucking cut him, I think. But Kane Kureteka for the force has been a force, just the fucking stud out there. It's certainly fantasy-wise, but Brumbies are going to shut him down. End of the line for the big guy. Sorry, dude.
Match Preview: Toulouse vs Bordeaux
01:06:35
Speaker
Um, champions cup. I think you have the Saturday match. Do you have the Saturday match to lose versus Bordeaux? Um, an all French affair, uh, to lose for them, start their front rows, both, both Arnold's. Yeah.
01:06:50
Speaker
This is going to be secret inside information, so don't tell anyone. Anton DuPont, Roman Intimac, will keep in fantasy points for you. Outside of that, Lavelle, Colby, and Medard, yes. On the other side, Brodo, Front Row, yes. Scott Higginbottom, yes. Cameron Wilkie, yes. Jollibear, this is going to be fun just for the Intimac versus Jollibear with the bottom line.
01:07:16
Speaker
Um, yeah, it'll be a ball measuring contest. That'll be fun. Um, Moifana and Santa Cordero. Santa. Santee. Yay. Will get his dance and shoes on.
01:07:26
Speaker
I don't know if he's in that lineup. I don't doubt it for a second. All right.
Analysis: La Rochelle vs Leinster
01:07:31
Speaker
Um, Laura shell and Linster. Uh, I think this should be a fun one as well. Uh, for a lot of Rochelle, Jeffrey do Meru, who would be afraid of a Jeffrey, um, fourth highest scoring center in, in, uh, in the comp for FRD, especially, um, you know, the other match against sale did not hurt him at all.
01:07:49
Speaker
So you're playing him, no doubt. Rettier, Arthur Rettier, we talked about him a few weeks ago, might be on the bench, but there's a chance he comes on at wing and he's a halfback. So you got a good shot at him playing, plus the skill set makes for a decent play, even if he's off the bench.
01:08:07
Speaker
Um, whichever fly half is on the bench, I would not play him. Like it's probably going to be placed on and I have him, which really makes, you know, chaps my ass a little bit, but that's how it is. Um, seems to be large. I'll just seem to be a fan of running the fly house almost the distance. So not sure how much playing time he's going to get, uh, from the bench.
01:08:25
Speaker
Even if I don't think it was, I think West is the fly half from the get go unless he's hurt. On the contrary, Blenster, Ross Byrne, exact opposite of what I just said. He'll probably come on for old man Sexton and we'll sort of anyone in the pinch. Sexton's out. Is he out? He's out. I did not know that. All right, Ross Byrne, that's your guy then. Nevermind. Hey, I'm glad I have him in one league.
01:08:49
Speaker
Josh Van Der Fleer, potential Lions, Boulter, we'll see. He'll have that up in the back of his head just the same. And he's also one of the tops going loose forward, so he's a go as well. Halfbacks either could be problematic in this match, because they split time pretty well, Gibson Park and McGrath. So that should be interesting.
01:09:11
Speaker
Um, but at the same time, you know, I guess you're gonna play one of the other cause you know, they're both going to get time, but at the same time, it could eat into your points. So just kind of keep that. How much are you expecting? I mean, they're hoping for probably nine or 10. If you're, if you have that, I'm like, you're hoping.
Upcoming Rugby Matches Predictions
01:09:30
Speaker
So you can get nine or 10 from, you know, the sneaky little nine try of the weeks.
01:09:40
Speaker
for, um, on my end, Romain into Mac. I was, it was, I was going to do Paul and then I said, no, wait, Jared's going to go to Paul. So I'm going into Mac. So.
01:09:53
Speaker
Funny thing, you say that because I didn't. Well, I think Saturday, I honestly think Saturday's match is going to be an arm wrestle like it was the last time that it was in all French, last couple of all French affairs we've seen, familiar foes and all that. So Sundays, I think it's going to be wide open, especially the way Leinster can attack and La Rochelle seem to be a fan of keeping that ball alive as Ronan O'Gara likes to say.
01:10:18
Speaker
So the best players in wide open games, uh, for me resides with the boys in blue. He'll pay off big for someone like this, uh, for someone looking to close their gap and their semi-finals. So my start of the week for champions cup semi-final is Island and Linster fullback Hugo Keenan.
01:10:34
Speaker
Good call. I'm supportive of that call as well. Yeah. I think you'll have a day. It's interesting that you mentioned that though, because my city of the week comes from the Leinster backfield. Um, and they have, I mean, look, it's not going to be Keenan, right? And it's not going to be James Lowe. Um, because you know, he's still going up against, um,
01:11:01
Speaker
Oh, fuck. Who's he going up against? I can't recall at the moment. That's not the important part. The important part is that Jordan Larmor is going up against Dylan Leeds. And I like Leeds in that matchup a lot for a lot of reasons, even though Larmor might be the more natural talent. The experience and talent be talent and youth more frequent than not. So Jordan Larmor, expect not much.
01:11:28
Speaker
Okay. Should be interesting. Okay. So like, and as I mentioned before, my opinion is the arm wrestle will be on, will be on Saturday. That's a fancy nightmare for most people. And the points will be few and far between. If that's the case, a couple of that with this guy's scores, um, not quite, um, other worldly stuff. And I think his clubs are going to need it to pull off the win. I just not sure he's going to get it. So by say the week for semi-final champions cup is Bordeaux and wallabies number eight, Scott Hagenbotham.
01:11:57
Speaker
Mm. Also fair. Yeah, because if that if that is said arm wrestle, he hasn't scored well in those types of matches. He wouldn't. He wouldn't. It's not quite his. He is not going to do well when it's.
01:12:12
Speaker
Yeah. Bad news bears. Yeah. They're doing too much bashing to go for a run. I agree. Yeah. That'll happen, man. Okay.
Yanks Fantasy Rugby League Recap
01:12:22
Speaker
Let's do a quick whip through on the Yanks league. Um, get into, like I said, get into the sharp end of the season here. Um,
01:12:32
Speaker
Yeah, Carrick upended me, so now I'm, you know, need to win situation coming up next weekend. No, this coming weekend, weekend after. Mark B. Justin.
01:12:42
Speaker
Uh, in time beat Duncan and you were able to upend George, which kind of helped me. Cause I need to chase him down. I don't even know if I'm, I guess, yeah, at seven and 10, I'm still, I'm still alive. Yeah, that's crazy out of it. Um, not quite there, but I need to, uh, yeah, I got a little need to do a little work and that, that put me in the right direction. Yep. There you go. Uh, on, on the super side, uh,
01:13:08
Speaker
Mark was able to beat, uh, Mark lost to Justin, excuse me. Um, Anton beat Carrick. So Anton had a good weekend in the champion's league. Uh, George just edged me. And what was a bit of an ugly one? Cause we had a couple of biases in our league and our game. And then, uh, Duncan decided to open it up on you. It looks like.
01:13:25
Speaker
What do I have a fucking kick me sign on my back? I guess so. That was that was that was a oof on that one. Yeah, because I didn't score too badly myself. No, you scored just fine. Just ninety nine in the league. Yes. Right. Third highest score in the league this week was kind of a down for points. Yes. But yeah, they were all on Justin and Duncan's. Right. So we have let's see in Champions League. So you are.
01:13:54
Speaker
You are chasing down George with a 20 point gap. And Duncan is, has about a 50 point gap on Anton. And then on the other half of the consolation bracket, it's a tight one in between Justin and Carrick. It's four point gap there. Justin with the advantage. I got a lot of room to make up. I am going to be in so much trouble. I've got about 50 points to make up on Mark somehow. That's not happening. I don't think, I think that's the end of my champion, my champions cup FRD right there.
01:14:23
Speaker
And on the other side of the universe here, Mark and I are going at it. You and Justin are going at it for Super and George and Anton, as well as Carrick and Duncan. So we'll see how that goes. Interesting stuff going on down there and not a whole lot of change in TRM ladder here. I think the only shift was- Did I move up? You're too.
01:14:53
Speaker
I was, I thought it was three less last year. If you were three, you were only three by a little bit. I'm guessing. Yeah, I wasn't. It was close. Yeah. Um, but the, uh, yeah, the, the captaining of Marcus Smith paid off. Right. Oh no, I, I, I'm sorry. I wasn't, I, I passed ahead of dunk in a while. I guess last week or so.
01:15:11
Speaker
Maybe that was it.
Super Rugby Matches Preview
01:15:12
Speaker
And yeah. And then Mark, uh, closing in on answer made it made a switch with points away. Yeah. That's going to come down to the wire up there. It is the three of us are, um, three of you then then you then yeah, it's then you're pretty much alone at this point. I'm kind of in no man's land right now. A little bit of a gap behind and ahead. Yeah. Your 200 points either side. Like,
01:15:35
Speaker
Yeah, that's annoying. Yeah. Oh well. Keep on fighting the good fight. That's all you can do. Yeah. All right. This'll be nice and quick. Pick them. Um, super rugby. Kane's Islanders. Uh, Kane's. Yeah. I'm going to take the hurricanes this weekend. I know hounders are made from, playing some real good stuff, but hurricane's got to have one soon here. Yeah. But the Highlanders may just go, you know, see what they've got, um, in the tank. So yeah, I'm not going full noise. Who knows?
01:16:04
Speaker
Well, they, they've, I mean, their lives are out, but. Oh, that's right. That's right. Fuck. I forgot. I don't know. It looks like it'll be a good match. Yeah. Same. Blues and chiefs. Um, I'm going to take the blues. Chiefs might name a really crazy, the blues. Yeah. That's why I was like, yeah, start all the blues. Brumby's and force. Brumby's. Sorry. Amazing story. The force. I mean,
01:16:34
Speaker
It would be fucking awesome if they win and be picking the Brumby's doesn't mean I'm not going to be rooting for the force. Yeah, totally. Yeah. You're going to root for your chiefs to beat the blues just the same. Yeah, I just don't really care. It'll be, to me, it'll be a match where I don't have to care for. I might just, I might just, you know, keep those, those emotions for later.
01:16:55
Speaker
There you go. That's probably a good plan. Ah, champions
Champions Cup Finals Preview
01:16:58
Speaker
cup. I know who I'm picking because I know who my finalists were, um, in my head going into this thing. So, uh, to lose Bordeaux to lose, lose to win. Um, yeah. And then La Rochelle and Leinster.
01:17:15
Speaker
Leinster because I had it in the finals. I'm sure. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Okay.
Closing Remarks and Contact Info
01:17:20
Speaker
Well, no ground getting gained or lost. Even with a backup 10. I don't care. Ross Burns. Yeah. Not quite a backup, really. No. Yeah. He's very good. It's probably better than whoever's starting on the other side. Yeah. West probably. I agree. I agree. I disagree. Okay. So.
01:17:41
Speaker
Good stuff there. Hope everybody enjoys the semi-finals this weekend. Should be some really good stuff and set us up for a nice European final coming up here. We need eight names. Second tier of Chabianx League, so get it to us. Questions, fancy rugby podcast at gmail.com. Tweet at Ben or I if you know where we're at. If you don't, look at the show notes. Other than that, thanks a lot for hanging out with us. Guys, we appreciate it so much and we'll catch you guys next week.