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Episode 18 Part 1-6 Nations Round 2 & Return of the Premiership
27 Plays7 years ago
In part 1 of this episode, we focus on things in the Northern Hemisphere, including some unfortunate items from USA Rugby, not just their loss this past weekend either. Obviously, we get into the 6 Nations related news such as injuries to Hogg, Sexton, Mako and the likes. Is there a new breed of animal that is plaguing rugby this tournament? Ben seems to think so, Laidlaw might agree. Jarrod gives his thoughts on one thing that Italian Rugby could do to help its national team. Also, a debate about the good, bad and ugly of Kyle Sinckler. Of course, we also get into the games, Scotland v. Ireland, Italy v. Wales, and England v France (sort of). We also talk about the upcoming weekend of Premiership Rugby, wait we’re sure it’s back now? What to expect, fantasy advice and all sorts of other shenanigans.
Follow us on Twitter, Jarrod- jdyke8man & Ben- admrablsnackbar
Email fantasyrugbypodcast@gmail.com with questions, feedback or just to say what's up.
Music by Royalty Free Music provided by http://www.soundotcom.com
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Transcript
Introduction and Listener Engagement
00:00:08
Speaker
Hey everybody, what's going on? It is the Fantasy Rugby Yanks. I'm Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glauser. Welcome in. It's Wednesday. Mother Nature had other plans for us and decided to give us the proverbial middle finger so we couldn't do our pod last night. So we're back.
00:00:21
Speaker
She kicked our ass yesterday. Yeah, but now Now it's wet. Yeah gross out to so that's not very nice. These winners have been weird. We're getting like Nasty snow that that fucks us up for an evening or maybe a little bit of a day. Yeah, and then the next day it's like yeah, it's the worst Obviously, there's an issue going on but that's a different story for a different day but so everybody make sure that you checking us out on iTunes Spotify
00:00:48
Speaker
and Google Play, let's crack our beers. We actually have our first comment on the pod. Hooray! So I wanted to realize, let's crack the beers and then after we're done doing this thing, I'll read it. You fucking knobs are terrible. I was actually expecting something to that picture, but it was much kinder. It was much kinder. Oh. So that was a nice one. Look at our listeners being all polite and shit. Yeah.
00:01:16
Speaker
They must not know anything about us. At least one of us. Or one of them.
00:01:22
Speaker
So the review says, great pod. I'm going to read his name and I'll probably, they'll probably get us in trouble, but I don't care. He did give us five stars. User ball sack teabagger for iTunes. Knowledgeable chaps. Most recent pod is refreshing, which I believe was our six nation special. Okay. Most recent pod is refreshing and fun to listen to. Great dynamic and clearly they're rugby players.
00:01:50
Speaker
I don't know if the last part's supposed to be a comment or an insult, but that's okay.
USA Rugby Controversies
00:01:56
Speaker
Yeah, we technically played. Yeah, you haven't picked up a ball and put cleats on for a while. Not for a little while now. May change this spring, we'll see. We'll see. Yeah, but I still pretend to do it, but that's okay. Best of my ability.
00:02:16
Speaker
Let's do You want to talk about our boys first? Yeah, I really do. Okay, not just our boys, but our women's program too Yeah, we'll get we'll get that first and then uh, this was overall a shit week for for USA rugby you think just a little bit
00:02:34
Speaker
I want to get into, first, we'll get to the men. I want to start with the women and the mini scandal that's brewing here, because it really pisses me off. Which is... Ryan Carlisle, who has been a member of the Women's Eagles, sevens mostly. I'm not sure if she's played with the 15s with the national side there, but certainly sevens for the last eight years.
00:03:01
Speaker
including multiple World Cups. She played in the Olympics. And she's had a pretty damn good career for herself. Yeah, well, that right, that too, those two things right there usually help. Right. Well, she retired kind of abruptly late last year. Remember,
00:03:20
Speaker
And it was, okay, you know, that happens. People move on. We find out late last week, there's a, an article on, um, the rugby breakdown where she claims now that USA rugby basically cut her. They said, yeah, you won't be playing with us anymore. And moreover, you have to tell everyone that you're retired because we've already put out a, basically a press release saying that you've retired. That, uh, I, I,
00:03:50
Speaker
I wish I could say I'm surprised from U.S. Rugby and if you're somebody that sits there and wholeheartedly believes that U.S. Rugby has done everything right up to this point, you haven't read everything that you need to read because this is a long laundry list of things that they've screwed up. This is just the latest.
00:04:10
Speaker
It's just an embarrassment. It's like, you know, it's amateurish. And, and just a lot of bullshit. And so Ryan, if you're listening, which I know you're not, but that's okay. You know, we're sorry. Yeah, we fully support you. Yeah. And that's totally bullshit. It wasn't right. Right. But again, it's, you know, this is this is the problem is now they have a history of doing this kind of stuff. So really, that's, that's part of the thing I've idiotic moves. I've been talking, you know, I before, you know, I was
00:04:40
Speaker
I've known a couple we we both know a couple of eagles. I've played with eagles and It's like they did just the bullshit that they go through and For for this and it's like it would be one thing if they were say Even Australia. Yeah, and you're wanting for like a storied for you know team to a storied nation You have to put up with some bullshit. This is America. We're not we're not there yet. Mm-hmm
00:05:06
Speaker
we're starting to grow you need to put you have to have some faith in you know coming from the players towards the organization and and it's stuff like this which i thought we'd moved past but apparently we haven't uh you thought wrong my friend this is the kind of bullshit that trips you up and and it doesn't matter what players you have if this is the kind of element that's stuck around in in the higher levels of usa rugby especially around the coaching staff yeah i don't care who the players are you're not going to be winning any championships anytime soon because you don't have the right attitude
Analyzing USA Rugby's Performance Issues
00:05:35
Speaker
No, it's It it's unfortunate. Yeah, it's really unfortunate. It's just uh, I mean I I I continue to be surprised by dumb stuff like this with the with u.s. Rugby and I don't know why because I should expect it at this point it happens now it used to happen every year or two Yeah, you'd find out or actually sometimes like every couple months or weeks you hear something stupid. Yep
00:06:00
Speaker
It's been a while since they've come around and really shit the bed like this. So it's one of those, oh, I thought it's more surprising because we thought we'd moved past it and that we had grown and shown a little bit more professionalism as an organization or at least started to try to move in that direction. And this is just rank amateurism. And I don't know.
00:06:19
Speaker
Whoever was was involved in that decision Who maybe i'm sure there were people involved who knew it was the wrong thing to do and nobody spoke up. Yeah That's that to me is uh It's shame on all of you. It's unacceptable. That is unacceptable for the level that we're trying to achieve, right?
00:06:37
Speaker
and then speaking of that let's move towards the the eagles talking about level trying to achieve playing against uh you know granted a quality side a really difficult environment for them in a yes in a difficult environment and their response was to they literally melted down yeah on the field it was so hot and and the pressure that was put on them
00:07:01
Speaker
Yeah, our big fellas were definitely dying on the on the field to say the least. Yeah And then you have them losing their heads a little bit here and there. Yep Laseke I I don't I haven't seen any news on it, but I can't imagine he's not gonna get some sort of ban for for what he did I have no I That's the thing. You know, we're over here right here to land
00:07:24
Speaker
It's not always in the eye, even though we're trying to put it in the eye. It's not always in the eye of world rugby and the lights. I'm just thinking that considering he plays in England, that they would have something to say about that and say, yeah, you can't be doing that. Yeah. Or maybe you got to see for a week or two.
00:07:40
Speaker
Because I don't think it's RFU that has to make that decision. It's world rugby that probably has to make that decision. Right. Or, you know, whatever the governing body for ARC is. So and then translate it to the to the twins. But I don't know what I don't know how that world works. Yeah, I haven't heard anything either. So but he deserves it. That was
00:07:56
Speaker
Yeah, we'll see dude, you know how much we've talked about him a lot on the pod or at least A lot red mist man for us. You can't be doing that. Yeah, the old red mist it happens I will say i'm i'm less worried about us taking this arc Outright and winning it and all that stuff and it's not we've won two in a row i'm let's put the eye towards japan and absolutely, you know
00:08:21
Speaker
I'm okay if if Gary gold wants to start rotating through a few guys and getting some guys Some experience and some game time that need them and you know I realized we had all our big boys for this match But still we're still missing a couple probably and Sam who's still taking time off and Scully's hurt So that's not helpful either. But you know, I'm less than worried about I was I'm less concerned about the result Yeah, then I am about the
00:08:46
Speaker
Just bullshit style of play and it was amateurish again going back to that word Yeah, and and just a bad representation of what USA rugby should be Because if it wasn't it wasn't just the lisique thing, which was which was ugly in itself But then you had quilly starting fights and pulling, you know stuff that quilly does was that was it was that the one on the ground? Yeah
00:09:08
Speaker
See, okay, there's a there's a little bit of I'm gonna give him and I I'm more than willing to throw throw clearly under the bus when need be Yeah, I'll give him a little bit of slack He didn't do a whole lot and I'm pretty sure the guy that he went after like hit him or grabbed him in his you-know-where Yeah, so I I'd lose my mind on that too. Probably
00:09:27
Speaker
I didn't see that all I saw was his reaction and yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm pretty sure that's what the guy did I couldn't quite catch a good view of it But you know, I'm looking at and I'm like, there's only one thing that would make me do that I know where it is. So yeah, but we we do and I'm not saying we know him Well, we we we played with Quilly for season a cup of coffee. Yeah and
00:09:49
Speaker
Yeah, he seems pretty easy to rile. So I know when I see what I see, you know, this is more of a track record for him of a little bit of after his little bit of handbags, you know, amateurish bullshit. I mean, and that's on the field. I like him off. I liked him. He was a he was a great guy out the field, you know, so it's easy to he's one of those guys who when you have him on your squad, you kind of have to especially as a you know, I'm a prop.
00:10:13
Speaker
And if I'm out there with someone in Lake Quill, I gotta make sure I have one eye on him, making sure he doesn't do something stupid that then I gotta go and interject myself into. It's like, Quilly, don't put me in that position. Again, that didn't happen.
00:10:28
Speaker
I didn't have to worry about that. Yeah, because again, it was literally a cup of coffee Yeah, so pretty much it but that's you know, that is what it is. Yeah, I didn't I wasn't thrilled With the official in this game. I feel like he was very And you used it amateurish, you know He I feel like this is for a lot of these guys that are playing especially from our team that are playing in Europe That's a huge step down in the terms of officiating. I
00:10:52
Speaker
I felt like Argentina were very much offsides most of the game and you could hear them yelling at the ref and nothing Yeah, not a thing doing I I would the La Cica red card was correct I was a little annoyed that he didn't go talk to the RG player and say don't hold people in ruffs like that That's what's gonna happen. Yeah
00:11:12
Speaker
I thought I honestly thought he deserved a yellow. Yeah, I knew what he read. I knew I was like, Oh, no, I mean, I know. I mean, Liseke deserved a red. Oh, I thought the Argentinian player deserved a yellow because that was cynical and bullshit. Yeah, should have been talking to and then in the little scuffle. I thought it should have been with
00:11:30
Speaker
The guy that started quill and then the third man in I thought that should have been at least three yellows to all three of those guys and I think the guy got the wrong number even because he was but he tried to been the third man in and it wasn't even him that he So again it you could tell the level of refereeing has dropped He didn't I don't think he was quite clear and what he should have been looking at in some of those instances But you know RG still
00:11:55
Speaker
Ran us or ran us off the field. We didn't start. Well, they we were falling off tackles I think we were just a little bit affected by that by that hot hot weather. Yeah, they weren't ready for that No, and that was a decent and that was a decent side that with some guys with some it was a guy with some Puma's Experience and then some with the with the protein the the water so a fair play to RG our our neighbors to the north didn't do a whole lot better and
00:12:21
Speaker
Well, they got hosed. They got hosed in their scrums by Brazil, I guess. I guess Brazil's scrum is very good. Really? Or has gotten a lot better. Let's put it that way. Fascinating. I guess they were beating up the Mayores a little bit with it. Oh, and then Canada's scrum got absolutely waxed and ended up losing to Brazil. That's a far fall for them. They used to be a very strong pack, especially in the scrum.
00:12:47
Speaker
Yeah. I think with the implementation of MLR and the arrows, I think that will certainly help them. Yes, it will. Obviously, they have players that are playing for some of the American teams as well. So I think they'll be OK. I don't think this is it. They probably have the same mindset that I just talked about. If their performance is out there, the result doesn't have to be an alarm bell. Just keep your eye towards Japan and put guys out there that you know probably need a little game time. Yeah.
00:13:16
Speaker
Um, so that's that's our arc rep Um, thank god. That's the end. Yeah Back to back to the the real competition. Yeah back to the back to the good stuff. Um, so i'll run through the dream team real quick Um, I forgot to do it last time and let's let's not forget that this time. No, um So dream team for the for the rugby mag, uh six nations
00:13:38
Speaker
Fantasy
Fantasy Rugby Highlights
00:13:39
Speaker
Mako Bonapolo from England Jimmy George from England and Kyle Sinclair all The front row make one two three in the dream team. They're addicted amazingly in that he only played what 41 minutes something like that 30 so Mako with 35 Jamie with 32 single with 27 that is your front row team of the week Second row James Ryan from Ireland with 42 get grand kill Chris from Scotland with 39 your back row is Jamie Ritchie from Scotland with 33
00:14:09
Speaker
Sorry Abraham's name from Italy with 43 and we peek them all with 29 from France
00:14:16
Speaker
That's a great Italian name, Abraham Stain. I think Italy right off the bat when I- Import. Just a thought. Connor Murray from Ireland with 44 at Scrumhalf. Owen Farrell from England with 49 in the 10th shirt. Johnny May, surprise, surprise, after his hat trick with 43 for England. Owen Walken from Wales with 38. I want to touch on that for a second. Sam Johnson from Scotland, the other center with 32.
00:14:43
Speaker
Jacob Stockdale from IOMA32 and Rob Carney redeeming his team a little bit with 23 at fullback. So good stuff from those boys but So I'm gonna make a complete I totally screwed this up last week. I said I called Aaron Wainwright and my bad
00:15:08
Speaker
So because we're talking about back rows and Tommy young and all that stuff Sorry, Wayne, right my bad and all you and whatever Welsh fan that might happen to listen. I'm sure you're angry as hell at me I don't care, but I'm just trying to do the best here. Okay, I believe I missed that myself Yeah, totally messed that up. All right, let's get to the good stuff Scotland, Ireland
00:15:33
Speaker
Yeah, you know it wasn't pretty from Ireland Obviously they had things happen like Sexton going off and stuff like that will get into him But you know, this is a disappointment for Scotland more this game was affected by a new breed of animal that I think I've discovered
00:15:53
Speaker
Oh Yeah, yeah, I call it the whistling frog sling frog. Yeah. Yeah and God damn these French referees. I can't I can't do it. Yeah again, just like I said Last week where when they when they put a French referee in charge of England Ireland Yeah, all I can do is fuck up the game. It's not gonna add anything seem to seem to not do any favors. I
00:16:17
Speaker
No. And, and I'll tell you, uh, Scotland have every right to be mad at, at a lot. Yeah. I mean, I understand. Right. Okay. Um, and Laidlaw said as much after the, after the match. Yeah. What do you make of his comments? Yeah. And he's like, he's, he, he, you know, we, we can't figure out how to play to him. Yeah. And, uh, frustration boiling over there clearly. And it, it affected the way Scotland could play.
00:16:45
Speaker
Because he was every decision he got to make in the match, he chose against Scotland, it seemed. I can always feel like a quick saying, too. Yeah, it usually does. Yeah, and that kills a team, because they're like, okay, now we have to watch how we play, or we have to not put ourselves into situations where he's dinged us multiple times. And you talk about Scotland had, what, 16 handling errors?
00:17:15
Speaker
To me, handling errors to me are a function of pressure.
00:17:20
Speaker
Yeah defensive pressure can definitely do that defensive pressure can do it but also The pressure that plot was putting on on scotland there. They had to be perfect. Otherwise, he was going to dig And that led to them instead of taking the ball into contact and taking on the tackle and recycling the ball Suddenly, they're offloading because they're like we got to get this out of the ruck or away from a ruck situation because he's just going to ding us Yeah, I can understand that and now they're they're they're throwing offloads that they wouldn't normally throw they're making it past maybe that they wouldn't normally make
00:17:51
Speaker
or just little things like that. To me, there were two major keys on that. One was
00:18:00
Speaker
The knock-on that he called when and I don't I don't remember that the players involved Scotland player taking in a tackle an ireland player had gotten his hands on it before he was blown off the ball and he pulled the ball forward And there and it rolled onto the tackled England player. I mean tackled Scotland player and off of him Yeah, I remember that. I remember who it was and he called the knock-on on on
00:18:24
Speaker
on scotland when normally that's okay. Just play on. Yeah, absolutely. You know, the ball's there. I agree. Laidlaw was there to play it. Just play the game. Yeah. Instead he calls the knockoff. I thought that was unfortunate. Yeah, I remember that. All right. And then there was another scramble play where and granted the the rucking player entered from the side. He came in the side, but there was nobody in position to he was literally rucking off the tackler. He wasn't he wasn't blowing off somebody who had any right to the ball.
00:18:51
Speaker
Normally again a referee says yeah play on you know, it wasn't it wasn't clean, but it wasn't dirty You play the you know, did it really affect the outcome? No, it didn't if he got his feet, you know another meter over and then rocked that would have been fine But at the same time, you know, that's it. That's the decision he could make he could make the decision to say You know what? I'm gonna let him play on it didn't affect the outcome of the rock
00:19:13
Speaker
Um, it didn't even there was no rock. He was just he's pushing off the tag. So Yeah, just normally that that just let that go because it's it's it's clearly gonna be scotland's ball no matter what happens. So
00:19:27
Speaker
to make the decision to penalize Scotland late. It's just you're impacting the game. Although I don't think he decided it. And then the hog play where he got hurt, he gets hurt on a late hit. Nothing.
00:19:44
Speaker
Yeah. And so, all right. So I have I have this on my on my list here is it. There's a lot of people that are complaining, you know, should have been a yellow card that I thought it should. I thought Penn only there was nothing malicious and Armani and Armani's actions. Did hog get hurt from it? Yes, that doesn't necessarily equal yellow card in my book.
00:20:02
Speaker
Uh, it was a big miss pen for sure. I mean that was uh, yeah, but he changed his line He clearly was was shepherding hog. It was clearly after the after the kick was away It was cynical I would do it because just just for the the cynical nature of of the hit Yeah, and and you know combined like yeah It was it's more of a combination of things that to me that leads it to a yellow That's expecting a lot of a referee sometimes too though. So
00:20:28
Speaker
You know what if you're referring scotland ireland, yeah, I know I don't disagree with that But i'm just saying you know, there's definitely there's there's plenty of room to to miss in there There's plenty of things to miss sure per se per se but that but there's there's three eyes There's three sets of eyes on that and not not one of them said yeah, you know what should have at least been a pen It should have at least been a penalty. That's the floor. Yeah, i'd say the ceiling is yellow
00:20:51
Speaker
Yeah, maybe a pen and a talking to and uh, don't do it again. Absolutely.
Ireland vs Scotland Match Analysis
00:20:55
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. No, when I say pen, I say pen and he gets a word in the ear, you know, there's a starting word from the referee in that case. Um, has to be said though, they, they certainly buried themselves early.
00:21:07
Speaker
the seamore pass to Maitland that went oh no and Connor Murray was very very much johnny on the spot and scooped it up and and and uh and fell into the tie zone see that's the kind of head on the arrow that came from defensive pressure because yeah there was the you know the pressure on and the pop the pass that was the stocktail kick yeah that's a pass that
00:21:27
Speaker
You got it. Well, you got you have to know your teammate has to know that he's about to he's you're about to give that to him Otherwise just eat the damn thing. I think mate I think it went over Maitland said just go down go down and he'll rock that was one option but either way if you're gonna make that pass make it low so the Support players looking can catch the ball while looking at the defense not jump up and reach for it Either get drilled or do what I'm not sure Maitland didn't catch that for the sake of a life decision and be like yeah
00:21:57
Speaker
This is a business decision. I am not about to catch this ball. So I don't die. Yeah. Well, I mean, normally when when there's a nine in front of you, you're not terribly concerned about that. I don't think you see, I don't think it was Murray that wasn't that was bearing down. I'm pretty sure it was somebody else. It might have been Carney. Oh, well, either way, even if it was Murray. Yeah, it was Murray. Yeah. Carney. I'm not messing with.
00:22:17
Speaker
Murray's not that small. No, that's true. He's he's a fairly he's a fairly big man for a for a halfback especially Lot a lot of a lot's being made about the sexton injury and I agree with At least a few of the pundits that are out there if you're gonna take the ball hard to the line. I'm sorry This is a collision sport last I checked so deal with the fact that you're gonna get smashed That's if you're carrying an injury already, you know whose problem that is yours yours so play a little bit different Yeah, and and that's you know, that's one of the things that makes sexton great is
00:22:48
Speaker
He'll attack the line. Absolutely take the hit and and pop it off right at the last second to the runner Stockdale says thank you very much And that's you know, that's one of those live live by the sword die by the sword kind of things where Scotland said oh, that's what they're gonna do Okay, then we're not gonna buy it. We're just gonna fucking lay you out. Yeah, 100% so that that to me is the kind of the difference as far as the hog which was kind of a
00:23:12
Speaker
Yeah, no, that was that and not the incidents aren't comparable by any means, you know, so, you know, it was fair, absolutely fair play on on the hits on Sexton. Yeah, carby comes in. Thank you for my fantasy team though. Same with hog. Maybe a little bit of hog annoyance that yeah, I had I had hog to lost him. So god damn early. Yep.
00:23:35
Speaker
Carberry can't comes on and might have a little bit of the jitters because he gives one away to Finn Russell and Sam Johnson's there to finish the thing. So that was I mean good read by Finn Russell to that he couldn't he didn't have the wheels to finish it but Johnny on the spot his teammate grabbed Back into the match. Oh, well Well, it was the two it was two guys from Scotland on hit on the one that he ended up assisting on Yeah, I don't remember who the two it was almost like three Stooges style like cartoon style. Yeah
00:24:05
Speaker
come together and he falls off. It's like, oh, thanks, guys. Classic. I mean, that's the difference. You can tell.
00:24:13
Speaker
They had prepared, Scotland had prepared for Sexton. And this is how we're going to defend the 10. And suddenly. Carvery's a little different. Carvery's a little different. And he's not going to attack the player and then pop to a gap. He's going to attack a gap. And he did a great job just splitting the gap right between the two. Just got enough through. Just enough through that they had to both dive and. Oh, no. Crunch. Was the final pass forward to Earls? Yes.
00:24:40
Speaker
Yeah, yes, and then it's I it's but you know what I don't like that Oh his hands are going backwards. Okay, I agree That there's that's there's a key to look at there But if his hands are going backwards and the balls going forwards, it doesn't matter that it's been something that they've said for a while now that they're that they're gonna let it go if it's something like I like that case and I I like the the ruling when it comes to he's running at pace and
00:25:08
Speaker
I think there was one um the the previous week and I can't remember the the situation where Yes, it was again a forward pass. I think it was um England island, but it was still relatively backwards As a you know for the for the momentum of the player and it's like yeah, you know There's there's a lot of physics going in on that where? It's you know, sometimes it's still kind of a backwards pass, but the momentum keeps it going forward, right?
00:25:32
Speaker
To me, that's okay. I like that rule. Okay. Yeah, I'm right with that too. Technically he went forward, but it was behind him. This one, it never went backwards. It went maybe flat and then drifting forward. So maybe, and I'm trying to be generous with the maybe. Yeah.
00:25:49
Speaker
Whereas that that was never to me. That was never a backwards pass. Yeah Maybe I'm misremembering this but i'm not sure they had a great angle to Say forward yes or no after the try was already given. So yeah, that might have been part of the problem It's hard to over. I understand that it's hard to overturn and it clearly
00:26:08
Speaker
It clearly was caught ahead of where it was thrown. There's no doubt about that. And then when you're you're wading into territory of Oh, was it actually backwards or was it? Yeah, I get it. The ruling was that it was a backwards pass. Is there anything to overturn it gets a little dicey hard.
00:26:23
Speaker
Yep, um final final news from this game and not really news from this game, but sean o'brien signs for a premiership club. Yes the potential potential Assuming they don't completely cock it up. Yeah on irish will be playing premiership rugby next year I'm guessing this means that they're gonna make it. Yeah, I mean they're putting a lot of faith in themselves They are well, they they have this this influx of money and they decided you know what? This is the time we're banking on now. We're banking on it
00:26:49
Speaker
There was a point where they were playing champions cup rugby, you know, it was called Heineken Cup, but same thing. So they're probably, they're obviously aspiring to that. And they want to get back there. You know, days of Topsy Ojo, those that are out there that remember that name. Good for you. So yeah, though, they're shooting for it again. And we'll see what happens.
Italy's Rugby Strategy Discussion
00:27:09
Speaker
Uh, Italy, Wales. This was not the most exciting game. Wales never really got out of second gear. They never needed to. Oh, shit. Hold on. I'm, I'm getting way ahead of myself. Scotland, Ireland points. Durr. Gotta get into that.
00:27:24
Speaker
Um, yeah, obviously the big points for for everybody. There were some there were some big names On scotland side despite the fact that they uh, they lost by nine. Uh, grant killed grant deal curse with 39 jamie ritchie with 33, uh, sam johnson with 32 Laidlaw with 31, but that's also including his kicking points. Don't forget that
00:27:42
Speaker
Got it. Johnny Gray returns and gets it gets 31 for him. Allendale 28, Ben Russell 26. McNally with 25 and Josh Strauss gets his first start in a Sky's uniform for a while and puts 23 up so not too bad from the former South African.
00:27:59
Speaker
Really should have uh, so I was texting Jared before the you know, while I was trying to set my mind Oh, yeah, we were having this conversation. I came this is why you don't listen to me from from having my my lineup by having laid law at 10. Um, yeah, which
00:28:16
Speaker
And ultimately, I ended up making my decision by going with Sexton. I picked him up because I could drop CJ Stander. You probably need to. Oh, I needed to do that. But at the same time now, that really fucked me when Hogg goes down. And then all of a sudden, Sexton goes down. And I'm like, all right, I'm getting no points. Yeah, that was bad news, bears. Oops. There were a lot of people that went just like that. Oh, yeah. It's blown up. It's done. Well, there goes my team this week.
00:28:45
Speaker
You weren't the only one I'm sure. At least I didn't captain him. No, that would have been really, really rough right there. For the Irish, Conor Murray leads the way with 44, James Ryan with 42, good for him. I'm considering I'm finding a way to get him into my lineup soon. Really consistent second row.
00:29:02
Speaker
Jacob Stockardale with 32, Bestie, Rory Best with 28, Kean Healy with 25, looks like we got the wrong Irish prop in our lineups here. Joey Carberry with 23, and Sean O'Brien with 22, Jack Conan with 22, and his first star for a little bit here. There was more names on the Scottish side, but there were some bigger scores on the Irish side, obviously, by indication that they won.
00:29:28
Speaker
Um, good stuff for them. Uh, obviously Carberry came off the bench, uh, did obviously a very admirable job in, uh, sex instead. That's it. Not, not, uh, not a bad thing for him to get a little bit of run probably before this World Cup coming up, especially against a team like, like Scotland at home. That's, that's, well, these two teams are going to see each other in Yokohama in, uh, in, uh, in the fall here.
00:29:53
Speaker
But it's good to know that he can play at a high level against high level competition. Yep. Oh, yeah. He definitely can. He definitely can. Well, for an extent, for more than 10, 20 minutes. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, he started the first Australia test, and they barely, barely lost that game. I thought the referee did them in a little bit there. That was a very tight game. All right, to the Italians.
00:30:17
Speaker
10 changes for Warren Gatlin side. Whoo, we lots to be expected when you pull. I mean, everybody's going to start there and start some backups and some backup guys change some combinations. Yep. Whatever you got to do to, you know. You know, just to throw out what you got, because you know, you're probably going to win. Yeah, it's going to be it's going to be difficult. That's a good chance. Plus, you have your your starters like Allen Wynn coming off the bench.
00:30:42
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. And and whether or not you consider bigger or ants come the starter, you know, that's that's a debate as there as well. Bigger had a hell of a match, though. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. You're a great match. You're a great match. The Azuri's discipline was not helpful to begin with. That got him nine points in the hole fairly quickly with bigger with bigger leg. You can't. Right. You can't just go ill disciplined in your own half because he'll nail them from all over the place. Yeah. That was a oops.
00:31:11
Speaker
Yeah, so they they kind of started slow um, and you know by the time uh, italy got on the board the first time Yeah with the stain try right there the game it wasn't It certainly wasn't over but it was you know, they were they were up what they were up 12 nothing Yeah, but the the Italians had a chance to pull it within two and allen hit it off the post. Uh, that was
00:31:36
Speaker
I was like, that was harsh. I was like, oh, that's a cruel result. Yeah, I was. And then, yeah, we were talking about that. I was I was screaming at the TV to to go for the corner. Oh, yeah, you were. That's right. To me, it's like, you know, this is a gift. This is a one, you know. Yeah, because Wales will kick it out. They're not going to come back and play from that because it's another half. Right. So.
00:31:58
Speaker
It's you know three points versus seven that wasn't dead on either. So that was the thing, right? You you're probably not wrong in that thought. I mean it was a dead on go for it He should have made it. Well by the leg that he had on it. Yeah, that thing had plenty of juice on it. So I mean, let's not say it was a bad option. I just
00:32:16
Speaker
When you're an underdog team, yes. Yeah, we especially when you're playing at home You got the oh man if they could have gotten the crowd on their side rocking that yeah rocking the start Oh, yeah get take the lead. Don't go for don't go for two points down at half go for What two points up, you know, yeah, like yeah, yeah, fuck
00:32:37
Speaker
So yeah, I was a little bit disappointed in the decision, and obviously even more disappointed in the outcome there. And that could have changed the game, because now all of a sudden, there's something about getting that try. Yeah, right at the end of the half, that'll definitely juice the whole team up, not alone in the crowd. And you just scored one a couple of minutes ago. You got put two in in the last 10 minutes. That's a major difference going in with a potential two tries.
00:33:04
Speaker
Rather than oh, yeah, we're two we're two points down because It's it's it's a big mental difference for both sides and and I to me I I if i'm going to make that error in that situation if i'm italy I make it aggressively, right? There's there is this thing Um for italy because traviso and zebra are both in the north Of Italy and rome is middle to south It's it's a ways away and you're and you know, most of the rugby playing areas of italy are not near rome. So
00:33:34
Speaker
There is the thought of you know, yes, that's the national stadium for all things Italian sports understandable, but maybe seeing if you can get maybe a slightly cozier environment and get them shifted to Northway, you know, you're gonna pack the hell out of that thing and Get it going and you know, yeah, okay. Maybe you don't have a hundred to eighty thousand people Maybe you have 40 and you but if you they're all bonkers rugby fans and they're all in there and
00:34:01
Speaker
Because that thing that stadium was probably like 30 to 40 percent welsh Yeah, you know, and so that's not really a great thing for your crowd. No And dean you're not going to get that same juice No with with that kind of split
00:34:16
Speaker
Definitely not so maybe Maybe something to consider I'm sure Connor O'Shea's given it given it a whirl and give it some thought and I'm sure he's He's just smart enough man to know that he probably needs to find a way to get the rugby To where they play a rugby just a question of at that point It's easy to say
00:34:35
Speaker
Go for the friendlier confines versus the gate and how much money more money you right? No, i'm you know from getting twice as many people into the game. Yeah. No, you're not wrong in that for sure um, you know might be uh But I think so. I think 40 to make a trade-off. I think 50 I think 50 000 fans Yeah, if you can get 50 000 fans into a stadium and you know, make it 20 80 60 40 right
00:34:59
Speaker
You know that that'd be better, you know 80 80 percent blue shirt Yeah, you know, I think it's a great idea to bring it in tight most of those I think most of those those players would 100 sign up for something like that. Yeah I think there's definitely a rhythm to that because now you kind of don't have as much of a home field advantage When the players aren't familiar with the the grounds. Yep
00:35:21
Speaker
You know all the all the premiership players have probably played a match or two at twicken of me because they always play the opener weekend or the big opener weekend or whatever it is and then they play they always have like the festive fixture and Right, you know, so so it's something that's familiar But when you don't do it regularly and suddenly you're you're playing for your national team and it just throws the rhythm off and throws the no doubt You know, you're you're in a hotel that's unfamiliar. You're in an area. That's I mean, it might be familiar, but it's still not the same
00:35:47
Speaker
No, definitely not. Yeah. So maybe something for thought for the Italian Italian Federation to consider. Any idea for them would be I'm sure is probably good. But there's still this talk of Italy being relegated again, like by Georgia. They just beat them this past fall and everybody was available for both squads. So I don't I don't know. I get it. They keep getting the wooden spoon, but I can almost promise you at this point
00:36:13
Speaker
They didn't lose they didn't beat Georgia by you know 40, but they also were very convincing in their win. So It's funny cuz I going into what is Georgia gonna offer that that Italy isn't just something different That's not really anything worth it going into this weekend I was I was going to open before this weekend. I should say I was thinking about suggesting that hey, why not not the US no
00:36:38
Speaker
Yeah, well until that happened, but that that's not good Yeah, we're not there yet. Obviously not after this past weekend. Heck no, but they're they're getting close They're getting to the point where that honestly that that might be a consideration As far as if you're gonna drop. Yeah, we'll see. Yeah. We'll so
00:36:53
Speaker
And why you know, why is it automatically georgia? It's really where i'm going with yeah The best european team. Yeah, so besides besides obviously the big ones, right? Um Sanjay willis had a nice little match Um, do you see do you see his uh one the frickin ponies for the scoop casual
Wales vs Italy Match Highlights
00:37:11
Speaker
scoop? No big deal
00:37:22
Speaker
Yeah, I mean and you know he had a nice little scamper to set up Josh Adams for the trial to be fair the the tackle on him was kind of a half-hearted and
00:37:35
Speaker
Yeah, upper up high arm tackle. So really wasn't a whole lot to offer in that one But I mean, I think he'll keep his shirt for the the big one at the principality in a couple weeks. I believe so Might be tell you know, that might be one of those uh, uh, what was it from major league a little loop round great fucking play now Don't ever do that again. Yeah, i'm sure we're pouring gatlin game a piece of news here If we uh, if we know anything about warring gatlin at this point
00:38:02
Speaker
All right, so let's look at let's look at the fancy scores for this one Stain like the man that was in the team of the week 43 Tommaso Allen 29 Geraldini with 24 CC with 23 Paris a with 22 and Morrissey with 21 actually trusted a few Italians in my lineup Paris a is not one to ever sleep on by any means obviously right starting the Italians
00:38:26
Speaker
Yeah, I had Negri, Parisi, and Campanero in my lineup. The only one that really I felt good about the way that they did was Parisi. Right. I had Negri and Parisi too. Yeah. Yeah, Alan and Campanero on my bench. I almost wish I had started Tommaso Alan.
00:38:43
Speaker
I mean, it's obviously I do. Yeah. Yeah. Well, clearly. But, uh, yeah, just maybe bump Farrell out to center and then right. That's what I did, which is what I did. So yeah, I've decided to abandon centers as centers. They they're so weird when it comes to points. So yeah, for tens and tens and outside backs, you've had some bad luck with centers too. Terrible luck with centers.
00:39:06
Speaker
For whales walk in with a with a nice little try that he fell on after answer kicked over the entire Zuri back defensive line Walking with 38 Josh Adams with 31 Davies with 20 27 Adam Beard with 25 Tommy young with 24 good for him to buy that try, but that's right Yeah, Justin to be to you the man of the match with 23 Elliott D with 23 Dan bigger with 23 But that's also at this kicking point. So don't forget that
00:39:35
Speaker
All right, the Le Crunch or Le Ponce.
France vs England Team Critiques
00:39:40
Speaker
I don't know which one it was, because the French got pantsed. That's for sure. Yeah, they completely got pantsed by the English in this one. Just starting, like, here's the problem where it was for me. Starting with the selection for the French 15.
00:39:57
Speaker
with two centers on the wing, and UJ, who doesn't necessarily play a lot of fullback, being a fullback, just right there. And England looked at that and licked their chops and said, hmm, our kicking game's gonna go real well. What, 90 seconds in? Sure enough.
00:40:14
Speaker
If I recall correctly, we looked at the, we were looking at the lineup Friday or something like that. And I think that was my, my text to you was all this game. Huge A at 15. This game's over. It's already, it's already over. That was like, Oh, this can only end poorly. And we saw what, uh, what Farrell did to Henshaw. Yeah, absolutely. And it's like, okay. So, so he got Henshaw running all over the place.
00:40:43
Speaker
What the fuck is he gonna do to Hugh J? And I mean, well, you don't have to ask what's he gonna do. He's gonna do that to Hugh J, too. Yeah. Yeah, he had the... Jacques Brunel had to know this was coming.
00:40:56
Speaker
And how he didn't prepare his team for something like this. You know, all right, so you brought Basro back in for what reason? I don't know. Beats to get lit the fuck up by Courtney laws. That was a great hit. So much for just taking out little halfbacks. Right. That was the largest man you could probably take out and rugby like right now. Right. He put him right on his ass. Oh, what a freaking stop bubbles ready. I.
00:41:23
Speaker
the Twitter exchange I had with somebody. I don't remember who it was. It was some girl, and she's like, oh my. That was great. This is why Twitter and rugby are great, because you can just have so much fun with it. Yeah, absolutely. And you throw that hashtag into what game you're watching. You never know who's going to respond. Yeah, it's always fun. I just said Courtney Laws. I said, Courtney Laws. That is all. Yeah. That's all I said. I didn't say I didn't put anything else, but I'm sure everybody else that was looking for it said,
00:41:52
Speaker
Yeah, wow. What did he just do? Can I talk for a minute about Courtney laws? Absolutely. We can talk all we want about Courtney laws. I like the man. I love Courtney laws. Yeah now If there isn't if there is a singular player whose personal transition is just Absolutely defines to me that the change that rugby has made in the past couple of years. It's cool. Oh, yeah laws and
00:42:19
Speaker
just a beast of a man still is still well yes obviously but large no he was a who's he was a who's right just everything that's like damn i don't want to i don't want to fuck with this person yeah at all anyway to all you look at him now
00:42:37
Speaker
He's leaving me apart machine string bean but hasn't lost any really really hasn't lost any muscle Nope, or at least any strength justice transformed that from the the ultimate beef i'm gonna Run you over i'm gonna drive you backwards all that, you know, the interior type of phone booth rugby That that was so prevalent up till recently
00:43:00
Speaker
And now he's just transitioned to this. I'm going to run. I'm still going to lay the wood, obviously. We saw that. Yeah, we saw that. But it just goes to show that you don't have to be the fucking mammoth of a man. You don't have to be the bastard to be laying people out. He is so dynamic now in his place. But as long as he's not the one that always has to make the tackle or the one that always has to make the carry, he's very dynamic.
00:43:26
Speaker
England are lucky to have a freaking second choice second row, right like Courtney laws and he's uh, yeah He's he's done still a good line on jumper on top of it, too. So that because he's so fucking tall Well, yeah, that obviously helps but still like, you know, he's he's not one that you know You throw it to him you go. Hmm. I wonder if this is gonna be complete or not He usually catches the damn thing. So, you know, not everybody's gonna be the spider that morrow is right? But
00:43:49
Speaker
But he's he's always been solid even when he wasn't You know top of the team, you know one of the starting locks for the for the yeah for england He's still someone who deserves a spot on the team to now. There's no doubt to me I mean if you're looking at if you're putting out your best team is if you're england yeah, and you know morrow and kourtney are on that team
00:44:13
Speaker
Yeah, they have to be so wherever wherever you want to slot them around They're they're on that that starting 15 and I I love watching him operate now and I love the way the way he's changed his his physique to to match what the game needs Yeah, absolutely
00:44:29
Speaker
Johnny May. I mean runs runs all of two meters with ball on hand. Yeah, but knows what the tri line is with five meters of character knows what the tri line is and that's a that is something to say, you know, he knows how to get there. You know, Daily Daily's kick, Ashley's kick and then Farrell's wide pass for the sneaky hands. Sneaky hands for Farrell's try to hold him down. Whoever I can't remember who else was was that UJ chasing it down? No, it was
00:44:58
Speaker
It was Dupont. Probably Sherman calling the TMO. People criticized. This was not Nigel Owens' best game. No. Did have a lovely, lovely moment with Jeffrey Poirot. That was great. I like the laces, yeah? Yeah.
00:45:14
Speaker
I love that the players I love the laces doing it. That's a lot of laces Yeah Those that didn't see it the Jeffrey Parra was sporting the rainbow laces and if you don't know anything about night 11s Well, you can take a yes But but to see a prop because I you know You know, I have my my personal feelings on things but as far as prop, you know, you think of a prop you think of the the biggest toughest
00:45:40
Speaker
Meathead on the on the pitch. Yeah, usually and to see the you know, a prop still wearing the rainbow laces after a couple weeks Yeah, good on him. I yeah. I love that. Yep. Yep. Absolutely I'm totally with you on that one It's a good idea. Anybody that thinks it's not a good idea then go go somewhere else and bother somebody else go on an island live by yourself
00:46:01
Speaker
And they don't get fined like the nfl. Thank god. It's amazing. You get to actually express yourself a little bit And I always tell I always tell my kids Uh, my high school kids go express yourselves, you know, that's what I want you guys to do when you're on the field express yourselves You know be who you are as players out there. Don't don't
00:46:19
Speaker
You know, stay within the strategy, stay within the pattern of play, but you know, there's, there's different dynamic that you bring. So bring it. Right. You know, that's a great message for the kids too. Yeah. Whereas when I coach the adults, I'm like, go out there and be yourselves, but a better version of think you can. Yeah. Let's, let's, let's not, let's not be yourself. Don't be completely yourself. Please. Yeah. Especially some of the guys, um, actually the penalty try that came off. Ashy probably bought it a little bit. Yeah.
00:46:45
Speaker
Oh, he totally sold that. Yeah, totally. I think I so.
00:46:51
Speaker
right off the bat when we saw it that was my first instinct was oh penalty try yeah that was mine too maybe not maybe not as much now but yeah but he sold it but at the same time i feel like he was contacted before he had a chance to go for the ball yeah he which made him overrun it yeah it was a borderline he could have done the the uj slide with it and then just dotted it like basically what um
00:47:17
Speaker
What uh, may did which is basically like pick it up put it down as you're sliding like yeah, basically that's all you end up doing I don't see any way he was getting like he might have been tackled But there's no way he's getting stopped before he puts that down. It's probably gonna be a yellow card either way for feet do so
00:47:30
Speaker
Oh, it's definitely yellow card. The question was whether or not it was a penalty try. Yep. I'm fine with it. Well, our old friend, Kyle Sinclair, up to shenanigans. Gorgeous, unbelievable play. You mean the head slap?
00:47:50
Speaker
absolutely so uh for for people who who have not been listening terribly long i i do have a bit of a man crush on sinkler which comes and goes sometimes sometimes i'm i'm a big fan of his sometimes um he disappoints the hell out of me yeah and he did both the same game in this one yeah so so my my comment to jared
00:48:13
Speaker
on the the the play where he gave the the pass to daily for the try it was a good pass gorgeous gorgeous play all over the place it was a good pass it wasn't that good of a pass well okay so it's not just the pass it's everything that led up to it so he's it's a line break
00:48:32
Speaker
The prop is the one there playing nine. First off, he was like the fifth guy there. He was there to play nine all the way. He was the fifth guy there. He wasn't the first or second guy
Player Spotlight: Kyle Sinckler
00:48:44
Speaker
there. He's in perfect position where you want. This is a prop talking now.
00:48:49
Speaker
He's in the perfect position where you want where you want your nine to be but he's a prop running after the the line break and then not only that but he has the the the wherewithal to pick it and then look out and see where the defense is weak and
00:49:06
Speaker
Which was everywhere because they were all scrambling backwards. There was weakest right where he put that ball. Yeah. He flings it out there and and and and knows to put it gently in the breeze. Yeah, and he almost gets laden it up. And he leads he leads His his support player. He leads daily right into the hole for the try unbelievable
00:49:32
Speaker
Slade scored the try. Sorry, Slade. No, and he didn't because Slade got a hospital ball. Gorgeous. No, he wasn't. It was a hospital pass. It was a hospital pass if there was the defender near. But they were all running backwards. Exactly. And
00:49:49
Speaker
Think knew exactly where that ball needed to be for that need to not be in his hands right there It was gorgeous. So my comment was that you know, you don't see, you know, there aren't many international props that can make that pass there's a fairly Sizable list of guys that would make that pass that are playing that are wearing a one or three But then there's also very few international props capable of making that head slap
00:50:16
Speaker
Yeah, because they all don't lose their freaking shit and have red mist. Right. So that's I mean, that's why, you know, the context of the game didn't really was already decided. So whatever he got for that, whether it was a penalty or yellow card, it didn't really matter that much. Right. But that that should have been a yellow. Probably. Again, not Nigel's best best performance there. But that and that's that to me shows the difference.
00:50:40
Speaker
Or the dichotomy that is Sinkler, as far as making an unbelievable play, helping his team out. That, okay. Not something you would expect. Something that's above and beyond what was what he did, I thought there for the Slade try.
00:50:57
Speaker
And then hurting your team by this stupid penalty and and just making kind of a what's already kind of a An unfortunate game for france. You don't want to turn it ugly and it could have gone that way. It's not getting nasty now Um dupont has definitely put his hand up for france to say you better start me at nine next week bubble because i'm gonna Do everything that you want me to yeah that you've been looking for out of para. Yeah, it's been a little bit of a disappointment. Yep big time
00:51:25
Speaker
I don't know how much. What do you make of Parr's comments? Do you hear what you had to say? What was that exactly? Was he the one who was saying that? Like they had no idea where they were supposed to be and the players are not sure what they were supposed to be doing. I believe that 100% because I've seen what's happened on the game. Probably true. I've seen that they've been up to it. That's down to the players, but it's also down to Brunel to not preparing them well. Oh, absolutely. Would you sack Brunel right now?
00:51:53
Speaker
You're Seven months from a world cup Yes, I wouldn't do it. Like i'm thinking right now right now. Yeah after six nations. I'd say yeah I wouldn't do it right now Yeah, but let him play out the string, but he cannot be the coach heading into a world cup Um, the the other podhead sent andre on on I was just listening to it on my way in um
00:52:17
Speaker
He uh, he said there's there's just not a lot of money to to go around the french national team right now because it's all been Dumped into the put into the into the clubs. So I was like, ooh France that's not good. I'll give you a deal. Yeah, right I'll coach you. I'll help out. I think I can do a better job than the guy you got right now
00:52:38
Speaker
Yeah, who yeah, well they they sacked novez Somewhat prematurely in my opinion, but it sounds like the whole national teams just had an issue Coming for at least a few years now. So
00:52:50
Speaker
Yeah, I mean it rears its ugly head after they won the u20 world cup, which is great, but they obviously Have had issues if you look at the just we talked about their club game all the time and how they don't have any youth Any young french rugby players? They're you know constantly recruiting Overseas players to play for their club teams and some and then some end up on the national team because they get citizenship
00:53:14
Speaker
It's a it's a bad strategy all around and it's obviously paint coming down to the point where it's biting them really hard, right? No, nobody seems to have a role or have a defined role. It's everybody's like, all right Well, you know like fucking who puts you jay at 15?
00:53:30
Speaker
of brunel apparently like what the fuck are you thinking you saw what happened last week and There's no tech like I think one of the things that you were saying they were talking about is the prevalence of tactics now Which is it's very important because the game has evolved to the point where you can't just suit up
00:53:48
Speaker
Really talented people and win just with the 15 that that you got that that are that are awesome that are that are out Talenting the other team, right? There's enough guys who are fast. There's enough guys who can run. Oh, yeah, it's not gonna work that way you have to have some sort of structure some sort of plan of attack some sort of tactics that that change week to week that
00:54:09
Speaker
Are how you're going to attack or defend your opponent? Yeah, if you don't have that You're not going to succeed and that's that's what's been the difference for france the past two weeks is you know wales they had the lead They magically found themselves with a 16-point halftime lead. Yeah, and they couldn't organize themselves and play in such a way that holds a lead they couldn't figure it out and and then this week
00:54:34
Speaker
They they couldn't do shit they completely Got hosed just like from the opening from you know 90 seconds. Yeah First minute try. Yeah That tells you everything you need to know about what's going on there. Really, right? It's pretty sad that game was not in doubt at halftime No, which you know France Wales shouldn't have been in doubt at halftime that you have a 16-point lead You should figure out a way as we get lonely never with Ireland nations Yeah with Ireland they would Ireland would have just strangled the life out of Wales at that point
00:55:04
Speaker
you it would be a 19 nothing win basically it's what would turn down to if you don't have any any sort of uh the structure in place with your team to say okay we go into halftime and that's what we you know here's the changes we make and here's how we're going to play if you don't have those defined you don't really have a coach no right which is why yes bernell has to go before the world cup because you can't you know it's one thing to embarrass yourselves in the six nations the way they're doing now
00:55:30
Speaker
If they do if they do an embarrassing job at the World Cup, you know, this is a team that's made three finals
00:55:36
Speaker
Yeah, this is terrifying. It's a the French are fucking proud nation. Yeah, they they This is they don't deserve No, they they they this is a country that has had some great moments in its rugby history and it's really really unfortunate to see it just reduced to For lack of a better word shit. Yeah. I mean rugby is best when every team is at their peak Yeah, because that your teams are good. That's what you want to watch, you know
00:56:06
Speaker
And France is one of those teams where they're, you know, just like just storied as terms of what their, their, their legacy is as, as, as a rugby club and team. Yep.
00:56:19
Speaker
And this is the product they're putting out. And the problem is that there's no reason for it. No. They have shit-loaded talent. They do. Well, like I said, you're Tony World Cup champions. But they've just had this thought forever of the refusal to play youth.
00:56:36
Speaker
And it's not a great idea. It really isn't like you, you know, they've obviously found a way to make an exception for a guy like Intimac. But that's, you know, I have a feeling his dad has something to do with that. Just being like, they don't want to appease his dad or whatever. So with him being like, if you are fucking going to lose, you lose with my son. Yeah, right. You put him on the field, you idiots. Right. Really, I thought I didn't have a reason to drop him. It was he was he amazing against Wales? No.
00:57:03
Speaker
But you know what? And if you want to say, oh, he didn't have a good second half. No shit. Nobody had a good second half of that team. Duh. I thought Intimac actually made a decent impact. He did. I thought so too. I thought him and DuPont had a pretty good impact on there.
00:57:19
Speaker
Oh speaking of which who was uh, who's france's leading fantasy score pretty scary, right? Let's go through it. Um, we'll start we'll start with the english. Uh, oh and for l 49 with 49 johnny made with 43 kortney laws with 38 he was in my lineup Mako mako with uh 35 unfortunately not going to be able to finish the rest of this competition He was like captain and now yeah, you have to find a new one big guy I'm sure ben mood and ellis gens will be the two that are up for battle and neither of them are mako
00:57:48
Speaker
Yeah, definitely not. That's not a fair. That's not a fair thing to say. No, it's he's a dynamic player to another level Jamie George 32 Henry Slade with 28 another good day for him. Ben young's with 28 Kyle sink with 27 And he was in the team league George Cruz with 22 and Chris Ashton his first start for a long time in the six nations with 22 So that was a I was obviously a long list of England players well deserved
00:58:12
Speaker
France actually had some OK scores, believe it or not. DuPont off the bench with 39. That is telling of how this game went for the French in that. It's not often that fantasy numbers tell everything. That kind of tells it all right there.
00:58:28
Speaker
That one of your bench players upscores everybody and he didn't play the full half either. No, I think he played 30 minutes maybe So I can figure that out. Yeah, so Penno with 31 Pekamo Louie Pekamo 29
00:58:43
Speaker
Masu Bastro with 25, Girado with 24, Bomba with 23, I was glad to see Bomba get a start, that was cool. That's another good one. That's another one that was good to see. He's a fairly youthful guy, he's playing for Leo next year. He's been pro detail right now, but Morgan Parra with 23, meh, and Itoria
Fantasy Rugby Score Recap
00:59:02
Speaker
with 22. I don't know if he can see Parra in a rooster shirt anytime soon after his comments towards Brunel, at least not while Brunel's still head coach.
00:59:11
Speaker
And Dupont came on 47th minute. Okay looks like so yeah, so a little over 30 minutes
00:59:19
Speaker
Yeah, and he does 39. Yeah. If I didn't have three scrum halves already, and one of them being a French one, oops. I might switch him out. So there's going to obviously be a little bit of a lull that comes through. We have, well, let's look at this. Let's look at our official fantasy rugby ink league, which has only four people in it, but that's OK.
00:59:49
Speaker
Well, let's look at the are all doing very well, actually. Yes. Overall, we are in the American category. It's you and me are in the top 10. I am. I'm third. One, two, three didn't change last week at all. Actually, they gained ground on me. Well, the two and three, the one and two rather, they gained ground. Yeah. So they moved up to six. They opened up the lead just a bit.
01:00:14
Speaker
Oh, no, I dropped this. Oh, no, I dropped. Yeah, I think you were five. Who earns. Thought you were five. I was six. OK, you were six. But leading the pack in the official fantasy rugby yanks league is this guy right here. Yeah, but not by much. I'm only I only have two on James.
01:00:37
Speaker
Yeah, we're all close. It's tight. It's tight. We're all within 30, I think. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. This can get flipped on its head very fast. Yeah. So I'm not counting my chickens yet. I'm glad I'm ahead, but I got to keep the pressure on them. Yeah, you're one off week. One bad week, one very bad week, or one wrong player, really. Yeah. I mean, if Huggy had played, or if I was able to sub out, it would be different.
01:00:59
Speaker
Oh, you know sexton would have been your would have been your x-factor. Yeah, I don't have him sexton for laidlaw Would have would have been there you go a little big. Yep. So there you go. Um Oh something we didn't get to calum braley getting called up to italy That's fascinating. Yeah, so I think he qualifies to um grandparents or something like that. Okay, everybody's always There's always so he gets to he gets to join peludri from luster. Hopefully jake is back soon
01:01:27
Speaker
Yeah. So one note I want I do want to make if you are looking for a team in general, to seek out points, the two teams that are far and away above the rest of the the clubs in terms of fantasy points scored for their just total from their players. Number two is our boys, men in black, the Saracens. Number one is your side piece Gloucester, the cherry and whites.
01:01:55
Speaker
I think they're still carrying over from their hot start to the season, the first five or six weeks. Oh, yeah, probably. But you still have guys like Thorley that can light the world on fire. Absolutely. And Sipriani and Sharples are just. Sipriani should be back. So he should be. Sounds like he should be OK. And the aforementioned Willie Hines, once he was healthy, he's been tearing it up.
01:02:14
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah, he's been he's been super helpful for them since he's come back And certainly a team that you're gonna have to really find the diamond in the rough A couple teams are luster and wuster now for me Worcester I got who guard in my team and he's not super expensive and he's also but he also starts all but Knock on wood all starts but all but one game I think so far this year And there are guys in there. They're good. The centers are good mills and venter
01:02:44
Speaker
Very good. Obviously, I think tayo's probably a little bit of bait Because he's pretty expensive and you know, he's only played a couple games now and he's probably still in the England consideration at least So, you know probably want to keep that in mind Then you have guys like Bryce heem. He he's a super cheap buy Yes, he is and he's been very productive in the last few weeks before god. It's been forever since we talked about premier ship Oh my god
01:03:13
Speaker
I know, uh nair voro's been been scoring some try. I think he's been scoring some tries reports of yeah of him playing pretty decently in the cup so hopefully he's he's Acclimated because again, he's another guy who's worth a lot of He's an expensive paperweight at the moment. Yeah, he has been so hopefully he's picking that up I'm sure I'm sure he'll be a little bit better now that he's been motivated rusted I
01:03:41
Speaker
Trying to think where I was at in my thoughts here. That was a hat.
01:03:49
Speaker
I had a thought and I lost it. God damn it. Never get old folks, never get old. But yeah, there's a load of talent to be had on some of the lower teams. You just got to figure out which one's the right one. And Worcester's got a bunch, obviously. And surprisingly, the team that's consistently coming up as difficult to play against for Fantasy Points is sail.
01:04:19
Speaker
I was just like oh and they're number one against a couple of position groups and I don't Put a lot of stock and then certain position groups because they're flexible and I only had to pick one I can only pick one Some of these guys are locks or flankers or eight, you know, some of these guys are centers or fullbacks so I had to do that, but It'll be interesting how that how this goes on because yeah one two three I have them at the top of at least two or three categories for points against
01:04:49
Speaker
That you're apparently a team that you do not want to play your best players again So but some guys you're just not gonna sit
Premiership Predictions and Insights
01:04:55
Speaker
right? Well, one thing i'll give steve diamond begrudgingly is Yeah, you can defend a little bit Yeah, make some ugly a little bit, but that's okay. Yeah, but yeah, um
01:05:07
Speaker
That's the wall. That's the one thing Cowboys usually can can at least Get get right get a little bit because it's you know, that's all about the physicality and the pressure you can put on them where Totally. Oh, we are. We couldn't have biggest balls on the field. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, okay that shows up on defense That's about the only place it shows up
01:05:26
Speaker
But yeah, guys like guys like him. Kovacic's been a steady Eddie for them. Sharples Nathan Earl has been a good good score and he's not more than he's not more than 300 pounds. That's good. You're obviously gonna you know, maybe you're desperate to fly half situation you might look at the Max Melins, who's apparently tearing up the trees for Saracens in the prime cup. So that's a that's a thought if you need a cheap buy and see if he translates. Yep.
01:05:53
Speaker
Yeah, we'll see. So yeah, let's why don't we do pick them for permission and then we'll get into super rugby. Very good.
01:06:01
Speaker
It's gonna be difficult because again, we're not sure the lineups just yet. No and So we're not sure who's bringing what what's the most part, but you gotta know the teams but at this point, you know, yeah Teams the clubs of the clubs at this point, you know, you know who's gonna show up and who's not you know There's plenty in the locker for certain clubs sure and there's not so much for others Bristol and wasp
01:06:26
Speaker
Well, this now we're speaking about the, you know, exactly that we know who's got what. Yeah. Um, right. And Bristol or at home wasps won't have, I don't think they'll have their England players. No, I imagine that they would. Tommy young said he wants to play for him. So yes, I, yes. Tom young will be out there. Um, but, you know, Robson probably won't be out there though. Probably not. So it'll be there. Hampson or Simpson. Right. And, uh, no daily. Nope. Probably not.
01:06:56
Speaker
Um, who else do they have that? So so bloggo should be should be obviously what about brad shields now that uh, I don't know Maybe he needs a run up. Maybe he needs a run. Maybe Either way i'm going with bristol. Okay bristol at home. Yeah
01:07:11
Speaker
Yeah, I just don't I don't have enough confidence in wasps yet to sit remember bristol's fighting against relegation too They have they have a little bit. They have a lot of motivation and they're gonna if they have any chance to come jump up and beat wasps it's It's this weekend. Yep. So yeah, i'm gonna go with the i'm gonna go with the bears as well Uh your side piece against exeter
01:07:34
Speaker
See, this is going to be interesting because I think it's going to be much more. I think you have a lot more in the in the tent in the locker for sure, because I guess there's going to be missing at least a few guys. At least the front row. Yeah, like Tom. Tom Francis might be back, but he might he might come off the bench.
01:07:52
Speaker
Yeah, but he's not also not there right, you know, which which front rowers for Which England front rowers play for them meh? Yeah, probably not cow and Dickey's obviously not likely to play probably not but Jackie and was no nobody to sleep on by you know, so No, they'll I'm gonna go with I'm gonna go with Gloucester
01:08:14
Speaker
I don't disagree. I think Gloucester have enough in it. And I think with the time off that they've had, Jon Ackerman's probably got them all on the same page and ready to rock with the exception of a few guys that they'll be missing, which aren't many.
01:08:32
Speaker
Northampton and sale. I love me some Northampton personally because of Courtney laws for amongst other reasons boy boy D is my Is my guy who used to coach the Hurricanes? They just signed the other Franks
01:08:48
Speaker
Mm-hmm apparently don't I mean it's another bad. It's another very poorly kept secret, right? I'm gonna go with sale. Oh really? I am going with sale. I Wow, I don't know how much the Saints are gonna lose without laws at this level, right? I'm not sure who sale would be without I
01:09:12
Speaker
Um, I don't aj should be back. We'll see you. Yeah. Well, he hasn't been playing most of the seasons No, he hasn't played for them. Well because depreo was playing for him before he went back to right, but he was hurt. So it's like a yeah, so we'll see we'll see I I um I don't trust the saints without Especially without the big fella without like yeah without the big guy. I think that that's going to be difficult
01:09:34
Speaker
I think they're I think they're back five has enough in terms of their forwards have enough in the tank to get them home. They obviously have some quality backs. Sure. I'm sure I'm sure they'll figure out something to the point where they'll get be able to get over the line at the at home at the gardens, especially up to the I think the last round they beat Exeter at home. So I'll take that I'll take that a little bit of hope and a prayer that they're gonna be on.
01:10:00
Speaker
I'm just glad we we're we're not picking the same team. Um, well my my my change here our boys against your mortal enemy. Yeah, so no questions against serisons against lester. Yeah, uh, I I will take care of boys the serisons lester without I mean without the wrangler players without the wrangler players
01:10:19
Speaker
Yeah, probably not whole, not great. No, no manu. No Ford Ford. I, and yeah. And, and the sari still have good for some reason. So yeah, she beats the hell out of me. I'll take that. Yeah. Same. Uh, bath at the wreck against new, against the, the Falcons. Can the Falcons get back on track or are we looking at bad news bears for them and probably eternal, eternal damnation.
01:10:47
Speaker
I well.
01:10:51
Speaker
You know, i'm i'm half rooting for that. So uh, so i'm gonna go with bath. Yeah. Um Well, I think bath have a couple of guys with some points to prove as well Um the likes of zach marcer is definitely one of them. Oh, yes assuming. He's still uh in one piece Um, they still have freddy our boy freddy burns who we very much like. Yes, we do Um guy like rory mcconaughey stands out to me in my brain as well. Cooper vuna Um, they've caught kind of singles available
01:11:19
Speaker
Bad news, that's not going to be good news for Newcastle. They have their own beastly wings to throw out there, but I will take Freddie Burns and Co and Zack Mercer and pick Bath. And then last one of the weekend, going to the stoop, the Quinns hosting Wooster.
01:11:42
Speaker
This is kind of weird. This is going to be a weird spot for Quinn's. I imagine they'll have some guys, but obviously they won't have others. A little dicey area here.
01:11:55
Speaker
And at this point, uh, Quins are, are still pretty hot. At least, you know, they're, they're third in the table. Right. Um, so they're still battling for, you know, they, they have something to look forward to. Whereas Worcester really to me is, is they're fighting against relegation. Right. Um, they're away. I came to the quins. There you go. Yeah. I just, you know, it's hard to.
Home Advantage and Team Performances
01:12:21
Speaker
it's hard to ignore the fact that they're in third and they're at home they play particularly well at home as opposed to the road the road is not their friend usually but the stoop gets really really raucous really really loud and you know you get into pretty you get into quite a frenzy so yeah you know despite the fact that Worcester probably still have some
01:12:41
Speaker
some juice in their tank, I think they're gonna still get smacked down and they're gonna probably have to keep fighting for that relegation battle. You're going for the home side when it's out. Yeah, but mostly, especially it's really hard to pick against some of the home teams that have some players that have been on holiday. You know, Brad Barrett's been on holiday for Sarah since. Yeah, he does, I know. The man's been battered and beaten over and over again. You know, hard to see otherwise. Right.
Super Rugby Fantasy Announcement
01:14:19
Speaker
What's up, guys? It's Jared from Fantasy Rugby Hanks. This is a little treat for you that listened to the end of the theme music, the Super Rugby episode. The first Super Rugby Fantasy episode will be released later today. This is Thursday, so if you're listening to it on Friday, it's already out. Thursday, just be a little patient with us and we appreciate you guys for sticking with us.