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Episode 28: Champions Cup Semi-Final & Super Rugby Round 10
30 Plays6 years ago
Your favorite American rugby fools are coming at you with another episode. In this we give a tip of the cap to the RPA and their Restart Rugby initiative, and we share our experiences with having to step away from the pitch and what it does to you. Then we cut to the juicy stuff, Champions Cup Semi-Finals that went to according to mosts expectations. Finally, which teams are poised to make a run in the back half of the Super Rugby season. Tune in for all this and a lot more...and please ignore Jarrod trying to do his best to not die during this pod.
Follow us on Twitter: Jarrod- jdyke8man & Ben- admrablsnackbar
Email fantasyrugbypodcast@gmail.com with questions, feedback or just to say what's up.
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Transcript
Intro and Podcast Subscription
00:00:08
Speaker
Hey everybody, welcome back. It is the Fantasy Robings podcast. My name is Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glaser. We are recording from just outside Boston, Massachusetts. It's Wednesday. We're back to our semi-normal day for a little while at least. We like to keep you on your toes as to when we may or may not pod. Yeah, huh. Yeah, I'm not sure.
00:00:25
Speaker
I'm not sure it's a great thing, actually, but you know, it is what it is. We're making it happen. Well, if you're doing the we do have day jobs and stuff like that, too, which kind of sucks. But if you're doing the right thing and have us an automatic download, it shouldn't matter. You should just get the notification. That's also true that your pod has downloaded and you're ready to listen to us. Yeah. Assuming people do that, they better. Let's crack some beer. Which one do you want? Oh, I will go with the Castle Island. Yeah. OK. No complaints here.
00:00:55
Speaker
Everybody make sure you check us out on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and like Ben was talking about, subscribe to us so you can know when the pod is ready to go. Review us, send us an email, which I'll give at the end of the show. No questions this week so far, at least. Maybe that's a good thing. Yeah, it's also without the premiership. Yeah, there's less to talk about. Right, there's less to ask about. Yeah, there's that less chance that somebody's gonna be curious as to, hmm, I wonder what I should do.
00:01:24
Speaker
Nice hat. What the hell did you went to college? You can pour better than that, Jared. I went to college. I remember everything. You're assuming a lot there. You're assuming a whole lot. See, you learn stuff other than drinking beer, whereas. Yeah, you know, just all I could do is pour beer. See, I learned how to drink. I didn't necessarily learn how to pour. OK, there's the difference. There's the difference. I got somebody to do that shit for me. Yeah, there you go.
00:01:52
Speaker
Which can result in other problems, but that's a different story for a different day. All right.
Retirement Challenges for Rugby Players
00:02:00
Speaker
So before we get into Champions Cup, let's talk about something that was a big miss on me and I had it in my brain and what do you know, you don't write it down and you don't remember it.
00:02:17
Speaker
So the Premiership did a big thing the other week, it was called Restart Rugby, presented, it was something that was sponsored by the Rugby Players Association. It's a big thing where they're trying to get people that are retiring from rugby, and you're talking about guys that have been told what to do, where to go, assuming they were in an academy system for at least five or six years, if not longer. Couple of guys, a lot longer. So it's kind of, and I can understand the whole, just dealing with that alone,
00:02:47
Speaker
Is a challenge where, you know, you're going to be here at this time in this place. And that's we were talking about exact stuff. We're not talking about like generalities Like when you go your day is planned out for you. I mean for them your weeks planned out for you pretty much Yeah, you may have a little bit of leeway at certain times, but right you have your meetings You have your trainings you have your your film sessions and whatnot That are all strictly scheduled
00:03:12
Speaker
And so you have to uh work, you know your own free time around that So and that's that's true of any sport when guys retire suddenly They have so much more time on their hands and no structure whatsoever. Yeah, and they're lost right? What do I do? And you know, we can both speak on this I think in terms of what it does to you socially and mentally in terms of you step away and it's like
00:03:38
Speaker
I can speak to my experience at least. I stepped away for a year and in that year it was really, really weird but also in a way it got to me. It got to me in a way I didn't expect it to get to me. I'd watch a match and I'd be like,
00:03:58
Speaker
Oh man, I miss hanging out, just the hanging out. If nothing else, just the dressing room and the locker room and the car rides. I've seen the new dudes, yeah. I miss that. And the drink ups afterwards were with just a good social camaraderie atmosphere and it got to me a lot worse than I thought it would. And Catherine's like, what the hell is wrong with you? I was just like,
00:04:25
Speaker
I don't know. I don't know. I really don't. And obviously, hindsight, I can put my finger on it. Yeah, that was missing. And I was busy with things that I thought I wanted, and then I decided I didn't want them anymore, but it took a year for me to figure that out, but that's what happens.
00:04:43
Speaker
So for me, it's a big thing to get have something to get you over that hump and get you over that and to talk to somebody and to talk to somebody that understands that. So and for you, you know, you've stepped away recently, more or less, but you've found ways to stay involved, but I'm not sure where you've been at.
00:04:59
Speaker
My I had a little bit of practice with this because I played football american football in in college and I Retired after my sophomore year going in right before my junior year. Okay. Um, there was kind of a it was somewhat of a political thing, but also a little bit of a uh The coach was kind of trimming the fat and I didn't have a real defined position
00:05:24
Speaker
So he kind of was putting me somewhere where I didn't want to be in the hopes that I would quit and I did I Said you know what this isn't this isn't what I want to do The hardest part is you know, it's also different in the college atmosphere because you're around the same people all the time anyway all the time
00:05:42
Speaker
And it was weird. I didn't want to be around the football team anymore, but those were some of my best friends. So it's a little bit of a, I'm still in the same social circles. It took me a year. Same thing till I walked by the football frat and my old roommate was, um, I wasn't in the football frat, but he was my roommate before we were able to pledge. And.
00:06:04
Speaker
He uh, he was out drinking on his on his balcony. He's like hey closer Like oh, what's up cameron and he's like, yeah, come on up. We're drinking i'm like, oh hell Yeah, and it was like everybody's like, oh closer like it was like ben's here. It's great. You know, this is awesome I was like the fuck like I didn't realize that I felt like I couldn't hang out because I wasn't on the team Mm-hmm. I had to go do my own thing, but that's not the case. So
00:06:27
Speaker
It's hard to to know where the boundary is because you don't want to be that guy who's like still sniffing jocks And it's like oh, hey guys, how's it going? Nobody wants to be that guy But so so I had to kind of deal with that Myself and find other things to do and whatnot until I realized that no, it's okay. They don't hate me. I didn't leave them It was just that's what happens. I mean fuck half of them had quit too. Ah, there you go So it really wasn't a big deal but uh
00:06:55
Speaker
Yeah. So with rugby, it's much more impactful to me when I had to miss time because I was injured because I would go to matches and be like, that's tough. I want to play and I physically can't. And that and it ate me up. So but I also had, like I said, a little bit of training before that. So I was already somewhat prepared for figuring out what to do when you're in college to your study. You have all those stuff to do.
00:07:19
Speaker
When you have a sport that takes up five hours or so a day Whether you're lifting or practicing or whatever before you can really start getting into You know studying yeah, all of a sudden you have that much more time on your hands and that's the same thing You know when you're in college you have so few responsibilities Yeah, so that was I kind of experienced that because I was like wow I can just do whatever the fuck I want and
00:07:43
Speaker
Yeah, like I can have a beer at 3 p.m After class because it doesn't really matter. I don't have to go to training afterwards, right? So yeah, it's it's a big adjustment and and if you're a professional That's all you have to do. God. I can only now it's your whole day Like you don't even have to worry about class. You're just
00:08:01
Speaker
You're just going. You're just, you're there to play rugby. You wake up in the day and that's all you have to do. That's tough. Yeah, it can be, it can be another level of tough for sure. And I think this is a great thing that Restart Rugby is doing, the RPA are doing to get guys back on their feet and get guys, you know, to
00:08:18
Speaker
So what are they doing so that basically they're just like helping them figure out how to have basically how to work a regular job Okay, you know and and again, they're also providing like counseling Somebody was on pod pod pod the other day the other week and he was talking about I think it was Lambert from from Quinn's He's a big big big head of the RPA and big into this particular part of it. I think it's great. It's um
00:08:45
Speaker
And it's not unlike what, and this is a credit to the Saracens, what they're trying to do where, you know, say what you will about the salary cap, they're trying to take care of their guys. Yes, they go to work for the Saracens sponsors, but they have like Joe Conlin, who just retired from the Saracens because of injury.
00:09:02
Speaker
He you can't tell me he's not extra thankful that he's got a job to go to because of the Saracens, right? You know, having had to step away because injuries happen and really bad injuries happen. Unfortunately, it's part of the game. And, you know, like, who was the guy who was has his arm paralyzed? I can't remember who off the top of my head. I'm drawing a blank. But yeah, I get what you're saying. But still, just to have that
00:09:27
Speaker
To have that to go to and you can't tell me he's not so appreciative of the sailors and staff stuff like that So it's more this right and the reason I ask that is so we can all kind of make sure Because you look at and to bring it back to American sports you look at football players who quit
00:09:43
Speaker
How many of them end up? Broke and how many of them and them end up like home? That's not a funny thing, but it's not funny But it's because they don't know how to handle themselves away from the sport So this is something that it's great that rugby is doing it and it It must be brought into other sports. It's got it This is something that has to grow and has to to spread to other sports especially American sports where guys have
00:10:10
Speaker
That much more money From their careers Spend it
Financial Literacy for Athletes
00:10:15
Speaker
wisely guys, right? They need to know how to do it and and even you know, especially after their careers It's some guys like to blow it while they're While they're running that's fine. It happens. No, they're still gonna have something they nobody nobody leave very few questions They nobody very few people leave the NFL with nothing in their bank account. Yeah Right you play three or three to five years in the NFL
00:10:37
Speaker
You should have enough, even if you spend stupidly, you should still have enough that you can live comfortably with a job, a reasonable job outside of sports. But they need to have the training to be able to do that. Absolutely. And that's starting. There's a lot of teams that are having internships and things like that. Yeah, and that's great. They need to do stuff like that.
00:10:58
Speaker
Yeah, but the counseling is important. Yeah, and it is and it's it's the it is the mental part part because I can tell you that I'm already dealing with it in terms of
00:11:09
Speaker
Some of my players right and it's It's it's it's baffling how many people have come forward saying It's going on upstairs. I'm like, okay. So what's gonna happen after they're done? Yeah, you know I can imagine how many guys playing right now are dealing with issues, let alone right afterwards Well, everybody's has issues. So right but something some more than others right and if you have some of them some people they need this structure That's what that keeps them from going nuts
00:11:38
Speaker
Um, and not that's a bad way to put it but that keeps them from doing something destructive to themselves or others. Absolutely. Yeah I should put that more respectfully. Yeah. No, you're you're writing that um, so yeah, it's a it's a great thing um, I I hope people continue to take pages out of this and get so these guys can get set up for life after a sport because you know
00:12:01
Speaker
we jokingly call people old in esports and they're not actually that old they're not actually that old you know 30 30 to 35 is is old in sports it's not that actually old as a person no so you still got another 30 to 40 years working life you want there so yeah you know that's that's uh
00:12:23
Speaker
So, yeah, these guys need to do something afterwards to see people thinking ahead and taking care of these guys. It can't be stated how big that is for these people. It's something here at the Fantasy Rugby Yanks we applaud and encourage. Yeah, absolutely. So, RPA well done. Restart Rugby.
Champions Cup Excitement
00:12:41
Speaker
We like it. Somebody find us something red so we can plaster that stuff all over the place here.
00:12:47
Speaker
All right, to the actual rugby. Oh yeah, playing. The people who still play. Yeah. Champions Cup. What an excellent weekend. I stupidly called it quarterfinal last week. Semi-final. Semi-final. Yeah. To say that I was not jumping up and down is a lie, because I was absolutely jumping with nerves, and I'm just like, yeah, is this going to go well? This is before the match, and I'm pacing already.
00:13:16
Speaker
The boss is just like sit down I was slightly more confident than Jared yet I was not showing it because that was I was keeping that internalized because we found out what happened when I Externalized it it made some people mad at me. Yeah. Well, well by some people, I mean the karma out there But definitely got mad at you a little bit. Yeah a little bit get overridden, but good lord but yeah, so it was
00:13:43
Speaker
The the score line probably flatterism flatterism a little bit not not a lot but a little bit a little bit, um Saracen's beat Munster 32 16 at the Rico on a what looked like a glorious Day for a rugby in in in Coventry. Yeah, a lot of a lot of people dressing up some as empty seats. I
00:14:03
Speaker
Yeah, and some is some is a monster fans Speaking of a sea of red. Yeah, right Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah different different story for a little for a second here But they you know, they controlled it to start they controlled the the outburst I mean Munster's defense was just
00:14:22
Speaker
It really just, they brought the defense, but they just didn't have the creativity to overcome the offense that was coming at them as well. Sarri's controlled the field position very well. If you look at the score, so I think if anything, I kind of would go the opposite way that the score line kind of flatters the Sarri's. I'd say it almost flatters Munster in a way.
00:14:44
Speaker
They had you know, nine of their points were were off of penalties where they I don't even think they were inside the 22 I mean, they may have gotten inside that I don't that I can't tell you it really wasn't There were very few scoring so if you if you kind of do a if you translate this to hockey where teams think they have scoring opportunities you say oh, you know, there's a scoring chance there and
00:15:07
Speaker
Sarri's had a lot more scoring chances, own a lot more the field position. Munster was really kicking for points when they could just to try and keep pace on the scoreboard. There wasn't really a time where Munster were threatening to take over the game. They could have won on the scoreboard. Don't get me wrong. But they weren't in any position really at any time to control the match.
00:15:33
Speaker
No, probably not. That's probably accurate. You know, no, no Joey Carberry's was very obvious in this match. Not not to put blend all or Henry hand to the sword or anything like that. But Joey Carberry is just so special. Yeah. And then no Keith Earl's that that's an under that's a thing that is not probably wasn't talked about enough. It was yes, no joke are Joey Carberry. And we just talked about it, obviously.
00:15:59
Speaker
But no Keith Thorells. He is an experienced player. He's lifted this trophy if I'm not mistaken before. He's been a part of all these semi-final losses that Munster have had to endure. He is such an undervalued, at least from the way they were talking about it, asset to this team. He could have done
00:16:21
Speaker
He could have been such a huge part of this team in order to get him to go forward ball. He's another level of wing, he really is. He's a class wing. He obviously did a lot for the Irish in Six Nations. However, good or bad, you considered them during it, but still I'd say he was one of the standout players.
00:16:42
Speaker
So yeah without him that was it that was a huge thing for them for sure so no car or you know Earl's definitely hurt definitely hurt this this team and Thankfully Saracens had pretty much the full plethora Mako returned. Yeah, that was a big thing Wigglesworth was able to make the bench and Brad Barrett returned to the 12 although he came off at halftime, but I
00:17:04
Speaker
His replacement looked just fine. That was nick thompkins. Yeah is still a damn good player People are still undervaluing him in my opinion, but yeah, he looked pretty damn good I'm loving it. Yeah, they they really showed their their class and their their depth having all those guys back I mean both both one of polo's and a toji
00:17:26
Speaker
Having just those that trio there it's been a while. It's been a while since we've seen it Yeah, really and you know, you saw you saw Alex good on the field Maitland had to drop late which was a little concerning to start but mm-hmm Dave's journal just sitting there on the bench. No big deal, you know
00:17:46
Speaker
And that's that depth. Yeah, it is. You know, Lewington came onto the bench and he came on late, but it was Straddle and Liam Williams, bomb diffuser at large, bomb diffuser in chief. He was he was doing his thing as he does best. Sarah says, take care of business. And I am happy to say that we are going to Newcastle.
00:18:07
Speaker
And we have to we would be remiss because we're there's there's two words in our in our title of our pod rugby and yanks. So We would be absolutely remiss if we did not mention the outstanding play of titi la mosatelli Yes, a nice still young american prop who who got the start Yeah, he played. I played amazing for saris and had himself a day
00:18:29
Speaker
to keep Vincent Kock away from the starting position from that three-shirt is a task in itself. Vincent Kock's a very good player. He plays for South Africa, for God's sake. He's not a nobody. He's no slouch. So for TT to do that,
00:18:45
Speaker
like Ben said, very young and definitely gonna be an anchor for the United States Eagles come a long time in Japan. So, you know, I was excited to see him start and I was really anxious to see how he was gonna do because I was hoping, man, I really hope he does well because it'd be a shame for him to put a rotten performance in in a big match like this and he shined. He shined. So I was very happy for that. So awesome job, TT. We love you, bud.
00:19:13
Speaker
Can we talk about the one issue we're going to talk about? The thing that I think you enjoy a lot more than I do, which is the going for the scrum penalties and how that combined with a
00:19:33
Speaker
a cheeky foot, shall we say, from Connor Murray to kick the ball that was still in the scrum, to kick it out. I did not enjoy the Saracens looking for a scrum penalty deep in their own end. No, that was probably not a good idea. And at some point, and to me that was kind of, that's a coaching correction that needs to be made where
00:19:55
Speaker
You need to under especially with um a whistling frog on the field. Yeah, you never know what they're gonna do now So you can't no referee knows what he's doing at the scrum time anyway, right? So you can't just say oh we're dominant in the scrum and something isn't quite looking right So we're gonna get a penalty at some point you have to realize That's either gonna be either the the referee has advantage already And you should play it or he's not going to give you the penalty and you should play it. Yeah Either way, let's get the ball going here
00:20:21
Speaker
Either way, it's time to play the fucking ball. Yeah. And instead they, they, they fucked around with it on their own five meter line and it got put in their tri zone. So that was the, that was, so to me that, that was the one it's bad because of, of, of how it was scored and the, the mental mistakes that, that Saracens made to allow it. And good got caught up too. Right. And slipped up.
00:20:42
Speaker
But on the same side, the one real score, well, not real, but one try that that monster had was off of a mental mistake inside the Saturday zone five meter line. So I'm OK with it in the long run. It means they played it. If that's the biggest complaint I have from the match.
00:21:01
Speaker
It probably played a pretty damn good match in the day, right? Actually, that was one my one real complaint about the whistling frog because Yeah, I mean, I thought it was gonna be a penalty I thought I also thought Connor Murray probably did something you shouldn't have but at the same time pick the damn way Pick the damn ball up and go. Yeah So but roji gets over Billy V gets over Billy V You know, I have to say there was a really really um, uh
Billy Vunipola Controversy Discussion
00:21:28
Speaker
misleading headline that was put up by, I don't know what nationality set, news site it was, sports site it was, might've been Kiwi, saying, you know, how he's, you know, he's continuing to be a jerk or something like that, because he's not changing. Listen, he said, I didn't mean to offend anybody. I'm not trying to, you know, put anybody down, but he's standing up for his beliefs. That's fine. You can, you have a religion, you have a belief. That's fine. He made a mistake. He also admitted that.
00:21:55
Speaker
So let it go. Let it go. Yeah, and I feel like at this point ultimately what Billy's point is and I I Just by understanding with him doesn't mean I agree with him Is that you know the the player in question has his beliefs and he's entitled to them and we should leave him alone that seems to be his his Support more so than I think he was right to say what he said. Yeah, probably along those so he phrased it inadequate Inelegantly, let's put it that way and he deserves the booze that he's getting and
00:22:22
Speaker
Yeah, that that I'm fine with that i'm fine. He's gonna get booed for a little bit Um, but it'll this this will blow over for him as long as he Isn't is a little bit smarter in the future But i'm perfectly fine with seeing him get in hearing him get booed for now. Yeah, so it'll you know, maybe it'll go maybe at the start of of The fall it'll be I did I didn't happen to see the pitch invader But it sounds like they're gonna try and do something to tighten up security to make sure that doesn't happen to yeah get a little
00:22:52
Speaker
Get a little, I mean, if you've got the nuts to go assault Billy V, you're either very, very drunk, or you're very, very stupid. Or you're armed or something. Yeah, maybe that. We don't really want any of that. Hopefully not that. Right. But yeah, so you're probably one of the first two there, and that's maybe not the wisest move for you, because I assume Billy and his brother probably wouldn't back, back down either. So you're taking on both of them. Godspeed. Yeah. Good luck.
00:23:17
Speaker
So, Saracens take down Monster 32-16, move on to the final in a couple weeks here. It's going to be in Newcastle and I am so excited to see them in another final and God, I hope they can pull this off.
00:23:32
Speaker
We'll see. Yeah. So their opponents, Leinster 30, Toulouse 12.
Leinster vs. Toulouse Analysis
00:23:40
Speaker
This was the bad Toulouse that showed up. This was play, play, play that showed up. There's a difference between play, play, play and the flair of the French rugby. This was definitely the bad version of it.
00:23:56
Speaker
The fuck are you doing starting DuPont at 10? I had no idea. I saw that. I was like, wait, are we sure that's right? Jared and I spent weeks, if you've listened to us, just gushing about DuPont and Intimac and how that's going to be the French 9-10 combination for a long, long time.
00:24:14
Speaker
Why is that not to lose his I don't know and Zach Holmes is suspended for this match too So like there was no reason to not do it in a do or die match you fuck with your your 15 So very French. Yeah, very extremely French but it was Yeah, I guess I understand the creativity behind it but at the same time like
00:24:38
Speaker
I don't know if this maybe this guy's got a bone to pick with entomac. I have no idea Yeah, cuz I mean also entomac doesn't have to play ten. He could play anywhere You play 12 you play fullback. Yeah, so pick one right fine. You know grand Ramos is up fullback He's probably one of the fastest guys on the team. Yeah, you're not gonna you're not gonna bump Ramos. That's that's fine But yeah, no, but put it somewhere. God damn it, you know, so no, you're not wrong about that
00:25:01
Speaker
Um, yeah, when stir just seemed to have control of this game almost the whole way I I, you know when to lose start kicking penalties i'm thinking okay, we'll see what happens And then the yellow card came and then the floodgates opened and not really but because there's only because then once we got a yellow card and da da da but
00:25:21
Speaker
Yeah, nope, it was it as soon as gray got the yellow card I was like that might be yeah, that was that was a bad yellow card that was Yeah, it was building. It was coming to it Knucklehead. Yeah
00:25:35
Speaker
and uh we i'm dying over here i'm slowly dying over here sorry the uh what amuses me um to no end and will always amuse me is wane barn speaking french very stiffly yes very like technically yes good french i'm not gonna gonna get it he speaks more french than i do
00:25:59
Speaker
Right and I you know, I can I can translate in my head what he's saying Which is why it's funny because it's very slow and deliberate because he's obviously speaking a foreign language to him Yeah, it's an it's a different language for him So and and you know, I'm sure the French players and are are happy to that. He's doing that for them It's just really funny because if you went to France and spoke like that, they would just be merciless Oh, yeah, they berate him
00:26:23
Speaker
My family has a story of my grandfather one time when he went to France with my grandmother and they didn't like it that he was trying to speak English. So he's like, all right, so he tried to speak French and it was so bad that they said, you know what, just speak the English. It's okay. Everywhere he went, they're like, no, no, no, don't even stop, just stop. You're killing this. This hurts us too much. We'll speak English. We'll speak English, we promise. Yeah, that's funny. Yeah, so it's gonna be,
00:26:53
Speaker
I mean, the Leinster machine was in full flow. Obviously Sexton at the helm is a big difference between him and Ross Byrne. Ross Byrne's a quality player, but no, not the same. Just not the same. I mean, you talk about world player of the year and your second choice flyout. There is gonna be a gap. That's just how it is.
00:27:12
Speaker
So I uh I am very scared of this one of this Leinster team this this Ferrari This is not this is not quite the tank that likes to roll people over. They have the ability to cut you up Well, they have James Lowe. Yeah, that's that's that's the big difference Good job the the Saris took took care of what I would think of France's most electric player I'm not sorry Ireland's most electric player and dangerous in Connor Murray. Yeah, but
00:27:41
Speaker
Low is not for an Irish far. Yeah, but he can he can do some things that that I don't think any of the Irish wings can not with Zebo. Yeah out of the lineup. So yeah, he's very he's very very good, right? That's gonna be that's gonna be interesting to deal with
Saracens vs. Leinster Final Anticipation
00:28:00
Speaker
Yeah, it's it this is the clash that a lot of people tout it would probably occur obviously to home country teams. So I mean some people said it would be French English some people said it'd be all Irish, you know it but nope it is English and Irish showdown at Newcastle probably a fairly appropriate venue So that'll be it'll be a good it'll be good much st. James Park will be on fire Anybody that wants to send us tickets? I wouldn't say no
00:28:28
Speaker
Just saying, just saying. So yeah, it's gonna be a great final. Saracens and Leinster, these are two of the class acts in Europe for sure. Leinster obviously have a boatload of titles to their name. Saracens are trying to...
00:28:43
Speaker
Climb up into that elite category with a third title. So it'll be it'll be a great match either way This is either going to be lenster taking the lead in terms of number of european titles or Saracen's putting themselves in that in that in that elite category for european teams so The question I have is is that new castle? I'm sorry the final at new castle. Is that going to be the last match? This season played at new castle's home
00:29:13
Speaker
Um, well, no, because it won't be a Kingston park. It'll be at St. James. Okay. So yeah. Nope. It'll be like that. They're going to be, I texted Jared saying hosts and ghosts. So, um, I still think that this, well, yeah, we'll, we'll deal with that when we get there. We'll get that bridge when we cross it. Yeah. Something to that effect. Um, so yeah, looking forward to new castle Irish English. Here we go.
00:29:40
Speaker
All right, the other rugby that's being played this weekend, super rugby. Chiefs, Lions. Lions controlled this game quite a bit. They really did. They jumped out to an early lead and just never let go. Nope. They really never did. Yeah, and Chiefs played 12. That was an odd one to me. Well, they got to shake it up. Yeah. No, yeah, they needed to. They hadn't played very well the last couple of matches. So although usually you want a 12 who can tackle, but that's. Yeah. Yeah.
00:30:10
Speaker
especially against Antonina Brown, but it looks like he bottled them up pretty well.
00:30:15
Speaker
Yeah, there wasn't a whole lot of room to move. I mean, very evident that the man missing from here was Damien McKenzie. Missing a lot of creativity there. But give the Lions credit. Warren Whiteley played a great match in his first match back since week two, I think. So I'll give him a lot of credit, or at least his first full match, I think. He played like 70 out of 80 minutes in his first start for a while.
00:30:42
Speaker
Uh, he rocked up and put in a hell of a shift for them. Um, they had Quagga Smith back, which certainly helped as well. Uh, that, I mean, they're, they're back row with Whiteley and Quagga Smith is another level when, when they're both, when they're both healthy. So it's okay. That's okay. Yeah. And Malcolm, I guess Malcolm marks like basically vetoed, uh, De Bruyne and said, uh-uh, I'm starting.
00:31:04
Speaker
I was like, wow, he pulled a power move. Okay. So yeah, lines take down the Chiefs 2317. Still kind of a toss up in terms of the South Africa conference, but they are maybe putting themselves right back in the conversation at the very least. Well, yeah, they're they're just a point behind the the leader.
00:31:27
Speaker
Yeah. And they're, they're technically in the quarterfinal at this point. Yeah. And the Chiefs fall to the bottom of the table. Yeah. Bottom of the, bottom of the, New Zealand conference. Yeah, please. Most New Zealand teams will never be at the bottom of the table. All right.
Super Rugby Match Highlights
00:31:40
Speaker
They're close though. Yeah. You got a little bit of ways to go until the Sunwells catch you. Yeah, but one, one, one team difference is not, it's a little too close. Right. Speaking of the Sunwells,
00:31:55
Speaker
Whoo hurricanes pulled it out of the fire. They did just a little bit. Yeah, that was
00:32:01
Speaker
Wes Houston is the hero big time. There's a little chip kick and follow through. I love the guy. When he's not starting, I'm usually pissed. Honestly, let's be real. But also at the same time, where do you put Chase Teotillo? Where do you put Jordy Barrett? Yeah, exactly. Leaves me questioning too. I'm like, I don't know. And you have to have Ben Lamb on the field. I think that's what they call a good problem to have. It is.
00:32:29
Speaker
I greatly enjoy having a problem as such. TJ led the troops in this one for sure. He was definitely driving the bus. Obviously he got over the line, but he was really just driving this team on to try and get him going. You could see it though. Listen, and I'm sure you know this.
00:32:44
Speaker
Humidity in Japan ain't no joke. No. And I'm pretty sure this hurricane steam got tired at the end of the first half because you could see guys just like they wanted to run and there was nothing. They had nothing in the tank. I was like, oh, that's not good. You're running through soup. Yes. And your sweat's not evaporating. It's just sticking to you. You're like, you know, it's not as bad as when we had the old like cotton jerseys. No, right. But it's still not good because your jersey just gets soaked and it doesn't go anywhere.
00:33:11
Speaker
I was just thinking about that actually the jerseys we were talking about with james today. I was like, oh, yeah those jerseys those big thick ones, right? Yeah, thankfully we're not wearing those anymore Those yeah, that would have been on undoable in that uh, those circumstances, but yeah, it's it's definitely you know in in the us we talk about every so often, you know, if you if you make it to the club championships in the us you're playing out in colorado
00:33:36
Speaker
Which is a lot of fun, but it's also Extremely high altitude. Ah, yeah, and that's alone you get that for you. So it's hard to move So it fucks with you you have to prepare for it. Absolutely. There's really no way to do it unfortunately Same thing goes for humidity if you don't know how to how to deal with humidity if you're not used to it even if you go away from it for a while like I've I've You know up in Boston. It's not terribly humid. I go back to Philadelphia and it's like in the summer and
00:34:04
Speaker
It's gross all the time Because it's so fucking humid. Yeah, I mean it does get somewhat humid here in Boston, but it's not the same you Just a different level Well, yeah, so they had they had a game plan to stick
00:34:27
Speaker
Bosayako in the midfield, who's a back rower normally for them, to deal with the problem that is, not I, Lamape. But then, basically the second he had to slide back into the back row, Lamape had his way. Bosayako had a great game. Don't get me wrong. He had a very good game. He was all over the place. He was making tackles. I think he stopped a try. He was very good. Can't take anything away from him, but, you know,
00:34:54
Speaker
Clearly that strategy was working, but the second that they had to go to plan B because of substitutes, it caused problems. Yeah. Because Lamape had, had the space to run that he, that he didn't have before and he torched them. So, and I will say, I'll say this, and I had a problem with him the last, the, I had a problem with this position the last time Bowden Barrett didn't play. Fletcher Smith played very, very well. Played very, very well.
00:35:18
Speaker
Very competently. Yes, like didn't look didn't didn't make me be like, oh boy We are so screwed didn't look at a place. No, it felt you know, it obviously wasn't Barrett Yeah, very few people are yeah, that's not fair Oh, yeah. No way. It wasn't like, you know some MOOC off the street that they just picked out Yeah, go go try try this for a little bit
00:35:40
Speaker
Uh, yeah, he definitely looked like he belonged and and uh, he played out of skin I was I was I was very satisfied with his play kicked. Well, you know can't can't ask for anything better so Hurricanes pulled out of the fire 29 23 after um, yeah, some wolves are having halftime problems. That's not that's not good That's not good for them. They need to fix that if they're gonna have any shot at um, not embarrassing themselves this year They're they're no no, they're still not a pushover, but they're still having problems Shocks and reds
00:36:10
Speaker
Reds. I picked them last week. It's just kind of like, I don't know why I'm doing this, but I'm doing it. It worked. I have no idea. I didn't get a chance to watch this match. Obviously Bryce Heckerby has had his way with them.
00:36:26
Speaker
No, no surprise there. He's he seems to kind of be one of those guys that's just match or proof at this point and able to do as he sees fit as long as he's playing in the lineup. But reds took care of business Kerevi. So Kerevi apparently is the consensus MVP for the season so far. So that basically tells you how much he means to the Reds and how much they need to get him the ball.
00:36:48
Speaker
Right and it's also impressive since you know where they are on the table, which isn't good, right? It's not good. But if he's playing lights out then that's that's amazing. Yeah They need some some help. Yes, they do, you know, hegarty just isn't enough at the moment, but Like you said there was enough for this match. Yeah, it is again shark Sharks are almost becoming kind of Jekyll and Hyde. Yeah, not sure not not sure which team showing up that day so they definitely figure out a way to get more consistent if they want to have a shot at
00:37:19
Speaker
Top of the table for South Africa or at least you know grabbing a spot although right now the spot They're grabbing would probably pat put them against the Crusaders, which I wouldn't be signing up for so wouldn't be my first choice No, or at least we'll be near there. So yeah Reds Reds take care of the sharks 21 14 I think they're going in I think the Reds are going into their first buy since week one so they'll get some rest and they'll come back firing firing and we'll see what happens and as I said before Tate McDermott owns that nine shirt and
00:37:47
Speaker
Mm-hmm. He clearly owns that night shirt. That's not sorry Moses Sarova. You are out The Highlanders and the Blues this was a very good match this was frickin intense to say the least Big turning point was the fattest intercept try see ya read the pass. Well, bye. Bye. He almost did again. Yeah He's done that a couple times a season. I think so. Yeah, that's kind of becoming his thing. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes
00:38:19
Speaker
Let's put it this way. He's going to cause headaches for all black selectors because they're going to be like, shit, do we bring him or not? Yeah. Do we really need to bring him? That's one of those like, yeah.
00:38:30
Speaker
How do you not bring him, but at the same time? The other things you have, are they better? Yeah. Oh boy, maybe less, maybe that 31st, 32nd, whatever it is. Yeah, he'd be on the travel, he's got to be on the traveling squad. Yeah. Just in case, because it's like one of these, if you have a tough match, you have maybe, if you've got some guys banged up, and you're just like, you know what, I know I can get one solid 80 out of him.
00:38:57
Speaker
Boom this is this is your this is your match Yeah, or even if it's like a you know, you want to play your your your kind of second side against a One of the lesser tools and he's he can and he'll eat him. He'll eat. Yeah, he'll be the leader He'll be the one who's who's guiding them and I'm sent
00:39:17
Speaker
And yeah, that's that's the kind of guy you want is somebody who's yeah on the back end But he's been there before and he's still fucking dangerous. Yes And a stud just not what he used to be. Mm-hmm. He's got he's got to go. Yeah, yes Tom Robinson not a hookup for the Blues eventual try I will say a fancy note about Tom Robinson. So he has been playing six. He's actually a lock and
00:39:44
Speaker
And as much as we know, locks are a position that doesn't score a ton because of where they play. They're not super dynamic. They're not the first in the open field. This is how you steal those points, though. Find a guy that's playing second row.
00:40:00
Speaker
on the game, but plays lose forward, done. And to look at the opposite of that, Tyler Arjun for the Chiefs, he's listed as a lose forward, has been deployed primarily as a second row. I think it was the first game of the year, he was deployed as the great man and played very well and scored very well as well. So kind of the
00:40:24
Speaker
kind of the two ends of that. So just kind of look out for that. And we talked about guys that play fly half that are playing outside back and vice versa. Those are almost interchangeable in some ways. Midfielder to outside back, unless you're an elite midfielder, maybe you don't want that.
00:40:41
Speaker
Well, I mean, I still have. So, uh, outside back to midfield, it'll spread that way. Right. Cause I have currently Beal playing in my midfield, but he's playing 15. Yes. And I have Bryce Hagerty at outside back and he's playing. I'm all over the place. I got Rada playing lock. Yeah.
00:40:59
Speaker
Wow Yeah, he was he's been playing five, but so he's very good. He's very good and he can't be deployed as a six I believe right so Speaking of curtly bill Dora tell us top the rebels. I was that they they really stifled them. They really did Yeah, and obviously, you know, they had to make a comeback on top of it, you know Rebels gotta figure out how to freakin finish these guys off because second year in a row that this has happened Yeah, so and quick Cooper
00:41:28
Speaker
Yeah again another Honestly, you know at this point it's bernard Foley's 10th shirt probably and quake Cooper's probably gonna have to come off the bench for the For the for the Aussies if he wants to play for the war in the World Cup because he's just Foley's been more consistent I'm not a huge bernard Foley fan. Let me just establish that he's but he's been more consistent right? That's that's the it's that difference. It's the same thing that you know when when we're talking England rugby It's I mean well
00:41:54
Speaker
With without Eddie Jones, but we're talking about somebody like Faz versus Cipriani right and that's that same kind of battle except I wouldn't say quite at that level but between Foley and Cooper Agreed yeah, so the
00:42:13
Speaker
The Rebels did not play their best match. They had a decent first half, but then Wartos turned it on the second half and really took it home. Give them all the credit in the world to Wartos. They played their socks off in that second half, and they knew they needed it because, like we talked about last week, this would have put the Rebels far and away ahead. So that would have been bad news if they had managed to lose this, especially at home. Yeah, that would not have come up. So Wartos take care of the Rebels 23-20, and they are gonna,
00:42:41
Speaker
They instanced themselves closer to the Aussie conference. Rebels still in first, but they at least get themselves back in the conversation. Four point difference for now. Right. And the final match of the weekend, Stormers and Brumbies. This was actually fairly entertaining as well. Brumbies controlled it. They did. Then they knew they needed to control this because, you know,
00:43:01
Speaker
We talked about how the Stormers like to play. They are definitely a South African team. They like, they love set pieces. Steven Kits off, you know, Sia Khaleesi, the likes of Khaleesi came off the bench. But yeah, the likes of that, they love their set pieces. You know, Etsibeth when he's healthy. This is, that's what they like. They really love to just go line up, scrum, let their big boys beat you. And to give the Grammys credit, they really, really, really had to hold their own against a solid,
00:43:28
Speaker
Stormer's pack and they controlled the game. Rory Arnold played out of his skin obviously score sheet here tells us that he had a damn good match. No lucky McCaffrey for the Brumbies but still had a damn good second row between Samu and Cusack and I'm trying to think of the other guy but yeah still had a
00:43:50
Speaker
So, you know, that's without McCaffrey, that's without Pocock. Pocock actually got sent home. Okay. So, that's not good. Bad sign for Brumby's. Yeah, not a good sign. Yeah, maybe they need to just put him on the shelf to the hookup. Yeah. If they even want him to play, honestly. It's an unfortunate thing to see.
00:44:06
Speaker
Uh, Pellet try was given in the scratch. Um, Brumby's, Brumby's, uh, gave up a break to, uh, Yanchis, Herschel Yanchis, and he was definitely going to score if not for a high tackle. And you know, they had to review it, but in my personal opinion, that was the right decision. Okay. Absolutely the right decision. It was, uh, the, the second it happened, I'm like, that was high. Yeah. And he stopped to try. That's, that's a penalty try.
00:44:33
Speaker
Bingo, done. Both teams, because the referee blew it for halftime, but then he got the check, check from the earpiece, and both, he's like, nope, nope, you guys, we gotta come back, we gotta come back, we gotta check, check from the TMO here. I was like, uh-huh, I thought that was gonna happen. I was disappointed when first he blew for the half, and then thankfully the TMO said, no, no, no, no, wait a minute, wait a minute, get back here, you guys gotta talk about this.
00:44:57
Speaker
So it was, at least the referee team was able to get that room right. Brumby's 19, Stormer's 17. Brumby's maybe starting to find some momentum. We'll see what happens here. They got a little hole to dig themselves out of, but getting on the right trail at least here. I mean, not that bad. There are only five points behind the Rebels and one point behind the Taws. Right. So they're within shooting distance of the top of the table. Yeah, so good for them.
00:45:25
Speaker
All right. Well, I paid you a dollar.
00:45:28
Speaker
Yes, so as you know. Ben smoked me. I did. Let's be honest here. Ben smoked me. I had an absolutely torrid week for this competition. I don't know what happened with my team. You had a great week. Well. Well, not great, but decent enough. I had, so I have five wins so far this season and I think two of them are when I scored, well this one I scored 171 points, the other one I scored like almost 300. It was ridiculous.
00:45:57
Speaker
Every so often I pop off a couple of my couple of my substitutes that I pulled off the waiver wire were not great Jamie Booth got me minus 0.9. I might as well play there and Aaron Smith Yeah for half and Jack Dempsey minus 1.4 I know if I don't see Kaleesi was gonna play for majority of the game over played him, right? You know, so oopsie Tom English was usually one of my big hitters. He had point one. Yeah do Priya again starting fly after usually doesn't do me wrong doesn't do me
00:46:27
Speaker
fantastically usually, but doesn't usually do me wrong, 2.6. Bad, bad. I didn't expect much from two of my reserve players that I had to play, one of them I had picked up, Showman. Oh, Schumann? Schumann. Yeah, Martin Schumann. Again, not used to, I'm sorry.
00:46:44
Speaker
not yeah not not your um well he didn't start but still no he was yeah coming off the bench points or points points or points i got two two point three from him um and then uh oh terry black yeah uh had to put a fly half because uh boughton wasn't playing all right he only got me 1.5
00:47:01
Speaker
Yeah, but every other the rest of the rest of your normals the rest of my almost did very well I was somehow smart enough to to substitute the Chiefs front row in for highlanders front row and That got me a secret. At least I got two out of the the Chiefs front row and I'm not sure The the highlanders front row didn't even make your your list. So now that was a good substitution on my end. Nope and then Massa Raywa
00:47:25
Speaker
Yeah, he's he's been score. He's been scoring handfuls points at this point the two people we talked about from that that hurricane sunwools match the masa rewa and tj parinara Both of them both are in your job for me Yeah, you played the Chiefs from the Lions front row it doesn't give up that many points I'm surprised
00:47:47
Speaker
Yeah, I was like it was one of these I kind of man coin, but I was like, you know, I don't I think you you had the highlanders I thought they were one of your they had a red Uh, I can show you two seconds here and the lions weren't I mean the the chiefs weren't either red nor green So i'm like, okay, i'm gonna go with the
00:48:04
Speaker
My front rows, my red front rows were reds and sharks. And then hurricanes and lines. Hurricanes, lines, blues were the greens. I did. I feel proud. I got both my green and my stop, green light and my stop sign this week. Lions front row got 20-ish. Something like that. And we'll get you a nine. Well, Kenny usually scores around 15. So I will call that a win.
00:48:30
Speaker
Back on the winning streak. I'll put green lights and stop signs for both ownership and Super Rugby up tomorrow. So if you're listening to this, it's probably up now. All right, let's go to Pickham.
00:48:49
Speaker
big week final final three weeks final stretch around here for permission. So it's going to be a lot of it's you know, we kind of have a feeling that we know how a couple of things are going to go top two is pretty much determined with the exception of
00:49:05
Speaker
Yeah, I'm a little nervous about what the hell the Saracens are gonna do because their permission forms not exactly great But we'll see what happens with that Top ones definitely in so that Pencil in the pencil and the Exeter for one and humps. They already have a home semi-final walked in so Bob of the table we kind of in agreement of what's gonna happen there well, so we'll see what happens with that and
00:49:30
Speaker
And then it's really up to top four and top six. That's where the fun starts. So, let's get into that. Sail and bath.
00:49:42
Speaker
It's sale at home. Oh, sale has a has a new starting. Yes, they do. Lou Diaga. Yes. Another another South African. So if you include the clerk who's already on the damn team, John Ross, who's technically South African, although I guess he's in England eligible now because they were talking about him. Okay. Playing for England. I was like, whatever. So he's South African born just the same. Akavender Merva, hooker from the Sharks and Robert Dapria, the 10 for the Sharks.
00:50:11
Speaker
So we'll see how that goes. I'm sure the box do sale. We have yeah, we have this the sale box. We have the wasps. All wasps. Wow. And as we were saying, as we were kind of setting up for the pod, it's kind of surprising that there's no
00:50:37
Speaker
Aussie team, except it's not that surprising because the players aren't really... Well, and Czech is a real jerk about, you know, you have to play in the country. Right. Well, maybe not South Africa. South Africa is very loose with it. Right. But New Zealand is also the same way.
00:50:51
Speaker
but they have a plethora of talent. Exactly. That being the difference. Australia just doesn't have the depth. Doesn't have quite that plethora. Right. So they don't have guys who are either too old to play on the, because they don't have much, much elderly talent. Right. In Australia. Currently Beal for some reason isn't deciding to move north for. Not yet. Not yet. Maybe after the World Cup. Right. But he could he could be Australia's answer at 15 for he who shall not be named.
00:51:17
Speaker
Didn't look too bad for the war toss this past weekend there. So maybe Chuck is paying attention. We'll see. Anyway, the point being that Australia isn't good enough to send their players overseas. That's good. The decent starting 15 that you can make out of their premiership players. All right. So.
00:51:38
Speaker
what we were going for sale bath sale at home bath bath on the road sale looking to try and climb into top four if not at least lock in top six these are seven seven eight and they're they're separated by one point yeah what's the next what's the separation between like them and fourth
00:51:57
Speaker
So the separation so uh, the four right now is quinns and they have 50 points, right? So a bonus point win separates beth from quinns And there are six points difference between quinns and and sale no kidding. Okay Well, so yeah, they're both gonna be fighting like hell at least right and not only that but um between beth and wasps
00:52:21
Speaker
There's two points to get to five and then six is north hampton with 46. So you have From from five to eight you have 47 46 45 44 points. Damn So there it is tight. This is tight. It's a log jam this this match could be this match could determine who has a shot
00:52:39
Speaker
Right Yeah, and and seventh does get a championship playoff with the seventh place from france unless i'm wrong about that It that's how it has been so um, you know seventh isn't ideal but you know you talk about like uh, english really people still shoot for top four even though they know that fourth place is gonna have to do a playoff but Most the english teams usually win it. So but I um
00:53:03
Speaker
Am gonna go I'm gonna go with kind of my heart here and I'm gonna support Support our Freddie Burns. Oh, yeah. All right. I want to see him. I want to see him Be and I don't want to see him have no shot. Yeah at a playoff spot fair enough So I'm gonna go back. Okay Friday night Friday night I have to pick I have to pick AJ
00:53:32
Speaker
It's tough not to. This is a 50-50, this is a real coin toss. It's a friend of the pod versus, well, he doesn't know who he's friends with. We like him anyway. He's an honorary member versus AJ, who is also an honorary member. Honorary member because he's a united tingle.
00:53:52
Speaker
Newcastle Saints, this could be the determining fate of the Newcastle Falcons depending on what happens in other matches. I'd sail. I'm sorry, sail. Saints. Yeah. Saints. Same. Gotta back my boys. My other other boys.
00:54:09
Speaker
Yeah. Your side piece, my admiring from a distance piece. Yeah, fair enough. Look, but don't touch. Right. Exeter Quinn's. Exeter at Sandy Park. Now we're getting back into that same question that we had around the Saracens. Do Exeter sit some people?
00:54:32
Speaker
I don't know. I don't. I haven't seen anything. Depends entirely on how Exeter feel about a top spot because they have a home semi file locked up. So if they really, really, really want that top spot, then we might be talking about something here. If they don't care, it's a different story. Right.
00:54:56
Speaker
Um, but they I mean they're gonna they're gonna have It's gonna be tough. I think for saris to catch them. I'm not worried. I'm not really worried about And so I don't and it's gonna be I don't see Gloucester catching them No, they can't right? No, I think they can so they go so there's no there's really no reason for for Exeter to really go No, go balls out here. Nope. So I'm gonna go with the Quinn's. Okay I'm gonna go with the team that needs it more
00:55:25
Speaker
They do. And we need that ass tattoo. Yeah, I'll give you that. I'll give you that. The world needs Joe Marler's face on Joe Hamilton's bum. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, but I'm not picking the Exeter. Excuse me, away from Sandy Park. Or at Sandy Park, right? At Sandy Park, the Exeter all day. All right.
00:55:49
Speaker
Lester and Bristol, Lester at welfare row, more or less escape from relegation. Bristol definitely escaped from relegation. So, um, mathematically no, but probably Lester, Lester had a trio of signings this week. They went, yeah, they did flurry. They had a flurry. I had a big one.
00:56:07
Speaker
Yeah, and uh, so good for them. Well, they're trying to get their recruitment, right? Although I mean, we have work to do. We'll see. We'll see. But we'll see what comes with it. I think their best science so far has been tough in terms of next year. So I'm going to go with Lester as much as I don't want to.
00:56:29
Speaker
Yeah, Lester at home. Ah, shit. I think you're right. But we did hear a possible rumor of Bristol and Pat Lamb rejoining ranks with AJ McGinty next year, especially with Robert Dupree going to sale. We'll see how that plays out. I would love that. Yeah, I mean, which would probably mean, honestly, Ian Madigan probably is out the third man out of that one, which, you know, nothing against mags, but they're going to hang on to Shidi. He's too young. He's too good.
00:56:58
Speaker
Yeah, you can't just give that up. Nope, I wouldn't. All right. Well, back to the, the headache that is the Saracens and the premier ship, especially away from home. I think they take this one. Yeah. Yeah, I think
00:57:16
Speaker
They're they're still they're gonna ride high a little bit off of that because they they've they've needed To they've been on a little bit of a schnied. Mm-hmm, even when they've been winning. They've been not looking good doing it until This past weekend and sometimes it just takes that little bit. I'm sure Barrett's playing no matter what Yeah, I can't imagine getting arrested and then that that to me that that's enough they can they can even play some of their their shags and
00:57:43
Speaker
Um, okay and and sprinkle them in if they need to I don't know that they need to I think they still need to Make sure now that because they had their they're starting 15 in place for the first time in a long time All all together some chemistry going that they need to to keep working together. So I think they're gonna um You'll you'll see they're gonna line up. They're gonna have a little bit of a training run. I think yeah, depending on the lineup. Okay I Want to be wrong about this i'm gonna pick was oh my
00:58:12
Speaker
Just cause we haven't, we haven't won on the road. Oh, I don't think we've won on the road like since week one. So it's not been good. It's not been good. It's been a while since we went on the road. I think Quinn's Quinn's was the last road went. Wow. Yeah. At, at, at the stoop with Billy V mimicking Danny cares celebration. Um, Worcester and Gloucester, uh,
00:58:38
Speaker
Wooster will be without Bryce Heem for the rest of the year. His ban for his tip tackle in the Challenge Cup has been upheld after his appeal. That's how his career, unfortunately, is gonna end for Wooster, which sucks, because he is a fantastic player. Not the way you wanna end that. No, you gotta feel for him a little bit.
00:58:57
Speaker
Little bit, you know, I he's going to peace going to France to make a boatload of money. So Yeah, I'm not sad about that. But you know Either way enough talk about those losers. I'm going with Gloucester
00:59:11
Speaker
Yeah, Gloucester are still have an outside shot at taking a home semi-final. So they're going to take their shot for sure. And they still need a win or two to lock up the semi-final for themselves, even if it's not home. Right. So they need this certainly a lot more than Worcester does.
00:59:30
Speaker
So because wister again seven points up on new castle. Yeah, uh, they'll know heading into the match What new castle is done? Yes, because new castle plays on friday. So, um
00:59:46
Speaker
I'm and I assume that Newcastle is gonna get crushed by the Saints. That's that's the way I'm looking that happens There's not much just how much pressure on ya on Worcester So it's not I don't think it's gonna be a match that they need they're not gonna I don't think they're gonna play with The kind of intensity that they're gonna need to be to be Gloucester, right? Especially with Gloucester getting healthy again. I'm I'm looking forward to pellegi being back Yeah, maybe cracking the 15 this week. I mean, I mean she it's hard to shove Creel and
01:00:17
Speaker
Ackerman out of the way it is so to be fair. Yeah, but that's a good problem for you're not coming to have yes it is All right done under Crusaders and lions shares off the by lines off a big win against the Chiefs You you're not gonna really convince me to pick anybody but the Crusaders and totally I've already been writing that down Some wolves and highlanders
01:00:46
Speaker
Cheesem. Are they, they can't win in Asia. They find ways to screw it up. No, but I'm still picking them for this game. You are? Okay. Okay. Getting a little love. A. Jones gave him a little love this week too. Yeah, well he should. Basically telling, you know.
01:01:04
Speaker
Japan are a few not really that was their fault But you know the rest the rest of the world the sands are basically you guys are a bunch of jerks. Yeah, they are they are Highlanders to me Obviously quality team. Yeah
01:01:18
Speaker
I still think that they're a little flawed and they can they can be gotten to by oh, yeah absolutely And I think with the the travel I did see the starting line up Aaron Smith is in it Okay, so that actually that actually might make a difference. I might make a difference I and but look I'm not catching you if I don't take some chances here. So fair enough. I'm gonna take the highlanders though because Aaron Smith is my scrum half when he's healthy. Yeah, so I'll take them
01:01:45
Speaker
Oh, so so we have our dollar bet this I Lost my dollar but you know what? If the if I was gonna lose a bet this week of the two that we had decided I'm gonna take the one that I won. I
01:02:01
Speaker
which was the NHL bet for picking a team that did just a bit better than yours. Well, now they made it to the next round. Now they made it to the next round. So we pick a team for the NHL hockey playoffs, Stanley Cup playoffs. I think this is my third or fourth year winning in the row now.
01:02:19
Speaker
Yeah, I don't think I've won since I picked the Black Hawks and they won with the cup. That's true. I forgot about that. That's basically the best that any of the teams we've picked have done, though. Yes. Honestly, like, I think this is the first, the Sharks are the first team that we both have picked that made it to the next round because before it's always been decided by like games, how many games played and then like even I think she was goals. I was like, geez, that was bad. The second tiebreaker. So we're not that good at it, but, you know,
01:02:44
Speaker
I'm just a little bit less shitty. That's all it is. So I owe Jared a round of golf. Hooray! And he owes me a dollar. You put that dollar towards that round of golf. I'm assuming that you don't lose it this week. Exactly. I'm going to lose it this week. All right. I'm picking the Hurricanes. I'm picking the Chiefs. Fair enough. Because I have to. Yeah, you're obligated. Wartos and Shrucks. Wartos at home. Oh, man.
01:03:12
Speaker
Sharks are not looking good. They're not. The same thing that I feel like with the Highlanders, a little bit of Jekyll and Hyde there. But the same goes for the Taws. No, you're not wrong about that. But the Taws are at home.
01:03:27
Speaker
Yeah, so i'm gonna go with this game play the stg or wherever it is But I will take in their home country when they're playing Around sydney, so i'll take it. All right. I will take I will take the war toss as well uh, south african battle stormers and bulls
01:03:44
Speaker
Do the Bulls step up and finally say we are the best team in South Africa? Or do the Stormers throw yet another wrench into this whole fucking thing? And nope, maybe we are. So we'll see. I'm going with the Bulls. I am as well. I have no reason not to. As I said before, I still believe they are the best team in South Africa, so.
01:04:09
Speaker
And I happen to agree with you on that. So we'll see. I mean, points wise, they technically are right now, but they're only a point up. Granted, they had a week off, and a couple other teams didn't. But still, it's getting a little tired than it should be if there's definitely a better team here. So let's see if they can finally step up. Right.
01:04:29
Speaker
Jack wash coming off their by Brumby's still on the travels here. This is gonna be a tough one to pick Brutal, but I'm gonna go with again that the home team with against the team. That's been the road warriors for now Yeah, fair enough um
01:04:50
Speaker
My crystal ball is saying to pick Brumby's and when I mean say that, I mean, I am completely guessing here. So I'm going to go with the Brumby's fair enough. That's what we're always doing. I mean, we don't know. We technically don't know the lineups when we pick these. So, especially, especially the, the Saturday match ups for, for, um, super rugby and, and all, and all the premier ship match ups. Cause we kind of know the Friday match ups for super rugby. And that's it.
01:05:16
Speaker
Yeah, that's the only ones we can take a guess at. Yeah, so make sure you check us out on Google Play, Spotify, iTunes, download, rate us, give us a review because we like them and we'll read them even if it's a really terrible one. That's okay. Make sure you shoot us an email, fantasyroguetypodcastatgmail.com. Follow Ben and I, especially myself, if you're looking for fantasy advice.
01:05:42
Speaker
I'm doing my best. I'll do what the numbers tell me and take a stab from there.
Closing Remarks and Listener Engagement
01:05:47
Speaker
That's basically all I'm doing. We'll give you a look from the crystal ball and give you our best guess. Yeah, right. So there's that. We got...
01:05:58
Speaker
A lot. We got a lot more rugby to come up again this week. Back to our regularly scheduled shit show filled weekend of rugby. So we're looking forward to it. Off we go. Hopefully Saracen's finally get themselves back going. Other than that, thanks for tuning in. Continue to download and we really appreciate you. You guys are so happy about it. Thanks everyone.