Sports
Love for Lewis and a weekend of fightbacks
In this episode of Robby Uni Weekly, the team reflects on a thrilling weekend in the Gallagher Premiership, marked by dramatic comebacks and standout performances. They also pay tribute to Lewis Moody...
Love for Lewis and a weekend of fightbacks
Sports •
0:00 / 0:00
Interactive Transcript
spk_0
Five lives Robby Union weekly.
spk_0
Boys, another wild Prem weekend.
spk_0
This Gallagher Prem rebrand
spk_0
has it been more feisty, more wild, more attacking.
spk_0
It's definitely worth...
spk_0
It's a bit mad. It's a bit mad at the minute.
spk_0
What? The faster Prem, that's what it screams out to you.
spk_0
The comeback's the tale of two halves
spk_0
that it was of the weekend in so many games.
spk_0
So many tries, so many comebacks.
spk_0
Gallagher Prem is firing right now, I'd say.
spk_0
Wouldn't you?
spk_0
There was only one.
spk_0
Comeback. We'll come back.
spk_0
Well, then they didn't even make it. Two.
spk_0
Two. Less the cause.
spk_0
Of course. Yeah, of course.
spk_0
I knew I was missing more.
spk_0
Hat tricks. We get hat tricks every weekend.
spk_0
If you're going to come back, you've got to win.
spk_0
Yeah. Yeah.
spk_0
That would have been a Prem record.
spk_0
Taken, Bruce Thamble, 20 hours ago.
spk_0
Oh, I was going to go into that.
spk_0
I was desperate to go into that.
spk_0
That's still there.
spk_0
Oh, god.
spk_0
No, it's been chaos.
spk_0
It's been absolutely wild.
spk_0
Loads to get into another massive weekend of Robby.
spk_0
That's as well as the Robby Championship
spk_0
in the company of Danny Kerr, Chris Ashton.
spk_0
Myself, Hugo Monier, on this week's episode
spk_0
of Robby Uni Weekly.
spk_0
Robby Uni Weekly.
spk_0
From BBC Sport and BBC Radio 5 Live.
spk_0
There's loads to talk about on the field of play,
spk_0
the conclusion to the Robby Championship,
spk_0
as well as another crazy weekend in the Gallagher Prem.
spk_0
But there's only one place.
spk_0
And rightly so that we start.
spk_0
And it's unfortunately the sad news of Lewis Moody English
spk_0
and British and Irish Lions legend
spk_0
who's been sadly diagnosed with Motone Neuralin disease.
spk_0
He broke that news earlier on,
spk_0
chatting to BBC's Sally Neugin.
spk_0
A couple of months ago, notice that I was getting shoulder weakness
spk_0
and went to our physio.
spk_0
Kerry did a fantastic job, gave me some rehab stuff to crack on with.
spk_0
And nothing really changed over the course of six to eight weeks,
spk_0
at which point he referred me to a brilliant shoulder specialist.
spk_0
I had an MRI, neck scan, all that type of stuff.
spk_0
And very quickly when the scans came back,
spk_0
it became clear that it wasn't anything to do with.
spk_0
The neck, despite all the years of sort of throwing myself into contact on the Robby Petch.
spk_0
And he then sent me straight to neurologist
spk_0
and off the back of the MRI,
spk_0
he actually had a phone call with me where I sensed he was preparing me for the worst,
spk_0
which was fairly difficult information at the time to receive, I suppose.
spk_0
But we've processed lots of emotions over the last couple of weeks.
spk_0
And I suppose we need to talk about it.
spk_0
And I generally feel fine when you talk about it.
spk_0
It's never me that I feel sad for.
spk_0
It's the sort of sadness around having to tell my mum,
spk_0
you know, as an only child.
spk_0
And the implications that has for her having to tell the boys.
spk_0
I mean, you know, to brilliant boys.
spk_0
And that was, that was pretty heartbreaking, wasn't it?
spk_0
But...
spk_0
You mentioned that you're aware of
spk_0
other players who've been diagnosed and watched their stories.
spk_0
I imagine looking into the future though,
spk_0
is something incredibly challenging?
spk_0
That's a good question, too, because I think,
spk_0
naively or not, I don't know what's right or wrong in this situation,
spk_0
if we've never been through it.
spk_0
And there is a reluctance, maybe an avoidance, to look into the future.
spk_0
There's no... There's definitely...
spk_0
It's not that I don't understand where it's going.
spk_0
We understand that.
spk_0
But there is absolutely a reluctance to look the future in the face for now,
spk_0
for sure.
spk_0
The fact that I haven't been able to reach out,
spk_0
you know, to those people that are suffering with it.
spk_0
And really...
spk_0
Yeah, I feel selfish, so I've not been able to accept that and look into the future.
spk_0
But there will be a time when I can process that.
spk_0
And I would like to as well.
spk_0
I don't want to get stuck in the negativity or the doom and gloom.
spk_0
We know we know the reality.
spk_0
Sally, you know what you've spoken to so many people about this.
spk_0
And so I just want to stay positive.
spk_0
I want to stay in the moment.
spk_0
I want to learn and understand what it is.
spk_0
I want to speak to more people and see what we can help as well.
spk_0
It's absolutely love to be able to support a cause at some stage.
spk_0
And hopefully, you know, another couple of challenges left in the body yet.
spk_0
It's still working.
spk_0
It's still with me and it tells you the point that, you know, it isn't...
spk_0
I suppose, you know, hopefully there will be some suits available at that point.
spk_0
I could jump into it.
spk_0
But, yeah, the future is uncertain.
spk_0
Another minute, I suppose, isn't it?
spk_0
So that's why we're just...
spk_0
...focussed on now.
spk_0
Largest devastating.
spk_0
We all played with Lewis.
spk_0
We know what an exceptional rugby player was, how much he's contributed to the game.
spk_0
But as a bloke, such an emotionally intelligent guy,
spk_0
someone that forever looks after you, cares for you,
spk_0
and I think it's been flipped on its head.
spk_0
The rugby world needs to do its very best to look after Lewis, don't they?
spk_0
Yeah, well, it was tough to watch this morning.
spk_0
I can't imagine what him and his family are going through.
spk_0
I think, forever, even for us, it's like...
spk_0
Probably not sunk in yet, because it's...
spk_0
You can tell he doesn't want to look at what he says.
spk_0
He doesn't want to look into the future with it all.
spk_0
What's going to come?
spk_0
Even though, no, this is our fourth player that we all know.
spk_0
I've been nearby.
spk_0
Never gets any easier, does it?
spk_0
I think it's because you know what's coming with him,
spk_0
and you know what they might have to go through as a family,
spk_0
but what a player, what a human, like he said,
spk_0
who's just so passionate, such a hard man, just a real leader.
spk_0
I think because he was our first World Cup captain,
spk_0
I don't know, he sticks with me because it was my first time there.
spk_0
He's meant the memory of him just sticks with me,
spk_0
if I've just how hard he was and how much he...
spk_0
Those are really good talker.
spk_0
He would never say things...
spk_0
You know, you get some captains that just react or say some of things
spk_0
a bit heavy sometimes, he would never do that.
spk_0
It always be thoughtful, it always be the right thing to say
spk_0
at that time, and he just led, you know, he played.
spk_0
He'd get a feel for the group, and he'd think,
spk_0
I need to do something to know that is just proofs
spk_0
why he's captain or why he's the number seven on the pitch.
spk_0
And the one that sticks with me most,
spk_0
were you there in Australia when he actually smoked...
spk_0
Quaid Coup of the Lainay.
spk_0
That was the definition of his nickname,
spk_0
my dog, you just went up, didn't care about the ball or anything,
spk_0
just took himself completely out of control.
spk_0
EGI, Myrim, and even more now, so far he's going to go through.
spk_0
Yeah, hit me hard today, really did hit me hard.
spk_0
And my wife, Joey, who is an Annie,
spk_0
is his lovely wife so many times,
spk_0
and just hard when it's someone, you know, so close to you
spk_0
that we've played with, because we've seen with Doddy and with Rob
spk_0
and with Ed Slater recently what this horrible disease does to people.
spk_0
I think that's what scares you the most.
spk_0
And you could see, I think, in Lewis' face,
spk_0
as he's doing the interview, fair play to him, being so brave,
spk_0
but, like you say, doesn't want to look to the future
spk_0
because he, I think, he knows what it could be.
spk_0
So he's...
spk_0
But you know, when he talks about his kids, his two boys...
spk_0
I never met a person who's ever had a bad word to say about Moodos.
spk_0
From my first, I'll never forget my first time in England camp,
spk_0
being worried and scared and nervous and all those things,
spk_0
and him being a senior player, a World Cup winner came and put his arm around me straight away,
spk_0
and said, I'll look after you.
spk_0
Anything, any trouble come to me.
spk_0
And he was like that with everyone, with every young lad.
spk_0
And I don't think there's ever been a man that's probably played more
spk_0
with his heart on his sleeve than the Lewis Moody.
spk_0
And yeah, I just think we're all...
spk_0
...her in for him, but we're all here for him.
spk_0
The rugby community's gonna have to come together again to support this incredible person,
spk_0
fighting this horrific disease, but...
spk_0
Yeah, we're just sending all our love to him and his family and all his loved ones.
spk_0
He's such a carer of a bloke, which is like such a contradiction to how he played the game,
spk_0
because he was so tough, like so tough,
spk_0
but off the pitch, the person that he is, he just really thoughtful, yeah, really caring.
spk_0
And I think with Lewis and having spoken to him at various different times over the last few years,
spk_0
I think he thought something was up with him.
spk_0
There's been times we're spoken to him about having constant headaches,
spk_0
but I think what he's done is just invest time into figuring out what it is,
spk_0
or what it could be, because I think there's always been a niggling, something just niggling in him.
spk_0
So I'm so pleased that he's investigated,
spk_0
because you know us as men generally speaking about trying to generalise,
spk_0
we're probably not the best at wondering for fear of knowing.
spk_0
I know one ever wants to hear this type of news,
spk_0
but he's taken the time to try and understand what's there.
spk_0
And now he knows, as you guys have already said,
spk_0
it's the sad reality is probably been able to map out what the next six, 12 months, few years,
spk_0
looks like for him, because we've been there with previous guys,
spk_0
unfortunately, that have sadly lost their lives.
spk_0
And that's the tough bit.
spk_0
And he says in his interview, it's straight away, selfless.
spk_0
He's not worried for himself.
spk_0
He's worried for his family and for his kids.
spk_0
And that's the most heart-breaking thing.
spk_0
I didn't expect to wake up Monday morning to be slapped in the face with that news.
spk_0
He's 47, do you know what I mean?
spk_0
And it's, I don't know, would you say, I'll text them earlier, just, what do you say?
spk_0
Like, what can you say, especially when the destiny of this disease,
spk_0
we know can't be altered at this point,
spk_0
and there's so much well been done around it.
spk_0
But I really hope that through this sad news that he feels the love,
spk_0
this art, poor and over motion that everyone, I'm sure, has sent his way.
spk_0
Right boys, let's fly into the wild weekend in the Gallagher Prêm.
spk_0
Where do we want to start?
spk_0
It feels like every day there was a story.
spk_0
Champions, Bath.
spk_0
And we'll touch one bath because they've been great this season so far,
spk_0
it's only two rounds in.
spk_0
But my appreciation for George Ford, I don't like, I just don't know how much more it can grow.
spk_0
When I watch him play in rugby, it makes me so happy, because I honestly reckon,
spk_0
okay, question, has he got the smartest rugby brain in the Gallagher Prêm?
spk_0
I was thinking, I was walking the dog yesterday and I was thinking about this.
spk_0
I was thinking about my little boy and I thought the two lads that are in the league
spk_0
that are probably the best game managers and probably overall players,
spk_0
are Owen Farrell and George Ford.
spk_0
Would you agree?
spk_0
English.
spk_0
Game understanding, yeah.
spk_0
They both started in rugby league as kids.
spk_0
So I was thinking about my little boy and I was like, is it better to go play rugby league when you're younger?
spk_0
Why are you trying to take plays away from our game?
spk_0
I'm not wondering when you're younger, because they came and they changed the plan 11 years old.
spk_0
But I just think, as it helped them playing that sport,
spk_0
getting better at a younger age to develop this game management,
spk_0
because it's weird that they both played rugby league when they were kids.
spk_0
They both changed at 11 years old, switched to play rugby union.
spk_0
But George Ford, and the weirdly close in a building out of the development,
spk_0
but George on long Friday night, it's a shame that they didn't get a win,
spk_0
because he was that good again.
spk_0
He's definitely better.
spk_0
I was improved.
spk_0
I feel more comfortable with his brother being coaching at sale.
spk_0
That makes sense, they don't know.
spk_0
I think he's got a bit more...
spk_0
Yeah, he gets to say, and he's comfortable with what they're doing,
spk_0
and he might have something in it.
spk_0
Well, I think we all know, George, when he stops, he's going to be a coach like he is.
spk_0
He's just born to do it.
spk_0
And he is like, we always say, he's like having another coach out there.
spk_0
Fortunately for sale, you've got a coach out there who's actually also an incredible rugby player.
spk_0
Like you say, there's just a feel, the As for Games,
spk_0
like when to take drop goals, when to put the ball in behind,
spk_0
when they've got momentum, when they haven't got momentum, how to wrestle that back.
spk_0
He hasn't just been born with that.
spk_0
He's got to learn that and experience it, and learn the hard way.
spk_0
Remember, it's 17, he played in the pre-final against Harlequin's for Leicester?
spk_0
17 years old, he's thrusted in, so he's been in from an early stage.
spk_0
That feels like a lifetime ago, but still George has got years left to play.
spk_0
So, yeah, I think every week he's just showing his class.
spk_0
I think like you say, unfortunately, they did came away with nothing.
spk_0
Yeah, that's right. Which is tough.
spk_0
But if you're going to take Bath now, I don't think many teams are going to take any points from Bath at the minute,
spk_0
the way they're just quietly going about their business.
spk_0
With the four or five lads, they've still got to come back.
spk_0
I'm sure he'll be gutted, probably was an opportunity for them to come away with something against the Champions,
spk_0
but they didn't put his Bath again and Ben Spencer, another guy who's on top of his game.
spk_0
I spoke to Bath to the game, we saw him, obviously, at the stoop a couple of weeks ago.
spk_0
I said, how are you enjoying it? And he just said, mate, it's so much fun,
spk_0
because he's got so many good players around him, so many big men that make his job so much easier for him.
spk_0
Then he can then go and do his thing with his kicking game tactical and when to play, etc.
spk_0
It's a lot easier when you've got massive men winning game like in every single time.
spk_0
It's probably a reason why he's, you know, he had a lot of offers I think to go playing France
spk_0
and I don't think anyone could have probably begrudged him from doing that,
spk_0
but he decided to stay because I think he sees a size of a dynasty, I think.
spk_0
Yeah, why would you leave? Why would you leave?
spk_0
There's never been a better time to be a Bath player.
spk_0
Farley House, that was built a few years ago and that was like a selling point.
spk_0
Come to Bath because we've got this amazing training facility, but they've got amazing training facility.
spk_0
They've got stadium plans in place to redevelop what the wreck is going to be and that looks incredible.
spk_0
And you won three trophies last year and you're absolutely red hot favourites to win it this year.
spk_0
Sarasom's may have something to say about that, we'll touch upon them shortly,
spk_0
but it's a great time to be a Bath rugby player.
spk_0
And I would just touch upon them, but George Ford, I just think we see so many great rugby athletes in the Gallagher Prem
spk_0
and they're fantastic, they do some magic bits and we'll talk about some of that.
spk_0
I'm sure across this podcast, but with Ford, I just have such an appreciation of someone that just truly gets the game.
spk_0
Even when things just aren't quite right, you see put that left foot of kick into the corner
spk_0
when I think Tom Robock like ran into his space, the drop goal silly, like in the wet,
spk_0
I was not controlled it with his foot, he was just caught it on the half-followly and then banged it,
spk_0
Bosch, 47 metres, you're like, he just gets it, he just...
spk_0
Is there a better drop goal, what do you think?
spk_0
Well that was his 18th, I think, in the Gallagher Prem, which is like...
spk_0
In those conditions, that far out, that's a mad kick that.
spk_0
And it's not like he questioned himself, it's like 47 metres, oh this is going over.
spk_0
And he probably had another 10 metres, it's the confidence, but it's all repetition
spk_0
and I don't know, for young boys and girls that are watching Rugby,
spk_0
you can appreciate the brutality, you appreciate the pace and the power, but the rugby mind.
spk_0
I don't think you can, because it makes it look that easy.
spk_0
So you go, wow, I knew I could do it.
spk_0
But you see him doing it. How many are though?
spk_0
Oh no. How many are, you know, in a weekend, which was so interested
spk_0
because there was such a lack of control across so many of the mattress,
spk_0
the one thing he gives you is absolute control, I think he's...
spk_0
Is sensational. They've had a tough start to the season.
spk_0
What sail missing? I think I could squad it.
spk_0
Don't feel the missing just something.
spk_0
Well, that... Alex Anderson was interviewed, they'll ask a couple of weeks and he said,
spk_0
last couple of years they've started poorly, they've had to peek through the middle.
spk_0
So if you imagine like a 400 metre race, if someone has got a lead on you quite early on,
spk_0
the amount of effort it takes to get to that back straight, okay?
spk_0
And then you're having to kick again.
spk_0
Well, everyone else, they're just like coasted in nicely,
spk_0
they've set the foundations forward, they've found another gear.
spk_0
With sail, have to get into fifth gear so early on, they just can't maintain it coming back into the season.
spk_0
So to be able to have the tough start they've had, but accumulate as many points.
spk_0
He'll just be hoping for consistency. So when you're like five, six games away,
spk_0
they can then emotionally and physically get into that top gear.
spk_0
And then you can't maintain that from turn matches out.
spk_0
I don't know. They're about to start, have they?
spk_0
No, good start.
spk_0
I just feel like to be competing.
spk_0
Yeah, but you can... I don't know.
spk_0
Which is where I think they're on the cost of competing with the top two, three.
spk_0
I just think they're missing one. I find it bitch.
spk_0
What is it? What do you think it is for you?
spk_0
Just maybe another X-Factor back centre.
spk_0
Cosmez I White had a good season last year didn't play Friday.
spk_0
We kind of came through last year didn't he?
spk_0
And he was offering something that was a bit different.
spk_0
I haven't seen that yet.
spk_0
Read, not starting.
spk_0
We read Scots and White.
spk_0
Amazing tries last year. What is on the bench at the minute?
spk_0
Raf, you can get back fit. I think he'll give them something a bit different.
spk_0
It's just...
spk_0
It's just trying to get him on a pitch consistently.
spk_0
And then you'd have Gus War and Rafi.
spk_0
How long do you give that though before you'd like?
spk_0
I've got to go for someone else.
spk_0
I'm not sure.
spk_0
He's been a few years from what? Three years?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
I think everyone's waiting for him to really hit his straps.
spk_0
Consistata, that is consistently and you have to be available.
spk_0
You have to be available.
spk_0
And I think if you do then put a nine-threat of someone that the guards are generally worried about
spk_0
because he is rapid.
spk_0
We've seen a couple of tries.
spk_0
We've seen snippets of how good Rafi can be.
spk_0
You can get him back fit and firing.
spk_0
Then all of a sudden, just a couple of the defenders have to stay a little bit tighter to the rook.
spk_0
Have to hold a little bit more.
spk_0
Then that creates more space for George and for the centres.
spk_0
And then for Reed and Robo can carpet her out wide.
spk_0
I'll always say it.
spk_0
A nine-running threat helps everyone in the team.
spk_0
Saturday, less the hall of Grins.
spk_0
Danny, we were both there in Matilliwood's Welford Road.
spk_0
I thought Grins were going to get battered, actually.
spk_0
They've got a poor way record, less the first time at home, Jeff Parling or Lee Chess and back into it.
spk_0
But it was far from that in the first half.
spk_0
Like Grins were, untypically, Grins, the fence, rock, solid, amazing try at the end of the first half.
spk_0
But then it just totally unraveled, didn't it?
spk_0
Yeah, it was such a strange one, mate, because similar before the game, I've spent a few flester players, Grins players.
spk_0
No one really knew what was going to go.
spk_0
No one seemed too confident, no one seemed a little bit nervous.
spk_0
And I think we said before, this is a bit of a 50-50 game.
spk_0
I really thought it was.
spk_0
I don't look at Leicester's team now and be worried as in thinking, oh, we could get battered here.
spk_0
So I thought for Harlequins, they played the perfect first 40 minutes.
spk_0
Would you have been last year?
spk_0
Yeah, about last year.
spk_0
I think Leicester's team were have a little bit more last year.
spk_0
With Pollard and Montagre.
spk_0
Yeah, a little bit.
spk_0
But now you look at it and you go, I thought Grins should have won on the weekend.
spk_0
I still think they should have won.
spk_0
Leicester were awful in the first 40.
spk_0
There was no subtlety at all, it was just a try.
spk_0
Yeah, but it was just round the corner, round the corner, because then a quick tap penalty.
spk_0
And it was like, okay, they might try something here.
spk_0
But it was just round the corner, round the corner, off nine, about six phases.
spk_0
And they went back 30 metres.
spk_0
It was like that isn't.
spk_0
Leicester last year, we're doing all sorts of trick plays off those little taps.
spk_0
So Leicester were awful, but Quins were brilliant first half.
spk_0
I don't only think if that was a Saracens first half, everyone had gone water performance.
spk_0
Like that is prime Saracens away from home.
spk_0
That's how you do it.
spk_0
It was the blueprint.
spk_0
So there was this, what's it, 16-0?
spk_0
Half-style.
spk_0
With the breakaway try at the end, unbelievable bit of skill from Alex Donbrand.
spk_0
Unbelievable first half from Quins.
spk_0
We all sat there half-time, go, right, if Quins push on it, this could be a really, really good win.
spk_0
And propel Quins up.
spk_0
Second half was the complete opposite.
spk_0
Quins.
spk_0
There was a wind, but they just stopped playing.
spk_0
They just picked that last week as well, and I couldn't understand why they stopped playing,
spk_0
because in the first half, they would, if there was space out wide, the ball would go there.
spk_0
They'd shift it to it, and things would happen.
spk_0
Nick David uses feet, Tyron Green uses feet.
spk_0
Something would come off it, but it was as if I don't know what happened at half-time,
spk_0
whether they thought they just had to protect the lead, which sometimes is a bit of human nature.
spk_0
But less to turn it around, got them momentum back.
spk_0
Quins 11 penalties in a row, and like you cannot expect to win games that rugby.
spk_0
Especially away from home.
spk_0
If you give away 11 penalties in a game, let alone in one-half.
spk_0
There's so many teams that are like, let's take a bonus point.
spk_0
But when at the end of it, you're like, what was that?
spk_0
But even Jeff would be like, I was like, we can't keep playing like that.
spk_0
Quins got nothing in that game.
spk_0
No, but a single point to be so dominant, I don't know.
spk_0
I think there's a distinct lack of understanding for teams that have been on top at half-time,
spk_0
as to, whilst you focus in the change in about, this is what we've got to do in the second half,
spk_0
for has to be an appreciation for what the opposition are going to do.
spk_0
If you're 16-0 down at home in front of 26,000,
spk_0
guess what lester are going to get after him, an absolute rollerkin.
spk_0
They're going to come out of energy. They have to play with the ball.
spk_0
They're going to have to get their hands on the ball.
spk_0
So they're going to try and dominate possession.
spk_0
They're going to be a bit tougher in the tackle. They're going to target breakdowns.
spk_0
They're going to look for territory.
spk_0
If you can't appreciate that, as well as the emotional intensity,
spk_0
they're going to bring into it, because you have to show up.
spk_0
You have to show up.
spk_0
If you ignore that, then you get second half slot.
spk_0
What we saw at Matti-Oli Woods, what we saw at Franklin's Gardens,
spk_0
what we saw at King's Home yesterday.
spk_0
And there doesn't seem to be that acknowledgement of what the opposition are going to bring.
spk_0
And if I was, I mean, it's easy saying it now, don't play the game when you're in it.
spk_0
But for Quinn's, how to get the hands on the ball?
spk_0
Do you think that for these teams you're doing half,
spk_0
it's like a lack of leadership knocking around in the 23th minute.
spk_0
You get a good start, or you get a bad start.
spk_0
It's easier to motivate yourself from a bad start than it is to be in a lead
spk_0
without leaders to know how to finish it off.
spk_0
So if Marcus was, maybe let's take Marcus for example, on the pitch there at the weekend,
spk_0
he probably would have just found another way.
spk_0
Or to get another score or to just keep the team in it a bit better than what we're seeing
spk_0
by Northampton and Gloucester.
spk_0
Quinn's, you know, Stefan and the Veece, not fit the money in general.
spk_0
Marcus, not fit Marcus, not there.
spk_0
Marla left last year.
spk_0
You know, there's a lot of lads that have left who had experience
spk_0
and they're trusting these young lads, which is brilliant.
spk_0
It's only where you learn.
spk_0
Even the half, penny at the back, there too.
spk_0
Yeah, loads of people that have been there, done it.
spk_0
But they'll learn and unfortunately sometimes you have to learn the hard way.
spk_0
And that's what it seems to be in the minute they're having to do.
spk_0
I think there's a lot of players coming back in next week and the week after for Queen's
spk_0
and for a lot of other clubs.
spk_0
Probably there's just a bit of naivety around the league, I think, at the minute.
spk_0
I think you're exactly right, Ugs.
spk_0
The players are just lacking a little bit of confidence in being able to dominate games and boss a game.
spk_0
Like a George Ford would have done.
spk_0
I think if you put a George Ford in one of those sides and they don't see swings like that
spk_0
because he understands momentum.
spk_0
It's a hard thing to quantify that. It's a hard thing to coach.
spk_0
But some of like George's been there and done it.
spk_0
Marcus now has done it for five, six, seven years in the Premier.
spk_0
It's so hard to get momentum in a game, sustain momentum.
spk_0
So when you give it away so cheaply, oh my gosh, do you know how extra hard you've got to work to try and turn the tide
spk_0
because you're getting battered at the breakdown.
spk_0
You're giving away penalties.
spk_0
The crowd you've now invited, the crowd into the game.
spk_0
You've invited the referee into the game.
spk_0
And guess what, you've just supercharged the opposition.
spk_0
So there's a lack of emotional understanding in the second half.
spk_0
And yeah, there are all the British and arched lines that are missing.
spk_0
But it's made for a cracking couple of weekends of rugby.
spk_0
It's made it really exciting.
spk_0
Love you, Quins.
spk_0
I know it's only round two, but they're in a hole.
spk_0
Yeah, legit.
spk_0
Yes, they've got players come back.
spk_0
Isgro is going to be back. Marcus Smith will be back this weekend.
spk_0
Then I have a couple of the Argentinian boys coming back.
spk_0
But then I'm like, they've got Sarasons at home.
spk_0
And they'll bring back, they leave.
spk_0
He's fit. Benl, Jamie George, Marito, Jay.
spk_0
We're only seeing them in the game this weekend.
spk_0
So when we talk about, yeah, these troops are coming back.
spk_0
So is everyone else's seat?
spk_0
No, in Quins, but Quins will probably wear on Sunday.
spk_0
They did it last year.
spk_0
It was a similar feel last year.
spk_0
And I'll tell you what, you can't say that every week.
spk_0
Well, there is going to be a point where you go up.
spk_0
You're not going to be.
spk_0
We'll see.
spk_0
I think if they don't win this weekend, it could be a long old season.
spk_0
The Gallagher Premier is a sprint.
spk_0
When you're one point from two matches and you've got Sarasons.
spk_0
We're touching Sarasons now. Who just look?
spk_0
I was there, Kingston Park, week one.
spk_0
They look powerful.
spk_0
I know he gets newcastle who obviously poor last season,
spk_0
but the intensity in Saras, it feels like they've got their personality back.
spk_0
And then that was coupled up.
spk_0
I mean, you were at the Stonex again on Saturday when they utterly dismantled Bristol.
spk_0
Yes, they're shown off a few plays, three lads in surgery after round one.
spk_0
But they are looking red-hot.
spk_0
How much do you think they're fueled by?
spk_0
I mean, it was the first time they didn't qualify for the playoffs in 2009.
spk_0
That must have stung them.
spk_0
I really think one guy has just lifted the whole place again.
spk_0
They've always thought they've got a really good squad.
spk_0
And last year they thought they did better than what they thought they were going to do.
spk_0
But adding him back in there, I don't know.
spk_0
It's just, it's just, I know him back in.
spk_0
He just lifted the plate. It looks like he's never left.
spk_0
We've just gone over a year and he's like,
spk_0
he's back straight back into it. Even though he's playing 12,
spk_0
it just seems to work.
spk_0
They've got loads of players missing.
spk_0
They're not like young players coming back, they're all going to add to it.
spk_0
Yeah, they're just looking at a really good place.
spk_0
Do you think he's changed?
spk_0
I think he's out too.
spk_0
Yeah, because we know Owen Farrell's like as a player and he's very demanding
spk_0
and that's great and that lifts everyone.
spk_0
But when you go away, have a bad season with Rassin and things that settle for you
spk_0
and then you get your enjoyment back by going on the lines and winning that,
spk_0
then you come back into his new environment.
spk_0
Do you reckon he's mellowed a little bit, maybe just softened a little bit?
spk_0
I'm not quite sure.
spk_0
In certain ways, yeah, not on the pitch or when it's to do with rugby,
spk_0
probably not, but in other ways.
spk_0
But I think he needs to go to Rassin necessarily.
spk_0
He could have gone to Barley for a year.
spk_0
He would have been like, he'd come back.
spk_0
Okay, I've been away about a bit for.
spk_0
They do in New Zealand, it's a mathematical year.
spk_0
So they'll just go away, do something different and come back.
spk_0
But I just, they just look so like what we're used to seeing with them again.
spk_0
They look dangerous. They look really hard to be.
spk_0
And the score tries, Max Malens is flying as well, he's everywhere.
spk_0
The whole thing just seems to have linked really well together.
spk_0
People have said about Bristol, seen some stuff like, can people say,
spk_0
everyone's got injuries and players missing and this and that,
spk_0
but not everyone's got their main four players missing.
spk_0
But by the way, Bristol play, they use these positions so much
spk_0
and then to see resumming going off.
spk_0
Hopefully he's not too bad, we have confirmation where he's at.
spk_0
What do you know, he's totally tow-in-draight.
spk_0
Oh, okay, that's not the thing.
spk_0
But that is it. We've both had tow-in-dries.
spk_0
That's everything that you climb player in this season has gone for months.
spk_0
Well, we talked about it last week, didn't we?
spk_0
What impact it would have?
spk_0
And I think we said last week, it could be massive.
spk_0
I mean, going away to Sarasons with half a team is probably the worst place you could go
spk_0
with everything, the momentum that's going with them in the minute
spk_0
and they feel good of having our back, the original North London stuff that you love,
spk_0
it's all...
spk_0
It is wicked branding.
spk_0
Yeah, fine. It's all just building momentum and everything's going well
spk_0
for Saras at the minute.
spk_0
Teams have got to get up for that.
spk_0
They've never won though at all, Bristol.
spk_0
No, never won once of the year.
spk_0
And Pat said, we're not going to make top four already.
spk_0
Right.
spk_0
Four of the game.
spk_0
I don't know if someone just caught him out on an interview or whatever,
spk_0
and he said it without thinking.
spk_0
But if you're a player, you're like, never won Sarasons.
spk_0
All the positive, as the Pat says that in the week,
spk_0
and you kick off with three penalties given away, try.
spk_0
Remember, they came good last year, they didn't they?
spk_0
Remember, we're close, they ran bad, and that's semi-finity.
spk_0
I think people forget about that more quickly.
spk_0
They could easily have been in the final instead of back.
spk_0
With a full team.
spk_0
With a full team.
spk_0
So if they get everyone back,
spk_0
I know it's just, you just said it's a sprint,
spk_0
and I'm going to slightly contradict you there by saying,
spk_0
it is a long season, there's a lot more rugby to be played.
spk_0
And with the fact that they can score so quickly with their bonus points,
spk_0
et cetera, they get two or three wins with bonus points.
spk_0
They can be right back in there.
spk_0
Five lives, rugby union weekly.
spk_0
Welcome to the brand new podcast series,
spk_0
Runbilly Top 10 with me, Mark Chapman.
spk_0
It's where John Wilkin, Brian Noble and Jamie Peacock
spk_0
will discuss, debate, and argue over lists
spk_0
at the best players, games, finals, iconic moments,
spk_0
and plenty of other categories that will no doubt
spk_0
leave you screaming at your device.
spk_0
In most sense, the turning parts of last one,
spk_0
these, the jeopardy, the moments.
spk_0
You've made rugby league look cool.
spk_0
Yeah, I mean, that's a difficult thing to do.
spk_0
I think it is really easy.
spk_0
Well, I think we've all managed to carry that battle.
spk_0
Runbilly Top 10.
spk_0
Listen on BBC Sounds.
spk_0
Five lives, rugby union weekly.
spk_0
So the table has its sounds.
spk_0
You've got Sarasons and the Champions Barth
spk_0
on maximum points, on 10 points.
spk_0
They'll occupy on the top two spaces.
spk_0
Then Exeter, Exeter in third,
spk_0
and North Hampton in at fourth.
spk_0
Exeter, we spoke about last week.
spk_0
We thought that they would have a much improved season
spk_0
from last year.
spk_0
Wild draw, Topsy, Tervy, Game again at Franklin's Garden.
spk_0
They were back home taken on Newcastle Red Bulls.
spk_0
And we touched on Wings last week.
spk_0
But Manifale Boso's already scored five tries this season.
spk_0
Banger Hat Trick at the weekend.
spk_0
He's different, mate.
spk_0
He's different.
spk_0
He's different, I think, to anyone else in the league.
spk_0
Like I think he's just a bundle of energy.
spk_0
A bit like what Sarasons are leaning into, I think,
spk_0
with Fasbe and Bach.
spk_0
Having Mani Bach, you can hear the crowd.
spk_0
You can see what it means.
spk_0
When he's scoring his tries, he proper celebrates his tries.
spk_0
Fans love seeing that.
spk_0
And he's getting involved.
spk_0
He comes in and picks and goes around the rocks.
spk_0
As a winger, what you want a winger these days to be
spk_0
is someone who goes and gets the ball.
spk_0
Go and find, go and help, go and support.
spk_0
Go and help the forwards out.
spk_0
But then still be your X factor.
spk_0
So I love what he's doing.
spk_0
Exeter got a bit of a swagger back.
spk_0
I also love, as a one player word,
spk_0
with what I love at the minute, is Lenny Kittow.
spk_0
And he's going to add so much to this league when he comes back.
spk_0
Do you see what he does when he, when they go into their picking
spk_0
goes? Do you see he comes in as nine?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Because he's that ball threat, but he also does the no-look pass,
spk_0
which is so hard to stop.
spk_0
But then if anyone wants to rub a championship,
spk_0
but I already savored the one at the weekend as well,
spk_0
where you look like you're going to pick and go,
spk_0
no-look passes to someone,
spk_0
and you're using a score again in the corner.
spk_0
But Lenny Kittow does that so well, and he's such a threat.
spk_0
And you think when they get him in there as well,
spk_0
to help slady out, to help Skinner at 10,
spk_0
questioning the nine and ten at the moment,
spk_0
but someone bringing in Lenny Kittow outside,
spk_0
then we'll only help that.
spk_0
And yeah, Exeter, they're flying.
spk_0
They are going to be better than they were last year.
spk_0
They're the one team, I think, that we're going to see the most improvement
spk_0
from, and they're deserved to be.
spk_0
They should be two from two, really.
spk_0
But eight points.
spk_0
I mean, that's effectively two wins, spread out, isn't it?
spk_0
I mean, they'll be really pleased with the start
spk_0
that they've had to the season,
spk_0
and you're right, Lenny Kittow's going to be the best to have in the league.
spk_0
He's a serious, serious player, so it's...
spk_0
It's mad how things can change so quickly.
spk_0
They've got, they feel just like they have got way better balance in the team.
spk_0
Just across the backline and forwards, as Sam...
spk_0
In some of the things that's been added, he's like a big unit.
spk_0
Love throws himself around.
spk_0
Probably lacked in that area last year, just having a bit of size.
spk_0
No one extra were good.
spk_0
They always had big forwards that would just get them.
spk_0
Even if it went for years, you're doing the pick and go and score in all the time.
spk_0
And they were a big set of forwards.
spk_0
They didn't have that last year.
spk_0
Ethan Roots and Fisaloe, they just got a bit of size,
spk_0
a bit more about them in the forwards and what they did,
spk_0
and Falebos, so just imagine being like that confident in your home.
spk_0
And hopefully you are.
spk_0
You just go and get the ball all the time for you.
spk_0
I would love to be a bit in that powerful, man.
spk_0
Like I want to score tries and the ability to just run through forwards.
spk_0
It's ridiculous.
spk_0
It's just going to be...
spk_0
I've done it.
spk_0
If he carries on the way, he's going to be breaking some records this year.
spk_0
Let's hope he does.
spk_0
But it was quite sad to see Newcastle in that kind of way.
spk_0
Hexta was scoring pretty easily,
spk_0
and that was walking in.
spk_0
They weren't... They just didn't seem desperately almost accepting
spk_0
the way the game was going.
spk_0
They were just beating them up really.
spk_0
It was an massive score line, like dramatically massive.
spk_0
But I didn't ever think Steve was going to be there a long time.
spk_0
But I don't get why you would shift him without having someone to come in
spk_0
and take that personality on.
spk_0
It's kind of the thing that I'm a bit confused with,
spk_0
because in the coaching set off, if you haven't got that guy,
spk_0
he's going to be the motivator or just be a personality in your coaching team.
spk_0
If you just lost that and not put anyone back in,
spk_0
in the teams already struggling,
spk_0
it's only ever going to go one way, isn't it?
spk_0
Everyone just seems like,
spk_0
oh, okay, we've lost Dams gone now.
spk_0
We're in a transition late.
spk_0
This is us for the rest of the year, can't I think?
spk_0
I feel sorry for the Newcastle ads,
spk_0
because I mean, we're not in their shoes,
spk_0
but you can't.
spk_0
You won't be able to begrudge them from feeling like,
spk_0
this is just a nothing year almost.
spk_0
It's a bit of a transitional year.
spk_0
They keep here in five year project,
spk_0
ten year project or whatever.
spk_0
But there's players there that,
spk_0
obviously, are only on one year deals,
spk_0
that are like, well, am I going to be part of that project?
spk_0
What am I actually playing for?
spk_0
The coach, you've just sacked after one week?
spk_0
Is that what the player is going to be feeling the same?
spk_0
Are they just going to get sacked off at the end of the season?
spk_0
You can understand why they're maybe
spk_0
they're not running for everything.
spk_0
They're not desperate to get back,
spk_0
because what they desperate to get back for,
spk_0
if that club is only going to change and keep changing,
spk_0
and I imagine a lot of them are thinking,
spk_0
well, I might be one of the changes sort of thing.
spk_0
So I think Newcastle, they've got to be careful.
spk_0
The fact that there's no relegation again
spk_0
makes all this fine,
spk_0
because Newcastle will be in the league again next year.
spk_0
But you can imagine as the players,
spk_0
there's a lot of uncertainty there.
spk_0
There's obviously massive high hopes
spk_0
and a great company that had been coming
spk_0
brilliant, credible organisation.
spk_0
But I think for the players to see your head coach sacked after one week,
spk_0
they've got a big question in a few things of what they're actually,
spk_0
what's the purpose?
spk_0
I think it's really, really tough to be able to fully concentrate and commit
spk_0
a project, which is going to be a long-term project.
spk_0
This year was always going to be a replica of what we saw last year on the pitch.
spk_0
They've turned into a good brand this season,
spk_0
and next year, and the next couple of years,
spk_0
they'll be hoping to be a good brand as well as being a really good team.
spk_0
But when there's constant conversation, speculation about who's coming in
spk_0
and they're in your position and you're on a one-year deal,
spk_0
might make you quite selfish as a player, you're thinking,
spk_0
well, I'm just going to play well just for me,
spk_0
because if I'm not wanted here,
spk_0
I'm going to have to go and find a job elsewhere.
spk_0
So it's a tricky one.
spk_0
But I do like the long-term vision for where the club wants to go.
spk_0
I love the fact John Fletcher is back in the premp.
spk_0
I think he's a brilliant coach.
spk_0
He's a northern lad.
spk_0
He understands it, and anyone that's worked with him has only got good things to say about him.
spk_0
But some of the players they're talking about,
spk_0
yes, they want to be a team within a number of years to be able to,
spk_0
not just be in the top four, but truly believe that they can win the premp.
spk_0
Will you even talk about this Gregor Townsend thing or not?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Like, is it all right?
spk_0
I can't really work it out whether...
spk_0
It's all right for Gregor.
spk_0
It's great for Gregor, I mean, yeah.
spk_0
Do you want to be a consultant?
spk_0
There you go, there's a bit more money.
spk_0
Is that Gregor going...
spk_0
Oh, I might be half-moving on at some point.
spk_0
Half-moving on.
spk_0
After the 27-well cup, he's going to be Newcastle Red Bull head coach.
spk_0
Yeah, that's what it screams of, doesn't it?
spk_0
You don't jump in as a consultant just like,
spk_0
whilst managing an international side like this,
spk_0
they've paved the way for what's going to happen in a couple of years.
spk_0
And I understand as to why Newcastle will do it,
spk_0
because in terms of recruitment over the next couple of years,
spk_0
which is going to be massive for them,
spk_0
they want the players who are coming into the club
spk_0
to be able to connect to the long-term successor and coach off the club.
spk_0
And that feels like that's going to be Gregor Townsend.
spk_0
Do you think Gregor's even going,
spk_0
OK, I'll do consulting,
spk_0
but I'm not going to commit in case none of this actually comes off.
spk_0
He's not gone too far as he committed so much that he might not be able to pull it all back.
spk_0
Well, I think he's...
spk_0
He's opened the door to a long-term project in Newcastle,
spk_0
but he's opened the door to the S.I.U.
spk_0
to find potential long-term replacement.
spk_0
Like, we know his cutoff day is going to be
spk_0
whenever they exit the well cup.
spk_0
And when there were so many conversations about a Franco Smither,
spk_0
whoever else it might be,
spk_0
if Gregor didn't resign, well,
spk_0
I'd imagine some of those conversations are probably...
spk_0
If they've not already started,
spk_0
we'll be starting to take place
spk_0
and take shape over the next few weeks, months,
spk_0
certainly before they get to that point of work.
spk_0
We've got to see a sign in soon, aren't we?
spk_0
Just do like, put everyone...
spk_0
Oh, OK. They are actually going to...
spk_0
Darsie Graham was there last week.
spk_0
It's still a bit...
spk_0
Betailis Wiff was there, but she's not...
spk_0
She's not performing on that.
spk_0
I'm sorry.
spk_0
It's... It's...
spk_0
It's... You reckon it's just going to...
spk_0
It could end up turning into a third Scottish franchise team.
spk_0
It's not far from...
spk_0
Is that a problem if it does?
spk_0
As long as it does.
spk_0
Well, I don't think it's necessarily great for English rugby,
spk_0
because...
spk_0
But if we had a really strong Newcastle...
spk_0
Oh, strong Newcastle would be amazing.
spk_0
I'm all for that.
spk_0
But I don't know.
spk_0
It just feels a little bit to me, like maybe it's...
spk_0
Scotland's way of getting more of their players playing more regularly,
spk_0
because there's only two teams on there.
spk_0
The closest one is Newcastle.
spk_0
It's 10 or 12 lads there.
spk_0
Then there's three different teams.
spk_0
Which I don't know.
spk_0
Is that then the Prem helping out Scottish rugby,
spk_0
rather than English rugby?
spk_0
It's a domestic competition.
spk_0
So if the domestic competition has more stars, has better quality,
spk_0
and it's a more competitive league, I'm here for it.
spk_0
Doesn't matter.
spk_0
I can care less.
spk_0
Well, it helps Scotland, rather than England,
spk_0
Scotland, when the next few six nations in England are...
spk_0
It's not like England haven't had time to...
spk_0
Really invest in puts some stuff up there, is it?
spk_0
Scotland taking it on would only be a benefit.
spk_0
I think we're...
spk_0
Really, they were pretty well-started.
spk_0
I mean, obviously Eddie did it with his son's aura,
spk_0
he had a consultancy role, but obviously, because that's Japan.
spk_0
I think the fact that it's so close to home,
spk_0
that it's the Scotland current head coach
spk_0
is now going to be helping out one of the English teams.
spk_0
I think that's why a few questions have been...
spk_0
Have been asked.
spk_0
And we'll see. Proof of being the buddy.
spk_0
Questions are asked at King's home on Sunday. Good Lord.
spk_0
Great.
spk_0
And that's what...
spk_0
I've never seen Doe Slard before.
spk_0
He was five, Steve.
spk_0
He's had Doe Slard.
spk_0
I'd be on edge, thinking surely not again.
spk_0
Like surely not again.
spk_0
How good was Worry Hutchinson?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Although that tackle, I know, you know, it's a great tackle.
spk_0
Terrible technique.
spk_0
Terrible technique. Should've hit the moves left.
spk_0
Yeah, everyone's shoulder.
spk_0
If he'd have got that slightly wrong, that's the biggest.
spk_0
That's a red card straight away in a massive band.
spk_0
But he got it right on that occasion.
spk_0
I know it was a big, big old momentum swing up,
spk_0
but yeah, you talked about it before the game moves.
spk_0
And I was, as you were saying it, he is one of the very best
spk_0
at ball to the line, making the decision at the line
spk_0
with three or four different options,
spk_0
whether he goes himself, he offloads, he plays the tip,
spk_0
he plays it out the back.
spk_0
He's so good at that.
spk_0
Him and Fraser Dingwell.
spk_0
Like, you got two incredible 12s there to pick from.
spk_0
And he had a hand in everything, didn't he?
spk_0
kept turning the ball over.
spk_0
Eight caps, he's got for Scott nine.
spk_0
Nine caps for Scotland.
spk_0
You got to think he's better than that.
spk_0
He's better player than that.
spk_0
But every time Saints call upon him,
spk_0
he always delivers feces.
spk_0
I've had a couple of good dealings with him before.
spk_0
He puts his heart on his sleeve here
spk_0
and Northamts of Fair Play, because...
spk_0
I mean, they were so good in the first half.
spk_0
He won, Neil.
spk_0
I can't believe he lost to him back then, he didn't win.
spk_0
No.
spk_0
The win, mate.
spk_0
The win in the last ten minutes,
spk_0
it was like, Northamts and after, was it three in a card?
spk_0
It goes to uncontested scrums.
spk_0
All they did was just find territory.
spk_0
And you saw the Tomas Williams box kick,
spk_0
which went about 50 metres.
spk_0
spk_0
spk_0
spk_0
spk_0
spk_0
spk_0
spk_0
He's like, all right, I'll try again.
spk_0
He's not getting much help.
spk_0
I'll try again here.
spk_0
No one's screaming for that ball, the Berns not screaming for it.
spk_0
I'll let him, mate, don't worry.
spk_0
And then Ross Burn.
spk_0
He's out of shock and they're going for that ball.
spk_0
Because you risk the yellow card.
spk_0
I've had so many yellow cards for doing that.
spk_0
There was one in the first half, which should have been the yellow card.
spk_0
But there's no way he can be complaining that that isn't a yellow card
spk_0
in the way the game is these days.
spk_0
I thought it was tough.
spk_0
In the first half, we had one where the players gone for the intercept
spk_0
and patted it down.
spk_0
He's trying to pat that up to catch it.
spk_0
I thought it was a penalty.
spk_0
And actually, he didn't have any difference on the outcome of the game
spk_0
because Bello kicks the penalty.
spk_0
And if it was just the penalty, he converts it.
spk_0
He's classed.
spk_0
That's a brilliant bit of recruitment.
spk_0
But I did think yellow was harsh.
spk_0
I did think it was only...
spk_0
I thought it was harsh because he didn't give you one of the first cards.
spk_0
That's what I mean.
spk_0
And we can only measure the outcome of the decision of the referee
spk_0
based on what we've seen trend in the game.
spk_0
And if in the first half, that's not a yellow, that can't be a yellow.
spk_0
Do you reckon the players get a grilling out half time, the ref did?
spk_0
He comes in and it's like, we're doing...
spk_0
Hello!
spk_0
So did it so quickly, is it?
spk_0
You'd be surprised if...
spk_0
In his little referee debrief, he's probably...
spk_0
Yeah, he missed it.
spk_0
...they've probably taught and probably got a...
spk_0
I probably missed one there.
spk_0
That's probably a yellow.
spk_0
So then that is in his mind.
spk_0
So then that's when I don't know.
spk_0
Rosperne's mindset there.
spk_0
You've done so well to battle back, to get back to being winning.
spk_0
Don't chance it there.
spk_0
It's easy said and done.
spk_0
It's easy watching on Telly and I've been the person who's gone and done that before.
spk_0
But I don't know, just that game, you come back from that.
spk_0
You have to then see it off.
spk_0
Saints, I've got a four line to come back.
spk_0
Yeah, that's going to help.
spk_0
Just a bit.
spk_0
That's going to help.
spk_0
But bellow at 10, you mate.
spk_0
That is a brilliant bit of recruitment.
spk_0
And when you consider he was obviously head to head with Rosperne and you're thinking,
spk_0
based on the evidence that this opened in two weeks,
spk_0
Saints' second choice, Flav, is better than Gloss, the first choice, Flav.
spk_0
And you've got to have sheer quality at 9 and 10.
spk_0
We know they've got quality at number 9 until more Williams, but Rosperne's still setting into the...
spk_0
I'm going to have to go to the Prem.
spk_0
Yes, Gloss to a miss and a little bit up front, but I think they need to demand a little bit more out of that.
spk_0
I found it really interesting off line outs.
spk_0
When Gloss, the one who plays right on top of the fences,
spk_0
they put Seb Atkinson to 10, because he's so good at running hard straight square,
spk_0
Rosperne doesn't.
spk_0
So when they want to play tight and just put the ball in behind or play flat to the line,
spk_0
Seb Atkinson turns into that 10,
spk_0
because Rosperne is a stationary 10.
spk_0
He stands and passes to structure, he plays to pattern really well, so...
spk_0
Lentster, isn't it?
spk_0
He's been used to playing with us.
spk_0
He's also predictable during the other season, he goes on.
spk_0
He's been used to...
spk_0
Probably maybe he will be his downfall to start within the Prem,
spk_0
the quality that he's been playing with Lentster.
spk_0
They've been so much better than other teams, that he can stand and deliver to give it to Ajay.
spk_0
He doesn't work in the Prem.
spk_0
No, you need an all-core 10.
spk_0
He's more movement.
spk_0
He's more movement.
spk_0
Right, so the rugby championship final weekend happened this weekend.
spk_0
It was closer than what a lot of people thought.
spk_0
Did we even actually know there was a game which we couldn't...
spk_0
Wasn't it...
spk_0
Not until you mentioned it last week, you're a lot of...
spk_0
It wasn't shared about it in London, wasn't it?
spk_0
I did it with Andre and Vilco, and they were like,
spk_0
I were playing in Twickenham.
spk_0
Oh, OK.
spk_0
All right, nice, yeah.
spk_0
You just thought they'd come for the dinner.
spk_0
A long way to come.
spk_0
When they were said they were coming, I was like,
spk_0
all right, you're playing over here.
spk_0
But obviously, there's a load of passionate South Africans and Argentinians that live in and around London.
spk_0
It looks like a wicked atmosphere, great game again, down to the YL a little bit.
spk_0
But South Africa just again proved it.
spk_0
Oh, I wouldn't be lucky.
spk_0
I wanted to lighten you Zealand to win it this time.
spk_0
Why?
spk_0
Why, I just think they deserve it.
spk_0
I think they've been sat under just under South Africa,
spk_0
or I'll have for a bit of time.
spk_0
I just feel like they're in the groove again.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
And I would have liked to have them to pick it up over South Africa.
spk_0
Don't mind South Africa.
spk_0
I don't mind any team just being dominant,
spk_0
and just forever just saying, come get me.
spk_0
But they just been dominant, that's the thing.
spk_0
It's just enough.
spk_0
It's great.
spk_0
But off the back of that, we've got the Quarternation series starting in a couple of weeks.
spk_0
We've got the big dogs, the big boys in town,
spk_0
right across all the home nations.
spk_0
And from what you've seen from South Africa, Australia, Argentina,
spk_0
and New Zealand in particular, they look pretty good for them, don't they?
spk_0
Yeah, they look decent.
spk_0
It's always tough, because we say this every year,
spk_0
that they've come off a really tough rugby championship.
spk_0
For me, this is probably the most open rugby championship that's been.
spk_0
And now there isn't going to be another rugby championship for, I think, five years, maybe,
spk_0
I think, because of the way they're doing it now,
spk_0
and the World Cups and stuff in between,
spk_0
and the way they're different, and they're tall, different areas.
spk_0
They're all perring quite nicely.
spk_0
But we say it every time the home nations have got to start again,
spk_0
and start from scratch, build on the work that they've done in the summer and last year.
spk_0
But you get these teams when they're battle hard,
spk_0
and when they've played a lot of rugby together,
spk_0
the Australians look at before the Lions Tour,
spk_0
had hardly played any rugby together,
spk_0
now they're flying, everyone's beating, everyone in that championship.
spk_0
The Courtenacious Series, I think, for me,
spk_0
are going to be sensational.
spk_0
So, Gents, it was a busy weekend on the rugby pitch.
spk_0
I've been asked on a number of occasions on my Instagram to get Chris Ashton,
spk_0
to dissect and review Afo for Sogbons,
spk_0
As Splash over the trial line.
spk_0
I'm like a set of bootcut jeans, I'm just like coming back on trend.
spk_0
The dive's coming back in trend.
spk_0
What did you buy, David? Is it quite cool that everyone calls it the As Splash?
spk_0
I don't think so, it's just me that says that.
spk_0
Well, well... No, we all do.
spk_0
OK, if they do, happy days, but there's quite a few. There's Max Maylands.
spk_0
Yeah, but he went full As Splash.
spk_0
He went full, he was the best of the weekend, OK.
spk_0
Who else?
spk_0
Sogbons.
spk_0
And there was another.
spk_0
Sogbons, they've not won.
spk_0
Oh, there's...
spk_0
Chloric.
spk_0
No, Chloric.
spk_0
We came before?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
And there's one more missing.
spk_0
I think there was another one.
spk_0
Mani did one.
spk_0
This weekend. Yeah.
spk_0
Yeah, yeah.
spk_0
Well, my money's up in days back on trend.
spk_0
So, for Sogbons...
spk_0
Is the workpiling up now?
spk_0
It's back.
spk_0
I never trade market, mate.
spk_0
Everyone's open themselves to get the other one with it.
spk_0
Max was definitely technicwise the best.
spk_0
Yeah, I've seen for a long time.
spk_0
Ball and arm up.
spk_0
It was impressive. And the Elevatorias were like, Max Maylands try.
spk_0
There was a bit Ben Cohen.
spk_0
No, it was full stretch.
spk_0
I like it.
spk_0
I just worry about shoulders as you learn.
spk_0
Yeah, it's quite bombing in the pool.
spk_0
For Sogbons, he's a powerful man.
spk_0
He got some height.
spk_0
For a big dude.
spk_0
With three people around him.
spk_0
But he just...
spk_0
That was the brave thing.
spk_0
He just wanted to just wipe it out.
spk_0
It was like a vertical jump rather than a dive.
spk_0
spk_0
Because he was already there.
spk_0
It's like a pick and go.
spk_0
He's like, oh, I'm not the child.
spk_0
I'm going to go up.
spk_0
C-M-J.
spk_0
But yes, but it's back in Vogue.
spk_0
So happy days.
spk_0
Long make, continue.
spk_0
In Vogue.
spk_0
Great song.
spk_0
How would you dance that?
spk_0
Was this leading?
spk_0
Chris Robshaw.
spk_0
Trickling.
spk_0
Is he beat you yet?
spk_0
Is he beat me?
spk_0
Is it a dance of the first weekend?
spk_0
What did you do?
spk_0
Is that the five weeks?
spk_0
I didn't have a CD yet.
spk_0
What happened to you?
spk_0
So the first week is just like a free pass.
spk_0
You just get to dance.
spk_0
Robo found himself.
spk_0
I think second bottom on the leaderboard.
spk_0
But that's fine.
spk_0
Like...
spk_0
Is that just from the judges?
spk_0
From the judges' scores.
spk_0
And that's fine.
spk_0
You just don't need to be bottom.
spk_0
That's it.
spk_0
You just don't need to be voted out.
spk_0
So then week two, he went from doing the Samba to the V&E's waltz.
spk_0
You know the difference.
spk_0
I mean, the judges said that he's improved.
spk_0
And that's all you want to do.
spk_0
That's all you want to do.
spk_0
He's just get better.
spk_0
He's a non-danceer learning a brand new skill
spk_0
of having to dance in front of like 10 million people.
spk_0
It's wildly different.
spk_0
So he was in the bottom two with public votes, him and Tom Skinner.
spk_0
And it'll popularity come to the Sierabadgin-Christopher's
spk_0
but in Tom Skinner as he knows.
spk_0
And he did.
spk_0
But you just don't want the first week you can go home,
spk_0
A to be voted out and B to do a dance of.
spk_0
I did a dance of.
spk_0
I only did one and I got voted out.
spk_0
It's meeing.
spk_0
So I mean, you did it really badly.
spk_0
Twice.
spk_0
So that wasn't very good.
spk_0
Could you do it again?
spk_0
And then I did it back from me.
spk_0
And he were near what you are above.
spk_0
Fair play to Rob.
spk_0
Has Rob ever been known as a dancer?
spk_0
I've never seen those hips move.
spk_0
He rang me monthly.
spk_0
I was like, oh, that's been approached to do strictly come dance.
spk_0
So would you reckon?
spk_0
I was like, hey, it's um, it's a great opportunity.
spk_0
But it's really tough.
spk_0
Like you work really, really hard.
spk_0
These dancers are proper athletes.
spk_0
It's very exposing.
spk_0
It's so consuming.
spk_0
I was like, what's your dancing like?
spk_0
It's like not grounds like, I know.
spk_0
I know.
spk_0
You're going to have to do it on telly in like the most rascal gear ever.
spk_0
At what point do you cross the line when people start to feel sorry for you?
spk_0
So they save you anyway?
spk_0
He's rubbing near that, yeah, not.
spk_0
No.
spk_0
But he's a likable guy.
spk_0
Half of it is not half of it, but a lot of it's dancing.
spk_0
But he's very likable, isn't he?
spk_0
He's just a nice bloke.
spk_0
He's a gentle man.
spk_0
But that's, we know him.
spk_0
So we know that.
spk_0
But we don't know him.
spk_0
You're just seeing him through the screen.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
That's harder to get.
spk_0
So are we saying we need everyone to start voting for him?
spk_0
Because he's in trouble.
spk_0
He's not had a great start.
spk_0
Like if we were to consider strictly as a season, he's...
spk_0
He's got a losing bonus point from the weekend.
spk_0
If we were playing Mario Kart, he's just a banana.
spk_0
He's spinning.
spk_0
I don't want him to do better, mate.
spk_0
There we go.
spk_0
OK.
spk_0
If he beats you.
spk_0
OK, tell me.
spk_0
What would you do?
spk_0
What's the bet?
spk_0
Would you...
spk_0
I'll turn up in one of my outfits for the pod.
spk_0
I'll dye your hair pink.
spk_0
I'm out, pink.
spk_0
For a weekend.
spk_0
For a weekend.
spk_0
For a weekend, we have to work on it.
spk_0
No.
spk_0
If Robo beats you.
spk_0
You just said he's terrible.
spk_0
You said he won't beat you.
spk_0
But he was in the bottom, too.
spk_0
Like, that was not me, so.
spk_0
I said he's a judge.
spk_0
He's a judge.
spk_0
Or just do it.
spk_0
Yeah, pink.
spk_0
For a weekend, then you have to have to keep it.
spk_0
Pink, for the...
spk_0
It means I'll have to grow my hair.
spk_0
It's a little bit.
spk_0
It's fine.
spk_0
No, I'm not dyeing it pink.
spk_0
I dye my pubes, pink.
spk_0
I'm not...
spk_0
pubes, pink.
spk_0
So...
spk_0
There's even less hair down there.
spk_0
Yeah, I do.
spk_0
Honestly.
spk_0
So you will dye your hair?
spk_0
No.
spk_0
Blond.
spk_0
I've done that before.
spk_0
Yeah, still again.
spk_0
No. That was cool.
spk_0
We'll think of another one.
spk_0
Maybe we'll put it out to the other...
spk_0
No, you have to wear one of your outfits over the weekend.
spk_0
What when I'm working?
spk_0
When you're working.
spk_0
That's pot.
spk_0
On a pod.
spk_0
Just on a pod.
spk_0
On a pod?
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
If Robo beats you.
spk_0
Okay, so it gets past week five.
spk_0
Jents, where are you, Dobby Weekend and the Gallagher Prome?
spk_0
Where are you both?
spk_0
I am...
spk_0
Good series.
spk_0
Okay, Sunday.
spk_0
Three o'clock.
spk_0
Are we found at the Dobby Weekend?
spk_0
Yes, love it.
spk_0
It would light them.
spk_0
Especially returning Lions players, everyone's back in.
spk_0
Full squad, loads of internustrels everywhere.
spk_0
This could be wicked this week.
spk_0
What would happen if all these lads come back at the Prome just because of that?
spk_0
No, I won't.
spk_0
Surely not.
spk_0
Because it's been like this.
spk_0
It's been wild.
spk_0
I love your coach here.
spk_0
I'm happy.
spk_0
Where are you, Ashie?
spk_0
I'm going to do the Dobby.
spk_0
I'm going to do the Lester.
spk_0
It'll be all right.
spk_0
I'm Friday night under two of your former clubs.
spk_0
You could say that most weeks, you know what I mean?
spk_0
We could.
spk_0
It's going to be five-steer this weekend.
spk_0
I'm there for it.
spk_0
It's going to be saying it's less than I was the main one.
spk_0
I'm there for that.
spk_0
That's the main Dobby, isn't it?
spk_0
He's middle.
spk_0
The biggest.
spk_0
Well, probably.
spk_0
History wise.
spk_0
spk_0
That's it.
spk_0
I'm there for that.
spk_0
Then the London Dobby.
spk_0
The London Dobby.
spk_0
South London versus North London.
spk_0
It's so quest.
spk_0
Sequence winning boys.
spk_0
I think he said that last week.
spk_0
Thanks, last week.
spk_0
Cheers.
spk_0
Thanks for downloading Rugby Union Weekly.
spk_0
For more info, head to the BBC Sounds app.
spk_0
From the sounds app.
spk_0
I'm Maisie Adler.
spk_0
And I'm Susie Ruffal.
spk_0
And we host the Women's Football Podcast Big Kick Energy.
spk_0
Each week, we bring you the latest from the WSL and beyond.
spk_0
Whether you're a lifelong fan like me.
spk_0
Or a no-a fan like me, in a recently got swept up in the lioness's excitement.
spk_0
We've got everything you need to know about the women's game.
spk_0
And Charles.
spk_0
We've got Charles.
spk_0
Oh, yes, we love a chant.
spk_0
And finding ways to shoot one in some truly obscure pop culture references.
spk_0
It's actually quite a silly podcast.
spk_0
Yeah, listen now, or BBC Sound.
spk_0
Yeah, you should, okay, cool.