S1: You don't know anything about rugby. Don't talk.
UU: Gregan. Drop go from Larkham Australian creep forward. They've got
UU: the advantage.
S1: Worst press conference. Well done boys.
S2: Hi everyone and welcome to the Gadget Teams podcast for
S2: the week. I'm the happy man and it's just Sully
S2: with me tonight to go through the first wallaby squad
S2: of the year. Evening, Sully. How are you going?
S3: I'm good mate. How are you? Good, good.
S2: Just a bit of a change to run on a Thursday.
S2: But we waited until the teams were announced so that
S2: we'd have something to talk about. Loving life. Uh, ladies
S2: and gentlemen, thank you very much for your support. It's, uh,
S2: improving nicely week on week. Please, uh, don't forget to download, rate, subscribe,
S2: review on all the platforms we're on YouTube and all
S2: those sorts of things. Uh, tonight's probably just going to
S2: really just drill into the Australia and Wales game. We'll
S2: touch on a few of the other games that are
S2: going on around the world and uh, go for uh,
S2: a bit of a shouting at clouds moment at the end. Sully,
S2: what were you what was your highlight of the week?
S3: Oh, man. It's, uh, it's, uh, rinse and repeat for me, mate. I, uh,
S3: had a had a check in on the Maori, All Blacks, uh, versus, uh,
S3: Eddie Jones's team, and, uh, he got smashed again, so
S3: I'm happy about that again. So I'm, I'm, I'm sad
S3: about Japan. I mean, they don't deserve that, but it's
S3: Eddie Jones and I just don't care anymore. So I'm
S3: over him. He's had done enough to Australian rugby and
S3: the Reds over the years and I'm done. So. Yeah. Yeah.
S2: Schadenfreude is good for the soul, my friend. Yeah. Yeah. Yes.
S2: I just like the, uh. I like the fact that the, uh, team,
S2: the Australian team looks like. And the Australian coaching seems
S2: to be looking like it's run by adults at the moment.
S2: So long may that continue. But we're at that point
S2: of the year where hope and expectation meets reality. We're
S2: about get stuck into the big games so quickly. Let's
S2: run through the team for the for the Australians. We've
S2: got uh. James Slipper, uh, at loosehead Matt Fezler at
S2: uh hooker Taniela Tupou starts at tighthead. Jeremy Williams and
S2: Lukhan Salakaia-loto make up the locking combination. Uh Liam Wright
S2: is at six and captain with Fraser McBryde at seven,
S2: Rob Valentini at eight, Jake Gordon at nine, Nilo Lucio
S2: playing at fly half, Filipo Daugunu and Andrew Kellaway on
S2: the wings. Hunter Paisami and Josh Luke make up the
S2: centres and Tom Wright starts on at fullback. The substitutes
S2: we've got Billy Pollard as a hooker, Isaac Kelly and
S2: Alataua as the props. Angus Blyth, Charlie Kyle make up
S2: the loose trio in the back and Tate McDermott, Tom
S2: Liner and Dylan Peach are the back replacements. What do
S2: you think of the Australian team? Sydney?
S3: Um, yeah, I'm surprised how strong it is, mate. I'm.
S3: I'm a little bit, um, concerned about combinations. Like, we've got, uh,
S3: props from three different clubs. We've got, uh, locks from
S3: two different clubs, you know, back row, um, from two
S3: different clubs, uh, halves from different clubs. Um, as I
S3: was saying to you earlier, the finishing without injuries, the
S3: finishing backline would have a few players or mostly from
S3: from one club. If if everyone stays fit, but just
S3: meshing together quickly in like, what was it been two weeks? Uh,
S3: it might be difficult to get some cohesion there, but
S3: I'm liking it. They all seem to be like form
S3: players playing well. The big surprises like two weeks ago
S3: before the squad was named, would you think Angus Blythe's
S3: name would be on that list?
S2: You could have. Yeah. There's no chance I would, I
S2: would have. He for me, for mine. He's the biggest star.
S2: He's the biggest surprise. If you look at body of
S2: work availability what he's actually done this year. I think
S2: if you asked him, he'd be surprised. Yeah. So he
S2: just I don't think he's done enough. I think there's
S2: there's a whole stack of players who I think have
S2: done more. Uh, so yeah, it's a massive surprise for me.
S2: Massive surprise. I can I can only hope that they're
S2: they're seeing something that I haven't for a number of years. Really.
S3: Well, he's he's, uh. He he looks he physically, he's
S3: got everything that an international lock should have. It's just
S3: an attitude adjustment that. Yeah. So maybe that's happened. Going
S3: in his limited time this season, I thought I could
S3: see a change in him, but that hasn't been enough
S3: time to bed that in for me. So. yeah.
S2: Look, if I'd have, you know, using the term that
S2: I had last week about Cocker's law, if you say
S2: that someone you don't think someone should get the job,
S2: you should name a replacement. I think you'd go Nick Frost,
S2: Darcy Swain. Both would be more able replacements. And that's
S2: coming from a Queenslander. Yeah.
S3: Well, I think Darcy Swain suffers from the same thing
S3: that Angus Bligh's suffers from his little head explosion.
S2: So a little bit, a little bit. But I think
S2: he's limited that last this year. So I and I
S2: think Nick Frost is the sort of has, you know,
S2: some big athletic, high quality second rower that I think
S2: I would probably have on there. And at a pinch
S2: you can throw him at six as well.
S3: So it's I'm surprised not to see him in the
S3: side at all.
S4: Yeah yeah.
S2: Yeah.
S4: Yeah.
S2: I thought, uh, Jack Gordon was. Was lucky. I'm surprised
S2: to see him.
S3: Yeah. Yeah. He's had a few chances to start in
S3: wallaby teams. And I'm surprised the new coaches, I guess.
S3: But I'm surprised to see him get another chance.
S4: Yeah, yeah. Look.
S2: It's very hard to take his form because he was
S2: playing behind a pack that was really suffering a lot,
S2: you know, so the Waratahs really had a difficult year.
S2: Maybe they've they've seen him play, you know seen him
S2: go around at training where he's actually got a bit
S2: of decent ball and, and said well you know what.
S2: He can play a bit flatter. He's probably to be honest,
S2: he's got a bit of a superior kicking game to, um,
S2: Tate McDermott. But I would have thought Nic White would
S2: be in a better place than either of those to,
S2: you know, to be the starter. Uh, I don't I like,
S2: take McDermott off the bench because I think he's got
S2: that capacity to speed the game up if you want to. Well,
S2: the back end, but.
S3: I think you choose Nick white if you want to
S3: play off nine. Mm. Uh, I, they obviously don't want
S3: to pay off nine. They want to play off ten. So.
S4: Yeah.
S2: Yeah. And potentially they want to give Lucy a bit
S2: of breathing space. Maybe they've gone with Tate on the
S2: bench because of Tom Warner. They maybe they think they
S2: can bring them on as a tandem. Yeah. Uh, really
S2: excited for Liam Wright. He's had a difficult run with injury.
S2: And getting getting the captaincy band is is a testament
S2: to his to his work. I do like the fact
S2: that they've, uh, named him just for this test series. Uh,
S2: which basically seems to be a bit of a thing
S2: of your form will have to dictate that you picked
S2: in the team, and then we'll have a series of
S2: captains who will go to on that basis. Uh, yeah.
S2: I must be a.
S3: I absolutely agree with that. I'm. I don't think you
S3: should pick a captain for a year. I think that's
S3: that's just wrong. I think you should have a leadership group.
S3: And if your captain doesn't make the team, you pick
S3: a new captain.
S2: But yeah, the days 35, 40 years ago of guys
S2: being the captain, the coach not even talking to them.
S2: Half time a long gone with modern technology. You know,
S2: people are talking at all times to the players on
S2: the field calling whether to go for posts or do whatever. Ultimately,
S2: that seems to be a bit of a thing. Look, Liam.
S3: Liam. Liam Wright has had injury problems, but they haven't
S3: been similar injuries. And they've all been injuries during matches
S3: and haven't like.
S4: Yes. Yeah.
S3: And having said that, he has played all but 16
S3: minutes of this season. So he's.
S4: Played.
S3: A massive I think it's 1100 and something minutes of
S3: the season. He's played a massive amount of minutes. So
S3: any any worries over injury concerns about Liam Wright this
S3: year or should be just forgotten as far as I'm concerned.
S4: Yeah, yeah.
S2: 100%. I do like the look of our back three
S2: with Andrew Kellaway, Tom Wright, both the form players in
S2: their position.
S3: Yeah, I wouldn't worry about which one's the fullback. Um, no,
S3: it's as far as I'm concerned, it's a shared role. Yeah. And, um, yeah.
S2: Both have a good kicking game. Can come up into
S2: the line. Yeah. If, if you think about, you know,
S2: using the Irish comparable playing Andrew Kellaway at uh on
S2: the wing is very much like a mack Hansen kind
S2: of role where, you know, you can play a bit
S2: of ball, he can come into second receiver, you can
S2: do a lot of different things. So I expect to
S2: see him in a bit of a roving role. The same.
S4: With.
S3: Luke and Daugunu. I wouldn't worry about which ones are
S3: the winger and which ones? The outside centre either. I
S3: mean they around quite easily.
S4: Yeah, yeah.
S2: And congratulations to Filipo Daugunu. He's really he's progressed quite,
S2: quite a lot over the last year and a half. Uh,
S2: I think Brad Thorn struck gold when he put him
S2: at outside centre. Yeah. Through necessity at about 18 months ago. And, uh,
S2: hasn't taken a backward step so can play outside center
S2: can play on the wing. Strong defender. Great over the ball.
S4: Well you could see.
S3: Immediately when when thorn did it, it was like a,
S3: uh it worked instantly. And, uh, I was surprised he
S3: didn't stay there. He. I think he only lasted a
S3: week and he went back to wing because I think
S3: it was fluke who was injured at the time. I
S3: can't remember who it was, but, um. Yeah.
S4: Yeah, yeah, but it was, uh.
S3: Yeah. And, uh, I think he's played every game at
S3: outside centre this year. I think it this will be
S3: his first game at the wing this year. Um.
S4: So yeah.
S2: I like the balance of our back row with Liam Wright.
S2: He just gets in and does all the hard work.
S2: You've got Fraser Mcreight with a bit of the all
S2: court game. And then uh, Rob Valentini obviously is a
S2: good run running eight. So I think that gives us
S2: really good options there. Yeah, uh I agree. Yeah, obviously
S2: it's an inexperienced side, but uh, again, I don't think
S2: there's a real natural capacity there for for experience to
S2: come through, given what Eddie did to the team last year. Uh,
S2: robbed it of any, any of its real experience and then, uh,
S2: picked on a lot of the, the wrong people to
S2: be to get, get debutants. So it's a it is
S2: a highly inexperienced team when you think that of the starters,
S2: Taniela Tupou is the got second highest test cap at
S2: 50 and a mere 84 behind James Slipper. And then
S2: the next highest is what, 39 for Valentine. So there's
S2: there's not a lot of experience there but there's certainly
S2: a lot of ability.
S4: I don't know.
S3: Um I'm not sure they have they haven't added um,
S3: all the reserves.
S4: Um.
S3: Things for Allan Alaalatoa have a few caps.
S4: He would, he Haywood.
S2: Tate McDermott will have a few, but Dylan Pietsch, Tom liner,
S2: Charlie Cale, Angus Blyth all looking at, uh, and Isaac
S2: Collier all looking at uh, debuts. And Billy Pohlad's got
S2: one test. So not exactly what you'd call an experience
S2: sponsor closes, but it needs must.
S3: And Liam Wright's rights. Never started a, never started a
S3: started a test match. And he's, uh, got the captain's armband.
S4: Yeah, yeah, but to be honest.
S3: Liam Wright's been, uh, captaining teams since junior, you know, age,
S3: age grades, teams. So he's no stranger to that that
S3: role at all.
S2: Yeah. And been he's only 26 and has captained the
S2: Reds for since he's been about 22. Uh, and I
S2: think I think uh, Brad Thorn installed him as captain
S2: when he, when he first got there. Uh, has done
S2: a sterling job through difficult and now slightly better times. Yeah.
S2: So yeah, it really, really, really liked the look of
S2: the team. I think I would have had, uh, maybe
S2: Nick Whitestone instead of Jake Gordon, but to be honest,
S2: you got to look through it and say, that's pretty
S2: much on on form. Maybe Darcy Swain or, uh, Nick
S2: Frost instead of Jeremy Williams or, uh, or Angus Blyth.
S4: Uh, yeah.
S3: You got to say, uh, just just because you have
S3: to say it too many times.
S4: Too many times. There's only one, mate.
S2: Well, there's two technically now with.
S4: Andrew.
S2: Kellaway.
S3: Too many stars, mate.
S2: Too many stars. Two, two, two too many.
S4: Just for me.
S2: Maybe that's the, uh. Maybe that was the thing. They
S2: they can have no fewer than two in any team.
S2: So they had to they had to pick their two
S2: best ones to, to go from there.
S4: Yeah.
S2: With the uh let's move on to Wales shall we.
S2: With the Welsh team. Really a big bunch of unknown.
S2: It's a I follow a little bit of northern rugby
S2: and the Welsh. It's a bit hard to follow the URC, uh,
S2: from down here. We don't really have that a platform
S2: to do. So the, uh Welsh teams, I can tell
S2: you don't haven't been doing well in the URC. Most
S2: of their team, their uh, their, their squad is picked
S2: from the, from the Welsh teams within the URC, but, uh,
S2: but some notable names in there. Uh, you've got Tommy Raphael,
S2: who's fantastic, uh, flanker. Gareth Thomas is a well known name.
S2: Liam Williams from Saracens is obviously known to everyone. Uh, Nick,
S2: Nick Tompkins is also known to a lot of people, but, uh,
S2: there's there's not a lot of experience that Christians are
S2: playing at Exeter and is a good player, but in reality,
S2: it's a pretty. They're probably just as inexperienced as the Australians.
S2: I don't know what their cap number is.
S3: I think it's it's about 15 less than us. We,
S3: I think we got about 340 caps and there are
S3: about 325 from. Yeah. Memory. Yeah.
S4: Yeah.
S2: Yeah. And if you think Australia's got some poor form
S2: running into it off the World Cup, Wales are if
S2: they are on a seven match losing streak, they lost
S2: every game in the Six Nations, including to Italy. Obviously
S2: they lost to South Africa a couple of weeks ago
S2: and they lost their quarter final against Argentina. So they're
S2: not exactly coming down here in red hot form. Uh,
S2: listening to a couple of listening and reading to a
S2: couple of things with their captain, they're talking about putting
S2: in a base game. So I think that that's code
S2: for we're going to kick the daylights out of the
S2: ball and defend like anything. Uh, which will be interesting. Uh, look,
S2: the the names that I do know that in that
S2: Welsh squad who are worth looking looking at for them.
S2: Mason Grady is the I think he's the, uh, one
S2: of the centres. He's a very good player. Needs to
S2: work on his defence a little bit, but is very good. Very.
S2: the big body kind of George North kind of player. Uh,
S2: Tommy Rafael is high quality. He was probably their best
S2: best player during the Six Nations. For those that watch the, uh,
S2: Christians is.
S4: Um, what does.
S3: What position does Tommy Rafael.
S4: Play?
S2: He's, uh, I think he plays seven. Okay. Seven, six,
S2: eight kind of player. Um, you know, just that kind
S2: of real hard on ball, tough player who, you know,
S2: just takes a lot of lot of beating, uh, there
S2: obviously then they're without their, uh, their captain from when
S2: they played Australia and gave us a proper flogging at
S2: the World Cup. He's injured. Uh, so, you know, they're.
S4: They're.
S2: They're a team that's certainly in transition, probably even more
S2: so than Australia at the moment. Uh, I'm actually expecting
S2: them to play a lot without the ball and try
S2: and work their way back into in and keep the
S2: game close and hopefully pinch it at the end. That's
S2: my expectations of how they're going to play. Where have
S2: you got any comments about the Welsh team my friend?
S3: No, I'm I'm terribly underprepared for the for the Welsh mate.
S3: I haven't seen them um play. I haven't even seen
S3: them play against South Africa last week. So I'm just
S3: winging it here, mate. Unfortunately, yes.
S2: Well, for those of us who are a bit old,
S2: you can, uh, certainly feel old by knowing that, uh,
S2: one of the reserves for the Welsh is a guy
S2: by the name of James Botham. And for context, he's
S2: not Ian Botham's son, he's Ian Botham's grandson. So comes
S2: from good stock. But, uh, you know, you're getting old
S2: when you're watching somebody. When I was growing up, I
S2: liked Ian Botham and his grandsons now playing international rugby. Uh,
S2: so that's, uh.
S3: One thing I did pick up is the only player
S3: left from the team that beat Australia, uh, 40 to
S3: 6 in the World Cup was, uh, Liam Williams the
S3: only player still in the team from that game? Yeah.
S3: So it's a major turnover, um, of, uh, players since then. And, uh,
S3: from what I can hear, what I've heard is Warren
S3: Gatland has been searching for, um, new players like to
S3: take over from, you know, that that, um, that group
S3: of players that took them through that golden era. Yeah. Uh,
S3: from from his first in as coach. We've just all
S3: got old like the rest of us.
S4: Yeah.
S2: Look, you've got to gotta take your hat off to
S2: Gatlin for going back to back to the. Well, look,
S2: he's gotten Wells awfully close a couple of times. If
S2: you go back to, you know, 2011, they were basically
S2: a red card away from getting getting to the final.
S2: They would have beaten France. Uh, they made the semi
S2: final in Japan. They've they've been a high performing. He's
S2: managed to squeeze that lemon pretty dry. I my biggest
S2: concern is I think they're just a bit light on
S2: cash at the moment. Uh, their under 20s aren't going great.
S2: They're they're sort of struggling at every level. Uh, and
S2: it's going to be a bit of a push for
S2: them to, to get, uh, get results going forward. But
S2: they'll give a good account of themselves. Yeah. I'm going
S2: to tip Australia by ten points. But look, I would
S2: pick Australia against anyone just because I'm Australian.
S4: So so with.
S3: The limited um, with the limited time together, what game
S3: plan do you think Australia is going to trot out?
S3: Are they going to, you know, uh, try and kick
S3: their way out and defend and hope for scraps? Or
S3: are they going to try and run the ball and attack?
S4: Look.
S2: I think they'll be smart enough to not try anything
S2: too amazing. I think they'll they'll have worked out a
S2: whole stack of starter plays and they'll be pretty on
S2: point as far as that's concerned. There. I don't think
S2: they're going to try. I don't expect them to try
S2: and play too much from deep. I think they'll really
S2: just try to work themselves in the right parts of
S2: the field and then go from there. They I think
S2: they'll back their aerial game. Dangun is good in the air.
S2: Callaway is good in the air. Tom Wright's been very
S2: good in the air this year. Uh, look, our back
S2: three I think is is looking pretty solid. The and
S2: I think we can actually we can actually take them
S2: apart up front there there scrums not been going well
S2: and they've actually got a, a more inexperienced scrum coming out.
S2: So as opposed to at the World Cup where they
S2: absolutely handed their asses to us, They I believe they'll
S2: they'll struggle at scrum time. This this time around I
S2: would have gone with Alataua starting and Tupo off the bench.
S2: But hey potato, potato. Maybe they're looking at getting 30
S2: 30 minutes out of two start or whatever. See how
S2: he's going. Uh, but yeah, I'm going to I'm going
S2: to take Australia by ten. I just think we'll, we'll
S2: have a little bit, bit more going on than they will.
S2: I think they've had a long season, haven't had a
S2: lot of time together. Two weeks ago they played South Africa,
S2: got beaten pretty handily. Uh, yeah I think we and
S2: but that's more hope than reality. We've not seen these
S2: guys together for some time. It's not like we can
S2: point back to last year, last year's World Cup and say, oh,
S2: this is what our game should look like.
S4: Yeah, South.
S3: Africa is a completely different beast to what we put
S3: out like this. You know, like they're all power. And
S3: this is all, um, speed sort of thing, that's all. Yeah.
S2: Yeah. But we're also, you know, we don't know what
S2: Australia is going to look like because they haven't played
S2: together and the coaching team is completely changed. Yeah. And realistically,
S2: I couldn't see any real discernible game plan at any
S2: stage last year for Australia. We really didn't seem to
S2: have a clue of what what they were trying to achieve. Uh,
S2: so no, I'm I'm just reliant on the fact that
S2: we've got adults running the show. You know, Laurie Fish
S2: is going to make us good at contact. The Welsh
S2: will be hard on the ground, hard on the ball,
S2: on the ground. Uh, my biggest concern is one of
S2: my favorite TMO. Marius Jonker is having a having a crack. Yeah,
S2: he's he's an awful TMO. Maybe it's just a South
S2: African accent, you know check check. So but yeah but
S2: generally I'm excited. You know we're.
S4: Generally excited week of the.
S3: Year. Uh in rugby mate Australia was stern before the
S3: test match. Um. Your natural. I've been writing about it
S3: for for the weekend edition. Um, like the the Australian,
S3: the Wallabies could be anything this week. We could be
S3: world beaters. We could we could be winning the cup
S3: in a in a in a month or two. You know,
S3: we could be we could be, um, you know, we
S3: could be on our way to winning the World Cup.
S3: You know, this is the best week in the year
S3: because nothing's gone wrong yet.
S4: Yeah, exactly.
S3: New coaches. We've got a new squad. It's. Yeah. And, um,
S3: the natural Australian optimism is in full flight.
S4: Correct.
S3: So, um. Yeah. It's wonderful. It's just like this and
S3: the and the the week before the Super Rugby season
S3: starts is just, um. It's, uh. Nirvana. Yes. Wonderful.
S4: Yeah.
S2: 100%. 100%. I look, I just, I we'll all have
S2: a little bit more context next week as to what
S2: we can say that they, they look like and how
S2: they played and who played well and all that sort
S2: of stuff. But ultimately, I think we look at the
S2: Australian team and with the parameters they put around, who
S2: they were going to pick and who they have picked,
S2: they're pretty much on form. There's there's only really two
S2: out of the 23 that I can, I can look
S2: at and go, no, I think they shouldn't be there.
S3: So so I was just looking at the games for
S3: the weekend to see if Japan was playing. See if
S3: I can salvage something from the weekend. No.
S2: Japan's got Mary all black again, so.
S4: Oh, I'll.
S3: Be I'll be right then. I'll be happy next week.
S4: Yeah. Okay.
S2: So how much are you picking Australia by my friend.
S3: Uh, I'm going to go about like. It's hard to
S3: put a number on it because we've got no form for.
S3: I've got no form, really, for either team. I'm. We
S3: do have form whilst has lost seven in a row.
S3: Australia got no form for because it's a new team,
S3: a new coaching team. We can no this form of
S3: the players individually and it's pretty good I reckon. Like
S3: there's no there's no real duds there. Um, I mean, um,
S3: Angus Blyth was playing all right. Hasn't got a lot
S3: of games on it, but he's a reserve and he's
S3: going to be on for half an hour. Um. Tennille. Tupo.
S3: Not the fittest he's ever been. Um, but they're all
S3: playing reasonably and was playing his way into in pretty
S3: good form. He's getting better every week. Um, Jake Gordon
S3: was probably one of the better Waratahs players as much
S3: as we give him crap. So yes, there is good
S3: form individually whether they can meld them quickly into a
S3: team and that works pretty well is another thing. But, um,
S3: you as a as an Aussie, I'm going to back him,
S3: I'm going to say by 10 to 15. So two
S3: tries either converted or unconverted. So 10 to 14. Um
S3: hoping for a smashing, but who knows? Um, that's. Yeah,
S3: but it's a it's a lottery, isn't it?
S4: It is.
S2: It is. Absolutely, absolutely. Look, uh, we'll just quickly touch
S2: on some of the other games for the weekend.
S4: It's a smorgasbord this weekend. It is.
S2: A smorgasbord. Some of which you can see and some
S2: of which you can't. But, uh, for those of you
S2: who've got rugby pass TV, the Australian under 20s are
S2: playing Italy in a at 3 a.m. tomorrow morning. But, uh,
S2: do yourself a favor. Get up, turn your socials off, and, uh,
S2: jump on and watch it. Uh, directly after that. It
S2: should be fine. Uh, other games.
S4: You know.
S3: Pretty sure you can get that on YouTube.
S4: Yeah, you can, you can.
S2: They do stream it and I think they link it
S2: through YouTube. But, uh, if you've got the Rugby Pass
S2: TV app, it's actually got a whole stack of content
S2: on there. It's really good resource. And, uh, you can
S2: see some really cool games across the whole of the spectrum. Uh,
S2: the men's internationals this weekend we've got Samoa are playing Italy. The, uh,
S2: should be an interesting game. I've seen the Samoan side.
S2: It's got a fair few names that we recognize. It's
S2: been played in Apia, so that'll be a cracker. Be
S2: a great occasion. Uh, hope to get some footage of
S2: that for my one of the games of the of
S2: the weekend. Georgia v Fiji.
S4: Yeah.
S2: At 2 a.m. on, uh, on, uh, Saturday. It's going
S2: to be played in, uh, in Georgia. That'll be a
S2: cracking game. Real contrast of styles. Most of all, the
S2: Fijians will be in the team. So it'll be a really,
S2: really good game. The USA are playing Romania the and
S2: obviously for our for us the big games for the weekend.
S2: Uh New Zealand are playing England. I'm going to take
S2: New Zealand. What about you, Sally?
S3: Yeah. Anyone? Anyone against England? Yeah. New Zealand, definitely New Zealand. Um,
S3: that'll be so interesting. Um, you know, new coach for
S3: New Zealand. So like, not. Oh, I'm interested to see
S3: how good, how long. Um. Sami Peni Finau last international.
S4: Rugby.
S3: Before he gets his first yellow card. Um or Or
S3: he can go his kamikaze hits. Um, yeah. Like hits. But, um,
S3: that's an interesting team. Um, what was the comment all
S3: Aussie front row for? Yes. But, um, yeah, I think
S3: the All Blacks can get up against England. That's going
S3: to be a good game though.
S4: Yeah, yeah.
S2: No, I said that just to get a rise out
S2: of Carl, but, uh.
S4: It didn't really work. Yeah.
S2: Apparently Codie Taylor's first junior club was Logan in Brisbane. Um,
S2: Logan boy. Tyrel. Tyrel Lomax obviously is from Canberra. And, uh, Ethan.
S2: The group was born on the Gold Coast. So there
S2: you go. Um, now I look, I, I like New Zealand.
S2: They let's be let's be honest, they're it's a very
S2: good looking team. Hoskins. Sotutu didn't get it. Didn't make
S2: the squad. I have no idea how, but, uh. And
S2: he could well be Super Rugby player of the year. Yeah,
S2: the good team all throughout the English fancy themselves. They
S2: really do. Listening to a few of the English podcasts
S2: this week and some of their media, they, they sort
S2: of think they've got a good, good shot at winning. Look,
S2: I think reality's going to bite them. When don't they
S2: really do have a high expectation of what they should
S2: be doing. But yeah, I'm I don't think.
S3: They're still telling us that they were the better team
S3: in the ashes. Um, last year was it last year
S3: with the baseball when, um, both. We got, um, stumped,
S3: which was the anniversary last week or something. Yeah. So
S3: they're saying that they they flogged us. So they're still
S3: even in hindsight, they're the better side as far as they're.
S4: So yeah.
S2: Anyway, we'll see what happens on the weekend, obviously. Uh,
S2: then that's the game before the Australia Wales game. Then
S2: immediately after about the same time, Japan will be playing
S2: the Maori All Black again. So. So they'll be hoping
S2: for another 5050 gap on them again.
S3: They personally. Yeah. Especially if the, the uh yeah. If
S3: the worst happens anyway, it go. Yeah.
S4: Uh, South.
S2: Africa are playing Ireland. This will be a good this
S2: would be a cracking game. This this will be worth
S2: getting up at 1:00 in the morning to have a
S2: look at. I, um, Ireland have won I think the
S2: last 2 or 3 against South Africa. Um, they've won
S2: like five out of the last six, but like the
S2: last six games apparently have all been less than a score. Uh,
S2: the Spurs are up for it. You can really tell
S2: some of the commentary. They've really been trying to build
S2: some beef with Island. Uh, you know, some of the
S2: commentary is just absolutely crazy, you know? Oh, well, you know,
S2: getting upset because they said to them after they beat
S2: them in the pool stages, we'll see you in the final.
S2: How is that something that you should be thinking is derogatory? Um,
S2: you know, or because you think you're going to beat
S2: the All Blacks? They only lost by a point to
S2: point or two points to the All Blacks. So no, it's, uh,
S2: South Africa are a weird mob. I'm probably going to
S2: take Ireland in this game. I think they're they're good.
S2: They're missing the they're missing their halfback. They've got a
S2: few players out injured and one's going to the, uh,
S2: going to the, uh, Olympics.
S3: Oh, I don't know, mate. It's that, uh, it's the altitude.
S3: And it's in South Africa.
S4: Okay.
S2: Glasgow in the USA said seemed to prove that altitude
S2: didn't matter.
S4: Okay.
S2: Yeah.
S3: But that was robbed, mate. They were robbed.
S4: They were robbed? Yes.
S2: Yeah. Look, it'll be it'll be a cracking game and, um,
S2: it'll be next level physicality that one. Argentina are playing
S2: The French don't know which French team is going to
S2: turn up. Apparently they've sent out the bunch of kids
S2: to Argentina. Now DuPont, obviously all of their top 13
S2: players were playing in the final last week, so I
S2: don't know what that French team will look like. They
S2: generally don't tour well in their off season. Uh, and
S2: then Chile are playing Hong.
S4: Kong.
S2: And Canada are playing Scotland. So plenty of uh, plenty
S2: of games this weekend.
S4: That is a crap. Yeah.
S3: And yeah. Like those those, uh, the Kiwis in England
S3: and uh, Springboks and uh, Ireland are just that's the
S3: cream of the crop and that, uh, Fiji game. I
S3: reckon that'll be a cracker too.
S2: Yeah. Me too, me too. I'm, uh, an investigate how
S2: I can watch that. Because I think that will be
S2: a really interesting game. Yeah. Georgians Jordan's playing at home.
S3: I wonder what the temperature is going to be like
S3: in Georgia this time of year. I'm not sure what
S3: it'll be.
S2: I have to find out it. From my understanding of Georgia,
S2: it's either one of two things. Really, really hot or really,
S2: really cold.
S4: Yeah, well, you have to think it's hot. Yeah.
S2: Yeah. This time of year, you'd have to expect it
S2: would be really hot. So. Yeah. So that's what we
S2: think of the, uh, the weekend. Uh, anything on your
S2: mind that you want to have a bit of a
S2: rant about at the moment, Sally or.
S3: Oh, no, I'm just all all wrapped up in, um.
S3: I'm all wrapped up in the build up to this, uh,
S3: test match. I'm. I'm just loving it. I'm checking the forums, like,
S3: every half hour just to see what people are saying.
S3: And I've been. So I was excited to see the
S3: the squad. I was excited to see the team or
S3: the speculation of the team. Yeah, okay, I'm going to
S3: have a rant about one thing I'm sick about. I'm
S3: I want the team to be released. Like I want
S3: to sit and wait for the team to be released.
S3: At the time. I don't want it to be leaked. Uh,
S3: you know, I don't want all such and such is
S3: going to be captain or. Or this guy is going
S3: to be the halfback. I just want I don't want
S3: little bits and pieces to be leaked. I just want
S3: the team to be released. And I think that just
S3: builds the tension more than just all these little leaks, like, um,
S3: I basically filling in for you for the Thursday news
S3: this morning, I was I was able to put together
S3: 20 of the 23 players in the right positions today
S3: from all the leaks, and that takes a bit of
S3: the I mean, some people love it. For me, it
S3: took a bit of the fun out of it. Yeah. No,
S3: I would prefer just to wait till I don't know
S3: when it came out 12:00 today was it.
S4: Yeah, something like that.
S3: And the team to come out and be surprised. I
S3: would love that. So yeah. RA some of us would
S3: just like to tend to come out without the leaks.
S3: Thank you.
S4: Yeah.
S2: Yeah, I, I couldn't agree more. That was going to
S2: be my, my little shout at the moment it's I
S2: just yeah I'd like it to be a bit of
S2: a sense of occasion. Even if they whether they choose
S2: to announce it on the Tuesday do it early to
S2: try and build it. This is who the team is.
S2: But I don't want it. I don't want a drip feed.
S2: I don't like it, I, I think they should do the,
S2: you know, do the Elon Musk thing and like different
S2: things to different people and see, see or tell different
S2: things to different people, whoever they think is, you know,
S2: getting getting backhanders from Christy Doran and, and find out
S2: who who's actually doing what and then go, right, fellas,
S2: you know, this is who we're you're you're the leaker.
S2: You're out.
S3: I'm I just assumed that they knew who they were
S3: leaking it to. Then it was done on purpose. I'm not.
S3: I don't think they're there. I mean, I don't think
S3: they're accidental leaks. No, it's part of their their, um, strategy.
S4: But if if.
S2: It's a strategy, it's annoying me. If it's accidental, they
S2: need to find out who it is and and bullet them.
S4: But. Yeah. No, the build up.
S3: To this test, the first, uh, test in July. I
S3: just love it. I love it like the speculation on
S3: who's going to be in the squad. Just. And then
S3: when the squad is announced and then when like even
S3: when it was trimmed and, and even the speculation are when, uh,
S3: Ryan Smith got cut, um, we still don't know. You know,
S3: why Ryan Smith got cut from the team? Um, and
S3: then the teams announced on the build up to the
S3: team and people picking their their first test team. And
S3: nearly everyone, no one picked that test team. Yeah. I mean,
S3: and and, um. Yeah, I just love the build up
S3: for the first test. So that's what's been on my
S3: mind mostly this week.
S4: Yeah.
S3: And yeah. So my rant is the leaks for the
S3: build up to the first test for the test team.
S3: Just spoil it a little bit for me.
S4: Agreed.
S2: It feels like it should be a sense of occasion. Yeah.
S2: You know, the the the team should be. Particularly this
S2: one because it's it's a clean slate. It's not like
S2: you're looking at it going, oh, well, you know, who
S2: are you kind of in the past. You know you've
S2: kind of been going, okay, we know roughly what 10
S2: or 12 of the team are. Maybe they're going to
S2: change around a little bit on the outside, but you
S2: sort of had a clue. Whereas this this really is
S2: a clean slate. He could have picked if he, you know,
S2: had the opportunity and picked 15 debutants and pretty much
S2: everyone would go, well, it's it is a clean slate.
S2: You can start again. Yeah. Uh, look, win, lose or draw,
S2: I just hope there's, uh, a fair amount of goodwill
S2: that's retained towards, um, Joe Schmidt. Like it's taken an
S2: excavator and a lot of digging to get to where
S2: Australia Australian rugby is at the moment. I feel like
S2: this is, you know, let's be a little bit patient
S2: about how we're going to dig out, uh, start climbing
S2: our way out of it.
S4: Yeah. well, look.
S3: Looking at the team, like, besides Frost and Swain, who
S3: who would you have in there besides those two?
S4: Yeah, I mean, I'd.
S2: I'd Nick Ward instead of Jake Gordon.
S3: Yeah. And, um, maybe Hodgeman instead of Kalia.
S4: Yeah. Yeah, that's probably fair.
S2: But it's probably fair from that.
S3: And Donaldson maybe I don't know. I mean, Donaldson say
S3: a few tests.
S4: Yeah, yeah.
S2: If, uh, I probably could have. I could have lived
S2: with Donaldson on the bench as opposed to Tom liner, because,
S2: to be honest, if Tom liner, if Tom one of
S2: our centres go down, we're we're moving. You know you've
S2: got to means you've got to move to new new
S2: in and you know, so you've kind of got to shuffle. Yeah. Uh,
S2: whereas Tom liner really can't play inside centre. So, you know,
S2: if Hunter Paisami goes down who fills his spot, you know.
S2: So there's there doesn't Donaldson you could argue you could,
S2: could fill a fair bit of, uh, capacity in that backline. Yeah. Uh,
S2: I think they're getting Tom liner to go to sort
S2: of give him a bit of a taste, see if
S2: he's up to it. Yeah, it'll be interesting if it
S2: if it's tight in the lot. It'll take a fair
S2: bit of fair bit of bravery if it's tight with
S2: ten to go or 20 to go to go. Right.
S2: We're going to put Angus Blyth, debutant Charlie Kyle, debutant
S2: Tom line and debutant Dylan Peach, debutant on on.
S4: The.
S2: Field it. That's going to take some stones.
S4: Yeah. Oh look, I just.
S3: I, we kind of glossed over uh, before Tom. Right.
S3: I really think he's taken a major steps forward this
S3: this season. I think his games come a long way
S3: from last year. I think he's I think he's been fantastic.
S3: So I think him and Andrew Callaway are and, uh,
S3: are going to, are going to be great in the backfield. Yeah.
S4: You know.
S2: Tom Roy always had a good head explosion in him
S2: of doing something utterly stupid. And if you do that
S2: at 15, it generally costs you seven points.
S4: Yeah. Like those little.
S2: But he seems to have eradicated that from his game.
S2: And good luck. Good luck to him. Yeah. He's a
S2: bloody good rugby player now. Yep. Who can come into
S2: second receiver who can. So and he in reality he
S2: has in reality they've got three options at second receiver.
S3: He has played inside centre before.
S4: Just quite.
S3: A long time ago though.
S4: Yeah. Mm. Yeah.
S2: No it's all good. All good. Anything else to throw
S2: in the in the pot, Mike?
S3: Uh, no, that's me mate.
S4: Okay, well.
S2: Once again.
S3: I think we. I think we've done much better without Carl.
S4: Yeah.
S2: It's always better without Kiwis. I think he'd want to
S2: talk about the All Blacks too much.
S3: I think we can dump him and.
S4: Give him the brush.
S2: Uh, again, if you're still listening. Thanks very much, people.
S2: We appreciate your support. Download, subscribe, rate, review, do all
S2: the good things that helps us to make the make
S2: the show as much.
S4: As.
S2: It can be. Um, thanks for tuning in to the
S2: team of the week, and, uh, we'll talk to you
S2: for next. Talk to you at next week's edition. Bye
S2: for now.
S4: See you later.
S1: You don't know anything about rugby. Don't talk.
UU: Gregan drop go from Larkham Australian great forward. They've got
UU: the advantage.
S1: Worst press conference. Well done boys.