Rugby TTL - Series 2 - Episode 31 - 6 Nations Round Up!

Six Nations Review: Ireland 2nd, Wales Bounce Back, France Edge England & Why Rugby Must Market Itself Better

Rugby TTL review an exceptionally competitive, high-scoring Six Nations, praising the new format with only one mid-tournament break while debating the Thursday opener versus a preferred Friday night start. They recap Ireland’s win over Scotland, arguing the scoreline was flattering as Scotland started strongly but ran out of steam, and highlight Ireland’s improved cohesion, squad depth, and new faces such as Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien, and Stuart McCloskey amid injuries and selection changes. Wales’ victory over Italy is discussed as a needed response after Italy’s prior week high, with praise for Wales’ young talent and work rate. The France–England finale is called a classic, with England improved but undone by missed kicks and a late Thomas Ramos winner, alongside strong criticism of the referee and discipline issues. They also cover their fantasy leagues, rule-breaking controversy, and pick standout players including Rhys Carre, Ferrari, and McCloskey, before closing with ideas to better commercialize and promote rugby through creators, access, and smarter advertising.

00:00 Six Nations Recap
01:09 Format And Scheduling
02:37 Weekend Fixtures Setup
02:58 Ireland Scotland Breakdown
07:56 Ireland Depth And Injuries
15:28 Wales Italy Reaction
18:30 Rugby Marketing Debate
25:23 Social Media And Stars
27:58 Women Sevens And Access
35:43 France England Thriller
38:25 Kicking Discipline And Stats
44:42 Referee Controversy Rant
45:19 Referee Controversy
46:21 Captain Welfare Debate
47:26 Fantasy League Setup
50:40 Unchanged League Drama
53:19 Public League Winners
55:46 High Scoring Tournament
56:32 Growing Fan Engagement
01:00:39 Going Live Next Year
01:02:13 Draft Ideas For Fantasy
01:03:39 Player Of Tournament Picks
01:15:49 Lions Squad Talk
01:18:05 England Tactics And Kicking
01:21:44 Fixing Advantage Rule
01:25:16 Season Wrap And Thanks

Transcript

Keith: [00:00:00] What a Six Nations, probably one of the best six nations that we've ever seen is true up unprecedented events, moments that will live with you forever. And I'm delighted to be joined here this evening with Polly and Kent. Good evening, gentlemen. 

Polly: Uh, I think I've just about recovered from Saturday. 

Keith: I think we're all, and we were, you know, this is after Patty's day as well, so that, that was a long weekend.

Polly: But I genuinely believe, like, like Keith just said then, is this is the most competitive sick nations that we've had for a long period of time. And, you know, and, and we can talk about, and we're gonna talk about the games on Saturday, but if you just think about the amount of points that were scored, you know, in the last couple of weeks, I mean the, the French and Scottish game was 90 points scored in that game.

Polly: Uh, and then you look at that France, in France, England game of the weekend, which was close to a hundred points again, and it's the slight, this is mental and this is what we wanna see, and this is what Rugby's about and it's about, uh. Scoring points and it's [00:01:00] about being physical and it's about being everything else.

Polly: And, um, I just think this year it's been superb, you know, even from that opening weekend to, to the last weekend. Uh, and I definitely think that only one week off in the middle is definitely the way ahead rather than the two, two week, like the two weekends off. 

Keith: I, I fully agree with that. I think the, the new structure, the format, uh, keeps people invested because I think sometimes there's a bit of fatigue with, oh, there's another break and then into the, the last game.

Keith: So I definitely think this format fixture wise, uh, if they continue with that, it's gonna be a great success 

Kent: with the Six Nations. You say Haveor, what do we think about the start of it being on a Thursday? Obviously the France Island game was played on a Thursday, not a Friday. Like I thought. A bit of, a bit of a strange thing to do to start a game that had two games.

Keith: Yeah, I personally prefer the, the Friday night fixture leading into, because obviously then you're off for the weekend. [00:02:00] Yeah. You, you started off out watching the match and then it just rolls into the matches on the Saturday. Um, Thursday of course was, you know, a unique fixture day, uh, due to the way that I was structured.

Keith: But, um, yeah, I, I would prefer if they had on the Friday and it rolled into the other matches. 

Kent: They listen to this podcast they on on a Friday. Please start Next 

Keith: question. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. To the, to the hierarchies of World Rugby that definitely listening to rugby True leagues and we know you do because look, why wouldn't you Best rugby podcast going anyway.

Keith: First, first game. We're going to run today's one by going through the, uh, fixtures as they did on Saturday, starting with Ireland, finishing with England and the Wales, Italy match in between. Then we're going to talk about our, uh, fantasy league, and then we're going to pick who our standout performer was.

Keith: So. Starting off with the [00:03:00] boys in Green First match on Saturday. I was worried about this tie going into it. Scotland coming off a couple of unbelievable performances going for the title themselves. Uh, a lot of criteria needed happened for both teams to be in with a shout. And I have to say, uh, Peja, I know what the end result was, but I thought Scotland were, uh, very, very good on Saturday.

Keith: Anytime that Ireland scored, they were straight back into the 22 and just going through us and I was like, could they actually just give us a couple of minutes to breed, please? And they bear Jews absolutely credited. Um, they were a, they were a credit to their country with the performance that they put out.

Keith: Scoreline was a bit flattering for us, I believe. Um, and what did you guys make at the Ireland Scotland match on Saturday? 

Kent: Um, we, someone said it, I think it might be Carl said it in the, our little group check technical going, [00:04:00] I think last week was France's World Cup final and France, Scotland's World Cup final against France.

Kent: Put in that position where they could win it all. So he said start the game. I think Scotland was tip for tat with Ireland really close. I think the game against France fought, wore them out. I think they lost it towards the end, hence where you said the score's a bit flattening towards islands. Um, fair play for Jock though.

Kent: Um, I know it sound horrible but I kind of wanted them to win it. Just the fact they have a new name. Um, and I think they, maybe Scott have won. Well they did They win the Five Nations or Four Nations? Is that the last time they've won? It 

Polly: wasn't even alive back. Yeah. The last time they won it is, is the Five Nations.

Polly: Yeah, I think, um. I dunno. I, I don't know. I don't, I wouldn't have said their game against France was the, um, you know, don't forget though, Scotland were in complete control at their, their game the previous week. So, you know, we knew that they, we knew [00:05:00] before the start of the tournament for this is the first year no scotch person told me is this is our year.

Polly: So we knew that there was a possibility that they could be good. And then when, when they lost to Italy, we, every, everyone wrote 'em off. Everyone, you know. A bit of, a bit of a bagging for 'em. You know, they've got a bit of ridicule, but look from their first game to their last game, they've definitely developed.

Polly: And, you know, we were discussing how poor Gregor Townsend was. And actually, you know, he, he made some clever decisions and he, he utilized his players really well. And you know, I think, I think if that game had been at Murrayfield, I think it might have been a slightly different score line. And I think the result might have maybe been a little bit closer.

Polly: But, you know, fair play to the Irish, I don't think, um, I don't think that the. The worst team won that game. I think the Ireland had been, you know, standfast their first game against France, where I think they just, it almost looked like they were a little bit rusty and they, they'd lost their little bit direction.

Polly: They weren't entirely sure what was going [00:06:00] on. Um, you know, or the French were so good, one of these others. So I think, I think Ireland were really good on Saturday and I, I don't think the Scoreline on Flattered the Island, I think the Scoreline showed that the, the Scots were depleted at the end. It was, it was almost like they couldn't get back into that game.

Polly: And, and, and therefore, uh, it, it was done and dusted and, and the Irish were gonna walk off victorious from Saturday and then Chi all of a sudden put a red rose on their chest and start cheering for England later on the other day. 

Keith: Definitely was, and, uh, exactly what you're saying there, Polly. Um, the Scotts just ran outta steam at the end, like take to to with the knock on that LED war Brian going in and the, the last minute, uh, they, they just ran out of ideas and they, the fitness levels, uh, they had thrown so much at us.

Keith: I think they, like, they ended up doing Ireland, ended up doing like an extra 80 tackles during the [00:07:00] match compared to the Scots because they were putting that much pressure on us. Um, it was a very physical and. Like hard pace game. That was a credit for the, the fixture of being on the last week end of the tournament.

Keith: I taught ourselves, we came out the blocks early, got a couple of scores, couldn't believe, I was like, happy days. But the, the Scots kept coming back and with Finn Russell at the helm, you always have an opportunity. He took his stride brilliantly little dummy pass. And it like, if you blink, you miss it.

Keith: Like he just did such a like, deft little movement that it was like, right, he's gonna pass it. But he didn't went over, um. Yeah, I have to say the, the match itself was very, very good From an Irish perspective, obviously I was delighted with the results. It put us in a position to potentially win the tournament.

Keith: Uh, I was happier to see, uh, [00:08:00] and we were discussing beforehand, uh, like the betting in of a couple of players into the team. You know, once again, Robert Kuney started Osborne getting this opportunity, uh, a fullback again, and he's just been brilliant throughout the tournament. Tommy O'Brien with a couple of scores.

Keith: McCluskey once again, solidifying himself in the center. And even in the pack, we saw, uh, Tom O'Toole come in and Tom O'Toole have to give him a shout out because when we were over in Spain and did interview with Harry by, and, uh, Tom Stewart, Tom O'Toole was, if you watch it back, he was walking in the background and he was gonna join us.

Keith: And then he was like, no, I'm not getting in on this. I was, he was like, no, no more media for me. He was out. So every time I see him, I just laugh thinking about that. Uh, but yeah, it's good to see. As, as we were saying beforehand, I believe it was off the ball, did a podcast with, or [00:09:00] Driscoll and Andrew, Trimble and lads before the tournament, and they were saying, well, would you take four if.

Keith: We ended up bleeding in a couple of new players and just see how they get on. And here we are second and doing that. I think it goes to show once again where there was a bit of skepticism coming into the tournament of about Ireland's depth and the next kind of generation coming through. And I think it's just put a bit of emphasis on, well actually we do still have a quality uh, conveyor belt of players to pick from if there's a couple of injuries to the players coming forward.

Keith: 'cause we were coming into this tournament with a good few injuries and as you say, with that French game, we're kind at sixes and sevens because of a lot of our starting and 15 ended up having injuries and there was no cohesion in the first 50 minutes of that match. So yes, I'm very happy to sit here today and [00:10:00] say we finished second during a tournament that has shown, uh, our players.

Keith: Opportunities that hopefully now they can take in for the, the rest of the season at their clubs and, uh, benefit from it. 

Kent: I was gonna say, actually I also think it really during the start of the tournament, sorry, we That's alright. We were talking about it. How many injuries Ireland were having from potentially they're starting 15.

Kent: Uh, at one point we were picking their pack apart. They had like literally, uh, half your front row was injured, back, row injured, playing it. Um, like you unfortunately pick Huna Keena as your fullback. He broke his thumb. Bundi Aki had his ill discipline and didn't get back into side. And you're think have five or six players who potentially get into most other nation starting team weren't a, weren't available for you guys.

Kent: And that might have shown against France. The players haven't played together that lack of cohesion. But as that you guys got better and better throughout the tournament. [00:11:00] Um. As you said, you were a bit scared that last game. To be honest, I don't think there was any doubt that Ireland were gonna use that class to actually get themselves over the line, um, against Scotland, who have been, unfortunately have failed a few times at the last hurdle to get themselves into positions.

Kent: But no, I think the depth of Ireland coming through, I think you guys potentially got excitement to hopefully get past the semi-final of a World Cup or quarter final of a World Cup. 

Polly: Well talk, let's be honest though, but towards that. The Irish, the Irish pack. You know, you can talk about Kalen Doris, you can talk about, um, 

Kent: Ty Burn, uh, 

Polly: Conan as well.

Polly: But those, those two, Ty Byrne, uh, James Ryan coming back and playing such a big part, uh, you can't move far away from Ronan Kelleher and, and, and Dan Sheen as well. So, you know, Todd Furlong coming back and having his ass handed to him on a plate in a scrimmage by an Italian hook, uh, by an Italian front row, and then coming back and then really putting some scrimmaging in.

Polly: So, you know, [00:12:00] it it, we always talk about, you know, when you talk about Yeah, when, yeah, when you talk about building a team, you've gotta build that core. And I think, you know, that Irish team did and, and I think France was a big learning curve. And then, you know, whatever Andy Farrell had done and whatever he said to, to that team after that game is really inspired him for the rest of the tournament.

Polly: So, you know, fair play to them finishing second. 'cause I don't think anybody had em finishing second. I think most people had them finishing third 

Kent: and as, yeah, a lot 

Keith: people have had them finish charge. Yeah. 

Kent: As Keith was very happy as P Gas got dropped. 'cause he got found out quite drastically in the first couple of games as Keith was shouting from any to anyone who'd listen, even people who weren't listening, he was literally trying to drum into the heads, had banners printed gas.

Kent: I don't 

Polly: think it was just Keith, I think it was every Irish. Every Irishman. 

Kent: Apart 

Polly: from every Irishman. Apart from 

Keith: I don't, I don't want to get labeled as a Ergas. Baher. Right. Uh, and I was, I was trying to stay clear [00:13:00] the, the conversation just because I, they, everyone listening be like, ah, here we goes again.

Keith: But like that, I definitely think if we had a different fly half playing in that France match, the result could have been different. Yeah. Um, I, I'm still, I, I, I'm still a bit. You know, kind of confused, well, not confused. I, I'm a bit disappointed. Harry Byrne hasn't got an opportunity, um, during the Six Nations because his form leading into it deserved to get minutes.

Keith: I can understand why he's brought, um, uh, the, the players in that he, he has because they cover a multitude. I, I full back with our injury. We're keenon as well. Uh, but at the same time there, the 10, I hope Ergas gets better. He is still very young. Only 22, as you guys know, which yourself with Fi smitten, kinda the, the potential's there, but you, you just want them to be, [00:14:00] be into the international scene and, uh, live up to the potential.

Keith: Unfortunately, I, I, it's just too soon for printer gas, this tournament. We'll see what he ends up. Doing in the rest of his career. So hopefully he does well. Uh, I want to give a quick shout out to Dar Murray, who got a late inclusion into the, uh, mache squad because of Ryan's injury. And he's been playing unbelievably well for conduct.

Keith: And even that day when, uh, we watched Ireland Day over in Spain, he had a brilliant match that day and he came on, got a try, and uh, it's great to see just a combination of other provinces with er, Munster within the squad. And it's not just that Lester cohort, um, even though Fin Russell, fin Russell said in his post-match interview like the, a vva is one of the hardest stadiums to come to and get result, [00:15:00] particularly because the Irish team has that Lester core.

Keith: So it, it's just great to see all the, uh, provinces come together and perform. And welcome in, Carl. 

Carl: Thank you. Thank you for, uh, for welcoming me in. I've only got a, a quick visit. My presence is only short, but I'm sure I can probably offend a few people in the meantime, so don't worry about that. 

Keith: Absolutely.

Keith: No doubt. And that's what we love about you, Carl. 

Polly: In that case, you may as well start speaking about the Welsh in the, in the Italian 

Keith: game. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, may as well. We know Carl likes the Bash on the Welsh, so Yeah, the Welsh Italian game. Um, I probably should have seen how that match was going to go because like we said with how 

Carl: it, it 

Keith: was 

Carl: obvious.

Carl: It was obvious. 

Keith: Yeah. Like Ken said, that the, the Scotland, you know, final was the French match. The Italian final was the result again, the English and should have known that they just went on an absolute tear afterwards and weren't going [00:16:00] turn up in Wales. But on the form kind of like, right, okay, Italy are going get result, and whales came out pry on their chest and just.

Keith: Absolutely put them to the sword. 

Kent: I think what Wayne Wright, Wayne Wright stood out in that game for me. Um, I think Karlo had him in his fancy team for his every week one. I think he was, didn't have like the most Carries most line breaks, like something stupid like that. He was an absolute machine. Just literally ran You give a, he had 13 

Keith: carries.

Kent: No, 

Carl: I think he stood out. I think he stood out in the whole tournament for, for what was a, a struggle in Wels side. It there he was a glimmer of hope, especially with Jack Morgan missing. 

Kent: Yeah. 

Carl: Obviously Tommy, Tommy ref. Tommy Ell missing. I, I, I think Wales looked a lot better this tournament. I know the results probably didn't come out that way in on paper, but I think there's a lot to look at like that, that young 10 that they've [00:17:00] got, was it Dan Edwards?

Carl: Yeah. Edwards. Edwards. Yeah. The drop gold, just the composure there. There's a lot to look forward to. And obviously we all hate the Welsh, but like international Rugby's not the same without a Welsh competitive Welsh team, like international rugby needs it. And like obviously we've now got a poster boy, another, another stunning prop that can score tries from a hundred meters out.

Carl: Like there, there, there's enough to give back to we've, we've beaten them around enough. Obviously Georgia have got this whole doping scandal, so the whole six nations inclusion of another CL country's gone. That whole conversation dead in the water. Not that they were ever gonna entertain it, but I, I honestly think that that was the one they had to win.

Carl: Italy done their, their World Cup final the week before against England. And I, I, I'm sure this has probably already been said, but that was easily probably the best six nations in the last 20 [00:18:00] years plus. 

Keith: We, we, we started the podcast by saying that, saying how it, it really was one of the best that we've ever had.

Keith: You've got unbelievable moments that will stick with you forever. Like Reese carry breaking into 22 and getting over for dry, and just the unpredictability of the matches, the high scoring fixtures. It was just a absolutely brilliant feast of rugby over the last six, seven weeks. 

Carl: But like, like Eddie Hearn highlighted the products is there, why, why is rugby not being able to be pushed so much more?

Carl: Like in, in Eddy we trust, surely like if you somebody that, of that mastermind of promoting, taking boxing from where it was dead to and obviously his old man's done the darts, you got the darts players like. Throwing a couple of cottons cotton buds [00:19:00] for fucking a million pound a tournament. And we've got rugby players that are running into each other at full pel and entertainment like that over a six nations tournament.

Carl: And like, as he turned around and said he only knew one or two players, and funnily enough that one player was Henry Pollock because they created a character over him. And like rugby, we we're told to be so introvert. You gotta, you can't do the media bits like, but that's the only way that the game's gonna move forward.

Carl: Now you, we can't keep behind, like even the World Cup. They've now agreed that creators are gonna collaborate on YouTube. So the first 10 minutes of every World Cup game is now gonna be free to air on YouTube for the, uh, for the football for in America. So the first 10 minutes, and then it will link into a collaborative piece with the, the local TV company that's doing it.

Carl: But co content creators will have access. To it to push the game wider than it's ever been seen [00:20:00] before. And that's in football, like football's obviously so much more advanced than rugby, already 2 

Polly: billion people. Yeah. 

Carl: But they're already realizing the, the, the potential and the availability of YouTube and creators.

Carl: Like, surely Rugby's got a blank canvas, like it's already fucked. So at some point we've gotta just say it's not working. Let's make use of these people that want to, want to push it forward and support it and grow the game in every way. I possible. Like 

Polly: I I will, I will go back on that though. And I, and I think, you know, there's one thing that we saw in the, in the UK and um, this year is that we saw adverts during scrum time and, you know, uh, someone asked us, we were in a club on Saturday and someone said, oh, you know, this is ridiculous.

Polly: And I said, is it? I said, it's on free to air tv. I said, you can put as many adverts in as you want into the bits that I'm not watching. Next to it as a full screen. I said you could cut away if you wanted. [00:21:00] Uh, the only thing is I think that it seemed like there was some referees were waiting for the adverts to finish.

Polly: I think, I don't know if that was a thing that was going on, but, 

Kent: um, you talk about the adverts and stuff, I, um, I, year, a few years ago, I had, I had the luck to go watch, uh, some mayor football games Act, uh, uh, Weberley and I sat in the stands and literally at one point in the middle of the game, everyone just fucking stopped.

Kent: The whole game just stopped. And I was like, what the fuck are they doing? Oh, they, they've stopped the game to put an advert on tv, so they physically stopped the game in the middle of the game to put an advert onto money. So 

Carl: yeah. But NFN L's a whole different beast. Yeah. Like there's enough breaks in the game.

Carl: Like it, it is a one, it's a 60 minute game that goes on for four hours. So it's like, it's designed to be that commercial beast, but when you are paying a player a hundred million dollars a season. There is a reason that you stop a game like Rugby's. Not gonna be like that, but like when I first saw it, when I first [00:22:00] saw the first commercial was probably said over a scrum.

Carl: And I think if, hold on. That's the bit I wanna watch, but like there's no happy, there's, it's a wit, you gotta find that happy medium. It was once it happened once, kind of got used to it like it was what it was. They've gotta commercialize the game. We've gotta find a way. There's, there is a brand, there is a point that people can buy and sell that that will, that will only come with time by trick, by trial and error as well.

Carl: They'll find ways of being able to drop it in. Who knows? We might be able to sponsor a player, his hairdo or something like Joe Marler had like hog socket sausage on his hair or what? Do you know what it'll. 

Keith: I think it would be like times when, say, like it goes to the for official when they're reviewing a, a try, because those moments take so long.

Keith: Yeah. You could end up getting 10 ads in there. Yeah. And the amount of revenue that you'd be able to bring in from that. Yeah. It's, as you say, you need to be able to pick the moments where you're not gonna miss out on something, that you're able [00:23:00] to then commercialize it more to make it more entertaining and just all of the above.

Keith: And as you say, blank canvas, we're out here, we're making content, we're going around showcasing clubs, showcasing grassroots, uh, passionate about rugby, and we're trying to bring that personality and entertainment to the game that it desperately needs at the minute. 

Carl: Yeah, agreed. Uh, I, I agree. Yeah. And we find so many of them as well when we go out to the game, like obviously the grassroots level, like even being at Rugby Europe at a weekend, speaking to other people like, uh, one of, uh.

Carl: Lucho, obviously in Argentina, he's just spoke with Santi Carrera. Like there's different characters within the game that you get different information from different people by having a conversation. And people love just talking about rugby. And it doesn't have to be polished, it doesn't have to be media trained.

Carl: It doesn't have to be, uh, like Als Altine, Rey's doing an amazing job at the minute of [00:24:00] branching between sports. But he went to, uh, Alex, uh, um, McAllister the Argentinian lad. That was right. Alex McAllister. That's it. Yeah. So they, he went to him. So he went and done that. He saw his house and done an ado and done all these other bits.

Carl: And like he's bridging the gap between the sports to showcase what he was as a rugby player and also other Argentinians that have made it like there's so many opportunities within this game. And we've just had, as I just said, the best six nations in decades. Right. That should be the catalyst to say, right.

Carl: This is now the time, but. Who else outside of Rugby's talking about six nations. 

Keith: No one. And I, I can tell you who, who, who else 

Polly: out of Europe is talking about Six Nations. 

Carl: Exactly. They don't give a shit. 

Keith: But, but, but, but I know people that are, uh, coaches and passionate about soccer and they don't give two flying fuck about rugby, you know, like Aaron were playing in contention for, and [00:25:00] they literally do not care.

Keith: So it's trying to get them invested as well, because we'll always be invested, but it's about catching the attention of those that wouldn't usually, and they, as you say, it's about bridging that gap and kind of going, okay, there's something here that would, okay, yeah, I kind of like this. I'll stick around.

Keith: So, but does 

Kent: that 

Keith: where, 

Polly: and I think itll being stronger. Yeah, I, I mean, I think we all know that certain people's opinions on poll and, and you know, some people love him and some people hate him and 

Keith: getting that's that exactly what we want. That that's exactly what we need. Because like, even when he was, uh, on the bench ready to go, okay, bye poll.

Keith: Whoa, there's no near tech offense at that Polly fucks sake. I know you're a traditional man, but come back. But he, but as he was, uh, about to come off the bench and, you know, he sat, there he is chewing on his gum shield, you know, arms crossed, and the French, the pan to him and the French all start booing [00:26:00] and there's absolutely no reason to boom by the fact.

Keith: There he is, panto mind villain. Yeah, he's a character. That's exactly what you want. He starts smiling. He loves it. That's what you need. Like he, 

Kent: he, you need someone like who transcends the sport. He transcends the sport to a certain, even at his young age. He grabs young kids, like you said, um, a DRIs. Oh, whoa.

Kent: Let's re 

Carl: rephrase 

Keith: that. Yeah, yeah. Come on. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. 

Carl: Let's, let's, let's, 

Keith: Hey Henry, if you want to come on the podcast and talk about that. LA No. 

Carl: Yeah. 

Kent: A Driscoll was saying that he went home once and his kid was dressed up all in white with a headband on, tended to be Pollock. And you think that's Brian Driscoll probably one of the biggest, best players ever put an eye shirt on, and his son's trying to beat this English upstart, 21-year-old who's being loud mouth obnoxious, getting his head put into, literally rounded the ground by James Ryan.

Kent: But yeah, I think Pollock is the person or that, that breed or [00:27:00] player who's not afraid to go on social media, make an idiot of himself and put his name out there and, and bring those stragglers into the sport, hopefully be that kind of exciting player. 

Keith: But even like that, sorry, sorry, Carl. Just while we were talking about like the, the social media personality, like the, the first game of the season just before the France Ireland game, I'm there seeing Jali Bird with his girlfriend doing TikTok dances, and I'm like, this is the fellow that is running amuck against us.

Keith: And that's all I can think about during the match. Like the, it's the exposure and them being okay, right? This is what we need to do to, uh, market ourselves and try and get eyes on the game depending on what, what you're drawing in. 

Carl: The thing is, it's like how long before that gets media trained out of him as well?

Carl: Because there's a certain point, I hope 

Keith: not, 

Carl: but that, that's, that's, that's the bit that you get to a certain age like that. He's still looses a goose at that age at the minute, and he's able to. All we gotta do is look at the sevens [00:28:00] and we gotta look at the, the women's game, like how well they've managed to transition between the, the, the, the wider audience.

Carl: There is more of a family feel to, to women's game, which is opens a whole new aspect of rugby. The sevens, there's, there's obviously, uh, more of a thirst track, potentially there's like a little bit of a different way that they've advertised it because they're obviously on the beach, like all of that sort of stuff.

Carl: So there is ways of accessing different aspects outside of the game. And the problem is it's then converting that from people just watching that in Instagram, tiktoks, et cetera, and getting over bums on seats or bums in front of streams or bums in front of views or 'cause traditional media is dying.

Carl: Across all sports. Like there's a reason why so many people are transitioning more to to YouTube and Twitch and all these other [00:29:00] platforms is because people don't have the attention span to sit there for three days or whatever and watch a sevens tournament. They want to be able to dial in. Oh right, I know that game's gonna be on then, right?

Carl: I'm gonna dial in on that. Wel is gonna be kept, be able to keep, oh actually there's a feature with this. This player, oh, this player's just chatting in the ice bar. So do you know what I mean? Like there's other bits that you can, we've gotta try and retain the attention span as well, and. 

Keith: What about the likes of, uh, what about the likes of the T 20 Cricket?

Keith: Carl, you know, why that? Yeah, I love it. Absolutely. Like it is bombastic, uh, you get bored to debt of a test series, but with the T 20, it's bing bang Bosch, and they've got, as we were saying, sponsors galore. True, true. Like, uh, even if you get a six, it's, you know, the six hit is sponsored. Yeah. And it pops up on screen, cheerleaders, different sections, stadium.

Keith: Like that's another way that they'd be able to integrate [00:30:00] just that. And I think sevens, you've hit it on the head there, like being able to take the people that don't have those long attention spans and go Right. Okay. Have a little bit of this and see, have a little taste of that chicken. Tell me how, how you think a tastes.

Carl: Well, like Ken, you obviously, you borrow my season ticket for the T 20 quite a bit, don't you? And you, your boy loves it. My boys loved it as well. It's like, it, it adds a, like, it's not, you're not sat there for, as you said, four days for a test. Like, it's in, it's done. There's music, there's fireworks, there's people cheering, there's all, there's every, like, you can pop off, get your burger, you come back, you get a beer, you can still watch the game.

Carl: There's all these other bits like going on around it that the kids can be entertained and like, we've gotta get past this like, twickingham priced out for anyone apart, apart from the women's game. Everyone else is priced out. The Aviva's price. Even 

Kent: that game's bad now. That's getting bad now. The women's game, to a certain extent, it's getting up 

Carl: there.

Carl: They won, they've won the World Cup mate. So that [00:31:00] was always gonna be a trigger point between that transition of they've won a World Cup or how do we now make that, we've now gotta pay all of these additional wages, et cetera, et cetera. 'cause there's gonna be more attention, more value, like there is, there is gonna be a transition with doing that product, but that product has got so much further to go and it's potentially already at a further point now than the men's game in certain avenues.

Carl: Obviously the bigger sponsors, et cetera, et cetera, within the men's game are there, but it just doesn't seem to translate out into a wider public. 

Kent: I have say, I've probably seen more women's rugby games. I went to quite a few games during the World Cup for England. The thing I like about the women's game is the interaction you get with the players after the game.

Kent: You can stand there, they sign off after they take photos, nine outta 10, you go to tweaking 'em. The men's, the game's finished and both teams are down the tunnel getting their hydration, their ice baths. 'cause that situation. I think for the kids, the [00:32:00] thought that they can sit there and stand around and get a picture of Henry Pollock a picture with fucking Genji and have that chat and that interaction with them may bring slightly more.

Kent: But the women, you know, if you hang around, you can get your photo, you can get your autographs, you can get stuff with them. 

Polly: You are right. It's hu it's humanizing those players though. That's the key thing. Yeah. 

Carl: There's also a devil's advocate to that, Kent, like most men's senior games have got potentially 80,000 people.

Carl: Like the women's aren't at that level yet. So to keep players out and get round every single stand and like they, they've got those bits outside. They might do it, not do it inside, but they've got the bits when you go outside while they're waiting to get on the team bus, there's still, there is still access.

Carl: Like I'm not, I'm not saying it's perfect, but. Like there is still ways for the kids to access it, but it, it is potentially a bit longer than staying behind on the pitch. I think it's a little bit more demanding when you've got 80,000 people in the [00:33:00] stadium compared to where the Wi I, I think if the women's game gets to those 80,000, you won't see the players out there walking around every single person or every single stand.

Carl: You know, like they are brilliant for it to still connect with the fans. It's just, it's a hard transition to get from that to that many people at at while still realizing you are a pro. You still got your routines to follow, you still got the doping tests. There's all these other bits that you've gotta now go to and there's all these other media obligations they've got.

Carl: That's the hardest bit is trying to find that middle ground between the fans and all the media and all the sporting. Regulations. They've got meet in the, and obviously eight 80,000 people being in the ground. 

Keith: Lenzer last week went to Gary's rugby club, who I covered for the pod, and just like that, they just had a open training session there and went around to all the people that turned up on the day to support them for that.

Keith: There you go. You're taking [00:34:00] them out of that intense match day focus and giving it back to the supporters in pieces like that. And even when interviewing the ladies for the grassroots, I notice in the comments that. They were getting a lot of hype because they don't get that coverage that the men usually do.

Keith: You know, you have people in the comments going, oh my God, look at you. You're, you're doing an interview with media. And like, even when I was talking to the girls beforehand, they were like, oh, we don't usually have media coming around and showcasing us. You know? So it's, it's being able to promote that aspects of both grassroots and the female game to like recognize the, the great work that is going on there and propel them to the heights that they deserve.

Keith: And with that back, let's move on. Yeah. No, go. Okay. Go, go, go, go. They 

Kent: win, won the World Cup after women won the World Cup. Uh, [00:35:00] a lot of the clubs in England got visit from a couple of the players, from each, about two players from the women's team. Like I say, they did that thing afterwards and they went to, I think, uh, we were act.

Kent: Tro, um, Eastly Trojans and yeah, one of those two. They had, um, the winger and the scrum off, uh, Mar Packer, the Mar Packer and Abby Dow turned up and in the training session they in interacted. But I think, yeah, that's tension. Another way of getting their names out there and to show off their World Cup winning medals and stuff.

Kent: Yeah, I think it was amazing for the kids that day,

Keith: right back on to the last match of the Six Nations and oh my days, what a match it was. And it deserved to be on the pedestal of being the last match of the tournament because it threw up an absolute s slobber, [00:36:00] knocker, France versus England. Everyone thought that it was going to be a steam walk for the French and England.

Keith: Said, not today, lads. We have come to play and. As the Irish man hoping for the English to win, so we could literally steal the, the title of the tournament. Uh, I was delighted to see what the English, and speaking of stealing, I think the French stole that result from you guys, and I was more disappointed that.

Keith: You guys didn't get the result that your team deserved on the day? I think it was, I think the ref made it about himself. I just thought he was given the French everything. This is obviously opinionated. I thought he was given the French everything. Uh, that penalty try at half time I thought was scandalous and it within like last 10 minutes, he had signaled right one more penalty and there's a yellow and even the commentator literally straight away there was another penalty [00:37:00] and he didn't give a yellow at that stage.

Keith: He let it go. One more. I taught the French, got away with murder on Saturday and Fair juice to England. Turned up brilliant performance deserved to win, but came out empty handed to a phenomenal Thomas Ramos kick in the last minute. Lads, it's a safe space. How did you think that game went on Saturday? 

Kent: All I can say is where had that performance been from England?

Kent: Been I end of day. I know we lost, but. I actually was happy to sit for the whole 80 plus minutes at on edge of my seat going, what's gonna, what's gonna be happening? I think that's Cupboard. Um, four before that, towards, towards this half of the second half, I was like, I just turned over that. It's pointless.

Kent: England had no fight in them and they said this one, I think England actually looked like they wanted to be there. They wanted to play rugby and they were playing exciting rugby. But unfortunately, uh, b re absolute cheat code. [00:38:00] I think that boy has just, uh, if he had wasn't on the winning team of the Six Nation, I think there would've been something wrong.

Kent: I think in the last 14, he's score 18 tries with 14, six nations appearances. Now I think that's just unbelievable for him. But as say England, I think this way they need to play, they need to go forward on this sort of vein and actually make it fun for an England fan to watch rugby again. 

Carl: Do you think that was down to Finn Smith being back at 10?

Carl: That, that, that night, that con, that that conversion that he resorted to a drop goal was just fucking right. 

Keith: I, I'm, I'm going to come in. Unbelievable. Once again, as we've said, moments that will live you what a kick. But at the same time, he has lost a match because of his kicking. He didn't make his kicks.

Keith: Yeah. And it's what, like I was talking earlier on, you're, you're 10. Yeah. 

Carl: Two conversions out of what six tries. While he was on the pitch, five tries on the, on the pitch. 

Kent: And [00:39:00] as 

Carl: soon as Mark Smith came on, 

Kent: soon as Mark Smith came on, they gave him the kicking duties. 

Polly: Uh, and you've, you've gotta remember those, those two conversions.

Polly: They scores those two conversions. France got a kick to the corner and go for, go for, yeah, they've gotta go for the win. Um, they can't, you can't just pop a penalty over and away you go. Even one of those, even one of those conversions, and then, and they can't, they can't win. They can only draw by kicking a, kicking a point.

Polly: So, you know, we, we talk about how important that is and, and we talk about the consistency and goal kicking and, you know, um, in terms of, but those, the first two, I think you missed the first two kicks, wasn't it? The first two kicks of the game I think you missed 

Kent: Yeah. 

Polly: The first tries. Yeah, the two. He mi they, he 

Carl: missed the second chem one that he'd run from like 8,000 meters out than he, so he missed that one.

Carl: Well, 

Kent: and why did he not run the hosts or closest post he ran, be like 

Polly: the corner. He was running in a, he's a second row and he was running in a, he was second row and he was running [00:40:00] in a straight line. What more do you want from him? What more do you want from him? He caught the ball and he went the shortest distance to the, the, in his straight line.

Polly: If he'd changed direction, he would've tripped over his feet and fallen over. He would've knocked the ball on and it wouldn't have scored. So let's give him credit for where credit's due row. 

Kent: That 

Polly: doesn't matter. He's still a second row. We all know about it. His name is written down on my piece of paper as people that were outstanding in this tournament, and we are gonna talk about those players later.

Polly: But, you know, we, we have that, that ultimately the question is, and, and. I don't think that we deserve to win the game on Saturday. I do agree with you, Keith. Really? I do. I don't, I don't, yeah, I don't, I think if we deserve to win, um, we would've got the result. Um, I, you can't start that slow, um, expect to, to against the team that is gonna absolutely punish you from 25 meters or 30 meters, um, and [00:41:00] win.

Polly: And, and I think it's, you know, I, I loved the game on Saturday because it was a, a hell of a spectacle of rugby from both ends. And, you know, I think it was the first time England scored points when they, they had no time in their opposition. 22. You know, that's the only way, you know, we, we look at, and you look at the stats and you think about it, break it down as a tournament, and England's percentage of time spent in opponents 22 is one of the highest of the whole tournament.

Polly: And their points scored in the opponents. 22 is the lowest. So, you know, how can you have the most possession in your op opposition's red zone and le walk away with no scores. Whereas at the weekend they realize, you know, you can score from outside the 22. And I think that's what they, there must have been a, a discussion this week and gone, do you know what, when we get in the opposition 22, we don't score.

Polly: So should we just score from outside the 22 and sort of see what happens? And I don't know, I just, I, [00:42:00] I, I, I think that that team on Saturday with Elliot Daley at 15, they just looked so much better with Caden Merley just, I mean, he was immense under the high ball, under, we finally found a winger who can catch, you know, um, I, I genuinely believe, I think that, you know, they can move forward and I, I, I, I think if they got a win on Saturday, everyone would've been happy.

Polly: The Irish would've been happy, you know, um, but. I don't, I think it would've been masking some of the things that are a massive issue with English rugby. You know, um, 

Kent: Paul, you're talking about stats. Um, and again, it kind of showed the England's game. I think in that about 15 minutes, they shipped like 21 points that put the, um, penalty try 14, 14 men.

Kent: They, they lost 14 points in that, that game. Um, counties conceded within the six nations, England were top with 55 counties. [00:43:00] Conceded this. Six nations, France, lowest 38, and you've got Wales. Wales of 40, 48, 49, Italy and Scotland. 45 Ireland on 44 and 38 in France. Proves that the discipline basically wins, matches MUE tournaments.

Carl: I've, I've gotta jump off in a minute, jt, but like I, I, I do agree with Polly. Like if, if it, if we had one. It would've been one, everyone would've thought we're gonna win the World Cup again. I think it was probably the perfect way that the result did end the tournament. Like there's still underlying issues that have gotta be resolved.

Carl: Four foot's probably got another four years. He's probably now for the World Cup for 2031. Like there's, there's a lot of things going on. Aji shouldn't have been at the tournament, like the bloke's mum had died. I know he's obviously England captain, et cetera, et cetera, but he was a shadow of himself.

Carl: Like he's obviously got, there's a lot going on outside of rugby. Sometimes [00:44:00] players have also just got a step aside and just like we were also brought a few players in. Few players didn't put themself in the right frame of uh, frame of light. Some other players probably played themself into positions. I thought Jack Van Port Philipp looked better option than Ben Spencer jv.

Carl: P'S also had some really bad options as well. So it's like, it was good to see how him have a little bit of a resurgence. We're also gotta remember we are playing against. Probably one of the most exciting French back lines as well with Louis Bilby, just four tries. Like that was the easiest money I had, was saying that he was gonna get two tries or more.

Carl: Like that was the easiest money, easiest bet I had for in a weekend. But referring back to the ref, as soon as I, as soon as any English fan saw that, uh, Nika Amash, Ash Kelly was in charge, you may as well just give him the points to France. The bloke is a crook. Simple as that. At every level within rugby, [00:45:00] he wants to run the show.

Carl: And he is, it's, he ruins every game. He's involved in it. It's a, it's a shame. It's every ga not just against the English, but he just wants to be the top. He's done it on so many occasions. It's such a shame. 'cause he's, he could be so, so good, but he's. It, it's, it also ruins so, so many games. 

Keith: Yeah. I have to agree.

Keith: I brought the point up after ref, so I'll back you up a hundred percent there, Carl. Uh, the, the whole day, anytime a decision was having to be made, it, it just felt like he wanted the camera to be on him and for as long as possible, especially with that penalty try, like how many times was he asking? Did, uh, he creep offside in front of the, the line out and, uh, just looking for a reason to screw England over?

Keith: It felt like, like we couldn't believe that he went from, oh, we might actually overturn it and give the penalty to England to actually going, actually, you [00:46:00] know what, no, it's a penalty. Troy. And it wasn't obvious, and as I've already said, last 10 minutes should have gave France multiple yellow cards throughout the match.

Keith: Uh, just he, his performance on the day. Ruined, like it didn't ruin the match itself, but it could have benefited the game if it was a different referee on the day. And like you were saying, I I fully agree also with the Aja comment. Uh, I think there's personal things with his mother pass and, uh, that he should have taken himself out for a couple of weeks.

Keith: Obviously he wasn't the right frame of mind and you could tell that, but to give him full credit, I thought he was immense. He was an absolute workhorse on Saturday and he just, he, when he is on it himself and burn are two of the best at turning over at the breakdown. He just, once you know, he's, he's over it, you may as well just give them the penalty, you know?

Carl: But that, that's the [00:47:00] thing. He did have some great, great elements, but like you could see he was a shadow of himself. Like sometimes rugby does have to come seconds. Like there is a welfare element there. He, whether he was part of the team or part of like, still to be around the team would've been crucial.

Carl: But like sometimes, uh, I know he is the captain, it's just sometimes the, you've, you've gotta take into other factors. But, um, I'm gonna jump off gents. 

Keith: Carl has left us and we're going into the fantasy league aspect of it, uh, where we've had multiple leagues, we've opened it to the public as well. Uh, we had great participation within that.

Keith: We had our own unchanged weekly. And, uh, Kent, do you have the standings there? Are you able to run everyone through how it's gone? 

Kent: Still trying to find it at the moment, mate, but as soon as I found it, I can get it. 

Polly: First thing I'll say though is when I told people about this unchanged league [00:48:00] and uh, and I said, look, two weeks before the tournament, you gotta pick your teams and away it goes.

Polly: Some of my mates were like, that's fucking brilliant, as in, in terms of the expert, you know, in terms of what you want to try and do. Because like we said, we've had a laugh of it and it was like the first time we've tried it and I think we should be, we should probably be able to push it a little bit more.

Polly: And I think, you know, don't give as many points and don't get, you know, you gotta try and pick those. That's the opportunity to do the research and go who do you think's actually gonna get into that squad and, you know, and, and maybe allow some changes before the match day. Maybe one or two, you know, for opening match day, you know.

Polly: But we submitted two weeks before and my, my mates were like, we, I want to do that next year. You know, 

Keith: that's what it's about. It, it's about getting more people in intrigued with the stipulations. And, you know, for next year's one, we can think of, uh, additional ones. We can open it up. Uh, like this year we already [00:49:00] had the two leagues, the public one and our own unchanged one.

Keith: And then next year we might, uh, change to stipulations again. We'll run a couple ideas and see what we can come up with. But yeah, I should say submitting the team two weeks before the tournament even started, uh, like you are really going into the analytics and trying to see. Who's going to consistently play for your nation, other nations and who might get a nod.

Keith: And that's why like it came back to bite me in the ars because I ended up picking three players that didn't get a minute of rugby over the six nations. Hugo Keenen broke his thumb the week before the first match. I went with OJ Mob because England at the center, you didn't know what partnership they were gonna go with.

Keith: He came in with good form. I picked walkie for France because he was in Blissing form coming into the tournament. [00:50:00] Scored a hat trick in the weeks leading up and you're going, you know what? He might actually get in and you're, you're kind of going, this might leverage me because people aren't going to pick the same players that I'm going to pick.

Keith: 'cause everyone was going to pick DUP POIs. Everyone was going to pick. It told you and Burn for the turnovers, Dan Sheen, highest points, stars, whatever you wanna call it for Forge at the time going into it. 'cause he was the highest forward scoring last year. So trying to pick a couple of nuances to differentiate came back to bite me in the, but for other people, it, uh, worked out a bit better.

Keith: Well, I'll, I'll start off with the, uh, the rugby TTL unchanged one. Where I, Keith Shenanigans was first. How did happen? Oh my God. 

Polly: Failed, failed 

Keith: miserably. And that's our in. Thank you very much. 

Polly: So Keith, Keith, Keith [00:51:00] failed to, uh, AB be abide by the rules and, uh, call me Georgia because the 

Keith: dope in my team was unreal, 

Polly: you know?

Polly: Um, and then, uh, so he doesn't count. Then we have a, a person, the imp. Implication, which, uh, we discussed is a team that they changed there. That team was changed week in, week out. It wasn't, uh, set from the very beginning. They definitely, uh, definitely changed their team from week in and week out as well.

Polly: So, um, you know, they don't count Merchant Navy now. Who was that? I can't remember who that was. It was another, somebody else that, um, 

Kent: changed their captain though. I 

Polly: think that they 

Kent: captain, 

Polly: they changed their captain Who did? Who was their original captain then? 

Kent: Uh, it was the winger. Um, Harry, Harry Ale was their first week then it went to Oh, right.

Keith: Yeah. They got LBB as their captain in the final week. Yeah, [00:52:00] 

Polly: I think it was fine. Oh, you're right. Yeah. He did choose Harry Aaron or week one. And then, yeah, the team did change. I'll agree with you there. It definitely changed. The players didn't change. They didn't change the players, but they changed the captain.

Polly: So I suppose you could say that he, um, he, he, he won. Because look at that tackle doesn't deserve anything. Um, you know, uh, I plenty, I missed tackle, 

Keith: so We'll, we'll miss that name. Yeah. 

Polly: Wow. But, but let's be honest, we all thought it was a really good concept. It was a really good idea. Uh, yeah. And, uh, I think if we knew that, I think we could push that a little bit better.

Polly: And I think we open it up to, uh, the wider public and, uh, and then just have our own little. Secret one as well, like a separate one. And we have our own competition because I think other people really enjoyed that aspect. You've gotta really go, team's gotta be submitted, you've gotta close the league two weeks before, you know, you've gotta be really strict.

Polly: Any changes and, and you should be able to control the league and you go kick 'em out, right? Okay, you've not done it properly, you're [00:53:00] out. Okay. And then you end up with the right thing at the end. Um, but you know, I think it's one of those things, uh, we should get a chat going as well. So I think it's not too bad.

Polly: Um, but yeah, I agree. I think it was, it was a really good competition. I really like that. Uh, and Keith, well done on that. And I, and I think you were superb, but let's go to the other one then. Let's go to the other one, which is like our changeable teams. 

Kent: Let's take it, that one, shall we? 

Polly: You know, and we look at our, our changeable teams in there, in there and, um, actually through the, the, the podcast leagues and, uh, Lin Rudy's, uh, with definitely outstanding winner.

Polly: Um, you know, uh, week in, week out, their score, week in, week out, they won by 90 points, which is, you know, smash it a captain score at a weekend. So that's an absolutely huge, huge result. So well done to Lins, Rudy, um, you know, whoever you are. Uh, congratulations. Well done. Thanks for listening to the pod.

Polly: Thanks for joining the, um, uh, uh, [00:54:00] the, uh, the interaction stuff. So really, really good. Uh, in second place, uh, megs moler. Okay. Once again, absolutely superb. They, even that last weekend, they did the same as me. They did not Captain Bre. Um. Did I? That's right, I did. Um, but yeah, they didn't Captain Beri, they're Captain Ramos.

Polly: So, um, I think if they Captain Beri, they would've definitely been in a chance with, uh, um, you know, um, winning the, uh, coming first this, that first week. Uh, and then randomly some bloke in Fur Place called Poly. Uh, somehow I couldn't work out to change the name of that team without changing the name of the other one.

Polly: So I just left it as the same. Uh, I definitely changed my team. Um, so that's what we have a look at. 

Kent: Can I just also, 

Polly: and it 

Kent: was 

Polly: superb. 

Kent: Can I put into the, this conversation that one of our fellow hosts, uh, Buster completely changed the wrong team and on his team where he decided to change, [00:55:00] there was no limit.

Kent: There's, you can have like 17 French players be wanted and he won that one. But I think he came Rock Boston with this one. I was not. So I think he might have to go for the forfeit on this. As he's not here as well, he can't defend himself. 

Keith: That sounds good to me. A hundred percent. Uh, then like after Polly, there was, uh, Steve Borthwick.

Polly: Uh, yeah, that's, that's a, that's Adam. That is Adam is, I think Steve. There's Adam and I'm just looking through here. And he, he's actually through the whole of the tournament, he, uh, he scored the most tries, you know, with 30, you know, he, his players scored 30 tries over the whole tournament, which was absolutely superb.

Polly: Um, yeah, which was two more above everyone else. So, you know, um, we have to admit this year the amount of tri scoring was just unreal. You know, uh, like we said earlier, that 90 points in a game between Scotland and France, and you would've gone. That's not even feasible, is [00:56:00] it? You know, and you go, oh, 50 points to 40, what a game of rugby.

Polly: You know? It's almost like they were playing fantasy rugby out there. Yeah. And then, you know, even in that whole last weekend, I, I think, you know, it was just ridiculous. It was just points choice being scored everywhere. It's so much better and so much more enjoyable than five nil or, you know, a 13 five result, you know?

Polly: Um, this year I definitely think we've seen teams go going for the corner and going for the try without a shadow of a doubt. And I think that's been superb. So, you know, and, and the Six Nations, you know, we talk about, you know, I think back to fantasy football, you know, when it's conception, Keith, you, you might be a little bit too young for that, but you know, when, um, what is it, uh, Frank Skinner and um, 

Kent: David the deal.

Polly: David BDE started that as a, on BBC two as a Friday night tv and then all of a sudden it got people talking about it, got people talking about football and it got the, the local fan [00:57:00] and it got the, the, you know, the armchair fan really involved. And I think we all know that Six Nations is really good. I just think that sometimes that the, you know, having to re-pick team week in, week out and the amount of changes that there are is really, really frustrating And, uh, it can be a bit, bit of a painstakingly annoying thing to do at times.

Kent: Well, you're talking about obviously they've be on their log in the fancy football. Um, I've been lucky enough to know quite a few actual professional players. They even do the Fancy Foot League themselves. So you've actually got the players who are playing in these fancy teams, picking their teams and other players, because I know it massively kicked off that it was, uh, Jack Reish.

Kent: He found out who the team was. And he managed to take himself at own fantasy 'cause he knew he wasn't playing. So that, this sort of thing. But managed to the professional players, like in the Six Nations, like to j sitting there picking his fantasy team before the fucking thing again to j or anyone's watching who playing Six nations.

Kent: They wanna get into a involved [00:58:00] in nah, one next season. Please give it a shout 'cause that'd be quite fun to have. A hundred 

Keith: percent. Yeah. And because I know that there was a controversy that, um, I, I think it was one of the Liverpool physios, they found his, uh, fantasy team and could see that he was dropping his own players so people would be able to know for the lineup coming up for the weekend that all like wasn't gonna play because the physio.

Keith: Took 'em out. So there, there's all those kind little aspects to it. You get so many different interactions and people involved with that kind pantomime esque going, oh, why did he take 'em out? Why is, why is the to j putting in Fin Smith instead of forge, you know, that kind of thing. Like, so it's, uh, yeah know, it's really, really good.

Keith: I really enjoyed one of the first conversations I had with Carl after first meeting him. I, I listened to you guys and your recording of the Six Nations, uh, fantasy last year, [00:59:00] and it was like 80 minutes of really enjoyable, uh, content. I'd advise anyone that's enjoyed this year's one to go back and listen to that.

Keith: It was, it was highly entertaining to, uh, be able to listen to at that point. The knowledge that you guys had of that season, going into that Six Nations, I thought was phenomenal. And I've really enjoyed being part of this Six Nations coverage. And, uh, I've just thought from the matches itself to the fantasy, to our stipulation fantasy, I've just thought it's been highly entertaining.

Keith: I hope the people that listen and tune in really enjoy that aspect to what we do as well. 

Polly: Yeah, I can only second that, Keith. I think it's been, it's been good fun. And you know, I think we missed a week, didn't we? And I think, uh, we, we've all been, you know, life gets in the way, but actually I think on a Wednesday night, sitting down having a conversation about the weekend, it's.[01:00:00] 

Polly: Yeah. Uh, I think Wednesday this year as an England fan's probably been just about right. 

Keith: Yeah. Enough time to lick the wounds to uh, get over the hangover and yeah, get the, I I do like the, the Wednesday, uh, like we were saying earlier about the Thursday kickoff, I do like the, the Wednesday getting together 'cause it's a staple.

Keith: There you go right in the middle of the week and, uh, we, it's nearly the start of the back end of the week. Instead of just going, oh, here, I've gotta get up on Thursday. You go, oh yeah, Wednesday evening with, with the lad. Good chat and then kick off for the rest of the week. 

Polly: I wonder if we can do it live via, like Instagram next year if we can Instagram the, you know, so we can actually have interactions with the people messaging it.

Keith: Oh, we can like, like what, like Carl said earlier, like you've got streaming platforms like Kick and Twitch and uh, rumble now as well for live interactions for random people come in, as you say on [01:01:00] YouTube. I know Carl did a test on one of the Spanish games Good while ago. Uh, we do have the, it is possible, it's just how we're going to get the channel to link up to those pages and, uh, get the people that are already listening involved folks.

Keith: Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. We're fully on board. We're fully on board with doing live. 

Polly: Hey, look, put it this way. I've been on my tablet, I've been on my phone, I've been on my daughter's laptop, and now I'm on my other, my own laptop. And it's like finally I've managed to find a thing. Now all I need to do is buy a decent camera.

Polly: Uh, and therefore we'll be alright. Otherwise, yeah, not a white thing. 

Kent: You've got the moment. 

Polly: I know. It's really bad, isn't it? I think it it, but I can change the quality of it, but I don't think that's gonna really affect it. 

Keith: Oh, man, 

Polly: I tell you what Paul, I, 

Keith: I, I have a spare webcam. You drop me your, uh, address.

Keith: I'll send it on to you. Don't worry about it. 

Polly: I, I think I'm, I think I'm alright. I think I can rob one. I I think I can. Sorry. [01:02:00] I think I can acquire one from a different source. Well, we're going, 

Keith: we're, we're gonna have to start our go, uh, GoFundMe here for each pixel, uh, on the screen right now. 

Polly: Well, I change 

Kent: it 

Polly: because Go, go, go 

Kent: talk about the fan.

Kent: Sorry. Talk about the fantasy. Next, next thing that I was thinking about doing like a draft draw where you pick, you can only, only show players can pick that player. But I, I thought only one player each, but the six nations with like 12 of us, you, you're gonna run outta fucking props to pick the players.

Kent: You, but having a draft where you've got certain players where only the pod can only get picked by three people or something that, so you've got a chance. But again, it just to make it a little bit, 

Keith: well, given that there's the quantity of us to, to cover the, the six nations, uh, yeah, I, I like that idea.

Keith: What we could do is write Okay, DuPont our six names in the hat, and then whoever gets pulled, there you go. Next name you're going to get Finn Smith next name. [01:03:00] You're going to get Finn Russell. That I, I like that. Yeah. That's a nice little concept that you've said there, Kent. 

Polly: Or a little bidding more so you can go Right.

Polly: Actually I, I, you know, I want to spun all my money on, um, on DuPont and then I've then got a sort down DT bottom. Yeah. You know what I mean? Of Jesus. I mean, Saturday poll the files, spunk his money on DuPont. 

Kent: That, that's this one,

Polly: Tom.

Keith: Brilliant. 

Polly: Uh, yeah, I I think the only thing you wanted to say is that who do you think has been the, um, the best player of the tournament? Then we who 

Keith: Yeah. So the, the final topic of conversation, 

Polly: you're not allowed, you're not allowed to choose 

Keith: the 

Polly: same. 

Keith: Yeah. 

Polly: But you have, you have to choose that one person.

Kent: Can I do a shout out to a few players who I think deserve a shout out [01:04:00] and then go onto the player who I think probably is, yeah, take it away. Obviously, Berry, um, I think is generally just the cheat codes. As I said earlier, last 14, six nations, he scored 18 tries now in those 14 games. Um, that boy is just a generational talent.

Kent: Uh, I don't know how teams are gonna stop him with his pace, his ability. Um, Caleb Merley, when he came in int I thought made a difference. Having a player who just ran round and just caused Harrick everywhere he went, uh, did really well. Um, two Irish boys. I know one's gonna get a mention a few times. Uh, McCloskey, uh, I think Jamie Osborne.

Kent: I think Revelation coming in for Kuna Keenan who was injured. If he didn't break his thumb, would we have seen him? Would he have got as much game time? Would he have been now? I think one of Ireland's [01:05:00] right. Rising stars. Uh, Joe Hayes for England came in as probably one of the most unfavor props or less known props for England.

Kent: And I thought he had outstanding tournaments. Uh, but for me, the play, I think the player who has stood out had a game of the tournaments, uh, I think is Reese Carey for the, the Welsh block being a front row union, um, that try against island where hands off koon run over big smile in the face, like at, at that, at that kid in the park where you're playing the sport you love and you're just doing it for the joy of it going, Hey, what have we done?

Kent: And even gave it the old afterwards just, I think, think he stood out to me. I think it was a player for me. Thank you. 

Keith: Yeah. Like as we, uh, were talking off air before the tournament, me did an interview and he was basically saying when it came to fantasy, don't pick him because he never scores tries. And he was a try scorer [01:06:00] machine.

Keith: And, uh, you know, I, there was a sign in the, uh, Piccadilly stadium. At the weekend versus Italy where it's like, you know, don't worry and carry on, you know, for Reese Carry. And even my dad got a good chuck at that and it just goes to show like how a tournament can bring such, like, like that try. He scored against us.

Keith: I was urge them to get over 'cause I was like, oh my God, he's made the break. Go one big fella. You know? And the, we've said it multiple times throughout the moments that have been made in this tournament. Yeah. Goes to show how it has been. Probably the best six nations in the last, uh, decade. So it's just been an absolute phenomenal one.

Keith: I think that's a great pick, Kent, uh, very, uh, astute that you're wearing your red hoodie as well, just so you could support on, on that. Uh, Polly would you like to. Tell us [01:07:00] now, do you have any honorable mentions as well? 

Polly: Yeah, I, I agree with, uh, one of the ones that Kent said, and, and, and I think Joe Hayes is, you know, he's, he's the name of the, one of the names I've written down.

Polly: I think he was, you know, before the, the, well before the Six Nations, you know. England we're looking at it and going, actually, we're missing our best, uh, our, one of our best front rows in Will Stewart. And, you know, he is a British and Irish lion, um, who is absolutely brilliant. And I, I, I think Joe Hayes has come in and, and has done a really good job.

Polly: And I think, um, you, you can't knock that 'cause it's a really tough position, you know, no matter what anybody says. Uh, I've got a few other, I think, uh, Ollie Ches was brilliant. I think he went missing one week, um, which was a bit of shame. Um, I think that was again, the Scottish, the Scottish team, but I think everyone went missing.

Polly: So, um, but he was superb and I think he, you know, he's definitely got a, a, a, an an exciting, he's an exciting player to watch. Um, the other one is at Song Bay, the French, the French, the [01:08:00] other French back three player, you know, he, he played superb. You know, he plays his role when you're playing in the back three of, um, be able to.

Polly: Ramos and then, you know, and he moved him to 15, uh, when Ramos went to 10. And he, he really, as a young French player, just think, oh, hang on a minute. 'cause we talked about Pinot not being picked at the start of the tournament. We're like, hang on a minute, what's going on here? And then, you know, you just roll out.

Polly: And the those back three, he didn't, he didn't miss a game, you know, he played every single game and uh, uh, uh, and nearly every single minute. And he was superb. And, and he was brilliant to watch. And, you know, uh, he creates more, tries to be able Tori than, than people, uh, sort of give him credit for. So he was superb.

Polly: But my, you know, it's really difficult to pinpoint the one player. But, um, Ferrari, Bri, Italy, and that whole Italian front row has been the, uh, my enjoyment of this whole tournament is that I just wanna watch, you know, [01:09:00] let's Scrum, come on boys. And you know that, that. That picturesque moment that will go down an Italian folklore of tad of um, tad Furlong being sort of being folded and then being lifted up.

Polly: Is it, is that something that will go and, you know, I I, I just genuinely believe, I think that Italian front row, that Italian team this year has been superb and they've just got so strong and, you know, six Nations can only be better with an Italian team that can beat everyone. Um, you know, uh, and, and I think that they were brilliant.

Polly: So that's, he, he's my pick, um, uh, uh, for the tournament in terms of, you know, what I've watched and what I've seen, you know. 

Keith: Well it, it's great to hear you pick, um, a couple of fellows there because I know at the very start of the tournament I can recollect and Carl kinda shrugged his shoulders being like, nah, you know, he was giving you the big one over Hayes and he was going on about Ferrari as my pick, uh, coming in.

Keith: Um. But he's had [01:10:00] a unbelievable season so far for Benetton, and he carried that in. Uh, shame with the injury just coming up to the last match. But, um, yeah, the, the Italians, I, I think it just goes to show kind of the standard that the Six Nations is at now. They've come this season and just been a brilliant, entertaining team to watch.

Keith: Uh, the well showed what they had with the, the last game that they're not just going to be, uh, taking the wooden spoon. I'd imagine that given that such a young team that next year Six Nation, it's going to be a different talking point from them. Now, with my own pick of my personal favorite player, this tournament, it's, uh, going to be an Irish man.

Keith: Surprise, surprise. Uh, and I'm going with Stuart McCluskey. He has been absolutely brilliant. The, the whole tournament going from the, uh. He's gotten a couple of [01:11:00] assists with true like passes that our people are going. Is this Tom Brady playing in the Irish team? He's, uh, we talk about moments. We keep going back to the moments that stick out in this tournament.

Keith: The way he got back with a smile on his face to tackle Marcus Smith into the corner where there's absolutely no reason why a fell his size should have been able to catch Marcus Smit with that, uh, yardage advantage and just his work in and around the pitch was ferocious. It was nonstop. I have to say it's, I hope he has longevity that Bundy Aki has had, you know, being able to play at this level because he is in his thirties, and to be able to have that consistency.

Keith: If he can have that over the next couple of years, I'd be absolutely delighted. Once again, I go back great to see players that are playing with. The other provinces, the Ulcer Boys coming up and showcasing that they deserve a [01:12:00] spot. You know, he didn't get his spot in this Irish team because of Henderson being picked over favorability with Farrow for the last while.

Keith: And it's, it's a shame that he hasn't had that opportunity, but he was given it this tournament and by God did he take it with both hands. He was my pick of player, uh, my personal favorite player this tournament. And I hope to see those type of performances continue because we set off air. Uh, Polly pointed out he didn't think that Ring Rose had a very good tournament.

Keith: And I'd agree with you there. And you know what you're getting with Ring Rose, you're going to get like a, a solid six. Outta 10 every week. He's going to put the tackles in. He's not going to work. You know, absolutely. Turn the, the lights on in the stadium and be like, right, I'm doing this magical piece here.

Keith: He, he's, he's [01:13:00] a lesser Darcy in my book. Uh, Gordon Darcy won my favorite all time centers. Um, McCluskey, McCluskey outta those two. I'm picking every day of the week. And I would say Ring Rose has to work for, to be his partner over the next while. So it's going to be an interesting one with all these additions into the Irish team, as you say, Osborne brilliant tournament, as you also said.

Keith: What do you got that opportunity of Keenan. Didn't get injured? I don't think so because all the talk on the Irish side was, or Keenan's coming back. Brilliant. He's just had one match before the tournament. Will he have Match Fitness to start? So it was all about getting Keenan back in that team. So Fair Juice Osborne played brilliant.

Keith: So yeah, McCluskey I picked for, he was just brilliant I have to say. 

Kent: Can I just say then, so technically [01:14:00] McCluskey got in because as it BUN obviously had his little discretion and get in. 

Keith: Yes. 

Kent: Osborn Osborn got in 'cause Henry Keeno was injured. Joe Hayes got in 'cause Will Stewart was injured. It's funny how certain players who have haven't really been given a chance to shine due to injuries now have come in and gone, hang a minute this, this is what's been sat on your bench or not playing the whole time.

Kent: So I think it's good to see players who are potentially. Weren't first choice have stood up now and taken their choice, and then now it's their position to lose and make sense. These players come in, have to knock these players back out of their position, which I think is gonna be harder than they think it's gonna be.

Keith: Yeah, it was, it was a blessing in disguise, really. Uh, a couple of the injuries, um, and even just some, uh, like say like, I didn't believe Stockdale deserved to be dropped after the French match. I didn't think he got enough ball to do anything that match, so I didn't think it was just on him. So I was happy to see him get a [01:15:00] try on the weekend because another ulcer man that's having a good season, but we.

Keith: We're finally having a selection of wingers that can actually cause damage to teams. We have Stockdale, we have O'Brien coming in, blister and Pace. We have Robert Une coming in who's just absolutely rapid that can actually scare teams. And that's what we've been missing over the last little while is uh, 'cause obviously Low has been on the decline.

Keith: Uh, low is my mother's favorite Irish player, and, but the last like season he hasn't performed. So to know that, right, well, we have someone that can come in and fill the void that he has cemented that position over the last number of years. Uh, it, it gives a bit of reassurance going into the World Cup next year.

Kent: Just thinking then with the Six Nations have been the best six nations. We, we've said it for many times in the last 20 years. So now if you had to pick a British and Irish [01:16:00] Lions team or squad. You reckon it'll be much different to what actually went out there with players who have come through now and put their hand up compared to players who potentially went on the tour and haven't performed.

Kent: Now, I 

Polly: can tell you it would, it wouldn't be any different if you took the same manager. It still would've been, it still would've been the heavily Irish side I think you would've seen. I still don't think that the Welsh players, you know, I don't think that there, that it still would've been very, very few Welsh.

Polly: Yes. Just, just Morgan. I mean, don't forget Jack, don't forget Jack. Well, Wayne Wright would've gone, but Jack Morgan's, you know, don't forget that Welsh back row was missing two of the Welsh stars, you know, uh, in terms of Jack Morgan, the captain, and who's the guy who's just gone to the Gloucester, the other guy who played in the summer?

Polly: Um, 

Carl: revel. 

Polly: Yeah. Rael. Yeah. So, you know, you, you, you're looking in terms of there, so I I, but remember we always talk about this and the lions is one of those [01:17:00] things that's gonna come up and it's like, well, let's not talk about the lions for another three years. 'cause it, it doesn't really come in content.

Polly: Content. And that's just my personal opinion, Kent, by the way. Um, but you are right. Is that, yeah. When you look at that team in a tournament and you think, actually, hang on a minute, it was, it was ridiculous. There's players from everywhere. Some players just played superbly and, you know, they really put, put their, put their bodies on the line.

Polly: This, this tournament. I mean, I, I think, you know, from week one you talked about the French prop, uh, the French second row Gillard, and you think, well, hang on a minute. You know, this young lad's coming on, he gets man of the match after playing 50 minutes, you know, and it's like, this is ridiculous. Those players.

Polly: We know we, we talked about strength in depth for all of those teams. And you know, we, we, at the start the tournament, we said probably England's strength in depth of the home nations is probably the strongest. And actually it proved, it, it, regardless of whether it was strong or not, their first team, their first string players weren't good enough.

Polly: So, you [01:18:00] know, um, clearly either the players aren't good enough or the coaches aren't good enough, one or the other. Well, the way that they've got playing, because when we watched 'em on Fri on Saturday, that they, you mean, um, when it wasn't just, let's just kick the fucking ball away. Uh, let's not just set peace and, and do some other bits.

Polly: Let's actually think about our attack and how we can score. Um, they look pretty good, you know? 

Kent: Yeah. I don't, I don't think England don't think it's England's player's lack of ability. It looked like to me that potentially they were trying to play a system which either they weren't suitable playing, they weren't used to playing.

Kent: And I think, like you said, the last game they went, fuck it. Let's just throw everything. We've got attack. And the players' natural abilities actually got, got 'em to a point where we thought we could win the game. And then I know Keith, Keith's, Keith's number one enemy, Jack van Port Fleet was two minutes ago, kicks the ball, giving the, uh, French and the referee chance to screw us over.

Kent: So not with horrible. We all knew [01:19:00] the, the tactic is 

Polly: not 

Kent: set up. A set up a long ball, crash it in again. Just keep rocking, balling it. Two minutes, kick it out in win the Game Island, the champions. 

Polly: Not the first time. Bearing in mind though, Pollock stole a ball, didn't he? And, and, and then we, you know, it was like, just keep hold of it, keep hold of it.

Polly: And, and, oh, wait a minute. We just remember that's not the first time we kicked possession away in the last two minutes. It's like, what are you doing? But, 

Keith: you 

Polly: know, 

Keith: I could not believe that he kicked it away, like I should say is my enemy number one. But the, the basics of rugby at that stage of a game is see it out, right?

Keith: Last thing you want to do is give possession back to the opposition. Just give it to the forwards. Let them get the like ball bash in, kill the clock, and then just boot it out of play. The fact he gave it back and I, I was just scratching my head. Most 

Polly: exciting back three in the tournament. 

Keith: Yeah. Like, and they literally [01:20:00] were, I was like, they're just gonna come straight back at you.

Keith: And then obviously the penalty itself was dubious, but you just knew why even give them the chance, you know? Mm-hmm. Uh, look, he is a young player. I think he's only bought like 24. Um, so lucky he has plenty of time to fully understand that. I'm sure he'll come, you know, he'll take that and understand in future scenarios similar to that, just the heat of the moment, probably got to him.

Keith: Um, but yeah, I, I, I can't justify kicking the ball away at that stage of the game when you got two minutes left. Um. 

Polly: Fucking coach killer for me on a Saturday. It's like, you know, I watching grassroots games and I, both of you, both of you appreciate this. And you know, as, as you, I go and watch some grassroots stuff and they're attacking in the 22 and it's like some back gets the ball and he goes, oh, just kick it for the corner.

Polly: And it's like, what? What your kick is, your kick is the [01:21:00] least part of your game. You know, you're about to try and gruber it. You know, you kick the ball in the conditions that are absolutely atrocious. You're about to get tackled. You got, I know my best option at what point ever to retain possession was kicking the ball away.

Polly: You, you know, an option. Um, you know, I, I, this, this brings bullet points. I get so frustrated, like even we go back to grassroots. 'cause that's what it's all about. And I, I get really passionate about it when I talk about it and I used to show at players on the sidelines is that we've just got the advantage.

Polly: We've just got the advantage. So the referee's gonna give us 10 meters internationally, the referee's gonna give you fucking 10 minutes. Right. Okay. Until you either give another penalty away or, or you, 

Keith: actually, I'm glad you said that because that's exactly what I was going to say. Something needs to change with the penalty.

Keith: Royal, it is absolutely ridiculous how many phases that a team can play and then the ref just bring it back. If you've knocked it on after multiple [01:22:00] phases, you've knocked it on. If bring back, if you kick the ball away, then the advantage is gone. Like, it's, it 

Polly: was, I completely agree. And, and actually Holly, uh, who's the referee?

Polly: The Scotland, the, the, the Holly, whatever her name, Holly Davidson. When, um, I think there was, the guy wasn't under no pressure and he chose to kick the ball away after a knock on. And then they went and scored and he was like. You chose to kick the ball and you were under no pressure. You didn't have to kick the ball and you had to knock on, you've kicked it away.

Polly: It's done the same. I think, you know, a penalty is 10 meters, not 20 meters. Where, where's this, you know, they haven't gained an advantage. They've gained an advantage the moment almost that they've broken the game line. If they want the penalty, just stop the, and I know we're talking about letting the game flow, but if the game's in flowing and it's flowing, it's flowing, they've gained 10 meters, that's it.

Polly: Advantage over, you know, um, if they wanted the penalty, they could have stopped the [01:23:00] game and they turn around and go, no, I want the penalty. Let's kick it for the corner. You know, and that's what they're trying to remove. And I think that's the reason why they gave, it's so, such a leeway, you know, unlike, at what point is it, how much advantage is a penalty advantage?

Polly: That's ultimately the question. There's no distance on it. And if you. If you choose to kick the ball away and you've kicked the ball 40 meters down, there you go, well, that's your choice. You didn't have to kick it. You could have just held it and go, actually, no, I want the penalty. 

Kent: You are right. Different referees have a situation where one person like Holy Ocean kick away.

Kent: Right? That's van's over and I've turned, they kick it over, they kick with no good. They go, right, bring it back for the penalty. You go, hang on a minute. What's the difference? It's referees interpretation, but also like, yeah, you've 

Polly: chosen to kick it away and it's gone straight into touch. You fucking useless twat.

Kent: It's also like if, if a player then plays on for 10, five minutes and make players and gets injured, they go, right, bring it back to the penalty. Now A player's just got injured. It [01:24:00] takes whole time. That's 

Keith: exactly what I was going to say. That's exactly what I was gonna say, Kent. Like just I, you guys have both at the, the end of your.

Keith: Points just said exactly the points that I was going to say. It's not going to change until someone gets seriously injured in a phase and it gets brought back. Like it just makes until something like that happens, where it's gone on for too long and someone ends up getting a broken leg, just anything, someone falls on you the wrong way, just, uh, nonsensical no need until something like that happens.

Keith: It's not gonna change, but it is ridiculous. It's so frustrating that the extra exertion that, uh, a team defending has to do for them, for it just to be called back after you've done like really good defensive work and you've turned the ball over just to get a slap in the face and be like, we're going back for the, the [01:25:00] penalty.

Keith: Right. We could, we, we could sit here and talk about changing the game all night long, but I think that I, I, yeah, I know we need Carl back in if we're gonna talk about that. We know he's the, the mastermind behind Changing World Rugby. Um, look, I, I think we've been doing this now for about two hours nearly at this point.

Keith: Um, I te I think it's a good point to end it on. I want to thank the boat ears for sticking around for the whole time to record and, uh, look for turning up throughout the whole six Nations. It's, as I said earlier, it's been an absolute pleasure to, uh, come on the podcast every Wednesday and, uh, chat about rugby and trying to highlight, uh, the fantasy end of it and, uh, the fun we had with the stipulations.

Keith: Uh, any lost words lads to the listeners before we head off? 

Polly: No, let's do it again this time next year. 'cause yeah, the Six Nations [01:26:00] even more exciting next year with a World Cup coming as well. So, you know, next, next year we get six nations under World Cup fantasy. So that's even better 

Kent: I'd say. I'd say if they like what they've seen here, it's plenty more of this sort of shit chat from AOT bucket, trying to bring the game into distribute, try and change the rules from our armchairs.

Kent: Um, Keith, hold on. And Keith, I to say thank you for you for stepping up and running this, when our illustrious ginger head leader tries to say he's got better things to do in Spain, like sit by Paul and smoke cigars. Whatever he is doing now, try and make up, make up these, got some phone call to do 

Keith: luck.

Keith: Uh, here, luck. As I said, it's been an absolute pleasure to jump on, so I'll happily do whenever, uh, it needs to be done. So yeah, I've had an absolute blast. It's, uh, great to have these conversations with absolute, uh, custodians at the game like yourselves. And if you're still listening at this point to the podcast, [01:27:00] make sure to like, subscribe, follow us on all socials, rugby through the league.

Keith: We will see you this time next year. Make sure to keep following. We are constantly trying to bring the game of rugby to the forefront. And with that, thank you very much.