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The Scrum Is Under Attack, and Rugby May Never Be the Same · Cut The Kak

• Byron: Welcome back to Cut the Cuck, the show where we talk about the sport we love but know absolutely nothing about. We're back. We missed a week. We can blame Chad for that. So if you missed our voices and our terrible faces, lucky you. But we are back and we've got a lot of rugby to cover because we missed quite a lot of talking points. But we'll try cover it all and let's see what happens. Chad, let's cut the cuck. Chad: Let's do it! Where do we want to start? We want to start ranting. What's our first rant? Let's get straight into it. Byron: There's so much, so much has gone on. ⁓ But I want to talk about a battle that it seems that you and I are losing and I can't really see many other people talking about it. I've looked online and not many people are talking about this fight we're losing. And that's the loss of the scrums in rugby union. Seems to be everyone's fighting to get rid of it. even though you and I both see it as an integral part to rugby union and I want to talk about the 2026 law trials in major league rugby in the US. Now when we mentioned this before we started, the thing that made me laugh was you're like, well, it's in the US who gives a FUGG ⁓ Fair enough. But also Trial laws can expand into other competitions and I think it's important we get ahead of this because they do not seem to be changing ⁓ the laws. So, give me one second. Here it is. All right, so there are a few rule changes and the main reason for this is they want to speed up the game. And by speeding up the game, Chad: Yep Byron: they're trying to minimize the number of scrums in the game. So I'm gonna read through a few of the changes ⁓ for the 2026 season. A knock on or a forward pass into touch. You used to have the option of a line out or a scrum. No longer an option, it's a line out. Chad: Okay. Byron: Okay, so that's number one. The next one is a knock-on or a forward pass that goes in goal. ⁓ The play restarts with a goal line dropout instead of a scrum. Chad: I can help. me to scrub. Okay. Byron: Okay, I've still got some more. A failed maul. If a maul ends unsuccessfully, a free kick is rewarded instead of a scrum. The five second use it rule, ⁓ which is failing to play the ball within five seconds after the ref calls, use it or lose it, no longer a scrum, it's a free kick. And just so you know, you can't pick Scrum from a free kid. They do have the 20 minute red card replacement law, which is the player that gets the direct red card, or for 20 minutes after 20 minutes, another player can replace him. That one we've seen pretty much everywhere at this point. ⁓ Tries that are scored directly underneath the goalposts is a straight seven point. You don't need to take the conversion. Chad: That I can get behind. But I think it's... Byron: Can you though? We've seen people miss them. It happens one in two, three thousand. No, no, no, it happened fucking who was for the Crusaders a few seasons ago, Lee Halfpenny. He came on for his first game for the Crusaders, took a kick, must have been three meters out from the post and still missed. It didn't affect the game, Crusaders won, but it happens. Chad: In high school. Okay. Byron: Okay, then a scrum penalty. Chad: Maybe I can maybe I'm sorry now that I'm thinking about it. Maybe I've just said that because you give me like bad news, bad news, bad news. That's like the book. Yeah, maybe I was just like, ⁓ OK, yeah. Byron: And you're like, ⁓ this one's not as bad as all the others. If you win a scrum penalty, you can no longer opt for another scrum. You have to take a tap or a free kick. I mean, a tap or a kick to goal. You can't take another scrum from the penalty that you won. Next up, have... ⁓ Chad: Jesus, is it even rugby at this point? Byron: No, no, no, it's becoming league. I don't know how else to describe it to people. The next one they've got is they no longer have a TMO. They have a referee review system. Each team has two reviews they can use throughout the game. Chad: Okay. So like that, that's pretty much out of NRL. Yep. Byron: Then, yeah, already said the last one they had was the if you win a scrum penalty, you cannot pick a new scrum unless you're inside the opposition's 22 meter line. Chad: You see that's... it's stupid. They're just making it way too complicated. But that's horrible. I hate it all. Byron: It's- I hate it all. The reason I wanted to start with it is because now for the rest of the part I can be pissed off. Because this is... It's like, you know when we spoke about the varsity cup, instead of taking the conversion, you take the 22 meter tap for a five points instead of two points. That one I thought was fun and creative, but it didn't really ruin the game. These laws are, yeah, they're doing everything they can. Chad: Yep. Yeah, this is completely changing the game. Byron: for scrums not to be important, which I know we've said this before and I think we just got to keep saying it until someone starts watching the part that's important. like scrums are so important, getting rid of them, you're changing the sport. And you're also. Chad: 100 % Do you think that it's... ⁓ it's... Bones! Just annoyed me because I didn't know about all these rules. I didn't know about all of them. This is the first time you hear about it. That's horrible. ⁓ Byron: They're also making it impossible for the big boys to have place in the game. Chad: But do you think I can't see, I can't see, I can't see any of those actually being in, when I say real rugby in. Byron: Hey, hold on, you're saying that now, right? We spoke a few weeks ago about that meeting they had in London where they want to turn scrums into malls. Do you think this is not a good alternative for those fucking animals that want to get rid of the scrums? Chad: I don't know what it is, Byron. It's not good. That's all I know. Byron: So that means those representatives from Australia and New Zealand that were asking for scrums to be turned into malls, instead of fighting about it, you just go, ⁓ at this point, there'll be three, four scrums a game. Chad: Can you imagine how confusing it must be for to be like a new person coming into rugby in the States watching the MRL watching no scrums and then you go watch an international game and there's it's a completely different game. Everyone will be like what. Byron: Well, for now, but let's fast forward two, three years, maybe that's the new place of rugby union because that's what everyone seems to be asking for. I don't know why you and I are fighting for rugby union to stay rugby union. We're nobody and we're the only ones talking about this that I know of. I'm sure there's other people, like it hasn't gained any traction. Chad: No, ⁓ it cannot be, no. Yeah. That's... that's... feral. Oh, it... yeah, I don't know. I'm trying to justify it. I don't know why, but like, maybe it's just for the American market? To get people in? I don't know. Byron: See, I would kind of take on that argument if it wasn't for the fact that they had that thing in London and they're trying to get rid of scrums actively from all over the place and from top nations, Australia, New Zealand, top nations asking for scrums to be changed or for there to be less of them in order to speed up the game. ⁓ watch fucking league, leave union alive. Don't get, killing me. Chad: What does that mean for... What happens to the players that play in the states and won the regular cups in the states in 2031? Now the MRL is going to be playing this, you can only assume, for two, three seasons before they make an actual decision. Say they carry on like that and then they go and get selected for the USA side and then they Byron: Well then I'll have the smallest props and the worst scrum. Chad: Yeah, and then they join and they go play the box and get absolutely, or Italy, and get absolutely manhandled and injured probably because they won't know how to scrub. It's arguably more dangerous for the game. Byron: Scotland's scrum is fantastic at the moment. Yeah. Yeah. Well, yes, if this doesn't catch on everywhere else. Because if this catches on everywhere else, you lose all of these fantastic players because you don't wanna have Ox and Chair in your team. You rather wanna get ⁓ a nimble prop that can do these fantastic breaks down the wing or whatever it might be. Chad: Thanks, Byron. You've upset me and it's been what? Where's the time? Nine minutes and 40 seconds. Byron: Yeah, think about it. I've had this on my mind since before we missed recording last week. So I've been, I've been, it's been building in me to talk about this. Chad: That is feral. That is... no good. Byron: And like I said, the big fear that I have is not, okay, this is just the MLR, it's not gonna take off. Kinda like what we spoke about with Varsity Cup, it was just in the Varsity Cup, we don't think it's gonna take off. The problem is there's a movement prior to this to minimize the number of scrums. Now the MLR have gone, FUGG it, let's try this. If the rest of the... Chad: Yeah. Byron: people that are working in the background to get rid of scrums, look at this, they go, well, this is not a bad alternative. Horrid, horrible, absolutely horrible. Chad: I wonder what the impact will be. Can I even watch MRL here? Byron: I mean, I think a lot of this stuff's on YouTube as well. I do have just for... Where did it go? Oh, I lost it. I did have the... league table up and the teams so kickoff for yeah so kickoff for me is 10 pm and 2 am so it is a little challenging to watch but if i'm up i'll throw it on but they have six teams in the league Chad: for the MRL. Byron: I don't know where all of these people are from. there's the Chicago Hounds are in first place. Play 2-1-2. Anthem RC, I guess that's the team. I don't know whom they are. Let's see here if I can find anything. Chad: Probably from Chicago. Byron: They joined in 2024 from Charlotte, North Carolina. They're in second place, played 3-1-2. California Legion in third, played 3-1-1. Seattle Seawolves in fourth, played 2-1-1. Old Glory DC, played 2-1-1. And the New England Freejacks, played 2-2. But neither of them apparently are taking scrums seriously at all. So I think it is my duty to try catch some of the MLR so I can see this. Yes. Chad: Is it on at the moment? Look at the citizens cast bulb. I've never seen the MRL Byron: Let's see if we got a fixtures. The next Chad: It's so funny, I just googled how to watch the NRL and all it's come up with is how to watch the NRL and I even spelt Major rugby league. Yeah, a dumb ass. Byron: Like you can't spell you idiot So I've got a game Saturday 18th of April Yeah, okay, so then let's let's do our best to try catch at least one of those games ⁓ Chad: ⁓ yeah, here we go. They are here. Okay. Byron: Top of the log Chicago Hounds against bottom of the table New England Free Jacks. That's at 10 p.m. for me, so what's that, 9 a.m. for you? Chad: Let me see if I'll add onto here. ⁓ I can't even find the fixtures. Alright, I'll figure it out. But I can see the highlights, yeah. Byron: Yeah, so let's, we'll dive into that over the next week, but concerning, Yeah. Chad: I don't know if I want to. I don't want to support it. It's gonna be hate watching. It's not going to be good for anyone. Byron: No, no, it's it's consuming. Chad: actually pisses me off even more now that the fact that I so this is more of a rant on Sky Sports so I pay to watch rugby Sky Sport can't watch any of the UIC can't watch any of the champions any of the cups but can watch the fucking MRL Byron: And ⁓ we haven't dove into it just yet, but when we start talking about the Investec Champions Cup over the last two weeks, Chad, I might switch from watching the URC to watching the French Top 14 or the Gala Gala Premiership, because with all the money in those two competitions, the teams that they've put together, with all these different international players in one side. Again, we'll dive into it later, but the Bordeaux Begley's game against... ⁓ and again, it's too long. it was one of the best games of rugby and that wasn't even the best game from the weekend. The the Bath rugby versus Northampton Saints was for like it's just it was classic after classic after classic yeah with the the Investec Champions Cup in the EPCR. Anyways, so where we're at is what the FUGG MLR Sky Sports New Zealand. Let's figure out what we're doing with our lives. ⁓ Chad: Yeah, yes, but I guess I'll be able to watch a game of rugby with no scrums and tell you how I feel about it. Byron: Yeah, I mean, you can watch ⁓ rugby league disguised as the MLR. Chad: Yeah. When did you say the game's on? Byron: ⁓ 10pm Matam and 2am Matam. Chad: I need a day. Byron: Saturday and Sunday, or Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Chad: I can't get past Friday. Byron: So for you, I don't even, I can't even do that math. I'm not smart enough. Chad: Just plus one day. All right, cool. I will, I'll give her a whirl. I don't want to, just out of principle, but. Byron: Okay. You have to. It's our jobs as terrible podcasters to do the research for others. Chad: Look. Yeah. Byron: ⁓ Do you want to dive into some of the games that we've missed? We can go over them quickly because if we go into detail like we normally do it's far too many games. Chad: Hit it. You're up. Byron: Well, why didn't you do Super rugby? Since you were able to catch some of them. Chad: Again, I don't know if I want to. The Reds ruined... ruined it for me. Byron: You gotta go back a week, you gotta go back to Easter weekend, you gotta start with Crusader's Druor. Chad: beat them like a red-headed stepchild except it was... yeah ⁓ that weekend of rugby was the only only game worth talking about there because everything else was kind of expected was the force showing us both up beating the reds 42-19 ⁓ Byron: Hahaha What more do you want me to say? ⁓ Beating the Reds. Good on them. I'm happy for them. Chad: Yeah, it was it was an absolute crack. I was not expecting that at all. ⁓ And I think it kind of fit into the performance that they gave last weekend. This one has just passed beating the Crusaders because they were clearly hurting because they lost. Didn't they that game at home too against Byron: Yeah Reds were at home and then also 4th at Drewa only lost by 2 points. Chad: Yeah, well they've they were coming off for high. The reds were pissed off. It was it was a lot. It was great rugby. It was good. The Brumbies. Highlanders game was also pretty fun. I can't believe that the ⁓ Brumbies pulled it off in the 75th minutes or something. Okay. It was great game. Low scoring shows you that low scoring games can be exciting, but there's also heaps of knock ons and handling areas in that game. Byron: Yeah. It's great for rugby as a neutral. I was so upset by that. I was so upset. Well, there was something that I noticed. Also, I just got to say this because everyone gives me shit about it. Shout out to Cody Taylor for scoring four tries on his 150th appearance for the Crusaders. Chad: and make sure you eat. Byron: You can clip that and put it on TikTok so they can leave me alone for a week. ⁓ But to hop on that, will Jordans pop off the floor for one of their tries was definitely forward. The commentators called it. Everyone called it, but the TMO was like, nah, it's fucking, they didn't let it go on. Chad: They won't. ⁓ 100%. Yeah. it's Will Jordan like what do you do he's like the equivalent of Percy Montgomery or Byron: There was one more thing from that game. It's so long ago, so if you don't remember it, totally fine. In the 76th minute of the Druer game, they had a scrum. They had the player broke off from the scrum, first phase, ⁓ ruck. Scrum off plays it back to where the scrum was taking place. So there were still a lot of people just still standing there as forward to do after a scrum. There was an intercept. But the camera angle doesn't really show you whether the player was onside or offside. And they just let game go on. Now I've seen it being done in the past on purpose, where like a maul will happen or a scrum will happen, and the scrummy will play the ball directly back into that because some of those players would be offside. This time it was an intercept game went on and I was like, there's no way this man was onside. He was basically on the other side of the back line when he caught it. I was like, what's going on? Chad: But yeah, it depends where you came from too. Because if you came from a non-side position and just saw the ball being passed their way, it's fine. But I'll remember it. was... Byron: Yeah. I don't know. Anyway, it wasn't a big one, but I saw it and it really pissed me off. And then the only other thing I had from that weekend was the Argentinian lock, Molina, scoring a hat trick for the force. Also some smart tries too, really good awareness of the laws of the game. Chad: Yeah, there were some, was, yeah, I agree. Byron: ⁓ Sorry, keep going back on SuperRugby, I keep distracting you. Chad: Let me start on the top then. So I'll go with round nine. So the the last round that just happened. We spoke about the Brumbies, Haunders, four-point game, absolute cracker. More on the Pacifica versus Chiefs. Kind of expected that one 17-62. Big scores. I expected more out of old McKenzie just because he was on my fantasy side. But he did. He's another top point scorer. Tri-scorer. Byron: Well, he broke a record. Troscora. Yeah. Chad: And we spoke about the Druid Force 24-22 close game, great game. The Hurricanes absolutely blew the blues. Byron: You know what was one thing that clicked for me during that game watching because you could, there's so many good New Zealand players. We will do that the following week because we don't have time this week. Watching that game scared the shit out of me. Because obviously if you look at the squad for the Chiefs, squad for the Crusaders, squad for the Highlanders, but just looking at those two teams, Blues and Hurricanes. Chad: where they were from. Yeah, it's ⁓ Byron: The class and the quality that is available for the All Blacks to select from is terrifying. Chad: Yeah, I'm not worried. I'm not worried. Byron: You should be! As he drinks his gin pretending everything's okay. Chad: It's all fine. There's nothing to see here. We're all good. Byron: Go on, one more game. Chad: And then the last game was the Crusaders and the Reds, which... Byron: made me so happy because you were having a shit weekend and that result came through and the first thing I did was text you to hope that it made everything worse. Chad: Terrible. Yeah, and it did. It was... Byron: Yep, perfect. Spot on. Chad: ⁓ good, if old mate got his two conversions... would have been a lot closer, a draw. Byron: Could've, should've, would've, didn't. Chad: Correct. I know, we still would have lost. Byron: What I did want to say is because we always give them shit, so I'd like to give a shout out to the refereeing staff of the Highlanders-Brumbies game ⁓ because there was that tip tackle where he threw him over his shoulder basically. ⁓ But it was, I think the call was spot on, there was no illegal action, it just was an unfortunate coming together. It was a legal tackle, he wasn't on the ground, but he's tall, he hits him low and he went over him. Chad: the Radical. Byron: I thought that was spot on. Chad: When I first saw it's lab I thought 100 % there were zero arms in it. Yeah, I saw it's like it's gone. But then when they showed it in slow motion, you could argue both ways about him attempting to rap, but it did look like there was minimal effort, but effort nonetheless. Byron: Yeah, I the yellow card is fucked. Yeah, but you know what it's like when you try to tackle a lock with those long bony knees of theirs. It's horrible. No. So shout out to the refereeing staff. They got one right. I'd like to give them a shout. ⁓ Do you want to do the predictions for Super Rugby since we're trying to fly through it for this weekend? Okay. Chad: yeah not fun Easy. I'm fucking great at this. Okay. Byron: Blue's Highlanders. Chad: That's an absolute easy one. Blues they're in Auckland in case you didn't know Byron. ⁓ In Auckland at Eden Park. Warratahs, Moana. Warratahs playing in Sydney. ⁓ Chiefs and the Canes. Ooh that's gonna be a goodie. Chiefs at home. Byron: I know. Mm-hmm. What a game. What a game. That's first for a second. Chad: I'm gonna go. I'm going to go. Byron: Whatever you pick, going the opposite just to piss you off. Chad: Okay, I'm gonna go Cain's. They... Byron: FUGG, I actually thought you were gonna go chiefs. Chad: No, I think I think the canes are. That's gonna be such a good game. Yeah, they're both they're both doing really good, but the canes are yeah, they are playing some unreal footy and they have that like confidence and that spark behind them. So I reckon hurricanes will win that one. I don't think it's gonna be a. I think it's gonna be fucking close game that one. ⁓ Brumbies verse. Byron: They're so good at the moment. They're so good at the moment. ⁓ Hurricanes are putting 50 points on everybody, Chad: Okay, you hear Jeff first. Byron: You're in it, you're first. Chad: the Brumbies versus Fidion Druer ⁓ I think that's going to be the Brumbies easy and the Force versus Crusaders the Crusaders are putting a cricket score Byron: Okay, but hold on. If we do some rugby math real quick. Chad: FUGG, here we go. Yep. Byron: Wars beat Reds 42-19. Reds beat Crusaders 31-26. Chad: Yes. Byron: Four should beat crusaders. Chad: or should be crusaders. Byron: As ridiculous as that sounds. Chad: Crusaders also be chiefs so they should be on top of the log also by your math. Byron: Hahaha Chad: So... Yeah. Byron: So shut up you mean nothing All right not to dive into So many games, but I'll do my best to get through them real quick ⁓ One of the things that came out of the round of 16 for the EPCR and Champions Cup Where there were three South African sides all three of them got knocked out? ⁓ I saw a post talking about it. Yeah. Chad: Before we carry on, do you think we did it on purpose so we've got more time to prep for the upcoming internationals that starts in, what's it, 60 days? Byron: I wouldn't say we did it intentionally, but I would say that we didn't make it a priority. So I saw a post we spoke about it a while back. What did you say? missed that Yeah, yeah Where one of the French players was talking about Other teams outside of the French top 14 and the Premiership. So basically the UIC sides taking this competition seriously because a lot of teams send their Chad: It's like a long-winded yes. A long-winded yes. Byron: not their strongest squad. Hello, Cleaning, hello, how you? Not sending their best players to these games. ⁓ And I would say South Africa is probably the most guilty of that. ⁓ Even in this round of 16 game, I would say we didn't play the best sides that we could have played. Chad: Sorry, this had a thing fly on here. Yeah, I remember speaking about this here. Byron: ⁓ If you look at Stormers, Sasha started from the bench, he made a difference when he came on. All those things, I think, play a role. And I think it's, there was a, does the URC belong in this competition? Because that they don't take it as seriously as say the French top 14 or the Gallagher Premiership. I would say the big difference is the money involved. If you look at the French top 14 sides and the Gallagher side, Gallagher Premiership, they've got stars, like they're riddled with stars. There are players from all over the globe in these teams. Whereas the URC is predominantly homegrown players, barring Leicester, who have had some South African and some New Zealand influence, especially as of late. But if you look at all the other teams, maybe not the Italian sides, but most of them's homegrown talent. So I can understand when you can see that the teams from the URC are not taking it as seriously. I don't think they have the same sort of squad depth that ⁓ the French top 14 and the Gallagher Premiership sides have. ⁓ Chad: Yeah. Byron: Don't think it's an excuse though. I think if you're in the competition, you signed up for it, you should fucking give it beans. And if you don't make it, that's fine. But if you lose because you didn't play your best side, I do think that's a... Chad: It's tough to say that though because how do you play a Sasha every game for 10 months of the year? Byron: They're doing it. Chad: The only thing they're playing as many games as the old New York City though. The competition is a lot smaller. Byron: Is that true? Chad: It's gotta be. Byron: ⁓ Now I'm invested in French top 14, 20, 25. Chad: I'll check you too. Byron: I want to see... They played 26 games in the regular season. URC 2025. Chad: The DLC feels like it goes on for like 40 rounds. Byron: So they played, here we go. URC 18 games, French top 14 26 games. Chad: Okay, was completely wrong. Here we go. Byron: Hahaha! Nah. Chad: We'll just edit that bit out, editor. Byron: Yeah, so Chad doesn't look like a douchebag. Where was I going with my train of thought? ⁓ I think that if you're in the competition, we signed up for it when we agreed to join the URC when we were no longer part of Super Rugby. And I think we should rather use it. So when Stormers, did they win it or was it when they went to the final in our inaugural season? Chad: They were. Byron: in the Investec Champions Cup. I don't know if they won or they made it to the final. I it was just the final. Chad: ⁓ the Investec Champions Cup. The Sharks won the challenge. Which one did the Sharks win? Byron: Anyway, those seasons, there was never talk about playing ⁓ reserves or young up and comers in the squad. We were there to win the competition. Chad: Yeah, we gave it beans. To make a statement, yeah, to say we belong here, yeah. Byron: And I think that we should continue that. ⁓ Granted, these other squads are quality. Like if you look at Bordeaux Begley, I don't know who's going to beat them. They got Pinot and Bia Bia Rhi on the same side. Class, pure class. Sharks couldn't beat Connacht. Let's not talk about it. Honestly, I thought Connacht was the best team. Chad: Yeah. The shocks could do it, I reckon. You That was unnecessary, Brian. Unnecessary. That's unnecessary to say. I'm fragile. Byron: Out of the URC. What's not, huh? Well, it's the truth. I'm not going to lie to you. Alright, so let's go through the fixtures quickly. ⁓ Some of the results. just, there's so much I could say. I've got so many notes about these games. I just want to say that the attacking sides, the defending sides, the all-out gameplay, it was amazing. ⁓ And let's dive through it real quick. EPCR started off with Karnath beating the Sharks 29-12. Then Montpellier destroyed USAP 53-13. Exeter Munster was 31-21. Benetton beat Cod of 38-35, another really good game. L'Ouchelle beat the Newcastle Red Bulls 26-18. Ulster beat Ospreys 28-24, which was a little bit of a surprise that it was that close. And then Dragons, another shock, beat Stade Français Paris. 36-31. And the last game for the EPCR from the previous week, Zebre beat Palwao, Pelo, whatever it's supposed to be. That was around a 16. Then in the quarterfinals, Ulster beat La Rochelle, which I thought was not gonna happen. We joked about it previously. We said La Rochelle winning the EPCR. Wrong. Chad: The Ulster, we're gonna have Vernon Cox scoring in the finals at will. Yeah, I'm gonna get, have to find myself an Ulster jersey somewhere. Byron: Can't wait. Can't wait. Then for me, this was the shock from this previous weekend in the EPCR because I thought Karnak were the informed team looking at how they've been playing in the URC, ⁓ looking what they did to the sharks the previous weekend. They went on and lost 45-22 to Montpellier. Chad: ⁓ where you coming from. Byron: Ireland. Cork I believe. Okay. Chad: Yeah, and another quarterfinal. Byron: ⁓ Chad, Chad, did not have to do that. Are you awesome? Chad: Just ⁓ Byron: And technically, Ulster's from Northern Ireland, so it... Ah, that's brutal. Okay, hold on. Where was I? distracted me. Dragons beat Zebra 35-20-30. Dragons can't win a game in the URC, but they can't lose a game in the EPCR. It's brilliant. And then what I thought was the game of the weekend for the EPCR was Exeter Chiefs, Benetton. 44-41. I was very upset that Exeter won at the end, but what a good game. What a good game. Chad: but true. Dragon zebra. Yeah. Didn't get to see it. Thanks, Skysport. Byron: Let's see if I missed anything there. Literally my note from that was Benetton vs Exit to Chiefs, incredible. That's it. That's all I have written down. Also the the the Ulster game, there were three tries up within the first, I don't know, was like 12 minutes or something like that. It was ridiculous. So that sets us up now for the semi-finals in May. Chad: That's all you need to know. Speaking of nothing but facts. Byron: which is Ulster Exeter, which I'm very excited for. And this one, I can't see Montpellier losing, but Montpellier Dragons. Dragons have proved me wrong. Chad: All still in. So it's going to be an Oustermen Poly Air final. Satural protection. Byron: Dragons can't lose in this competition apparently, so it might be Dragons-Alstair, that's your seat. I'm going Alstair beat Exit's Achiefs, Montpellier beat Dragons. Chad: We read what is your prediction bar? We got there at the end. Byron: turn it FUGG you. Alright now hopping over to Investec Champions Cup round of 16. Northampton Saints beating Kastri. I don't know if you watched this game or caught any highlights or maybe saw it all over Instagram. Chad: I cannot keep telling you this, but it's impossible to watch here. Byron: You've got highlights and you have Instagram. Fuck. Did you see what's his name? The English player, the youngster that everyone's talking about all the time. Pollock. The French hate him. Chad: You No. ⁓ Pollock? I must be French. Byron: They're French. They took every opportunity to hit him off the ball, double tackle him, hit him in the refs, blown the whistle. If he's on a ruck, they'll just go shoulder first. was, if you're not a fan of him, great to see, but goodness gracious, give the oak a break. Okay. More saints. Won that one. Then Bath beat Saracens. ⁓ Two lawn beating stormers. I had a point there. I've been trying to find how... Chad: I know you had some talking points about this one. The fact that you said a point when they lost by one point is hilarious. Byron: I want you to go watch the highlights. At the end of the game, it was after the 80th minute, Stormers were in the five meter forwards, pick and drive, pick and drive, pick and drive, pick and drive. Eventually we went over, referee called, held up, no try, but went to the TMO. If you go watch the replay, Olyvon was on his knee behind the rucksack. Chad: care. penalty. Byron: Now what I've come to learn after the fact is if you are in goal, you can be on your knee. Chad: Really? Byron: That's the law, that's what I found out. Yeah, it's weird, I'm not arguing that. It's the law, it's whatever. The part that pisses me off about it is he was offside when the pick and drive started from the Stormers because his hands were in front of the line. I think I sent you a picture. If you can find it, even better. But all he basically did was, since he was on his knee, Stormer's player picked it up, drove forward, and he just got underneath him and held the ball up, which I think is a brilliant tactic. The thing that I'm confused about, and again, if you do know the answer, please hop in the comments and correct me, because I don't mind being wrong. How is that a legal challenge for the ball if he was from an offside position? Chad: I'm gonna see this now. On what? Byron: The knee thing was what I thought was impossible, but then I found out you're allowed to be on your knee from the in goal. But I thought his hand was offside and his knee was offside. So he's not in goal on his knee. He's in the field of play offside on his knee. That's the way I look at it. But I could be wrong. And it changed the whole game, because obviously if that was called offside, he deliberately stopped the ball from being scored from an offside position. You would argue yellow card, maybe penalty try, but at least the yellow card and Stormers have another go. Chad: Yeah. Byron: But they lost. So what are you gonna do? Chad: Wait until next year. Byron: Then the Glasgow Bulls game. Glasgow won, I thought they were better than the Bulls. That's fine. The thing that- Chad: The fact that the bulls got this far is wild. Byron: They only won one game in the group stage and they got through to the round of 16. The note I have from that game was how annoying the crowd was at the Glasgow game. What I mean by that is it doesn't matter what the ref would call, they would boo. Penalty bulls, boo. When I saw that I was like, this is crazy. It got worse than that. Glasgow got a penalty. Chad: crazy yeah Boo. Yeah, that's a... Byron: five meters out from the Bulls trial line, they booed. I couldn't, I couldn't, I was, I didn't understand what was going on. They just booed for everything. They just, they must've, it must've been a stadium full of chads. Chad: At least we keep asking for consistency. Maybe they watch the podcast and you're just like, you know what, we've got to be consistent. It's just every everything. Byron: We'll just do everything. Instead of cheer, instead of going, yay, they go boo. But it was so annoying to watch. that's where we're at. Where are we going? Where are we going? Sorry, I know this is taking long and it's boring. Toulon beat the Bears 59-26. Harlequins lost to Sails Shark 17-26. Begley wrecked Leicester Tigers 64-14. Leinster Edinburgh. Chad: Yeah. Byron: If you can go watch some highlights, go watch that one. There were three intercept tries in the first half by Edinburgh. It was such a wild game of rugby, but it was a lot of fun to watch. And then we move into the quarterfinals. And I think the best game of the weekend was Bath Northampton Saints. Bath pulled off the win 43-41. Glasgow lost to Toulon. Chad: Jesus. Byron: 2219, probably because of all the booing. Lensster beat sales sharks 43 13 and then a game that might convert me to watch top 14 more often. Begley beating... Chad: on. To lose. Byron: 3015. Semifinals, it's Toulouse. Very glad Toulouse. ⁓ Semifinals, Leinster, Toulon. Who do you have winning? Chad: Ed Linster? Hey? Lin- Byron: You know nothing about Toulon? Yes, at Lentz. I you know anything about the Toulon side? Okay. Chad: I do. I just don't want to support them, but I don't want to support Lens either, so I'm going to go into line. But there is what's his name playing for Lensner's repick in the Southern Hemisphere. So I'll just go, I'll go Lensner. Byron: No. ⁓ because of, ⁓ Sneiman? Chad: Well, you're him and. Byron: Well, he's injured. And then from New Zealand, ⁓ yes, Yohani. Then Bagley Bath. Chad: Rico. Okay, so I'm going LensTar just because I don't like baths. Byron: Well they've got the Messi of rugby at Flaahoff. I hate that nickname, I don't know why I said Chad: Yeah, this is why you can't have nice things, Byron. Byron: No, that makes me mad. So I apologize for that one. Chad: No, I'm gonna go, ⁓ all day. For sure. Byron: Yeah, I'm also gonna go bulldoze. I don't see anyone beating them. I think they're gonna go back to back champs. Alright, then we had more rugby this weekend. I tried to watch some of it in between the epic ⁓ games that were on and that is the Women's Six Nations. Chad: I watch the single game. I am nervous being it. See. Byron: Well, what is crazy out of the last 10 games, last 10 competitions, England have won eight, France have won two. So it's definitely not as close as the Six Nations was this year for the men's game. Chad: I mean, yeah, that was just, that was different. Byron: But I do have some cool, I guess you could call them progress stats from the women's six nations. If you can indulge me for a second. All right, so I'll just go over the results quickly. Scotland beat Wales in Wales 24 19, England beat Ireland 33 12, no shock there, France beat Italy 47. No shock as far as the results go. Yes. Chad: Hit me. I love a good stat. Oh, 47. OK, I was waiting for 47 something. Just. Yeah. Shame. Byron: Just a good old round number. ⁓ But what I do think is cool coming from this Six Nations is Wales played at the Principality Stadium, the women's Welsh team, as the headlining squad. They have played before as a curtain raiser, but they played at the Principality. That was the game to go watch. We know that... ⁓ England have played at Twickenham before because ⁓ no one can beat the female England side. But the other two major wins is this season in this competition. Scotland will play at Murrayfield for the first time. Chad: What? That blows my mind that I haven't played there before. Byron: Right? And then Ireland will play at the Aviva for the first time. Chad: No, they haven't played it either? Byron: They've played as a curtain raiser, never as the headlining game. Chad: That is wild. Byron: And what I think is cool is I think the Ireland game is the final, the game at the Aviva is the final week of the competition. They were talking about it over the weekend. There's already 20,000 tickets sold ⁓ and climbing. And I was like, that should be the case and they should play at those stadiums. So major shout out to ⁓ the female, the women's Six Nations, big ups to the stadiums for letting them headline there, because that's the way it should be. And I guess you can call this major progress for the women's game. Chad: Yeah, I wonder if it blows my mind that they haven't played at those stadiums before though. That's what's caught me the most off guard. I wonder if that's come off of the great red wheel cup that they had. Byron: must be because that the the women's world cup was a major success. Chad: Mmm. Yeah, no, was unreal. I would go watch more woman drag beef if it was... Byron: There's going on now as well it's ⁓ what's it called the pacific four women's rugby Yeah, Pacific Four series, which is interesting. I guess we can go over these because it will be super quick. It's USA, New Zealand, Canada, Australia. ⁓ I believe England's number one, Canada's number two, and New Zealand's number three when it comes to the world ranking. ⁓ Chad: That seems... Is it? I've got to check. I thought New Zealand would have been number two. Byron: No, I think Canada's too. But the results were New Zealand beat the US 48-15 and Canada beat Australia 24-0. But yeah, so that's going on now. Chad: I hate that you've been right this entire podcast and I've just been wrong about almost everything. Byron: Chad, sometimes I'm right. It's very, very rare, but when I am, I'm not too bad. Chad: I have Yeah. Byron: Then there's more chaos happening since we're done with all the fixtures and results and da da da da da da da da. We do need to go over the fixtures for the UIC because the UIC is back but we'll get there. So much to do, so little time. The Hong Kong Sevens for the championship starts this weekend. So just a reminder for everybody, South Africa, the Blitz Box, won the regular season in the men's game. Chad: It does. Byron: and the New Zealand team for the ladies, they won the regular season. And now the championship starts and that includes, it's got the original eight plus the top four sides from sevens three and sevens two. So it's a championship as everyone knows there used to be two groups of four now there's three groups of four. ⁓ The ladies Blitzbox have qualified but they've got a tough group to start off with. It's Australia, Canada, Great Britain and South Africa in one group for the ladies. Chad: Just us. Byron: are brutal. We know that there is a guaranteed loss to Australia. Chad: Yeah. Byron: Great Britain couldn't win anything in the regular season against the other top eight. But I think South Africa's best hope is against Great Britain because I think Canada will beat us as well. Chad: There's nothing better than being England in anything though. So, I'll take it. Yep. Byron: Now we get all of them. Then for the men's, a really tough group, think. We've got Argentina, Spain and Uruguay. Chad: You guys fine. Spain's been the dark horse and they've got so much better over the last two years. Yeah. Byron: They can win any game against anybody, but they could also lose any game against anybody. So we gotta wait and see how it goes. Argentina's a tough game, guaranteed. Chad: What are the other pools? Byron: ⁓ Fiji, France, Great Britain and Germany. Chad: Is it Hong Kong, ⁓ Yep, yep. Byron: and Pulsee Australia, New Zealand, US, Kenya. Chad: Okay, it's actually pretty evenly spread out. I think, I think your Apple A's probably got the most competition. Byron: Pool B's the easiest. You could argue Pool C's the easiest because US and Kenya are both of the teams coming up. They weren't part of the original eight. So you could argue Group C's the easiest. Great Britain and Germany in the same group. You would say Pool A's the toughest group. Chad: Yeah. Yeah, I would. I would put... Byron: Yeah, which is weird because we won the fucking regular season. You would think we get the easiest group. Chad: Yeah. Byron: ⁓ So that's this weekend as well, start of the championship. It's three weekends to determine ⁓ who will play the regular season in sevens one next year. So you want to end in the top eight at the very least. ⁓ Fun fact, South Africa and the ladies New Zealand side, even if they don't end in the top eight, are still guaranteed a place in the next season because they won the regular season. Chad: There you go, the more you know. Byron: Then two more fun facts and I'll be done and then I've got nothing more to say. ⁓ Tux won the varsity cup, so shout out Tux. Pretty convincingly as well. ⁓ And then you've got a point on this, I've got a less important point. But fuff the clacks joining the cheaters. Next season. I automatically assume that means the cheaters are going to be in a big competition next season. That's not just the Curry Cup. and we've spoken about it before, it fits in Super Rugby, because then they've got 12 sides, but also Wales is getting rid of some of their teams in the URC, and there's space there now as well. So what do you think's happening? Chad: I don't care about the URC or what they do this next year. ⁓ I need Fuff to do whatever he needs to do and whoever needs to do whatever to win the Curry Cup next year. It's my only ask. Every single year the Christa... the Christa... the cheetahs have won the Curry Cup. Guess who's won the Rugby World Cup? Byron: Jesus, okay. Okay, I why. box. You think Fox is doing that just so that the box can win the World Cup? Chad: The box, baby. So. ⁓ if it is, Fuff, thank you. I will bar a pair of your Fuffies and wear them on the stream. Same. I will, and I'll wear it all stream. If they pull through and they wooden the curry cup. I'm even happy for the sharks to, to bend the knee to the cheetahs in the curry cup and just. Byron: I actually want a pair of faffies. I do want a pair of faffies. Chad: Bring in bunch of Welsh players, let the Welsh play against the cheetahs, let the cheetahs beat them and... Yeah, but I'm happy. I'm stoked to have him back. I think it's going to be good. Byron: Okay. All right. Chad: But I just need the cheetahs to win the curry cup. Byron: But do you think they're going to be in a bigger competition then? Do you think that the... Chad: I think they have to be, think for a team to, it's kind of weird because Fuff is getting a bit older and he is coming towards the end of his career. Maybe he does want to play out the last couple years in South Africa. He's obviously made a bit of bank over in Japan and there might have been his plan the entire time. He comes from the cheaters. Started off there. It's a great way to end off your career there. Similar to what Vully did. Byron: I agree. Chad: Yeah, I think he's doing it to win the Curry Cup and win the Rocko wheels Cup. Byron: Okay, but I need you to entertain my idea. Chad: I think it's true. think I don't think the cheaters would have paid or invested that into one player. I reckon they'll over the next probably 12 months, there'll be a lot more or even before that, before the next season, ⁓ there'll be a lot more investments. Yeah. I don't know who. Byron: money. top players joining the cheaters. Chad: I think they might poach some from the sharks because the sharks have overloaded with all these great players. But also, how do you convince someone to move to the free state? It's tough. Byron: stars. Yeah. Yeah, if you play for the Stormers and they ask you to come play for the Cheetahs... Chad: Yeah, yeah, she's unless you are training and only there for the games, training remotely via zoom. Yeah. ⁓ Byron: That's a rough off. That's a rough off. I just, I don't know. think them joining Super reg B is so exciting. I think the idea of it is. Chad: ⁓ I wish it would happen. I don't think it ever will, like that's... Byron: No, I think realistically they'll take the the Welsh spot in the URC. Chad: Makes the most sense. Byron: But there's space for them in Super Rugby and for them to be in Super Rugby, would be, ⁓ it would be awesome. It would be so cool. Chad: Yeah. I'd love it. I'm all for that. But yeah, I don't think it'll ever happen. There's more of a chance of me joining the Crusader squad as a fullback and taking Will Jordan's spot than Cheetah's joining Super Agri. Byron: I hope, now that you've said that, I hope that the cheaters do go to Super Rugby. Then we can clip it, send it to cheaters, send it to the Crusaders and say, look, give him a trial. ⁓ Chad: I think I'd gas out in the warmups. Byron: It would be, it would be, it would make me so happy to watch you suffer like that. Chad: On now, Edward. Byron: Okay, Jesus. All I think we've gone through all of the rugby very quickly, but we did go through it. Do you want to quickly do UIC fixtures for this upcoming week because that race for the top eight is super exciting and then unless you got something special up your sleeve, I think we're done. Chad: I don't know. So I'm going to call them out. You're going to do the predictions. Okay, so round 15. Elmer versus Zebra. Zebra. Ulster versus Lannister. Byron: Yeah. Yeah, Edinburgh. Chad: betting odds on this are unreal. If you asked me this game in the beginning of the season first now would have been wildly Byron: ⁓ yeah, beginning of the season I would have said Lannister. Chad: All stay at home. Byron: I'm going with Ulster. Chad: Dragons vs Bulls? Byron: BULLS. Chad: Thomas Wyskannacht. Byron: ⁓ I'd better fucking be the Stormers. Chad: Has to be the betting odds say that too. ⁓ Lions versus Glasgow. Byron: I can't see the Lions beating Glasgow. The only thing that's working in the Lions favor is that Glasgow lost last weekend and they have to travel from Scotland to Joburg and play at altitude. But I still think it's a major ask. if lions can, because I think we spoke about this briefly, bulls and sharks have a much easier. Okay, Mr. Prediction, I'm gonna. Chad: Just need ⁓ a, we'll talk about that later. Prediction. Byron: I gotta go Glasgow. Chad: if that's what you do you need to put money on it because there you've going against the betting the bookies ⁓ scarlet yeah quite a big one ⁓ three dollars forty ⁓ scarlet's first cardiff benetton versus monster Byron: The baiting odds have lines as the favorites. Cardiff. In Italy? Chad: in Italy. Byron: I'm a good monster. Chad: Yeah, okay. You've been right. You've been on with what the bookies are saying too. Are you a bookie part-time? ⁓ Byron: I do, I am off-limit, it is possible. Chad: ⁓ Ospreys vs. the Sharks. You're a fucking dog. Byron: Oscars. Chad: You said that way too quickly. Byron: It's the Shocks. Shocks will get a win there. Chad: Okay, so do you want to talk about that lions game? Byron: Before I do, this kind of ties in with it. I was looking at the fixtures for the last four games of the season. Bulls and sharks have a much easier run-in than the Lions. I think that... So Bulls and Sharks play the same four teams, but obviously in different fixtures. So there's Bulls play Dragons, Bulls play Scarlet's, Bulls play Zebre, and Bulls play Benetton. Chad: 100%. Byron: That's their last four games. There's no like... Chad: Yes, they've won two, minimum two of those games, arguably three. Yeah. Byron: Exactly. Sharks play Ospreys, Sharks play Edinburgh, who can't win a game at the moment. Sharks play Benetton and they end the season against Zebre. Chad: Yeah. and two of those games are at home. Byron: Then you look at the Lions running. At home to Glasgow, at home to Konnacht, must win. The Konnacht game is a must win. Then away to Leinster and end the season away against Munster. Chad: Yeah, wear this thing on the table. Byron: And on the table they're sitting in fifth with 43 points. Above them is Lenster with 46 and Ulster with 47 and third. And below them Cardiff Munster 41-41, Bulls 40, Conarchans at 39, Sharks at 33. Chad: So they have to win those two games. have to win the next two games. Both of them are my swans. Byron: The game against Glasgow is huge and then the game against Connachs behind them, massive win. So if we can win those two home games, it gives us a little bit of leeway when we travel to Lensday Monster. Chad: So we need the Stormers to win this weekend. Byron: ⁓ If Stormers can beat Connacht, would be huge. Stormers also have a tough run-in. I mean, they're not as much in danger because they're on 51, Lions are on 43. But Stormers play Connacht at home, then Glasgow Warriors at home, then they travel to Ulster and they end the season traveling to Cardiff. Chad: It's exciting little end to this. I mean the whole season is pretty tight like the whole table. Byron: Yeah, it's been a lot of fun to watch. I'm really enjoying the URC this season. Chad: Yeah, has been. Byron: Chad, I think we cut the cock. Chad: I think we did. We will be back next week. I, ⁓ Will have no excuse. I think. Byron: Chad, we're not professionals yet. Doesn't matter. Chad: is true. All right. Byron: ⁓ Thanks for watching if you've made it this far. We appreciate all the support. Please like, subscribe and share and tell your auntie about us. I think she might be a fan. Chad: Yep. Don't be a doers be lecker. See you later. Byron: What do you say? ⁓