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CTK-53: NPC Delivers. Rugby League Puts Us To Sleep · Cut The Kak

• Chad: Yeah. Byron: Welcome back to another episode of Cut the Cock, the show where we talk about the sport we absolutely love but know very little about that clown over there in the sharks jersey. That's Chad. I'm Byron and Chad, let's cut the KAK. Chad: Let's do it. Can we please start since we just y watched the highlights of it again? Byron: Yeah. Chad: NPC. Byron: Funnel. Chad: You have number one versus number two. you've got the the Canterbury side who throughout the whole tournament were the number one point scorers in the first half versus Northland who's the number one point scores in the second half. Byron: Well that didn't work. Chad: And just a another display of why the NPC's I don't even think it's an argument anymore. Yeah, I don't think you can argue it. It's the most exciting rugby competition. Byron: I you say that, but the U the URC this weekend was phenomenal. Chad: That's one weekend. The NBC has been like this from week one. Byron: Consistent. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. No, I get what you're saying. Chad: I think Byron: I'm not arguing against how entertaining the MPC was. but Chad: I absolutely love it. It's not an again like another almost seventy point rugby gap. Byron: And this was a final. Chad: Yeah, I know, it's cooked. Byron: Yeah. Chad: the score line doesn't really reflect the actual game. it was just the last ten minutes that Canterbury went in. I keep won't say the Crusaders. Canterbury went in and did what they needed to do. Byron: It's basically the Crusaders. Chad: Pretty much, yeah. Byron: they're even playing Christchurch. yeah, look, game was good. Got to watch the highlights just before the the the pod started. Great tries, great play, exciting stuff, especially from the scrum halves. and like you said, Canterbury ended off with a with a big bang. three late tries to kind of run away with it. The score was twenty-four-twenty four at one point. and then yeah, Canterbury just decided enough's enough, we're gonna We're gonna win this thing and we'll move on after that. what did you think that yellow card in the beginning? do you think that should have been a red? A twenty minute red. Chad: I thought it was I thought it was gonna be red. I thought it was gonna be twenty red. it was a bit hectic. But like I yeah. Byron: Where where's the where are the mitigating factors for that one for it not to be a twenty minute read? Was it because he was you could argue he was the second tackler, but was he really the second tackler? Chad: That's that's what the argument was and slight dipping and it went I mean, th they wanted to keep the game going, I think, and they just sent it up for review. Byron: So I know you what you just said they were they said the the second tackler so there was the little bit of dip. But the other thing they look for is whether or not the tackle was always illegal. And if you ask me, he didn't have a rapping arm. And yes, there was a late dip. Yes, he wasn't a second tackler. But he didn't show he wasn't dipping either. So he wasn't in an upright position with a tucked arm Chad: Yeah. Byron: and made it didn't even even if his arms were like this, he didn't use his arms in the tackle, used his forehead. So Chad: Yeah, he did it an Owen Farrell. Byron: So So yeah, the cool the the argument would be is that ever a legal tackle? And my argument would be no. And if that's the case, it's a twenty minute read. Chad: Well, it wasn't. And yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well technically, technically are. Byron: That's also why I'm not a professional referee. Speaking of referees, I wanted to shout out Rugby Netherlands for this snazzy jersey I got last week. I'll be using it the I'm refereeing on Saturday. So I'll be having this on with my new kit. I don't know where I put it. Chad: Already lost it. Got it last week, it's gone. Byron: No, it's here. I've got the new sh new new shorts, new the tracksuit pants and a new sweater that goes over everything. So I'm pretty official now and new socks. So shit's real. Chad: When when do you when do we get you a a boot sponsorship deal? Byron: Brother, I bought a pair of boots, not a great pair, so I would be happy to take on a a a boot sponsor from anyone in the world. So Adidas, Chad: Yeah, Dus. Byron: Nike, Canterbury, anyone can hit us up for a boot sponsor. So shout out Chad: There we go. Barrange, barns. Byron: we'll clip it and post it and we'll wait for someone to to tag us and make it happen for a little Chad: Yeah, and then w we have but you we have to get you doing some laps or something in them. Byron: Apparently I've got to do a backflip according to you. So Chad: I'll I'd entertain that too. Byron: I I wonder if I should challenge myself to be able to do a backflip before we go to Hong Kong. Chad: I don't think you'll make it to Hong Kong if that's what you're trying to do. Byron: Mm, I'm tempted. I am tempted. Chad: Okay. Well I don't want to be liable for any injuries. Byron: No, you will be individually pointed out and blamed. Just so Chad: Okay. Wouldn't be the first, wouldn't be the last. Byron: No, definitely not. I can I talk about the boring rugby before we talk about the exciting rugby? Chad: What's the boring rugby? the league. That's bro, what a waste of time that round was. Byron: As promised, I said I will watch. And it's it's tough watching. I'm hoping when we get to the knockout stages, whatever those are gonna look like, because everything in league is imaginary, it will be a little more entertaining because right now the after the first game, which was Australia New Zealand, we haven't had a fun game since. You can argue Australia Fiji was exciting. But it was still pretty one-sided. the scores closer. But at no Chad: But Byron: point did I think Fiji was going to win that game. so to go over the scores for the round, second round of the group stage, the games you couldn't bet on, Tonga beat Lebanon 36-0. The game you could bet on, which you shouldn't have been able to, Samoa beat Papua New Guinea 64-6, not even a game. A cricket score between England and France 82 0. New Zealand beat Cook Islands 82-16, and that's only because the Cook Islands scored three runaway tries in a row. nothing exciting happened there. And then you ended the weekend off with Australia versus Fiji, which I guess you can argue was a little exciting in the beginning because the score scores were tight. there were some fun tries, but zero entertainment. throughout the whole weekend. Not once did I watch a game and go, Fah. Chad: Yeah. That's that England versus France game could have if you Byron: I went I there was a lot of the England France game. Chad: told me if you told me this the end score and were like England France eighty two zero I'd be like how many overs? Byron: Yeah, I'll be like, I don't know if France started playing cricket. Chad: That that but that that's a realistic thing. If you said gave me that those I wouldn't think it was rugby league. Yeah. Byron: No, it's a T twenty game and England got off to a great start. Yeah. Chad: Just Byron: Actually there'd be more entertainment in watching England versus France in cricket. Even in a f Chad: But I'd rather watch Byron: a five day test between England and France who don't have a test side, I would rather watch that than England versus France in league again. Chad: I'd rather watch highlights of the riots going over in France and Byron: That is far more exciting. Chad: It's I I'm like you, try to watch it, struggling to keep up with it. I hope you say it gets exciting at the pointy end of the competition, but it's there's almost no point, especially like this round. Byron: Well, so I guess maybe this one you can argue there's gonna be some fun games just because of how the results have panned Chad: I don't even know his playing next week. Byron: out. So you've got England versus Papua New Guinea, who if you look at the scores are more evenly matched than you know the other games against France and Lebanon. So England, Papua New Guinea could be entertaining. Both New Zealand and Fiji lost to Australia but beat the Cook Islands. So you might say that the New Zealand Fiji will be a tighter game. And then Australia is gonna run all over the Cook Islands. Lebanon, France is gonna be the battle of the worst. And then Tonga Samoa. Think Samoa will run all over Tonga. So then that's it. That it's the end of the group stage and Chad: So Byron: nothing's happened. Chad: again, can I give you so we're looking at round three here. I've just opened up the app where I see sports betting odds and stuff. Byron: Odds. Yep. Or give him a shot. Chad: Again. Give a shout. Byron: Yeah, the the name of the app you use. Chad: bitcher. I'm on bitcher. Byron: Alright, this segment is not brought to you by Betcha, so thanks for nothing. Chad: Proud proud but if you want to we'll have your app. but England Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea paying twelve dollars. You wouldn't put money on there. England paying a dollar four. So you've got to Byron: Okay, so we know England's gonna run all over Papua New Guinea, basically. Chad: New Zealand versus Fiji. Fiji's paying thirty four dollars. New Zealand's paying one dollars one cent. i anything less than that is you Byron: Okay, so New Zealand's run Chad: can't bet on them. Byron: Yeah, so they like I we'll give everything we'll give a chance. No. Chad: Australia versus Cook Islands. Can't even bet on Australia. Cook Islands paying sixty seven dollars. Byron: Well they can give they could say Cook Island's a million a million dollars. It doesn't matter. It it doesn't matter Chad: Yeah. Byron: what they put on there, you're not gonna win it. Chad: Lebanon versus France. Lebanon are the favourites, paying a dollar three, and France paying twelve dollars fifty. Byron: Sure. Chad: And then the closest odds I've seen outside of the opening game, Byron: Tonga sama. Chad: Tonga Samoa, where it's two dollars fifteen and one dollar seventy. So a coin flip. Byron: So if anything you can skip all of the games and just watch the Tonga Samoa game. Chad: Yeah, pretty much. And then it goes into semifinals, but Byron: straight to semis. Chad: Yeah. You can't say what? Byron: No, I'm thinking. They didn't cut out. I'm I've I'm just So then it will be okay, so we wait, we went over this. It's gonna be number one and two from group A and then number one and two from combined group B and C. Chad: Yeah. Yeah. Byron: So hold on, let's let's bring up the the the league group stages, yeah, the combined stages. So Chad: Are you doing it on our website? Byron: Australia's first, New Zealand, Fiji are playing for the next spot to go through. winner of that game basically goes through. Then Samoa and Tonga are both on four points. England and Papua New Guinea are both on two points. So according to the odds, we expect England to beat Papua New Guinea, which would then put England on four points. which would tie them with Samoa and Tonga. So depending on the point difference between the Samoa Tonga game, there's a outside chance that England go through. Chad: So what's it at the moment? Give me. So Australia one, New Zealand two. Byron: Austr Australia's number one, New Zealand and Fiji two and three, both on two points, so that's the decider for group A. England is on two points, Papua New Guinea on two points, Samoa on four points, Tonga on four points. But England have a greater point difference than Tonga. So if Chad: So it's England tongue. Byron: so if England beat Papua New Guinea and Samoa beat Tonga, then England and Samoa will go through Samoa top and England in second. Chad: We you what's gonna happen? Can I just fucking show you something? So I was just running through that with you. This does made it. They could have just done Byron: Are you gonna bring up the world Chad: No, you can see Byron: rankings? Chad: no This is yeah, this is the thing the thing. That w it's on a website. Byron: Is that the CTK rugby.com website Chad? Chad: It is the CTK rugby.com website baron. But basically what you said, Australia one, New Zealand two, Fiji three, Cook Islands four. inside, yeah, England one, Samoa two. Byron: Well no, it w Samoa will be one. Tonga will be three, but I guess it doesn't matter. Chad: Yeah. And then you go to the semi-finals, and again, you're probably not gonna be able to bet outright on these games. So you're gonna have New Zealand, Australia. Byron: No, so you're gonna have New Zealand versus Australia. Chad: We've gone full circle, Byron. They could have just had a three game series with Australia and New Zealand and had a game at the MCG, a game at Eden Park, and fucking game Somewhere overseas, back in America. Byron: No, because no one wants to watch this sport anywhere else. Chad: And then I have two games in Australia. I don't care. but this is where it's gonna end up. And we've wasted four weeks. Byron: I really, really, really hope that New Zealand beat Australia Chad: Five weeks. Byron: in the final. Chad: I never thought I'd ever hear that come out of your mouth. Byron: Well, it's league. Anything's possible and nothing's possible all at the same time. Chad: Right. But it's just so such a t it's been such a tough watch. It's been one of my least favourite things to watch in a long time. Byron: I now understand why when everyone's like if South Africa start playing league that could be very da we're not gonna start. We're not. The Rhinos are never gonna be a thing. Chad: Just take over. No, we'll just take over. Absolutely. No. Byron: No. No. I think it would be an absolute waste for union players in South Africa to get good at league. Because looking at the style of play, if you are good at league, you should be playing sevens for the blitz box. just look at the talent we have at wing and at scrum half. Because those are pretty much the oaks you have playing and and at flank. You've got your your Chad: Yeah, maybe flank. Byron: league your league team consists of the Luce Trio, Scrum Half and a couple wings. And you know, we've got that in buckets. And if they're not part of the URC or they're not part of the Curry Cup or they're not part of the seven setup, then sure we can take them and do league. But those Oaks would rather become Blitzbox or rather become URC players or curry Chad: Yeah. Byron: cut players or and I mean I get yeah. Chad: You say that, but what about the money? So if If there's I don't know, an Ethan Hooker that gets offered three times more to go and play for the fucking Byron: They're honest? Chad: eels in wherever the fuck they're from. Byron: You have to pick I can't the the worst thing about the Ills is that that lightning bolt shock noise whenever they score a try. Cause then I gotta listen to that and fucking Harvey Norman. Chad: And the hobby n Yeah. that's actually something I Byron: But to be fair, if you're a Chad: wanna have a look at. You've just raised a good point here. The Harvey Norman replay. I wanna see how many tries have been scored in this competition so far. And how many Byron: A hundred. A hundred. Chad: Harvey Norman replay there was a hundred in this fucking last weekend, mate. Byron: This weekend. Yeah. So Harvey Norman gets their money worth, Chad: Harvey Norman, absolutely. For all six people that Byron: Clean's house. Chad: enjoying are enjoying the c competition. Byron: Clean's house. And just because we've spoken about it, we'll quickly go on about how one sided the Rugby World Cup Ladies League tournament is. Chad: my god. Byron: Samoa beat Wales seventy six nil, Fiji beat Papua New Guinea forty four, Australia beat England seventy eight nil, and New Zealand beat France ninety two nil. Chad: That was rough. I watched that game. Byron: I at at at junior levels, you have, you know, if the team goes up by forty five points, we can have the discussion about ending the game early. You gotta bring that to the professional game if it's this one sided, because at at a certain point the losing team isn't learning anything anymore. And the winning team isn't Chad: Just painful. Byron: isn't learning anything either. You're just risking injuries. I guess you can pad your stats, but Chad: How? There was no tackles there was no tackles being made. It was running around each other. It was it was like it the only way I could put together what that must have felt like is being hit in the shins with a broomstick. Byron: Over and over and over. Chad: In the same spot. It was it was it was brutal. I Byron: Very. So yeah, Chad: Should Byron: that's that's that's also happening. So all right, that's it for league. Thank goodness. before we get into the URC, 'cause I think it was a great week of URC, do you want to go over the women's fifteens quickly? Chad: Hit it. I didn't get to watch any of those other games this weekend. Byron: Well, there were a bunch of repeat games. but the gir the Australia Scotland game was a lot closer, so thirty-eight thirty-one to Australia there. they played at the Geo Stadium in Canberra. Then a much better performance by Canada. They beat England thirty one twenty two, which now that we're talking about it, I just want to bring it up women's rugby standings. I don't think it's enough for Canada to take top space. I'm with the ladies. It hasn't been updated yet. But I they've got a two game two wins in a row against the world number one. You've got to be moving somewhere in the rankings. but they're still third. Then New Zealand beat France 31-12. Wales went to Japan and beat Japan 17-0. the Springbok ladies put up a good performance, came back at the end with some some fun tries. but final score 2740 to Ireland. And the last game of the weekend, the US beat Italy 54 24, which is gonna be exciting because if we go look at the the following week, the US will host England, which should be an English win, but it will be fun. New Zealand play France again, Japan play Wales again, and South Africa host Ireland again, to round out the the global series for the ladies. And then Chad, what a weekend for the URC. Chad: Hang on, before you get to URC. Fiji and Japan. Did you watch that game? Byron: you are absolutely right. Thank you for bringing that up. I did watch that game. Chad: two things. Three things. Byron: Okay? Okay. Chad: One, what a fun game. Byron: Yes. Chad: Two, guess what TV broadcasters didn't show the game? And I had to use thank you, Surfshark, for my VPN and to Byron: Well, Chad: rugby pass. Byron: now that you mention it, we might as well talk about it. this segment, thank you to Chad, is brought to you by Chad: Ha ha. Byron: Surfshark. If you're a rugby fan, especially a South African living overseas, aka Chad, you know the pain of the internet deciding what you can and can't access depending on where you are. That's where Surfshark comes in. Surfshark VPN encrypts your internet activity, changes your IP address. And gives you access to thousands of servers around the world, plus one subscription covers unlimited devices. And it's not just a VPN, Surfshark also offers features like ad and tracker blocking, data leak alerts, and alternative ID. Head to the link in our description. Surfshark, protect your internet and then get back to arguing about rugby. So tell me, Chad, did Sky Sports New Zealand once again not give you what you want? Chad: They did not. They took my money and it wasn't it wasn't anywhere. So I had to go and use other methods to find the game. But hit Surfshock up and then it was odd rugby pass for free. so that's number two. Three old boy Jake White with his first international gig in a while after being shooed off. Pulled off a bit of an upset, I would say. PG versus Japan. Byron: You think you think Fiji beating Japan's an upset? Chad: I d for having a coach for one game. Absolutely. But man, what a fun game. And I I I feel like I don't know. The Japan side's been doing a lot of great things. They are foot as hell, playing at home. It was it was a good one. I I expected I expected Japan to win the Byron: Do you know what noticed is every time, regardless of the result, every time we talk about an international game that involves Japan, we always talk about how exciting the game was. Chad: Yeah, it's but it's it's true. They are infredible. They're really fun to watch. And Byron: What did you Chad: that's why there's so much money in the Japanese league. Byron: And there's also those stadiums are packed for the for the Japanese league. What did you think of Jake White's Fiji? Chad: They're gonna be a problem in the World Cup, I think. That's gonna be sick. Byron: These South African coaches are starting to dominate world rugby. what was that stat? Obviously it's changed now in round four, but in round three of the URC, seven of the eight sides in the knockout phase have South African coaches. Chad: I wonder what it is. Byron: It's because just like you and I, all all we do is think, watch and talk rugby. You have to Chad: Yeah. Byron: be good at it at that point. Chad: Yeah, it's true. Screen's turned off. Byron: Yeah, your screen yeah, screen turned off and on again. What is that in the background? Who's who's s it's off again? Who's celebrating a win there? Chad: That one, that is Hong Kong, China. That's when they qualified for the twenty twenty seven Rugby World Cup. Byron: I can't wait to go to Hong Kong. Chad: Yeah, it's gonna be exciting if I'm Byron: Did you see a completely different topic? rugby cons was at the stadium again, for the Stormers game. Chad: Yeah, catching balls. Byron: But him and Kick on Rugby now have a little partnership going and he's gonna be writing a new article every Monday for Kick on Rugby. Chad: Hell yes. That's so sick. What is going on here? Byron: you've they've you've been attacked by the gremlins. The the Gremlins are look, Chad: Jesus. Byron: it's it's a neck do you know the gring, the girl from the ring is gonna crawl out of there next time. Chad: Nope. It's I would rather have that happen than it flash behind me 'cause it's distracting, it's anything. Byron: Can you imagine the views if you get murdered on the on the next episode of Cut the Cut? Chad: Hang on. I'm just gonna leave a marker here and try and fix this. What's going on? Byron: Leave a marker, brother. I'm leaving this in. Chad: Yeah. Sephalica. Byron: Check your check your HTML cav. Chad: It's not that as I can see it there we go. Okay we go. Yeah, no. what a game. Byron: All they do is watch rugby, think about rugby, play rugby. Course they're gonna get good. Chad: Dream about rugby. Byron: before again, hold on, before we jump into the URC. I know we don't watch it because there's not enough time for it. But did you see the highlight of Saracens versus Harlequins? Chad: Zimbabwe no. Byron: Marcus Smith pulled off one of the most disgusting try-saving tackles I've seen in ages. And then Chad: What game? I it it's the irony is it's the one fucking league I can watch here. That's not Byron: you can w do you want I it just feels so I don't know. If I have to pick another league to watch, I'd probably lean towards the French league instead of the premiership. Chad: Yeah, a hundred percent. Byron: but go watch the highlight of Marcus Smith try saving tackle because and then Saracens also went on to lose the game, so you've got to feel extra, extra shit. and then the only other highlights which I guess we can get to when we get into the URC, fucking the Bull signing Kwa Smith. Chad: But the Bulls they're gonna have to rebrand as Springbok B. Yeah. Just Byron: The The Springboks. Yeah. Springbok A. Because it doesn't stop with these oaks. And then Andre Esther Hazen. Chad: I wonder how they're doing it. They must have so much money behind them 'cause that's that must cost to pull someone out of Japan is not cheap. Byron: Can you think of a city anywhere else in South Africa that is more rugby based than Pretoria? more passionate has a higher number of people that are passionate about rugby than Pretoria. Chad: Yeah, it's gotta be I'm I'm wrecking my brain here. Byron: Maybe Bloomfantine, but there's not enough of them. That's the problem. There might be rugby craze, but there's not enough. There's too much flat farmland in order for them to love the rugby as much. Chad: You have a good point here. Byron: In terms of value. Chad: I'd love somebody in the comments give us a spot that's more rugby mad than Victoria. Byron: Puttoria. Chad: No way. I can't but generally can't think of one. Byron: You got like I said, Bloom has great rugby, passionate rugby, but there's not enough people in Bloom Fantine compared to Pretoria. Chad: Yeah. Byron: So maybe they you can argue they have more love for it, more passion. There's not enough of them. Chad: Yeah. Byron: Victoria, maybe. And then I will talk about it when we talk about the fixtures, but Andre Este hasn't coming off against Cardiff. Chad: with a bit of a soul ankle in a moon boost. Byron: A little moon boot before half time. Chad: Not ideal. With especially 'cause we've got Byron: And this this Chad: games coming up in what, ten days or something? Byron: This is the argument that they were having, I believe it was after Reese Summit's game for the Bristol Bears, I don't know where they played, where they're talking about rugby can't be played on artificial turf. Chad: Yeah, that I saw. That's do you see the grassburn or graze he got? Byron: Yeah, so he got Halagrassburn and Andre Esther Hayes, and you can there's you can't not consider AstroTurf when you're talking about an ankle injury on AstroTurf. Chad: Yeah, there's so much of even in the is it the NFL? Who even that yeah. Byron: Yeah. They're talking about getting rid of it in the NFL as well. Yeah. And I've played one game on Astro Turf in my entire life when I was in the US and I fucking hated it. I didn't want to get tackled. I didn't want to tackle anyone. Because it just burns. Chad: Yeah. Byron: and I s I'm not even fast and I can't step anybody. And I was slipping and sliding all over the place. So if you can step somebody, it's gotta be a nightmare for you. all right, do you want to get into the UFC UFC, the URC? Chad: UFC, we can get to UFC Fulk winning crazy fashion. Byron: let's see, opening games, sharks, what a performance Chad: Bizcaring Omar. Byron: against Cardiff. Chad: I I know, fantastic, but I don't know if I believe that I don't know what to believe. I don't know if it's false hope, or we're actually building consistency. But I'm all for the wins. Byron: I think the the the the class that is at the sharks right now is starting to come together. Chad: After what two, three years. Byron: No, no, okay, look, you've no, but you've you do you haven't had the plethora of players that you currently have over the last few years. You've always had class, but there's Chad: Yeah. Byron: been chopping and changing and people in and out over and over and over and over again. Whereas now you've had a little bit of consistency and you have class in the sharks lineup. And it's good to see them. Chad: I know. There you go, you heard yeah first. Byrne thinks we're gonna win the URC this year. Byron: d didn't take it that far. I don't know who's gonna stop the bulls. Chad: The sharks. You just said it, basically, in not as many words. Byron: I chat I said you have class. I said you have class. I did not say we just spoke about the bulls getting hold of Quacha. There's nothing they can't do. Chad: Next time you see this podcast, Byron's gonna be in a sharks jersey. Byron: not happening. Try. Chad: We'll phone up Duncan from Boomfa and be oi, can we get a shark's jersey over to the Netherlands? Byron: And he'll say no, because no one wants a sharks jersey and no one delivers to the Netherlands. Chad: I'm pretty sure he'd get it. He'd he pays for it. Byron: can get you. Of course it can get you, but you don't have to. Let's see. So Sharks won that one. Connacht. See, what I'm talking about is listen to some of the scores compared to what we were talking about in the MPC. Connacht Zebre, forty-eight twenty-seven. When could Zebre put twenty-seven points against Connacht? Chad: It's the highest scoring Irish result of all the whole weekend, too. Byron: Hmm very true. Then Edinburgh taught Lions a lesson thirty one ten. Chad: Yeah, yes. Byron: I do have to say I thought it was very class. because I give a lot of shit to the Scottish fans for the URC. So I thought it was class that from the fifth minute to the sixth minute, all the stands stood up and gave a standing ovation for Hyron Andrews. I thought that was a nice touch from Edinburgh. Chad: Yeah. Byron: then Bowl Bowls Bulls Ulster. 34 26. There was a moment in that game. There Chad: A lot closer than I thought that game was gonna be. Yeah. Byron: was a moment in that game where the bulls were ahead quite convincingly. And Chad: Well, at half time it was twenty one seven. Byron: yes. And Declark had a fantastic breakaway off the wing. He had a man on the inside, and he chose not to pass and try to step on the outside, and they didn't score off that breakaway. And then Ulster scored off that fucking breakaway and the whole game changed. But look, Bulls pulled it off in the end. The the the the box that came on and started that game came on off the bench were phenomenal and they were allowed the Bulls to recover from that mistake. But Declark, brother, it's not about who scores the try, it's the fact that the try gets scored. Chad: Yeah. Byron: So pass the ball on the inside, you prick. He was even Chad: Mm-hmm. Byron: running in the direction of the inside where the inside ball would have been the the easiest thing to do. And he chose to step on the outside, got tackled, didn't step well enough, not Cheszy Colby. And almost, almost made it a lot tougher for the Bulls. But a good fight back by Ulster. Chad: I for that game, who I enjoyed watching and who got that late penalty, Kuhn Bosch. Byron: WHAT?! Chad: Yeah, he's Byron: And I remember at the start of the season he said he's coming back to South African club rugby because he wants to be a springbok again. Chad: Ace Byron: It's a tough jersey at the moment to get though. Cause when Pollard Chad: Yeah, but Byron: was on, he was spectacular. And then we'll get to Chad: There was no Byron: it, but Sasha was amazing. And we Chad: Yeah. Byron: haven't seen anything from Mani, 'cause we don't watch the Japanese League, but when Mani was playing for the box, he didn't put a foot wrong. Chad: Yeah, it's tough. That's there's it's unless someone's getting injured, especially between now and obviously the the World Cup that's starting. No no, I'm so he won't get picked for Byron: Nations champions. I don't know what Chad: the nation champions. That's that's ever in karmajets. Byron: A little early for him. Yeah. Chad: But if he keeps playing like this in the in the URC, it'll be tough if he doesn't even Byron: Especially if the the bulls. Chad: get into the alignment camp or the the camp before thing, just to see how he goes. Byron: But how many flower hops do you need for the alignment camp? Chad: But how many fucking hookers do we need? Byron: Well apparently we only have one. Chad: Done. Byron: Everyone else is also a flank or also a this or also a that and a hooker. Chad: Yeah, no, it's I don't know. He he's just playing well. I'm I enjoy watching him I enjoy watching Byron: Yeah. Chad: him play. Byron: Cause he's he's he's if if I have to look at the players that we have currently, like we said, we've got Sasha, Polly and Chad: Money. Byron: Marnie. Such different styles of fly half between the three of them. And I feel like Corwin Bosch, the way he's playing is a lot more like Andre Pollard. But he's got a little bit of that Marny in him, if that makes sense. Where I guess we can talk about it this also the Stormers Scarlets game didn't I did not expect forty points from Scarlets against Stormers. Chad: I had a question about that game. Byron: Yeah yeah yeah. Chad: Yeah, you you go, talk what you're gonna say and then I'll bring it up. Byron: I was gonna say with that game, Sasha made a lot of mistakes, especially the unnecessary knock ons. But when Sasha puts together what is going on in his head, he is so flashy, so smooth, so calm with it. The the was it the second try or the third try where Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu had that quick change of direction, got the inside ball from Haashim Pead then the behind the back pass for Pead to go finish. Also, Pead so good. Chad: Yeah. Byron: Good starting Chad: He Byron: at scrum half, the lions. I say this all the time. Why do you do this to me? Why did you let him go? And look, I know the Lions have Nico Steyn and who's great, and then s we have Springbok Chad: no. Byron: scrumhalf with van den Berg Chad: Morné van den Berg Byron: But if you look at a performance like that, I said he always had it in him and it we gave him three games, twenty minutes of pop, yeah, have fun. We we wasted him. Chad: Yeah. Pop. Yeah, I I'm looking at my notes here and I said scoring fifty two points shouldn't feel like surviving a hostage negotiation Byron: Brother. Chad: for that game. Byron: Because even at the end of it, we I know the stormers scored that last try at the end, so the score line looked a little padded. But it w it was close the whole game. Also, the Chad: Yeah. Byron: the number ten for Scarlet, he's only eighteen years old. Chad: I did not know that. That's Byron: What a performance from an eighteen year old against the stormers in Cape Town. Chad: And as a star studded Byron: Yeah. And he Chad: Stormers too. Byron: I think he had what two fifty twenty twos in that game? Dirty. it's so good. gets the forwards excited, Chad: Yeah. I still love a fifty twenty two. I it's the best thing since rugby started. Byron: it gets the back line excited. Even the coach gets a hard on. It's fantastic. Chad: Yeah. Byron: also, did you see tunus trial? I d I had the Engl the s the Welsh commentary for that game. So I don't know if you heard it or if it was just on my end. But did you know that he played eight in high school? Chad: Yep. Byron: Bella, if you're sixteen years old and he comes Chad: Can you imagine? No, thank you. Byron: off the back of the scrum Chad: It's okay. No. N not even if you Byron: I'm not stopping him. That's Chad: wanted to. Byron: okay, that's also fair. Even if Chad: Mm-hmm. Byron: I tried, I couldn't stop him. Come on, and eight. No. No. Chad: Yeah. Unreal. Byron: And then the other thing I learned from the commentators in that game is the DHL Stadium gives tickets to the schools. And that's what allows those private schools to come in and bring that vibe that is that we see in the DHL stadium every week. And I had a note here. So DHL does it to one or two schools per week per home game. They give them free tickets so they can come. Chad: It's stuck. Byron: I think that'd be so sick 'cause we know that the the school students bring that that crazy vibe to to rugby. The note I had yeah was Chad: Should I also do that? Byron: that the Lions could do that for twelve schools every week and there'd still be enough space in the stadium. Chad: Yeah, fuck. Byron: the lions, I love you so much, but you make my life so difficult. Chad: I'm pretty sure the Lions do do that, by the way. Well at least they used to. I'm pretty sure I got tickets from the Lions once when I was under sixteens or something. Byron: Brother, I got so many free tickets, we would just go to the stadium and sometimes we would buy tickets for fifteen Rand and sometimes the stadium would be so empty that they just let us in for free. Chad: Dope. But sorry, what Byron: That's done. Chad: I was gonna say is I'm pretty sure when Can read so many autobiographies of rugby players and coaches. I'm pretty sure Russi did that for the cheaters. Byron: I think it's great. They they're loud, they're excited, they wanna be there. good vibe for the stadium. I think it's a great idea. I don't know why more stadiums aren't doing it. If you're not selling out week in and week out, and we've already Chad: Yeah. Byron: spoken about the Lions using a smaller stadium, they're not gonna do it, bring in the school kids. Let them bring the noise. Chad: Yep. Hell yeah. Byron: okay, then we had a very good game between Benetton and Glasgow Warriors. I w if Benetton could have pulled this one off, it would have been great for the South African sides. Leinster Munster. I didn't think it was a great game. It was close and we knew it was gonna be tough, but Chad: Wasn't it was a tough watch. Well that nothing really Byron: It was Chad: happened. Didn't feel like anything happened. Byron: No. No, it did it. it and I guess that's what happens when you have, you know, teams of that caliber, I guess, that are playing for for more than just the result since there's such a rival. Chad: Yeah. Byron: But I mean if you look at the Connux game, if you look at the Sharks game, you look at the Stormers game, fifty two forty, give us a little something exciting there. but anyway. And then we ended the week off. I didn't watch this one. 'Cause it was two Welsh teams, Ospreys beating the Dragons thirty one fourteen. Chad: I don't think anyone watched that game. I think it's more Byron: Ha ha. Chad: people watching a a Lions game at the stadium than watching that game. Byron: but looking into next week, the Lions. do you want to bring up Blitz for this one? Can do some predictions. Chad: sure can I haven't opened it on here so I might have to no I don't yes I do have to do an update give me a second Byron: While you're looking at that, the Lions have a tough one next week against Glasgow in Glasgow. Chad: Bruh, the lions have had three tough ones. Byron: And I do know that the Lions are much better at home than on the road. But I do think all that's happened since 'cause they haven't gone home since they lost Hyron. So I think the the mental toll on the players is quite significant for them. but there's a big break Chad: Yeah, it's Byron: in the URC after this game. So I don't think the result's gonna go the Lions way. but then hopefully when we come back for week six in December we can shake it off and get back into it. But when you're ready for blitz, we'll do some predictions. Some predictionas. Chad: Bang. blitz rugby. Byron: Ragabah. Look at that. Chad: Okay. Byron: Is there anything on the Friday or no? Chad: This is your Friday. I'm pretty sure. Byron: Okay, perfect. So Connor hosting Leinster, what a game. Chad: yeah, that's a tough one. Byron: I I'm gonna go for a conduct win. I know that's an insane thing to say, but Chad: it's close. Yeah, this one I guided. Byron: Yeah, it it hurt p pains me to say, but realistically it's gotta be a Glasgow win. Chad: Another artificial turf. Byron: What? no, the artificial turf is also crazy, but I'm talking about the twenty seven votes, fifty six percent towards the Lions. Chad: I'm not surprised by that. It's a majority South African crowd that wants to see the team win. Byron: I wanna see them win, but are we gonna be realistic about it or not? Chad: question. Do you wanna do Byron: Yeah. Chad: the URC and then other protections? Because I've got Byron: Well, if you figure out how to scroll down then we can have a look. Chad: Never mind, I'll come back to it. Byron: Ha ha Chad: Stormus, Alster, surely. Byron: Stormers win, baby, at the DHL Stadium. look at that forecast. Stop it. Chad: Twenty seven degrees, sunny. Yeah, that checks out. Byron: Yes. Chad: Bennett in Edinburgh. Byron: This is gonna be a wild shot. I'm saying Benetton. Chad: Call it. Byron: I don't think we need to say much, it's gotta be a bulls win on that one. Chad: You go Benetton before that and don't go Scarlet's with this one is crazy. Byron: Ha ha. I'm gonna go the dragons win just 'cause they're at home. Chad: I can't can't Byron: we got a problem. What about if you just go Chad: Can't scroll down. Byron: into the URC? you have now. You're in the league, but you can't scroll down. a little bit. Shocks Shocks Shocks Look at that sharks. And then caught off beat Ospreas at I know that Benetton shout is a wild shout 'cause they haven't won a game the whole season. But Chad: You're a madman. Byron: I am a madman, especially Edinburgh's top of the table, just in case you were wondering. Chad: Yeah, it's typical barn logic. the woman's. Byron: we we we said these, but we'll go it again since we got blitz open. Chad: Yeah, we're gonna pick the Byron: England win. Look at that. Chad: It's just Byron: Hundred percent. Black ferns win. Easy as. Chad: Almost like the league. Byron: this one's gonna go to j to Wales. Easy as. Pains me to say, but it is going to the Irish. That's some hopeful South African fans. Is that all though wasn't there at least one more game on the Sunday for the fifteens? women's fifteens? Huh? That's everything. Okay, never mind, ignore me, I'm stupid. Chad: All right. I think that's it Blitz. Byron: I did have there were some men's internationals on Chad: Way. Byron: Sunday, I believe it was. Belgium Hong Kong China. That's actually not a bad watch. Obviously we're going Hong Kong China. Chad: I won't even let you pick that one. Yeah. No, I reckon Hong Kong China will be there. I haven't seen any Belgium games. Number twenty four versus number twenty three. Mm. Byron: Belgium at the the final what did they what did they call it? The reprochage tournament was Belgium Chad: Mm-hmm. Byron: versus Samoa. and Samoa won it in Chad: Where the hell is the stadium? Byron: in the final minute. Did you say where's the stadium? Chad: Yeah. Byron: I'm assuming it's in Belgium. I'll check it out for you now. Edmund Machten's Stadium. Yeah that sounds Yeah. It's in Belgium. It's in Sint Jans Molenbeck. So it's a football stadium. Chad: Leave About Brussels. Byron: See where I've got. Chad: Yeah, yeah. Close to Brussels. Byron: Is it in is it in bus? Chad: Close to Brussels. all right, there we go. Thank you, Blitz Rugby, for teaching me where the stadium is. Byron: Hey, that's actually Chad: You should definitely go. Byron: Not a bad shot. Chad: It's not far from you. Go say hello to the boys. Byron: It's about a four hour drive. Chad: You've done longer draws for a lot worse. Byron: Done dumber things. Chad: I will be disappointed if you don't go. Byron: Well prepared to be disappointed. What time is kickoff? 8 p.m. I'd have to get a hotel in Belgium for them. Might be worth doing actually. Chad: I think it's worth doing it. Byron: I think we should Chad: not we, I can't I can't come. Byron: I think maybe we should send an email to to to Manus and see w if he'll be there. I think it'll be sick to go if he's Chad: Modus, bar nu. Byron: Mar did I say Manus? Chad: Mm. Byron: Marnu, my apologies. send an email to Marnu. he should be there, right? Chad: He's the coach. See see you in Belgium, you dirty dog. Byron: Because I'm in Pumarent in the Netherlands that morning to referee. Maybe I just go from Pumarent to keep go south to Belgium. Anyways, we'll figure that one out. What I do wanna make sure that I do plan is when the cheaters play their home games in Amsterdam, that I'm there to go watch the Cheaters in the EPCR. Chad: I think it's a fantastic idea. That's so sick there's Byron: All right. Chad: they're playing there. Byron: Yeah. So I'll figure that one out. And get back to you. Cool. Chad, is there any other rugby you and I have not yet discussed? Chad: I don't think so. I think that's everything. a couple of injuries for the All Blacks cover for the upcoming internationals. I wanted to touch on Pollod's kicking again and just game management in a hole for the Bulls, but we touched on that. Ethan Hooker, brother. What a fucking champion. Byron: And also a speedy recovery to Esther. And actually, there were a bunch of injuries over the weekend Chad: Yeah. Byron: of Spring Box. So hopefully none of them were too serious. Chad: Yeah, I w we won't find out until tomorrow how what's happening with them. I know the all blacks are getting named tomorrow. So probably the same time for old Russie to make his selections. Byron: Who are New Zealand playing? Chad: Byron, it's the in like ten days we play in the the competition that stops nation championship? Byron: Is it a nations championship Chad: Brother, we are Byron: in Chad: only a couple days away. Byron: Hold on, my brain is broken. Sixth of November. Chad: The seventh seventh of Yeah. Seventh for me, but yeah. Byron: So then what's what's what's happening then next week? this weekend will be the games you just discussed and then I'm so out of it. Chad: It's coming around real fast. Byron: All right, and we get to kick off against Italy. Very exciting. Hmm. Chad: We'll touch on those next week. Byron: Yes, we will. Ooh, international raid. We should stream that game again. Chad: Which one? Byron: Italy, South Africa. Chad: Sure, I'll give it a crack. It's at twelve forty AM right up. Byron: You're gonna be awake anyway. Chad: I will be awake. I also would will probably end up waking up my entire family, but it's fun. Byron: Yep. This is that's a price I'm willing to pay. Chad: They'll understand. Okay. I Happy I'm Byron: Ha. Chad: happy for you, Barn. Thank you. Byron: You're very welcome, sir. Chad: there's so much rugby in November. Byron: Yes, this is exciting. And there's nothing like international rugby. Nothing clock clock. Chad: Rugby Union. Rugby League Internationals? Fucking blow. Byron: Yes. Only the N and even the NRL. So yeah, yeah, International Rugby League needs a lot of work. It needs a lot of work. Chad: Does Byron: And I I saw someone online arguing you could say the same about union because there's only two teams that have won it in the last twenty years or something like that. I think that's the Chad: In the World Cup. Byron: stat. Yeah. Chad: Dumb argument, but yeah. Byron: And the only thing you can say is that the teams that make it don't just blow through all the other games to get there. You know, the if you look at the Springboks, for example, in twenty nineteen we lost to was it Ireland in the opening game? Chad: New Zealand. I'm talking in the World Cup, Byron: Yeah. Chad: New Zealand. Byron: New Zealand and then the last one we lost to Ireland in in in the opening game. Am I correct? Chad: The pool stages, yeah. Byron: Yeah. So Australia, besides that game against New Zealand, didn't look that they were losing to anybody. And all the way through to the final they're not going to have a struggle. Chad: Yeah. Byron: Whereas if you look at the last World Cup, the team that won at the Spring Box won all of the knockout games by one point. Chad: Yeah. Byron: So tell me that's not way more entertaining than eighty four null. Imagine they scored seven points for a try and a conversion. There'll be hundreds all over the place. Chad: It yeah, be yeah. No. I don't want to talk about it anymore. It it upsets me Barn. My li what is going on with my technology? My lights just turned off there. Byron: the Gremlins, they got you, the podcast Gremlins. They're there. Thank you for watching. Thank you for supporting. we're gonna get me a boot sponsor. We're gonna get the show a sponsor Chad: That's very fun. Byron: by who did we say earlier? Chad: Pitcher? Byron: will I get a sponsor by Betcher? Is that Betcher SA or just Betcher? Chad: betcha. It's New Zealand, Kiwi. Byron: International? That was Kiwi. I wonder how close they are with Sky Sports, 'cause if they're close we don't stand a chance 'cause of how much shit they give them. okay. I think that's it. Thank you for watching. Please share, subscribe, all the fun things that come with it. and maybe I'll be in Belgium this weekend. Chad: You have to be in Belgium as we can. Byron: Stop it. Okay. Thank you, all the love and support. We'll see you around. Chad: Do I Byron: Hey!