Wales Are Improving… But Can They Finish? | Plus Weekend Preview

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2:02but competitive isn't the same as being convincing. So this week, the question is simple. What are Wales actually building? And this week isn't about promises, about proof as Wales head over to Dublin to take on Ireland on Friday night. So join me to preview that to take a good old look at where Wales are right now and to take a look at everything else that's been going on elsewhere. Sixth Nations, is the mighty MF, how are you MF? Do you feel better this week? Yeah, much better than last week, yeah. Yeah, decidedly human this week. Hello, listen, I listened to it a bit last week and didn't sound that ill. I think I was, I think I was at it, I think I was making it up. In the old school, the old school days are finally in sick for work. You wouldn't have got away with that, would you? If you were to have to phone us, social media blackout. Right, part one then, as we say, you know, the start of the Sixth Nations

3:05for Wales was pretty damn awful in those first two fixtures. Obviously, we had a big banks last week. So rather than saying our things improving, it's a question of how do Wales kind of continue in this vein and what did we really down from last weekend? So I want to start with your favourite area of topic at the moment, which is defensive structure. And from what you've seen so far, do you think Wales are making, are making progress in terms of their overall defence and what has got to, what's going to happen in the next couple of games in order for that to be a significant improvement? Well, there was no progress until Scotland, you know, things are pretty functioning, having been all over the shop for ages. And I noticed they've announced a permanent defence coach starting after the Sixth Nations, or do you start in summer rather?

4:05Merchys? That's right. Peter Merchys, he played for... I don't, I've got to be honest, I do not remember it playing. Which is, I've watched a lot of rugby games at that time. But yeah, it comes in. It comes in, obviously, strengthening the Scottish connection, or people who served there, have served in Scotland and Steve Tandy's coaching department. So again, what do you think about that? Because you've got, I suppose, you know, you've had Tandy and Dan Lidiot working as a bit of a unit, trying to move things forward now. Just bringing another coach in, make things a bit more complicated, is that going to mean that it's a longer, delayed process in terms of having a cohesive defensive unit, or is it going to help having someone full-time? Well, I mean, the Dan Lidiot will be, you know, leaving again once the pick of Merchys comes. So I think we've got to have a permanent appointment there, especially because it's such an important area of the game.

5:08I'm asked of weakness for us. So, yeah, ideally, I mean, he's only been, you know, he only had his first training session with the boys last September, as you, Steve Tandy. So, he hadn't been there in a massive long time. But ideally, you'd have had one signed up before the six nations, but then, of course, who's available in that period. So, you know, it's like this Peter Merchys end the season, contracts up, and then he's able to take up a post. So it doesn't show as there's too much to be done, and short notice like that. And in terms of progressing, we just need more of that level again, obviously, Ireland, the different prospect in Scotland. But if we can defend as well around the fringes as we did against Scotland, then, you know, that's a platform. I did hear someone talking about how close we are

6:11in terms of the number of matches left to the next World Cup. We're down to about 15 matches left before the next World Cup starts. Yeah, something, something around there. It's crazy, isn't it, because it does make you think the amount of time that, you know, we think, we're critical of saying, are, you know, sides kind of all they talk about is the World Cup and sacrifice games in between. And, you know, if you lose a cup of games in the six nations, it's always old to know the World Cup. I mean, bloody hell, you look at the amount of time that's been wasted during that, you know, the right off of a 24 campaign, 25, I mean, we barely won a game in that period of time, but what way else won two fixtures since the last World Cup? Yeah, yeah. And they will win the Bulls Japan. Both Japan. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's bad. But, you know, but either way, now that we look, we've only had one game of a decent defense,

7:11but if that's, if that's the level we're going to expect from now on, well, they've got not an awful lot of time to make it sort of set in stone, because it just, especially with injuries or mario, there's a, there's a, there's a trainer personnel and you need, you need everyone to be on the same sheet in, in very, I mean, very sure speaks of time in terms of actual minutes of play. Obviously, there'll be loads of actual time and training sessions, but actual minutes on the pitch is not an awful lot, an awful lot. I suppose that's the, that's the hard part of our test rugby. Is this really high intensity? And you don't get to, you don't get to, you don't get to practice. You're just in it and, and then you're in a massive pressure. And to that point, the coaches get very little time with the, with those players, you know, you, you have a, particularly with the huge amount of players that whales have playing

8:14outside, outside the country, they don't have a huge amount of time together. Therefore, the coaches are really kind of tweaking systems and building things that they go, which again is, just does feel like the fact that you're pointing a defense coach so late into the, into a World Cup cycle that really is, you've got to kind of hit the ground running over the, over the summer in order to make that work, which is a, yeah, a bit alarming, but like you say, there were some good signs against, against Scotland, particularly in terms of, I thought the scramble defense was good as well, actually, which is the, the first time we've seen that for a while, you know, the consum, some real good last gasp stuff, even when the line was broken. The concern for me is that first phase, the wood, the kind of the ease that Scotland got through it first phase. And I think also it was a game where, actually, for the first time in a long time, whales were winning collisions. And that might not be the case in Dublin, so I, you know, I think it's going to be an even, an even stiffer test. But again, that's, you know, that's, I think, what we're going to, what we're going to find out on Dublin is,

9:16is how far this, this progress has come. I want to talk about combinations now, if we can as well. What combinations do you think are kind of a solid and a solid and settled and steestandy should be, should be looking to kind of ink in whenever they're fit? Um, there's a few. I'm not sure about the, the back row, obviously, the captain's missing, but I think, you know, you can, kind of accept the Jack Morgan and Aaron Wainwright are going to be seven and eight. I think that is not a lot of competition for them. Well, it's competition, but they're not, not knowing to actually take their place. Uh, the sixth year is he is still. I think a lot of various places have gone well in that position. It's in terms of the balance with the other two. They're still not pinned down by anyone. Uh, but, you know, the second row went well in the last game. As did the front row.

10:17Uh, this combination is everywhere. It's just a matter of. Um, more time together. And, um, being, being in the, um, in the new, again, she's going to bring in a new, a new defense club. But, but being in the new setup together as long as they possibly can. So, I, obviously, our biggest issue is depth. But, um, the, I mean, I hope they made up the issue for everyone. I was, we hooked a page was turned against Scotland. There's otherwise it, you know, if we have a, if we have another sort of, uh, Mike Merlin and Dublin and then it doesn't go well against Italy. There'll be more, there'll be more rotation of selection again. And, um, so. I mean, putting it being patriotic, you hold ball of combinations from last time. Go well and stay together and, and we're,

11:17we've put the kind of, um, 40 points average, uh, a conceding average behind us for, for a long time to come. But, um, that might be just, you know, wish or thinking, I don't know. Yeah, I think, you know, looking at that, absolutely. I think this weekend is really the asset test, to be honest. Um, as, you know, as much improved as things like ball carrying and, and actually set peace were. And, um, I think that, I think that, I really want to see that, particularly that front five, go well again, because I think it felt like, you know, Carrie was getting through loads of ball carrying. Ben Carl was smoking rucks. Dave Jenkins got through a shit, and a work. And then, you know, you've got the kind of, it doubly again, likewise, did everything that could be asked for him from leadership to hitting his man. In the line out, scrummaging to, uh, to ball carrying, what he does at scrum time, it felt like that could be the blueprint of a good front five.

12:17But then if we get it like you said, we get blown away and doubling, that'll, you know, kind of put pace of that. But I don't know, it feels like the core ingredients were there, I think, for that as a front five. The back row, I think is a, in the long term, does feel a bit more unsettled. You're right. I kind of think, you know, look, Jack Morgan, come straight back in. There's no data about that. Way right again. It's been probably well, most consistent player during the, the last couple of years. years and it's them what you do at what you do at six because I'm with you I'm kind of like I think Alex Mann has done a good job and I'm not sure if he's a six or a seven or a six and a half and just thinking about the makeup of it what's gonna give Jack Morgan the best chance of getting over the ball you kind of almost in my mind want a Lydia Moriarty type who's gonna get through a load of tackling and you know ideally a bit of ball carrying I think you can probably sacrifice a line-out jumper if you've got way right in the back row with you as well and I mean look who knows maybe at some point there's still room for the odd Toby Falota Carrick cameo into the mix as well obviously

13:20still I'm still out injured at the moment and I spent a lot of time injured over the last couple of years but back row feels open to me but I just I'm just desperate to see that front five go well again because I do think that it was it was such a massive step forward in terms of being competitive in the tie and and the collisions yeah and you know and it helps that the step for the word now the consistency of selection really helped move forward as well you know I mean I mean Tandy hasn't chopped and chained a massive amount but you know if you can get a real up and up first choice side they can build from there so yeah I agree with you on the blind side I personally I for Wales I do like a sex who can operate in the line-out but it's just it's just fitting in and playing well with the other two I think is the thing I don't think we've quite they've quite got that player at the minute a lot a I don't

14:25know if anyone you can never tell if anyone will kick on but there's lots of really good back row forwards in the Wales in the 20s at the moment he's caught your eye yeah the captain Dayan is so good I've counted a second name but and Evan Minter and all of them every every back row forward is featured for the entertainment issue it looks really promising but again they quite often do and quite often never go any higher than the SRC so it's tricky at that level to the next step but yeah I'm trying to think which which play out from recent years which blind side from region years and Wales would be ideal fit in this back row at the moment and I mean another another wainwright would do me but also I think it's you know potentially that's

15:28the other thing is like you know just wainwright moved back to six at some point if you know if you for some reason you know Morgan Morse has been a player who's who's been hiked up you know hiked up a lot played a lot of age grade rugby played a lot of first team rugby for Osprey's and has something quite different you know he looks like an old school number eight to me big powerful ball carrier heavy set but also with a decent turn of pace you know I think in the long run I'd love to see him have a crack in the hshire and wainwright in the in the six but you know and he is still a really young fella so and you know that's that's potentially another way another way of finding a balance like that is you know is the wainwright moves back to six and someone else takes that eight birth yeah yeah and interestingly in that mold as well Ryan Woodman has been called up to the squad this week alongside Kiran Azarati which again a you know Woodman presumably coming in for a for plum tree as he misses

16:29out but again a couple of players who you know should should strengthen that squad you know again Azarati having experience and you know he's a kind of solid operator at scrim time and I wouldn't be surprised to see him kind of slot straight in on the bench actually and who was who was Azarati being brought in for no one's I don't know I don't think there's been any I don't think there's any injury in the front row you might be someone carrying some niggles in the squad and these are just in case going maybe yeah you're right he could he maybe maybe they wanted him from the start and they just picked him because he's fit again yeah I think it could be because we stavis left the squad as well who obviously isn't the same position but it could be that they feel that Woodman gives enough cover at lock and and they've got a ton of locks in there already and it gives him you know there's enough cover in lock to bring in another another front row forward yeah and Azarati was kind of the man in possession of the jersey until until the six nations so yeah yeah maybe you're right maybe

17:31you would go straight on to the bench and let's kind of close the close this part of the show out fittingly by looking at the problem we also have in terms of closing games out I mean for a start it was it was nice to have that be a problem in that we were in the game with ten minutes to go whereas the past the past three games we have not been and what do you think this is this is down to is this just down to the fact that well someone enough games is it the leadership kind of learning how do they go when they're in that position to actually shut those shut those games down what do they need to do and to develop well I saw familiarity with him I mean the situation last week Scotland at home was a foreign to quite a lot of players you know yeah they haven't been in a special in the six nations quite a lot have never been in the situation before so I know we covered it last week but the quick kick

18:38off from Finn Russell I mean that's that's not really international leave or even professional sort of standards that's just like you expect that it's sort of junior level kind of sloppiness I still I still I still haven't heard anyone talk about the maybe I don't listen to enough podcast I don't know talk about the speed of ball after a penalty kick because it that's definitely not a definitely not standard everywhere for the ball to be waiting on halfway from a penalty from a conversion you make sense but the penalty doesn't make sense and and that was you know that was the huge that was the turning point in the game so I don't know I know you're more of more of speed with other podcasts for your podcast but yeah I think I should imagine some of the what Tim left around about it I think who did Tim Dull oh did he all right yeah some of the

19:41more one-night podcasts definitely not gonna be you know like well the ones even more one-night than ours they're not they're not going to be there's messaging yeah quite a few people I'd imagine I'm gonna rant about that because it might even actually bring it under the microscope more like when I when I watch games now this weekend six nations games this coming weekend I every time is a penalty I'm gonna I'm gonna be checking to see if there's a ball waiting on halfway because that you know look we're talking the length the length of time it takes someone like Gable came a web to chase the kick realize this between the post turn around and get back and it was only up to sort of the 40 yard line when they were kicking off or maybe maybe bit further than that you know that obviously wasn't flat out sprinting because he just you know he was jogging back but that that seconds you know

20:44that that length of time it takes you to just spin around and jog back at the pitch to be in position seconds and then the balls already in the air over his head so it'll be it'll be it'll definitely be on people's on people's minds on on the Friday night and not on the two games on Saturday yeah well watch this space and yeah it's Friday night we can't underway this weekend and we can't say not to like obsessed I'm gonna say yeah tin hat on stuff here most of the spirit theory start start right I don't know I don't know if it's conspiracy key I just it's that that speed of ballie I don't think that's standard across every ground that's all I'm getting at no I don't think it is and I think it's a bit of a free thing that you know you've you've had an overzealous ball boy or girl and you know I don't know I just think in those

21:45that's in those situations you've got to be thinking clearly I've never seen the all I've never seen the all black blame the ball get put down too quickly you know what I mean it's like it's just one of those things it's like just make sure you're facing the right way that's the thing so yes it was very very quick but I don't know I'm more annoyed that we kind of we squandered the winning position ourselves then then the fact there was a yeah freakishly quick ball place on the halfway line yeah no yeah I mean like I said the last week aside from that which was a turning point we still had options to clear our line opportunities to clear our lines later on and didn't take them so I suppose that that I mean that that when they when the squad go through the analysis with the coaching team but that maybe they'll look at those and think well that you know we we focused on the resammit incident

22:47with to giving up to to to to below do the chance to put a shot in on him and you know that is to you know to vastly different outcomes you you take on to upload to and get smashed obviously there was the option to pass but if you don't take him on and you just put it down the pitch I mean you could you could have ended up I I guess he's got them would have returned it but if they tried to run it back because they're behind and the the honest is on them to try and win you could end up in possession in their half you know a break down turn over so there's a massive massive turn and that's obviously what begins that's a game time you think yeah which again is that actually you know is to that point of how to close games out you know that's where you need good to cool calm decision-making in order to in order to manage a game out and make sure you do get over the line and you're right I think we did focus on that because I think it was a big turning point that is in yeah that kind of that decision not so

23:50either not to kick or to or to pass and but we are in the second part of the show you're going to take a specific look at Wales versus Ireland or Ireland versus Wales I should say and that game is coming up on Friday night and our preview of it is coming up after the break America leads the world in medicine development it matters we get new medicines first nearly three years faster five million Americans go to work because we make medicines here at home and not relying on other countries keeps us safe but China is racing to overtake us will we let them or will we choose to stay ahead when America leads America cures let's tell Washington to keep us in the lead learn how at America cures dot com pay for by pharma we all have that dream trip we've been wishing we could go on but too often life or usually price gets on the way that's why price line is here to help you turn your dream trip into reality with up to 60% off hotels and up to 50% off lights you can

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30:33right then Merth a vastly wise yeah if Wales improved a bit then Ireland's improvement was absolutely huge yeah and yeah kind of a almost like an era defining performance against England at Twickenham yeah but I suppose Wales can't go into this game worrying about Ireland they've got to actually just concentrate on what their what their game is and and kind of show up as best they can how much do you think that the focus internally will be on what they can do right rather than rather than kind of how Ireland are going to come at it well I suppose you know Ireland have got to be on the high after that I mean you're right it was you know it was a it's the type of game of people I use people who are at that game we'll talk about for decades you know you've absolutely stuffed England at Twickenham so such a rare thing and I suppose from our point of view is the hope is it's a bit of complacency because you know you've proved that you can

31:40do something extraordinary at Twickenham and now you're just going to bring all back to doubling the play against a side who really struggled for a long time so I might be clutching you know they can't be up for it as much as they were last week they just can't be so that's the hope for it similar to Scotland actually similar to Scotland rocking up in in Cardiff I've been played an absolute blinder at home to England then did what they always do and followed it up with actually quite a quite a poor performance although they did have enough to beat us and yeah yeah yeah I agree I think it is kind of clutching it straws a bit it reminds me of that episode of The Simpsons where Homer becomes a heavyweight boxer and before he goes on to fight the kind of the Mike Tyson inspired character and he's asked to visualise how he's going to win and his imagination scene just shows the referee saying due to a congenital heart defect it's his opponent's fallen over in the ring it's like we're kind of banking on something like that

32:45well I think it's you know this this weekend is so much about backing up the improvements it is about the areas that went well you know if we lose by 20 points this is a horrible horribly defeated way to start but if we lose by 20 points but we're in it for 60 minutes we give them a really good battle physically and we're able to you know we're able to compete at those key parts of the game and then they just have a bit too much and put us away at the end you know in the replacements come on something weirdly I'd kind of take that or I'd accept it you know that wouldn't be a disaster like I think you know all that hard work and that good performance is undone if we get an absolutely thumping in Dublin yes the result the island result last week it's a bit of an anomaly though because they were soundly beaten in France yeah the island should have lost its way should have lost its way yeah sort of struggled passionately although it was a seven point gap at the end that performance that I've taken

33:48them is way way in advance of anything they've done recently performance wise so like the more I talk about that that could just be your one off and and if they I mean they still got us fairly in hand you know well on in terms of where they are compared to us but if they play more like they did against island sorry against Italy at home back to their back to their usual form as I'm going to get it then we're not going to be completely out of sight but it's just whether they that they they find inspiration from that game in England or whether they go back to their usual standards so yeah it was it was a it was a you know it was a freakish game like a England obviously everyone coaching staff and everyone's under pressure there now but they you know they especially on the back of Scotland but they they're they're they're only

34:55they're only two games into this sort of bad run that they're on if you know what I mean up till then they were unbeaten so it doesn't I don't know it I don't think the result last week means that island are now on amazing side again I still think they're I still think they're not what they were if you know what I mean so yeah it's been it's been a it's been a bit of I mean I think in the first week or the second week we're saying about we've had our we've had our shock for the tournament while there's been it's been it's been a few turnips already you know so I just want one to be Wales or so yeah that would that would be especially nice it's it has been it has been a hard to predict tournament you know there has every weekend like you say been results in there you know because I I thought you know Scotland being in England looking at the form book over the last 10 years it's not a massive surprise but I thought that I think there are I was going into that game I was like they're over the who do and then

35:58you thought I will islands they look they look a bit of a you know a bit of a busted flush now aging side and it was all those aging players really who who shone you know it was not all of them but you know I everyone shone to be fair but you know it was led by Gibson Park who's a player why is he 3334 now you know a player who in theory is on the you know is it towards the the twilight of his career and players you know I suppose yeah players like Bern and Doris who he'd looked a bit quiet in previous weeks did show up and and kind of show that class so I don't know I'm certainly I would read would I be more into that island performance than I was the run England were on before that because really I think that England performance you know they're at home they're sorry that England run they're at home for large chunks of it they'd be an all black side who ended up sacking the coach and even Wales ran New Zealand relatively close over the autumn and it's still the all black fair play you know an Australian side that's been in turmoil you know

36:59and very erratic for a large period of time you know an Argentina sized during a lion's year that's a bit that's a bit shaky and yes there was some good stuff in the six nations last year but it was also you know it's not like they weren't they won the title or something so I think in that period of time you can pick a few holes in the in the form book but yeah you're right you know it could be is it a flash in the pan from Ireland I don't know I think because of the surroundings because it was it took in them and it was such a hammering I think they're really built on that I think that will be a lot of those players waiting up and going oh yeah we are quality blessed and we are a quality side and I think you know I do think we'll see I but you know whether or not it's at the same level on Friday I don't know but it's it but crucially it doesn't need to be to be well so it needs to be just followed up with you know with a good solid performance really oh yeah yeah again um because of those the results so far I got no idea it was going to

38:04who's going to obviously I didn't think I'm fighting but I got no idea which way the results are going to go this weekend the chance that there'd be another shock we'll save that for part three because that's what we're going to that's what we're going to challenge it with what stick with Ireland Wales to the time being but mull those things over because I want to hear how much you haven't got a clue of what's going to happen when it comes to the final part of the show um but yeah let's um let's let's continue to have a look at Ireland versus Wales what is the what's the one area that you think um that you think Wales can kind of hone in on but what's the one area that you want to see um you want to see where I was kind of really take on Ireland and and get a foothold in the game well based on the Italy game I mean I don't think we should downplay Italy's own set pitch really but but based on the Italy game uh in Dublin um the scrum I mean um I don't know I I I I think they will have addressed that since the Irish squad but if you if you can get

39:10like Tyge Phil on up in the air again uh I forget the name of the lucid for um Italy but the the other the other props among Ferrari is I'm an amazing tournament yeah fiscetti's on the list and then Ferrari on the tight and that's the guitar is the hooker yeah look at that I mean that's just really I mean that's a that's a two-month strong for me yeah yeah it's just good as anything in the tournament uh and anyway but I was went really well um this uh current selection which I assume they'll go with again um so you get some joy there uh because Tyge Phil on is back but I don't I don't think he's in a position where he's going to play loads of minutes might even be on the bench again um so there uh and then it is I don't know I well a line up was good against um Scotland so you know like we say it's the whole performance just needs to be the stepping

40:17off point now that the that's the standard we achieve all the time hopefully so um I don't I don't think you look at island especially and and identify many weaknesses is it's just that the uh like everyone was saying coming to the tournament the squad the squad is um is agent and I think cracks open up in those bitter then they completely pour cold water over that theory and tricking them last last I think yeah they did I still don't think that I mean I I presume Crowley will we'll take the ten share again but that's been a big that's been a big debating point for you know for quite some time since the World Cup really when they've they've chopped and changed between three five halves you know and Prendagas being the kind of the man in possession I think that did change things of Twickenham not because Prendagas is a bad player in the years but he's got some weaknesses he's working on and he was a player lower confidence um as Crowley comes into that I thought he had a good game at Twickenham um but again you know he's

41:21not necessarily the most consistent player in the world so again that could be an interesting area but opposite that Wales are going to have to make a change Sam Castello's not going to feature in Dublin what would you be doing here does Dan Edwards come in or does Jared Evans come in for you? Um do you know that's that's a really tricky one because Dan Dan Edwards was um sort of struggling a little bit before he was replaced and um but again if he's playing on the side obviously we've been over this but you know against Francis he didn't really pass it to him and when they did pass it to him it was because he was having to kick yeah you know so um Castello had lots of you know attacking ball to use so um because he was playing on the side he was playing he was in the side he was playing well so uh it's tricky for Dan I worry if he if he comes in back in because of injury and it

42:26doesn't go very well you know um I think I said a couple weeks ago that some boys might need a rest especially the the young ones because we might we might be brewing in the rest of their career with this run this run a former on so um yeah I would worry about that I think I mean I think they'll go with Dan Edwards they will yeah those two those two those two kickings to start the tournament but you know we weren't we're doing many things at all you know for a slightly built um I'd say that I'm sort of new to the new history international scene having massive forwards coming down his channel all the time it's not helping him at all but um so yeah yeah they're gonna go with him but uh that'll be an area you know I want him to be getting some from football if it's all possible you know yeah well I think it all hinges on this it all hinges on whether where I was gonna replicate that that ball carrying performance they've got Eddie James

43:27on the ball at last uh against Scotland and it really made a difference and as you said before Lake and Jenkins and Carter and Wayne Wright all getting heavily involved I could risk more than anyone okay he's just got you've got to get them on the ball and you've got to get some front foot ball for whoever's playing in ten but I agree I think it'll be Dan Edwards I think they like Jared Evans coming off the bench to uh as the game kind of breaks up a bit whether you're you know whether you're chasing the game or potentially looking to kind of clinch it I think um I think they like that as a as a format so that's um that's what I expect to see um I'll just leave you on this one then Merth before as we close out the point if Wales lose um but lose well is that still progress if you see what I mean uh it depends on the nature of it you know like um you know if if if there's just glaring holes all over the field for the Irish players to run into them that's not progress but if they play you know if they say if they

44:29replicate the performance from Twickenham then then there's not an awful lot we can do about that um but if it if it's easy you know you know like the French game where we said uh France took their foot off the accelerator after about 15 20 minutes we we don't want to go back to that um but you know when you when you're playing a select side like Ireland the scoreboard can just kind of gather momentum especially in the last 20 minutes kind of thing and you end up with a big score even though you haven't been overrun if you want to mean so it's just a nature really like I say if it's if it's huge gap size of a motorway down the middle of an offensive or in certain it is the field then you you'll hear me piping up next week but if it's just because I don't play really well and that's that's different yeah it is um and you know I think I'm right to end the last six nations game we won in Dublin I've won a series 2012 it's been a long long time

45:31since we had a win out there in six nations more team we were six 16 was a draw randomly 18 we lost comfortably 20 we lost comfortably 22 I don't remember but yeah and 24 uh yeah so I'm pretty sure certainly it was 22 I was the last time we won a six nations game in Dublin um so it's it's a tall order to to ask a side that's been on this losing streak to go over and win um but yeah I just think the performance and the manner of the performance is going to be really it's going to be really crucial to to where we end up at the end of the tournament particularly with with a game against um Italy coming up in the final week at home yeah exactly yeah it you know that Scotland game hardened a lot of people you know and so uh any kind of um um uh what's the word encouragement that the fans can get it in in Dublin or be great on it

46:34and they will they will you know sustain some momentum into Italy game then so um I mean I don't think it would be Italy I think Italy I think Italy misunderstood and they're actually really good um they're well I think the um well we're going to come on to it now the the game next week there we go let's have a break let's let's have a break a quick a quick a quick breath and then when we come back let's let's take it and we'll start we'll start with this week today got a massive game ahead of them this weekend against England so um let's take one more break and when we come back that's what we're going to we're going to start with they say you should learn something new every day like how you should only drink Yagermeister at zero degrees Fahrenheit ice cold like those frozen cavemen they find which makes you wonder what would a caveman think of Yagermeister well if you served it warm he'd probably throw it in your face say umga bunga and storm off and nobody wants that so drink it cold or not at all Yagermeister damn that's cold drink responsibly Yagermeister LaCure 35% alcohol by volume imported by

47:38master Yagermeister U.S. White Plains New York right man if I know you've basically gone through the first two parts there should desperate to talk about Italy versus England it's not very often that the Italy go into these games whether or not we could say their favourites I'd have to see what the bookmakers say but certainly this feels like one of those opportunities they get perhaps once a decade to go into a game with a realistic shot of being England that you have the two really poor performances by England plus a sustained period of good performances from Italy means they do have a good chance this just how

48:42good a chance is it but unless I'm mistaken England at the only side the Italy have never beaten at any six nation side and I've been beaten everyone else on the correct they beaten it they beaten France and Ireland on the yeah long time ago but they have yeah well this is the most this is the most likely time they've ever had to be to be England I think look I think there's going to be a response from the English but if they can't get their attacking game going like they had to go in last season and last autumn I don't think they I think they might have to revert to up the jumper stuff to try and beat it to leave then so do I Italy and yeah and and Italy and as we just said earlier they're no slouchies up front so unless England's attacking game comes back to life somehow I struggle well first of all if you're going to just perform at

49:43the level they've been performing at you know if they have if they have an off-week or they've been known to have sort of a string of good games in the six nations and then and then completely not turn up in one of the games and get 40 50 points per on them but I think that might be the thing of the past now so if if they if they turn up at the level that they've been playing after the the three games so far I think it's been a really close game and I don't know what the conscious consequences will be in England if if it only win but I really do look forward to them if if it if it if it can pull that off I really I'd be really like I'll I'll be close I'm not like I said gov it all or so should you but I'll be keeping a really close eye on them Matt Dawson in the in the press and the internet I don't have you or whatever bloody podcast he goes on and I mean so because they they there will be plenty of people calling for the coaches

50:44head if they lose to Italy next week it's a quite you last year snorkewick out I think would be the would be the you know the the consequence or the rallying cry I think as well with a lot of this you know so much is kind of made of I don't know the the the mental side of things and the pressure that they'll be under I just think it's a bloody good elite team like you know like you said right that front row is absolutely fast and I think there's there is there's quality performers throughout the um throughout the entire side actually and you know if you get men and cello on a really really I mean it's he's always a good performer but you get him on a really hot day that England defense looked pretty porous against uh against both Scotland and Ireland and particularly in the center bird you know against Scotland they got the ball wide into into those wide channels and and and caused havoc and likewise Ireland were able to to do the same you know they're able to burst through um I think my theory about Lauren Oly Laurence not being

51:47fully fit has paid as Panda he's not fit again this weekend um I don't know if it's a new injury yeah um so he'll be he'll be out again to be another enforced change there when it comes to center I don't know whether he'll go back to to Freeman or maybe a Joe Moe or something like that but again it's more kind of more uncertainty for England in in that area where they've been exposed to the last couple of weeks I just think like from a rugby perspective there is a really good chance for for Italy to you know pretty settled Italy side to take them on I think they're missing Brex they'd love to have Brex in a on a day like this um yeah that's right yeah you know I I think there's a there's a real good opportunity for them and like you say the the set piece is is really really strong I think Linda missing a lot props at the moment the I suppose the porous out in by Italy in Estonia so far is France uh last week but they were actually although the score line looks pretty conclusive yeah you know in transit say that they were

52:52actually nineteen eight behind for a long time and quite late into the game and they they line up wasn't functioning on the day and and they put the ball from a penalty deep in the France is half and you're thinking well if they score here that this is a this is a completely you know winnable game if they score from this lineup they lost the lineup and then they seem to lose fated themselves and started running everything from deep because they didn't fancy themselves to win any lineup all in their half they started running every room deep and ended up throwing in the deception uh and then and then so you've gone from nineteen eight to twenty something eight behind and then and then and then there was tries laid on which made it look like a bit of a hiding but it was it was it was literally eleven points in if for a long time in that game so um if they get there I don't know exactly no I forget his name now there's a lanky lanky number five playing from but um yet an off day and uh if they get their lineup back together for England I I can't I

53:56honestly can't see where too many places where England hold an advantage possibly driving the line up I mean that again that's up the jumper stuff but the attack wise Italy are about to side at the moment on on sort of six nations this six nations form so um yeah be watching that with a lot of a lot of fingers crossed and um in expectations so yeah I think Zambanin was the uh it was the the lanky number five year uh you're talking about and um yeah yeah part of a part of a really good pack um I think actually interestingly though the the one area that I you you've touched on there is that kind of that sense of not backing themselves is the really really crucial bit because I think technically the rugby is all there for it's the okay perhaps they haven't quite got the the the depth of some of the other nations you know they're certainly not France and probably not

54:58Ireland and and in terms of talent not not England um but that's starting 15 and the 23 I think is a pretty is a pretty solid one but almost to go back to our point around Wales they're not used to winning many games they're certainly not used to winning in England because they never they've never done it so it's I think they've got kind of got put themselves in a really good position and then have the the people in there to close those to close that opportunity out have that kind of that clarity of thinking the players are good enough you just got to hope that the the pressure of the situation doesn't um doesn't get to it because I think rugby wise it's it's all there they they've just got to show up and show up and perform and they'll give themselves a good chance and I agree I think the mic resorts are to keep in it tight because um the stakes are high here they've got to get out of range with a win by hook up by broke yeah yeah yeah I did the key to uh Italy sometimes it's got BC the um I'll say that yeah he's prone to having sort of mini meltdowns during games and when he does the whole side um the whole side falls apart but

56:02when he when he plays well uh everyone in the side seems confident everything and everything flows and I thought you could say that about both sides in relation to their halfbacks but Gabby C. In particular has got this kind of he's had some absolutely shocking hunting so yeah you you you you you can you can tell that it just there's no point in persevering they're just well get the shepherd's up on him but um when he goes away it's very few weaknesses yeah but I think there's been a lot less of those in recent times actually certainly the you know the the game changing uh the game changing meltdowns so um but I think I think he's crucial then because you're right when when he's when he's playing well I think he can really unlock that that backline um the the France game as well I think actually the the backs is a bit frustrating they did a number on um on cathart so they put the ball up high and kind of timed it so they smashed him every time he came down from the sky Louis Liner didn't have his best game either I thought and he's a and he's a classy operator um so I'll explain how you don't you don't need bands back

57:05because again he's a kind of a match winning player actually he's he takes his chances pretty well on the whole um you know you look back to that win over Scotland the uh you know there's the win over Scotland what was it two years ago in 24 um and he's pretty crucial in um in that scenario as well so I think um I think that's that's what it could come come down to but yeah England have started the last two games so slowly that this is of course he's their chance getting amongst it and um well selection for England is going to be um the selection for England is going to be interesting as well because um something I I uh was uh banging on about in in previous podcasts as George Ford and the way you play when he's on the pitch uh I did notice it so much in the game because the England Island game I didn't notice it so much during the game but in the analysis afterwards the someone pointed out that uh England were putting George Ford at full back

58:07defensively so that when uh the opposition kick then you've got someone in an unfairness George Ford to great kick it out of hand he's returning with interest every time he put the ball down a pitch turn in the address so the island didn't give it the opportunity to to do any kick in every time he they moved him to full back they put they only put contestable kicks on George Ford and then and then he was stranded and the point the obviously the point in putting the med is to get him onto the defensive line but the point at the other point in being there was completely negated because he couldn't he couldn't expose your back three he couldn't do anything they wanted to do he was just trying to feel balls in the air all the time which is not not in his wheelhouse so if he's picked again then Italy have been shown being shown the way forward yeah yeah it's a really interesting point they basically did it's the opposite of what Wales did in week one which was kick kick to George Ford and then he absolutely bashed back yeah which is making making him look fucking amazing we sort of did something similar probably two years ago at home um with Freddy Stewart Freddy Stewart just put his straight

59:11down his neck all the time and he swallowed everything and was man of the match yeah and tactically obviously uh Freddy Stewart is a different proposition to kick to but George Ford you just you just don't give him loads of time to look at your look at your backfield and then well he into the spaces you just you know so we gave him especially early in that game I know we weren't competitive in that game so it doesn't make any difference but we gave him so many opportunities to look wonderful early on that his confidence must have been rising all the time and then Ireland have just done the opposite they're giving him no opportunity to show anything at all so um yeah but it would be there's a very interesting selection for England um this week whether the axe falls on a few didn't perform or whether they he can't persevere with some of his favourites and you know it is there's a lot there's a lot a lot to kind of unpack with that selection and then you know how

1:00:14Italy approach after that I think game plan wise yeah I think he might stick with Ford again just because I think if we're anticipating a tight game and resorting to resorting to the kick-in I feel like that's you know that's kind of where a lot of their success has been built upon and you know I mean it came it came unstuck very very easily against Ireland and again Scotland because seemingly every time they got the ball they wanted to heave it up in the air fee for these crumbs or whatever they call it and I just went all right well we know you're going to slap the ball back so slap it back and we'll have two or three back five players waiting just to mop up the mop up the ball you know it's they turn you know they turn in possession into a into a 50-50 so but that says I can see them sticking with that I you know I can see them sticking with that and going right we're just going to back ourselves to be able to do enough against Italy to get past you know it won't work against France but it might be enough just to battle the Italian back three particularly we cap what's so and into the mix as well but I don't know and I think it's a

1:01:18massive section I think one of the issues in a leal was that the weather was awful you wouldn't necessarily expect that down there it's time you are or maybe you would I don't know but I would be I would really enjoy it if it's lovely semi spring day in Rome next week and you can't kind of play on the conditions you've just got to play play if you want to be you can't adapt to the dishes and turn it into a lottery or all a bit of a slog you've got to actually play and that that would be for the supposedly neutrals like us that would be fantastic it would before that though we have Scotland versus France at Barry Field which I think is absolutely fascinating I think um you know I mean Scotland are you remember like in the in the 90s it was always are which French side are going to turn up but I think Scotland are kind of the model with them that really because it's just when you're right in them off and going our Gregor Tansen's

1:02:20toast here they go in roast England and then you know they're on a they're on a run we I wasn't that impressive against Wales if I'm honest I'm like you know this is as much as there was an improvement from Wales it's a side that has won two games of rugby in three years so you know realistically should Scotland be coming off the back of that England performance and winning yes they're just not that good away from home at home they're a different they're a different outfit I think and they have been for quite a long time and I think I you know France France are a different are a different kind of gravy to anyone else at the moment I think they're just they're playing really well but every I think they're like you know I still think they're going to be on for the Grand Slam that every Grand Slam has one bloody tough game in it and they have not they have not that one yet I wonder whether it might be this weekend it's it's potential it I think if Scotland can play as well as well as the leading England it's potential to be the game of the tournament

1:03:22yeah I think France's selection will be important because they've been flitting between tight fried five second rules and then loose forward second rules and which approach they think is best for the Scottish game that'll be interesting but I I think there was frailties in the English side which have you know become obvious now which I yeah Scotland exposed and I don't think I don't think they're really there in the French side they've got like where's the weakness you know yeah yes they can be French and turn up and look at interested sometimes but I don't know if they I don't know if there's any glare in kind of way into this French side that Scotland couldn't aim for the only erratic bit about them is if

1:04:23Jalabé is not fit and Ramos plays at 10 again because again he has that ability to do wonderful things and that shit crazy things at 10 I think he's doing things a completely different property at 15 he's he's actually one of the most consistent performers at 15 yeah but 10 is very much his second position yeah he's like a French French like a French Lee half penny in terms of you just you just he's always there he's just so reliable you know yeah I didn't know I'll see the Jalabé is angry was because it was late wasn't it so yeah it was I don't yeah I don't know I don't know what the latest is on that but I think for the tournament's sake I hope you please for the tournament's sake but he's been fantastic he's been fantastic through in those in those in those first two those first two games and added you know the concern was can can Jalabé and

1:05:23and Jalabé played together it's like oh yeah they're both amazing and they both can't both play together it means you've got two world class players at a half-factor to contend with not just one yeah I think Jalabé has been playing within himself though so far in this tournament yeah I think he's looking after he's putting the onus on the 10 to do all the playing and there was a time where before the injury and when he was you know the dominant force in that side and probably in in the world he would look what was on first and then give it to enter back and at the moment he's just feeding Jalabé really quick ball and not really I dare say my exploding to life but he's not he's not running everything all the time like he was before he's injured at the moment to use when I say running running at I don't mean running with the ball I mean yeah controlling everything himself all in the shots yeah to use a side clinging analogy which feels fitting considering hey we haven't done that for a while and B

1:06:27it's France of course well exactly yeah spring classic season now I mean but it feels like France and now like aside with two GC riders at nine and ten you know whereas before Intermac is a high quality climber who is doing the job for DuPont if you see what I mean whereas I think now it's like okay either one of these two guys could um could in their own rights be the main man I mean DuPont is still that that level above his knee but I think they're flying so well together that it's it's it's makes it very hard for other teams to cope with them yeah so the it's a really delve into the cycling analogy 2018 team sky you've got Geraint Thomas and Chris Rume in the same side and yeah yeah I like it uh yeah I I when you consider you know

1:07:28some of the highlight real stuff at DuPont was coming up with like on a weekly basis you know the defensive tackle on Mac Hanson and and all sorts of incredible stuff he was doing he's not he's not putting himself out there the one he's not he's just playing I think he's still still in there like that that kick for BLB area against Italy where it's just like it's completely instinctive and perfectly weighted um yeah yeah I think there's a massive handoff on one of the um is the English player or something as well but he's not he's not he's not center of attention all the time like he has been in the past I still think I still think he's playing I think we're still thinking he's playing superbly well but he's you know he's having that option outside him as well so um yeah I don't know I um yeah it's uh it's uh it's a really interesting um it's a really interesting not selection I think it's uh it'll be a really interesting selection when on some act is it's fit again because obviously they play so much fun together and they that you know that often brings out the best in DuPont but I don't know I think Jalabelle has been has been fantastic

1:08:32and for the tournament's sake I think uh yeah you want to you want to see him fit again um yeah Scotland as I say the the kind of the cliche is they beat England and failed to back it up I think this is this is a pretty crucial a pretty crucial game for them yeah they've got two very hard fixtures to finish now France you know France who are the best side in the tournament and Ireland who they just never beat so I feel like there's quite all of a sudden despite the kind of the pressure being off time's end after England win and then getting out of jail last week I kind of feel like the pressure's on a bit now again because if France win you wouldn't expect them to be Ireland either so it then becomes another tournament where they beat in England and fuck all else with the greatest respect to Wales yeah yeah um yeah that is one sorry let's see uh just for um shits and giggles that they actually win against France yeah then then all their

1:09:32fans are going holy shit if we hadn't cocked it up against Italy we'd be going to go grandson decide oh grandson match so um that that's how quickly you know week to week the tournament changes I suppose um I I don't I don't I don't think Scotland are going to upset France on Saturday but I do think they're going to give them probably the best game they've been given so far if you know what I mean the best game the France have been given so far so um yeah you're right though I mean if the game goes as expected which is France wins up there then it does look like we've turned up against England again but again you can't discredit the way Italy played against them in the first game but if they if if if if they got a result there this this this season looks really good then all of a sudden yeah so um it's just yeah I just the nature of they're not backing up good games

1:10:41I I suppose they they have to and that's that's not a new thing though that's been going on for a long time so this was a hashtag it has to go down as another death out in especially because you know I like I say we look I look at the stupidity if they do actually beat France next week but um because then they will they will be having a great tournament but um I yeah I don't I don't I don't see enough weaknesses in the French site for them to to pull it off uh so it is it is it is it is a another wasted six nations for them and they probably will change their coach well watch this space if uh if they do manage to beat France over the weekend um and that pretty much brings us to a conclusion for this week so yeah don't don't go anywhere if you if you if you do spot a French a French defeat in Murrayfield this weekend because it'll be brilliant to get you back on there to to follow that one up but um but yeah that is us for this week uh as I say iron versus whales on

1:11:44Friday night and then it is Scotland versus France and Italy versus England we'll be here next week to review all of that and to chat rugby with you uh so join us then you