Ep 224 - Derby day demolition sparks renewed play off hopes

Transcript

Welcome And Weekend Preview

Speaker 2 0:05

You're listening to Bears Beyond the Gate, a Bristol Bears podcast, made by fans, for fans. We're three friends who love the club, the game, and all things Bears. Well, this week we preview the record-breaking 53-12 win against Gloucester to regain the Rifles Cup, which of course we did win earlier in the season when we beat them 49-34 at Kingsholm. So we talk about the game, some of the player performances, and then we look forward to Friday's game at Newcastle and discuss what sort of team we should put out and how we are gonna try and get our five points that we need. We also have a few listener shout outs and quite a lengthy bit of any other business, including at least two goats. I'm Pete and I'm joined by Lee and Miles for a cheeky beer and a bit of rugby banter. Well, boys, and we're not at the we should be honest and say we're not at the Bristol Beer Factory chat room tonight. Uh Miles has gone down to his uh mansion down in in Devon. Uh Miles, you've done well to get here because obviously you've been out grouse shooting or or whatever all day.

Speaker 3 1:15

I have been yeah, I've been on the top of Dartmoor. Um yeah, yeah, and I eyeing up a few ponies up there and climbing a few tour climb climbing a few tours.

Speaker 2 1:24

Mind you, if I mean if this was the Gloucester Cherry and Jam pod, they'd be talking about a lot of ponies, wouldn't they?

Speaker 1:30

After the performance of their two.

Pressure After Three Defeats

Speaker 2 1:32

Um which actually takes me nicely on, Lee, to uh our first comments. I mean, we we we were on the back of three defeats, a terrible uh big day out performance, um a bad performance in Toulouse, even though we knew we were gonna lose. So there was quite a lot of pressure on the boys uh back at Ashton Gate. For by the way, the first time since January the 2nd that there was a Prem game at Ashton Gate. Obviously, there's been a couple of Prem Cup ones and Bordeaux and so forth. So, yeah, I mean, you know, it was uh we needed a big performance, didn't we?

Speaker 1 2:10

Well, Pat summed it up in the pre pre-game, said that yeah, we we've it's a must-wing game, another must-must must-wing game. Um, and it was absolutely vital. We got five points um from it. And to be fair though, I mean Miles is probably you'd agree, the most negative from the three of us. Yeah, but on Thursday night, yeah. So on Thursday night we had quiz night, didn't we didn't we, Dan at the chat room? Yeah, and Miles said we're gonna put 40 points on them. So that was a that that gave me a lot of confidence, actually. So well done, Miles. You've actually called one out for a change.

Speaker 3 2:51

Well, I know, and you know, and and obviously they surpassed that. Pat was on the blower that evening, said, mate, we're gonna get more than 40 points, but we're gonna put 50 on them, and lo and behold, great performance. Yeah, and and an encouraging score line. Should have put some money on it.

Speaker 2 3:08

Yeah, you should have done, but um, I would have done as well, but I lost it all on the Grand National the week before, and also on the Scottish National based on Lee's tip that didn't pulled up before I even got to them.

Speaker 1 3:21

Let's just quickly interject here, right? I put that out really early doors before they had eight mil of rain on the track. So I hold my hands up, I do owe you one, but the next tip will be good, right? It'll be golden.

Dream Start And First-Half Precision

Speaker 2 3:36

Yeah, but I'm sure they weren't that to be fair. I'm not sure how many Gloucester fans potentially would have been back in their uh their horse on Friday night. And to be honest, um, I thought you know, I was a bit skeptical. I was, you know, you're always a bit skeptical or nervous when you're on the back of a of a kind of bad trot, just to keep that metaphor going. Um but to be honest, I was looking at I re-watched the game again this morning, and I think we had something like 25 phases right from kickoff um before we scored quite early, with with no mistakes whatsoever. And it kind of struck me that that was exactly the start you need in any game, like literally everybody getting their hands on the ball, all sorts of different types of play, going wide, tight play, whatever. And then we obviously then scored through Kira Marmion, um, just kind of on the weight of the pressure on the line. And then on the on the back of that, we then got one of their guys uh went head on head with Genji and we got a yellow card. It was almost like the dream start. And uh, I'm not sure, even I don't know, even the most died-in-the-wall Bears fan would have thought they couldn't quite have expected what a good start that was. What do you reckon, Miles?

Speaker 3 4:52

Oh, that was brilliant. I mean, I mean, you're right. I mean, that sort of the encouraging start, the well, you could say of late that the lack of errors, the sort of precision passing, and the connectivity, suddenly, didn't it, in the first five minutes, look like we turned a corner overnight and come out in Ashton Gate and play brilliantly uh and as a and as a really sort of glued together team. And that actually, I mean, it carried on pretty much for the full 80 minutes. So it was a great first try by Marmy, you know, you know, and uh and the build-up, etc. And to have a yellow card was just a little bit like cherry on the cake, really. Well, that wasn't the first, was it? Cherries on the cake.

Speaker 2 5:34

So Lee, um, yeah, I mean, great, great start. Um, your comments on I mean that that first half was was almost error-free. And I think there was I I've I've come up with my own stats, by the way, which was when I listened back to TNT this morning, that Nick Mullins apologised for Genji swearing more times than we conceded penalties in that first half. And they Genji and Closker particularly came out like men possessed, didn't they?

Speaker 1 6:11

Yeah, and I think I mean it literally would have been an error-free first half had Tom Jordan not obviously you know got um charged down for for their for Gloucester's first try. Um but it I mean I read Genji's comment saying that we've doubled down on being direct, and I mean that really did show, didn't it? Because like you said, Pete, everyone got a touch of the ball really early. Um and you you could just tell that right from the from the uh kickoff that we were really, really up for it. And I it I don't know, it just inspired that little bit of confidence. Even when Gloucester did score, it was against the runner play. And I I didn't believe for a second that we were gonna win the game.

What Went Wrong Recently

Speaker 2 6:59

Well, it's interesting you say that because I um I sent our mate Dunny a little DM this morning, and uh just to sort of say, you know, it was uh it was a great a great shift from you boys, and there's something else I said to him, but I'll come back to it later. Um and I said, you know, it was a great forward shift seeing you, Genji and Closker melting people left, right, and centre was worth the entrance fee alone. And he he always replies, he's a good lad. He said, he said, um yeah, it was great, great game. We were emotionally we're in the right place, I think, and added some good execution, which we haven't done for a while. Hopefully we can keep that going. So that's literally, well, not literally from the horse's mouth, because Dunny, that would be a bit rude to call him a horse. But but that is it is it's good insight that you know the boys knew that that they they had to be right mentally, and they they they knew that they I mean I I mean I say they knew that they hadn't executed well, I mean we all knew that in the last few games, but you know, it's interesting to see that it it was that was you know that was their mentality. Lee, you're gonna say something.

Speaker 1 8:02

Yeah, I mean, just playing devil's advocate for a minute. I mean, does does that kind of uh allude to the fact that we weren't on it for the last couple of games? Because if that is the case, then you have to ask why there must be a reason why. Um and I mean I think we could forgive the lesser game to a certain degree because we were really in that game until late on, and the score line definitely flattered tigers. Um but the big day out we didn't show up, and um you know what I it it's kind of like I know you can't be 100% every game, but there was something missing in that game in particular it worried me um in terms of how we just looked, like we we hadn't played together for a while. And is that because like we've said we've had the break? Um you know, was was it tough to get going again? Because something was missing, particularly in that big day out in Cardiff. Well, you said you'd fallen out of love with the team, haven't you?

Speaker 2 9:10

After that big day out, I seem to remember.

Speaker 1 9:14

I said a lot of things.

Speaker 3 9:17

I hope I mean some of which kind of air, can they really?

Speaker 1 9:21

Well, probably 99% of it, but I um I mean it was it was with a good heart that I said those things, and I think most supporters probably came away from that game feeling the same way. It's it was just you know, kind of camera turned on, uh being recorded at the probably the worst possible time when you're really frustrated and jarred off it, you know, being beaten. But you know, in hindsight, I think you know, we I mean, certainly Friday night's performance was was back on track again. And you know, up to up to that the big day out, really, we've been so consistent all season.

Speaker 2 10:03

Yeah, Miles, you want to say something you've put you should say to listeners, Miles' video is not working, so he's for some reason, so he's got to raise the kind of electronic hand, and it it it popped up like it's pecker.

Speaker 3 10:18

So you've obviously got something really important to say, Miles. Go for it. You're not that important, but you know, but but off the back of that, it goes back to what you said at the beginning, Pete, is that there has been a huge break from January right through to our you know the the uh the Six Nations and that Leicester game when you you're right, Lee. It it looked okay, didn't it? And it was, you know, it was winnable, but Leicester just had the edge at the end and it did flatter them. But you're right, come Big Day Out, it was just as if that that game had been completely forgotten. Uh and remember a lot of our players in the Six Nations, uh, etc. hadn't actually played together. So you're you're right. I mean, there's we don't want to be too harsh because they put their heart and soul into these games, but that just was it just wasn't there at the big day out, was it? It was really, really odd, and it was just brilliant to see on Friday night that that spirit and mentality just just clicked. It really was obvious.

Speaker 1 11:16

Yeah, and I just wanted to just just say as well, I mean, there is there has been a pattern of uh of us kind of at Ashton Gate, we've had a couple of Christmas games. I remember the Cell game in particular, Cell Out, uh Chiefs, I think it was the year before the Cell game. Um Big Day Out. We've had we've had I don't know if you can call three games a pattern as such, but we've had three games there where we've had really kind of big crowds, um supporters, you know, turning up en masse to support the team and kind of been underwhelmed and um yeah, quite easily beaten, quite you know, and that worries me slightly. I think that's something that we need to work on as as a team that those big occasions we need to we we definitely need to to have some insight into turning up for those those particular big you know games where you're gonna get you've got so many fans in and potentially future uh fans coming in, you know, young kids coming in with families, and I just think like let's I know we're going off the beaten track slightly from Friday, but that is something that does need to be addressed, in my opinion.

Standout Tries And Smart Details

Speaker 2 12:32

Yeah, yeah, no, I think it's a really, really good point. I mean, let's get but getting back to the to the game on Friday. I mean, we scored early. Um, then as you as you said a bit earlier, then Tom Jordan uh well I don't say blame him, it was a charge down from his kick. I think in hindsight, when we when I looked at it back again, it looked like we weren't quite set up for doing that. And uh perhaps he he wasn't quite right. Anyway, it it was a charge down, it happens. Um he he he more than made up for it the rest of the game. But then after that, we we went back up the other end. I think Revolvo scored in the corner after quite a few phases, and actually he had still had quite a lot of work to do. I see vaguely remember that he got the ball on the wing and he kind of did a bit of a a kind of basketball dummy with the ball in front of him that actually put the winger off and kind of put Thorley off a bit because Thorley's a good player, and I I I then watched it again this morning, and it was actually really clever. It was uh it was a kind of stop start, but it was wasn't just his feet, it was his kind of it was his two hands on the ball. It was I see a lot of that in netball actually when they they do little dummy throws before they throw the ball. It was brilliant.

Speaker 1 13:37

I I reckon he's been watching the flyers play because it was it was so good that you you literally had to watch it back on replay to see what he'd actually done. And then after that, so we should sorry, Carol. Well, we should we should say it it gave him then the space to actually come inside a bit more and make the kit easier for William. So it all counts.

Speaker 2 13:58

And then after that, we then got uh I think it would be our third try, um, Fitz Hardy. Now, this was a thing that I texted Dunny about because I didn't appreciate this watching it live on Friday. But when I then watched it live or watched it back this morning, it was a couple of phases. We got quite close to the line, and then it was a kind of pick and go scenario, and then just before Harding scored, Dunny grabbed hold of Joe Owen and they did a little dummy run to the left, and then Fitz Harding came round from behind them and Marmion didn't pass it left, he popped it right to Fitz, who basically only had one player, and it was an absolute, it was a quality move. And on comms, they didn't even mention it at all. They said, Oh, you know, they're a bit soft in the tackle. And I was thinking, hang on, look at and you see Dunny, he realizes what's got and he grabs Joe, he says, Right, come with me. And they go left, and you can see the guard looks the other way and goes towards them. And Fitzy then just comes round. And uh, I thought that was a brilliant, brilliant try. And I'm not sure that's necessarily a practice thing. I think that was a that was a definite heads-up in the moment sort of thing, and that's why I said Dunny, congratulations. He was very pleased that I'd noticed it as well.

Speaker 1 15:13

So it makes me think they're to be fair, Pete, that is a great shout, and I'm really I'm glad you mentioned that.

Speaker 2 15:21

No, I know it was a it was a because sometimes those pick and goes, it's all a bit telegraphed, isn't it? And then you know, it did happen to us later in either I can't remember what it was, but then bats got held up on a pick and go in the second half, and you do sort of think um, you know, there must be a you've got to be a little bit more innovative sometimes, especially with the rule that if you get if you get held up, you know, it's it's the end of it. So yeah, no, nice one that. And then obviously, um, you know, we then scored uh I mean actually that Harding try, I've got to say, that was when um um I can't remember it was was that was when we broke from our oh no no we then scored, sorry, that that was the fourth try, the Harding one. The revo the Revovo try, the one we just talked about, was when we broke from our 22. A classic, yeah, yeah. Um did a great and then and then Gabs got it, and then he popped it inside to Benjamin Grandona, and then there was a lot of picking going. It was very, very direct, and again, what we said before. So really good stuff. Um, I've got one question though, Miles, and and maybe a little bit of an elephant in the room situation, but I mean Gloucester were poor, they were poor, and are we you know, do we have to sort of accept that we did all this great stuff against a pretty poor side? Yeah, and actually, does that negate any of this any of these points at all?

Speaker 3 16:39

Not really. I mean, that doesn't negate that you know, I think we we played really well, and the phases were really, and and there was a definite lack of errors of late, but you're right. Um, did they put up much of a fight? Yeah, okay, Charles Down trying and it scored one other try, didn't they, in the whole game? Um, but they were pretty poor. I mean, the the the characters, the Lewis Ludlows and some of the the uh the the people the the the the the you know really strong characters in the pack were were I mean not saying they were weak, but they weren't as good as you'd expect some of that Gloucester pack to be. And even some of their backs really were a little bit weak. Um, I wouldn't say they were really poor. Well, yeah, of course they were poor, because you know they they shipped 53 points on us, but it may have flattered us a little bit, but however, some of the passing uh and the broken play and the you know and the way the star we were playing was just Bristol of Old and Bristol of Good. And I'm not gonna take that away from the boys. They played brilliantly, but yeah, against you know, a slightly undercooked and over-erred Gloucester side.

Speaker 2 17:47

I mean, their bat line wasn't that bad. I mean, they had Charlie Atkinson, didn't they? At 10, they had Sev Atkinson at uh at centre, they had uh George Barton, who's a he's a good player at fullback. Yeah, yeah, they they had that guy, I think Olivier Giroux, no, not Olivier Giroux, he played for Arsenal, but their their winger who I remember him causing a bit of damage against us at King's home. But I think this goes to show that it's not about individual players, is it? It's about cohesion because we've got great players and we played badly against you know Quinn's and so on. So there's clearly, I mean, this is not on Cherry and Jan, there's clearly some problems at at Gloucester in fundamentally, aren't there?

Speaker 1 18:26

I mean, the thing is the the yellow cards don't help as well, do they? Because you know, they're they were already stretched, and then obviously getting you know free yellow cards in in 80 minutes is is a bit of a push for any team, really. But I I would I do take all the points. Gloucester were poor. I think there's a lot of problems in that dressing room personally, but you've still got to beat these teams, you've still got to, you know, you've still got to be clinical. We were and you know, I I think we have to take our our hats off to I mean 53 points on Gloucester is a record uh points margin win, isn't it? Yeah, as far as I can as I I I can remember.

Ref Calls And Yellow Cards

Speaker 2 19:09

Yeah, yeah, no, it's a it's the biggest, it's the biggest points victory, I think. Uh is a record-breaking score. Actually, another contentious way just reminds me, right? The more I talk about, the more I remember it. That I think we got a penalty try, didn't we? Uh yes.

Speaker 1 19:23

That was your mate Giroux, wasn't it?

Speaker 2 19:24

Oh, that was Jerou, sorry, yeah. Our mate Giroud, that was definitely uh uh a right call because when I looked at it again, it diverted, it was going, it was almost a walk-in for Marmion or someone or Lena.

Speaker 19:35

Yeah.

Speaker 2 19:35

And it just diverted it behind him and he lost us for him. And then he got tackled, didn't he? So that was a I think that was a good call because I had a Bath supporting mate texting me through the game saying Tempo was all on our side and all this, and we were getting the rubber the green. And the other one that he he said to me was a wasn't right, was Atkinson's yellow card. And that was when Jordan made that really good break in the first half, and um he got tackled and then he popped it to no, he didn't. Did he get tackled? I think he popped it to somebody, and then somebody got um tackled by Atkinson, who then then jackled the ball straight after the tackle, and the and uh tempo gave him a yellow straight away because that's the new rule is that if somebody tackles the player when they're close to the line after a big break, they have to show absolute release in the tackle. And even Atkinson, when he was walking off, I think he said to the lino, oh, he put his arms up really high and said, Let's basically do that. And then when I looked at the replay, it was nowhere near, it was an absolute cast iron. And we moan about this sometimes in the past, haven't we? About how you get penalised by the rep we used to, where you take this amazing break, and then it's sort of somehow, how come the defending players seem to get the advantage when it's a like a close call? And they've changed that rule, and that was a really good example of it.

Speaker 1 20:53

He do you know what? Just uh just on that subject, I've got a feeling that um Stato had had put something out, and uh Neil Williams and Protey had picked it up on it on on um on X. Yeah, I've got it. Yeah, have you got it? Yeah, do you want to uh can you read it out? Because this was uh this was amazing, I thought. Was this about the penalties and stuff like that?

Speaker 2 21:17

Penalty tries. Well, yeah, yeah, it says Neil Williams, Bristol Rugby Stato. He said it seems under believe unbelievable given the number of opposition penalties conceded in the red zone, that the last time Bristol Bears were awarded a penalty try in a Prem Rugby match was 92 games ago against Bath in October 2021.

Speaker 1 21:39

Um that is unbelievable, Jeff.

Speaker 2 21:42

Yeah, and it and I quite like the fact that they've maybe now sort of reverting back to what you know you should be giving the attacking team the benefit of the doubt. And and you know, that's what happened to Harry Arundel, didn't it, for England? He got carded in that one of those games because he did the same thing, and it's like you know, it may have been marginal, but you've The the point is you've got to show a huge release. And Atkinson didn't get up off the ground and put his hands up in the air. He he, you know, it was a good jackal. Don't get me wrong. It was incredibly skillful and athletic, but mate, that's not the rules anymore. So yeah, anyway, boys, I've just all three, all three yellows were yellows. Yeah. I don't think there's any debate on them, right? Yeah, sure. And I've got to say, on the on that point, and it's a bit we are rambling around a bit, but and I don't know whether this will be a bit controversial, but I quite like Tempo as a ref, and I'll tell you why. I don't think he coaches the players. What really annoys me, and I saw it earlier on in one of the other games, I think Adam Leal was refing one of the games, no, the Bath Northampton game. And he was literally Barf are on the I don't know if it was um Northampton made a break, and Adam Leal was screaming, release, release, release him on the i was thinking you've said that five times. Why are you telling him just give him table for the yellow? And actually, tempo, I don't think tempo doesn't coach the play as much. He just he just sees it and he gives it. And I quite like that actually.

Speaker 1 23:04

I think it was quite yeah, but I I think in terms of tempo though, is I mean, he sometimes he gets involved as well when he's uh officiating, and I think he I don't know, it's it's he's very outspoken, he is very opined, and I think he does. He is a bit like Marmite, really, in rug in in Brug.

Speaker 2 23:24

I just have this feeling that Tempo isn't like I feel like some of the other refs do quite like the sound of their own voice and like and they like to be part of it. I I quite like the fact that Tempo, you know, he just makes a decision, and I don't think he, you know, he he's almost you know, he is quite I don't know. I I think that he was the ref when we had that uh foa gate, you know, with you don't like Pat. And he was under a lot of pressure in that game. And I I remember watching it and thinking he dealt with it pretty well because he had two massive personalities kind of going head to head, and he was trying to say trying to sort out what was going on. Um, so yeah, anyway, that was just a shout out for Tempo.

Speaker 3 24:01

I know he's not always I thought he was pretty good on Friday. I mean, he did have you know a very experienced Luke Pierce on on the touch, didn't he? And I I think you bounced a couple of ideas off him and you know you went to the TMO affair, but but you're right, I think those cards were justified.

Listener Reactions And Big Themes

Speaker 2 24:15

And yeah, I get a bit annoyed when Rafs sort of say, Oh, well done, Harry, or thank you. They like thank them and they stop cheating. It's like, what are you thanking them for? And they they go, Well done for not like you know, slowing the ball down. I thought what would be a good thing to do at this point was just to read out a couple of listener uh comments. I I did put a clarion call out for some short, sharp summaries, and this is one of the good things about a Friday night game. It not only does it give us kind of a bit of the weekend to enjoy, especially when we win, but gives a bit of time for people to to digest what's going on and so on. So a few listener ones did it across all media channels. We've got we had contributions from Instagram, from email, from Twitter, and also from Facebook. So uh caused me a little bit of administrative issues, but you know, anyway, I've I've collated some of them, and and apologies to anyone who doesn't get theirs read out. I'm sure we will at the future. So, first one was Mark Allen on Facebook. Uh, I'm not sure I've lost him. The snooker player. Oh, yeah, we also have one from Luke Littner and uh and actually Ray Reardon from Beyond the Grave came back. Anyway, uh anyway, Mark Allen was uh it was he was, he took it. I think he is a new one because he took it very much to hand, the short, sharp summary, but he didn't make it it looked like an acrostic, but it wasn't an acrostic. So he basically said scrum working, front node dominated, value of bats and what we'd missed, Marmion rightly starting, clearly the best scrum half. Gabs remembered how to tackle, Lane is a real fullback, and then also on Facebook, Tim Reeves, he put great to see a much more disciplined performance, error count, thankfully minimal, and a very satisfying display. Marmion is without a doubt at the top of his game at the moment. Klosker was brilliant, and I thought Ben Grondona at eight, also good. Although under the radar, radar had a very good game. Still think top four is out of reach, but I hope I'm wrong. Um we also had uh on Graham Phelps on Instagram. I always forget to look at the Instagram messages, but I managed to this time. He was very short, sharp, and and he said dominant clinical handbags win. And then uh Ed Thompson, he actually was also from Instagram and came in with a very short, sharp across sticks. Are you ready for this, boys?

Speaker 3 26:38

Go on, man.

Speaker 2 26:40

Bears running rampant, aggressive line speed in D was telling, totally different with a stalwart back in the second row. Someone needs to give Kala a long, long contract. Get that? Yeah, and then uh a couple of others. Uh Nick Howell, good old Nick Howe. He's back from his holiday jaunt in his birthday jaunt in New Zealand. His bungee jumping experience. Bungie jumping experience. Nick Howe, good to see a return to the Bears, we know. Only worthwhile though, if we back it up in the next two games versus the teams below us, and we push Bath close. Um I don't know what you meant on this. Easy on shouts for international call-ups. Yeah, he's not happy that we keep saying Fitz should be called up for England. Uh player consistency is the biggest thing, he's right. And not been there for the last few months, so yeah, he's got a point. Uh, although the stats are still like, you know, Ogre's got the best stats for the hooker, Fitz Hardy's got one of the best stats, you know. Revolvo's got one of the well, he's not English, obviously, but I wish he was. But anyway, um, know what you're saying, Nick. Know what you're saying. And then Klosker is maturing nicely. Agree with him. And then uh we had music like aka Funky House R V, aka Dead from K Town. She came with a very well, it wasn't again, it looked like an acrostic, but it wasn't. It was measured, patient, controlled, relentless. That's just like her kind of support of the team, isn't it? Always supporting the team. Yeah. And then she said, but then she she carried on by saying, onto the tune, a five-hour drive. Five hours to Bristol. I'd say it's a bit longer than that, isn't it?

Speaker 28:20

A bit more than that.

Marmion Batley Fitz Harding Praised

Speaker 2 28:24

Um, props to the fans. What does she mean? Props to the fans making the journey. See you there, and let's bring home the points. Um, so yeah, um, and one more, Robert Collins um on Twitter. Relentless at the breakdown, speed up to the line in defence was so much improved on the last couple of weeks. Hench competition at Rucks and less front football for gloss. Say it quietly, but Marmo is currently number nine, in my opinion. More efficient with him yesterday. Our ruck speed much improved. Um, so I think I'll stop it there for a little bit. Um, that's some some really good points. They raised a few things that we've already said. I mean, I think if you get front football, not only are you then going to attack, you're also slowing the opposition down as well. And I mean, we've been on the back of that in the last few weeks. So it's a really good point. But obviously, they raised a few player performances. So let's start, Lee, with Marmion. He was mentioned a few times. Your thoughts on Kira Marion starting and his performance.

Speaker 1 29:22

Well, before we before we start on Marmion, I want to say I think Mark Allen's uh acrostic was uh probably me after the game. Something like you mean. Yeah, so yeah, so I'm gonna give him uh four marks for that. Yeah. Um right, okay. So Kieran Marmian, I don't think we should be saying it quietly, as Robert Collins has just uh just said, I think we should be um saying it quite lightly actually. Marmian for me has been for consistently for the last few weeks um the best of Scrum Aff. And that's nothing against Rans because we know what a classical area is. Uh but Marmian has definitely been more incisive, decisive, and um we we definitely at this moment in time look a better team with uh Marmion started. I did think it looked a bit crisper.

Speaker 2 30:21

I thought the passing early on was crisper, and I think his decision making was was good, and hence why we got that early front football. So, yeah, I think not much more I'd add to that. I think Marmion, I don't think Harry looked that upset about coming on. I think he probably fancied a bit of a you know, he looked good when he came on, and maybe Harry knows that he just needs a little bit of time to get back in it, and he will be needed. So that doesn't negate Harry is a great player, we all know that. But I just think it is it is it is right. Marmion is playing the the best rugby's life. Anyway, Miles, I've got an easy one for you. I'm gonna bat one over to you. Obviously, superstar Joe Batley was mentioned. Your thoughts on Joe coming back.

Speaker 3 31:03

Oh, I mean, it's obviously what we've needed for the last goodness knows how many games. I think to bring in that sort of what experience. Like I mean, you know, I'm not saying he's I'm not saying he's an old man, but that sort of uh father figure that he is, togetherness, experience, uh, and you know, that and the line out that okay, one overthrow, but the catching and it was just plum on, and that's you know, half to do with fantastic throwing from Ogre, but the sort of leadership in the line out of the scrum was so evident yesterday in what we'd been missing. And we, you know, we all know we've lost our engine room uh in Rubiolo and Bats and Matter going out, but just to have one of them in on Friday night, it was just abundantly obvious that it just clicks, and that's what it hasn't really done for the last three or four games.

Speaker 2 31:55

Yeah, I mean, I I I uh would second that. I mean, Batley to me is the epitome of like almost the perfect second rower, it's brains and brawn combined, and also he has that ability, like you said, Miles, to elevate people's performances around him because he has that kind of assurety, assuredness, and that kind of he's like a mentor, and no doubt Dunny played better and Joe Owen played better on on Friday because they had bats with him. Lee.

Speaker 1 32:26

Yeah, just want to just add bats as the line out caller. We know how important it is from having conversations with Dunny, and that that cohesiveness was so important. I think above all else, bats coming back into that side was the biggest plus for us on Friday night.

Speaker 2 32:46

I mean, it's almost also kind of explains maybe partly that you know the performance at in Cardiff as well, that we didn't quite have that, but not completely. But that takes me on to my player nomination, which he was the official man of the match, was Fitz Harding. Um, again, uh just an unbelievable captain's sort of performance. I mean, I was quite surprised that he didn't take the kicking duties off Tom Jordan, to be honest. Yeah, because he is. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if he's quite good at kicking the place kicking, because he seems to be incredibly skillful at virtually everything else. And and actually, there was one moment in the second half where he took, I think it was when Gab scored the rolling ball when we went to the back, and he took that massive, like one-handed arching his back catch at the back of the lineup, and he does a lot of lineup work as well. And and actually on comms, they are now starting to talk all the time about his performances. They you cannot ignore what he's doing.

Speaker 1 33:45

But do you do you not think though? I mean, the last like for us, he's been brilliant all season, yeah, but the last few weeks he has just he's gone off like on an elevation that you like is unbelievable. And what he's doing, he's backing up the tries as well. Oh, he's got you. Absolutely. And when you score tries consistently, like I I can't even remember. I haven't he scored in what the last three or four games that gets you noticed.

Speaker 2 34:15

Yeah, and you know what? I after you now you mentioned that try. I again after he scored it, him and Genji had a little celebration together, and it was pure respect from Genji to fit and back, you know, clearly he respects. And I thought that's that is the place we want to be in any club, is where you have your kind of homegrown hero who is kind of hard and is an England international, and he's showing absolute respect to his captain, who is five years younger than him, you know, and a university like he's got a degree in history. Um, I mean, Genji might have a degree from the University of Witherywood, I'm not sure, or whatever. That little that little house on the road.

Speaker 1 34:58

Noah West, mate. Yeah, I know he's Noah West. But yeah, the point is the point of trying to make the smallest university, even in in the smallest university in the world.

Speaker 2 35:08

But the point is that that that shows cohesiveness, doesn't it? I mean, and when you think of Fitz's journey to where he's come, Pat obviously saw something in him very early on. But the fact that he's able to kind of bring players together, and and and I think it's brilliant. I just thought he again he had he had such a good game. Um, he always does 80 minutes, it's ridiculous, isn't it? And uh, you know, we just need him to carry on, we need him to keep firing. Um, uh a few other players that might have got mentioned. Um, let me have a look. I wrote them down. Um, Bally George Glosker, why don't you go George Klosker lead?

Speaker 1 35:44

Glosker was, I mean, again, just up his level. I mean, he was brilliant to start with, and he's just for it again, homegrown talent, and he's getting better and better with every game. And I think Glosker's the type of player, the more he plays, the better he will get. He's already knocking on the door, you know, with you know, he's in uh England international recognition already. And I think the I mean, literally, sky's the limit for George Glosker.

Speaker 2 36:15

Someone made a good point, I can't remember it was, so apologies, that um on Twitter that it might be we've got this nations cup thing in the in the summer, the first half of it away, and then the second half back in autumn. Someone made a point that they might, Borfwick might consider resting some of the the English Lions players and maybe use this summer nations thing to to get a couple of people in a play in that may. And I mean, I can see the I don't know whether Borfwick would risk that because he's I don't know how much of a risk taker he is, but there was some value in that is that you know it would be rather than have a Toji playing again in the summer, who's probably knackered. Maybe it is time to just give one or two of those boys a bit of a rest because we've got such depth, it we really do seem to have strength in depth. You know, people like Freeman and Mitchell, just give them the summer off because they had like, you know, and just say you know you know, we you're still our number ones, really, but we've got so many other players. How are we gonna get them game time if we don't, you know, if we don't really, and that seems to be the time where perhaps we could do it um when we're away from home.

Speaker 3 37:23

Yeah, that's a good shout.

Speaker 1 37:25

Yeah, I I I mean I do agree. I think Nick Howe's probably gonna, you know, slate us again for uh putting uh putting boys out out there and names out there, but I don't think Worthwick is uh is the type of like uh you know say so say lose his money on the Scottish Grand National like me and you pee. I I think he's steady Eddie, isn't he? And I think he'll probably stick to what he knows.

Speaker 2 37:49

Anyway, move on because I'm right. And then let uh uh Miles Tom Jordan comments on Tom Jordan.

Speaker 3 37:56

Yeah, he had a pretty good game. I mean, apart from that charge down, I think that really, you know, uh strengthened the mind a little bit. And and from that point, I don't he didn't put a foot wrong. He was trying, you know, there are a few inaccuracies. Okay, a a crossfield kick that you could argue came off, didn't come off, um, and a lovely little sort of few punts through and some chases, and ultimately, you know, a sort of one a sort of two-on-two get a sprint down to the finish with with Calavetti, didn't he? And they they put a try on on Blossom. I mean, I think it'd be a bit of a good one. I think other other than that, I thought it had a great game. He was, you know, all over the pitch, and I think apart from that, it didn't really put a foot wrong.

Speaker 2 38:38

There was one really good 50-22 he did as well. He kind of tops went, he was like high fiving with Jimmy Williams on that as well. I mean, I think the thing about Jordan, we we have questioned along with a lot of people is is 10 is really his position. I'm now back on the fence again because when he's he had front football and he he he he had space to show his skills, and I think he knew he had to have a big game, and actually our hearts sunk a little bit on that charge down, but he he he kind of came back. And I I now think, you know, when we are playing well, and he's he is a 10, he has got the skills and he he has got the kicking game and he mixed it up a bit, and I think, but I also think that he played well because Marmion was there, and I think I heard through the grapevine, well, from Mike Organ, who was one of our listeners who went to Toulouse and emailed us about the Toulouse thing that they had a QA the night before because he went on the official trip and he said that Jordan wants to play 10, but he prefers Marmion as his other halfback, really, which is a bit controversial, but that's what Pat said, apparently. And I mean that's not to say it's true, but or it's gonna always be the case, but maybe that was another reason why Pat put Marmion in this, you know, as well as in being really good, but just maybe like we need to give Tom Jordan a chance to show himself. And and I think in his in his defence, he did have a very bitty Six Nations where he never really got a game for Scotland, he was there the whole time, he didn't play 10. He was on the so I just think now I'm thinking, you know what, if he can keep his confidence up, he he has got those skills if he's got the people around him, like like any any 10 will tell you, it's a lot easier being a good 10 when you're on the front foot. But anyway, I think uh I think fair play to Tom, and he's you know, he is he it was great to see him have a good game. Any others you want to mention, boys? Lee?

Speaker 1 40:27

Yeah, yeah, definitely. I mean, I I thought uh Calavetti was brilliant, yeah. Um yeah, but he he gets a lot of credit because he scores the tries, but obviously the team put him in that position. But there was there was I sorry Miles, I don't want to spill any funder that you might have here, but there were two people, especially for me. Um Jimmy Williams again in the center because he just I just love what he does. Um and Genji for me, I think uh not mentioned Genji because we kind of almost expected to kind of be at that level. Um I just thought he was so comfortable for it, and we know that um he's gonna be a beef with uh with the big cross of land um and something. Yeah, and there was uh there was obviously there was an an altercation going into the tunnel half time. Um and from what I saw of it, Genji was sticking up for a teammate, and that's exactly what we ex we would expect Genji to do. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 41:37

No, I think and I think he he was I mean he did get that penalty, try penalty in the second half, didn't he? And then they really celebrated, and then Tempo like reversed it, which and then there was a there was a tr a scrum quite close. Then they went and knocked it on, so then there was another scrum. And actually, he was quite calm on that one, and you know, it was it was I felt a bit harsh on that reversing the the penalty because Tempo's got to remember that those boys, the pressures going through their necks and their ears, yeah, even in any scrum, is so you know, you they look knackered after just one scrum, don't they? And I think you've got to give them a little bit more leeway, the props, particularly not not necessarily anyone else at the back, but the props, you've got to allow them to like let off a bit of steam because they're the one. I mean, can you imagine? I'm just thinking about that. Imagine sticking your head in there with all of that weight going through you behind and in front. I think sometimes, like like when Ben Earl does it, it's a bit annoying. He's number eight, it's easy. Yeah, but only the back. Oh, yeah, yeah. They don't ever, you know, but actually, when it's a prop that goes mental after winning a scrum penalty, I think it's fair game, and I think you just let them get on with it until they you know run out of energy. But anyway, um, talking of that, just a couple of other listener things came through. Um, and I wanted to read one out from our mate Al uh Alice Pod, Alan Alan Walters who we we saw at Cardiff, and he was the one who I couldn't quote verbatim what he told to me after Cardiff because we're a family show. But he was talking about Bernard Jansse van Rensberg, and this was his point. He said on BJVR returning, what a legend! When I fractured my cheekbone, I wasn't allowed to go skiing, play rugby, or do anything remotely fun. That was the female boss in my house that set those rules, though. Therefore, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs. BJVR for giving the go ahead. Love it. We have met Alan's wife. Yeah. And I don't know whether you need to, well, maybe should we put the phrase long suffering in front? It's it's possible, but I'm glad to hear she goes from that.

Speaker 3 43:54

Um didn't he go to did he go to school with Wendy? Didn't he choose to be? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So she's Yeah, yeah.

Matchday Extras And Stadium Cringe

Speaker 2 44:01

So he's he was uh yeah, he was very, very passionate after that card if you're gonna get away. But I do like that. That made me laugh a lot, actually. Um, couple of other things. Um uh what was I gonna say? Um ah, no, we had um Tom. No, yeah, we had a few, and people have said it. No, I think what I wanted to move on to, I think we said enough about the game, the players, but want to talk about the match day experience because there was a little bit of innovation, I thought we had pop-up bars, we had mobile drinks people. Um, I was slightly disappointed with 17,000. I I sort of felt A that there should be more, and B, it felt like there were more.

Speaker 3 44:44

But more importantly, Miles it looked busier, but yeah, that was a disappointing crowd.

Speaker 2 44:49

But more importantly, we had a new cam on the block. It was a shaky start for Bongo Cam, but I thought after a shaky start, it really grew into the game, and right at the end of the game, they did it in the attio where there was students, and they were Gloucester fans, apparently, they were Gloucester fans, and somebody emailed me to say um it was Spannered Books at Twitter at Spannard Books, and he sent a message saying I was in the atteo surrounded by Gloucester fans, comedy gold at the end, when one of them started shouting boring, boring Bristol, when we took the 50 point kick. Got a genuine laugh out loud from everyone, and I think they were the ones that were doing the Bongo Cam at the end, which I thought was pretty good. But Lee, you were nodding, you were shaking your head. What's wrong with you?

Speaker 1 45:38

I I was shaking my head, not not at that so much. Was that the clapper meter thing? Is that something different?

Speaker 3 45:45

Oh, now by that uh that's been there before the shelter meter, whatever they call it.

Speaker 2 45:51

Now somebody else said something about that, and I'll tell you who it was. Now you mention it. It was uh another regular friend of the pod, bear over the bridge. And he tweeted and he said the bearer meter was absolute cringe. It was one, it can do one. I wouldn't mind if it actually measured crowd sound, but automatically going up to 100% with about three people cheering was embarrassing, and yeah, he's right. He's absolutely right, and I don't I should because he mentioned another player we haven't mentioned. I'm gonna read on what he said. He said also meant to say, um, seemed to make a difference. I mean Lane at fullback, we didn't mention Lane, yeah. He had a quietly efficient game, but that just shows why he's good, plays like a fullback should, reads the game well. Um, and then he said also Genji absolutely creamed one of our squad in the warm-up, it was actually Steel Bar. Yeah, um, went down with a shoulder injury, not ideal. And he said, Yes, Barker. He then came back later on and replied to his own tweet saying, Yeah, dislocated his shoulder. Oh, he absolutely smashed him. Um, it seemed very aggressive for a teammate, but I think that was just Genji getting into the game.

Speaker 1 47:08

I think Genji, to be fair, I mean, like he plays with the passion. Yeah, I mean and he and he I think he would have been more up for this game because the Gross of Prop that he's facing is is it had the better of him a couple of times.

Speaker 47:21

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 47:22

And still they had quite a good raise in his lame level, yeah. They had quite a good um competition in the in the game as well. It wasn't all one-way traffic, but I'm just thinking Fasopman's probably thinking he got away with it lightly there. If Genji's creamed his own player in a warm-up, but Fasokbin may not even have come out alive, would he?

Speaker 3 47:39

So I think he had a sense of humor because he got waved off the pitch by everyone in the uh yeah.

Speaker 2 47:45

I he's actually quite I I saw him on some social media, he's actually quite well spoken, kind of nice guy. He sounds like a nice guy, it's just massive. And I think fair play to him for um um and they were saying about that thing at half time. It was they on on TNT, Craig Doyle said he reckoned it was starting typical scrum half, it was all started by Calin uh, you know, what's his name, Dangerfield or whatever he was, who started it and then moved away and sort of yeah, so uh anyway. Um I think we've got one last one last listener shout. And we we we tried to find a Gloucester fan, didn't we, to to get their um get their opinion on the game. And of course, we have one hiding.

Speaker 1 48:27

We have one place to wait.

Speaker 2 48:28

Hiding in plain sight, our mate Lewis, obviously the famous Lewis uh manager now, acting manager of the Bristol Beer Factory tap room. And I texted him to say, uh, and he was there at the game as a fan, he'd gone with his friend Larry. They started drinking at four o'clock, apparently. But anyway, I said to him, I said to uh Lewis, as a Gloucester fan, do you have a comment on the game that we could read out? Um, I watched the game back this morning, and at half time your dressing room looked very bad. Coaches chatting amongst themselves, players looking disconsolate, it wasn't a happy place. Lewis's reply, I left on the 57th minute and went to the pub. Couldn't cope. And I was thinking, oh what, the 57th? They did well to stay that long because most of his players had finished at half time by the looks of it. But there you go. That was I imagine there's quite a lot of Gloucester fans out there that probably felt quite similar. Nice one, Lewis. Yeah.

Speaker 1 49:21

Just really quickly, I should say. I mean, you know, we all know Andy Hill, good mate of mine. Yeah, season ticket order it in you know in the shed for years and years and years, and he's it was really sad, but he stopped going to watch Gloucester now. It's it's just been that bad that he's yeah, he's he's had enough, and that I think that's really sad. But that is the state of play where Gloucester rugby is at the moment. I know.

Speaker 2 49:45

Right, quick, you've got to move on. Just a couple of other things from the game. Um, big flags when we scored tries, suddenly these massive flags appeared. I quite like that. I thought that looked good. Someone then said they were at Cardiff. I never even noticed them at Cardiff, but then that's good.

Speaker 3 49:59

That's the game was so bad, wasn't it?

Speaker 2 50:02

Um we talked about Bomb Bongo Cam. I thought it was promising and grew into the game, but we had another look-alikey. But to be honest, I've only given I'd only give the lookalikey cam seven out of ten on Friday. I didn't see it. Did you not see it? Oh, you didn't see it.

Speaker 3 50:17

Did you see it, Miles? Yeah, it was alright. The thing that made it a little bit more entertaining, he's just he's just downed his entire pint while the camera was on him.

Newcastle Preview And Table Maths

Speaker 2 50:25

Well, this is my point was not that great. It was Benson Boone, yeah. And the thing is, I had to spend five minutes explaining to people around me in the dolmen who Benson Boone was. So that that was me, yeah, and also he didn't quite have curly enough hair, but he did mitigate that by necking his point of Guinness live on the screen, and that was pretty good going. So, as a kind of competitor or a participant, he was brilliant, but as a choice, no. If you if people in the dolmen are, I mean, I admittedly middle-aged men around me are asking me who that is, I don't think look alike's worked. So there you go. Right, we got to move on. Um, Newcastle. It was quite good getting five points, and yesterday Chiefs got beaten at the death by Saints, but did pick up two points. We haven't got enough fun to mention you gone early on that, Pete. Yeah, I went a bit early. And well, no, I went a bit early on, yeah. I know. But that and then, of course, I don't know if you saw today, but Sarri's beat Sale away 85 something. They're absolutely um destroyed Sale. So it the the table now is Tigers on. I'm not going to worry about Bath and Northampton. I think we've got it, we're we're targeting third and fourth. Tigers on 51 with a plus 155 goal difference, Chiefs on 47 with a plus 122, us on fifth with 43 with a plus 78, and now Saracens on 38, five points behind us, with a plus 150. So it's going to go to the wire this. You know, we've got a we've got a chance, there's no doubt about it, but but it is going to be tight. And I was looking at next week's fixtures. We've got uh Newcastle away.

Speaker 52:07

Yeah.

Speaker 2 52:07

Sarries are playing Tigers. So if we could beat Newcastle and Sarres could say get four points against Tigers and Tigers gets nothing, that takes us, and then we get five. That takes us a a bit six points head, Sarres, in closer to Tigers. Gloucester have got Chiefs. I mean, I can't imagine Chiefs will lose that the way Gloucester played, but they are going to be home. I don't know. They could do a Quinn's in Cardiff, who never, who knows, Gloucester, and just pull one out of the bag. And then the week after that, Tigers have got Saints, so could drop points. Quinn's have got Chiefs, so I'd imagine Chiefs will probably win that.

unknown 52:41

Yeah.

Speaker 2 52:41

Sarris have got Gloucester at home, so there's no chance of them losing. And then Sale have got Tigers. Now, Sale could take Tigers points off Tigers. They're going to be pretty upset about this week. Who knows?

Speaker 3 52:54

Uh, not after that result today. No, I wouldn't rank on it.

Speaker 2 52:58

Um, couple of other things. Um, I mean, I don't want to talk of pre-I mean, I don't think there were many injuries. I I can't see us really changing the team much. I thought when you win like that, you want to carry on, don't you? Unless there's an injury, why not carry on?

Speaker 1 53:14

The only thing is, I mean, re-summit. I mean, do we leave him out?

Speaker 2 53:18

Because I've heard a couple of weeks.

Speaker 3 53:20

Yeah, I think it was reported a few weeks, yeah. On the on the that's what I've pressed.

Speaker 2 53:26

And I can't really see any major. I think the fact is we've got players playing in the right positions again now, and that that yeah, that and playing well. And I think Gabs is now back on. Um, so yeah, I think I mean I it's the hardest thing about Newcastle as we know is playing on the plastic pitch. So Friday night, they got hammered by Tigers, though. I think we just got to go relentless and just hope that if we're clinical and accurate, I can't see us losing that game.

Speaker 1 53:49

But you know it's really important though, I think that we the forwards really grasp the game and almost treat it as a test match. Yeah, because we need to get the points on board to start with, and then let the backs then, once we've got a lead, let the backs then do their thing.

Speaker 2 54:06

Do what we did against Gloucester, is like you know, have 25 phases and don't drop the ball, and then eventually score, and then you know, just carry on like relentless first half, discipline, no penalties for 39 minutes, you know, do that.

Speaker 3 54:19

I mean, and I I know they've been beaten, but I think Newcastle will be a stronger side than Gloucester. You know, they they they are an improving side, let's not deny that. You know, they play well at home. I don't think we've historically ever gone up there and absolutely smashed them, have we? So we we just gotta switch on, you're right, from the get-go, uh, and lay down the Bristol law and just get the five points. It's a must.

Speaker 2 54:42

Right, we're running out of time, so I'm gonna crack on. Um, but a couple of other just points I came up with. Um it was a bit of a chat I had with uh Mark or someone in front of me on I know it wasn't Mark, it might have been Tony actually on Friday. As we were talking about we can't Jimmy Williams also had good game, we should say, but you wouldn't call him James Williams, would you? Or even Jim Williams. He's definitely a Jimmy Williams, but then we don't call him Jimmy Dunn, do we? James Dunn seems quite right. Can we explain that? Why is it definitely Jimmy Williams and definitely James Dunn, but not the other way around?

Speaker 1 55:19

Well, we we call Dunny Dunny, yeah. Because we know it, we know him more, yeah, we know him better. And Jimmy, I think uh he's always naturally been called Jimmy, hasn't he?

Speaker 2 55:31

But I do wonder whether he always has been, or whether that was just something that was he called that, uh Quinn uh at Hartbury. I wonder now. I think so. I don't know. Because it's just it made me laugh a little bit. It's like you know, Jimmy Williams. It's just such a great, it's so perfect, but it's not necessarily the case, it would have to be Jimmy, because James Williams is you know, is kind of a standard name. I I just wonder whether now they've rewritten history in this family. It's like, oh yeah, he was always called Jimmy Williams, Jimmy, when he was younger. I don't know. Whereas James Dunn, as James Dunny should tell us this, has he ever been called Jimmy? Jim Dunn, Jim Dunn sounds about a bit better, I think.

Speaker 3 56:06

I don't know, Jim Dunn.

Speaker 1 56:08

It's not Dunny, is it Jim Dunn? It's just makes him sound like an old man.

Speaker 2 56:13

Yeah, it's like, oh, I was down the bookies, I saw old Jim Dunn gambling away his pension.

Speaker 3 56:19

I know, but why is it why is it acceptable that we just call some players by their surnames? Yeah, and some players could play Rich Lane Christian names.

Speaker 56:27

I don't know.

Speaker 3 56:28

Rich Lena is Lena, he's Laner all day.

Speaker 2 56:34

But what do you think they call Bernard Yancey van Rensburg? What do they what do they call him? Well, well, I call him Yancey. Yancey is that but what is that Yancey bit? Is that his middle start? Is it the start of his surname? I think it's the start of his surname. You can't just call him Yancey when his whole surname is Yancey Van Rensberg.

Speaker 1 56:55

I I know, but it's I mean, it's like bats. We call him bats, don't we? We don't call him Joe, do we?

Speaker 2 57:01

Do you think they call do you think they call Matter Big Bill though? Do you say Big Bill? Can you make me coffee?

Speaker 1 57:06

I don't know.

Speaker 2 57:06

Yeah, I think so.

Speaker 3 57:09

And then Pedro Ruggia just don't say anything. It was easy on the training ground, isn't it?

Speaker 2 57:15

Do you think they call Pat Pat or do they call him Sir? Patrick. Patrick.

Speaker 1 57:20

Oh no, it's it's definitely Sir, I think.

Goats Fundraiser Farewells And Goodbye

Speaker 2 57:24

Anyway, I don't know where that conversation came from. And then uh we've uh we had a couple of goats. Well, go on, hey, we do you want to do the sound effect so I don't have to put it in?

Speaker 1 57:37

You know what a goat sounds like I was just gonna do eeeure.

Speaker 2 57:45

Right, that in itself is a goat that you the goat is that you don't know what a goat sounds like. You think it sounds like a donkey? But we had an email from our mate Andrew Pearson. Do you remember Andrew Pearson? Giant Oak, yeah, the guy that waited like months for his away shirt. Anyway, he said, Hello boys, great win tonight, and great to be back at the gate. However, why do people come to rugby and just caught talk continually through the game? Sat in front of two female students, they did not stop chatting rubbish from first to final whistle, no interest in the game, and what was going on?

Speaker 3 58:19

Well, I mean, Wendell behind the Duchess and her friend Sarah.

Speaker 2 58:24

Exactly. I reckon he this is exactly what I'm saying. He might have been behind Wendy and Sarah, poor bloke.

Speaker 1 58:29

It it is a really good point though, and like that is because you get a lot of people in there who are like football tourists, and you know, I've I've seen them spending 25 minutes taking pictures of the stadium while a game's going on. It is a it is a valid point. But if they paid the ticket, then what can you do?

Speaker 2 58:47

He did go on to say that it took me and my wife's maturity in years to not bite. But if we were losing, if it had been we were losing to Buff and things could have gone a bit interesting, and then he put in brackets joking. I think he doesn't want to get like because he anyway, he's got a point, but we it's a balance. But this is why I think they need to fill the Attio with ten or a ticket, stick the chatters in the Attio, and then they can stop chatting when Bongo Cam comes around, and and they can you can have all the you know the the noise and all that, and it's like you you on the on when they advertise said if you fancy chatting through the game, go to the attio, 10 quid a ticket. That's how you get them. That's it. Another I had a quick goat. Um, I had one. It's like, why does Fitz Harding wear number seven when he's always when we packed down at the scrum, he's always playing at number eight. I noticed that. Whereas Grondona had eight, and he was when we were scrummaging, he was at open side, and I've noticed that with Bill Matter as well. Just if you're a number eight, wear the eight. I just it really annoys me.

unknown 59:52

What's the point?

Speaker 1 59:53

And then last oh you're getting pedancing, man.

Speaker 2 59:57

Yeah, the other goat was Nick Mullins. I mentioned this earlier that he apologised three times for swearing. Yeah, why do they feel the need to apologize for that?

Speaker 1 1:00:06

Right. I don't know because obviously, you know, unless he's swearing himself, he shouldn't do. But we should also say Nick Mullins, I think right from the kickoff, and listeners will tell me if I'm wrong, didn't he call Tom Jordan Sam Worsley? Oh, he probably did he, yeah.

Speaker 2 1:00:26

And actually that reminds me of that is yeah, that reminds me of a very similar goat when they were discussing the game afterwards. Sam were uh Sam Warburton referred to um Revovo, and then 20 seconds later, Craig Dial called him Revufu. I was like, boys, get it right, Roberton. Get it is good lad anyway. Before we run out of time, I got two shout-outs. The first one is our friend John Wood, the legend of Toulouse. Um, he is raising money for I think it's air ambulance, isn't it? And he's gonna be upsailing off the Dolman quite soon. Uh, we will put the just giving link or whatever it is in our show notes. So please, please, please, if you know John Wood, uh, we'll probably tweet it as well. Uh, support John because it's a very good cause. He was a paramedic himself for years. Um, apparently he was in the helicopter as well, the air ambulance. He said he'd like heights.

Speaker 3 1:01:23

Well yeah, I mean that's going above that's going above and beyond. Just to see some fireworks, isn't it?

Speaker 2 1:01:29

By outside off the top of the double. You might see one still up there. And then um, so good on John. And then finally, um, one thing that always makes us laugh is that we always have to get up because the two blokes that sit next to us inside us always come about a minute after we're getting started. Anyway, I got chatting to her. We always say hello. Anyway, Mark, I want to say big shout out to uh Mark Rowe, who sits there because his daughter was in the North Bristol Girls Under 16 team that has got to the national cup final. Uh Girls Under 16 National Cup that they're going to be playing in May, they're going to be playing at Six Ways uh in Worcester against them. So E. He asked if uh he said, I know I know always get always make you get up, but could you give a shout out for North Bristol Girls Under 16? Uh he didn't tell me what his thought was called. Uh, but anyway, uh I we ought to we ought to say best of luck on that at Six Ways and keep up the good work.

Speaker 1 1:02:24

Miss Miss Rowe.

Speaker 2 1:02:26

Yeah, Miss and uh so so Mart Rowe, we we now know him. Um I think that's it, boys. We've got about a minute left on the zoom. Um, unless you've got anything else to mention.

Speaker 1 1:02:36

One quick one. Just wanted to say goodbye to Benjamin Elizaldi, who's off to to join uh Newcastle. Yeah. Um I mean he didn't play a lot for us, but when he did play, he was you know, he's a good young uh prospect.

Speaker 2 1:02:51

Yeah, I think it's a good move for him and for Newcastle as well. Yeah, yeah, agreed. Okay, well look, I think on that note, um hopefully we'll have a we'll do another, we'll be we'll be podding next Sunday, hopefully talking about another win. Um but in the meantime, as is always the way, have a good week. Stay safe, and one, two, three, out of the bear.