The Rugby Muscle Podcast
The Rugby Muscle Podcast – Gym, Training, Diet and Strength and Conditioning. The podcast for rugby players of all ages and abilities that will help you lose fat, add muscle, strength and power and perform better on the pitch than ever before, with expert guests and unique stories from around the world, the Rugby Muscle Podcast cuts the crap to give you a simple no BS approach to your nutrition and training.
The Rugby Muscle Podcast
World Cup Round 1 Preview w/ Someone Outside of the Rugby Bubble (it's Alex)
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14-Day Launchpad Rugby Strength & Conditioning Experience
S&C For Rugby Explained? A Revised Rugby Physical Preparation Pyramid
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Alright. Yes. What's going on everyone? Welcome back to another brand new Rupi Muscle podcast. I'm your host as always. T oh, I haven't introduced it like this for a long while, but I'm tj, we're joined once again by Alex. Um,
Track 1How's it?
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310hi, mate.
Track 1How's it?
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310you been? How's training?
Track 1good training is light at the moment. I'm actually looking back. I'm
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Cool. So speaking of which the, um, that ties into what we wanna talk about today with the podcast, because Alex I would say by his own admission. And it definitely, by my opinion, has not been in the rugby world properly for I'd say the last four years in general. Um,
Track 1Yeah, that's pretty fair. Maybe
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310so the idea of this podcast, I was thinking about how I wanted to preview week one and how I wanted to preview, like the intro to this Rugby World Cup. And I wanted to preview it as if I was talking to my mate down the gym. who said, oh, I see Rugby World Cups going on. Like, I used to care about rugby, but for whatever reason, I, uh, you know, sort of started stepping away you, because you started working for a global, uh, elite power lifting company and started doing elite power lifting yourself and with everyone else so that you got caught up in that atmosphere. Others might just have many other reasons, but I thought this would be a good way to frame this conversation to preview the World Cup because we've seen Well, you haven't but us, me and you, the listener. We've all heard and seen the previews from the experts, from the um, ex-players, all this sort of stuff. But I want to, I wanna preview it from a, a educating, you know, your mate down the gym, down the pub, or your parents who might be interested in the game. 'cause these opportunities only come around once every four years and if we can capitalize on them, well, Then I think the game has a chance of growing. If you don't capitalize, you can still enjoy it, but it ends up being like the Olympics, right? Like where no one really caress about the sport, uh, until every four years and then they duck out. Whereas I feel like that's where rugby is right now. Maybe on a yearly basis with the Six Nations, but even then it's, that seems to be dropping as well. So I wanted to reintroduce rugby to a mate. What better mate to have than my buddy Alex? Are you gonna be watching it? How much of the World Cup will you plan on watching before I said about this podcast?
Track 1Uh, because I'll be back in Europe probably as much as, as I can kind of stand.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Yeah.
Track 1When like I'll probably watch England Games, New Zealand games, and maybe a South African game maybe.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Yeah. And then, and then sometimes the playoffs. If, if you're in, sometimes what happens is like Uh, this happens to me. Every football World Cup is like, I, I get pumped and the first few days I'm watching every fucking game. Like, uh, and I'm, and I'm keen for it. And then as time goes on, I like, by the time the group, like by the time the knockouts are in where the most important games are being played, I've kind of had enough I'll just tune out.
Track 1Yeah.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Uh, and also they're at different times, whereas like, I guess, you know, like the. Knockout games usually are like peak times and where you're, you're potentially doing stuff, whereas like group games are sometimes really evenly spread out, so you can just consistently watch it.
Track 1Yeah, I mean, I watch, I watch a lot of highlights. The only rugby I watch now is just the highlights.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310yeah, and, and even that, like you could, sometimes you can get a good picture from the highlights. Sometimes like really important things in the game happen and it's just not very well to, not an easy way to convey over highlights. Yeah. So. Alright mate, what, so obviously this Friday the Rugby World Cup kicks off. It kicks off right near where you will be in France. Um, the French seems to be really geared up for it. The rugby world seems to be like a fever pitch, to be fair. Like the, the bubble of rugby is fucking pumped. I can sense it. Um, I'm not sure how the outside world even perceives it. Is it, if it really is like, Acknowledges it at all. Um, and I guess the best way to figure that out is people like you who are on the periphery. How much rugby have you watched this year?
Track 1Um, I watched the donning N B C, uh, all the highlights. That, and some of the nations. That's it.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Dude, your, your, your rugby is so niche
Track 1Yeah, I, I literally only watch Sunna to rugby.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Yeah, I know. And you've always only watched Southern
Track 1Yeah. I, yeah. Literally since I played out there, I, uh,
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310I was gonna say, you live there, so you're, you've got more of an attachment to, but again Yeah. You've, so that you would consider, did you start rugby in New Zealand?
Track 1no, I started rugby, so I started rugby when I was 18
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Mm-hmm.
Track 1to stop playing New Zealand when I was 20.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Okay. Yeah. So like your first real, like rugby being your life experience was New Zealand. And so that's where your attachment to it comes from. Makes sense. Um, so the big talking point about the World Cup, do you know what the big talking points are around the World Cup? Are, are you, are you familiar with what they're gonna be?
Track 1I assume France doing well. Uh, apart from that, I.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310That's one of them. So definitely one of them is that this is the best French team going into World Cup we've probably ever had. It's also the business is the best Irish team we've ever had. Both of those two teams have not ever won a World Cup. And then you've also got South Africa and New Zealand, the two winningest rugby World Cup teams in history, those four teams. Uh, I did a video last week where it was the, where I was going over some stats where the Opta guys, someone had leaned onto our Opta stats and they'd compiled together like a simulation. And they ran 10 million simulations, and those four teams make up 80% of the winners.
Track 1Oh shit.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310So, but, but they're all literally like, it was like 20 20, 21, 21, like that's it. So those four, you can't, they're all like 50, 50 or 25, 25, 25. But those four are way above everyone else. But those four teams, I mean, everyone listens to this, knows exactly this, this whole spiel already, but those four teams are all on the same side of the draw. So, so there, there's only two of them can even make the semifinals. So, um, and I'll get into how this gets even deeper, but let's start to get into a couple fixtures. So first we have, um, The, I think these two teams are, yeah, these are the two, bottom of the four most predicted to win teams, France and New Zealand. So I believe South Africa was second. I believe South Africa was second. Ireland were most likely to win it. France were third and New Zealand were fourth. And again, this is like, those are like neck and neck and neck. Like there's not really, like, you might as well just say all these four teams are on the same level, Pegan, and then everyone else is wave below. So you've got France and New Zealand making up, uh, the two front runners in Pey and they make up the first fixture of the World Cup. When I did my prediction, I predicted that this, like, this is a good month or so back now, that this would be the game that would bookend the World Cup. Um, like as, as sport romantic. I think it makes sense. You've got,
Track 1for sure.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310uh, like that's how sports sometimes work. You've got the two Probably the two, the biggest World Cup specific rivalry. You could argue that there are a big, there are bigger rivalries elsewhere in rugby, um, and even in the international rugby, but specifically for the World Cup like New Zealand, when they won it in New Zealand, they beat France in the final where France like had, having somehow stumbled into the final, probably deserve to win that game. You've got the, the World Cup before that where France knocked out New Zealand? Yeah. Uh, no. The semi-finals in 99. They won the quarter final in 2007, even 2019, no, 2015 New Zealand absolutely demolished France, uh, in England to get through. So like it's a big, like, so I can see these two bookend end bookend in the, the World Cup. Um, but what a, what a game. Yeah. It would be, like I said, romantic in me wanted that to, uh, predict that as the, the final. Um, but they go head to head. New Zealand are coming into this off of a really good rugby championship, as you said, you saw, but then a, a like their biggest ever defeat to the spring box, which you can argue it's a warmup game, but they basically played their, their, their best team that they could, they picked up a, a red card that could have had an influence, but it looked to me like in that game they got blown away.
Track 1Yeah, I watched that game. I, I, I think Scott Barrett going off was a big deal, but South got it better. Right. But I don't know if you looked at the, the, the gameplay or the game.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310So here's, here's my opinion on this, and this could be, in my opinion, on New Zealand and France in general, right? I think here I am gonna predict the France win because I just think France have that edge, that The, uh, both South Africa and Ireland have had before as well, where they can just step up the physicality in the pack. Another notch. New Zealand could do that, and they did that in the rugby championship, but they've locked, they, they New Zealand have a clear drop off, particularly in the front row, particularly at set piece from their, starting from their, their, their starters or their best players to the guys in the, in That are a little bit behind. Yeah, like the, the, so you've got the group who, I think if I Google this, he might be out of this game. Um, but their, their whole, their front l Zealand's front row looked really good in the rugby championship because of who they had. And then obviously by the time they bring on their subs, they've already either won the game or. they've just worn the other front row down and you know, that, that becomes a lot easier to cover up as a, uh, as a, as a substitute coming onto the game. So I think what happened in the rugby championship isn't gonna happen here. I think France are gonna take what they saw with New Zealand just physically, um, like confront them upfront. And I think when you look at, uh, New Zealand backs, they look so good and they can still, the thing is with New Zealand is they can score from anything and they do. They don't need much of a chance to, to still get a score and get a couple scores. And when you consider how hard, when you are trying to be a physical team, how hard sometimes it is to convert that, all that pressure into points, they still stay in games and they still have the ability to win games. But I think France are just gonna be too much. And I think New Zealand, from what I've seen of their backs, They want to, they're not even necessarily Fairweather players, but they need some platform and like if, if you can deny them that, if you can deny 'em that go forward ball. I don't see how they operate. They don't have like a sunny bill or a man, this is gonna be an old reference, but like a Mannu or someone, like a batter in Ram just to get them like Jordy, Barrett's good, a good player and Rico Ani is class, but they're not going to. Get, you know, turn slow ball into quick ball and get you over the game line. So I, I just see, uh, France taking that
Track 1So basically, are you saying whoever might, is the tournament winner.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310No, no, because the problem is, is the thing is that I found this man, we've predicting these games. There's so many 50 fifties that it's not worth it. Like, Yes, you've got this 50 50 chance of like this game happening, but then there's another game in the quarter final, at least that's gonna be a 50 50. And then, you know, there's still only, there's still two more games to go. So, no, I'm not gonna say anything about what this means for the rest of the World Cup. Um, you wanna put a prediction in for this one and uninformed prediction.
Track 1And on a form, do you honestly like the way New Zealand plays against Africa? Wanna say France would, but I think they would. Just trying out a new system. I reckon they'll come up, I'm gonna say
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Yeah. The other thing you've gotta be careful of in New Zealand is, um, well, two things. I I could also happen for this game to come into New Zealand. To come to New Zealand's favor. Number one is notoriously if New Zealand lose a game, They come back the next week absolutely. Firing, like, absolutely firing. However, I, the only time they didn't do that was last year in a northern hemisphere where they lost a few consecutive games. But the, that, I've seen that before. The other thing is, um, just that the pressure that the French might be feeling, and they've looked, they haven't looked shaky. They've still come up Trumps, but they haven't looked like As dominant as, say, New Zealand were in the rugby championship. They've looked good. They've looked so good, but even in their two warmup games where they looked so great against Scotland, I mean, they lost one of them and then they just came through and then they played Fiji in their other warmup game, and that was close. So. who knows, man, like you. The thing is with rugby, and particularly when you're at the, when you're looking at this level, every game, even if it's the two same fucking teams, has to be taken separately. You can't just treat, say, oh, this happened and this rugby math doesn't work. So all this prediction stuff doesn't work. This isn't a prediction show. This
Track 1isn't that like isn't happened? A soccer World Cup like twos ago.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310No, that's a, that's, I think that's a south park. How they, uh, they said how our family guy makes their jokes,
Track 1Uh, I mean, I
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310it wasn't an octopus that was a, I think it was a manatee.
Track 1yeah. 2020, no, 2022 World Drop Octopus, octopus. I don't,
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310and he predicted Argentina to win it.
Track 1uh, no. I think you had like a 50% prediction rate or something.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310All right. Whatever this is. This is D derailing the podcast right now, Alex. So let's get back to the other Paul or the other fixture in Paul A. So we've said New Zealand and France are in Paul A. They're accompanied by Italy, Uruguay, and Namibia. And I feel terrible for Italy because if they were in one of the other pools, they Well, obviously maybe not in Ireland or South Africa's pool, but if they're in the weaker half of the draw, quote unquote, they would have a legit chance of like, or a, a really good feeling that they could do something here. Um, but however, they, but they've been, yeah, they, they've been playing well. They look good. They've got their club side site finally sort of putting it together. They've got a little bit of magic. Um, and they're under twenties that had looked good. So they've pulled a few guys from that. They will potentially be ironing a fixture. They, they will be gunning for a New Zealand win this first game. 'cause I think they, they think the Italians think that they can take France and what will happen is if New Zealand win this first fixture, the end of the pool stage is France against Italy. And there could be pressure on this team that seemed invincible. You know what I mean? How quick a public to turn on a team that's doing so well, Exactly. We're not gonna, we're not going to do any sort of stereotyping here, but we are gonna say that the, the, you know, Italians have a chance of turning over the French. They, or they, at least the Italians will bat themselves to do so. Um, so they'll be gunning for that. They, they've got Namibia first up. I think this is just a, an Italy impressive win. Um, they've been looking good quite recently. So yeah, that's, that's Saturday. Uh, 1:00 PM France time and then we go into Paul B. Yeah. Yeah. So you've got, um, the, the other team in that group are Uruguay who, Pete Fiji last time in the World Cup and has since then have been doing this Super Rugby Americas, where they basically have a team that is full time-ish. in camp all year round. So I think Fiji and Chile both have access to that, uh, which I think is a huge adv. I mean, it's why those two are qualified. It's a big reason why those two have qualified and U S A didn't and Canada didn't because they've got a real close knit team. They might not have the quality of other teams, but they do have that togetherness. So that'll be interesting to see how they go. Yeah, but that's, that's Paul eight. We'll look to Paul B now where we kick off with, uh, here we go.
Track 1Yeah. Right.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Ireland against Romania. This is gonna be the first cricket score of the World Cup. Romania, to me, probably the least impressive team in this whole World Cup. Um, they've been outta form for a while, but because the European qualification was done on a two year cycle, two years ago. They were good enough a while ago and then they've sort of hit a, hit a bit of a brick wall, to be fair. Um, and they also got automatic qualification by virtue of, um, Spain filled in an ineligible player and getting kicked
Track 1I remember that
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Yeah, they all know. You might remember that from, from, uh, six years ago. 'cause they've done it twice. They've done it for both the last two World Cups. Uh,
Track 1amazing.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310So, um, the Romanians, uh, their, their covid undercover rugby operatives snuck in there and, um, report and figured out that, figured out that I think one of their South Africans went home either during covid or before Covid, didn't stay long enough to get the requirements to, uh, Uh, to be eligible or something like that. And it got found out and Spain got booted out. Romania got the auto Romania already qua. They're gonna be on the, the playoff qualifier because they were out of form, I would've backed, uh, u s A to beat them. Um, but then they, they got bumped up to the direct route and then we got Portugal in a qualifier and Portugal ended up beating u s A to get there. So, um, I. Uh, actually they might have even, was it a draw? Yeah, it was a draw. But 'cause it was, it was done in a pool. They got through
Track 1Oh, the's different.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310uh, points difference. Yeah. It was ridiculous. Yeah, it absolutely ridiculous.
Track 1it's a shame for world rugby as well, man.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310it's not, this is
Track 1reckon, do you not think there'd be more money if America was involved? More hype.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310doesn't mean, doesn't mean, doesn't mean anything. Chasing the money is ruining the game of rugby. Like, as far as I'm concerned, like what they're trying to do, like how they're trying to corporatize the, don't get me started, this is a topic for another conversation. If people want us to have that conversation, I will gladly have that conversation. Let us know in the comments below, but we'll do, we'll do that in a different podcast. That, that, that could be something that's up for debate. Um, but yeah, if you are, if you are, if you are trying to count your zeros whilst you're sitting in a fucking boardroom trying to govern the game that everyone enjoys playing and changing it to get more money, yeah, you'd be disappointed that U s A weren't in but. they're a mess. They're club rugby is a mess. Um, yes, they have m l r, but also a mess. U s a rugby is a mess. I feel bad for the players, like I've got some friends that are playing for U S A, but what are you gonna
Track 1Isn't English Club rugby a mess right now?
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Yes, yes. Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, all of English rugby is a mess. We'll get.
Track 1Australia, Australia Club. Rugby's isn't the only way. Japan's the only place which is kind of doing it
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Will No. Japan also a bit of a mess. We'll, we can get into that like, yeah. Uh, like in my predictions, we'll, we'll go for Island. So we, we, this is the next game. Island versus Romania. This is a place where rugby is absolutely not a mess. And people got annoyed that I was really nice to Ireland because I said in my predictions, they're gonna go out the Court of final. And I was like, just 'cause you're gonna go out the court of final doesn't mean like of the last four years worked for nothing. They've created a team that is like by virtue of the world, rankings the best in the world. They've done really well. Their club game is thriving. They are consistently the top performers in both their, uh, domestic league, which now includes South African teams. They haven't won it, but they, you know, they're there or thereabouts, like just the nature of sport. You can't win everything. But they have got. Yeah. Like they are the, whatever they're doing with their school system, with their product of game, where they're, you know, the, they at the club level where it filters all in. Everyone's behind it. Everyone's together. They are getting the best of everyone out of everyone. They're going people getting people in from everywhere. It seems like it, the game is thriving in, in Ireland, and yeah, man, they're, they're doing really well. So they've got Romania, they are going to absolutely spank them. Um, islands game. The thing is with islands rugby as well, it's like, it's not boring, but it's not like loads of talent and, and, and like sexy rugby. It's just good rugby. They play fast physical and they, and they play the territory when it's there. They have a solid set piece. They get over the game line and then they just swarm and they get real quick ball and they go and they go and they go and occasionally like it's, there's no Crazy offloads. There's no crazy steps that no one saw coming. Sometimes there is, but it's not like they don't rely on the individual breaks. Like what? Like a, like a New Zealand do. They are just, and Ireland more than any other, probably along with South Africa, have got just a conveyor belt of back rows of second rows of people in every position that can just come in and do a job.
Track 1I think I saw somewhere.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310except for Jameson Gibson Park, I think he might be the person that they rely on the most. Very underrated for because he just gets 'em going so fast.
Track 1I think I've read somewhere that I the most strength and depth into the.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310I would say so. I, I mean they had a player, John Klein, who was South African, who is South Africa. South African born, but then Fire Residency. He qualified for Ireland. He played for Ireland, and then he's since been out of favor of Ireland, so he is gone back to South Africa. And he's now, he's actually represented South Africa in this World Cup. I think he made the squad. Yeah, he did. So like they, they could, they could, they can let ERs go back to South Africa. That's how like You know what I mean? Every other country, if they get a, if they get a giant South African playing for them, they're like holding onto a real tight, come on, come on. You can be. No, you are, you are from here. But no, I island man. Like they are looking really good. The only thing they haven't, the only thing they've got going against them is the way this, this draw happens and, um, and history that they've never got out of a quarter final. And that's the, that is a little bit of a hoodoo, you know?
Track 1I mean, they'll believe though, mate, they've been, they've
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310They will, they will, of course they will. But you start, but then, then if you, you know, if you're not gonna buy into any of that, it's the fixtures. So they've got, um, Romania first, then I believe they've got Tonga, then they've got South. Let me confirm this, how this, uh, this, this works. But I believe that's the, um, order they've got. Um, let me select Because I don't wanna butcher it. Yeah, so they've got Ireland first. Yeah, I was completely correct. How about that, Ireland? They said they've got Romania first, then they've got Tonga, which, you know, they can't go into that one sleeping, but you would expect them to, to put the foot down and, and, and do that. Then they've got South, South Africa, so if they beat South Africa they'll be fine and they'll go into this final game of Scotland, you know, with good momentum. But, You know, having Scotland and then the week after that, oh they've, so they've got a two week break. So they've got South Africa, then they do have a bit of a break, but then they've got, uh, Scotland the week before the quarterfinals. So, whereas other teams might have like a bit of a system where they can go hard at the beginning of the group stage, rest a little bit. Like this is gonna be brutal, man, South Africa. Uh, like obviously you don't even have to say anything about South Africa, Scotland. I haven't told this to you yet. And I haven't brought this up, but I'm saving this. You know, I said that there's four teams that are the, the separate from the rest,
Track 1the.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310the 15 as far as rankings go are Scotland.
Track 1Yeah, I can believe that.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310But
Track 1still rather have the two week break between New Zealand and Scotland than play Scotland. Play South Africa a week before going into.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310The knockouts maybe. But my point is like, what happens if they lose that gain to South Africa? Then they, yeah, then they're licking their, their wounds. Maybe they get an injury because yeah, Jesus, of course you teams are gonna pick up an injury. Then you've got Scotland and it's gonna be all, all to play for like, and Scotland are good enough. I'm not saying island, I'd still back island. Like they're still gonna be the favorite. It's just the way it works. So that's, it's just an interesting note. But for week one, no, they're better in Romania and it's like, it's almost just like the tease. This is just the start of the World Cup for Ireland. Um, so the other game, so that's uh, uh, three 30 on Saturday. The other game in that pool is the, I think this is the last fixture of the weekend. No, it's not. But it's the, so the, it's Sunday, 5 45. The other fixture in the pool, South Africa against Scotland. This is gonna be like a big one. Yeah. 'cause I don't think South Africa are gonna come into this. Arrogant. They're gonna come into it. Confident Scotland, on the other hand, are also gonna come into this confident, they're gonna happily be under the radar. Finn Russell starts pulling some strings. I don't think Scotland can get bullied the same way that, uh, New Zealand did. They've got a good pack, they do really well. And if, if you need someone to make stuff from nothing, they've got the back line to also do that. But I mean, I just, this is a tough one to predict. Like in saying that, I said they can't get bullied. If there is a team in the in world rugby that can bully every team
Track 1Is that right? Yeah.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310it's, it's those, it's those ies mate. We can smash anyone if we on our day, you know that.
Track 1as much as I like Finn Russell, I think he's absolutely magic, um, south.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310It sets, it sets up the pool to be dynamite and the whole World Cup to be dynamite. If Scotland can get a win there though,
Track 1Hmm.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310I'd like, so part of me would like that. Part of me knows I'm gonna get crucified in the comments if I don't predict a South Africa win
Track 1Oh dude, I would, I would love it if traffic went out in a pool stages that would make my entire kind of hookup.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310I wonder if viewership would go down because South Africans are a big population. They're a passionate population about their team. That could absolutely be a possibility as well, man. Like that's,
Track 1File logs.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310this is is. It's so weird, man. 'cause they're like the favorites on one hand or like, uh, you know, one of the most likely to win this World Cup. They're also Like that is very, like, it's not the out of the realm possibility that they do go out the world, the, the, the World Cup at the group stage. Not like more likely than probably ever in history, which shows how even though the top teams are still there, like the bottom teams are still catching 'em up to the point where that's why England are where they are. So I'm gonna get out of prediction with that, with that game. Um, and I'll just move straight onto pool C where we've got a. Oof Australia against Georgia. Speaking of teams from the top that aren't quite doing it, and teams from the, the tier two that like, they're the tier one and tier two lines have never been so blurred. Georgia look good. They've got a team that trains altogether, just like we said with um, Chile and Uruguay, they have a team that's in, they play in a, a European league and they play all together. Um, they, well, they like most of the, they've got the togetherness of the vast majority of their squad rather than being spread around Georgia. Um, so they're always together. Then they've got, um, they've got a, a winger, a sensor. And a, and probably a host of forwards that are just lining up in France, just smashing people.
Track 1I all call.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310something, Italy. Um, no. Ay, something. Ay. Um, but. Like, do not sleep on this Georgian team. And in fact, it's like you could even go so and far as to say, if you are not judging by reputation, you are just judging by recent form in the past year-ish, Georgia winning this game probably isn't even an upset like
Track 1I dunno, I, I, I think Eddie Jones is one of the best coaches. There's been. As he is, and if he says Australia gonna go off, I'm, that man knows more than me about rugby.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310So there is, there is definitely the Eddie Jones factor. I think I, I admire him so much. Now, whether he like the problem is, they fired their coach that had just started getting it together. Yes. They, they lost, um, I think they lost, no, they beat, they beat Wales. I hope I'm right. But they lost to Ireland by a point. They, they did lose to Italy, but that was like a rotation side. And like I say, Italy doing better, but they lost to Island by a point. And they lost to France by a point, or at least both of those games were a score away. So, Like they were going in a good direction. They didn't need to, to tear the whole thing up and get Eddie Jones in. That's the risk they wanted to take because he is special. The problem is because he is special. Um, I'm not gonna put him, uh, I'm not like, don't read into this, but the fact that I'm gonna mention him in the same sentence, but like, it's like people hated Newton, people hated Einstein. People hate people like society. Tends to vilify Everyone hates Elon Musk. Like people that seem to be ahead of their time or very different people don't like that. You know, even if they're doing successful, and especially if they're not being successful, I think Eddie Jones falls squarely into that category. Um, like, because most of the media that you are gonna consume are gonna be. You know, is gonna be from traditional media. He's not nice to traditional media, so of course he's gonna, he's gonna, um, like the, the, what you're gonna read about him is gonna be mostly negative. At the same time, I know I have secondhand information that he is very hard on his players because he has ridiculously high standards. He had like He doesn't leave any stone unturned that has a shelf life, which is why I believe like England ended up getting rid of him and started not seeing success. Um, it's what I've heard a lot about Japan, like with his time there, he's had probably a real good amount of time with Australia by this point where they've got everything wrong that, and they could be starting to get something right. But again, he could be doing everything right. But this Georgia team is still good. You know,
Track 1Yeah, that's fair. I mean, all the teams are good, right? That's the,
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310do we predict, do we predict the Georgia win? Alex,
Track 1No, I don't.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310I, I'm gonna say Georgia win this. I'm gonna say this group, this group is mad mate, right? So you've got Georgia, uh, and Australia, you Jesus. Then you've got Wales, and Fiji is the other game in this pool. So you, you could legit get Wales in Australia starting this World Cup with two losses or with a loss each. And again, I wouldn't really call Fiji beating. Wales isn't really an upset at this point. Um, Fiji beat England
Track 1It grew.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310for the first time ever.
Track 1season, right?
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310So this is a, this is a theme that I didn't expect to keep going down, but you're starting to see it with these. Teams that just have that one professional team. The Druer is another perfect example. Fiji now have a set piece. They have a good set piece. It doesn't even have to be like the thing that wins them, the game. It just has to be good enough. Then they've got magic, you know, and, and, and you got, and because they're together, like you can really drill, you can drill down a set piece. But unlike Chili and Uruguay, um, Probably on the same, no, not the same as Georgia. Like unlike Georgia as well. They have a back line that can then really capitalize on that. Uh,
Track 1The Fiji 13, the captain is, is, I can't remember his
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310na na aka na aka level.
Track 1yeah, he's absolute fire. So good.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Yes.
Track 1I'm just, yeah.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Uh, so, so they've got the set piece and the togetherness of the drew with the sprinkling of talent from Europe that are like the cream of the crop in Europe. You've got ny, AK Dam. I'm not gonna keep ra. Um, you've got Volo. You've got Joso. Like this team is special.
Track 1Yeah.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Uh, ah, you've got, uh, BIA, who has played in the top level at 12 and at seven. He's now there seven. He's one of the best over the book. Like th this team is, yeah, they're gonna beat Wales. I've got, I,
Track 1I hope that
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310even be two scores. That's gonna be the end of the weekend, that game. So it's um, uh, Sunday, nine o'clock France time, Wales against Fiji
Track 19:00 AM
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_1433109:00 PM.
Track 1Okay. Sweet.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310uh, which will be in the middle of the night for you. Uh, no, you'll be there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, yeah, so enjoy that, that, that, that finishes your weekend. So Australia, Georgia, I, I'm picking two quote unquote tier two nations to come up. Trumps here. I think Georgia will win this and I think Fiji will win this. I think Georgia are coming in enough under the radar. Maybe I'm too romantic, but Australia just don't seem to have it. They can turn it around after this war, but, Uh, fuck it. You gotta make some outlandish predictions every now and again, right? So Georgia and Fiji are both gonna win. Um, speaking of outlandish predictions, uh, going with your heart rather than your head. England against Argentina. I'm taking England to win this. I'm taking England to win this. Yeah.
Track 1it's just, they've been good.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310just what, just what you've said about Australia, I do believe for England as well, like they haven't been playing that well, but it doesn't take much to, like they've, they like their attack doesn't seem to be doing enough. They're staying in games enough. They just look kind of clueless a little bit on attack. Um, Part of me wants to think they're saving it for the World Cup but they're not like, yeah.
Track 1the crack with? Um, with F's. Red card.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Uh, he's out for this game.
Track 1Okay.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Uh,
Track 1so, so who'd
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310get into that on this World Cup. No. It'll be Ford. It'll be George Ford. Yeah. It'll be George Ford at 10. Um. England just haven't had the consistency. The other thing is we can touch on a little bit on the club game, just not being at the level, it's not at the level of the top 14 or, or the, uh, pro 14 look, yeah. Super rugby or the, um, space on the, the, the pro, the, the U R C, the Ultimate Rugby Championship. The South Africa. Yeah, that's, so, yeah. See, this is me explaining to the layman, right? So now it's Ireland, it was the Celtic League, right? So it was, I, uh, Irish provinces, Scottish provinces, and Wales. Um, they then added in, uh, Italy to make it the, uh, the Pro 14. They then got rid of, or they might have before the Italian teams came and got rid of one or two. Uh, Scottish and Welsh teams, and they then since added in, uh, the South African contingent, which adds a lot of travel. But because they've got depth, all these teams, because there's only, you know, like island only have the four provinces. Um, Scotland only have two. Wales have three, but one of them is just. Not even like, it's not even four. No. Why is that four? Cardiff, Swansea, Lenley, uh, Scarlets and, um, and the, the dragons. But the dragons like what? You, I mean
Track 1Yeah. Let.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310no. Like, but the point being is that like, then it's not like they're sending the same 23 to South Africa to play a game and then come back the next week and play, but they're playing a higher level is my point. Um. and they're not, and especially with Ireland, they get to monitor all their players. They're all still quite together. England have all the downsides of like the top 14 in France, but without the level because they, they're all independently contracted by the, the, the clubs. They have a brutal schedule, um, for the most part. Yet they're not playing at that level. And that's been evidenced by the fact that they've not made a European final for, since, uh, the Chiefs won it in 2020. T or 2021 to which was a 2020 year. Um, and they've, you know, they've cut down the funds in for it or the cut, the, the salary cap. It's not good. They've cut down the, the funding for the championship. Whereas, um, in France they've actually added another league into below Pro D two. That's professional now.
Track 1that's super cool.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Yeah, they've got France. France. Like if you wanna talk about things that are doing that, countries that are doing really well with their rugby New Zealand are always gonna do well. Right. Just in the culture. France and Ireland have nailed it. England and Wales. Mm-hmm. the complete opposite end anyway. England, Argentina. Argentina looking good. Um, just a lot of talent. No, they don't have the benefit of the hawar that they used to have. But they've had a couple camps in Europe. Most if, most of, if not all of their players are in Europe, unless, uh, they had matera who was playing for the crusaders. I mean, if you're not gonna play for in Europe, but you're playing for the crusaders, like,
Track 1I was just thinking about this is are, is the crusaders coach the most winning coach in rugby?
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310uh, probably.
Track 1Right?
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310I think that, I think two of the most winningest coaches in rugby are gonna be the two crusaders coach, either side of Black adder, so I dunno who it was before, but Scotty Robinson, um, yeah, he's, he is
Track 1be up there, right? Yeah.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310yeah, they had, they had a period of like six years where they, where the chiefs won it, the Reds won it. Um, the Blues didn't win it, uh, h Hurricanes won it. Um, Ah, blues won it the other year, um, from after Covid, but that was a bit weird. They won it when it was a different Anyway, um, point being is yeah, that they, they are, they, they are probably the most winningest team in the club in, in club history.
Track 1yeah.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Um,
Track 1Anyway,
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310so Argentina, I think England can do it. Um, I, it's if it's gonna be a pretty game, Argentina win it. If it's gonna be scrappy England can England, can England can do this. They did lose the last time to Argentina at home. That was probably the game that cost Eddie Jones's job. Um, like they're not, no one's firing a, a, a head coach for looted to South Africa and they drew with New Zealand that year. But whatever. So England, Argentina, the other, uh, teams in this pool that could potentially, uh, knock out England, uh, are not playing. Actually Samoa are gonna be the most likely to take out England or to take out to challenge England and Argentina. Samoa ran island, uh, close in the warmup to a score. They also beat Japan in the, uh, in the Pacific Nations Cup and ran, um, ran Fiji real close and obviously you can see the strength of Fiji. Samoa have the Moana Pacifica and then they also are taking advantage of the new laws where they've got, you can play for, for, you can cancel your residency or whatever it is, nationality for one team and go play for another. So they've got in a good, they've got Stephen Lu, former, all black, Lima s, Lima supper, Wona, former all black.
Track 1A player.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Yes, he is. Like, they, they are looking good. They've got quite a few players that are quite comfortable playing in France that have been Fritz Lee. He's been there forever. Um, they samo samo look good and, and that worries me. Um. But they're not playing and they've got a weekend off, so they get to I, this, you know, chill out Japan, unfortunately, like it's one of those things where they were peaking for this World Cup that they hosted four years ago. They did such a good job in getting to the quarter finals. Um, the game is still doing okay there. It's well funded, but it's, that's just, I think that's just, uh, by virtue of Japan's economy doing so well. The national team is just not performing where it needs to be and it's not Not even necessarily their fault. They just don't get the quality of fixtures year round, or not even year round, but you know, consistently enough to, to challenge and develop their team. You know, it's a, it's just one of the things that we've, we've, the way rugby is set up, unless you get a, like a real lucky streak where, like, for example, Argentina coming in the rugby championship, look how good that's done for Argentina long term. Uh, Italy coming in the, to the Five Nations over 20 years ago at this point. Like, you could even argue, you know what, like they're still not, they would be further, like whether Rupi would even be a game in Italy if they weren't in the Six Nations Could Definitely be a question, you know, whereas you've got these fringe teams and it is getting to the point now that rugby, the tier two nations, like the fact that you've got specific tiers of nations shows how the game is set up and it shows the flaws in world rugby. And I think this World Cup is the World Cup. Ah, man. This is, this is what you, this is like a speech to get you pumped for the World Cup. This is the World Cup where the tier one and tier two sort of gets massively blurred and we have to seriously consider the way rugby is played internationally. Japan, with that all being said, are going to beat Chile, but I think it'll be closer than people think. Chile prob Chile, I think are the, the lowest, uh, ranked team that are in this World Cup. Though
Track 1I, I've got a soft sport for Japan. I just like how they play.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310I think everyone does,
Track 1Yeah.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310I think everyone does.
Track 1Yeah. If I was gonna support any team, I'd probably support Japan.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310but they just haven't had the quality. I mean, I could be wrong, you know, they, they went in under the radar 2015. They definitely, like, even though they hosted it, they hadn't played a bunch of fixtures going into the 2019 World Cup that made you think, oh shit, they, you know, they've gotta be like, you knew they could do something, but you haven't, you didn't have the evidence to hold onto to say, oh, they're gonna beat Ireland and Scotland. this year. Like, like I said, they've lost to Fiji, Samara, they just haven't looked impressive. Um, they're, like I say, their national, the, the club game is doing well by virtue of just the foreigners, but I even think the foreigners are full-time and they're getting paid chunk, uh, like wedge. But the actual professional Japanese players might not be so much and they also don't have that togetherness that the other, that's helping bridge the gap from the other teams. Yeah. Loads of teams. So
Track 1too many teams. Yeah, I can see it. I see that.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310We'll see. This has made me really excited for the World Cup mate. I'm glad we had this chat.
Track 1I mean, I would probably watch more games.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Yeah. And,
Track 1I might. I might even, I might even go and buy a Japanese shirt. Do you
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310No, that's,
Track 1my size?
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310that's, that's, well, firstly, no, actually they must do Sumo Mate is a thing. No offense. Yeah.
Track 1Did you ever, there was a,
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310I'm saying you're strong.
Track 1there was.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310point be like, how have you, how out of this discussion have you decided that Japan is the team for you? Like,
Track 1Just, I just
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310get us, get us Samo and Jazzie mate. No, not Simone, they're in England's pool. Get a, uh, get a Tonga jersey
Track 1Yeah. Maybe I just, the way Japan play rugby,
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310or Georgia.
Track 1I won't be
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310See, see, for, for, for a guy that loves his power lifting and like, that's your livelihood. You should appreciate teams like Georgia, not, not Japan.
Track 1Well,
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310should appreciate teams like Georgia. You should appreciate, uh, teams like Samoa, South Africa, like confrontational beasts.
Track 1I do like, if weren't so dominant, I wouldn't, I wouldn't want 'em to lose so much. But if fact, they're so dominant, like that
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310fans comment on every video
Track 1yeah, that's the, yeah.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310which is a good thing. But it's also like, so it's just, it's like defensive, you know? Like it's so, it's so, it's that, it's like, like almost like a, I'll tell you what it is. It's like football or soccer in the uk like mindset of like I am so biased, but I'm not even gonna acknowledge any of my biases with this comment. Like, I'm just like, uh,
Track 1I'm not saying that they're, they're definitely one of the best teams in the world. I just don't like them.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310No. Ah, okay.
Track 1Yeah. Um, Japan's the only team that I use, so I just, I just did a, uh, a lecture on mitigating contact. Um, Not injuries, but basically being better in contact,
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Mm-hmm.
Track 1for the coaches. Uh, Buki and Japan's the only team pitches I used in the entire thing. Yeah.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Fair. Fair enough. What? Any, any particular reason why.
Track 1Uh, yeah, actually, because a lot of it was being able to resist deformity, uh, or resist defamation from the collision. And Japan's players, uh, not the biggest. So when a Japanese player serves a Japanese 11 who held a rock against free All Blacks, um, about like losing his position and.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Well, like he held it because he held that position, right? Like, Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Track 1basically
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Like they, right. So it's like one of those things where because they don't, like, they have to be so technically proficient because they're undersized
Track 1Yeah. Basic, yeah, it example of resistance.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Uh, yeah. It's, that's how, how, how everything happens in, uh, training is something becomes new and then it becomes everything, and then it becomes too much.
Track 1Well, yeah, and particularly for like, for us as a powering company looking to expand, like it's just we need to, we need to get outta this mindset and change our paradigms, but it's just, it's a point subject so that, that.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310I mean, we could go full circle and just say, you know, 90 night style, like, uh, what'd you say? Like, keep your core engaged. And you just say that for every movement.
Track 1I, I
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310you know what I mean? Like,
Track 1strong. Yeah. Just be stronger.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310like, like you're doing a, you're doing a bicycle. Make sure you keep your core engaged. Like what? Like what do you mean? Or, or, or, or when you are, or when you're doing a big back, you're doing a heavy back squat. Make sure your core's engaged. I'm like, well, no shit. Like if my core isn't engaged, I, I fall to the floor. Like,
Track 1Yeah.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310don't worry, this big old weight is on my back that is doing that. I have no choice
Track 1Yeah, that's basically, that's basically my talk. Alright.
tj--thundergod-_2_09-06-2023_143310Intro. Okay, cool. Alright mate, well I'm glad you're excited for the World Cup. I hope everyone else is excited for the World Cup. When this gets posted, it will be a day until we get started. Tell me how excited you are in the comments below. Lemme know what you think. Lemme know if you can use any of what I've, uh, educated Alex on, um, to educate your family, your friends, whoever you want to get involved in the game. Um, it's gonna be a good time, man, and also, uh, use the big heavy Brutal collisions and the brutal players to inspire you to get in the gym and to fucking take care of your business. 'cause I know I will be, I'll be looking at some of these physiques. I'll be like, all right, get, let's, let's, let's fucking lift some tin man. Alright, B. Good man. Um, take care and we'll uh, catch you later.