Scarlets Fever: All Bad things come to an end

The Scarlet's Fever podcast discusses player rankings for the season. They have five categories: Go Again, Done a Job, Rising Star, Please Don't Leave, and Alex Craig. They review several players, including Jack Price, who is considered a Rising Star, and Nickle, who is placed in Alex Craig. They also discuss Josh McLeod, Sean Evans, and Scott Williams, among others. Johnny Williams is praised for his phenomenal stats and is placed in Please Don't Leave. Scott Williams is listed as a leaver. Welcome to Scarlet's Fever, the home of Suspense Central and Westerer is besterer. Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the Scarlet's Fever podcast. Joining me, Big M, as always, is the magical Catboy and Carwen, how are we doing, lad? Very good. Very, very good. So, a bit of an elephant in the room, me and Carwen have been absent for a little while now. He proudly stood in last week whilst I was indisposed. Oh, I forget his name now, Bradley. Bradley Gibson. So, famous TikToker, well over 150,000 followers. What's he like? Is he humble? Yeah, he was class. He was, he'd never done a podcast before. It's always funny, people who don't, who haven't done podcasts before, you get some people are very, like, excited and just want to tell you all the things and you get some people who are very, like, I'll wait till they ask to speak and then I'll speak and then I'm worse case, you get some people who don't realise that it's a speaking type thing. But Bradley wasn't any of those, he was fantastic and fantastic to have such a successful content creator in the world of Scarlet. Well, the camera loves him, the mic loves him, what more can we ask? So, season is, well, the regular season for all the little clubs in the world are in the top 14 is now officially over. So, let's dig in. So, we've got something special for everyone. If you can remember the start of the season, we started on a player ranking tier system. Who do you remember the exact categories we used? Not really. Not really. I think the bottom one was point to prove and the top one was starts every game or something like that. Yeah. It's still on YouTube if you want to go and search it. It's on the playlist. Scroll back until last September, it's there. Okay. So, we've got it up on the screen. So, audio viewers, we will go through this as much as we can. So, we've got five categories. I'll talk through the categories because I made them up. Okay. Go on. So, first thing to say, what we're doing is we're doing a squad season review. So, every player that was in the senior squad at the start of the season, we're reviewing them. There are some players who joined mid-season and there are some senior academy players who played a lot of games who aren't in the pictures. So, we'll talk about them at the end. We'll say as anybody that we've missed. Now, we are obviously Scarlet's fans and we have become aware that potentially some Scarlet's players do listen to our podcast. Because they're smart. We just want to say that we love you all and we will back you all to the absolute hills. There are no mean categories in this. If you do think you've had a poor season, look away now. So, the categories are this. So, bottom categories, we go again. You've not had an amazing season. There's always next season. So, go for it. The next category is done a job. As in, you've come in, you've done what you were asked. No more, no less. Rising star, someone who's broken into the team this year who we think is set for incredible things in the future. The second top category is please don't leave. Which is, I think we can probably think of who the players who are going to be in that. They're the ones who, yeah. We've had a few players leave the Scarlet's over the last couple of seasons. So, please, all the ones in this category will be lost without you. So, please don't go. And then the top category is Alex Craig for obvious reasons. I want to be clear though that other players can be in Alex Craig. I can't. I can't take you seriously. I agree. So, just for reference, Carowind wasn't with us when we done the original squad ranking system. But it should be noted that any contentious decisions, I absolutely smashed it on first time round. So, Carowind, Martin thinks this is a competition. And he thinks that if he gets a player in the category that he wants in, that's a point to him. That's not how it works. No, no, no. If you want it in one category and I want it in another, that's the battle we're talking about. So, I take it off the fence this time. No, you go first. So, then, you know, I know whether or not to back down. It's not a battle, right? And then last time we did this, it took an hour. So, let's try and not take an hour this time. Yeah, no, no. Okay. So, it's on your screen. Okay. So, first thing I'll say is there are some players in this list who have retired this season. So, like, Ken is in the list. He didn't obviously play a game this season. He's retired. But I'll be damned if the last ever squad's tier list that Ken Owens is in, he's not in the top tier. So, that's just how it's going. Okay. I'm not putting Ken Owens in not the top tier. Who knows? He might turn out for Cardinal Athletic. Who knows? That would be nice, wouldn't it? Okay. Who have we got? Let's start with Jack Price. What do we think of Jack Price this season? He's played a lot of games. He's actually our most selected second row of the season. Got the most starts in the number five jersey. What are we saying, Mark? I'm torn. I'm torn between Denner Job and Raising Star. I'm thinking Raising Star more than Denner Job. Because he's been, as you say, picked more than any of the second row in what's been a very tough season for the pack. So, yeah, I think Denner Job might be a bit harsh. As in, if we could go in between, I'd sort of be bothered. No, we had this last time. There's no in between. It's one or the other. Raising Star for me, then. Okay. Right. We can't be all here all night. Congratulations, Jack Price, you're in Raising Star. Okay. I'm joining with Nickle. I can't go in, please don't leave, because he has left. He's Alex Craig. Yeah, he's got to be Alex Craig. If you look back on his stats... He's still, like, our top offloader. He's still, like, top offloader. He's still our top offloader. He's still our top offloader. He's still, like, top for line breaks. His stats are still amazing. He jumped ship. He jumped ship. He went back home, though. He went back to the Crusaders. They needed him. He's 33 years old, and instead of picking up a player from the NPC, a Super Rugby side said, hang on, Johnny McNichol's still bloody playing. Let's get him. That should tell you that. He was their best player, as well. By far. Just upset he went. Yeah. Right, OK, here's one, then, for you. Josh McLeod. We go again. He played one free game. That's no disrespect to the guy himself. He's absolutely awesome when he takes our field, and he's especially on form. He's Alex Craig when he's on form, but he just didn't get the stats. Yeah. Is it fair to say that making him squad captain is not a decision that's aged well? It hasn't worked out. It's just because of the injuries and stuff. It's such a shame. He's so talented, but I'd love to see him get a fit 60, 70% of the season in, really, but it's hard. OK, next up. Where should we go next? Sorry. Sean Evans. Played a lot of games. Played a lot of games. I'm not sure he is our most selected hooker. I'll tell you now. No, Ryan Elias is. So, a line-out throwing probably something for him to work on, but apart from that, in the loose, he's been excellent. So what are we thinking? I will put him in Donner Job because, exactly what you just said, in the loose, he is amazing, but the problem we find with a lot of players in the hooker position now, they're converted back rowers, and when they don't have that sheer bulk of experience scrummaging, it just doesn't always balance out, and unfortunately, I don't see him playing a great deal next season, unless we get a few injuries. OK, awesome. Where's he gone? Into Donner Job. Into Donner Job he goes. There's some frustrating ones in here. Scott Williams. I mean, he's still on the books, isn't he, for next season? Is he? We go again? He's still on the books for next season, isn't he? I thought he was gone, personally. My phone is out of reach, and I'm not stepping up off this laptop. Howie, could you please check in the background whilst we do the next player? Yeah, of course. Thank you. Oh, right, OK, a bit of news then. Johnny Williams has signed a new contract. He is now committed to the Scarlets. He is not in the Wales squad anymore, so he originally came in the Scarlets to play for Wales. He's now not only not in the Wales squad anymore, but he's lost his Wales squad place to Eddie James. Congratulations, Eddie, on getting your first ever cap. Many more to come. So, Johnny is now Scarlets first. For me, it's like a fresh start for him, and he is now Mr. Scarlets, and he deserves fan backing all the way. So, what do you make of his season now? Bear in mind, his stats have been phenomenal. Yeah. Johnny, from... We go back even to the last season now. He came back from injury, I think six nations' time against Munster. Had a stormer in that game, but he seemed to have a sort of weight on his shoulders where he had to do everything himself. I'm thinking that was more due to the Wales involvement. I'm thinking he has to show he can do this and that, etc., etc. With that now seemingly gone, I'm expecting him to really... Basically, he hardly parks in his first three seasons for us. We're now in a position, if we can get them all fit, of having three top-class centres, and that's going to be unbelievable. So, Johnny, I know you've just signed a contract, but you're still a young guy. Please don't leave. I think he has to go, and please don't leave, because if he leaves, we've got two centres. Yeah, I think he's proved enough since joining us to fall into that category. Scott Woodham was on the leavers' list. Oh, was he? Yeah. Oh, OK. Can I call that 1-0? All right, Scott's going out. It's Craig Den as well, because he's a club legend. Yeah. But if it's based on this season, unfortunately, I don't think he fits that category. Yeah, but neither does Ken. Ken didn't play at all. He's in, Alex Craig. I never said to put Ken there. That was in his face before we started talking. Well, he's there now. OK. Right. Kemsley Mathias. Wales International, Kemsley Mathias. Ooh. I personally still think he's a rising star. Yeah. I see that, because I don't think... I think there's a lot of players in our team who aren't anywhere close to their peak. But based on this season, and the way our scrim has been mangled... Well, then it's hard to put him in done-a-job, isn't it? Because he's the man. It's hard to put him in done-a-job, isn't it? Because he's the most penalised prop in the URC. To be fair, to be fair on those penalties, I went back through every single game, and more than half, so majority of his pens, came when he was injured or his first game back. But if he's the most penalised prop in the URC, can you think of him as a rising star? Well, yeah. You've seen him everywhere else, and his scrummaging... He's solid, but when you put him with a really light hooker, who isn't exactly known for scrummaging, it's a hard balance for anyone. Your locks play a part in the scrum. I think Kelmsley was better last season than he was this season. So for that reason, I think he needs to go in we go again. Because I think he's capable of being a lot better than he was this season. But does that mean we go again is better than done-a-job? No. No, I get how... We go again as you reset and start over, where done-a-job is, you've been all right this year, is how I would do it. Yeah, there can be good... Like, Josh McLeod is in we go again. There can be good players in we go again. B-way dice, throw by you. You know, this is quite awkward. Just pick the middle one. Done-a-job. Middle one. All right, then. I win, wouldn't you? Yes. Morgan Jones. I know where I'm putting him. Please don't. Yeah. 100% agree with that. I put him in rising star. Yeah, that's what I think, yeah. Yeah. Rising! I think his ceiling's almost tapped, personally. He's barely started. He doesn't play that much. He can say that he's hit his ceiling if he's hardly played any games. His best season for us was two years ago. How old is he? He's 24, 25. Yeah, you could... It's different for locks. I think he's a rising star. His stats were excellent this season, he just hasn't played very much. And Kyron agrees with me, so there you go. Kyron, you're a fool. You should be agreeing with me. No, he's a rising star. I expect a big year for him next year. A big year being fourth choice? It's two locks. I'd argue he's... I'd argue he's got two first choices and two second choices. And I'd put Morgan Jones as one of the two second choices. Yes, I agree. Two plus two equals? Four. So does that make Johnny Williams our third choice answer? Or second choice 12? Left lock and right lock are totally interchangeable. 12 and 13 aren't. Not every player can do it. Johnny's been playing 13 all season. So he's second choice 12 and second choice 13. So does that make him second choice or third choice? Second choice for each position, because they're different. Oh, here we go. Left lock and right lock aren't. We'll agree to disagree. His head's gone. Right. Cool. Getting some good players left on this list. I'm looking down. Right. I propose a motion. Any player who has crossed the bridge is ineligible to be ranked. Fair. Cowen? I think that's a bit unfair. But we rank him... We base our ranking on such decisions. Or is it the ultimate sin? What if he'd crossed the bridge and then do an announcement video in full kit? Then he deserves to be shot and the management deserves to be shot with him. I would have suggested then that certain players' profile photos wouldn't be put in at the bottom. Otherwise, yeah. We'll come back to them. Dinky Jones. He can't go again because he's left. So is that a failure? No. It's not the same. Dinky Jones hasn't... didn't score a Grand Slam winning try at Twickenham. You see, my issue is I feel like done a job is too low because he has done a job for us whenever he's been picked. But sort of... If we're reviewing his time with us as a whole as opposed to just this season... Because we can't put him in Wigo again because he won't be going for us again. But... Yeah. Should we have an unofficial bye-bye category and just leave the players down at the bottom? Dinky won't play two, three games for us this season. Conceded a penalty try in one of them. I love Dinky to hell and back. You know, model school boy. You know, come out and born and bred. You don't get more Scarlet than Dinky. So... I think over his career for the Scarlets he's done a job. Yeah, over his career he's done a job. Okay. Eoghan Lloyd. Most picked at... fly half. Now... I'm worried that people think I have a downer on Eoghan Lloyd. I think he's an extremely talented robot player. I think ball in hand is fantastic. I think his aerial skills are massively underrated. His kicking from hand is great and his goal kicking is also great. And... he gives 110% to the Scarlets every time he steps out on that pitch. Never doubted his commitment or his effort. My... The thing that I'm stuck on is I don't believe that fly half is his best position. And for that reason I think he goes and done a job this season. I'm not sure because he's still incredibly young. He still has a lot to learn. He's still a rising star. He hasn't exactly found his position, has he? And looking at where we are... If he moves around a bit. Yeah. Looking at where we are going into the future I mean, we'll come onto Eoghan Nicholas later who's basically in the same position. You know, we've got Charlie Tidcombe who will get a lot more exposure now. You know, just because he's... Dwayne's actually going to have to look at him and he's going to have someone over his shoulder telling him you know, this guy's actually off decent. And then you look at our 10s coming through the academy. I can see Eoghan within the next two years in that 15 jersey full-time. So I'd stick him in rising star, personally. What's your take, Carwyn? Where did you put him? This season I think he's done a job. I feel like he was signed as a full-back but hasn't been picked yet. He's been picked in a different position where, compared to the other choices we've had in that position there's been a clear difference in quality. It's difficult to put him in rising star when he was in the Wales squad started against England and now wasn't in the Wales squad at all. Now, we're not picking purely on whether the players play for Wales or not, clearly because we put Johnny Williams in pleasant leave. It's difficult. I think a lot of bright moments have come through Eoghan Lloyd and I think that the issues that he's had aren't his fault. So I think you have to put him in done a job. I'm disappointed, Dave. A two from three. I'll find him now. There you go. I fully expect him next year to potentially be in a better position and next year to potentially be in Alex Craig. I think he's got the talent. He just needs to be given a shirt and be let to run with that shirt and not chop and change as a lot of players still do the same to him in chopping him from fullback to wing to whatever, but he just needs a long stint in one shirt and I think Eoghan and Nicholas have proven this year if you give a player time and a chance in the same position week in, week out they give you performance after performance after performance. Eoghan Lloyd just needs that chance. Shall we just put Eoghan and Nicholas straight in Alex Craig then? Yes. Fantastic season, Eoghan. I don't think he's proved a lot of people wrong because I don't think anybody ever doubted him but I think he's surprised a lot of people with how good he was. He's surprised a lot of people outside of the Scars region. Samson Lee is in this list, I've just noticed. What shall I do with him? He's a legend. I remember my favourite Samson Lee memory is when we played the semi-final up in Glasgow and Glasgow had a scrum on our five metre right on half-time and we shoved them off their own ball and won the penalty. That was a good moment. I was like, we're going to the final boys. This is it. And in audio format if you could say yes rather than just nod that would be helpful. Yes! Nod and hmm doesn't work on audio, sorry. Sorry avid audio listeners, we've been being very poor tonight. Okay, next. Fair feet, please don't leave. Yeah. 15 line-out steals. People need to realise, it's like, oh yeah, cute. 15 line-out steals. Do you realise how much more that is than anybody else in the whole URC? It's like twice as many. And how many games did he play? Yeah. And also, by the way, if he was Welsh he would be playing for Wales right now. Like, ridiculously, arguably the most talented player in Wales. Please don't leave there. Similar kind of vein, Sam Lousey almost did leave by all accounts, but didn't. He's got to be in Pleasantleaf surely as well? Yeah. Yeah. Mark, come on. Let's have it. I said yeah, didn't I? Or didn't you hear me? You said yeah in an unconvinced way. Made me think that maybe I had a different view. No, I was thinking he'd just signed a new contract. Yeah. He's probably not going to be around to sign another one. So, apples, oranges. I'm happy where he is. Okay. Tom Rogers. For me, he's in We Go Again. Yeah. He hasn't had the most consistent of seasons, whether that's through injury or otherwise. But there's a lot of talent in the boy. Arguably, wing isn't his long-term position. No. A bit of a victim of selection, maybe, you arguably say. Yeah. I mean, when you've got Johnny McNichol in front of you and you've basically not been told, but all your attributes lend yourself to fall back, and then your time comes and you pick up an injury, you're like, shit. You know, where we've seen Joe and Nicholas really be outstanding the second half of the season, we should have really been seeing Tom Rogers do that. Right. Martin, do you remember a couple of weeks ago, I told you I had an amazing stat? Yes. Yes, you did. I think it was just over a week ago? Yeah. So, I did Razzy Erasmus-style battle stats for all URC players, but I didn't read them all, obviously, because that would take my entire life. But, it's basically, you add up all of the positive contributions a player can have to a game. Tackles, offloads, line breaks, defenders beaten, clean outs, blah, blah, blah. All the things a player can do in a game to positively contribute to it. Who do you think was the Scarlet's top battle stats player? And I'll give you a clue. It was clear by about 13, 14 percent compared to anybody else. Percent? More than 10 percent better than anybody else. That's a lot. I mean, I want to say Alex Craig because just the sheer amount of games he played, but seeing as the way you're talking, it makes me think this is going to be a surprise. Who could it be? Gareth Davis? No. Calwin, any guesses? Ryan Elias? No. Ryan Elias was higher. Our top battle stats player this season is a certain Calwin Tupeloti. Doesn't surprise me. I'm going to say that was my second guess but it's a bit pretty poor saying that afterwards. I thought you were going to say Calwin Evans now you're very excited. So, not just Calwin Evans, Calwin J Evans. So, so the question is where to put him. Now, again, people forget I'm going to say this a lot during this pod. People forget how young he is, how young he came into the team. He had a setback is harsh. He came into the team and then was out of it again. But he is now, I think most people would agree Scarlett's first choice number eight. And like we've had, we talked on the pod about how we've recalibrated what type of player we think he is and he brings a balance to the force in terms of our back row where it's not lots of rampaging stallions all doing special magic things. It's like three players who actually bring different attributes to the team that makes us more complete. He does that. So, I feel like I want to put him in rising star. Yeah, I'm happy with that. And I'd like just to add a caveat. If he has a full season next season with a balanced back row, he moves into the please don't leave category at the least. I feel like if we can get a balance of a back row around Carwyn, then we will see the best of him and watch out when that happens. I did pick a battle stats 15. Can you still see the tier list or are you now seeing an Excel spreadsheet? No, still see the tier list. Okay, so I'm looking on my Excel spreadsheet. So, bear with me. So, I'll just add some more. Battle stats, battle stats, whenever you're in trouble. Battle stats. Battle stats work. So, I'll just run you through some of our top performers. Something about when you do that doesn't work properly. So, Carwyn Tupelotu is top of the battle stats 37, which is the most. Ryan Elias is second. Alex Craig is third. Sean Evans is fourth. So, there is a big drop off I should say. So, Carwyn is on 37. Sean Evans is on 28, down in fourth. And then Sam Lousey is then in fifth. The next person on the list is someone who's not in the tier list because they're not in the senior squad. And that's a certain Tedwood Leatherbarrow. Where would we rank him if he hadn't left? Rising star. Rising star. How he's been allowed to go is absolutely shocking. And like I said the last time I was on the pod as far as I'm aware he's not even playing pro rugby next season. If someone as talented as him begs belief I don't have the words for it. It's just unreal. So, just while we're at it our battle stats 15 is there's a bit of debate to be had here. So, number one Wynn Jones. Interesting. He has played a lot of time at High Head. Number two Ryan Elias. Number three Harry O'Connor. Wales International Harry O'Connor. Number four Alex Craig. Number five Sam Lousey. See, it sounds right, doesn't it? There's some logic behind the stats. Number six Tame Plumtree. Again, sounds right. Number seven Tedwood Leatherbarrow. You could arguably play Sean Evans there because he's higher in the battle stats and he did start life as a seven. Number eight Kyle Winslow-Veloso. Number nine Kieran Hardy. Now Kieran obviously better off the bench I think it's fair to say. Yeah. And he would have gotten most of those minutes off the bench. So, our most picked scrum half this season was Gareth Davis. Number ten the Yohan Lloyd's battle stats are better than Sam Costello's. Quantity. You could play Yohan Lloyd at 15 and have Costello at 10. That does make sense. And then I'll stop there because we're getting into players that we haven't spoken about yet. So next one interesting player Steph Evans. So Steph Evans statistically speaking is one of if not the best winger in the U of RC. His per 80 stats in pretty much every facet that you say a winger needs to be good at is through the roof. He does the most of any winger. Yeah. I mean Steph is one of those players you either love him or you hate him. For me I had a word for him and it's gone from my mind. He's one of them players that if you can get him on your team sheet and you're sorted then it's goal done. You're going to be cracking. So when you need your carriers your defensive players when you need every single player to do their job then you can protect some players if you've got a weaker 10 for instance you can have just a wrecking ball as a 12 to defend that channel. There's ways to put other players in place to protect those and that's the type of player Steph is. If you can find a way to protect him defensively then you get him on that pitch. Maybe don't let him kick the ball. Some of his kicks lead to tries so it's a balancing act. Cowan, what's your Steph position? In the table? Just generally I'd like to know your thoughts on Steph Evans. I feel like he's a quality winger. Something happened towards the end of the Wayne Pivack era where his game coincidentally then went off the boil. At times I feel he's looked disinterested in playing for the Scarlets but at the same time he's a magician full of tricks. So if we can get the pre-Covid Steph Evans back on the wing then we're in for a treat. I just hope his best days aren't past him because I think is he still only 28, 29 I think? He's still got two years left in him but he's lost his way a bit I feel the last few years. Going by where you said the Wayne Pivack era I'm making you think the 18-19 season is last year with the Scarlets where for some and fab muddle reason he just stopped picking him. He went down to play for Smithley didn't he? No one understood that reasoning. I remember the word a luxury player. He's the type of guy you want if you can. I think that's true. I think he's a kind of a case of just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Just because you can beat three defenders on the wing doesn't mean necessarily it's the right thing to do every time. So I think and you know he's had a bad injury so for me I think Steph is in where we go again. Yeah. Yeah he hasn't played that much has he? And I genuinely hope he does that we see his best again. Sam Wainwright underrated Mark? Yeah I was very saddened to hear that when we were in the well when Wales were in the lookout for a travelling reserve of a tight end prop they didn't go to Sam Wainwright. You know he's got international experience he's solid at the set piece and I'm not saying he will scrimmage you off the ball I'm saying he will hold his own and he will do a job for his club. And that's if if you're looking for the bare minimum of a tight end prop you've you've more than got it with Sam. He's developing the loose quite nicely and you know I think he's what he's still got seven, eight years left in him man. You know maybe not this World Cup cycle because I think we're stuck with Gatland and he's set in his ways but who knows next World Cup cycle we could see Sam have a stormer and come full right into it. Yeah I think so this year as in yeah. Excited to see where his career could go but this year he's done a job. I think it's tough to put give any prop more than that you know we can't get around to the stats say that. Harry O'Connor I'm about to contradict myself in a big way. He has to go in Rising Star. He's going to have tons of minutes for Wales this summer and look geez he is learning the hard way like blimey he's basically learning how he's again props mature than other players just get your head down Harry and just give it your all we're all right behind you. Harry is a phenomenal player it can't be understated he's got everything in the loose already and I've talked about him many times when we talked about their own scrum and probably a lot in the last season with who went round his shape and his form going into a scrum it's pucker even to when you're getting into that bind and you drop that extra six plus inches everything he does technically is right and you know even if we look at the weekend where he was on the pitch for Wales South Africa have got a very dominant scrum but they were angling in for fun and it annoys you when it's blatant and you don't normally see it on Seneca but you know Harry's going to Australia and I'm hoping they play I've lost his name O'Keelea I think is the young looser they've got so that would be interesting if they put them together cool next player scrum half Evan Jones not played very much it's hard then not to put him anywhere apart from Eagle again but isn't it just because he's had one start there's not much to add about him I'm kind of in the mood of we've only now got two scrum halves and one of them is still a kid even though I think he's absolutely amazing we'd be shocked if Evan left for whatever reason we've got Gareth Davies what more can you say what more can you say about him he's a lion outstanding battered off so many names in his career then we've got Archie who's many believe he's a lion in weight then but he's a massive drop off you know and then even 12th fourth choice we're looking at Lucas Sotaro who's in the under 20s and never played a pro game so quietly he's become unbelievably invaluable on subjects of scrum halves controversially I think we have to put Archie Hughes in We Go Again because and I don't think it's his fault I think he has been not selected in a lot of games where he should have been selected I'd love to put him in Rising Start if he's not in We Go Again he's in Rising Start because he's at Wales under 20s starting scrum half last season if you contrast what he's decisions he's had with what Dan Edwards has had with the Ospreys I think we're all extremely frustrated we haven't seen more of Archie he's been playing at Carmarthen Quinns all season so I want to put him in Rising Start he's going to play a lot more next season I want to put him in Rising Start just for the fact that when we have seen him he's been absolutely brilliant and it's through no fault of his own that he hasn't had the minutes when you've got you're struggling to get in that team What do you think, Aaron? I think he is a Rising Star but based on this season's performances I don't think he goes in that category just because we haven't seen enough of him and hopefully with the departure of one of those international scrum halves you mentioned, Matt that next year he he sort of forces his way into the if not the starting starting line-up onto the bench and he'll definitely fly up the capitals but I just think because of how much we've seen of him I don't think we can justify putting him up in Rising Start sorry Aaron agrees to me OK John Fox We had to pick a pessimist for the third didn't we? Jesus, Craig John Fox John Fox goes in Alex Craig arguably instead of Scarlett no what else is there to say as in Scarlett out three plus yeah where next? Ryan Combie can't go in where he'd go again he's already left he can't go in where he'd go again because he's left he can't go in please don't leave because he has left but he's done more than a job he hasn't gone anywhere else so please don't leave Pembroke yeah but he's been in case already where's he going? it'd be banter if I put him in please don't leave I don't understand that he doesn't have a contract I really don't in any way in World Rugby I can see him like getting signed by someone in English Champ or Dragons Dragons seems to be the place but I don't think they've got space for him at the moment hilariously we're putting Ryan Combie in please don't leave because that's where his performance is I've warranted him to be alright let's do a wing partner then Tommy Lewis Rising Star my best my personal best friend is Tommy Lewis Rising Star yeah yeah he was almost outstanding could play for Wales one day could play for Wales one day yeah could play for Wales one day okay right good players left here Cowdour's a funny one Cowdour has not had his best season he got nominated for player of the season I think he's a bit a bit of a recency bias when he first came back into the team after the World Cup he was amazing he arguably beat Cardiff on his own not a great end to the season what were we saying I feel like I can't put Cowdour in done a job yeah the irony is I think you've got to put a 33 year old in a Rising Star I can't do that but he's not please don't leave this year and he's more than done a job based on his performance this year I'd put him in the third category it's not my fault you've called that category Rising Star he's definitely you know mid you know throughout this season so it's ridiculous I think we've kind of got to put him if we can't put him in Rising Star we've seen the good the bad and the ugly from him this year this system has screwed us over a little bit I think we need an amendment on him next year alright whatever okay he's only done a job Agra gets out to have done a job coward or if you your mistake was that you didn't retire if you'd have retired you'd have been in Analytics Craig based on the rules but unfortunately you're still here so you've done a job that's how it goes look you're in the Wales squad touring Australia you're going to be Scarlett starting Scrum Half next season worst things have happened to you since being in and done a job Sam Costello okay so I did the rap podcast this evening I get very worked up when people criticise Sam Costello so I'm going to let you two talk about him and I'm not going to say anything Sam is essentially the best thing since sliced bread with a 10 position is concerned you know people knock him for whatever he can like the BBC put a post on socials oh he missed that kick oh no terrible how many world class players have missed kicks early in their career and even later in their career people you can name every single 10 that has ever played for Wales and all of them have missed kicks no one has ever been perfect there was no praise when he had the conversion you just comment Sam is an unbelievable player and in terms of what he does for us let alone Wales you know we change dramatically when he's on our pitch he is I think still 23 years old and he is a leader of men you know he is not going anywhere people morning oh give Ben Thomas a shirt give the oh what's the Scottish guy Sheedy is the one I see a lot of I'm not here to slag off other players but people have been watching too much TNT sports yeah I mean I haven't seen anything of his literally nothing I haven't even watched the game properly from the weekend so I'm not going to touch him Ben Thomas is a great is a really good 12 borderline great at regional level you know he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's he's 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