'Box-ticking' Munster review, URC bunfight, W6N milestone

Fair play to you.

Um, before we dive into the action, I might loosen up with a, a listener question.

I sent this on to you in advance a couple of days ago 'cause I wanted to make sure I actually got this in 'cause this is exactly the kind of question I want, I want people to be sending in.

Sportpodcast@rte.ie. Sportpodcast@rte.ie. "Hi there.

I write to you under cover of anonymity for fear of reprisals from tho- those whom I criticize, but my friends talk a lot of nonsense about rugby without really understanding basics.

So what would you say is the thing that pub standard fans misunderstand most about the game? Example, kicking the ball isn't necessarily con- conservative.

Ruck accuracy is priority number one.

What an out-half's job actually is.

That kind of thing.

Thanks." And that comes from Mr.

B.

Yeah, it's a, it's a great question.

I, I do think sometimes, and, and I'd be guilty of this, of, of maybe trying to make it too technical or, or, or over-elaborate the little details.

I think it's still a game where the fundamentals, uh, to win are, are territory, um, strong set piece, a good defense, and a good goal kicker.

I think that can, that can get you a f- a long way.

And even if you look at the last couple of World Cups, um, you know, that, that's been the, the mantra.

Obviously, good defense from, from the box.

But the tacking stuff can come later, the phase play, the ...

You have to be have g- real good ruck efficiency because y- when you get in the right areas, you gotta be able to keep the ball.

But I would say strong set piece, um, being able to play territory, kick your goals, uh, and defense are the, are the m- main ones.

And then if you're adding on layers of, um, like, a big strong 12 will get you over the gain line, is also another thing that whether it's J- it's JT's or, or, or, uh, World Cups, is ...

Those type of players are really important and, and those type of, of profiles.

So it's, like, the, the over intellectualizing of the-

Yeah

... of the game.