The Power Pod (00:00.386) you

The Power Pod (00:11.782) super stoop to a stone cold stone axe. Yes, PWR fans, we have our 24-25 season top four. we do. Bristlebears did just enough for the home of Harlequins to book a date with Gloucester Hartbury in the playoff semi-finals, while Exeter Chiefs came up short against Saracens to miss out.

But it wasn't all about the top four with Ealing Trailfinders giving a maul in by the Tigers and Sail Sharks managing another record points tally in their last game at home. Yes, round 17 reviewed, round 18 previewed, Lucy Nice One questioned, Sean Lin and an historic club departure. That's Philippa Tuttiet, I'm Nick Heath and this is the Powerpod.

The Power Pod (00:59.993) Fiddle-a-pad-tut-y-ut! It's our third last show. Goodness. Goodness. I know! Isn't that crazy? How we get here? How did we get here? How have we been allowed to get here? How are you? I'm good, thank you. How was your weekend? How was Friday night? I just saw you on the screen. I love him!

I really enjoyed the role of reporter. I get to do it on lot of World Feed coverage on men's women's rugby. And I used to do it a lot in the days of the Premier 15 streaming, where you would host the coverage and, know, hello and welcome to Shaftesbury Park. Now let's hear how the coaches were feeling ahead of kickoff with me earlier. And then you do those and then you'd be like, right now up to commentary with me in commentary.

And then you kind of wrap on the full-time score and be like, okay, we'll get some post-match traction in a minute and then run down and be the pitch line reporter. So I've sort of done, I've done all the roles, but actually to do it on big telly, I had makeup and everything. had midnight because it was the pride game. So I had the pride colors on my face. I really loved it. It was just nice to have the relationships that I have with the players to hopefully bring that across to the viewers at home and have some kind of nice warm.

fun conversations around the game, which I really enjoyed I did notice a bit of a pod love between you and Ellie Kilder. That was amazing, wasn't it? Love Ellie for that. Yeah, that was completely unrehearsed. But yeah, she was just, I was listening to your pod. like, I better say I've been listening to yours too. So, so yeah, that was great. Did you enjoy your weekend off? I did very much. Friday night, awesome game, brilliant. We had some friends around, lots of kids, which inevitably when you make plans with friends and kids,

one of the kids is going to get sick and that is what happened. So it was a, yeah, bit of a divide and conquer weekend. Right. You go here with them. I'll stay here with them and you know, just plans, just kids and plans. Just don't go together. Just, you know, yeah, one of those weekends, but it started really well with that game caught up with a few of the other games as well. Wicked round rugby, absolutely wicked round rugby. They are treating us, you know,

The Power Pod (03:10.41) Even the teams, like we say, that weren't even competing for that top four. Trail Finders once again. what a game. I know. Well, we will get to that. That's, think, our second game to review. But take us back to Valentine's for anybody that couldn't catch up with the action at the Stoop. OK, so Harlequins 10, Bristol Bears 19.

It looked like a bracing night last Friday for this one. So full credit to the near 7,000 people that showed up, making it a record crowd at the Stoop for Harlequin's women. In terms of the game itself, Phoebe Murray opened the Bears account, but World Player of the Year Ellie Kildon hit back for the host, capitalising on Claudia Peña's perfectly weighted kick, scoring her first of two tries on the night. Alicia Joyce Butchers and Sarah Byrne did enough for Bristol to win it.

Although Kiera Bevan kicking the ball into the stands in the 80th minute did raise an eyebrow too. Yeah. mean, Bristol got four points secured and we were in that last sort of minute. It wasn't all five points. They had three tries. What did you make of that Kiera Bevan moment, P.T.? I think I made of it what she made of it when she realised what she'd done. You know, hands on her head like, no, that wasn't the right call.

You know, and you looked at the Bristol team, they were shaped to attack. was pretty much a center field turnover, wasn't it? And then you have this beautiful almost arrow of players just ready and waiting. And on the right-hand side where she actually kicked the ball towards, you could see they'd created a short. They actually had an overlap. So look, it wasn't a guaranteed, wasn't like she, you know, she butchered a two V one. It was no guarantee, but when they were already nine points clear as well. So you're like, if they were maybe only five points clear.

you could think, okay, well, Kira Bevin's just being super cautious and doesn't want to risk the ball being too low, but they were nine points clear. even if that just happened, you know? So yeah, I think it was just maybe a bit of, you know, rush of blood to the head. But hey, equally though, I'm guessing for her, because it was a wicked clearance kick from the center of the field. So she'll get no credit for that. Her performance was superb. And actually chatting to Dave Ward after the game, I said, you how was that? goes, it was absolutely livid. He goes, but I cannot, I cannot.

The Power Pod (05:23.214) really lose my 10 because we got four points and Kira was brilliant for the rest of the game. So I sort of appreciated his consideration of, okay, maybe a brain fart moment. But I heard afterwards, basically the whole of the rest of the team knew and were like, attack, attack, attack. No one's talking to Kira, no one's told her. So I mean, how many times in World Rugby do we see these sorts of moments where one or two people seem to not be on the same page?

I don't know, maybe they went out to the toilet during the midweek briefing about what happens in certain situations, who knows. But yes, think it was a superb performance from Keira Bevan, regardless of that bit. It was also the Sarah Burns show. Last week, Phil, you asked for a pirouette from Sarah Burns. She decided to give you a Friday night lights masterclass in South West London. More carries than anybody else. 23 with 11 of those being dominant, 55 post contact meters.

including a try. credit to Bristol on the road. They got what they needed. Yeah. Just such a great game though, wasn't it? So glad that this was shown on TNC. A lot of people coming up to me actually over the weekends saying they sort of stumbled upon it and what a great game, you know, to stumble across. Fuel for Harlequins, you know, they threw it at them, didn't they? But defence kind of let them down a bit. They missed a lot of tackles in that game. Great to see Jade Conchol Roberts back in, but still no Alex Callender.

which that's not all down to her, you know, she is a quality player and hopefully she'll be back in next weekend because I do think they miss her. Yeah. Just a word, by the way, on anybody that I noticed quite a few comments on the switch of TV game after that all became known last week. And I totally get it. Saracens fans, Chiefs fans, know, frustrated that that game wasn't on big TNT sports.

The game that was the option on the Friday suddenly became a, Bristol do it? I think there was more jeopardy on that. I know that Chiefs were the ones then in fifth trying to get in, but ultimately they had two games in hand. So it was Bristol's last match. There is the Alona Marfactor, whether you like it out there or not, it's going to bring, you know, she's going to bring more eyeballs. The campaign has had more eyeballs as a result. If you are looking at growth of the league and more people seeing the product, then for me, moving it to that Friday night game is a no brainer.

The Power Pod (07:45.39) you have to kind of just take yourself out of it's following her, it's following Quinn, it's following Bristol again. But I just think you do, you know, and 7000 people at the Stoop for that standalone game. I know personally about 20 people who went and they went because they heard Whisper that it could be Alonema's last game. Those are people who don't go and watch PWR very much. They're friends and friends of friends. So that kind of tells me all you need to know. And also then a few people said, well, but if it was going to be a

BBC game, then why did TNT Sports switch to take it as, you know, couldn't we could have had two games that weekend. I'm afraid it doesn't quite work like that. So basically there is a big telly production done and then it is taken by TNT Sports or the BBC or both. But there is one production that is done for big telly over the weekend. So that's why you couldn't then just go, we'll have to.

Obviously we're title sponsors with more money in the league. are hoping that that will increase and we will have more coverage. But that is just, I just wanted to say a little bit on that because it's a very industry thing to know a lot of that detail. So for any fans out there that didn't quite get that, then I just wanted to share that. Good. Understood. Happy. Yeah. I think it's good actually to give that context to it, isn't it? And look, ultimately this is all coming from a good place. People just want to see more of the premiership women's rugby, which is great, but I think...

giving just that little bit of background information maybe just helps people with their views and their voices. But equally keep demanding it because the more we demand that we want to see it, hopefully like you say, the more games we will get seen. Yes, totally. And I think it's something they're looking to try and improve next year to try and have more live coverage on more game streams. So we wait and see what happens over this long summer we have coming up. Anyway.

The next game, well you mentioned it earlier, Philippa. Saturday the 15th. Trail Finders 43, Leicester Tigers 45. Just the 14 tries at Trail Finders. Last home game this season, seven apiece in this absolute score fest. Proper back and forth affair, Tigers went into the break 26-17 up. Thanks to tries from Talia Brody, Fran McGee and Meg Jones and a penalty try. Kate Zachary, Liz Musgrove and Jess Cooksey all scored for Trail Finders.

The Power Pod (09:55.214) The ding-dong battle continuing immediately after the break. Brodie scoring her second for Tigers. Vicky Laughlin responding for the hosts. Framaggy crossed over twice to complete a much deserved hat-trick. It was 45-22 to Tigers at 72 minutes before Trail Finders then chucked everything at it, scoring three tries in five minutes. But alas, Tigers clung on. What a game. Oh my gosh, what a game. Initially, you know, I thought...

Trail Finders would have it. They, even if they didn't have much of the ball, defence was good, put in some big shots, like proper hitting players back. And I thought, okay, here we go. thought that too, watching that. thought, is, knowing the result when I was watching it, was like, this feels like again, that Trail Finders, you know, at this point would be going, great, this is good. We're right, we're riding, all right, we're okay. Tigers overplaying.

you know, instead of kicking it out of their 22, they were insistent on trying to carry it and at points they got turned over. think that led to a try actually for Trail Finders. So yeah, it very much felt like, yep, this is Trail Finders game. And yeah, to see the result at the end, like credit for Tigers, you know, they weathered the storm, they stayed in it and they played some good rugby, really just reactional rugby, it? You you've got Meg Jones in there. She literally does create something out of nothing. That little chip through she did.

know, there's a solid line of trail finders defenders in front of her, but she found like literally the three inches between someone's foot space to dink that ball through and get a try. So awesome game once again, like the fans, what a treat and gutted in a way that trail finders couldn't get the win from it, but equally what an entertaining game.

Yeah, a couple of the stats to pick out. Nikki Simpson, Meg Jones, Fran McGee, they all made the PWR Team of the Week as did Lisa Thompson and Grace Moore, who was actually just, they score these as a kind of decimal score and the highest one will come to the winner this week of Team of the Week was 8.6. Grace Moore was 8.5, just 0.1 off getting that. Nine carries, 28 meters, 15 tackles. You mentioned Meg Jones there. We know that she gets a lot of air time because of how good she is and what a character as well. I was watching

The Power Pod (12:08.108) bits of that performance from her. And I just thought, Antoine Dupont, and I just thought, I really hope that fitness might allow Meg Jones the possible moment to be in the running for a world player of the year nod at some point, because she has got it. There is something that she will see or do in a different way to other players. So yeah, it's a very early shout. We've only just awarded the last one. But yes, that's just a little nod from me.

No, I think that's an absolute great show. She really has. And she just so enjoyable to watch, isn't she? And you know, she fronts up in defense. She's not scared of a ruck. She gets in there. She does what she needs to do. Had some actually really good clear outs last weekend as well. yet creates something out of nothing. Really entertaining player. Yeah. Good, good. All right. Then up to North London then. Yeah. So on Saturday, it was Saracens 21, Exeter Chiefs 12. This is tough.

So, Chiefs knew what they needed to do for this one, but with their injury crisis, they just couldn't do enough. They made a decent start through Nancy McGilvray, but Saracens responded in emphatic fashion through tries from Sophie Bridger, May Campbell, and Poppy Cleal to head into the break in control. Chiefs fought back through the ever-present Claudia MacDonald, but Saracens held out. Credit to the three-time winners, Saris, who have made the playoffs

every year since the dawn of the premier 15s. That says a lot about their consistency, doesn't it? Yeah, I know. especially in this season where they've had a bit of a roller coaster, they've had that odd loss. know, don't they? Let's just say they know, they coach well, they're good players, they find a way. I really felt in this game, I don't know how you felt, but it was almost like there was very little in it. And then Saracen's just had this flurry of tries and then there was very little in it.

It was, you know what I mean? was strange to see the scoreline as it was in the second half because you felt like there was just nothing between these two teams. And I don't know, I don't ever feel like Saracens were in control of it. I literally feel like there was nothing between them, but somehow Saracens managed to build that scoreboard and held on.

The Power Pod (14:22.734) Well, yeah, and sort of almost two relatively low scoring games actually, weren't there, with Queen's 10, Bristol 19, and then Sarri's 21, Chiefs 12. They were sort of slightly tight, edgy games at points. But look, let's spare a thought for Chiefs fans, for the players, for Susie Appleby, Steve Salvin and crew. Top of the table for such a large part of this season, but four losses in a row after three years in the playoffs. Two of those as finalists, they finished fifth, which I think...

has to be the most painful placing in the league, right? Yes, in a nutshell, horrendous. They've had their injuries, we do have to acknowledge that, but then equally, lots of teams have had their injuries. That's part of the congested part of this season. These players haven't had as much time maybe to recover and you haven't been able to rotate your squad maybe as much as you would have liked, but it is a shame. But again,

testament to the quality of league and the teams that are playing and doing so well right the way through. cannot, you you can't drop those games. I do feel for them though, because like I say, I think there was very little in this game. Saris found a way. Yeah, indeed. Okay. Well, that's the last game of last round then. Sail Sharks 24, Gloucester Harbury 41 was the evening game.

on Saturday Gloucester Hartpree dominating the first half with three tries before half time Zoe Allcroft Rachel London, Mia Venner on the score sheet Domination continuing in the second half Venner bagging two more tries to complete our hat trick with Gillian Bogue adding to the assault The fight from the Sharks came through Sophia Stephane and Mulwenna Tallang but it wasn't enough to stop the Cherry Whites from sealing top spot and top seed going into those playoffs

Mia Venner was the player at 8.6. Congratulations to her as being the player of the round. Also, we mentioned it in our intro, Sail Sharks, well, we only just talked about them getting 20 points at home and that being their highest home tally. And then they've gone and got 24 and bettered it with the champions in town. So that for me is a bit of a round of applause moment. you want improvement, you want people to still take it up a notch, no doubt as a coach. And that's what Sail Sharks managed to do.

The Power Pod (16:36.302) Yeah. And kept playing, you know, the kept playing odds were against them. They conceded early tries and yet they're scoring in the second half. So yeah, credit to them for staying in that fight and scoring against Gloucester, Hartbury, that, know, any other team put in 24 points against Gloucester, Hartbury. That's good. That is strong. Um, there could be an argument for maybe Gloucester, Hartbury taking a little bit of a foot off the gas, but equally they came back at them. It was almost like every time sales scored rather than it sort of,

giving them the momentum. almost gave Gloucester-Harpry the momentum. And then they just, they went into fifth gear, you know, and then, and they sort of, they came back with a, with another try, but yeah, Mia Venner I thought was, was outstanding. Hat-trick, beat 11 defenders on her own. That's pretty, pretty impressive. Seven tries now and six appearances. What a, what an asset for Gloucester-Harpry to casually have in the center there, or indeed the wing, you know, great utility player, isn't she?

Yeah, yeah, no, she certainly hit her form at the right time for them. Okay, well, let's move in to the last round of the PWR this season. My goodness, hasn't it flown by? We talked a lot about this congested season. It's been intense, but we've loved every minute of it. So they are all Friday night matches this week.

Leicester Tigers against Chiefs, Saracens against Alesharks, Gloucester against Queens, the TV game, Lightning against Trail Finers. Not so much at stake in terms of the table, but I guess we are still yet to confirm the venue of the first semi-final next week. If Saracens win, then they secure the home semi, but if they don't and Queens do, then Queens will host that semi-final. So let's run you through the games and what's coming up.

Okay, so as you mentioned, they are all gonna be on Friday at 7.45. So we're gonna start with Leicester Tigers, who are currently sitting in eighth against Exeter Chiefs, who are, as we say, in that painful fifth. So two teams that will certainly have hoped that their seasons went better. For Tigers, they held on against a Trailfinder side that love scoring tries, and that shows that their season has gradually improved, and they're gonna look to end on a high. For Exeter Chiefs,

The Power Pod (18:48.76) Can we say they can still end on high? I they've got a retaliation. it's tricky isn't I wonder whether they're, I mean, I hate to say this. It's awful when you've had a disappointing end to your season, but for Leicester Tigers and the result they just got at Trail Finders with perhaps a slightly downhearted Exeter Chiefs coming there. I think that the challenge for the Chiefs this week is to get yourselves up, get yourselves ready, end that season on a high for yourselves.

in order to have a good break and be ready for next season. Because you don't want to turn up there and find it's another loss on the cards, you? So yeah, I think they need to find that motivation within themselves. they have had a lot of players out with injury. That kind of injury room list has been mounting. yeah, and interesting, look, they've got a lot of North Americans in their lineup as well. Just wondering.

how things might look as we look over to the USA rugby landscape with the women's elite rugby. We might run through the rosters a little bit later too with a bit PWR interest. But yeah, will their USA internationals take off over there? Will they be coming back? Oh, there's lots of questions ahead of the next season for Exeter Chiefs. But honorable mention, Poppy Leach visited the most rucks this season, 428, second most tackles with 211. So that's a pretty, pretty...

epic performance from Poppy Leach over the course of the season. Isn't it just work rate personified for that lady? Yeah. So the second match that we're just looking at briefly, Saracens against Sail Sharks. Saris back at home at the Stoenex for the second week running. They know they're in that semi-final spot. They just need the W and their home semi-final spot is secured. Now, had Sail Sharks not gone down to Exeter Chiefs and beaten them,

then I think by now we would just be calling this an absolute foregone conclusion of a result. And, you know, I think the positions in the table will suggest that it's going to be a home win for Saracens. But, sales sharks might just love the idea of going and causing absolute havoc on the last day of the regular season to go and try and get a result in North London. Well, they've certainly showed, they, that they fear no one. They don't mind where they play, they don't mind who they're playing, they're going to try and play. Saracens did put over 50 points on them last season, but that was...

The Power Pod (21:11.094) almost like a different sales sharks team now, know? now will, sorry. So you've got to do some sort of squad rotation. They have to going in then to the semifinals. I wondered that, will they or will they not? Yeah, because you know, it's, it, it is about creating that momentum and you want to make sure. they want the, you know, they want the win, don't they? They secure that home semi. So. And they want a good win.

You you want your last play to be, you know, a dominant Saracens performance, because that's what gives you confidence going into the next round. So yeah, we'll have to look out for the team sheets there and see, but then equally, you Saracens have got brilliant strength and depth. So if, even if they do put some squad rotation in there, it'll still be, you know, a very good team. But yeah, for sale sharks, go get them again. do, you're finishing, like you're finishing your season out in such a great way. Um, let's, let's see what happens with that one. Yeah.

Totally. So that is Saracens against Shell Sharks. Okay. Then we go on to Gloucester Harbury, top of the table, against Harlequins. This is like a little Christmas Eve treat, isn't it? You're seeing this game so early on, because obviously they're going to be seeing each other again. So it was the reverse fixture back in October that Quins lost 18-27.

as the internationals were still trickling back to their clubs. Yeah. Quins will be keeping an eye on the scoreline at the Stone X, but they will expect Sarri to do the job there, you'd think. Gloucester sharing news this week that Carmen Castellucci has sustained a serious knee injury and could be one of those first names on the board no one wants to be on, ruled out of the Rugby World Cup. I even hate reading that. I know, isn't it awful?

Yeah, thought thoughts with with Carmen. was news out of the club this week that that yes, probably ruled out. we don't want to start that list. No, no, we don't. Obviously, the semifinals will see a four becoming two. So it's feasible that this could be a four runner to a PWR final. So how is Gloucester's head coach, Lynn, looking at it? Let's hear from him. Look, Harlequins take a lot of pride in their defense.

The Power Pod (23:23.02) and they take a lot of pride in their their ruck speed. So there's challenges both sides to the ball for us going in on Friday. So intensity and accuracy is the key key message. Intensity and accuracy indeed. Sean Lynn's life is probably a little intense at the moment generally, I would say. Over the next four and a half weeks, he has a three Pete to contend for and his first ever Women's Six Nations campaign to get cracking into with Wales. Madness. But

But anyway, are we interested actually in how he's approaching it? I think the answer is yes. Here's a little bit more from the man himself. All my time on with Gloucester-Harpry is normal, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, the players probably haven't seen any difference with that. My presence is always there. It's just the Wednesday piece where I'm usually watching the pathway players. That's where I'm going into Wales camp. you know, the Wednesday is where I'm really

fully focused in the Wales environment. And I'm going about the family piece with Wales and I've already had meetings with the future family, which is the pathway what we talk about. And so that's the big piece for me and how I connected with the loss family. So those are the things that I'm looking at. Certain individuals have been playing really well from the future family coming into the family. I've been super impressed with the Loughpurse.

Maisie Davis, think Bryony King has been a real big standout for Gualia. And the resilience that the breath on players, Lucy Isaac and Natalia John has just been outstanding within that. look, I'm super proud of that Celtic challenge. But then also you've got to think about how special the family are at the moment. 23 representatives in the PWR semi-finalists.

So really excited to be working with this group of individuals, players and staff. Wow, Sean Lim, what an embarrassment of riches he has at Klaba and of country. But interesting to hear him very happily name checking a few young names there, talking about the family, the future family. We can tell what he's doing here, can't we? Are you excited? I think I'm excited already.

The Power Pod (25:51.022) Yeah, certainly am. there, you he's right. There are some really exciting youngsters. I know Anna Snowsill, you know, the former Fly Half a Whale, she's involved with the under 18s and constantly praising how good they are, the talent there. And obviously we've got the under 20s as well. So that progressive pathway and then the Celtic challenge, which he's referring to watching these teams play in, they get that competition to be able to play against Scottish teams, Irish teams. And yet Bryony King, I've heard of her. Seen her play touch rugby actually.

Very mobile, very mobile forward. But I love the fact she's come through sort of a touch rugby circuit. And then, Elow Purse is Gweng Lian Purse's sister. And as you know- assumed as much. Yeah, Gweng Lian Purse is a force to be reckoned with. And again, her sister is very much following in her footsteps. So yeah, really exciting. I can't wait to see this first squad that he'll be picking. But yeah, gosh, when I think I'm busy, I just need to think, you're not Jean-Lin.

Yeah. Getting rip reality. Absolutely. Well, I love the fact that he's talking about creating those bonds like a family. That is clearly what Wales have needed for a while. So we're wishing him all the luck there. But back at Club Matters, know, he's ensuring that he wants to get the job done there.

and to deliver this elusive three-peat, which would be an extraordinary thing. So it's gonna be the live game on TNT on Friday night down at King's Home. Also news that King's Home are reprising officially at Queen's Home. So they're gonna be bringing Queen's Home out for the semi-finals, I think every attempt to get another whack and great attendance there as well. So if you fancy...

that one, then make sure you get along because of course it's Gloucester-Harpry against Bristol Bears. Bristol riding again, so that'll be good. Incidentally, Friday night live on TNT, Claire Thomas is commentating. Do you know who is her co-commentator? no, I don't. Go on. It is Bristol Bears' Dave Ward. Wait, what? There we go. Your face. Tell me everything. Yep.

The Power Pod (28:05.07) Dave Ward is stepping into the broadcast seat alongside Claire Thomas to do commentary on Gloucester Happy against Harlequins, which is a different perspective, right? Yeah, amazing. Okay, cool. Well, yeah, that's different. Yeah, think Claire's sort of outlet was, we have an interesting relationship when I'm in the role of reporter. So to be teammates on the night.

as it were, will be a different way of doing things. But he's not a man shy and giving an opinion. you know, I think that is, that's going to be very interesting viewing. Yeah. You are speechless. I've just never heard of a current coach commentating on another team in their league. But hey, we always say, don't we, in Women's Rugby, we haven't got to follow the norm. Let's break out. Let's do things different.

I'm actually, think that could be something really cool moving forward through the odd, through the odd coach into the, into the mix. Not too much, because I also enjoy commentating. don't want to be out of job. Yes, don't be taking my jobs away. every now and again. Great, okay. Suzie Appleby, I know has sort of expressed an interest in it before, or at least I've said you should be doing this and she's up for it because I think, I think she would be super as well. But yeah.

So there we are, that's how that one is going. Feel free to tune in on TNT Sports for that. And then the last game of the weekend. Well, they're all at the same time, but the last one on our sheet, basically. Loughborough Lightning 6, Ealing Trail Finders 7. Ooh, what a little ding-dong this is gonna be. Stadium at Franklin's Gardens, Loughborough will be playing this home match. Of course, after news this week of the departure of their captain fantastic, Scotty herself.

Rachel Malcolm, more than 15 years associated with the club. What a player. Wow. I actually didn't realise it had been that long. yeah, and for the news to come out so quickly, was, that was quite interesting, but then equally her choice. And hopefully it will be a really good game for her to finish out on. It's going to be a competitive one, both teams, you know, as we've said, peaking at the right time, coming into form.

The Power Pod (30:18.542) this could be a try first. Yeah, it could. I actually talking of the tries, know, the sort of 14 that was scored at Valles Way last weekend. was just having a look. Trail Finders are actually fourth on the log for the number of tries scored this season, which tells you how much they're, you know, how well they've been playing. But the slight problem is they're the third worst.

for conceding. So I know that that we've mentioned their defense a couple of times over the course of the season, but but clearly if they can write that ratio, they've still conceded more than they've scored, then then that obviously would be a better way for things to be next season. And and look, Rachel Malcolm, where she off to as we're recording, we don't know, we don't know when that news is going to come out.

I was chatting to Claire Thomas asking her if she's got any ins and any insight. She was saying that, you know, well, could be this, could be that, which clubs might need a bit of back row? Could we see her moving to somewhere like Trail Finders? they getting the checkbook out and seeing who might be around? that is Claire Thomas's little tip for the top that she's saying that she could go to Trail Finders, thinks it could be open, that she goes to another place in London, in West London as well.

We don't know, we don't know, but we thank Claire Thomas for being the one to put her neck on the block there and give us a suggestion. So the table after round 17, we know our top four. Gloucester-Harprey in pole position, 63 points. Saracen second, 57. Quinn's third, 55. So that's that two point gap that will come down to who's going to have the semi-final at home. Bristol-Bears, 53. Exeter-Chiefs, 46 points. Then...

all square, Loughborough Lightning and Trail Finders, 34 points each in the table. So that's why there's a direct shootout this weekend for that position in the table. Then it's Tigers on 17 and Sailsharks on four. OK, shall we just jump into the power line quickly, Philippa? Because we have had a couple of messages. We've had one actually from Rob, who we regularly hear from. And he is raising the question of cynical

The Power Pod (32:33.432) penalties and when they might not be. He admits it's a bit of a technical question, but he's asking why any infringement after a line break is considered cynical and yellow carded. So he's saying, look, if it's a genuinely blatant penalty, like obvious offside, clear side entry, diving off feet, lying on the wrong side, blah, blah, fine. But not every penalty is cynical. Now it's coming through his extra chief's lens, which will allow obviously. But he said in the last few rounds, chiefs had a player make the tackle after a line break.

then go for the jackal, got pinged for being off feet. In both cases, they were clearly on the ball, just lost their balance, probably because the tackle player was holding on, which meant an elbow went to ground, resulting in an off-feet penalty. I love that little dig. They were probably holding on to the ball anyway. Yeah, probably should have been a penalty of the way. Anyway, says, this is not a deliberate act and surely should not be called a cynical just because there was a line break beforehand. Penalty should suffice. In Claude's case, Saracen scored anyway under the advantage, so how should it have been a yellow card offence?

Then a few weeks back, Charlotte Frey got carded for not rolling after a line break when it was clear she made the tackle, immediately tried to get out of the way, half pinned in, but the ref said she wasn't rolling because she couldn't get out fast enough, classed it as cynical as it was after a line break. So it feels like this blanket approach is ignoring some important nuance in those situations. I mean, we'd love Sarah Cox back to this one, but it is an interesting discussion point, I think. guess...

If a team has made that line break, the referee is going to be viewing that they are in full attack mode, that ultimately you're going to have to be doing an awful lot to try and stop them. And at that pace of attacking, you know, manner, the defense has got to, anything the defense does to stop them at that point, I guess has got to be squeaky, squeaky clean. And therefore if you are panicked and you are going in and you're not squeaky clean, if your elbows do go on the floor or if the ref thinks you're not rolling away,

They're going to say, well, look, you've really killed the momentum here and you've not been as technically sound as possible. So I think that for me must be the reason that they say, you you're killing the momentum without being absolutely perfect. Yeah, yeah. It does raise a really good point around that. I think it's almost like, you know, when a player goes for an intercept, but let's say they're coming off their try line to do it in defense mode, you know, nine times out of 10, that will be a card.

The Power Pod (34:56.524) whether it was a genuine attempt or not. Whereas if they were maybe in the opposition's half and they went for it, there'd be a little bit more consideration. it's that kind of thing, isn't it? That if a team in attack is looking like they are full attack mode, try scoring mode, you do something that infringes, it's pretty much pinged straight away. But yeah, one that maybe we can get Coxy's thoughts on retrospectively and add in next week or so.

Yeah, we'll see what we can do. And the other one was from Tom Sims, no review this week other than to say what a game and atmosphere on Friday night. How good was round 17 with the top four finally confirmed? And despite the good news of the BBC involvement, shame no other matches were on TV. Fingers crossed for next season. Question for you both, what's gone wrong at Exeter after their flying start to the season?

A final note, great to say hello to Nick on Friday and keep up the great work both of you. It was lovely to meet you, Tom. Thank you for saying hello. And he wanted a selfie. He said, you have to take it because I'm terrible at these things, I duly obliged. So what has been going wrong at Exeter, Tom is asking. Well, I think an area to bring some focus to is their injury list because they called Kanaka Kobayashi in for the last game because of the length of the injury list.

just according to the club, but this is what we've got. weekend, this was the previous weekend, saw Alex Tessier suffer a facial fracture to add to a list that already features Maisie Allen ankle, Gabby Cantona ankle, Flo Long back, Adele McMahon hamstring, Cleona Maloney calf, Michaela Nelson knee, and Taylor Perry hamstring. How many of those names have we mentioned over the course of this season after positive Chiefs performances?

And so they've been having to do that over the last couple of rounds with, you know, that ever decreasing number. Emily Robertson was back making a first start after recovering from an ankle injury herself. yeah, I think when you've got that many of your sports cars in the garage needing repair, it's going to impact, right? Yeah. And it's literally like you've got the spine of the team, you know, you've got your front roads and your fallback, big players missing.

The Power Pod (37:07.104) Yeah, you've got, you've got to give that bit of context to it. Sport is just cruel sometimes, isn't it? You know, real shame. It's going to be a tough one to review that. cause you look at the first half of the season, they were doing everything right, you know, and even if the, in their game, last round against Saracens, they passed more, they carried more, they had more possession, had more territory. They were doing all the right things, but just didn't have that killer.

cut throat, triscoring aside unfortunately. So yeah, one maybe more for the strength and conditioners to be reviewing and looking at how to keep that injury list down. Yes. Okay, the power line then 078080716219. Thank you to those who've been in touch and look, we hope we're to get a little bit more from you before our last couple of rounds of the season. Certainly looking forward to those.

to those semi-finals. Right, one question time and I have to give full credit here to Caroline Moore who works on Extra Chiefs, listens to the pod and basically heard Test Fury's one question. And before I'd even got in touch to say, we have Lucy, she went and worked and got Lucy Nye's response for us. that's impressive. So here is Lucy Nye and her one question.

Hi, Power Pod. This is Lucy Nye of Exeter Chiefs. Thanks, Tess Fury, for your question. My answer to my favorite ever dinner has to be a roast dinner with all the trimmings. Yeah, definitely. And my question, big question, is to my fellow RAF teammate, Sarah Bonner. If you could go to dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

Thank you very much to Lucy and Caroline for helping make that happen. This question always makes me laugh. If you could go to dinner with anybody dead or alive. Well, I'd rather they were alive then. Thanks. We know what she meant. there's one for Sarah Bonner there, fellow RAF pal. So we shall try and get a catch up with one of our favorite Scots at Harlequins. But thank you, Lucy. Right. Any other business time? There has been...

The Power Pod (39:28.086) a lot of movement in the US rugby landscape with the teams announcing their rosters for Women's Elite Rugby WER. Just a little touch on some of the names that PWR fans may be more familiar with for you here. So within the New York Exiles roster, Tess Fury. Within the Bay Breakers, Catherine Tredder, Aliv Kelter, Bulu Mataitonga.

I mean, that's the level of talent they've got in that line up and the Baybreakers are certainly looking good. Isla Alejandro, former Saracen, who is in the Chicago Tempest roster. Katie Benson, Emily Henrich are in the Boston Banshees roster. The TC Geminis have got Olivia Leatherman and I'm guessing sister Lucy Leatherman. Apologies, I'm not up to date with the family. And then the Denver Onyx roster, Talia Brody, Rachel Erika.

Maya learned Hallie Taufoutou and Carly Waters. Now those are some big names in terms of USA rugby as well. Just exciting to be seeing some of the talent we know from the PWR. There's other talent as well. I I've had the pleasure of working on the Rugby 10th Championship. There's a Jade McGrath in there, Christian Bitter. These are all superb women's players internationally. So huge exciting times as Women's Elite Rugby comes into focus.

Yeah, absolutely. And if anyone knows where we can watch this, is it being streamed? Please let us know and we can put it out on our socials so everyone can keep a track of this new league, show it some support. Exactly. Right, Pete T, you wanted to draw attention to a little competition you spotted. Yeah, this looks so cool. So head down to the PWR website and you have a chance to win not only hospitality tickets for the PWR final, but you can also attend

the pre-match coin toss. You also get a match ball signed by the finalists. You get a special guided tour of the tunnel, the changing rooms and a limited edition match day program. So get onto the website. It's under the news section. You can enter there. I just think it's great that we've got this. You know, we were talking, weren't we, before we recorded the pod, when we've been to finals. I remember going to one back in 2019 and I think it was about a 2000 odd crowd. And to be fair, not many people knew about it to where we are now.

The Power Pod (41:46.656) being on a mainstream broadcaster with hospitality, with giveaways, know, how many thousands of people we're to have in the crowd. It's just absolutely brilliant. Obviously as well, our live show before. Well, indeed. Yes. If you haven't got your tickets, lovely segue, PT. We have the ultimate final live show. You can join us at the PowerPod along with our friends at The Good, The Scars and The Rugby Powered Vodafone for a live show.

at the Stonix Stadium at that PWR final. yes, whatever tickets there are left, if we have any, then get onto the link. It'll be in the podcast description so that you can join us, which will be an awful lot of fun, not long to go now. Right, I think we are at the point of P.T.'s power play. Take it away. Woohoo! Okay, so this one comes from the Tri-Fest game of Trailfinders and Lester Tigers.

And it's this normally, you know, it's a try that wins the game or it's the game changing moment. And sadly for Trail Finders, this try didn't win them the game, but I've given them the power play for the fact that they came back into it with this flurry of tries, incredible, three tries in like, I don't know, 15, 20 minutes. And this one was the last one that nearly, nearly won them the game.

So was a turnover centerfield. think they got the penalty and then Katie Madison, quick tap, off she goes. She made a real impact in that game when she came on. quick is Julia Schell, by the way? Oh, yes. She was lightning quick anyway. I meant to mention that earlier. Sorry, carry on. No, no, no, that's fine. So Katie Madison, quick tap, off she goes, gives it to Captain Fantastic, Kate Zachary, big Bosch carry, offload, back to Katie and interlinks them back on the inside to get the try.

for Rosie Inman. And I've loved this because this is at the dying parts of the game. This was a heavy game. You know, they were attacking, they were defending. was high ball in play. And yet for this try, you could see the whole team were following. The whole team were flooding through on that inside line support. So it wasn't the try that won them the game, but it was an ultimate team try. Good on you, Trail Finders. Another entertaining game. yeah, just work rate and connection. Really lovely team try.

The Power Pod (44:09.038) to finish off that game. Well, it might not have won them the game, but it has won them P.T.'s power play. And that's worth just as much. That's worth six points, I'd say. Maybe next season, if you get the P.T. power play, you get two league points. Great. Oh, yeah, there we go. Let's mix it up. Sure, that would go down well. Marvelous. Well, round 18 beckons and we hope that you're going to get out and catch a match before.

Of course, we move into those semi-final playoffs. Will it be Saracens at home to Queens? I think that's where the smart money goes, but who knows? Will round 18 throw up another little surprise or two? What have you got this weekend, Philippa? This weekend, of course, so Six Nations is back in. Obviously, Friday night, I will have multiple screens open trying to keep a drift of all of the Premiership Women's Rugby games.

And then on Saturday, I'm going to be with Five Live at Wales against Ireland with new coach, new players. Hey, we're going to win, aren't we? Of course, of course. Why not? Hey, I wonder if there's going to be any of that kind of what they talk about in football, that kind of bounce back feeling when a new coach is in charge. And yeah, anyway. They haven't got a bounce that high for us to call it a bounce back. Let's be honest. Yeah. OK, good. What about you? What you up to?

I've got a good day today, the day we're filming. I'm nipping off after this to go and join a bit of filming for which we're doing. Been looking to get a documentary away for the last little while on the incredible four women that founded the very first Women's World Cup 1991. So Deborah Griffin, Alice Cooper, Sue Dorrington, Mary Forsythe, the four of them are legends.

And so there's a bit of a shoot going on, which is the four of them round the table at Richmond Rugby Club, where they first started, where it all kind of came together. Because this is the first time they will have debriefed what they achieved since 1991. Because back then they held the tournament in Wales. And back then when it was all over, they basically had to get in their cars and drive back because they were having to go to work the next day, because that was the world in 1991.

The Power Pod (46:22.766) It's an amazing story of everything they achieved involving, know, HMRC asking the Russians when they came over why they were selling vodka and caviar on the streets and involving customs and excise. And, you know, the hotel they were, the England team were staying in having to say, sorry, we've double booked for a conference. Would you mind all sleeping on the floor in this room? There are absurd tales throughout and these four women are true inspirations.

So I'm going to get to spend the day with them as we film their memories, which is the kind of centerpiece of the documentary. But if any sugar daddies or sugar mummies are out there and have got a few quid, this doc is still after funding. So I'm just unashamedly throwing it out there to our PowerPod audience. If you're sat on a few quid, if you're the CEO of a company and you want to be part of telling this original story in a huge Rugby World Cup year, then please get on the

Get on the fair. You got the power line number. We'd to hear from you. So that's what I'm doing during the week. And then I'm off to Treviso for a bit of under 20s action at the weekend, which will be good on Saturday. So that is me. Right. I think we are out of here. We will be back there next week ahead of the semi-finals, our penultimate episode. So we will see you then, Philippa. Thanks very much. Ciao for now. Bye bye. Bye bye.