Rugby Union Weekly

Chris is in Verona to assess the mood in the England camp after three successive defeats. Is the shirt weighing heavy on the players? Will we see a new gameplan in Paris? We hear from Steve Borthwick on all this and the exchange between Maro Itoje and Fin Smith in Rome. Ollie Chessum talks about the ‘hurt’ he felt after losing his starting place, and he explains how the players and coaches are as tight as ever despite recent results. We also catch up with our England centurion to get his take on matters. Danny outlines what he wants to see from Ben Spencer this weekend as England look to avoid losing four matches in the Six Nations for the first time.

Chris, Tom and GRO bring you a bumper preview of what promises to be an epic Super Saturday. Can Scotland win a first Six Nations title? They will have to end their Ireland hoodoo without a host of starters including pod favourite Gregor Brown. Chris dials in from Verona to bring you the latest from the England camp after that chastening defeat to Italy. Will we see a different gameplan from Steve Borthwick’s side in Paris? What did the Maro Itoje clash with Fin Smith say about where this England team is at? Rhys Carre is inspiring the next generation of Wales players after his superb solo try in Dublin. Are Wales ready to end their run of wooden spoons? What characteristics did we see that was reminiscent of Gatland’s golden generation?

Round four of the Six Nations did not disappoint! There was drama, shocks and a weekend for the underdogs - Ugo, Sam and John take a deep dive into a really unbelievable few days of rugby.

They start with Scotland who overpowered and outperformed the defending champions at Murrayfield and ask what went right for Gregor Townsend’s side. Attention then turns to matters in Rome…where England lost for the first time against Italy.

Ugo was at the match and gives his thoughts 24 hours on… now that his heart rate has come down! The guys then look into where England lost the game and what happens to the future of this Steve Borthwick side going forward.

And Sam is in bright spirits after Wales put on a spirited and positive display against Ireland in Dublin.

And it’s prediction time….

Chris Jones and Matt Dawson reflect on an extraordinary day in the Six Nations.

England beaten 23-18 by Italy in Rome - England's third loss in a row, and first ever defeat to Italy. What's gone wrong since the Autumn Internationals and where does this leave Steve Borthwick?

They're also joined by Johnnie Beattie who saw Scotland run riot against France, 50-40 at Murrayfield, which means Scotland, Ireland and France all have the chance to lift the trophy next Saturday. 

TIMECODES:

00:13 - Greatest day in Six Nations history?

Warning – This episode contains very strong language.

Chris catches up with Ben Youngs to discuss his new BBC documentary about rugby and player safety. Through honest conversations with former players, medical experts, and teammates, Youngs explores the long-term impact of concussion and repeated head injuries. We hear Ben’s powerful interview with Lewis Moody where he talks openly about living with MND, how it has affected his family and if he has any regrets from his playing days. Does the game still need to do more when it comes to head injuries and player safety? Sam Peters, author of ‘Concussed’, who has spent over a decade investigating the links between rugby and neurodegenerative diseases also joins Chris to look at what more could be done to protect players, particularly in training? And what about the grassroots game? Is enough being done at that level to ensure there are adequate measures in place to protect against concussion? You can watch the full documentary ‘Ben Youngs Investigates: How Safe Is Rugby?’ on the BBC iPlayer.

Sara Orchard is joined by Tommy Bowe and Philippa Tuttiett with on the whistle reaction from Dublin as Ireland overcome a spirited Wales side to win 27-17. The team reflect on another strong performance from Wales and consider the selection queries that Ireland’s performance has thrown Andy Farrell. Could Rhys Carre’s try be the moment of the Six Nations? Do Wales look good enough to secure their first win of this year’s Championship against Italy? Plus, hear from Antoine Dupont ahead of France's opportunity to win the Six Nations title on Saturday.

Back by popular demand, Chris Tom and GRO bring you another instalment of the Nations Pod guide, and this time we're in Rome. Home to the Azzurri, the Stadio Olympico, the colosseum and the scene of Tom's greatest ever Six Nations meal - just don't ask him to name the restaurant! GRO tells us why you should never confuse a Finn with a Russian. Tom explains why Bologna is the real rugby capital of Italy. We reminisce about the Stadio Flaminio and some of the great matches we've witnessed in the the Eternal City.

Steve Borthwick has made the most changes by an England head coach in the Six Nations era as he looks for a response after the big defeats to Scotland and Ireland. Ashy and Chris dissect his team for the trip to Rome, which sees 12 changes in total with nine players coming in and three positional changes. Seb Atkinson is back on the pod and one half of an all-new centre partnership. He tells us about his relationship with Fin Smith who he first started playing with in the Worcester academy aged 13, and what he hoping to achieve in his first start since the summer tour. Ashy and Chris also chat to the other Gregor at the heart of the Scotland team hoping to derail France's title charge this Saturday. Gregor Brown talks about their resurgence since that upset in Rome on the opening weekend, making Murrayfield a fortress and his journey from singing the anthem in the stands as a fan to a player.

Will France already be treating their game with Scotland as a potential Grand Slam decider? Chris, Tom and GRO ask whether Gregor Townsend’s side has enough to blunt France’s attacking weapons and possibly derail their campaign. Can we expect significant changes from Steve Borthwick, as his England side travel to Rome. Chris makes the case that a win for Italy could mark the greatest moment in their rugby history. And what of Wales? Is there reason for hope? Plus, Tom wonders whether Ireland have turned a corner. And with no poetry this week, GRO sets a quiz from all the data he's gathered from his pre-pod research, and it leaves the other two struggling for answers.

Danny and Chris look ahead to England’s showdown with Italy in Rome as they look to avoid a first defeat to the Azzurri and a third successive Six Nations loss. We hear from Steve Borthwick on where it has gone wrong for England and what they are doing to fix the issues that has derailed their championship. Will they persist with the aerial game? Or will the changes in Rome lead to a new tactical approach? Ollie Chessum talks to us about getting the right mindset and intensity on the field after a big setback. Will we see a host of changes to the England team this week? How important is experience when you have your backs against the wall?