The Rugby World Cup is changing — and the stakes have never been higher.

This week, David Pembroke is joined by Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie to unpack a huge weekend in world rugby: South Africa’s demolition of Wales, the Etzebeth eye-gouge incident, and the breaking news that R360 has been pushed back to 2028.

Eddie and Ewen give a candid, insider view on Wales’ deep structural problems, how South Africa keep winning with ruthless simplicity, and why the new 24-team World Cup with a Round of 16 will create a more intense, more tactical tournament than ever before.

They also reflect on their own World Cup journeys — from the 1987 and 1991 memories to the 2003 classic, England 2019, the Brighton Miracle, and the pressure only a World Cup can create.

Also in this episode

• South Africa v Wales — dominance, discipline and what really happened

• Why Wales’ development system is failing — and how to fix it

• R360 delayed: player managers, contracts, and the talent drain

• The brutal logic of a 33-man World Cup squad

• How selection balance will change in 2027 (props, hookers, utilities)

• Australia’s path to winning back casual fans in 2027

PLUS: venue breakdowns, squad-build strategy, player load, and how the new compressed 43-day World Cup will change everything.

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