The Top 14 table doesn’t tell the full story — especially when le doublon hits and clubs lose key internationals during the Six Nations window.

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Coach G breaks down the current “giants” of French rugby and what’s really driving performance: squad depth, academy pathways, mindset, and how clubs approach home vs away rugby. Toulouse remain the benchmark, Pau and Stade Français are rising fast, and Bordeaux face the brutal challenge of balancing Top 14 pressure with European ambitions.

Fabien Galthié shocks French rugby by leaving out Gaël Fickou, Grégory Alldritt, and Damien Penaud before the Six Nations. Coach G is joined by agent Damien Dussault to unpack the decision through the lens of selection strategy, squad culture, and long-term World Cup planning—then flips it into the most important piece: how elite players respond when they don’t get picked.

Expect a real conversation on standards, leadership, pressure, and turning non-selection into fuel.

Modern attack is faster, looser, and more chaotic than ever — and defenses are paying the price. Omar explains how teams can stop the offload chain, kill speed of ball, and why “trench warfare” has returned in elite rugby.

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Premiership-winning Harlequins prop Simon Kerrod joins Coach G (Gurthro Steenkamp) for an honest conversation about the real pathway to becoming an elite prop: injuries, setbacks, late breakthroughs, ego management, and staying mentally strong when pressure never disappears.

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They unpack what modern props must master (scrum, collisions, systems), why young front rowers spiral after one bad scrum, and how to reset fast and perform again. Simon also shares lessons from working with Adam Jones, playing alongside Joe Marler, and how he’s thinking about life after rugby.

Why do elite coaches get fired — even when they’re highly respected and successful?

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In this episode, Coach G breaks down the deeper reasons behind coaching dismissals, using the Scott Robertson case as a starting point — not for drama, but for understanding.

This is a conversation about:

• Culture vs results

• Alignment between staff, players, and leadership

• Unrealistic standards and KPIs

• What happens when a coach loses the locker room

• Why some dynasties last — and others collapse

This episode isn’t about one coach.
It’s about high-performance environments, leadership under pressure, and the mistakes that quietly destroy teams from the inside.

Whether you’re a coach, player, leader, or operator in any high-performance field, the lessons here apply far beyond rugby.

00:00 Introduction to Scott Robinson's Firing

01:44 Understanding Performance Standards

03:56 Defining Success for the All Blacks

05:51 The Concept of Losing the Locker Room

09:40 Cultural Dynamics in Rugby Teams

11:39 Addressing Deeper Issues in New Zealand Rugby

14:15 The Pressure of Coaching at the Highest Level

17:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The Coach G Show, Coach G speaks with Sean Erasmus, 1st Team Rugby Coach at Paarl Boys High, about the deeper foundations behind elite schoolboy rugby in South Africa.

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Built on the motto Faith. Family. Team., this conversation explores culture, pressure, belief, leadership, and what it truly takes to develop young men — not just rugby players — in today’s pro-level school rugby environment.

A powerful episode for players, parents, coaches, and anyone passionate about performance, values, and long-term development through sport.

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Why does France dominate European rugby?

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In this short-form episode, Coach G breaks down the brutal reality of the Top 14, the value French clubs place on the Champions Cup, and why squad depth and academy systems give France a massive edge over the rest of Europe.

From Bordeaux’s explosive performance to the sacrifices clubs are willing to make domestically, this episode explains what it really takes to win in Europe — from the inside.

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Elite coaching is not glamorous — it’s pressure, standards, trust, and the ability to lead humans, not just rugby players.

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Coach G sits down with Neal Hatley (England, Australia, Japan) for a deep conversation on what it takes to survive and thrive as a professional coach. Neal breaks down how top coaches build trust, manage information overload, keep standards high, and why alignment inside a staff can make or break a team — with powerful insights from working alongside Eddie Jones across multiple international environments.

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Owen Franks reflects on missing selection for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the emotional impact it had after a long All Blacks career.

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In this short episode, Owen shares why the disappointment hit differently, how he coped by immediately moving on, and why — in hindsight — allowing himself to grieve may have been the healthier choice.

An honest conversation about identity, resilience, and the unseen side of elite rugby.

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This episode is my 2025 wrap-up. No guest — just 7 core lessons I’ve taken from the biggest conversations of the year, plus 5 personal learnings that shaped my growth.

7 Core Lessons

1. Resilience is built, not discovered

2. Identity comes before performance

3. Elite teams are built on trust + shared ownership

4. Process beats outcome

5. Growth requires humility

6. Transition matters as much as careers

7. Pressure is a privilege

Chapters

00:00 Building Resilience Through Adversity

08:06 The Importance of Identity in Performance

17:19 Trust and Shared Ownership in Elite Teams

25:57 The Role of Humility in Growth

26:23 The Importance of Humility in Growth

27:48 Navigating Career Transitions

30:40 Building Relationships and Skills as a Rugby Player

32:08 Embracing Pressure as a Privilege

35:56 Key Lessons from the Journey

46:58 Embracing Your True Self and Community

I also share why journaling + weekly reviews changed my consistency, why “start in January” is a trap, and how to build simple habits that create momentum going into 2026.

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