The Good, The Scaz & The Rugby

Scotland’s 75-cap star Lisa Thomson pulls up a seat at the Cabbage Patch in Twickenham to join Elma, Mo and Meggy for this week's episode. Meggy kicks things off with a Chardonnay slap (IYKYK) and then we get into how competitive the girls want that inaugural British & Lions Squad selection to be, before the conversation takes a rainbow-flavoured turn nobody saw coming. 

Tommo, real name Lisa, is now known for her incredible skillset, but openly admits that she’s learnt a lot on the job. She couldn’t even pass off her left hand when she first got called into Scotland camp! She tells us about the goosebumps versus Wales a year ago, and what it was like to compete in what nearly felt like a home World Cup - all while playing through a serious Achilles tear, that would have seen a mere mortal like Elma, on crutches!

The efficiency with which Tommo speaks Mo-isms fluently, is revealed when a towel (?!) debate goes way too far. Then we take a journey through Tommo’s rehab experiences over the last year, just to keep things semi grounded. 

Also in this episode: Scotland’s WXV campaign and the three-Test series against Australia, plus a fresh batch of listener emails, including the relentless penne debate.

Tommo, good luck with the rehab! Meggy, happy birthday in Canada! Send us your emails at [email protected].

This episode is brought to you by Apple: Meggy talks about her Apple Watch Series 12, and how the Readiness Score helps her decide between a “let’s go” day and a “do less” day. Learn more at apple.com/uk/apple-watch-series-12. Requires iPhone 11 or later. For general wellness purposes only. Not intended for clinical use or to detect, diagnose, monitor or treat medical conditions.

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Happy listening & watching GSR fam!

Shira x

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Never in the history of rugby matches have we seen a game end with a penalty kicked short, the kicker making an interception to score in the corner and then kick her own conversion to win the game at the death.

So, the morning after the night before, the Elma, Scaz, Mo and Meggy meet in The Cabbage Patch, where Mo had been crowd surfing only hours before, to dissect the match against their greatest rivals, the Black Ferns and pay their dues to Zoe Harrison’s self-professed ‘shit or bust’ moment of history. 

Meg tells us how she came up with the V formation to challenge the Haka & which Kiwi gave her the timing for the half way line approach. We also hear what Maddie Feaunati, the women who wears a Rose but could have worn a Fern, told the girls ahead of facing the Haka at Allianz Stadium. 

Mo also explains how tough it is to make the right calls off the bench in a game that tight & poses the big question... how many holes there are in penne pasta - answers in the comments, please! 

& finally, our OG title partners in the first two seasons of this podcast, have opened a new round of the Allianz All Together Sports Fund: £100,000 is now available in grants of £1,000-£5,000, paid straight to grassroots clubs for pitch hire, bills, kit, travel and subs, or whatever else you need! Any RFU, WRU, Scottish Rugby or IRFU club in Northern Ireland can apply and the deadline is 21 November 2026.

Here’s the link to apply: https://www.allianz.co.uk/about-allianz/partnerships/sports-fund.html 

If your club gets a grant, don’t be surprised if we turn up with a camera! 😎

Happy listening & watching GSR fam!

Shira x

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We’re back in camp to get the Scaz & Mo’s reaction to the Red Roses' winning run coming to an end at Sandy Park in the first of three tests against Canada, joined by one of the most decorated players in the game and a stalwart of this unbeaten Red Roses side, Alex Matthews. She’s won the World Cup TWICE, is vice-captain of the Red Roses, and she has been in an England shirt since she was 17. 

There's a new face around the camp: Shaun Edwards… & the girls have THOUGHTS. Most of which are apparently showing off in front of England’s newest coaching consultant.

We break down the Canada draw, including Sophie de Goede backing Kevin Rouet's call to settle for the draw on the final play despite being raging about it and we look ahead to the Black Ferns this weekend - which Alex says is going to be ELECTRIC. 

Alex also opens up about what it takes to be a leader in the best sports team on the planet as a quiet introvert. She’s living proof proof that the quiet ones can lead, too - even though she struggles with confidence at times. 

Finally, a public service announcement: Alex is also a tortoise mum. Join Elma in learning how to look after one, why he lives in a fridge over winter, and how he ended up hibernating in Scaz's.

For tickets to the Red Roses Brunch: https://allianzstadiumtwickenham.com/hospitality/wxv/red-roses-v-new-zealand/the-lock-no4-tables 

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Sarah Bern & England’s newest 50 capper, Holly Aitchison join Elma & Mo in Red Roses camp. As two of the most stylish women in the game, Holly and Sarah let us in on their style secrets, how they shop and (crucially for Mo) pack for camp, before getting into the Sydney Sweeney controversy, an honest talk about overcoming anxiety, and how WXV is shaping up so far. 

We do actually cover the rugby this week - with a decent review of the Australia game. But as for Canada at Sandy Park? The girls are clear it's not a Rugby World Cup final rematch… and if Canada want to call it that, well, that's a them problem.

Tickets for our Roses Brunch before the England New Zealand game at Allianz Stadium on 26th September:

https://allianzstadiumtwickenham.com/hospitality/wxv/red-roses-v-new-zealand/the-lock-no4-tables

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Season 7 is here! Elma, Scaz and Mo kick things off back at The Lensbury, where the Red Roses are training ahead of WXV - in almost EXACTLY the same spot they celebrated last year's Rugby World Cup win. 

They're joined by Megan Jones, Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne and Maud Muir to reminisce on that unforgettable night, dig into fertility support in sport, chat through the switch to the size 4.5 ball, and look ahead to WXV - including England's clash with Australia in Manchester this weekend.

If you'd like to come to our Roses Brunch before the England New Zealand game at Allianz Stadium on 26th September: https://allianzstadiumtwickenham.com/hospitality/wxv/red-roses-v-new-zealand/the-lock-no4-tables 

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After 18 rounds, 74 matches and 4515 points… Saracens lifted the PWR trophy at a packed Stoop!!
Just moments after Marlie & Zoe had lifted the trophy, Elma, Scaz, Mo and KDM are joined by just about EVERYONE who’d been on the pitch today… Rosie Galligan, Rachel Malcolm, Emma Wassell, Alana Borland, Georgia Ponsonby, Kelsey Clifford, Zoe Harrison, Alysha Corrigan, Marlie Packer, Celia Quansah & The Reverend Nicolas Aiden Heath.
Strap in. It’s chaotic.

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Underdogs, Trailfinders take on the experienced Saracens in the PWR final this weekend. 

Our Meg Jones, Marlie Packer, Sophie de Goede, Kate Zackary, Emma Wassell, Abi Burton and Sophie Bridger join Elma to preview the game on the pitch at Twickenham Stoop 

Only one question remains: who will score more? 

Celia says Trailfinders will. 

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Former champions, Saracens will take on the new kids on the block, Trailfinders in the PWR final. We are gutted for our Mo & the Circus, but delighted for our Meg & her West London girlies! 

To look ahead to the final AND tell us about her stand off with Jeff Bezos, winning the World Cup in 1994 and what its like to run the start up that is, Premiership Women’s Rugby, is the big boss of the PWR, Executive Chair, Genevieve Shore.

Her business credentials speak for themselves, C-suite at some of the biggest publishers on the planet, and board positions coming out of her ears, there’s nothing Genevieve hasn’t seen in business. Especially not now that Mo has given her a ride on the skateboard… 

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Jo Yapp is the first-ever British & Irish Lions Women’s Head Coach!
On the inaugural tour to New Zealand next year, she will be leading the first ever group of women to play in the famous red jersey against the Black Ferns in Aotearoa.
Jo talks about her journey from England captain, to coaching Worcester and the Wallaroos… and what it means to lead this historic new team.
We also get some insight into the time Jo the Barbarians (& our Mo) when they almost missed kick off at Allianz Stadium… AND we get yet ANOTHER appraisal for Scaz’s Six Nations stint as England Attack Coach, ably mentored by Jo Yapp, in her capacity as Head of Women's Pathway at the RFU.
If you need to get in touch with Jo - you can contact her on the Scaz Hotline… Does that sound right? No, it doesn’t.

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Red Roses Head Coach John Mitchell returns to the show for the first time since the day after the Rubgy World Cup Final, as a three time Grand Slam winning coach. He & the girls have a heartfelt discussion on the journey he’s had coaching the Red Roses to so much glory and accolade.
From his first impressions of Scaz and Mo, to building the world’s best attack, and facing pregnancies & injury, to doing the lawn mower in a fluffy cowboy hat, we delve into the immense sense of community Mitch has forged with the Red Roses. Mitch also opens up about the near-death experience in Johannesburg that changed his life and the lessons he’s learned throughout his journey, as a father, as a husband and as a coach.

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