The Rugby Bunker

Ben Coles (The Observer) recaps Tuesday's press conference from Steve Borthwick discussing England's review into their poor Six Nations, what happens this summer to the likes of Maro Itoje, and why England have called up Benhard Janse van Rensburg - who qualifies in July - and has left out Ollie Lawrence of Bath.

Follow Ben's Substack: https://theofffieldreview.substack.com/

Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read

#rugbyunion #englandrugby #rugbyanalysis #rugbynews #rugby

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Ben Coles (The Observer) is joined by Charlie Morgan (The Times) to discuss Leicester's playoff push and why Geoff Parling should be named coach of the year, before looking at this weekend's PREM fixtures and trying to find an upset.

Then Fiona Tomas (The Telegraph) joins to break down the Women's Six Nations and discuss Sunday's title decider in Bordeaux between France and England.

01:39 Charlie's thoughts on Leicester-Northampton, why Geoff Parling should win coach of the year

17:28 The Champ, with Charlie going to Richmond-London Scottish

22:56 This weekend's PREM matches

29:38 Fi joins to discuss the Women's Six Nations

43:23 Would a loss, strangely, help England?

Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read

Charlie's work for The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/profile/charlie-morgan

Fiona's work for The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/f/ff-fj/fiona-tomas/

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Ben Coles (The Observer) speaks with Billy Vunipola in an exclusive interview about the former England's number eight's successful spell with Montpellier, why he won't play for Tonga at next year's Rugby World Cup, and the build-up to his arrest in Mallorca two years ago and how it changed him.

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Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) are back to discuss last weekend's Champions Cup semi-finals (and TV angles), before diving into the RFU's announcement regarding England's Six Nations review and previewing this weekend's PREM and Women's Six Nations matches. Stay for the Daniel Day-Lewis reference.

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Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) are back to break down this weekend's Champions Cup semi-finals - Leinster v Toulon and Bordeaux-Bègles against Bath - before discussing when Noah Calouri should make his England debut and paying tribute to the retiring George North.

02:00 Bordeaux-Bègles v Bath preview

14:20 Leinster v Toulon

24:45 When will England pick Noah Caluori?

36:23 Tribute to George North

Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read

Charlie's work for The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/profile/charlie-morgan

#rugbyunion #rugbyanalysis #rugby #rugbynews #championscup #bordeauxbegles #ubb #bathrugby #toulon #leinsterrugby #georgenorth #noahcaluori

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Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) discuss Thursday's news from Charles Richardson (The Telegraph) that the British and Irish Lions are open to a new touring destination after 2029, with France, Japan and the Americas all possible destinations.

Ben and Charlie then discuss the Women's Six Nations and PREM fixtures ahead of the weekend.

01:15 The breaking news about the Lions

14:28 Round three of the Women's Six Nations

23:01 The PREM with Bath travelling to Northampton

Follow Ben's Substack: https://theofffieldreview.substack.com/

Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read

Charlie's work for The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/profile/charlie-morgan

#rugbyunion #rugbyanalysis #rugby #rugbynews #britishandirishlions #lionstour #womenssixnations #premrugby

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Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) are back to discuss the top four in PREM Rugby and the Women's Six Nations, while Charlie unpacks some analysis on one of the latest bits of rugby jargon being used by coaches, 'next hole attack'.

01:50 'Next hole attack'

12:24 The PREM top four race

21:07 Women's Six Nations round two

Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read

Charlie's work for The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/profile/charlie-morgan

Charlie's piece on 'next hole attack': https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/bath-northampton-saints-attack-analysis-champions-cup-f29vd2ftg#rugbyunion

#rugbyanalysis #rugby #rugbynews #womensixnations #redroses #elliekildunne #finnrussell #bathrugby #northamptonsaints

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Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) are joined by Fiona Tomas (The Telegraph) to preview the Women's Six Nations, questioning whether any other side can stop world champions England. Ben and Charlie also discuss Courtney Lawes' move to Sale, and whether it could lead to a Test recall.

Follow Ben's Substack: https://theofffieldreview.substack.com/Ben's work for The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/contributor/ben-coles?type=read

Charlie's work for The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/profile/charlie-morgan

Fi's work for The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/f/ff-fj/fiona-tomas/

Charlie's deep dive on National One: https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/financial-advisers-v-electricians-inside-the-countrys-best-title-race-vqb7b6mxf

#rugbyunion #rugbyanalysis #rugby #rugbynews #womensixnations #redroses #elliekildunne #abbieward #courtneylawes #englandrugby

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Ben Coles (The Observer) is joined by Charles Richardson (The Telegraph) to discuss duck hearts (yes, really), Rob Baxter's new Exeter deal, this weekend's Champions Cup knockout games and after Mako Vunipola joining Leicester, more transfers it took us a while to get our heads around.

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In an accidental business-themed episode, Ben Coles (The Observer) and Charlie Morgan (The Times) discuss the RFU's latest briefing on Steve Borthwick's future after England's poor Six Nations, the PREM's announcements of new criteria regarding expansion including a salary cap floor, before Ben is joined by Bath chief executive Tarquin McDonald to hear about the club's new investment from James Dyson.

02:19 The Bill Sweeney briefing

09:41 PREM big announcements regarding expansion

16:23 Ben's conversation with Tarquin McDonald

Follow Ben's Substack: https://theofffieldreview.substack.com/

#rugby #rugbypodcast #rugbyanalysis #rugbyunion #premrugby #englandrugby

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