The Nations Pod

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?

Are England suddenly in crisis? After the heavy defeat to Ireland, Chris, Tom & GRO dissect what’s gone wrong for Steve Borthwick’s side, whether the fallow week has arrived at just the right moment, and if wholesale changes await for Italy. GRO admits he actually enjoyed watching Wales for the first time in a while, but wonders if they could repeat that display against more physical opposition. Tom, meanwhile, refuses to get carried away by Scotland’s back-to-back wins. Plus, Poetry Corner returns as Chris reads out more listeners’ rugby-inspired poems.

Ugo, Sam Warburton & John Barclay discuss the fallout from round three of the Six Nations as England are humbled for the second week in a row, France march on and Scotland backed up their Calcutta Cup win. So what next for England after another damaging defeat? Does their gameplan need to evolve? And how many changes should Steve Borthwick make for Italy? Ireland showed their attack is back to its best. Were Andy Farrell's men written off too soon? Wales are still without a win, but Sam is optimistic Welsh rugby is no longer in freefall after Saturday’s performance and turnout at the Principality. France are now one bonus-point win from the title, but can Scotland reproduce the clinical display they showed against England and blow the championship wide open?

Chris is alongside Matt Dawson, Paul Grayson and Donncha O'Callaghan to reflect on Ireland smashing England 21-42 in a record-breaking win at Twickenham. Ireland keep their claim for the Six Nations title alive, whilst England's hopes turn to dust. How did Ireland cut through England, and what confidence will they take from this record win at Twickenham? Plus, the guys discuss England's reluctance to adapt from their set gameplan.Then, Sara Orchard is alongside Philippa Tuttiett and Andy Nicol at the Principality as Scotland come back to deny Wales a first Six Nations victory since 2023. Having led by 15, there are plenty of positives for Wales to take, but their search for a Six Nations win continues. Scotland build on the back of their Calcutta Cup win to take temporary top-spot. TIMECODES: 0'37 - Match reflections on an Irish result for the ages, & a "toothless" England 6'36 - Farrell & Ireland playing strong "heads-up" rugby 13'28 - An England blip, or long-term cause for concern? Can they evolve past their gameplan? 29'08  - Looking past the fallow week for both Ireland & England 33'33 - Scotland come back to beat Wales in Cardiff! 40'48 - Russell's brilliance & his catalyst of a try 43'40 - At what point did Wales lose it? 51'00 - Final thoughts from Andy & Philippa

Maro Itoje is set to become England's latest centurion when he captains the team against Ireland this Saturday at Twickenham. Chris and Ashy sit down with Itoje and reflect on a remarkable 10-year stint with England that has seen him win a Grand Slam, Six Nations titles and reach a World Cup final. Was he always destined to reach this milestone? He picks out his most memorable moments over the past decade and tells us about the coaches that have helped him get to this point. How does he stay motivated? What does he still want to achieve in an England shirt? And if he had to pick his favourite second row partner, who would it be?

It’s a pod mash-up on this latest episode of Rugby Union Weekly as Sara is joined by former Ireland and Lions scrum half Conor Murray – who stars in one of our sister podcasts, The Ireland Rugby Social. Conor’s co-presenter BBC Northern Ireland’s rugby expert, Gavin Andrews also comes along for the ride as they take a trip down memory lane – reflecting on past victories… and the losses too against England at the Allianz (or Twickenham as it was known in Conor’s time!) They chat the selection issues that Andy Farrell might have ahead of the team being announced, as well as debating that 10 position in the Ireland squad – and the pressure it puts on the players. And Conor lets us in on what really happened in Las Vegas with Alex Mitchell – and the guys give their predictions with both giving very different answers…

Henry Pollock gets his first England start. Ollie Lawrence returns. Tommy Freeman is back on the wing. Tom Curry starts. There is plenty for Chris and Ugo to unpick from the England team to face Ireland on Saturday. Why has there been so many changes? Is it a reflection of the performance against Scotland? We are joined by Steve Borthwick who talks through the changes in the midfield and back row and why he felt Henry Arundell deserved another shot after his red card against Scotland. Ollie Lawrence is also on the pod. He chats to us about renewing his partnership with Fraser Dingwall and battling with Freeman for the number 13 shirt. We also go deep into his hair regime and find out why he’s unable to get his haircut until England head to Rome in March.

You’ve heard from Gregor Townsend, Sione Tuipulotu and John Barclay after Scotland’s latest Calcutta Cup triumph. Now it’s the turn of Stirling and Limerick’s finest - Tom English. He talks Chris and GRO through his range of emotions at full-time one week after that chastening defeat in Rome. After another stellar display, is Finn Russell now Scotland’s greatest ever player? Can he guide them to a Triple Crown? And can we persuade GRO it’s a big achievement? Things get even better for Tom when a listener shares a poem all about his favourite player. As for England, how will Steve Borthwick react to that defeat in Edinburgh? Will we see a change in personnel or a change in tactics? What can we expect from Ireland this Saturday? Is there enough x-factor in Andy Farrell’s side? We also touch on Wales as GRO tries to find the positives following another heavy defeat.