S2 EP13 - Ben Botica, SAXV Superstar

Round 1 of the Champions and Challenge Cup has passed, and there is so much rugby to digest! La Rochelle dispel the naysayers at a sodden Bath, Bordeaux turn on the style against a wily Tigers side, whilst Racing's Fijians bring the pain to Harlequins in Creteil. Amidst the glitz of Europe, ProD2 continued to serve up some crackers, begging the question what's more important, a solid defence or a tidy Instagram page? Plus the GOAT debate is reignited, but has Antoine Dupont hit enough Devon hole-in-ones to secure the crown? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

European Rugby is back baby! Loads of matches, loads of dramas, loads of brilliant cup shirts! We look ahead to whether any of the chasing French pack can mount a realistic challenge to Toulouse and preview the key 1st round encounters in the Champions Cup. As ever there's a sprinkling of travel looking ahead to potential European Cup and lower league double headers, it's a historic weekend (again) for Vannes with yards to travel, and who is Richard's outside bet for Challenge Cup glory? 00:00 - 07:21 Entrées: Long Weeks & Long Weekends 07:21 - 14:41 A Game of 'Will they turn up?' 14:41 - 20:20 Title Contenders 20:20 - 31:32 Games in Focus Bath v La Rochelle Stormers v Toulon Racing 92 v Harlequins Union Bordeaux Begles v Leicester Tigers Toulouse v Ulster 31:32 - 36:00 Best of the Rest ft. Debut of Dreams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Slightly dazed from a long weekend watching European rugby somewhere other than France, we run through the best of the weekend's action. In a week of eye-catching away wins, Vannes produce the result of the season away at La Rochelle with Toulouse and Toulon doing the business in Paris and Perpignan. Down in PROD2, Grenoble continue to set the pace whilst Oyonnax are in freefall, and there's a remarkable tale of protest in the lower leagues in this week's Petit-Fours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're reeling out the clichés this week, reflecting upon a highly promising autumn for Les Bleus after their convincing win over Argentina. Who were the winners and losers from the November tests, who has nailed down a 6 Nations berth and just how big a pay rise should the Stade de France events team be getting?! If that's not enough, the Top14 is back, and it was merry carnage followed by second-half heartbreak in Brittany, whilst France 7s plot their path to short-form domination following World Rugby Awards for Antoine Dupont and Jérôme Daret. 00:00 - 04:35 Entrées 04:35 - 11:05 France v Argentina review 11:05 - 29:52 France Autumn Nations Series Report Card 29:52 - 56:25 Top 14 Round 10 Review 56:25 - 58:50 Next weekend preview 58:50 - 1:06:05 Petit-Fours & Digestifs  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're back from the Stade de France, mesmerised by bright lights of Paris and feeling grateful if a little dusty for a splendid weekend in the French Capital. France and New Zealand served up a belter full of intrigue, momentum swings and some cracking individual performances - we attempt to run the rule over the highlight of the Autumn series so far. There's also the usual smattering of domestic rugby chatter and some dark tales of missed flights for one of the pair... 00:00 - 07:45 Entrées 0745 - 12:35 Stade de France Match Day 12:35 - 34:05 France v NZ 34:05 - 41:30 Top 14 Round 10 Preview 41:30 - 50:15 Pro D2 Round 11 Review 50:15 - 51:50 Nationale Nibbles 51:50 - 1:00:53 Petit-Fours & Digestifs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the week that France take on the All Blacks and a bumper round of PROD2 fixtures, who better to speak to than a man who knows both rugby worlds inside out, Soyaux Angoulême kiwi fly-half and former Top14 Player of the Year, Ben Botica. We sit down to chat rugby in the Charente, preview Les Bleus against New Zealand and get the inside line on Jonny May's team speeches. There's also a review of France vs Japan, drama in Nationale, and a big mascot meet up in the Basque country. 00:00 - 02:50 Entrées 02:50 - 14:50 Les Bleus - France v Japan Review & France v NZ Preview 14:50 - 21:00 Pro D2 Round 10 21:00 - 53:05 Ben Botica Interview  53:05 - 56:53 Nationale Nibbles 56:53 - 1:04:47 Petit-Fours & Digestifs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Galthie's team known to all and sundry, we caught up bright and early to bring a preview France vs Japan as Les Bleus get their Autumn Nations campaign underway. Plus a look at some of our favourites from the Top14 and PROD2, who will be in action over the next few weeks!   00:00 - 01:15 Entrées 01:15 - 14:39 Creative Differences? 14:39 - 20:00 Centres Conundrum 20:00 - 24:15 Rise of Roumat 24:15 - 27:16 Prop Stars: The Rivals 27:16 - 34:42 Japan & Other Internationals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Massive away wins, apocalyptic weather, and disgruntled former players hitting social media after a few glasses of vin rouge... it's just another typical week in the world of French rugby. We run through all the Top 14 action, try and work out where Pro D2 is at, and there's backflips and karaoke in the Petit-Fours. 00:00 - 05:10 Entrées 05:10 - 35:40 Top 14 Round 8 Review 35:40 - 51:10 Pro D2 Round 8 Review 51:10 - 1:00:37 Petit-Fours & Disgestifs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A midweek Hors d'Oeuvre you say? Fabien Galthie has announced his 42 man squad for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series tests against Japan, Argentina and the All Blacks, and after a tough old week at work we wanted to discuss a few points of interest... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite Rich dialling in from a tin can on the moon, we are delighted to be joined by Aurillac's Irish Hooker and all round gent Ronan Loughnane, to talk us through all things rugby in the Auvergne, with hurling, cows and Cantal cheese all on the menu…There's the usual round up of all the action including some magical tries in the Top 14, and we salivate at France's halfback options ahead of their Autumn International squad announcement on Wednesday. 00:00 - 06:05  Entrées 06:05 - 27:50 Top 14 Round 7 Review 27:50 - 31:00 Pro D2 Round 7 Review 31:00 - 1:02:25 Ronan Loghnane interview 1:02:25 - 1:04:35 Pro D2 Round 8 Preview 1:04:35 - 1:07:00 Nationale Nibbles 1:07:00 - 1:16:45 France Autumn Internationals Squad preview 1:16:45 - 1:21:55 Petit Fours & Digestifs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices