Power Struggle

Chris and Ugo look ahead to round five of the Nations Championship. Can South Africa win in Paris again? How will the great Antoine Dupont perform at fly-half? England have made 10 changes for the visit of Japan with Max Ojomoh at 12 and Will Joseph on the wing. George Ford gets the nod over Marcus Smith and chats to Ugo and Chris about how England’s attacking ambitions, selection and how to get their best athletes on the ball. Wales keep faith with fly-half Sam Costelow for the visit of New Zealand. Have the All Blacks got their aura back? And Eddie Jones makes his return to the pod. He explains why Japan’s best fly-half is playing for his university and not at Twickenham this weekend and gives us his take on the current England side.

Why can’t Scotland beat the All Blacks? Chris, GRO and Tom pick through a second-half collapse at Murrayfield and ask whether the opening weekend of the Nations Championship needed an upset. What did England’s win over Australia tell us about Steve Borthwick’s side? Can Wales build on beating Japan when New Zealand come to Cardiff? The guys also look ahead to France v South Africa in Paris and ask where Ireland sit in the pecking order. Plus, find out which rugby question left GRO stumped at his local pub quiz.

England restarted their Nations Championship campaign in a dominant and energetic fashion as they beat Australia 45-22. Chris, Ashy and Paul Grayson give their instant reaction from the Allianz Stadium as the home side put seven tries past the Wallabies. They pick out star performances including from Seb Atkinson and highlight where things have gone right for England after a bumpy start to the year. Sara gets in on the action too as she is joined by England head coach Steve Borthwick and Australia’s head coach Les Kiss in the tunnel of the stadium. The guys dissect what went wrong with this Australian side and take a look at the other big stories from the opening week of these November matches!

Hear from a passionate Jamie George and Maro Itoje, who dismiss reports claiming the England players were unhappy with Steve Borthwick's leadership in the summer. They tell Chris it will galvanise the squad and believe the timing of the article was meant to divide them. We also the discuss the England team with friend of the pod Alex Lowe which sees Fin Smith named at fly-half this Sunday. What can we expect from Australia? Chris has also been into the Wallabies camp to see John Fisher to find out where they're at seven matches into the Les Kiss regime.

The Nations Pod is back for the autumn! Chris, GRO and Tom look ahead to the Nations Championship and assess where the Home Nations stand heading into a crucial November. Just how significant would a first ever Scotland win over the All Blacks be? Tom argues there's another nation Scotland supporters would love to beat even more. How optimistic should Wales fans be? And can England finally solve their midfield puzzle amid a growing injury list? Plus, after last year's humbling defeat at the Aviva, is Ireland's autumn defined by their performance against world champions South Africa?

The southern hemisphere teams are in town as the Nations Championship resumes this weekend. Which of the home nations has the most to prove this autumn? Danny, Ashy and Ugo look ahead to a huge Test at Twickenham for Steve Borthwick’s England. Should Marcus Smith get the keys to number 10 against Australia? They also discuss the injuries at scrum-half and if England can develop an identity when wins are so important. Has New Zealand’s resurgence come at the worst possible time to end their All Blacks hoodoo? We also reflect on the Prem and Leicester’s flying start.

Sara Orchard and Ugo Monye are joined by former Scotland captain Lisa Martin to look back on the WXV Global Series, asking what next for England after losing their long unbeaten streak.They're joined by coach Shaun Edwards, who gives an insight on working with the Red Roses, his new job with Argentina's men, and whether he was ever likely to join Steve Borthwick's England set-up.The team also look at Scotland's winless campaign, as well as positive series for Wales and Ireland. And outside of the England, who looks in a good shape to be part of next year's Lions squad?TIMECODES 02:00 Has the WXV Global Series format worked? And could it evolve further? 11:30 Shaun Edwards interview part one - working with the Red Roses 19:20 Where do England stand after the matches v Canada and USA? 30:00 Rest of the Home nations 44:00 Non-English players for the Lions 47:30 Shaun Edwards interview part two - his new job with Argentina and would he work with England's men?

Chris is in the England camp to speak to two of the headline selections in Steve Borthwick's squad. Joe Marchant reflects on winning a recall after three years away, and tells us what it's like to have Alan Shearer as a father-in-law. Will Joseph is also on to chat about his stellar form for Gloucester and how he is doing it all while deaf in one ear. And Borthwick himself joins us to discuss how well the Prem is preparing his players for the international game and what he made of the dust-up in the East Midlands deby

Are England picking for now or the World Cup? Ugo, Chris and Ashy debate Steve Borthwick’s latest squad, the big omissions and the new faces pushing for a place. Plus, are Bath and Saracens’ rotation policies protecting players or costing them their rhythm? The guys also get stuck into the weekend’s action, have their say on the red card row and ask what went wrong for the Red Roses against Canada.

Danny, Ashy and Chris reflect on a sombre opening weekend of the Champions Cup following the death of Lions and former Sale lock Hyron Andrews. They assess a chastening start for the Prem, with only one win from eight matches. Is it evidence of English rugby falling behind, or just a difficult opening weekend? Glasgow impress in the north west, Connacht turn on the style and Bath lose again. The Red Roses 41-match unbeaten run is over, but will the defeat to Canada prove to be a blessing in disguise? The All Blacks extend their winning run to 13 over the Wallabies and Spain enter the race to host the 2035 World Cup. Rugby in the Nou Camp anyone?