The Telegraph Rugby Podcast

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the final round of pool action and look ahead to a thrilling line-up of quarter-finals coming up this weekend.We discuss the side Steve Borthwick is likely to select following England's lacklustre performance against Samoa and if he will stick with captain Owen Farrell at inside centre or if in-form George Ford will be sacrificed against Fiji.Ireland dominated Scotland to set up a mouthwatering showdown with New Zealand and we check in with former All Black and 2011 World Cup winner Israel Dagg to discuss his former side's chances as well as why the future is not looking so bright for them.Plus, we take a look at the other games this weekend including a potential return for France captain Antoine Dupont, who is back in training following surgery on a facial fracture and could start against the Springboks on Sunday.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on a quiet week in the Rugby World Cup for the home nations with only Scotland in action.Gregor Townsend’s side won well against Romania while New Zealand returned from their week off to thump Italy 96-17 in a statement win. All eyes this weekend are on the crunch match between Ireland and Scotland. We discuss the permutations that could see Scotland through to the next round and even see South Africa eliminated!We catch up with former international referee JP Doyle to get his assessment on the officiating at the tournament so far and whether the ‘bunker’ system is working.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on a thrilling weekend of Rugby World Cup action including Ireland's victory over defending champions South Africa, which was the game of the tournament so far.We look at where the game was won and lost, and discuss the likelihood of the two sides meeting again in the final at the end of October.Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins joins the show to talk about the form of two of his star players, Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen, and his experience of working alongside Andy Farrell during Ireland's successful tour of New Zealand last year.Plus, the guys discuss under-pressure Eddie Jones, England's backline options following their resounding win over Chile and ask if enough is being done to support 'tier 2' nations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England maintained their 100 per cent record in the Rugby World Cup after Steve Borthwick's side saw off Japan with a bonus-point win. But not everyone is happy with the performance.Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the victory and ask why so many fans seem to be disgruntled with England, especially given their poor form prior to the tournament.Australia face the very real threat of being knocked out in the pool stages for the first time in their history after Eddie Jones’ team lost to Fiji. The Wallabies now have a must-win clash with Wales on Sunday to stand any chance of making it into the final eight. We speak to former Australia skipper James Horwill about the current state of the side and the reaction Down Under.Plus, the guys look ahead to the weekend which includes a mouthwatering clash between Ireland and South Africa.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on an eventful  opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup!England produced their best performance under Steve Borthwick when it mattered most, defeating Argentina comfortably despite being down to 14 men just three minutes into the game.We dissect what went right for England and discuss the performance of George Ford, including where Owen Farrell fits back into this side once his ban is served.Former Wales winger Shane Williams joins the show to talk about Wales' narrow win over Fiji and how far Warren Gatland can take his side in the tournament.Plus, we round up the best of the rest of the weekend's action and tackle your questions too!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rugby World Cup is just days away which means we are back with you every week from now until the tournament ends!Ben, Charlie and Charles get stuck into the big talking points starting with England, who enter the competition in disarray following three defeats in four warm-up games and bans handed out to two of their key players in Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola. We discuss their opener with Argentina and ask if Steve Borthwick's side are capable of pulling out a big performance when they need it most.Nick Evans, who was part of Borthwick's coaching team during the Six Nations, joins the show to share his thoughts on England's chances and the role Marcus Smith could play after he featured at full-back during the warm-ups.We also take a look at the standout games this weekend, including Friday night's opener between France and the All Blacks, and get stuck into your questions too.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Telegraph Rugby podcast will be back on Monday 4th September ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Until then, enjoy another episode of our latest sport podcast.This episode of the Telegraph Women's Sport podcast, we look at one of the hottest topics in women’s sport right now: ACL - three letters that can strike fear into sportspeople. An anterior cruciate ligament injury means a lengthy spell on the sidelines and women are more likely to suffer them than men. But why? How can the risk be reduced? And what is it like to go through rehab for such a serious knee injury?  Sam is joined by three people who know more about this tricky injury than most.Fiona Pocock won more than 30 caps for England and played in the 2010 Rugby World Cup, but she also spent long periods on the sidelines with injury. She now runs her own personal training company, specialising in female-specific programmes.Tess Braunerova is a Premiership rugby player & international for the Czech Republic - she did her ACL the season before last.And Tom Jacobs is a chartered physiotherapist who has worked in both elite and grass-roots sport. He helped set up the Sporting Knee Injury Prevention Programme (SKIPP) after seeing an increase in ACL ruptures amongst teenagers playing sport.Follow the Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast nowFor more Women's Sport news from the Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Telegraph Rugby podcast will be back on Monday 4th September ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Until then, enjoy another episode of our latest sport podcast. This episode of the Telegraph Women's Sport podcast takes a look the importance of coaching in sport, from guiding youngsters at the start of their sporting journeys to helping elite athletes as they challenge for trophies and medals.Sam Quek is joined by three people who know all about the many facets of quality coaching.Giselle Mather was part of England’s Rugby World Cup-winning squad in 1994, but she's also excelled in the coaching sphere as the first woman to earn the RFU’s Level Four coaching badge. She's has been involved in the set up at London Irish, Wasps and now Ealing Trailfinders.Willie Kirk was in charge of Hibernian Women when they won trophies in 2010 and 2011, and has worked in the Women’s Super League with Bristol City, Everton and now Leicester. In the season just finished he oversaw a remarkable turnaround as Leicester recovered from having zero points at Christmas to avoid relegation.And Abbie Johnson, a community cricket coach, who has been coaching since she was 14 at her local club Louth and also works part-time in the county set-up with Lincolnshire. She has continued to coach alongside her studies and caring for her mother while she underwent cancer treatment.Follow the Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast nowFor more Women's Sport news from the Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a listener of The Telegraph Rugby Podcast, you might be interested in the new show that we've been working on - The Telegraph Women's Sport podcast. We’ve all enjoyed seeing the rise of coverage in women’s sport in recent years, but there is undoubtedly still work to do. Join Olympic hockey legend Sam Quek as she chats to women across the sporting world about the big issues – from ACL injuries to activism to motherhood.This first episode takes a look at success and attempts to get to the bottom of what it takes to become a champion… aside from a lot of hard graft.Sam is joined by three women who know a lot about the pressure and mentality it takes to succeed in sport: Maggie Alphonsi, Rugby World Cup winner with Red Roses in 2014, Helen Davis, a sport psychologist who has worked with Olympic, Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth champions in a variety of sports, and, as the FIFA Women's World Cup gets underway, Ellen White, member of that iconic Euros winning Lionesses squad.Follow the Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast nowFor more Women's Sport news from the Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the final round of Six Nations action which saw Ireland crowned Grand Slam champions following their 29-16 win over an improved England side.The guys pay tribute to the winners and, in particular, their captain Johnny Sexton, who is now the top points scorer in the history of the Six Nations following his final game in the competition.There is also praise for England, who were much improved from their heavy defeat to France. We grade Steve Borthwick's first tournament in charge and pick out some of the positives from the last eight weeks as attention now turns to the World Cup later this year.The guys also assess where the other Six Nations teams stand ahead of the World Cup. Despite their Grand Slam, no one believes Ireland should be favourites.Fiona Tomas checks in ahead of the start of the Women's Six Nations this weekend, and we attempt to pick our player of the tournament too!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the penultimate round of Six Nations action where England suffered a record home defeat to France in a major reality check for head coach Steve Borthwick.We discuss England's problem areas following a difficult afternoon at Twickenham and who should play at fly-half against Ireland next weekend. Owen Farrell was forced to settle for a spot on the bench against France with Marcus Smith preferred while there's also the possibility of a return for George Ford, who is yet to make an appearance this campaign.The Irish Grand Slam remains on after they picked up their latest win away to Scotland. Despite a string of injuries to their pack in the first half, Andy Farrell's men overcame adversity to deliver what he called 'the best win of his career'. We discuss Ireland's relentless form and what chance, if any, England have against them this coming weekend.Plus, Wales are praised for picking up a bonus-point win away in Italy and we answer your questions too!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben, Charlie and Charles look ahead to the penultimate round of Six Nations action with three mouth-watering encounters taking place this weekend.England have welcomed Marcus Smith back into their extended squad after the fly-half was released by Steve Borthwick and told to go and prove himself. In Harlequins' hammering of Exeter, he did just that! We discuss what the performance means for Smith's future and also hear from his club team-mate Danny Care.Elsewhere, we speak to Italy captain Michele Lamaro ahead of the Azzurri's clash with Wales. He talks about the evolution of the side under Kieran Crowley and the rare prospect of preparing for a Six Nations clash as favourites.We also get stuck into your questions including 'what is a forward pass in the modern game?' after a number of confusing decisions across the weekend's action.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben, Charlie and Charles look back on round three of the Six Nations and get stuck into a second win for Steve Borthwick after England saw off Wales in Cardiff.They discuss who impressed and who failed to live up to expectation. There is criticism for England captain Owen Farrell, who did not enjoy his finest afternoon in an England shirt. We ask if Borthwick has backed himself into a corner by naming Farrell as his skipper for the duration of the tournament and if there is scope to change the captain ahead of the World Cup later this year. Elsewhere, there is praise for Scotland despite defeat away to France, which Gregor Townsend labelled their performance in Paris as their best of the competition so far.And with Italy continuing to impress after a competitive showing against Ireland, we discuss if their long wait for a Six Nations win on home soil will finally come when they face Wales.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben, Charlie and Charles look ahead to the return of the Six Nations this weekend but, with Wales' game against England in jeopardy due to the threat of a player strike, we dissect the problems within the Welsh game and speak with Cardiff Blues captain Josh Turnbull.Josh tells us why the players are looking to strike and what the likelihood of Saturday's game going ahead is.As for England, they look in good shape heading into the weekend with Courtney Lawes and Tom Curry both picked by Steve Borthwick. There is also a recall for George Ford, who made a return to Premiership action at the weekend. We discuss where the Sale Sharks fly-half could fit in the new England era.We also speak to Springboks star Cheslin Kolbe to get his thoughts on the Six Nations so far and his hopes for the year ahead as he prepares to defend the World Cup.Plus, we look ahead to the weekend's other two games where Italy host Ireland before what could be the match of the weekend on Sunday with Gregor Townsend's Scotland side taking plenty of momentum to Paris.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on week two of the Six Nations, which included a thriller in Dublin as Ireland got the better of France in a battle between the two best sides in the world.We speak to the former Ireland international Alan Quinlan about what makes this Ireland side different to the Grand Slam winning teams under Joe Schmidt and if the Irish can maintain their relentless form to challenge for the World Cup at the end of the year.We also unpack England's first win under Steve Borthwick which had both positive and negative aspects. We hear from the England head coach who urged fans to be patient after a mixed showing against Italy.After Scotland backed up their win at Twickenham by beating Wales, we ask if this is finally the year Gregor Townsend's men can compete for the title.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben, Charlie and Charles reflect on the opening round of Six Nations action which saw three away wins for the first time ever!One of those wins came at Twickenham as Scotland made it three in a row against England in the Six Nations to retain the Calcutta Cup and inflict defeat on Steve Borthwick in his first game in charge.We hear from the new England head coach, who insists there is a lot of work to be done, and also fly-half Marcus Smith, who's partnership with Owen Farrell remains a question mark for England.Charles was in Rome to see Italy fall to a narrow defeat to defending champions France and he gives us the low down on the threat they could pose to England next weekend.We also look ahead to a mouthwatering clash between Ireland and France after Andy Farrell's side made light work of Wales in Warren Gatland's Cardiff homecoming.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Telegraph Rugby podcast is back ahead of the Six Nations! Over the next eight weeks, join the Telegraph's Ben Coles, Charlie Morgan and Charles Richardson every Monday as they discuss the main talking points from the tournament.Ahead of Saturday's clash between England and Scotland, we catch up with Scotland star Finn Russell as he gives us his take on England, who he expects to line up opposite him at fly-half and why Scotland struggle to replicate their Calcutta Cup form across the entire Six Nations.We also take a closer look at England ahead of Steve Borthwick's first campaign and who will line up in his backline in particular.The guys also chat through Warren Gatland's first match since his return as Wales coach when they take on Ireland in the tournament opener.Plus, we discuss the controversial decision made by the RFU to lower the tackling height at amateur level and hear the thoughts of London Irish head coach Les Kiss on the issue everyone is talking about.Finn Russell spoke to the Telegraph Rugby Podcast in partnership with Puresport See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben, Charlie & Charles are back for a bonus episode discussing not one but two massive stories in the world of international rugby!England have parted company with Eddie Jones just nine months out from the Rugby World Cup while Wales have also moved on from their head coach Wayne Pivac, acting swiftly to bring back the man who Pivac replaced, Warren Gatland.Ben, Charlie and Charles take you inside Jones' final 48 hours as England head coach and discuss why the decision was made, why Jones was so reluctant to go and, ultimately, if it was the right decision to make so close to the World Cup.We also discuss the likely arrival of Steve Borthwick from Leicester Tigers and what his coaching ticket could look like, with the RFU reported to be parting with close to £1 million to bring their former coach back.And we answer the best of your questions regarding Jones' dismissal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben, Charlie and Charles analyse England's deflating defeat to South Africa at Twickenham and discuss whether Eddie Jones' role is under threat.Also under the microscope is Wales' late collapse to Australia and we look ahead to England's potential Six Nations squad.Our guest on this week's episode is the French National team's defence coach, Shaun Edwards. He discusses his thoughts on Southern Hemisphere teams; reminisces about his stint as Wasps' Head Coach; and unpacks why he has not got the England job... yet.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben, Charlie and Charles dissect England's thrilling draw against the All Blacks and debate if Marcus Smith was right to kick the ball out after his stunning performance in the dying moments helped the hosts back from the dead.Next up for England is a clash with world champions South Africa. We discuss what changes Eddie Jones could make to his squad after he already hinted at changes to his pack to match the physicality of the Springboks.The biggest result of the weekend came in Cardiff as Georgia came from behind to see off Wales. One of the men responsible for that win is former Cardiff Blues skipper Paul Tito, who is current assistant coach with Georgia. He joins the guys to discuss the win and the rapid growth of the game in the country ahead of the World Cup next year.We also round up the rest of the weekend's action including a shock win for Portugal, which sees them into next year's World Cup, a forgettable Saturday night in Dublin and a feisty clash between Scotland and Argentina.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are talking about officiating and how it is evolving with the increasing presence of technology in the game. Ben, Charles and Charlie are joined by one of the most recognisable officials to have ever stepped onto the field in Nigel Owens. Nigel expresses his concerns for a growing over-reliance on the TMO and he also explains how a desire to referee a 'perfect' game is making the sport less watchable. We also get his take on Rassie Erasmus after the South Africa director of rugby took to social media yet again to question officiating after his side’s loss to France.We are once again joined by Fiona Tomas from Auckland after the Red Roses fell agonisingly short in the World Cup final against New Zealand.The guys recap a comfortable win for England over Japan where Marcus Smith helped himself to a brace of tries, yet not everyone is convinced the Harlequins star should be in the starting XV.Plus, we cast an eye over the rest of the weekend’s action including a comeback win for the All Blacks over Scotland, a thriller between France and South Africa in Marseille and a first win for Italy over Australia!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our topic this week is attack in the modern game and we're joined by former England head coach and current Leinster assistant coach Stuart Lancaster. He sits down with Charlie to discuss how he prepares and coaches his sides to attack.But before that, Ben, Charlie and Charles look back on an action-packed weekend of international rugby including England's shock defeat to Argentina in their opening game of the autumn. We discuss where it all went wrong for Eddie Jones' side and ask if the experiment of a Smith-Farrell-Tuilagi midfield needs to be scrapped. We also hear from Ellis Genge, who defended England's performance despite the defeat.Fiona Tomas checks in from Auckland after England made it into a second consecutive World Cup Final after picking up their 30th consecutive win.We also wrap up the rest of the action including wins for Ireland and Scotland and a thumping defeat for Wales, who came up against a rampant All Blacks side, before looking ahead to next weekend.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the Telegraph's Ben Coles, Charlie Morgan & Charles Richardson as well as special guests every week throughout the Autumn Internationals.Each episode will hone in on an important aspect of the game and to kick things off we will be hearing from England head coach Eddie Jones on the art of selection. He speaks exclusively to the podcast about his methods and why he pays little attention to what is said in the media. Jones also explains how he came up with the idea of 'finishers' and details the difference between scouting players in person compared to off the TV.We also preview all of this weekend's games, including England-Argentina, and we hear from the Telegraph's Fiona Tomas who has been covering the Red Roses at the Women's World Cup.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2022 Six Nations is done and dusted! Congratulations to France who picked up their first title since 2010 and they made it a Grand Slam too for good measure.Joining Brian to recap the final weekend and the tournament as a whole is the former England centre Tom May. They look back on England's defeat on Saturday night and what in general went wrong for them over the course of the competition which left them with three defeats from five games.The Telegraph's Charlie Morgan was in Paris, he joins the show to recap the tournament and discuss the areas of major concern for England and Jones heading into the Summer.Italy picked up their first Sic Nations win for seven years in dramatic fashion. They scored one of the tries of the tournament in the final moments of their clash with Wales to ensure they didn't go home empty handed. Their captain Michele Lamaro joins the show and says he is confident of the long term foundations being laid in Italian rugby, and says he hopes it wont be seven years until their next Six Nations win.Elsewhere we recap disappointing campaigns for Wales and Scotland and a promising one for Ireland who finished a close second to unbeaten France. Read more from Brian Moore every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact | See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've just one round to go in the 2022 Six Nations and all eyes will be on the Stade de France in Paris as the hosts bid for their first Grand Slam since 2010. England's slim chances of a Six Nations title ended after their defeat to Ireland in Twickenham.Joining Brian to recap the penultimate weekend is the former England sevens captain Rob Vickerman. They dissect an incident packed game at Twickenham which saw Charlie Ewels red carded after just 80 seconds, the fastest in the Six Nations history. Former Ireland prop Mike Ross joins to show to discuss the Irish performance and some of the criticism they have faced despite their bonus point win. He also discusses the struggling Irish scrum, which he felt was poorly refereed.Elsewhere we recap the rest of the weekends action, Wales falling narrowly short of a big win over France and Scotland beating Italy but conceding 22 points in the process.Read more from Brian Moore every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Six Nations is back after a week off and what a game we have to look forward to on Saturday as England host Ireland at Twickenham.Joining Brian to look ahead to the weekend's clash is former England 7's captain Rob Vickerman. They discuss how well Eddie Jones new look side are transitioning to a new style of play and if their self imposed 'chaotic' gameplan is working.Liam Toland from the Irish Times also joins the show to discuss Irelands strong campaign so far and how they have managed to implement their own version of structured chaos under the guidance of former England coach Andy Farrell.Elsewhere we ask if there is any chance Wales can do England or Ireland a favour by beating Grand Slam hopefuls France on Friday night and should Duhan van der Merwe be banned for Scotlands upcoming game with Italy after he picked up a controversial red card at the weekend.We also discuss the future of domestic rugby after both Doncaster and Ealing were denied the opportunity to be promoted into the Premiership after they fell short of stadium requirements for the top flight.Read more from Brian Moore every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |Tickets for England vs Ireland Legends: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/harlequins/EDP/Event/Index/1143 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're down to just two rounds in the 2022 Six Nations and France remain the only side with a 100% record.Joining Brian to recap the weekend's action is former England and London Irish winger Topsy Ojo. The pair get stuck into the match at Twickenham between England and Wales and why exactly so much time was wasted at the scrum. We also get Brian's perspective of attending as a fan rather than a member of the media! Charlie Morgan was watching for the Telegraph, he joins the guys to unpack what was an uninspiring win for England.Elsewhere France maintained their 100% record with a comfortable win over Scotland. Gregor Townsend labelled his opponents as the best in the world following the win but for Scotland it's now back to back defeats after a promising start. We speak with the former Scotland centre Scott Hastings about what needs to be done for he Scots to kick onto the next level.We also get stuck into a farcical match in Dublin between Ireland and Italy which resulted in Ireland having a two man advantage for the majority.Read more from Brian Moore every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a week off from the Six Nations we are back and building up to a big encounter at Twickenham between old rivals England & Wales.Joining Brian to preview the action is the former England centre Tom May.They discuss the impact the returning Manu Tuilagi is likely to have on the game this weekend and are joined by former Wales number 8 to discuss some of their returning stars who are also fit for the weekends showdown in Twickenham.Off the pitch, the big story from the Six Nations over the last week surrounded South Africa and a report suggesting the World Champions were set to join the competition from 2025 at the expense of Italy. The story has since been denied by Six Nations but we speak to former Italy captain and Treviso head coach Marco Bortolami about the impact such a move would have on Italian rugby.Elsewhere Tom pays tribute to his former Newcastle coach Steve Black who sadly passed away over the weekend aged 64, and we discuss the new streaming platform from Gallagher PremiershipRead more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Moore is joined in the studio by Harlequins and England centre Rachael Burford to recap a thrilling second round of action in the 2022 Six Nations.England picked up their first win and and expected bonus point away to Italy. Marcus Smith was the star of the show, and head coach Eddie Jones says the sky is the limit for the young fly half. We assess his impact on the current England side and ask what his role could be once skipper Owen Farrell returns to the fold.France edged out Ireland in the pick of the weekend's games. The match was billed as one between the two tournament favourites and it did not disappoint. We are joined by the former Ireland back row Alan Quinlan to dissect the game and discuss why the Irish have plenty to be happy about despite defeat.And Scotland followed up their round one win with England with a defeat away to Wales, we speak with former Ospreys head coach about the win and if it was a turning point for the Welsh or a case of Scotland shooting themselves in the foot.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2022 Six Nations is underway and the opening weekend has well and truly delivered! Joining Brian to recap the action is former England captain Chris Robshaw.They reflect on a tense game in Murrayfield which saw Scotland stage a late comeback to ensure they retained the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 1984. We break down the game in detail with the Telegraph's Charlie Morgan who analyses just how Gregor Townsend masterminded the win for his side.Elsewhere Ireland made light work of Wales in Dublin. Next up for them is a trip to Paris to take on France who themselves picked up a bonus point by beating Italy. Chris reckons the Irish will be too strong for tournament favourites, France in that one.Plus we discuss how England should line up against Italy. If Tuilagi is fit, should he play? And we get the lowdown on life in America for Chris since leaving Quins.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're edging closer to the big kick off for the 2022 Six Nations!Joining Brian for the final preview before the opening round of fixtures is the former England centre Tom May.Tom offers his insight into who should feature in England's backline after it was confirmed Owen Farrell will play no part in the upcoming campaign and with Joe Marchant struck down by Covid, Tom offers his thoughts on who the latest midfield combination should be.Elsewhere we hear from Leicester captain Ellis Genge, who talks at length about his maturation as a player, his approach to leadership and the loss of Owen Farrell, and how he expects the Six Nations campaign to pan out.Ireland come into the competition off the back of a very strong Autumn. We get the thoughts of Liam Toland of the Irish Times on what the expectations are for Andy Farrell and his side ahead of their curtain raiser with Wales in Dublin.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're one step closer to the start of the 2022 Six Nations and we know the initial squads that will be taking to the field over the next eight weeks.Joining Brian to discuss the latest ahead of the Six Nations and beyond is the former Scotland scrum half Rory Lawson.England opted to leave in form George Ford out of their initial squad but he looks to have found a way in due to an injury to skipper Owen Farrell. We are joined by the Telegraph's Ben Coles to discuss the latest from the England camp and ask if it would be a blessing in disguise for Farrell to miss this year's competition, to give the side a chance to learn how to cope without their most influential player.First up for England is a trip to Murrayfield. Rory tells us why Scotland are once again feeling confident ahead of the clash and that the squad is amongst the strongest Gregor Townsend has picked in charge.Elsewhere we run through some of the other major squad selections, recap the latest round of European Rugby and discuss the new terrestrial TV deal for the Gallagher Premiership.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Moore is back ahead of what is set to be one of the most thrilling Six Nations in years!Eddie Jones is set to name his 36 man squad on Tuesday and Brian is joined in studio to discuss some of the big selection calls the England head coach will be forced to make ahead of this year's competition.The biggest talking point, as ever, is at outhalf. Marcus Smith has continued his scintillating form and George Ford is playing some of the best rugby of his career but skipper Owen Farrell is likely to take precedence over both despite being sidelined for over three months.Elsewhere, we discuss the options in the centre, back row and at prop, with 35-year-old Dan Cole tipped for a recall.Wales have had a good week, they learned their Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted in time for their 6 Nations campaign, meaning full crowds can return to Cardiff. Their women have just made history too by awarding 12 professional contracts for the first time in their history. We speak with former Wales international and current performance director at the WRU Nigel Walker about the historic moment for Welsh rugby.And we tackle the latest round of European action as well as answering all your questions!Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Moore is joined by former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad to reflect on the year in rugby.It was a year of two halves for England and Eddie Jones. After a disappointing fifth place finish in the Six Nations, the England head coach made wholesale changes for the Summer and Autumn series and went undefeated in both. The Telegraph's Ben Coles joins the show to review England's year and discuss where they are at ahead of the Six Nations in 2022.Elsewhere we assess the state of play for the rest of the Northern Hemisphere sides and in particular France who have arguably ended the year as the number one side in the world.We also look back on the British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa and it's legacy after widespread criticism of how the tour was managed.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

European Rugby got underway at the weekend and joining Brian Moore in the studio to reflect on the opening round of games is former England 7's captain Rob Vickerman.The pair discuss an impressive win for Leicester, who toppled French league leaders Bordeaux away from home. George Ford in particular impressed for the Tigers and we discuss if the fly half has any opportunity of forcing his way back into Eddie Jones' thoughts for the Six Nations.Cardiff faced the daunting task of hosting reigning champions Toulouse at Arms Park. Things weren't made any easier by the fact they had 42 members of their squad isolating. Rowan Jenkins is one of eleven players to have made his debut against the defending champions and he joins the show to discuss the four days of preparation he undertook to have himself ready to play.Elsewhere Harlequins women laid down a marker on Sunday by beating previously undefeated Saracens in their own backyard, their skipper Rachael Burford joins the show to discuss the win and also the formation of the new women's union, The Women's Rugby Association.Plus we talk about the impact the reduced salary caps could have on Premiership sides, both good and bad and we pay tribute to Antoine Dupont after he was named as the best player in the world.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England head coach Eddie Jones joins Brian Moore and the Telegraph's chief rugby correspondent Gavin Mairs to discuss the launch of his new book Leadership.Jones opens up on the 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign and explains why he is the man to blame for England's defeat to South Africa in Japan. He also takes us back to 2015 and the period when he took over and the task that awaited him upon his arrival.Elsewhere Jones admits that he can, at times, be to demanding of his coaching staff which has caused many bust ups over the years and he explains the important role that women are playing in the current England setup.We also hear his thoughts on the recent Autumn Nations Series and in particular fly half Marcus Smith who announced himself at test level with some assured performances against Australia and the Springboks.Extracts from Leadership: Lessons from my life in rugby by Eddie Jones with Donald McRae (Macmillan, £20.00) © Eddie Jones/Ensemble Rugby Limited 2021. Buy now for £16.99 at books.telegraph.co.uk or call 0844 871 1514Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Autumn Nations Series now done and dusted we turn our attention back to the club game and in particular the Gallagher Premiership and the United Rugby Championship.Joining Brian in studio once again is the former England centre Tom May. They reflect on the shambles at Twickenham on over the weekend which saw the Barbarians game with Samoa called off on 90 minutes' notice! The pair discuss who and what is to blame for the incident and if this second blunder in two years is enough to kill off the idea of the Barbarians moving forward.Billy Vunipola was named MOTM on his return for Saracens but can he force his way back into the England setup? We discuss his performance and assess England's depth after the Autumn series.South Africa's United Rugby Championship sides face an uncertain few weeks after the country was placed on a red list by both the EU & UK after the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. We speak with former Springbok and broadcaster Robbi Kempson about what impact this latest setback is set to have on the URC and South African Rugby.World Rugby announced a seismic rule change last week, from January players will be allowed to swap international allegiance provided they haven't played for three years. Former Samoa centre Dan Leo has been front and centre of this campaign and he joins the show to break down the impact the new ruling is likely to have both on and off the pitch in the Pacific Islands.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2021 Autumn Nations Series is done and dusted and it was a clean sweep for the Northern Hemisphere in the final round.Joining Brian in the studio to dissect the final set of results is the former England centre and World Cup winner Rachael Burford.They reflect on England's last gasp win over World Champions South Africa and pay tribute to head coach Eddie Jones for gaining revenge for the 2019 World Cup final defeat with such a different and fresher looking squad.The Telegraph's Charlie Morgan joins us to break down exactly where the game was won for England on Saturday and discusses where captain Owen Farrell could fit back into this current setup.Elsewhere France made a serious statement on Saturday night by thrashing the All Blacks in Paris, we speak with former French international Thomas Castaignède about the French and if they should now be considered favourites for the 2023 World Cup on home soil.Plus we get Rachael's verdict on England's women who made it 4/4 this Autumn with yet another thrashing, has their professional status elevated them too far ahead of their competition?Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England named an experimental back line for their test against Australia and although they were able to secure the win, the performance felt a little undercooked at times.Joining Brian to reflect on the weekend's action is the former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad.They ponder England's win and in particular the role of Manu Tuilagi who was selected as a winger but rarely appeared there, and also Marcus Smith who was facing his toughest test in an England shirt yet.The Telegraph's Charlie Morgan is on hand to provide a tactical breakdown of England's back line and also to look ahead to England's clash with World Champions South Africa.Ireland put in their finest performance yet under Andy Farrell by defeating the All Blacks in Dublin, we get the thoughts of the Irish Times Liam Toland about the Irish victory and how exactly the team is evolving under Farrell.Plus we get Bob's take on the Springboks ahead of their clash with England this weekend and answer your questions too!Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Round two of the Autumn Nations Series is in the books and England got their campaign off to a perfect start with a routine win over Tonga at Twickenham.Joining Brian to reflect on their performance is the former England, Newcastle and Toulon centre Tom May.The build up to England's game was dominated by who would wear the #10 shirt and in the end it was neither Owen Farrell or Marcus Smith! George Furbank started the game but Smith was the name on everyone's lips after the Harlequins star lit up Twickenham in his second half cameo.We discuss what role Smith will have once everyone is fit and firing and if Eddie Jones would be willing to drop captain Owen Farrell to accommodate him.We also round up the rest of the weekend's action as Scotland make it three wins from three over Australia, Wales have their chances of winning ruined by a pitch invader and Ireland put nine tries past Japan in Dublin.Plus we hear from England Women's coach Simon Middleton after his side thumped New Zealand for the second week in a row, thus cementing their status as the number one ranked side in the world.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're underway for the 2021 Autumn Nations Series and the opening round of fixtures produced no surprises, with a weakened Wales getting roundly beaten by New Zealand and Scotland making light work of Tonga.Joining Brian to reflect on the opening round of games and to discuss a busy weekend is the former London Irish and England winger Topsy Ojo.Round two will see the introduction of the rest of the Northern Hemisphere sides, including England who open their campaign against Tonga on Saturday. Ahead of the game, head coach Eddie Jones has had to deny allegations that he has fallen out with a number of his coaching staff during his six years in charge, we discuss what impact the story is likely to have on Jones, his coaching staff and playing squad.Freddie Steward is one of many candidates to replace injured Elliot Daly at full back this Autumn, we speak with the Leicester giant to discuss his scintillating club form and how he manages to balance the life of an international rugby player with a third year economics student.Elsewhere we recap a sensational win for England's women who thumped their rivals New Zealand in the first of two tests before next years World Cup.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

International rugby is back and so is Full Contact!Over the course of the Autumn international series Brian will once again be joined by the biggest and best names in the game as the best of the Southern Hemisphere tours Europe to take on the best of the Northern Hemisphere.Looking ahead at the busy month alongside Brian is former England Sevens captain Rob Vickerman. The pair dissect Eddie Jones' divisive England squad and ask whether the injection of new faces will also lead to a more expansive and new playing style.New Zealand arrive in the Northern Hemisphere for the first time since 2018 and kick off their tour with a clash against Wales. We speak with former All Blacks hooker Sean Fitzpatrick about the state of the world's most famous side who are in transition following the departure of Steve Hansen.Elsewhere England's Women begin their preparation for next year's World Cup with a double header against New Zealand. We hear from former centre Rachael Burford about how Simon Middleton's side are shaping up and whether or not the RFU will succeed in their bid to host the 2025 World CupPlus we discuss Wales and Scotland ahead of their return this weekend and the scheduling issues which mean Wales will miss a large portion of their squad against New Zealand.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2021 British and Irish Lions Tour is in the history books and it's congratulations to South Africa who came from behind to clinch the test series 2-1 with a narrow win in Saturday's deciding test.Joining Brian once again to dissect the test match and the series as a whole is the former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad.They discuss where Saturday's clash was won and lost including if the Lions left a number of points on the field after opting against penalty kicks in favour of lineout drives, the missed pass from Liam Williams and the impact of Finn Russell.Elsewhere Lions chairman Jason Leonard has left the door open for head coach Warren Gatland to return in 2025 for a fourth time. We hear from the Telegraph's chief Rugby Correspondent Gavin Mairs, who says the Lions should be looking to move on from Gatland and that a number of minor tweaks need to be made for the tour to Australia in four years time.We also discuss our players of the series from both sides, and we look ahead to the Springboks upcoming Rugby Championship campaign.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After two intense and physical test matches, it's all to play for between the British and Irish Lions and South Africa heading into the third and final clash this Saturday.Joining Brian in studio to dissect Saturday's test and to preview the decider is the former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad.Both Brian and Bob believe the momentum is now in the favour of the hosts after they completely dominated the Lions in the second half, and Brian calls on Warren Gatland to make some tactical changes because no side in the world can go toe to toe physically with the South Africans.The match officials once again had a busy afternoon. Two yellow cards were issued but we could have easily seen red, and Lions prop Kyle Sinckler has also been cited for an alleged bite. We discuss what impact Rassie Erasmus incredible mid week press conference had on the referee and if he should be sanctioned for his behaviour.Plus we discuss the comments of All Blacks head coach Ian Foster who says Saturdays test made him fall asleep and a potential return for the influential Duane Vermeulen.Watch 'Doddie Weir: My fight against MND is bigger than ever': https://youtu.be/_B5lBZTKubISee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's 1-0 to the British and Irish Lions after the first of their three match test series with South Africa.Joining Brian in studio to discuss the fallout from the opening test is former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad. The pair look back on all the big moments from Saturdays clash in Cape Town, discussing where the game was won and lost.One of the main men on Saturday was the TMO Marius Jonker. The South African native was controversially selected to officiate the clash, with many believing he could be bias towards the home side. What transpired was very different because it was the Lions who were the beneficiary of a number of TMO decisions on the day. Former international referee Nigel Owens joins the show to discuss if the decisions were the right ones and if they were crucial in deciding the game.We also look ahead to the second test and look at whether Warren Gatland will change a winning tide and we discuss the peculiar Twitter activity of South Africa Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus.Watch 'Doddie Weir: My fight against MND is bigger than ever': https://youtu.be/_B5lBZTKubISee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of the 2021 British and Irish Lions test series against South Africa, Brian Moore is sitting down with former players and coaches to discuss some of the memories which have made the Lions become the institution it is today.In our fourth and final instalment, Brian speaks to former England second row Simon Shaw who went on three Lions Tours, including two to South Africa, but had to wait until the age of 35 and his final two appearances in red to make a test match appearance.Shaw's appearance in the second test has gone down in Lions folklore as one of the finest ever seen in a test shirt, despite ultimately ending up on the losing side.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've less than a week to go before the first test between the British and Irish Lions take on South Africa in the first of three test matches.Alongside Brian to discuss the major talking points from both sides is the former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad.Lions defence coach Steve Tandy says the majority of the test squad has been picked but Brian and Bob disagree on a few positions. We also get the expert take of former Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan who joins the show to give us give us his XV for Saturday and talk through what it's like as a Lions coach in test match week.Elsewhere Bob gives us the lo down on the Springboks who suffered a shock loss to the Bulls over the weekend but he says it's not as big a worry as some are making it out to be. We also get the latest from South Africa after a difficult week for the country politically.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been an eventful week for both the British and Irish Lions and their hosts the Springboks.Alongside Brian to unpack the ongoing Covid crisis in South Africa is the former Ireland and Lions winger Tommy Bowe.The Lions have scored 50+ points in their first three games on tour but next up is a much sterner test against South Africa 'A' which is essentially a Springbok test side in disguise after Rassie Erasmus picked a number of World Cup winners for the clash.Former Springbok Robbi Kempson joins us from South Africa to look ahead to the unofficial '4th test' and to provide an update on the Covid situation in the country.It's been a month to remember for Marcus Smith, the Quins star was called up to the Lions squad fresh off the back of winning the Gallagher Premiership and making his England debut. We chat to his club coach Nick Evans about his rise and where he will fit in Warren Gatland's squad.And Alun Wyn Jones could make a sensational comeback according to Gatland, we discuss whether he could feature in the tests and if he will retain the captaincy.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The British and Irish Lions have touched down in South Africa and got their tour off to a perfect start with a routine win over a disappointing Sigma Lions XV.Joining Brian in the studio to reflect on the opening tour win is former London Irish winger Topsy Ojo.Josh Adams was the star of the show, the Wales winger crossed for four tries and has definitely laid down an early marker to be starting in the test series when it rolls around in three weeks time.Finn Russell also impressed at fly half, the Scotland playmaker was full of his usual tricks but can he be trusted to start at fly half in the test series or is he best used off the bench?Elsewhere South Africa finally returned to action for the first time since winning the World Cup in 2019. Former Springbok Thinus Delport joins the show to reflect on their win over Georgia and to talk about their latest flying winger Aphelele Fassi who was the star performer on Friday night.Away from the Lions Tour, Marcus Smith finally made his England debut and impressed the crowd at Twickenham, Topsy was there watching and we discuss if any of the fifteen players on show put their hand up for a late Lions call up.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lions have just touched down in South Africa and their preparations for facing the Springboks are already up in the air.Joining Brian to unpack a busy weekend surrounding the Lions and more is the former England captain Rob Vickerman.After only eight minutes of their opening warm up game against Japan tour captain Alun Wyn Jones was forced off with a dislocated shoulder, meaning he will be out for the entirety of the tour. Head coach Warren Gatland has named three time tourist Conor Murray as the new tour captain to the surprise of many, we speak to Murray's former Munster team mate to find out what the Ireland scrum half is like behind the scenes and whether he thinks he has what it takes to lead the Lions.Elsewhere the entire tour has been thrown into jeopardy after South Africa announced a strict four week lockdown on Sunday night. We discuss the impact the news will have on the squad both on and off the field.Elsewhere Harlequins followed up their thrilling semi final win over Bristol with an equally sensational victory over Exeter in the Gallagher Premiership. Their scrum coach Adam Jones joins the show to discuss a roller coaster two weeks for the club and where the weekend's win leaves them set heading into next season.Read more from Brian every Monday: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/bp-bt/brian-moore/ |Save 50% on a Telegraph Sport subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.