Rugby Union Weekly

Former England international Katy Daley-McClean and ex-Black Fern Ruby Tui join Sara Orchard to review the Red Roses’ 61-33 thrashing of Italy in Parma.
John Harrison’s reigning world champions made it 37 consecutive wins across all competitions with a dominant display in their fourth bonus-point victory of this year’s competition.
That’s now 38 successive Six Nations wins, setting up what should be an epic grand finale in Bordeaux against France next weekend.
The panel discuss the entertainment value of games such as this, whether winning the Six Nations would really be more impressive than the World Cup – as England’s defence coach claimed pre-match, and the debutants who came on for the Roses.
Timecodes:
00:10 Ruby’s dramatic pod entrance
02:50 Are teams working England out, or is it just injuries letting teams score more?
05:00 How much credit do England deserve given the absentees?
06:00 How good were Lutui and Burns?
07:15 Ruby says England’s domination is ‘systematic’ like New Zealand’s Sevens team
09:55 A debut for Haidee Head qualifies for 5 different nations! What’s she like?
12:50 Ex-captain Marlie Packer’s 4-try haul
14:15 Would England fall apart without Amy Cokayne and Lucy Packer?
15:33 Zoe Harrison’s incredible kicking run ends
17:05 How did Italy come back from going 26-0 down inside the first 15 minutes?
18:50 Is Italy’s box-kicking boring or really smart?
20:15 Is Ellie Kildunne still settling into this new position?
22:50 Is this France’s best opportunity to beat England and get the Grand Slam?

Should the women’s game be using smaller balls? The debate is back on the agenda after Zoe Harrison’s interview with Sara about the decision to use size 4.5 balls at this autumn's WXV Global Series. Kat Merchant and Philippa Tuttiett give their views on ball trial, and discuss whether it is a backwards step for the game. We also examine the state of the women’s game in Italy as they prepare to face the Red Roses after an impressive victory over Scotland. Ticket sales for Ireland’s big date at the Aviva continue to fly off the shelf. Can Wales build on their bonus point against England and cause a big upset in Belfast?

We’re podding from the Stade Atlantique in Bordeaux after Bath’s hopes of winning a first Champions Cup since 1998 were dashed by the holders. Chris and Paul Grayson pick the bones out of an epic encounter and discuss where the semi-final got away from Bath. They also chat to Johaan van Grann who airs his frustration with the lack of consistency from the French TV directors. Bordeaux progress to the final in Bilbao and we grab a word with Ben Tameifuna and a special guest in the tunnel after the game. Leinster await, and we dissect Leo Cullen’s comments about the media after they saw off Toulon in Dublin. Can the Irish province finally add that elusive sixth star after making another final? Or can Bordeaux go back-to-back?

Can Bath reach a first Champions Cup final since 1998? Do they have the gameplan to beat the holders Bordeaux in their back yard? Chris and Ashy look ahead to what promises to be an epic semi-final weekend. Henry Arundell is on the pod to discuss Sunday’s showdown in the south of France and what it would mean to reach the final with his boyhood club. We also catch up with Toulon and Scotland scrum-half Ben White as he looks to claim a fourth star for the French giants.

Is Noah Caluori ready for England? Have we entered a new era for try records? Can Bath topple the best club team in Europe? Chris Ashton, Danny Care and Chris Jones dissect the big talking points from the weekend, including another thriller between the Prem's top two, and look ahead to the Champions Cup semi-finals. Plus, after Pat Lam criticised Newcastle's pitch, we discuss what it is really like to play on an artificial surface.