The Nations Championship is one week away, so David Pembroke, Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie run the ruler over every squad and storyline before an enormous November. There’s concern about the format and tie-breakers, plus a big look at who’s trending up or down: can Wales survive their off-field chaos, can Italy rediscover last year’s spark, and are Ireland slipping before they climb again? England’s pressure is front and centre ahead of Australia first up, with the warning that Japan can become a nasty banana skin if teams rotate. The All Blacks are backed to win all three, but there’s a blunt chat about “inconvenient conversations” and the areas that can still bite them. South Africa’s selections scream long-game planning, while France’s second-round showdown looms large.
PLUS: WXV, Samoa’s governance mess, and a big Monday preview with Ben Youngs and Steven Kitshoff.
Also in this episode:
● Nations Championship tables, pools, and who tops them
● Steve Hansen flags format flaws and tie-break concerns
● England v Australia pressure, selections, and banana skin risks
● All Blacks injuries, Scotty Barrett impact, and lineout worries
● Springboks squad rotation as Rassie plans ahead
● WXV final round, USA v England, Black Ferns v France
PLUS: How tours, injuries and club calendars shape performance windows.
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