Under The Sticks Rugby

Get primed for the weekend as Andy & Adam drop insights and nuggets to help you sound like a half-baked pro for the weekend as they break down the Rugby World Cup Semi-Finals now that the teams have been selected. Who has suffered the bigger losses to injury - Wales or South Africa? What does the change in George Ford's 'role' mean for England and we borrow some analysis from Squidge Rugby who believes this All Black team is now playing its best rugby of the last four years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get primed for the weekend as Andy & Adam drop insights and nuggets to help you sound like a half-baked pro for the weekend as they break down the Rugby World Cup Semi-Finals now that the teams have been selected. Who has suffered the bigger losses to injury - Wales or South Africa? What does the change in George Ford's 'role' mean for England and we borrow some analysis from Squidge Rugby who believes this All Black team is now playing its best rugby of the last four years. All this and lots of Guinness PRO14 chat ahead of R4 - Can Cheetahs do it on cold evening in Galway? Will Ian Keatley reach the 200 mark and just what to make of the battle in Conference B. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tales from Wales: Ross Harries of Premier Sports has penned a new book Behind The Dragon which brings readers into the dressing room to reveal some very powerful stories about wearing red. Behind the Dragon lifts the lid on what it is to pull on the famous red shirt - the trials and tribulations behind the scenes, the glory, the drama and the honour on the field, and the heart-warming tales of friendship and humour off it. Absorbing and illuminating, this is the ultimate history of Welsh rugby - told, definitively, by the men who have been there and done it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Quarter-Final weekend with so many talking points ahead of Wales v South African and England v New Zealand. Andy & Adam are joined by Simon Thomas of WalesOnline and Brenden Nel from South Africa to digest and look forward... plus Andy is forced to confront his pain at Ireland's demolition at the hands of the All Blacks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Quarter-Final weekend with so many talking points ahead of Wales v South African and England v New Zealand. Andy & Adam are joined by Simon Thomas of WalesOnline and Brenden Nel from South Africa to digest and look forward... plus Andy is forced to confront his pain at Ireland's demolition at the hands of the All Blacks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isa Nacewa, Jean de Villiers & Sean Holley preview one of the biggest rugby weekends of the year as the Rugby World Cup Quarter-finals approach - Nacewa on All Blacks fear of Ireland and the secrets to Ringrose & Henshaw Partnership - De Villiers on how Rassie Erasmus' time at Munster made him a better coach - Holley on how Gatland compares to Sir Alex Ferguson See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Palmer of the Sunday Times joins Andy & Adam to look back at Scotland's exit from the Rugby World Cup to ask how did it wrong and what does the future hold on and off the field. Charlie Morgan of the Telegraph has returned from Japan and gives his view on the success of the host nation and the guys identify the trends that have emerged in terms of game play. After a look at the Quarter-Finals Andy & Adam review the Guinness PRO14's opening rounds with the break week ahead. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy, Paul Williams & Adam are joined by referee Ben Whitehouse who talks through his journey, that 'medium force' incident and his goal of being at RWC 2023. Japanese weather is the talk of the pod while the guys preview the Guinness PRO14 weekend and discuss mental health... oh, and there's listeners questions too! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Cup and Guinness PRO14 are on the agenda for Andy & Adam who are joined by Chris Kirwan of the South Wales Argus to talk about Dragons first away win since 2015 and a budding bromance between Dean Ryan and Sam Davies. The guys put Wales v Fiji under the microscope too and Stuart Bathgate of the Offside Line tells us about Edinburgh's strong start and if Scotland may yet reach the RWC Quarter-Finals. There's also Italys WTF moment to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lovely Welsh flavour with an international view as Simon Thomas of Wales Online and Lauren Jenkins of Premier Sports joined the pod. Andy, Simon and Adam discuss the World Cup and in particular the outlook for Wales and Ireland while Fiji have gone 'Full Fiji'. Lauren helps look forward to R2 of the Guinness PRO14 and there's even an interview with Kieran Crowley of Benetton to cover as well. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy & Adam speak with Mark Palmer from the Scottish Sunday Times about Scotland's potential make or break clash with Japan who shocked the rugby world with their deserved win over Ireland - which the guys dissect. Georgina Robinson of the Sydney Morning Herald about how Australia will rebound from their loss to Wales and why Michael Cheika's caricature persona shouldn't cloud the value of what he's talking about. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Too much rugby? Not in our book. Andy & Adam are joined by Rory Lawson - all the way from Tokyo - and South African journalist Brenden Nel has quiet expectations for the Cheetahs and Kings. The guys discuss the Australia's take on the High Tackle Framework and high shots while the Guinness PRO14 kicks off this weekend and we look at what's in store across all five countries See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy and Adam are joined by Squidge Rugby (live from Japan) and Paul Williams to run the rule over the opening games of the World Cup and the controversies that have already emerged See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Italian prop Massimo Cutitta and one time member of the Edinburgh coaching team joins Andy McGeady to talk about Italy's campaign in Japan. What will the future hold for the Italians once Conor O'Shea moves on and what will represent success for a team in the same Pool as South Africa and New Zealand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy McGeady returns (hallelujah) returns behind the mic to chat with Sean Holley about Wales' prospects in the Rugby World Cup - why their schedule really helps Warren Gatland's team selections for big games, what Welsh success would look like, and why Wales shouldn't be scared of anybody in their way before the semi final. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Palmer of the Sunday Times talks up Scotland's World Cup prospects. What does Gregor Townsend's playing career mean for his coaching outlook, does the Scotland head coach know exactly what his best XV is or will he dip into this squad strength to navigate a tricky pool. However, for Scotland it all comes down to their first Pool A game with Ireland this Sunday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the episode we never wanted to do... three Irish voices, but it is all in good spirit in the first of our World Cup previews. Murray Kinsella of The42.ie joins Andy and Adam and they break down more than Ireland's chances with a bit of media chat and how journalism is starting to return to former glories on new platforms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recorded in front of a live audience at Twickenham, Andy is joined by Paul Williams, Paul Eddison and Adam Redmond to chat about the World Cup and each of the hopes of the Guinness PRO14 nations. There's chat on the project player debate, a potential French revival and there's even a few laughs as the UTS team gets giddy in front a crowd! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Williams joins Adam after Andy goes into hiding following his Twitter Beef with BOD. Wales v Ireland chat about Gatland's mid-season mind games, bolters, warm-up bashers get the heave-ho. All Blacks Liam Squire gets a shout-out for his strength in his mental health battle. Morgan Piek joins the show to chat Boks squad, Etzebeth & Dyanti failed test... oh, and the Cheetahs are in the Currie Cup Semi-Final See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy & Adam get the pod back up and running with a very special visit to the Big Grill BBQ festival with DJ BBQ & James Lowe. They talk about the usefulness (or lack) world rankings and warm-up Tests, coaches getting edgy about high tackle laws while Adam nails his colours firmly to Boks and Cardiff Blues masts for the new season... Andy is not so sure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.