Maul or Nothing

Twickenham. 2026.
And England were dismantled.

🇮🇪 Ireland clinical.
🏴 England chaotic.
🗣 Ellis Genge admitting they may have believed their own hype.

One of the most sobering afternoons at HQ in recent Six Nations history.

This week on Maul or Nothing we break down:

•⁠ ⁠Luke Cowan-Dickie & Freddie Steward hooked
•⁠ ⁠George Ford’s missed kicks and the momentum swing
•⁠ ⁠Ireland majestic across the park
•⁠ ⁠Jamison Gibson-Park dictating everything
•⁠ ⁠What this means for Steve Borthwick with the 2027 Rugby World Cup just 18 months away

🏟 In Cardiff:
Wales finally show signs of life under Steve Tandy — but Scotland still find a way. Finn Russell magic. Again.

🇫🇷 And France?
Is the Grand Slam already inevitable? Their depth is frightening.

🇮🇹 Italy improving again — and will genuinely fancy England in Rome.

This is proper Six Nations analysis. No fence-sitting. No safe takes.

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England’s Grand Slam talk lasted a week.

At Murrayfield in Round 2 of the 2026 Six Nations, Scotland delivered another Calcutta Cup statement — and this week on Maul or Nothing (MON) we’re joined by the man who ran it:

🔥 Scotland scrum-half Ben White, fresh off controlling one of the biggest games of the championship.

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Scotland v England – Calcutta Cup 2026

With Ben White in the studio:
•⁠ ⁠The tactical plan at Murrayfield
•⁠ ⁠The build-up after the Rome fallout
•⁠ ⁠Scotland’s fast start and the momentum swing
•⁠ ⁠The Arundell yellow/red and the 6–2 split gamble
•⁠ ⁠Why versatility matters at Test level
•⁠ ⁠What Finn Russell said to Ben just before his try 😂
•⁠ ⁠What it feels like when the crowd and momentum are fully behind you

White’s kicking game. Russell’s tempo. Tuipulotu carrying. Huw Jones lurking.
Scotland playing with belief.

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🇮🇪 Ireland v Italy

•⁠ ⁠Italy humbling the Irish scrum
•⁠ ⁠Tadhg Furlong and Dan Sheehan getting properly squashed up top
•⁠ ⁠The controversial TMO forward-pass call
•⁠ ⁠Ireland winning by the seat of their pants
•⁠ ⁠Hollie Davidson’s calm, authoritative display

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🇫🇷 Wales v France

•⁠ ⁠France’s frightening depth
•⁠ ⁠Jalibert & Dupont pulling strings behind a monstrous pack
•⁠ ⁠Charles Ollivon in full Greek-god mode
•⁠ ⁠Where Wales go from here

Elite-level Six Nations analysis, player insight and honest selection debate.

MON covers every round of the Six Nations 2026.

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The Six Nations is back — and Maul or Nothing opens Week 1 with a proper deep dive, featuring Italy winger Louis Lynagh after one of the most emotionally charged weekends of international rugby.
From Max’s whirlwind week inside England camp, to France’s brutal ballet in the rain and dismantling of Ireland, to serious questions about where Wales — and Scotland — go from here, this episode is packed with insider detail, big takes, and plenty of laughs.

🔥 MAX’S WEEK WITH ENGLAND
Fresh from camp, Max takes us inside the bubble:
•⁠ ⁠How did the call-up actually land?
•⁠ ⁠Who was the first person he told?
•⁠ ⁠Walking into a squad full of rivals… with just one club-mate
•⁠ ⁠Did he break the unspoken rule and train like an academy kid?
•⁠ ⁠Matchday nerves, stadium walk-ins, and the full Test-week rhythm
•⁠ ⁠And yes… trying to get Henry Pollock out after the match, throwing Ben Earl under the bus — and most importantly… the stash

🏉 LOUIS LYNAGH — FROM PREM FINALS TO SIX NATIONS
Louis joins us to relive:
•⁠ ⁠First-person thoughts on an epic international win
•⁠ ⁠What happens immediately after the final whistle
•⁠ ⁠Family watching on — and what that meant
•⁠ ⁠How does a Six Nations moment compare to those Premiership final tries?
•⁠ ⁠Italy’s passion, belief, and why this side feels different

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 SCOTLAND: THE ROAD AHEAD
•⁠ ⁠Is this the end of the road for Gregor Townsend?
•⁠ ⁠Where do Scotland go from here?

🔴 WALES: WHERE DO THEY GO FROM HERE?
•⁠ ⁠What can Steve Tandy realistically change?
•⁠ ⁠Is this tactical, psychological — or something deeper?

🔵 FRANCE v IRELAND — A SHIFTING POWER?
France were majestic in appalling conditions. One writer summed it up perfectly:
“Playing rugby against France is like spending 80 minutes being beaten up by a huge bloke, who breaks off to do a bit of ballet every now and again.”
We break down:
•⁠ ⁠France’s blend of violence and finesse
•⁠ ⁠The Bordeaux influence — the catalyst?
•⁠ ⁠Ireland’s injuries, pressure points, and performance
•⁠ ⁠What they could do — and what they can realistically do now

🧠 PLUS:
•⁠ ⁠MON Fantasy Squad Names
•⁠ ⁠Comments, controversy, and chaos — as ever

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This is Maul or Nothing — where the Six Nations gets pulled apart properly.
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The Six Nations is back — and this is the ultimate pre-show breakdown you need before kickoff.

On this episode of Maul or Nothing, we’re joined by Ireland & British & Irish Lions winger Simon Zebo for elite insight, dressing-room reality, and the stories behind the team sheets as Europe’s biggest championship explodes into life.

From France v Ireland on a rare Thursday night, to England v Wales at Twickenham, plus Scotland’s ceiling and Italy’s growing threat — nothing gets past us.

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🔴 FRANCE v IRELAND – THE OPENING BLOCKBUSTER

•⁠ ⁠Antoine Dupont RETURNS after an 11-month ACL layoff —
•⁠ ⁠Why France scheduled this game on Thursday night (and what it tells us)
•⁠ ⁠Jalibert over Ntamack — obvious call, but not an easy one
•⁠ ⁠Gaël Fickou’s omission — and just how long he’s actually been around
•⁠ ⁠Youth surge: Moefana (25), Depoortere (23), Gourgues (20)
•⁠ ⁠ROG insight: France’s “there’s nothing between them” mentality — except Dupont

Ireland under the radar?

•⁠ ⁠Big selection calls at fly-half
•⁠ ⁠Prendergast vs Byrne vs Crowley — who should start?
•⁠ ⁠Big players missing: Aki, Keenan, Hansen, Porter

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ENGLAND v WALES – PRESSURE EVERYWHERE

England talking points:

•⁠ ⁠Northampton connection: Freeman + Dingwall together
•⁠ ⁠Henry Arundell back on the wing
•⁠ ⁠Maro Itoje on the bench —
•⁠ ⁠Is the modern game now fully 23-man rugby?
•⁠ ⁠Henry Pollock — the ultimate impact player… and how much will he hate not starting?

Wales: fresh start or same problems?

•⁠ ⁠No win since March 2023 — but optimism is back
•⁠ ⁠Injuries hit hard: Jac Morgan, Faletau, Tshiunza, Llewellyn
•⁠ ⁠Bizarre stat: Louis Rees-Zammit has never played at Twickenham for Wales
•⁠ ⁠Max… wing or fullback?
•⁠ ⁠Alex Mann — world-champion agitator… shades of Ryan Wilson?

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🔵 SCOTLAND – EXPECTATION MANAGEMENT

•⁠ ⁠Preferred starting XV debate
•⁠ ⁠What does success actually look like?
•⁠ ⁠Sione’s careful messaging — humility or mind games?
•⁠ ⁠Is this last-chance saloon for Gregor Townsend?

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🇮🇹 ITALY – NOT A GIMME ANYMORE

•⁠ ⁠Why Italy are no longer a free hit
•⁠ ⁠Lessons from beating the Wallabies
•⁠ ⁠Louis Lynagh predicts a big step forward
•⁠ ⁠Big misses: Capuozzo, Negri, Vintcent, Allan

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🥃 PLUS

•⁠ ⁠Zebo stories you won’t hear elsewhere
•⁠ ⁠Scotland humility chat
•⁠ ⁠“10 channel fool’s gold”
•⁠ ⁠Duncie Weir last minute drop goal
•⁠ ⁠WOLFCRAIG shout-out to our fabulous sponsors 👉 https://www.wolfcraig.com

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MON dissects a brutal Premiership weekend and some seismic Six Nations decisions.

Sale v Northampton had everything — needle, niggle, and a scoreline that didn’t tell the full story. Ryan caught up with Henry Pollock and Tommy Freeman after the game and lifts the lid on how Saints actually took it.

Bristol grind out a filthy win in dreadful conditions — not the Bears way, but maybe their most satisfying yet. Flying high in the Prem… so why only one Bear anywhere near the England squad?

Harlequins crash back to earth. Fans leaving early. Should relegation come back into the Premiership?

Leicester quietly motor on. Bath enjoy their annual tradition as Finn Russell shushes The Shed. Gloucester stay competitive despite being depleted — with Charlie Atkinson flashing real promise at 10.

Try celebrations are getting bolder too — torpedo dives, salutes to opposition fans… is anything off-limits now?

URC chaos:
•⁠ ⁠Glasgow squeezed by Zebre
•⁠ ⁠Stormers beaten at home by the Sharks
•⁠ ⁠Bulls win in Edinburgh — and once again prove they do travel

Plus: Welsh rugby ownership chaos, England’s stacked depth, major Six Nations omissions, and why some of the biggest names in Europe are watching from home. Who on earth chooses to leave out Damian Penaud???

All that — and MAX on conditions, violence-fuelled motivation, and a proper Royal Rumble
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