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WALES RISING, ENGLAND DECLINING? Super Saturday Preview ft. Jonathan Davies! The Rugby Paper Roundup

·40 min·3 clips

Former Wales star Jonathan Davies analyzes England's first-ever loss to Italy and Wales' sudden hope ahead of a title-deciding Super Saturday.

The episode opens with host welcoming former Wales and British & Irish Lions center Jonathan Davies. They immediately set the scene for Super Saturday, noting England's first-ever loss to Italy in Rome and Wales' encouraging display against Ireland. Davies predicts a tight title race with France as favorites but Ireland and Scotland in contention. He highlights Wales' defensive improvement and the viral try by prop Reese Carrie as a feel-good moment. Discussion shifts to Italy's star center Tommaso Menicello, with Davies praising his physicality and partnership with Brex and Garbisi. Davies previews Wales vs. Italy, noting Italy's confidence and Wales' pressure to win at home. He then analyzes Scotland's chances in Dublin and France vs. England, expecting a tough match for England due to French world-class talent. Davies delves into England's struggles, citing defensive vulnerabilities, fatigue, and confusion over team selection. He compares England's decline to Wales' rebuilding phase, noting green shoots for Wales. The conversation broadens to rugby's challenges, including finances and safety, but Davies emphasizes celebrating the sport's core values. Fan questions cover a hypothetical Wales-England match, England's issues, successful rugby league coaches, favorite Lions tourist, and England's fly-half choice. Davies answers, backing Wales in Cardiff, noting differences between England and Wales' situations, praising Sean Edwards' defensive clarity, naming Sean O'Brien as favorite tourist, and suggesting Finn Smith for England fly-half. The episode concludes with Davies discussing his investment in The Hub Gym in Chepstow, highlighting community health and his business learning.

As heard by us

A blunt Super Saturday roundup that treats England's slump and Wales's lift as real tournament stakes.

Jonathan Davies uses the Rugby Paper Roundup to take stock of Super Saturday, and the stakes are clear: England's first ever loss to Italy in Rome, Wales showing signs of promise against Ireland, and France, Scotland, and Ireland still in the title race.

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Why you'd press play

England's misery and Wales's encouraging display, sized up before Super Saturday.

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