Nations Championship Squads with Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie

Canada have done it again, beating England 31–22 in Ottawa to win the series and defend the Utrecht Shield, and the big question now is what John Mitchell does next with selections, standards, and motivation. David Pembroke, Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie unpack how Canada used width, tempo and intent to expose an England side that looked disjointed, despite still having their World Cup-winning tools in isolation. The conversation then swings to the Wallaroos’ 38–31 win over Scotland, where a “greatest hits” of yellow cards and reviews derailed the spectacle and raised bigger questions about common sense, coaching technique, and who’s really in charge of the system. There’s also Black Ferns 31–12 France, Australia A v USA in Nashville, PWR eligibility debates, scrum refereeing in the URC, and what’s next for Eddie Jones and Japan after Fiji’s 34–28 win.

David Pembroke is back on deck and kicks off with a rare look inside the coach’s head, asking Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie what it really takes to stay steady when results swing. From “performance not win or lose” to the brutal Monday-morning demand for answers, they lay out the habits that keep teams improving. The chat then shifts to the upcoming World Rugby coaches meeting in Windsor ahead of Rugby World Cup 2027, with both men zeroing in on the impact of yellow cards, TMO influence, and rugby’s “secret society” problem on communication. On the field, the panel previews WXV and key internationals: Wallaroos v Scotland in Canberra, Black Ferns v France in Whangārei, and the Canada v England decider in Ottawa with the Utrecht Shield on the line. Plus Eddie Jones’ Japan v Fiji (with Jake White), and a big debate on Australia’s playmaking talent and retaining young prospects.

The Wallabies wear another heavy loss to New Zealand, and David Pembroke, Ewen McKenzie and Steve Hansen don’t sugar-coat it: a brutal first half, too much aimless kicking, and not enough composure when Australia finally had phases to build pressure. Hansen loves what he’s seeing from the All Blacks attack, offloads, line running, and forwards playing into space, while McKenzie highlights key moments like Harry Wilson’s grubber into touch as a snapshot of game management and leadership under pressure. The TMO becomes its own storyline too, especially the Roigard incident, with all three questioning what “foul play” even means now. They also get into the deeper Wallabies problems, the missing world class 10 and a ball-playing 12, and why New Zealand fans want Australia strong again. Then it’s WXV: Black Ferns smash France 81-12, Canada pinch it late against England 24-21 to end England’s unbeaten run, and the USA keep building momentum.

David Pembroke, Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie rip into the biggest talking point from All Blacks v Wallabies: Eddie Jones’ effort stats, and what they really say about mindset, speed off the ground, and being ready for the next job. With the Wallabies’ No.10 curse biting again and another reshuffle coming, the trio run the ruler over the 23, the risks around combinations, and what has to change to keep New Zealand honest. The All Blacks changes get the same treatment, including the excitement factor of Timoci Tavatavanawai. There’s also a straight-shooting discussion on Mark Nawaqanitawase’s rugby return, the manager-led noise about Fiji and Italy eligibility, and what Rugby Australia and Les Kiss should do next. Plus a big women’s rugby weekend and a fast, practical look at the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup match list.

David Pembroke, Ewen McKenzie and Steve Hansen break down the All Blacks’ 50-19 win over Australia at Eden Park, and why the match swung hard after Australia’s strong opening. They dig into what New Zealand fixed fast: high ball catches, maul defence, breakdown support, and a second-half lineout lift, plus how Australia’s plan to target McKenzie and use Sua'ali'i early simply evaporated. The big talking point: the Wallabies’ box kicking and lack of plan B, and what changes before Sydney with the Bledisloe already gone. The chat widens to deeper issues in Australian rugby: pathways, depth, contracts, competition structure, and the ongoing problem at 10, with Carter Gordon central to the future. Plus: refereeing boundaries, TMO stoppages, laws that need simplifying, and how World Rugby can better grow the game beyond the Nations Cup tiers.