The Good, The Bad & The Rugby

In a very special edition of GBR, Alex, James and Mike are joined by one of the greatest to ever play the game: Dan Carter. Together they look back on his astonishing career, deep dive into how the All Blacks turned it around after defeat to England in '03, reflect on World Cups good and bad, and look back to an incredible night against the Lions in 2005. Plus: hanging out with Tom Brady, admiring Jonny Wilkinson and friendships with Hask and Tinds. It's Dan Carter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex and Mike are joined by a new member of the GB&R team: Mr Ben Kayser. Together they get stuck into the French renaissance (rugby instead of art), look at what makes Antoine Dupont tick, ask whether the French public are falling back in love with the game, and assess how the influx of foreign number ten's into the Top 14 influenced the talent at the position for Les Bleus. All that plus a tribute to Dan Carter, and a look ahead to Round 3 of the Six Nations.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex, James, Mike and Ellis look back on a fascinating weekend of Guinness Six Nations action. Ellis pulls no punches with his reaction to Matt Dawson's opinion on Owen Farrell, the boys get deep into the meat of the breakdown rules following the injury to Jack Willis and the sending off of Zander Fagerson, and we ask whether free-flowing-France are the most beautiful thing in the game.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex, James and Mike talk about actual rugby as they look back on an eventful first round of the Guinness Six Nations. Together they reflect on Scottish success, French flair and a Welsh win, deconstruct why England got it so wrong, and ask whether the USA might offer more than Italy moving forwards.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a rather unique episode of GBR, Alex and Ellis are joined by a disappointed Jack Willis to talk about missing out on the Six Nations squad.......only to discover a few hours after recording that Sam Underhill is out and he's in. So we all come back for a re-record with a jubilant Jack Willis: quite literally two shows in one as the trio look ahead to the 6N, talk about what really happens in camp, discuss business opportunities, career threatening injuries, Joe Marler, and the role analytics plays in the modern game.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex and James are joined by arguably the best winger in world rugby: Toulouse and South Africa star Cheslin Kolbe. Together they go deep on his troubled childhood - escaping drugs, gangs and murder in Cape Town - to his father's abilities as a centre, and what went through his head when Pieter-Steph du Toit gave him that pop pass with seven minutes left in the 2019 World Cup Final. It's thoughtful and emotional in a manner in which only GBR can deliver. And if that wasn't enough, Tinds drops by for a canter round the course of the latest news, including a Lions update.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex and James are joined by a true legend of the game: 127 caps for the All Blacks, including 52 as captain, and one of only 20 men to win two World Cups - the one and only Kieran Read. Together they talk about learning from Richie McCaw, what it takes to lead the Kiwis, the responsibility that comes with that position, and the feeling of winning a RWC in that iconic black shirt. They also discuss the Lions in 2017, Ken Owens, and whether Romaine Poite's decision could have been different at the end of that third test. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex and James are joined by Mako Vunipola for a rare and intimate insight into the life and times of the England and Lions prop. Together they talk Billy, brotherly differences, growing up in Wales, and life at Saracens with no games to play. And they reflect on boarding school days, family ties and whether Mako really could make a drop goal in the last minute of a World Cup Final.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex and James are joined by one of the greatest players of a generation - David Pocock - for an amazing and wide-ranging conversation. The trio talk bird books, walking away from the game, escaping the horrors of Zimbabwe, and the obsession that leads to the very top of the game. In an incredible episode, the former Australian captain opens up for the very first time on what drove him on, and what happens when you're prepared to sacrifice everything you've worked for because of what you believe in. From 450 sit ups a day to PTSD, World Cup Final disappointments to THAT tackle in Brisbane, it's one of the very best episodes of GBR, with a very special guest.  https://rangelandsrestoration.org/ www.davidpocock.com/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To tide you over between Christmas and New Year, Alex is joined by Luke Cowan Dickie, Shaunagh Brown, Zander Fagerson, Lewis Ludlam, Alex Corbisiero, Brad Shields and Hask and Tinds to answer some audience questions on a whole range of subjects from beards and roommates, to controversial tackles, favourite Spice Girls, terrible chat, Lions highlights, and the pedestrianisation of Norwich's town centre. Happy New Year from all at GBR!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices