The Good, The Bad & The Rugby

About this podcast

The return of James Haskell, Mike Tindall and Alex Payne in a brand new show. The Good, The Bad & The Rugby delivers great guests, insight, laughter and tears in one brilliant rollercoaster of emotions.

The Good, The Bad & The Rugby

Episodes

2021
The Dan Carter Special
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.
March 3, 2021
112 min
Bonjour Ben, Au Revoir Dan
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.
February 24, 2021
86 min
The Day of the Jackal
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.
February 17, 2021
98 min
Six Nations & Super Scotland
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.
February 10, 2021
80 min
What You Talkin' 'bout, (Jack) Willis?
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.
February 2, 2021
79 min
Here Comes The Hotstepper - Cheslin Kolbe
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.
January 27, 2021
79 min
The Legend of Kieran Read
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.
January 20, 2021
80 min
The Lesser Spotted Vunipola
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.
January 13, 2021
98 min
The David Pocock Episode
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
January 5, 2021
104 min
2020
The 'Ask Me Anything' Special
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!
December 31, 2020
46 min
The Special Christmas Special
Alex, James and Mike are joined by an extraordinary plethora of guests for a Christmas extravaganza: British and Irish Lions, members of the Royal family, Uncle Bryn, Ryder Cup legends, World Cup Winners, stand-up comedians, try-scoring wunderkinds, home nations captains, referees, pop stars, cross-code giants, a vicar, Henry Slade's breath, an England star in a personalised thong, and a Clapham Falcon in a pear tree. It's the Yuletide Zoom call to beat all Yuletide Zoom calls as the gang celebrate Christmas the only way they know how: chaotically, and with plenty of laughs.
December 23, 2020
100 min
The Brain Game
Alex and Mike are joined by the former Canada and Clermont lock Jamie Cudmore, and the England World Cup winner Kat Merchant for a very powerful edition of GBR. Together they discuss their ongoing battles with multiple, career-ending concussions in the wake of the news that Steve Thompson has been diagnosed with early onset dementia. From migraines, anxiety and convulsions to an aversion to bright lights and loud noises, how are today's players coping with the increase in head injuries, and what can be done to make the game safer moving forwards?
December 16, 2020
79 min
The Rhino, the Rig and the Really Nice Surprise
Alex, James and Ellis look back on the Autumn Nations Cup Final and reflect on the negative image of England's play, the mindset of Owen Farrell, and what really happens in the Beaumont Room. There's golfing disasters, frightening honesty over the Matera reinstatement, and Tind's jumps on and drops a bombshell.
December 9, 2020
86 min
The Death and Life of Christophe Dominici
Alex, Mike and James are joined by Ben Kayser for a hugely emotional episode to reflect on the death of the legendary French winger Christophe Dominici. They share reminiscences of the Stade Francais star, look inwardly at whether they've done enough for struggling teammates in the past, and discuss what happens when the cheering stops.
December 2, 2020
80 min
Oceans Apart with Dan Leo
Alex, James and Mike discuss the second round of action in the Autumn Nations Cup, there's some royal news, the wonderful Susie Dent drops in bringing wisdom and decorum, and Dan Leo joins the boys to talk about threats on his life, corruption, exploitation and his new documentary: 'Oceans Apart - Greed, Betrayal and Pacific Island Rugby' on Amazon Prime.
November 25, 2020
72 min
Georgia On Our Minds
Alex, James and Mike set the world straight, (well, James does), on the Georgians, the new series of The Crown and how it's gone down at Chez Tindall, the Baabaa's potential punishments, and the beautiful Pumas. Plus there's a 'shvili' and 'dze' debate, and a full round-up of the opening games from the Autumn Nations Cup where Tinds shows actual love for Ireland.
November 18, 2020
77 min
Here's To You, Jason Robinson!
Alex and Mike are joined by a true legend of two games - Jason Robinson - for a wide ranging and hugely emotional conversation about dominating two codes, regrets, religion, racism and being left out in the cold. Plus, what really happened the night before the 2003 World Cup Final, and the importance of a good teacher. It's 90 minutes you won't want to miss.
November 11, 2020
91 min
The Joy of Six with Ellis Genge
Alex and James are joined by the newest member of TGTB&TR team as Ellis Genge signs on full time. They discuss England's Six Nations win, strawberry laces, melted candles and how they'd look to change the game to make it more of a spectacle. Ellis also takes James to task over Thierry Dusautoir, there's broken toilets, new cap sing-a-longs and a party barn!
November 3, 2020
81 min
Baa Baas, Hask Weeps, Have You Been a Fool?
Alex is in Bermuda for the World Tens, but hops off his surfboard long enough to join James and Mike to discuss the fallout from the Barbarians cancellation after breaking Covid-19 rules. Hask defends the players and questions the strength of the BaaBaa's bubble. There's also tributes to David Pocock and Alun Wyn Jones, a DJ request, a discussion around 'Baxter' and the England job, and the boys pick a Six Nations winner.
October 28, 2020
74 min
Jack Nowell, Exeter, and a Wardrobe Toilet
Alex, James and Mike are joined by Exeter's Jack Nowell to talk through the Chief's dramatic Heineken Champions Cup win against Racing 92, and discover what happened on the night out that followed. Plus, who's got a hyperbaric chamber and why, who bought night vision goggles, and what on earth is Stuart Hogg putting on his legs. All that plus a live Zoom audience and Kyle Sinckler's wardrobe toilet.
October 21, 2020
80 min

The Good, The Bad & The Rugby

About this podcast

Categories

About this podcast

Categories

The Good, The Bad & The Rugby

Episodes

The Dan Carter Special

Bonjour Ben, Au Revoir Dan

The Day of the Jackal

Six Nations & Super Scotland

What You Talkin' 'bout, (Jack) Willis?

Here Comes The Hotstepper - Cheslin Kolbe

The Legend of Kieran Read

The Lesser Spotted Vunipola

The David Pocock Episode

The 'Ask Me Anything' Special

The Special Christmas Special

The Brain Game

The Rhino, the Rig and the Really Nice Surprise

The Death and Life of Christophe Dominici

Oceans Apart with Dan Leo

Georgia On Our Minds

Here's To You, Jason Robinson!

The Joy of Six with Ellis Genge

Baa Baas, Hask Weeps, Have You Been a Fool?

Jack Nowell, Exeter, and a Wardrobe Toilet