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.

⸻

🔴 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

⸻

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?

⸻

🔵 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?

⸻

🇮🇹 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

⸻

🥃 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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