ESPN Scrum Reset

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran break down Round 6 of Super Rugby Pacific, digging into the star performers from the blockbuster Reds-Brumbies clash; they discuss Jordan Petaia's future and contrast the pros and cons for Rugby Australia when it comes to Taniela Tupou's future; before they ponder whether Michael Cheika might be the right man to coach the Waratahs and just how Michael Hooper's Australia...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran are joined by Newshub rugby reporter Ollie Ritchie to talk all things New Zealand rugby, including the Crusaders' horror start to 2024, Scott Robertson's recruitment drive and his approach to Sam Whitelock; whether or not NZR may change its eligibility policy; before the trio break down Round 5 of Super Rugby Pacific and ponder whether rugby league is a really a threat...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran break down the latest news in Australian rugby, after coach Joe Schmidt fronted the media in Sydney; they break down Round 4 of Super Rugby Pacific and discuss Corey Toole's Wallabies prospects; they analyse Rugby Australia's contracting issue and which players might be on the move; and then provide an update on the Melbourne Rebels saga. Learn more about your ad choice...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran break down Round 3 of Super Rugby Pacific, hailing the impact Les Kiss is having at the Reds, before they lament Tane Edmed's late missed match-winner and ponder whether the Force are improving; they then dive into Jordan Petaia's future after links with NRL emerged and discuss Rugby Australia's latest review and the $2.6 million that went down the drain. Learn more abo...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran wrap up an entertaining Super Round, lauding the Waratahs, Tane Edmed and their forward pack for the win over the Crusaders, before they review the Reds' heartbreaking loss to the Hurricanes and the Chiefs' thrashing of the Brumbies; they also react to reports the Jaguares might be returning to Super Rugby and discuss some other cities where Super Round might draw bette...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran are joined by ABC Sport's Catherine Murphy to discuss the Melbourne' Rebels' slide into financial purgatory, who is to blame and whether or not the club can survive; before Sam and Christy reflect on Round 1, what they liked about the Reds and Brumbies, and what they're looking forward to at Super Round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoic...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran analyse the Super Rugby Pacific teams, separating the contenders from the pretenders, which teams might be on the rise and those on the slide, before pondering just how important this season of the under-fire competition just might be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran return for the first time in 2024, breaking down the news of Joe Schmidt's appointment as Wallabies coach, the duo explaining how he came to apply for the top job and what his appointment means for those who missed out; they analyse what kind of coach he will be and where might Australian rugby now market itself; and look ahead to the 2024 season and how it might play o...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran deliver one final episode for 2023, breaking down the events that led to Hamish McLennan's resignation from the Rugby Australia board; they reflect on the good and bad decisions from his tenure; discuss how Daniel Herbert will approach the job as chairman; analyse the Joseph Suaali'i situation and the future of contracting in Australia; and update the search for a new W...

100th episode and it's a big one! Sam Bruce and Christy Doran reflect on Eddie Jones' departure and the year that was for the Wallabies, from the World Cup disaster to mixed messaging Hamish McLennan and Rugby Australia, the plan to centralise the game, who might take over as coach and the concerns around the role, and what regrets the 63-year-old coach might have. It's been a year! Learn more abo...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran wrap up a gripping Rugby World Cup Final, discussing the yellow and red card drama, the heroic performance of Peter-Steph du Toit, where it went wrong for the All Blacks, and how Ian Foster will be remembered in the pantheon of New Zealand coaches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam Bruce, Christy Doran and Tom Hamilton wrap up semifinal weekend of Rugby World Cup 2023, discussing the contrasting fixtures; they praise England's gutsy performance and the resilience of South Africa and their big-game players; before they look ahead to next weekend's final, how and where it will be won; and then finish up with the latest on Eddie Jones and the Wallabies. Learn more about you...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran are joined by espn.com senior writer Tom Hamilton to reflect on the pool stage of Rugby World Cup 2023 and look ahead to the quarters; the trio wrapping up Australia's disastrous campaign and what might happen next; they discuss the plight of Tier 2 nations and how the game can help them improve before the 2027 tournament; they heap praise on Ireland and ponder how they...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran break down Australia's 34-14 win over Portugal, discussing whether there was any genuine improvement or if the scoreline flattered the Wallabies; they review the pool campaign as a whole, debate Eddie Jones' refusal to put a timeframe on his commitment, talk centralisation and chief executive Phil Waugh's synopsis; and then look ahead to the final round of pool games. L...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran break down what is generally being described as rock bottom for Australian rugby after the Wallabies 40-6 thrashing by Wales. They discuss whether Eddie Jones should keep his job moving forward, all the fallout from the bombshell report linking him with Japan, and how far reaching the ramifications of this result will be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...

Sam Bruce is joined by Tom Hamilton to preview week three of Rugby World Cup 2023; the duo comparing cross-hemisphere notes on England's playmaker conundrum, whether the Boks' 7-1 bench is blasphemy or innovation, and if Ireland are bother; before they explore the relationship between Warren Gatland and Eddie Jones, how Wales-Australia will be contested, and ponder what is going on with all the in...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran reflect on a remarkable night in Saint-Etienne, where Fiji defeated Australia 22-15, lauding the performance of Simon Rauwalui's men and what it could mean for their Rugby Championship hopes; they ponder who is under more pressure, Rugby Australia or Eddie Jones, amid the Wallabies' slump; they debate the mind games Jones used on Will Skelton's injury; and bring you the...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran take a breath after a dramatic weekend of Rugby World Cup 2023 -- on an off the field -- picking apart the Wallabies' win over Georgia, the performances of Ben Donaldson, Taniela Tupou and the Australian scrum; before they slam some of the decisions in Fiji's loss to Wales, discuss the high-tackle inconsistencies, and reflect on France's opening victory over the All Bla...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran are joined by Lance Peatey, the author of "A Complete History of the Rugby World Cup", to preview Rugby World Cup 2023, the team breaking down each pool and analysing where the potential upsets might come, also highlighting the players to watch and what previous tournaments can tell us about this event, before they name their Webb Ellis Cup winners. Learn more about you...

Sam Bruce is joined by Christy Doran on the ground in Paris, the duo wrapping up the Wallabies' final World Cup warmup against France; talking Carter Gordon's goal kicking woes, Suliasi Vunivalu's encouraging performance and a dominant scrum, while lamenting Australia's lineout and misfiring maul; before they look ahead to the World Cup proper and what it will take to get out of Pool C. They also...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran return as Rugby World Cup 2023 edges closer, the pair discussing; Eddie Jones' extraordinary airport serve; if the pressure is telling on the Wallabies coach; how he might use the final warmup Test versus France; the Owen Farrell red card fiasco and why it's a line-in-the-sand for the game; before Brittany Mitchell joins to discuss the Wallaroos' social media message to...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran reflect on a dramatic day in Australian rugby following the naming of the Wallabies squad for the World Cup; they debate Eddie Jones' key inclusions and omissions, talk Will Skelton's ascension to the captaincy, raise concerns around the lack of goal-kickers, and ponder how other nations might look upon the unlikely 33-man group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran review a dramatic Bledisloe II, analysing what the Wallabies got right in the first 40 -- and where it went wrong after halftime; they dig into Eddie Jones' tough World Cup squad calls and ponder whether one Wallabies great might be the big casualty; before they update the latest injury, discuss whether Australia must look to the future, and heap praise on Sam Whitelock...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran wrap up Bledisloe I, pondering whether there is any truth to Eddie Jones' claims the Wallabies are making progress; they break down the performances of Tom Hooper and Carter Gordon and debate whether they should start once more; they talk the key injuries to Allan Alaalatoa and Michael Hooper; before they heap praise on the All Blacks and in-form lock Scott Barrett; and...

Sam Bruce and Christy Doran set the scene for Bledisloe I, recapping Eddie Jones' shock squad changes and pondering Tom Wright's World Cup hopes; they update Michael Hooper's recovery from a calf injury and reflect on Quade Cooper's journey back to face the All Blacks; they then discuss the gravity of a potential 80,000-strong crowd and what that could mean for the 2027 World Cup final, and then r...