The first-ever episode of Stick to Rugby, brought to you by Defender, kicks off with an all-star lineup as David Flatman, Lawrence Dallaglio, Katy Daley-McLean, and Tom Shanklin sit down with none other than Martin Johnson.
Flats opens the show with a deep dive into the weekend’s events, including his birthday celebrations and the best and worst gifts he received. The crew wastes no time getting into the biggest talking points in rugby, with Martin Johnson tackling a Truth or Lies showdown, answering long-standing myths and surprises from his career.
As the Six Nations approaches, the team debates England’s fly-half dilemma and how Wales will fare under their current setup. Martin reflects on England’s 2003 Grand Slam victory, revealing the emotional impact of the Fields of Athenry moment and addressing the infamous carpet controversy.
The conversation shifts to captaincy, as Martin recalls taking over from Dallaglio in 1999 and the challenges of leadership at the highest level. The debate heats up as the panel discusses Jamie George losing the England captaincy to Maro Itoje and how recent performances reflect on Steve Borthwick’s leadership choices.
With a Lions Tour year ahead, the pane debate whether 1997 was truly the best tour ever. Martin also reflects on his time as England coach, the challenges of managing player behaviour, and whether his coaching years have left a lasting impact on the national team.
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00:00 Introduction 03:45 Behind-the-Scenes with the Team 07:30 Martin Johnson: Truth or Lies 16:34 Reliving the Ireland v England Clash of 2003 22:40 Fly-Half Debate: Ireland v England 28:40 Tom Shanklin on Wales 29:30 Men's Six Nations Predictions 32:25 The England Captain Debate 38:05 Inside the 2003 Rugby World Cup Victory 42:00 Maro Itoje as England’s New Captain? 45:15 Discipline Drama: Dallaglio & Martin Johnson Stories 47:10 The Legendary 1997 Lions Tour 56:45 Martin Johnson Reflects on Coaching England 1:03:45 Martin Johnson Talks About His Son
