#21 Six Nations Is BACK! Previews, Predictions & Scotland Legend Andy Nicol

February 3, 2026·1 hr 11 min·6 clips

Big Jim Hamilton declares England will dominate Wales as the Rugby Pod kicks off its Six Nations special with Scotland legend Andy Nicol.

It starts loud and daft. The panel open with the pod chant, the big Six Nations build-up, and the kind of instant needle that makes Scotland's trip to Rome sound shaky before kickoff. Ireland-France comes first. England get talked up as 11 on the spin under Steve Borthwick, while Wales take a sharp little jab over balance and recent Wooden Spoon form. Then Andy Nicol is brought in. He is called a Scottish legend, a friend of the show, and part of the last Scotland side to win the old Five Nations. The panel cannot leave that alone. Nicol being the reigning champion turns into a running gag, mostly because Scotland have not won the tournament since that earlier era. The prediction table gets messy fast. Wales are pushed toward another Wooden Spoon, though one voice backs Italy for it because the show knows where its listeners are. Jim hedges almost right away. He can see Wales coming good late, then gets called out for a classic flip-flop before the table starts moving under everyone. Scotland split the room. One version has England nicking the Calcutta Cup, France arriving at Murray Field still alive for a Grand Slam, and Scotland fading before Ireland. Another version goes full tartan optimism. Scotland lose to France, beat England at home, beat Ireland in the last round, and somehow win the whole thing. Nobody dresses it up as science. Weather, tries, kick-heavy games, points difference, and pure gut feel all get thrown in as reasons the whole forecast could fall apart by tomorrow. France still sit near the middle of the chaos. One call has them winning the Grand Slam and edging England on the final day, even while another has England finishing first on points. The closing beat slides back into mates' chat: hair-treatment ribbing, a Thursday YouTube livestream, and a loose promise that they might have fun without knowing how contained it will be.

As heard by us

A rowdy Six Nations preview full of Scotland belief, England hope, France fear and predictions that barely pretend to sit still.

The Rugby Pod leans hard into Six Nations fever, with Ireland-France, Scotland in Rome and England-Wales all framed through equal parts conviction and chaos.

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Why you'd press play

Andy Nicol, Scotland's last Five Nations champion, joins the panel to call the Grand Slam.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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