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The Indy Rugby Podcast: ‘Spygate’, could Eddie Jones solve Brexit and Jonathan Liew goes to Disneyland

Join Jack de Menezes and Jonathan Liew in Disneyland Tokyo as they look ahead to the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup amid a storm of spy allegations as Japan 2019 hots up

Jack de Menezes
Tokyo
,Jonathan Liew
Wednesday 23 October 2019 10:26 BST
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With the four identities of the semi-finalists at the Rugby World Cup revealed, the business end of the tournament arrives in the form of this weekend’s two showdowns for a place in the final.

So who better to join Jack de Menezes for the big weekend than The Independent’s Jonathan Liew, with the pair located at Disneyland Tokyo for reasons that will quickly become apparent.

Following England’s impressive victory over Australia in the quarter-finals, Eddie Jones’s side are preparing for their biggest game yet against the All Blacks, who tore Ireland apart in a one-sided affair last Saturday to continue their relentless run of wins at the World Cup that now stands at 18.

The two sides have not played at a World Cup since 1999, and this will be their first knockout encounter since Jonah Lomu’s historic dismantling of the red rose in the 1995 semi-finals. Will the same happen again this time round?

The other semi-final continues home interests with Wales somehow making it past France in a dramatic quarter-final that saw Les Bleus command the game up until lock Sebastien Vahaamahina was sent off for a deliberate elbow.

With Warren Gatland set to leave after the World Cup, Wales will be determined to do him proud with a ticket to the final – but the Springboks stand firmly in their way after recording a resounding victory over hosts Japan to end their fairy tale run.

Of course, the podcast isn’t just contained to rugby though, with Brexit, Mickey Mouse, motivational speaking and Mark Clattenburg all on the menu this week.

Download the episode here as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast or wherever you listen.

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