Ryan Wilson on the annoying trait Maro Itoje and Bundee Aki have in common

Scotland international Ryan Wilson has tackled the rugby yappers, players who can’t stop talking on the pitch in an effort to knock opponents out of their stride.

Of the belief that England talisman Maro Itoje is one of the best in the business at this, the Glasgow back row added that Ireland midfielder took things too far during last weekend’s Guinness PRO14 match between Connacht and the Warriors in Galway. 

Scotland forward Wilson is one of the four Test capped hosts of RugbyPass Offload, the new podcast show he is involved in with England’s Dylan Hartley, Ireland’s Simon Zebo and Wales’ Jamie Roberts. 

Here’s the debut episode of RugbyPod Offload, the new podcast featuring Dylan Hartley, Jamie Roberts, Simon Zebo and Ryan Wilson

Here’s the debut episode of RugbyPod Offload, the new podcast featuring Dylan Hartley, Jamie Roberts, Simon Zebo and Ryan Wilson

Quizzed by Hartley about on-field chat designed to get into the heads of the opposition, Wilson said: “It’s definitely something we [Glasgow] speak about in training in the build-up the games. 

“You talk about the small moments. Saracens you hear constantly going at it. Your old mate Maro Itoje, any small thing. It’s interesting because not only does it give yourself energy celebrating those small wins, but also the other team are looking at it thinking, ‘Oh God, they’re getting one over on us again’. 

"He is a quality dude, a quality person"

– @simonzebo talked Andy Farrell, Ireland, Champions Cup and his infamous 2013 Lions forfeit on the new RugbyPass Offload show he is hosting with Dylan Hartley, Jamie Roberts and Ryan Wilson ?
https://t.co/O7l6izUc1F

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 8, 2020

“You know what it’s like in rugby, you have got to have that constant chat. If things start to go flat it’s when teams make mistakes and other teams can spot that. When you hear them being quiet and see them being flat and no one chatting you know you have got the upper hand.”

Reflecting on his most recent match, Glasgow’s opening round 2020/21 PRO14 defeat in Ireland, Wilson added: “It was weird at the weekend because Bundee Aki actually made me cringe a little bit how much he was going at it. 

“I even asked a couple of his players, ‘Like, you boys most be struggling?’… there is a good way to do it and there is a way which is like, ‘C’mon, rein it in a bit pal’.”

– To listen on iTunes, click here