Ponder upon team in trouble after game (8)
I believe the answer is:
ruminate
'ponder' is the definition.
('ruminate' can be a synonym of 'ponder')
'upon team in trouble after game' is the wordplay.
'upon' says to put letters next to each other.
'trouble' indicates anagramming the letters.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'game' becomes 'ru' (rugby union**).
'team' after 'in' is 'inteam'.
'inteam' is an anagram of 'minate'.
'minate' put after 'ru' is 'RUMINATE'.
(Other definitions for ruminate that I've seen before include "'Reflect deeply, chew the cud (8)'" , "Think deeply" , "Cogitate" , "Chew - ponder" , "deliberate" .)