Elite Rugby Banter

The Rugby World Cup is heading towards its business end but there is some loose endsto wrap up first. Ant joins Ben and Adam to discuss the weeks games thus far, and those coming up, including arguably the biggest game of them all: Canada vs Namibia, plus the small matter of Japan vs Scotland. South Africa's trouncing of Canada is covered too, as is the pod's running loss, Ant doing the Cape Epic,...

It's our 100th episode, and in classic ERB style, we completely forgot about it. Have no fear, because Matt, Alex and Adam chat about Joe Moody's middle name, confuse him for Owen Franks, wonder who was the most chuffed Springbok to see Damian Willemse and cover the happenings and comings at the Rugby World Cup thus far. The business end is near by, it is the calm before the storm, and in Matt's c...

Alex and Ben steer the World Cup ship this week, in two parts! The Rugby World Cup is meandering towards the quarterfinals once more after the busy weekend, but much rugby is discussed. Scotland's thrashing of Samoa, France's hot and heavy defeat of the USA and New Zealand dispatching Canada with all the Barretts are discussed, along with the coming games, including South Africa v Italy, England v...

Predictive analytics are playing a bigger role in sports, and some South Africans decided to get into the action by designing their own predictive tool that is targeting this year's Rugby World Cup: Ruggerbot.com. Adam "sat down" with Thomas Davies, of re:source design, the minds behind Ruggerbot.com, to find out how it works. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

What a Rugby World Cup so far! Chris Lee joins Alex, Matt, Ben and Adam as he gives the Irish view of their epic defeat to Japan. The gang also chat about all the other World Cup action, including SA's meh victory over Namibia and Wales win over Australia (including some controversial refereeing!). To add some brains to this week's pod (Chris excluded), Adam sat down with Thomas Davies of re:sourc...

Ben and Adam sprint through the happenings on the field in the Rugby World Cup thus far, noting now Uruguay as it stands have a shot at the quarterfinals, recounting what's like when their high school team faces an opponent they have no right facing, and wondering about the teams only just beginning their campaign. Also, Schalk Brits has been named to play at 8 for the Springboks versus Nambia??

The Phil and Ant Stats Show returns, as the two number maestros dig into the numbers from the All Blacks' and Springboks' epic clash at Yokohama. It's not all doom and gloom for South Africa, but there is work to do! Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show. Follow Phil on @superbpippo. Ant...not sure he is on Twitter?

The Rugby World Cup is now underway, and Ben, Matt and Adam in chilled-out fashion discuss the week's games, including New Zealand's hard fought but deserved win over South Africa, Australia's good victory over Fiji, Rob Howley's betting habits, the haka and its "status", other World Cup niceties and the usual too-ing and fro-ing. Alex is off in the Eastern Cape somewhere but posting popular tweet...

The 2019 Rugby World Cup is days away in Japan and ERB are here to preview (badly at times, and other times well) the weekend's games, plus Wales and Georgia on Monday. Adam, Ben and Alex kick off the first of ERB World Cup Weekly, which will run through the entire tournament. Today's major focus is dedicated the Springboks' clash against the All Blacks on Saturday.

The Rugby World Cup is just around the corner, and ahead of kick-off, Nicola joins Ant, Matt and Adam to see whether the three of them know the Laws (not Rules!) of Rugby. Ant and Matt pass with flying colours, though rucks appear to confuse the kak out of Adam (this is not surprising). Prior to chatting about the game and its troves, Gareth Thomas' brave admission, SBW's possible not-injury, Adam...

The Rugby World Cup begins in a week...you heard us right, a WEEK! All the squads have been chosen, typhoons (mostly) avoided and 20 nations will be competing for the Webb Ellis Trophy. But, are all the players selected from their country of origin? Do they know the local party song? If, for example, they aren't Scottish, do they even know what haggis is? This is the subject of Phil and Ant's forc...

The Rugby World Cup is but weeks away and Alex, Ben and Adam are here to finish up their previews ahead of the global showpiece in the Land the Rising Son. In classic ERB fashion, there is a foul up when it comes to the New Zealand preview, Adam is willing on the briyani he had for breakfast to deal with the previous night, Ben gets tired playing golf in windy Mauritius, and Alex - serene and pure...

Ben, Alex and Adam return, and they are joined by Michael who helps the gang break down the threat Eddie Jones' England pose to other Rugby World Cup aspirants. Prior to the previews, Aphiwe Dyanti's doping news is discussed - and disappointment shared - as is Eben Etzebeth, his family, striking referees and the kak people that abuse them, the Human Rights Commission, along with some actual rugby...

Phil, Ant and Alex get together to briefly (lol) discuss the different journeys taken by the South African, New Zealand, and Australian World Cup squads since the last World Cup and which players have fallen by the wayside (sorry Owen Franks...we knew you well). The interesting topic of cap retention forms part of the discussion. Ale'x recording is reportedly of sub-optimal quality (he bought a ne...

The Rugby World Cup gets ever closer, and Elite Rugby Banter is here to keep the good times rolling (slowly). Matt and Ben (plus Adam who surprises by being quietly around) are joined by Gavin Mrphy, who does his best to not be glum following Ireland's big defeat to England, while delivering a cracking preview for Ireland's World Cup campaign. Another massive assist is received from Morris Fuller,...

Another week passes, and the Rugby World Cup gets ever closer! Matt, Alex and Adam are joined by ERB group grandee Mitch Evans, who classes up the joint as Bledisloe II (with Mitch having wiped away the tears), Mehdisloe in Pretoria between SA C and Argentina B and the state of the game are discussed. Mitch alludes on Australia's chances at the World Cup, Matt talks about Icarus and recites fellow...

They ain't special no more (and by this we mean it has gone past the point of being a Special...rather they just make a lot of sense). Phil and Ant return to chat about all things hemispheres, and how different sides of the globe approach their....approach to the Game Played In Heaven. They also address Bledisloe 1 where the Aussies caned New Zealand and England's World Cup warm up win over Wales....

It's a rare two-man show this week as Ben and Adam talk about the All Blacks being humbled by Australia, and the Springboks claiming their first Rugby Championship title as the World Cup approaches. In between a rather analytical episode (for Ben and Adam anyway...they aren't Phil or Ant), twisted ankles, Alex's ratings, a wobbly New Zealand and what it must be like to have RG Snyman as a mate at...

Ant and Phil take constructive rugby discussion to new heights (off the rest of the gang's low base it should be said), as the ERB Stats Office invite Alex along for a wild mid-week joyride on the Stats Train. They discuss the position battles at tighthead prop, blindside flank and wing for the Springboks, based on Super Rugby number crunches. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show (At this rate Phil an...

Ben hosts for the first time! While Adam's liver rots away, Ben steers the ship, sailing through the two hour mark like it isn't even there. He is abetted by Matt, Alex and Phil, as they battle through blenders, blunders and a dodgy Internet connection to discuss Currie Cup results and the odds of Japan beating Scotland out of the pool along with previews for Samoa and the Springboks, finishing wi...

It's a special episode! After months of frustrations at being referenced, but not included, Phil and Ant have taken it upon themselves to deliver a statistically minded soliloquy, with this being the first ever episode that none of Ben, Alex, Matt or Adam take part in. Hence, the quality is probably up? Phil and Ant, in all their stats-minded glory, examine the match statistics from the last three...

What a great day to be alive! The Springboks snatch a winning draw against the All Blacks in New Zealand, and all is well! Alex, Matt and Adam (Ben is at a baptism/christening) run the rule over the weeks' news but most importantly, Australia v Argentina and New Zealand v South Africa. The vast majority of time is spent chatting about the Boks' performance against the All Blacks, particularly Our...

The Rugby Championship has finally kicked off, and the gang are here to chat all about it (badly). Adam returns after driving 400 km from the east, Matt from crossing a country in the East, Ben pulls in after a braai (and the wine was not energy wine) while Alex multitasks to keep it all afloat. Matt Pearce's commentary notes (including the standard Adam rant), the Springboks' good performance, th...

Alex, Ben and Phil get together to discuss how brave you have to be to mug the Tongan Thor, whether New Zealand's central contracting has imploded on itself, and preview the Rugby Championship. Alex also wonders why he's hosting, refusing to do it again and the gang address the week's latest news, including Barrett movements across the New Zealand Super Rugby landscape. Also, how nice is it that t...

Delaying his needed at a squash game, Alex leads Ant and Phil on a journey of discovery as the Capetoanian trio preview this year's Currie Cup, how teams will line-up, the stench of youth to pervade the competition and the eventual winner. In classic ERB style, Alex hoped for 45 minutes... Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show. Check us out on Soundcloud, whatever Apple uses for podcasts, Stitcher, aCa...