Elite Rugby Banter

The chat from Ep.62 about transformation in South African rugby, separated for your listening pleasure. The file has been reloaded to cut out sound at the end. Music from bensound.com.

For the first time ever, Elite Rugby Banter features its own tight five, with Jam Jam joining the gang to lift the level of conversation amid the odd technical glitch. This week, Eddie Jones’ high injury record is discussed, the Jaguares, Brumbies and Reds are preview, and after much teasing and waiting, the gang talk about transformation. That discussion is particularly long, so we will also post...

It's a new year but the same old consistent, amazing (sort of) podcast about rugby. The gang chat concussions, school poaching, begin their Super 15 team previews with the Blues, Highlanders and Sunwolves ahead of Kick Off Day, drop a poll and deal with a member of the team going AWOL due to a murderous cat. So, as stated, same old pod. Happy new year! Music from bensound.com.

2018 is almost a wrap, but we here at Elite Rugby Banter have made sure that you will ride out the year in style. Adam returns from the coast calmer, as he, Ben, Matt and Alex get to grips with Christmas food, the Jaguares 2019 Super Rugby squad, Springbok New Year resolutions, the pod's own 2019 resolutions, along with the latest Stop, Drop and Poll. Thanks for listening and have a lekker New Yea...

Adam is back and gets his hand caught in the cookie jar, as the gang chat about the week's news, how different Springboks would fare in the Game of Thrones universe (books, not TV... so says Alex), and as episodes go, it is certainly certainly filled with banter. Questions are asked of Cheslin Kolbe, Ben insults the rugby prowess of a beloved Sharks legend, Matt keeps pointing out Adam lives in Pr...

Adam is away in Pietermaritzburg (i.e. a very humid town) so Alex steers the ship with the rest of the gang, and chaos ensues. Amidst it all, they chat about the looming post-RWC coachpocalypse, the looming shape of the Boks post-RWC and the looming news from the week. So, pretty standard ;) Apologies for the late episode too! Music from bensoud.com

That hot air you are feeling through your window is the rugby dry season, but have no fear, the Elite Rugby Banter crew are here to help fill the chasm. A sleepy Alex, hammock-ing Ben, chilled Matt (what else?) and humid Adam chat about the pending possible return of Super Rugby, the Pacific Island's failed attempt at a Super Rugby franchise, the South African 7s jersey and why other jerseys can't...

It's the Elite Rugby Banter Awards Show, and we do not disappoint (or hope we don't). The gang are in studio in four different locations as always as they chat about Nake Drotske and Os du Randt following Thursday's attack, Brexit's impact on the English Premiership, the Barbarian's come-from-behind victory over Argentina, and a few other bits and pieces before concluding with the fabled ERB Award...

The End of Year Tour has finally come to a merciful end, particularly for Owen Farrell's shoulders, which can't seem to stay away from the lime light. The gang slam some news, review Fiji's epic win over France, England beating Australia, the new Blame Game, who should be playing for who, the Springboks' disappointing performance against Wales and we grade Rassie's men out of 10 for the EOYT. Also...

Got to love the End of Year Tours hey? Ireland are probably the best rugby team on the planet now, while the Boks got another notch on the old belt with a hard earned win in Scotland. Adam, Alex, Matt and Ben run the rule over the weekend's action. Adam's attempt at a Irish-themed greeting goes down in flames, while temperatures rise talking about Willie le Roux's yellow card. Also, Ben doubles do...

It's opposite day in the ERB Universe: Farrell can tackle legally, Beauden can drop kick, Pollard doesn't miss touch and is 7/7, Springboks actually win and Russia beat Namibia (!). Ben, Matt, Alex and Adam are here to take you through the weekend's rugby (in their own unique way), with Ben remarking on his expat status, Matt doesn't know what to do about Argentina's scrum being punished, Alex won...

Well, that was awful wasn't it? Anger is the golden thread that hovers over this week's show as Ben, Matt, Alex and Adam get angry, rage and between it all, dissect how South Africa threw away an easy-to-attain victory against England and Owen Farrell's shoulder. Yes, Angus Gardner pawned it, but he isn't why South Africa lost. It's a long story. They also discuss New Zealand's depth, Joe Schmidt'...

Matt takes the wheel and is joined by Alex, Ben and Ant (Adam didn't realise how long it takes to move back into a flat). They discuss what little news there is (Hansen cracks the nod once more), Japan's match against a heat World XV (on paper anyway), Ant is chuffed the Saaks won their first Currie Cup since 2013 and then their attention is turned to the Springbok squad for the End of Year Tour (...

We made it guys. ERB does its 50th episode (we didn't think we would make it this far) with Adam, sighing at his old age (he's not even 33), joined by Alex, Ben and Matt in chatting about issues at the Border Rugby Union, hammocks, the SWD Eagles claiming the Currie Cup 1st Division title, and Matt Todd being the King of the Under The Radar Zone and his recall's impact on New Zealand. The gang the...

Matt, in true "Not too bad" fashion, steps in for Adam this week - who got zugzwanged by a long meeting - and is joined by Alex and Ben to discuss Cheslin Kolbe's ridicolous step, why it is never a try till its a try (get Burned?), Currie Cup action including Province getting it done in 40 mins at Loftus (aka Adam's true home), along with the All Blacks EOYT squad and the much awaited inaugural Sc...

The gang return (and apologies for the late upload...) to chat about Rassie's men bottling it in Pretoria, whether this is actually a good thing, Michael Cheika rising from the Ashes, and in arguably one of our finest analytical diatribes yet, break down each side's Rugby Championship performance. In the midst of it all, Ben comes out strongly against the entire concept of Wales (aka Narnia), Matt...

Matt takes the wheel as he is joined by Ben and Alex - with Adam arriving somewhat late - as they discuss the travails of Eastern Cape rugby, the card system, a bit of Currie Cup and the Sunwolves coaching regime. Attention is then turned to the All Blacks standard win over Argentina, Steve Hansen, Port Elizabeth and the Springboks defending their way to victory for the second match in a row. Adam...

The gang, minus Ben, are back in a week with no international rugby. What are they to do? Thankfully, there is much to discuss! From Pro 14 to Currie Cup to long weekends to New Zealand contracts to Eddie Jones to Bokke squads, Alex, Matt and Adam chat all things rugby, ending off, to Adam's delight, on Band of Brothers after being denied last week. Music from bensound.com.

All is right in the world. The sun is shining and the birds are chirping. Rugby is great hey? The gang chat about South Africa's epic, narrative-defining win over New Zealand, Argentina giving Israel Folau a chance to make himself look like an ass, World Rugby going bust, the World Cup getting bigger and a few other bits and bobs. Also, we went for home team by 7 in our SuperBru. We got too excite...

The gang are back for one of their best episodes yet. Like seriously. Someone's hungover, someone else is chilled (guess who...), two people rant and in between it all, some rugby is discussed. Topics covered include Jesse Kriel's hypnotizing biceps, Ben Smith (standard), Argentina looking good in defeat, Pro 14, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia and issues facing the Springboks, including our poo...

The four horseman of the ruck are back and with a running order! Amidst some commotion as Adam gets a mattress delivered, the gang chat about dog toilets, SA's soon-to-be-shrinking player pool, the NFL combine, the coming weekend's Rugby Championship fixtures and in a new feature, talk about what came up on their WhatsApp group. This week: The Springbok Office. Music from bensound.com.

Ben, Matt and Adam, with Ant graciously filling in for Alex, deconstruct the meaning of Namibia pulling out of the Currie Cup First Division, the nature of Ben's tartan suit, the pros and lack of cons of Ben Smith, and dissect (to a degree) the Boks' woeful performance against Argentina. Can we just give the All Blacks the trophy already? Music from bensound.com. Catch us on Soundcloud, iTunes and...

The gang return to sing the name, "Brodie Retallick!" Anyone who throws mad dummies like him will have his name remembered. Much is made of Namibia qualifying for the World Cup while okes (bar Adam) stick the boot into Handre Pollard for his poor kicking. Music from bensound.com.

It's a full house at ERB HQ, with the Currie Cup and Rugby Championship the topic of the day's discussions. Amidst it all, Matt corrects Adam about how to pronounce "Outeniqua" (#shocker), Alex tells a story about a South African in Arizona, Ben seems to think highly of Nelspruit, along with Adam ranting about the haka. So, standard. Music from bensound.com.

The gang convene (with Matt a ship in the night) to discuss the latest news - including SA Rugby halving its professional players and Jimmy Stonehouse's epic guns - the Super Rugby final and our Super 15 XV, Over Achiever and Under Achiever/Disappointing XVs of the season. There is also a testy discussion about whether Angus Gardener got it right. Ant sent us some amazing stats, but Adam failed to...