Elite Rugby Banter

The Boks have wrapped up their on-field preparations for the Rugby Championship with a testing but worthy win over the physical Georgians. All that remains is to sit back and watch the dull, light beer clashes Down Under while Rassie fine tunes his first choices. On the domestic front, the Currie Cup gets going with some of our u20 World Champions in the mix, and the Imbokodo prep for the Black Fe...

OG Adam is back for a guest appearance this week and drops a few hot takes for good measure. Is Henco van Wyk the Marco van Staden of centres? We're not convinced, but we're here for it anyway. Jasper sees red as the Boks run over the top of Italy, NZ get their groove back, and the Lions loom large for the Wallabies as the first Test draws nearer. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

What do Steve and Mike Wosniak have in common? Well, it's not rugby as we find out in this mythbusting ERB episode. There was a lot of rugby to cover with the international season underway. The Boks managed to keep down an unexpectedly strong Italian espresso with no help from the bomb squad (cue the fireworks). New Zealand nearly choked on a C-grade baguette while Fiji couldn't quite stomach an u...

The Boks sent the BaaBaas packing but not without a few boxes of South African wine. Rassie started the season doing Rassie things with Esterhuizen playing flank, while Kolbe continued to embarrass opposition but not as much as O'Mahony getting swindled like Eskom buying an exorbitant dummy from SAFM. In other news, the Junior Sprintboks (sic) sped their way to a dominant scoreline against Aus, an...

Ant, Phil and Andy recap the two season finales for URC and Super Rugby as well as the non-Test between the B&I Lions (minus Leinster) and Argentina (minus most of their first choice French clubbers). The Lions head off to Australia with more questions than answers but Ant like a good Brit thinks this might be a good thing. The Super Clubs of Leinster and the Crusaders add more trophies to their s...

From the pressure cooker (kicker?) of Kingsmead to the doldrums of Scotstoun and the predictable fortresses of Loftus and the Aviva, the URC quarter finals are now behind us. One South African side will appear in a fourth consecutive final, but who will it be? Will wily Willie outwit the wing-center Hooker? The Champions Cup final was a humdinger, but was Pollock a pillock or a Saint? Finally, wil...

Hey! Remember us? It's been a while, but that means there's plenty to talk about. URC and Super Rugby Pacific approach their business ends while the announcement of a Lions tour gives us plenty to chew on. Is the fate of the Crusaders tied to Will Jordan's knee? Is Mack Hansen injured or is it just a conspiracy? And why is he banned on Hinge? Is Andy older than a potato? Find out here. Music by @m...

Is Hooker a hooker? Is Tizzano a hooker? What about Henco? Or Marnus? Spoiler: probably only the last one. But listen anyway to find out. It has been a while! Ant, Phil and Andy quickly recap the lost episode wrapping up the Six Nations before turning to the tail end of the URC and a highly entertaining Super Rugby Pacific edition. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

A very special in-person episode was recorded for your pleasure, seeing a return of not only Andrew but Ant's rants and Super Rugby Pacific. The reunited trio look ahead to the rugby extravaganza that is SRP, asking the deep questions like who can stop the Blues, can the Crusaders get any worse and will all of the Australians improve without the Rebels. We also look back on the first two weeks of...

Better late than never! Ant has a lot to get off his chest after a couple of months away. Joined by Phil, the duo assess the state of play for the South African teams in the URC and Champions/Challenge Cup before diving into a 6 Nations preview. Can the Sharks go all the way in the URC? What is wrong with the Stormers? Will the Bulls and Lions make their games in hand count? And will Wales finally...

The Boks have dominated the Player of the Year nominees, but will World Rugby conspire to select another Irish backrower? Phil and Andy launch the #JusticeForOx campaign as they ask whether rugby will always let props eat cake without proper recognition. The duo shine the spotlight on the latest fixtures like Stade de France did on the haka, and then sidestep like Kolbe to consider the impending C...

The former colonies dominated as the South swept aside the imperialist North in the Autumn Nations Series as cocky fans' egos swelled more than Kolisi's eye socket. Bok supporters are still unhappy with four tries to none, while Will Jordan keeps advancing on Dougie Howlett's record. Australia get a famous win despite being a Schmidt team, and Fiji hand Wales off in entertaining fashion. Lots to t...

Is Marcus Smith the Messiah? Or was it a bad Ford to cross. Are Scotland the real deal, or are Fiji just anti W(h)ales? Can anyone stop Sititi or Telea (spoiler, you'll find out on Friday). The gang (sans Bird) run the rule over what each team (including Kenya) would deem a success for the autumn/spring/November/end of year tour. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Dick takes a swing at hosting as the team recaps the URC progress of the South African teams. Listen in as the misinformed mispronounce and sometimes miss the point, unlike David (Richard no T) Kriel against Benetton. To sweeten things up, dessert is served in the form of a quick preview of the upcoming international fixtures as well.

The Boks sign off on a wildly successful Rugby Championship campaign in emphatic style in Mbombela, while the All Blacks heap further misery on an admittedly Schmidt Wallaby team. Then, in the URC, the Lions and Bulls enjoy the comforts of home while the Sharks and Stormers succumb to the frigid northern climes. Has Ox done enough to be the first prop to win World Rugby Player of the Year? Will al...

The Boks return from Argentina with their tails between their legs, much like the Lions who threw away a full-time lead when the Sharks smelled blood in the water at Ellis Park. Adam returns to the pod with Andy and Phil to recount the Currie Cup final matchday experience and put the magnifying glass to the mysterious case of Manie's missing compass. The panel predicts the Boks to put the BOMB bac...

The Boks are Argentina hoping to give the Pumas a Moer(at)ing with a much-changed side, while the Currie Cup reaches its zenith with the Sharks traveling to Joburg to take on the Lions. Will Esterhuizen lead Ant's boys to their second trophy in succession? Or will Nohamba take his revenge on his old employers and sent Phil into a frenzy? Oh, also, the Bledisloe Cup is now the wooden spoon playoff...

It's the first Freedom Cup in 15 years, the first 4 consecutive wins over our greatest rivals since 1949, and Marx gets to 100 (points) before Willie becomes a centurion. Overall, it's a remarkable time to be a Bok. Also in this episode - in the Currie Cup, Western Province are the coriander, Lions are enjoying a birds-eye view at the top of the log, and the Sharks are the real-deal Durban masala....

The Springboks toppled the All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg in a tense, tight affair but it's all to play for in Cape Town as both teams will come out firing. Join the gang as they discuss all things Springboks and All Blacks, as they get ready to watch the blockbuster of a match at Cape Town Stadium this weekend. Also discussed are Ant's grievances with the entire nation of New Zealand, a...

Rassie has been ice cold with his selections this week, proving he's not a Fassi eater. Will Sacha flake on the biggest stage of his career? Will the artificially sweetened bomb squad have the desired aftertaste? Will the new lock combination melt or glisten? One thing is for sure - the action won't be vanilla as the Boks take on the All Blacks this weekend. Also, Kristen, we love your ice cream....

A rare four-man front row gathered to discuss the latest Bok test, as well as some Currie Cup and u18 action. Who were your winners and losers of the Bok tour Down Under? And is the All Black touring squad instilling any fear? Find out here on Elite Rugby Banter. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

The Bok team has been announced for the Brisbane Barney and the boys are frothing. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (SAFM to his mates and the pod) headlines the announcement as the starting flyhalf, with some other notable talking points ahead of the Southern Hemisphere's signature competition. Is this the Boks' chance to make a statement and perhaps be the best team between World Cups as well as during...

In a second-ever happenstance, our three regulars found themselves around the same table. Are Australia the form team of World Rugby? Is the smart money on Manie, or is Sacha such a talent? Is McKenzie the real MacDaddy or just macaroni? Does Ant support the NovaVit Griffons now? Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Elite Rugby Banter (the podcast, not the musical) is back with a full complement of 3 (the same number of minutes Willie managed before getting concussed, again). Ireland have won back the Raeburn Shield as well as the rights to Zombie as the emerald greens got in Rassie's head. Jannie de Beer's illegitimate red-haired lovechild quelled a boisterous shark tank, much to Ant's dismay in the stands....

Is Dylan Richardson going on the next Lions tour? Should the Western Cape never host another Junior World Cup? Who is the best of the new coaches on the block? Can the Northern Hemisphere claim back some face this weekend? Will Ireland have any players left? And will Phil get washed away in Newlands? All these questions and more are answered as Ant and Phil tackle a busy rugby weekend. Music by @m...