The Lekker Rugby Pod!

Ireland arrive in Paris without the certainty that defined them for the last five years. This episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod uses France vs Ireland as a way into a wider conversation about pressure, transition, and how quickly confidence can thin at Test level. With Irish writer Pat McGarry, MW Welman and Harry Jones unpack Ireland’s current state, shaped by a Six Nations played without Andy Farr...

Who would’ve thought jail could be such an apt analogy for the Bulls? Harry’s back after a slightly mysterious absence and, before we know it, we’re talking about everything from leadership and belief to why some teams survive pressure and others panic. It takes us a while to get there, but that’s kind of the point. There’s a listener letter in this episode that made us stop and sit with it for a...

The Bulls stopped trying to be something else and found their feet again. The Lions refused to fold under pressure. The Sharks forced the Stormers back to fundamentals. Across the weekend, a pattern emerged as teams settled back into what they do best. In this episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones unpack how identity, systems, and belief shaped the results, why set pieces stil...

Sharks fans, this is the one you’ve been waiting for. Marco Masotti, controlling owner and majority shareholder of the Sharks, joins us for a proper, open conversation and gives clarity on the coaching situation, including when you can expect to hear more about what the franchise is doing next. We also go deep on the bigger picture: the endless season, Springbok strain, cohesion, URC and Champions...

NZRU are calling it “mutual consent”… but the speed of this decision feels like something else entirely. MW Welman and Harry Jones are joined by New Zealand’s Martin Devlin (DSPN) to ask the question everyone’s thinking: why move this fast unless the next coach is already lined up? We break down the review, the PR spin, the whispers, and what it tells us about power inside New Zealand Rugby. Razor...

Seven losses in a row. Record points conceded at Loftus. A squad packed with Springboks looking confused and disconnected. MW Welman and Harry Jones go forensic on what’s really gone wrong at the Bulls, from the “butterfingers” narrative to the brutal reality of short-field defence every week. But the biggest warning sign isn’t the scoreboard. It’s the feeling. The want. The body language. We talk...

Throughout history, every empire, dynasty, and dominant team has eventually faced the same question: can this last? In Episode 137 of the Lekker Rugby Pod, and the first of 2026, MW Welman and Harry Jones use history as a lens, asking what figures like Napoleon and other fallen powers can teach us about the Springboks today. Through power, paranoia, leadership, and the Rassie Erasmus effect, this...

The Stormers made it ten unbeaten, but this derby was about more than extending a streak. The Bulls finally looked like a team again, defending with intent, committing emotionally, and staying alive until the final maul. We break down what shifted under pressure, how the Stormers found a way to win again, and why this match could still mark a turning point in the Bulls’ season.

No notes, no structure, no plan. Just a proper end-of-year Festive Special for Episode 136 of The Lekker Rugby Pod, the way these conversations usually happen off-air. From Harry Index debates and coaching philosophies to life after rugby, why contentment is underrated, and MW's very real pain of being a Bulls fan right now. This is the Lekker Rugby Pod at its loosest and most honest. Equal parts...

Are the Bulls really in crisis? They’ve won 3 out 6 URC games after all, but after some lacklustre performances, it feels like the walls might be closing in. MW Welman and Harry Jones look at what’s really going on in Pretoria - the rumours, the gossip and the uncomfortable truths hidden in stats, culture and body language. From on-the-fields lapses to questions of trust, leadership and discipline...

For Harry Jones, this week inside the Stormers environment carried a quiet emotional weight. Invited to embed with the team, he travelled from Dallas not entirely sure the invitation was real, joking at one point that it might be an elaborate practical joke. A lifelong Stormers supporter, the opportunity also allowed him to quietly mend a few important bridges. What he found was a rugby team defin...

Episode 133 takes a deep dive into the Springboks’ ongoing rise. Harry Jones sits with special guests Bernard Jackman and Jon Cardinelli to explore how this team keeps improving two years out from the World Cup. From tactical innovation and clever squad rotation to long-term player development, the panel analyses mental toughness, explosive play, and bench strategy. This is one of our most detaile...

Harry Jones and Tim Cocker link up in person at the Stormers Captains Run in Gqeberha, where a honest chat about clearing the air with defence coach Norman Laker leads into a close look at the squad’s energy before La Rochelle. From the rhythm and confidence in training to bigger questions about the URC race, European commitment and South Africa’s place in the Champions Cup, this episode blends on...

Episode 131 of the Lekker Rugby Pod digs into South African rugby’s biggest rivalry and asks the question fans are feeling: what’s changed? Harry Jones and MW Welman break down why the Bulls remain stuck under Johan Ackermann while the Stormers are thriving under John Dobson. They explore player-led dynamics, defensive chaos, and why the Bulls’ legacy demands more than just rebuilding. The hosts u...

Episode 130 throws open the most heated debate in rugby. Harry and MW go headfirst into the question of who truly deserves the title of the greatest rugby team of all time. The Springboks of today are compared to the All Blacks of their golden era, not only on results but on evolution, coaching, cohesion and how the sport itself has transformed. The discussion ranges from Jake White hypotheticals...

Little birdies, whispers, and rumours swirl around Eben Etzebeth’s suspension. In Episode 129 of The Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones unpack the drama, hint at what might be happening behind the scenes, and explore the provocation and 73-0 incident, all without crossing the official line. Insightful, humorous, and full of off-the-record intrigue, this episode gives you the inside perspe...

The Springboks were unstoppable. Scrum after scrum. Relentless pressure. A defence that refused to bend - they brought sheer brutality to every meter of the field. Ireland fought, they clawed, they refused to quit, but it wasn’t enough. In this episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod, Harry Jones and MW Welman dissect a game where the Springboks’ dominance was absolute, yet respect is earned for an Irish...

In this bonus episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod, Harry steps into full devil’s advocate mode and takes MW down the rabbit hole of how Ireland could realistically beat the Springboks. What starts as a cheeky challenge turns into one of the sharpest tactical explorations the pod has ever done. Harry unpacks the Irish blueprint in detail, digging into line out disruption, double top lifts, forcing loop...

This episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod with special guest Jordan Buhrs is a full preview and reaction experience in one! We started by laying out what the Springboks needed for the upcoming clash with Ireland. Harry Jones and Jordan Buhrs unpacked the tactical requirements, set piece intensity, backline balance, and the type of physicality and pace the Boks would need if they wanted to disrupt Irela...

Harry Jones and MW Welman dig into the rivalry that keeps gnawing at South African rugby. Ireland keep finding a way and the boys want to know why. They look at the last five tests, the odd patterns in the results, and the tactical habits that let Andy Farrell’s team flip Bok strengths into weaknesses. Harry breaks down turnovers, physicality traps, and the jiu jitsu style Ireland use to unsettle...

The Springboks face Italy, and the Lekker Rugby Pod is here to break it down. MW Welman and Harry Jones dive into the odd selection, the tactical chess moves, and the real test behind this so-called "easier" fixture. Harry calls this a "heat check" game, a chance for South Africa to flex their depth but also a dangerous test against an Italian side brimming with belief after to...

The episode fans of the Lekker Rugby Pod have been waiting for is finally here! Harry Jones and MW Welman break down South Africa’s thrilling victory over France, from tactical control to standout individual performances. They unpack the Springboks’ disciplined dominance, highlight big moments from Sacha and Andre, and recognize flashes of brilliance from French players like Thomas Ramos. They als...

Two years of waiting. Two years of plotting. France are ready, and the Springboks are finally in their sights. In Episode 124 of The Lekker Rugby Pod, Harry Jones, MW Welman and special guest Huw Griffin go inside France’s hidden playbook, revealing exactly how Fabien Galthié and his team plan to crush South Africa. Huw brings remarkable, unrivalled insight and stats that give South African fans a...

People have been asking, “Where’s Harry?” Well, here he is — back from Chicago and straight into the chaos. The All Blacks vs Ireland clash may have looked like a spectacle on paper, but Soldier Field turned out to be a true anti-climax with a flat crowd, awkward production, and a game that felt more like a rehearsal than a test. MW and Harry break it all down, exploring what went wrong, what work...

In this episode, Harry and MW break down Rassie Erasmus’ bold strategy shift toward hybrid players and away from the risky 7-1 or 6-2 bench structure. They explore how versatile stars like Andre Esterhuizen and Kwagga Smith are transforming the Springboks, giving them flexibility, unpredictability, and new tactical options that could define the November tests. The discussion goes beyond South Afri...