The Lekker Rugby Pod!

The Instant Reaction series is where we normally let emotion fly, but this time it called for something different. In the wake of the Jan-Hendrik Wessels case, Harry Jones and MW Welman decided to take a breath and bring you A Considered Reaction. When the fallout feels more legal than rugby, you need a lawyer’s cool head and luckily Harry is one. In this episode of The Lekker Rugby Pod, they unpa...

It’s a huge November of international rugby coming up and The Lekker Rugby Pod has teamed up with Tim Cocker from Eggchasers to make sense of it all. Harry Jones and Tim bring together the best of north and south in one full-throttle preview of the month ahead. From England’s fly-half puzzles and Borthwick’s tactical masterclass, to Ireland’s loss of express pace, France’s scrum drama, and Scotlan...

Five tests in five weeks — it’s the toughest stretch any Springbok side has faced in years. In this episode of The Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones are joined by veteran journalist Jon Cardinelli to unpack Rassie Erasmus’s survival strategy for November. From managing player loads to rotating veterans and rising stars, Jon explains how Rassie plans to balance experience with youth — and...

In this emergency Lekker Rugby Pod Instant Reaction, MW Welman and Harry Jones are absolutely flabbergasted. Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been slapped with a 9-week ban over allegations from Josh Murphy that seem, frankly, impossible. Was he really grabbed for five seconds? Where’s the evidence? MW and Harry break down just how nonsensical this ruling is, questioning the logic, the common sense, and th...

Four rounds into the URC, South African rugby is telling a story of extremes. The Bulls are grappling with the aftermath of a dramatic internal revolution - a team still adjusting after major changes under Johann Ackermann. Defensive gaps, shaky lineouts, and inconsistent performances reveal the real challenges facing Loftus, as MW Welman and Harry Jones examine what it will take for the Bulls to...

Belfast was a harsh lesson for the Bulls. Ulster didn’t just win — they dominated, exposing weaknesses in a team still finding its feet under new coach Johann Ackermann. Defensive cracks that had been creeping in over the past weeks were on full display, and for the first time, the attack also struggled to impose itself. The result was a rare spectacle: the Bulls being physically overpowered and t...

This isn’t your standard Rugby Championship review. In this vintage episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod, Harry unleashes his full philosophical self, guiding listeners through the curious paradox of sport: how can a team achieve results yet still feel dissatisfied, while others stumble but find reason to smile? Harry’s Rugby Happiness Index blends statistics, psychology, and a philosopher’s heart, ask...

The morning after the Springboks’ epic Rugby Championship win, Harry Jones takes us straight back to Twickenham, where every moment, from the streets to the stadium, pulsed with energy, tension, and pure South African pride. You can almost hear the roar of the fans, feel the wind on the pitch, and see every tackle, turnover, and try as if you were there yourself. MW Welman joins him to dissect the...

Harry was on the ground at the Springboks’ Captain’s Run in London ahead of the big Argentina clash at Twickenham. Fresh from the plane, he witnessed a squad full of energy, laughter, and precision, with many, many kicks attempted as the team refined a new tactical approach. Damian Willemse was pin-point accurate and Sacha showed dedication and skill in every drill. The return of Bongi adds an edg...

Episode 114 of the Lekker Rugby Pod asks whether we’ve just seen the start of a new normal in world rugby. The Springboks didn’t just edge the All Blacks at Ellis Park or the Pumas in Durban—they demolished them, playing with a tempo, skill, and physicality that looked almost impossible to contain. MW returns from a bush reunion where he found himself explaining, more than once, what a rugby podca...

The Springboks are still riding high after their record-breaking demolition of the All Blacks, but Durban might not be the victory parade everyone expects. Argentina has already beaten both New Zealand and Australia this season, and under Felipe Contepomi, the Pumas have grown sharper, smarter, and more dangerous. Harry and MW dig into why this clash carries more risk than it seems. Argentina’s ve...

Rassie Erasmus has doubled down with a powerful Springbok side for the first test against Argentina in Durban, and the Lekker Rugby Pod has your Instant Reaction! We started recording before the official announcement, speculating on who might make the cut, and then broke down the confirmed team once it dropped. Harry and MW dig into why Rassie went with such a strong, almost unchanged lineup, what...

Episode 112 of the Lekker Rugby Pod brings the fire. MW and Harry are back together and joined by New Zealand broadcasting legend Martin Devlin, host of the Devlin Sports Podcast Network and an unapologetically passionate All Blacks supporter. From Venice to the podcast mic, Martin pulls no punches as he lays out the brutal truth about New Zealand rugby. He takes us through the decline since 2019,...

Episode 111 of the Lekker Rugby Pod is a rare one. With MW off on an adventure, Harry takes the reins solo and brings on one of South Africa’s sharpest rugby minds, Jon Cardinelli. Together, they dive into the brilliance of Rassie Erasmus — the man who refuses to think only about today, because he’s already busy shaping tomorrow. This is the inside story of how the Springboks are being built for 2...

Have the Springboks finally unlocked Total Rugby? MW Welman and Harry Jones take a deep dive into South Africa’s historic win over the All Blacks and explore whether Jasper Wiese was the missing ingredient that allowed the team to reach its full potential. From dominant carries to defensive mastery and creating critical advantages, they analyze how every player became a threat on the field. MW and...

The Springboks have done the unthinkable. On New Zealand soil, in front of their own people, the All Blacks were humbled like never before. Record-breaking. Shattering. Absolute carnage. Harry and MW take you inside the moment the Boks broke the All Blacks’ spirit: Siya Kolisi exploding from the scrum, Damian Willemse gliding through for a try that silenced Eden Park, Ethan Hooker announcing himse...

Episode 109 of the Lekker Rugby Pod is a milestone! Tim Cocker of Eggchasers joins Harry Jones and MW Welman for a conversation that goes beyond content creation and deep into rugby itself. We explore Tim’s connection to South Africa, his travels through the country, and how Bok rugby culture hooked him after the 2023 Rugby World Cup. But this episode isn’t just about his love for the Springboks -...

The Lekker Rugby Pod returns with Episode 108, and the debate has never been sharper. Harry Jones is back from New Zealand with fresh insights from Eden Park, where he experienced the Springboks vs All Blacks clash from both the press box and the stands. MW Welman and Harry unpack the tactics, refereeing controversies, and scrum battles—but the real question runs deeper: how does a rugby giant lik...

The Springboks walked into Eden Park with hope, history, and belief, but left with heartbreak once again. In this instant reaction recorded straight after the final whistle, Harry Jones gives his raw reflections from the stands in Auckland. He unpacks how two early All Blacks tries and small tactical missteps left the Boks chasing the game, despite brave forward play, fierce work at the breakdown,...

Episode 107 of The Lekker Rugby Pod brings you Harry’s trademark preview — this time straight from Auckland, where the Springboks and All Blacks meet at Eden Park in a clash dripping with history, hype, and pressure. The Boks haven’t beaten the All Blacks at this ground since 1937, yet they arrive having won the last four encounters. Add to that both teams are slightly out of form — South Africa l...

Episode 106 of the Lekker Rugby Pod is special – it’s Harry’s birthday, and the celebrations are wrapped in rugby as we unpack Oom Rugby’s in-depth analysis of the All Blacks before the Eden Park showdown. Harry shares travel stories from New Zealand, from glow worm caves to unforgettable matches, while MW guides the conversation through history, tactics, and raw emotion. Oom’s email sparks the ce...

The clash at Eden Park has the rugby world holding its breath, and The Lekker Rugby Pod is right in the thick of it! MW Welman and Harry Jones welcome New Zealand’s legendary commentator Tony Johnson for a heated, hilarious, and razor-sharp breakdown of what could be the game of the year. Is this a battle of Rassie versus Razor, Bok versus All Black, power versus precision? Or is it something even...

The Springboks’ recent stumble has us asking the question no other pod dares: did they get in their own heads? Episode 103 of The Lekker Rugby Pod dives into the Boks’ mindset, leadership, and selection choices, blending sharp rugby analysis with our signature humour. Harry checks in from Cape Town after swimming, hiking, and a pilgrimage up Table Mountain — possibly to exorcise some post-mortem d...

The Springboks have gone to war for the second test against Australia — and this selection says it all: no comfort, no shelter, no mercy. Harry Jones and MW Welman deliver an instant reaction to a monstrous Bok lineup built on power, intimidation, and pure physical dominance. From RG Snyman’s towering presence to Franco Mostert’s shock move to flank, and the return of Handré Pollard, this is a tea...

The unthinkable happened at Ellis Park. The Wallabies walked into the Springboks’ fortress and came away with a win — leaving South African fans stunned and Rassie Erasmus searching for answers. In Episode 101 of the Lekker Rugby Pod, Harry Jones and MW Welman unpack the shock defeat, asking whether the Boks simply didn’t show enough respect for their opponents. Was it tactical misfires, poor exec...