Rugby Rivals - Sir John Kirwan & Victor Matfield

Dave Rennie is the new All Blacks head coach — and the rugby world is reacting. On this episode of Rugby Rivals, Sir John Kirwan (All Blacks legend) and Victor Matfield (Springboks legend) give their immediate reaction to the appointment of Dave Rennie as the next All Blacks coach. What does Rennie bring to the role? How will his coaching style shape the next era of the All Blacks? And what challe...

Ireland go to Twickenham… and suddenly everything changes. Just weeks after talk of “crisis,” Ireland deliver a world-class performance against England. So, are they back on top of the world? Or was it just one emotional afternoon? This week on Rugby Rivals: Ireland’s statement win at Twickenham - turning point or overreaction? The promotion and relegation debate — should the Six Nations introduce...

Was this just a loss — or a reality check? Victor Matfield and Sir John Kirwan dissect a Six Nations weekend that sent shockwaves through the tournament: Scotland overpower England. France look unstoppable. Ireland bounce back. Super Rugby begins. JK admits he misses South Africa from Super Rugby. Are England regressing? Is France already in a different tier? And what does this mean heading toward...

Rugby Rivals is BACK - with a recap for all the Six Nations action over the weekend. Sir John Kirwan, Victor Matfield, Andrew Trimble and producer Ric Salizzo break down all the biggest stories - and ask the question... Is this the end of Ireland’s golden era? Are France the best team in the world right now? England’s huge statement win after crushing Wales Italy’s rise continues with an upset 18–...

In this special episode of Rugby Rivals, JK and Victor break down the shock decision to move on from Scott “Razor” Robertson as All Blacks coach - what went wrong, whether it was inevitable, and what it says about the pressure of leading New Zealand rugby. They discuss who’s next in line for the All Blacks job, whether Tony Brown could be tempted away from the Springboks setup, a...

It’s our final episode of the year, and we’re sending 2025 off with The Rivals Awards Show, breaking down the Best, Worst and Most WTF Moments from a massive season of rugby. We’re handing out our end-of-year awards, including:🏆 Player of the Year🟥 Worst Red Card of the Year🌍 Team of the Year🚀 Future Superstar Award⏪ Team in Reverse Award🤯 Moment of the Year🔧 The One Thing...

We're back for another big episode of Rugby Rivals. John Kirwan tries to make sense of the All Blacks’ latest stumble… Victor can’t get through 80 minutes without seeing red, and Trimby relishes in Ireland's whalloping of Australia. In this episode we cover:– What’s REALLY going on with the All Blacks right now– The Springboks’ red-card problem and how it...

The Springboks reminded everyone why they’re the best in the world - overcoming France in Paris with only 14 men. Meanwhile, Damian McKenzie delivers another clutch moment to save the All Blacks in a thriller that had fans on edge till the final whistle in Scotland. Sir John Kirwan, Victor Matfield, and Andrew Trimble break down all the big moments from action packed weekend in world rugby....

The Northern Tour served up another weekend of drama - starting with Tadhg Beirne's red card. Did the call ruin the match, or was it the right decision? JK, Victor Matfield and Andrew Trimble dig into all the big talking points, including the Springboks–France rivalry and why Victor is worried about what the French are building. We also chat Scotland - are they finally turning the corner, co...

The Northern Hemisphere tour has officially kicked off, and the North vs. South rivalry is alive and well. Australia opened their campaign with a narrow win over Japan, and now the rest of the Southern giants head north. Sir John Kirwan, Victor Matfield and Andrew Trimble go head-to-head as they break down what’s ahead, who’s in form, and which hemisphere really holds the power in worl...

The Rugby Championship is done and dusted - and the Springboks have gone back-to-back In this episode, Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield break down all the key moments from the tournament, what set the Boks apart, and how the All Blacks, Wallabies, and Pumas will be feeling heading into the next phase of the international season. The guys also look ahead to upcoming fixtures, coaching moves, and...

In this week’s Rugby Rivals, JK, Victor Matfield, and Ric Salizzo return with a hard-hitting unpack of the latest Rugby Championship drama. They cast a critical eye over South Africa’s masterclass against Argentina, and dissect how the All Blacks scraped through against a determined Wallabies side. 📱 Follow Rugby Rivals: Instagram: @rugby.rivals TikTok: @rugbyrivalsSee omnystudio.com/...

The pressure is mounting on the All Blacks as they prepare for the Bledisloe Cup — with fans and critics questioning whether they can deliver when it matters most. At the same time, women’s rugby is set for a historic showdown with the Rugby World Cup Final promising to be one of the biggest spectacles the sport has ever seen. Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield bring their expert insi...

The Rugby Championship has been blown wide open after the Springboks stunned the All Blacks in dramatic fashion. On this week’s Rugby Rivals, Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield break down how South Africa’s victory has shifted the momentum - and whether it has derailed New Zealand’s hopes of taking control of the competition. We’ll unpack what Razor Robertson’s next...

The Rugby Championship is heating up, and who better to break it down than All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan and Springbok great Victor Matfield? In this week’s episode of Rugby Rivals, JK and Victor dive into: The All Blacks’ gritty 24–17 win over South Africa at Eden Park Standout performances from Emoni Narawa, Will Jordan, and Quinn Tupaea Ardie Savea’s 100th Test miles...

The stage is set for one of the biggest rugby clashes since the World Cup Final, the All Blacks vs Springboks at Eden Park. In this week’s Rugby Rivals, JK and Victor break down the test preview, with the Boks chasing history and the All Blacks desperate to defend their fortress. Eden Park has been unbeaten for 50 games since 1994, but South Africa arrive on a four-match winning streak over...

Round 2 of The Rugby Championship 2025 delivered absolute drama. Argentina stunned the All Blacks 29–23 in Buenos Aires, claiming their first ever home win over New Zealand. Despite leading early, the All Blacks unraveled with three yellow cards and poor discipline — and the Pumas took full advantage to make history. Meanwhile, the Springboks survived a scare of their own against Austr...

Springboks are stunned by the Wallabies, the All Blacks rise to World #1, and the Rugby Championship is blown wide open. In Rivals Episode 13, Victor Matfield and Sir John Kirwan react to the Springboks’ shock loss to the Wallabies, the All Blacks’ big win over Argentina, and what it all means for the Bomb Squad, Rassie Erasmus, and Razor. From lineouts to maul tries, Fabian Holland&rs...

The Rugby Championship is here, and opening weekend is shaping up to be HUGE. 🏉 In this episode of Rugby Rivals, JK & Victor break down: Rugby Championship Round 1 Preview South Africa vs Australia in Johannesburg... Can the Wallabies upset the defending champs? Argentina vs New Zealand in Córdoba... Are the All Blacks ready for a fast start away from home? The latest from the Women’...

In this episode of Rugby Rivals, we break down the new-look All Blacks squad ahead of tjeor Rugby Championship campaign. Can this team topple the Springboks, outpace the often-underrated Pumas, and hold off a resurgent Australia? We also dissect the Lions' tour, and ask... were they overrated? And while the Wallabies might not be back yet, there's finally genuine hope for the future. Young talent,...

In this episode of Rugby Rivals, JK and Victor Matfield break down why the real issues facing the Wallabies run deeper than refereeing decisions, and what needs to change ahead of the final Lions test. We also unpack the Springboks’ latest squad omissions, key selections, and what they signal for the Rugby Championship. Plus, concern is growing for the All Blacks, with a mounting injury list...

JK, Victor, and Andrew Trimble say the Wallabies have no chance against the Lions, and raise serious concerns about the future of union in Australia. We also ask the big question: is Finn Russell the best player in the world right now? Plus, we break down the growing resentment toward Ireland, and why all great teams eventually feel the heat the Irish are facing. Plenty of big calls, sharp analysi...

Are the Springboks in winning form - or are they proving disappointing vs Italy? Will the All Blacks be able to maintain their form against sides like Ireland and South Africa? JK and Victor Matfield go head to head over the biggest stories in rugby, joined by former Irish international Andrew Trimble, to cover: The headbutt incident dividing fans Are the Lions set to dominate the Wallabies? The p...

Debate: The TMO debacle has the rugby world fuming, and JK & Victor are leading the charge. We unpack all the action over the weekend - All Blacks vs. France, Springboks vs. Italy, Australia vs. Fiji and the Lions' showing against Australia's club teams. We also discuss why Codie Taylor is underrated, the rise of Japan's national team, and how Northern Hemisphere club rugby might be better prepari...

We dive deep into the rise of 20-year-old flanker Henry Pollock, and ask is it fair to compare his skill-set to Ardie Savea? Jim gives his take on whether he’s ready for a starting position in the Lions jersey, while JK and Victor clash over whether hybrid players are ruining rugby. From bomb squad blow-ups to Finn Russell vs. Johnny Sexton, and whether there should be a 'Golden Point' rule...