Elite Rugby Banter

Ant, Phil, and Andy recap the first post-RWC Bok game, the URC final, and the Blitzboks qualification for the Olympics. Oh, the highs and lows of being a South African rugby fan... Also, what on earth are we supposed to do next Saturday without even our Antipodean rugby to look forward to? Our panel mulls over this grave happenstance...

Andy hosts while Ant commutes between URC, Super Rugby Pacific and the first Bok test of the season. Will Fortress Loftus hold against the Warriors of Glasgow? Will the Chiefs give the men from Auckland the Blues? And will it be Boks Office or Wails with the experimental Twickenham tour? Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

The four-man pod returns sporting light blue jerseys and nose rings as the Stormers crash ungraciously out of the URC. Andy rules supreme in rugby fantasy land, and the boys pick their Bok squads for the upcoming series against Ireland. With all the injuries at outside back, who will accompany the old men Mapimpi and Le Roux? Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Ant comes out firing on the back of his beloved Sharks victory in the hitherto unheralded European Challenge Cup. Meanwhile, pod guest Dick Taylor helps to unpack some more meaningful competitions in the Champions Cup, URC, Super Rugby Pacific, the Japanese League One, and the SA Cup. Hilarity ensues. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Have a listen to find out why Phil may be the key to unlocking the Springbok backline against Wales, but only after Christmas. Also in the pod: Andrew and Adam’s special Gauteng bond, why Ant is as shit at fantasy as the Sharks are at URC, and why Siya Masuku should be starting for the Crusaders. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Phil takes on the Damian de Allende role again, swapping out Lukhanyo Am (Ant) for his other centre partner, Jesse Kriel (Andy) on this two-man recap of the recent rugby on the go. Have the Stormers lost their spark? How did the lean Lions slay the log-leading Leinster and are they in with a knockout shout? Can the Sharks swim their way to European glory? And will Phil support them? That and more on this week's episode. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Ant and Phil are once again a two-man pod and continue to chat all things 6 Nations, Super Rugby, URC, Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. Ant's Sharks have turned the corner but can they win the whole Challenge Cup? Can the Lions focus on the URC and sneak a top 8 finish? Ireland take the 6 Nations crown but will they be able to beat the Boks in SA? Wales are left with the Wooden Spoon so where to now for the men in red? Just how unlucky is Ant's Super Rugby draft team? We're still asking when the Crusaders will turn things around in Super Rugby as the Hurricanes, Blues, Brumbies and Chiefs steam on. Is Chasing the Sun the best sports documentary out there? Join as we ask all of the tough questions. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Ant and Phil are left in control without Andrew to keep things civil as they give their verdict over all things 6 Nations, Super Rugby, URC and SVNS. Ant's Sharks continue to let him down, while best-team-in-the-world™ Ireland struggle to rule the roost over England. Did Ant really support England over Ireland? Are Scotland just missing some South African in their back row to be competitive? What is going on with the Blitzboks in the SVNS? When will the Crusaders turn things around in Super Rugby? And who should captain the Springboks going forward? Join us, as we attempt to answer all of these questions and more. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

It's been too long. The boys dispense with the formalities of hosting and somehow manage to cover pretty much everything that has happened since our last episode in the year 24 BC. Will Italy ever become a force to be reckoned with? Is Sam Spink a sleeper draft pick? Was France ever as good as we thought? Will Andy ever recover from his whisky hangover? All but the last one will be resolved here, and watch our social media to find out more as the story develops on the babbelas! Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Our regular panel along with guest Alex take stock of the URC, Challenge and Champions Cups. Is Ivan Rooyen a renaissance man? Is e coli the reason for the Sharks woes? Is Shifty's shift to Stormers a good sidestep? Will Willie le Roux reach 100 caps? Did we forget to mention that Benetton are sitting pretty 2nd on the URC log? Find out here. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Yes, the URC has started. Ant wishes it was merely a nightmare, but local rugby has been on the go for a few weeks. We recap the fortunes of the URC teams, recap the Blitzboks win in Dubai, and look forward to the festive schedule ahead. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

The team mops up on all the goings-on in the world of rugby since the World Cup. From the Knocked Out XV to the Springboks victory tour, Duane’s retirement to the reinvention of Welsh veterans (no, not Dan Biggar, he’s done). If you’re expecting an update on the URC, you’re going to have to wait for next week. Until then, the Sharks are shit without their Boks. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

What a performance! It's a great day to be South African as Andrew, Ant and Phil wax lyrical about the Springboks' outstanding Rugby World Cup final display that dispatched the All Blacks, and put smiles on millions on faces. The gang break down the game in Paris to its key moments and run the rule over the game's different aspects which led to South Africa extending their lead at the top of Rugby World Rankings. An off-the-cuff team of the tournament is decided. The Springboks' World Cup legend goes on and we could not be prouder. For New Zealand, a case of what would've been. A third consecutive 1-point victory. We’re not quite sure it’s real, but last night the Springboks defended their World Cup title and became the first team to win it four times. Pure championship mentality. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

There’s nothing quite like it. The Boks are back at a World Cup final, and it’s the old foes that stand in the way. Rugby’s giants go head to head in pursuit of the ultimate title. Also featuring: what’s slippier - Mark Telea or Jamie George’s lineout throws? Is Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu moonlighting for Cape Town City FC? Will Welsh clubs ever beat anyone again other than each other? Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

This is our longest episode yet, which reflects the colour, contrast, and quality of rugby on offer this past weekend. Two of the all-time classic Test matches played out in finals-worthy fashion, accompanied by another two QFs that were runts of the litter from the weaker side of the draw. Nonetheless, our very close games are closely analysed by a team that includes a guest appearance from Heinrich, work-mate of Ant and host of Hier's Die Ding. A very optimistic view to the finals is entertained, with some disclaimers about the potential speedbump of old foes England. A negligible amount of attention is paid to the launch of the 2023/24 season of the world's best club league, the URC. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show

This is one of our longest episodes, but also one of our most hotly debated shows ever. First, Andy, Ant and Phil wrap up the pool stages of the World Cup, who under-performed and who shone. Then, chaos and uncertainty reign as they turn their attention to what is a tantalising and incredibly equally matched series of four North v South battles in the Rugby World Cup quarter finals. Form vs class, team chemistry vs individual game breaking ability, knockout rugby or sticking to your game plan template. It's almost too close to call, but we try anyway. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show

The second last round of pool games is over, leaving some interesting permutations for the knockouts. Who between the tournament underperformers Argentina and Japan will go through with England? Will Italy stun hosts France? And will Scotland beat Ireland by more than 20 with both teams simultaneously scoring four tries to rip a black hole in the space-time continuum to knock the Springboks out of the World Cup? Short answer - probably not. Long answer - listen to the episode.

The boys are back as they run the rule over the third round of Rugby World Cup pool games, with Australia bombing harder than the Bok "Nuke" squad. Otherwise, some largely uninspiring games set the stage for some interesting pool exit permutations. Theme: 80s TV Show by @monstroid

Phil and Ant, our two Rugby World Cup correspondents and travellers, are hosted this week by a very jealous and lonely Andrew back in Joburh. They moan about French beer prices and the underwhelming Pacific Island performances (other than the Flying Fijians), but also delight in a Romanian romp and the general World Cup atmosphere on the ground. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Andrew chooses pudding over podding and birds over balls, leaving Phil and Ant to rule the roost and run over the opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup. Tempers are kept in better check than journos being triggered over disco lights, but excitement for the next two months overflows as Phil and Ant prepare to make their ways to France! Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.