The All Blacks are throwing the ball around like it's the NPC, the Springboks are kicking into gale-force winds like nobody told them the weather forecast, and the Sharks have somehow managed to create a logo that pissed off an entire fanbase.

Welcome to another Cut the Kak.

We break down another brilliant round of NPC rugby, ask whether New Zealand's provincial competition is actually more entertaining than Super Rugby, and discuss why Currie Cup sides like Griquas, the Pumas and Cheetahs keep embarrassing South Africa's bigger URC franchises.

Then there's the Greatest Rivalry.

The All Blacks looked electric against the Stormers, but their scrum, maul defence and growing yellow-card collection could become a massive problem once the Springboks arrive.

Meanwhile, the Boks survived Argentina in a game where the kicking strategy seemingly refused to acknowledge the existence of wind.

We also talk NRL, Ma'a Nonu lining up for the Sharks, South Africa's frankly ridiculous U18 depth, Zachary Porthen destroying scrums and the gigantic trophy we desperately need brought back for the 2026 series.

And yes, we talk about the new Sharks logo.

Unfortunately.

Subscribe, comment and tell us:

Who looks better heading into the Greatest Rivalry, the Springboks or All Blacks?

Follow @cut_the_kak on Instagram.

The NPC and Currie Cup are back, and provincial rugby has immediately chosen violence.

Chad and Byron break down the opening NPC results, the Currie Cup’s ridiculously tight table, standout performances from Du’Plessis Kirifi and Marcus Muller, and why the Lions might be playing the most entertaining rugby in South Africa.

There is also an uncomfortable amount of NRL chat, Byron picks his new NPC team, and Rassie Erasmus once again proves he is planning about seven moves ahead of everyone else.

Plus, we preview the All Blacks’ massive South African tour and ask the important question: could a provincial side steal the Raeburn Shield?

Subscribe, comment and tell us which NPC team Byron should actually support.

@cut_the_kak

NRL Scrums, Bok Depth and Pure Nonsense

A week without international rugby has officially broken us.

This week on Cut the Kak, Chad and Byron enter the world of the NRL, attempt to understand its so-called scrums, and reluctantly admit that rugby league can be bloody entertaining when you stop comparing it to union.

We also break down the latest Currie Cup action, make our predictions for the next round, and discuss why some teams should never be allowed to wear similar kits again.

Then it’s time for the main event: the Springboks and All Blacks have named stacked squads for rugby’s greatest rivalry. We discuss the biggest omissions, including Embrose Papier, Evan Roos and Du’Plessis Kirifi, compare the depth across both teams, and discover that the two squads weigh more than nine tonnes combined.

Plus, Rassie for president, Bakkies Botha running correctional services, four flyhalves in one Springbok backline, and far too much Harvey Norman chat.

Who was the biggest squad omission, and are NRL scrums even allowed to be called scrums?

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@cut_the_kak

#Springboks #AllBlacks #NRL

Three weeks of international rugby, one 43–0 demolition, back-to-back Baby Bok titles and enough TMO drama to make us rewrite rugby’s laws ourselves.

This week, Chad and Byron break down the Springboks’ complete destruction of Wales, including a scrum that looked less like a contest and more like a controlled demolition. We discuss the Bok defensive improvement, the impressive debut of Jaco Williams and the small tactical details that continue to keep South Africa ahead of the pack.

The Baby Boks are world champions again after beating France in a chaotic final filled with disallowed tries, questionable calls and several future Springbok stars. Yaqeen Ahmed and Ethan Adams are firmly on the stock watch.

We also get into:

• New Zealand’s statement win over Ireland

• Why Scotland could beat Ireland at the Rugby World Cup
• 
England’s controversial finish against Argentina

• The TMO decision that left Angus Gardner stranded

• Australia suddenly remembering how to score tries

• Why the Nations Cup delivered the best rugby nobody is talking about
• 
Whether South Africa and New Zealand are already miles ahead of everyone else
  
• 
How the Greatest Rivalry tour could make that gap even bigger?
  

Plus, Currie Cup results, rugby league scrums that make Chad irrationally angry and the financial cost of feeding South Africa’s rugby production line.

Debate question: Are the Springboks and All Blacks already too far ahead of the rest of world rugby?

Subscribe, leave your take in the comments and follow us on social media:

@cut_the_kak

This week on Cut The Kak, we're covering everything happening in the world of rugby.

We kick things off by discussing one of the biggest frustrations facing fans today—rugby's broadcasting mess. With competitions spread across multiple streaming platforms and TV providers, has the sport become too difficult (and too expensive) to follow? Is it finally time for rugby to have one global streaming service?

From there, we dive into the World Rugby U20 Championship, breaking down the standout performances, biggest surprises, and which nations are looking like genuine title contenders.

We also make our predictions for the weekend's biggest fixtures, analyse recent performances, debate where certain teams stand heading into the Rugby Championship, and discuss the growing financial pressure on both supporters and professional clubs.

🏉 In this episode:
• The state of rugby broadcasting
• World Rugby U20 Championship review
• Match predictions and analysis
• Team performances and tactical discussions
• The financial realities facing rugby fans and clubs

💬 Do you think rugby needs one global streaming platform? Let us know in the comments!

👍 If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share it with another rugby fan.

#Rugby #WorldRugby #U20Championship #RugbyChampionship #Springboks #RugbyPodcast #CutTheKak

This week on Cut The Kak, we're covering everything happening in the world of rugby.

We kick things off by discussing one of the biggest frustrations facing fans today—rugby's broadcasting mess. With competitions spread across multiple streaming platforms and TV providers, has the sport become too difficult (and too expensive) to follow? Is it finally time for rugby to have one global streaming service?

From there, we dive into the World Rugby U20 Championship, breaking down the standout performances, biggest surprises, and which nations are looking like genuine title contenders.

We also make our predictions for the weekend's biggest fixtures, analyse recent performances, debate where certain teams stand heading into the Rugby Championship, and discuss the growing financial pressure on both supporters and professional clubs.

🏉 In this episode:
• The state of rugby broadcasting
• World Rugby U20 Championship review
• Match predictions and analysis
• Team performances and tactical discussions
• The financial realities facing rugby fans and clubs

💬 Do you think rugby needs one global streaming platform? Let us know in the comments!

👍 If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share it with another rugby fan.

#Rugby #WorldRugby #U20Championship #RugbyChampionship #Springboks #RugbyPodcast #CutTheKak

International rugby is BACK... and it reminded us why nothing beats Test rugby.

This week we're breaking down one of the best rugby weekends we've had in years:

• 🏆 Why the new Nations Championship is already a massive success
• 🇿🇦 Springboks vs England and another dominant Bok performance
• 🇳🇿 New Zealand vs France in a proper Test match classic
• 🇯🇵 Japan's impressive win over Italy
• 🏉 The incredible Nations Cup matches, including Zimbabwe's brave performance against Tonga
• 🌍 Why promotion and relegation could make international rugby even better

We also dive into the U20 Championship, the Women's internationals, our predictions for next weekend, and why we think international rugby is on the verge of entering a golden era.

If you're as obsessed with rugby as we are (even if we claim to know very little about it), you're in the right place.

👍 Like the video if you enjoyed it.
💬 Let us know your biggest takeaway from the weekend.
🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss next week's breakdown.

The rugby season is officially underway, and there's plenty to unpack!

In this episode, we preview the upcoming Nations Championship, break down the latest squad selections, and discuss the biggest storylines heading into an exciting international season. We also dive into the U20 Rugby Championship, player development, referee decision-making, match predictions, and whether the Southern Hemisphere's dominance is stronger than ever.

Along the way, we debate ticket prices, attendance, player size versus scrum power, and share our thoughts on the biggest international results from the weekend.

In this episode:

• 🏉 Nations Championship preview & predictions
• 🇿🇦 Springbok squad selection discussion
• 🌍 International rugby results
• 💪 Does size really equal scrum dominance?
• 🎟️ Ticket prices & growing the game
• 🌱 U20 Rugby Championship and future stars
• 👨‍⚖️ Refereeing insights and controversial decisions
• 🔥 Can the Northern Hemisphere close the gap?

💬 Who do you think will win this year's Nations Championship? Let us know your predictions in the comments!

👍 If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more rugby discussions every week.

#Rugby #NationsChampionship #U20RugbyChampionship #Springboks #AllBlacks #Wallabies #LosPumas #WorldRugby #RugbyPodcast #RugbyUnion #SouthAfricaRugby

This week on Cut The Kak, we unpack one of the biggest weekends in rugby.

We kick things off with the club rugby finals and discuss what strong domestic competitions mean for the health of the game. Why do some countries continue to produce world-class talent while others struggle? Is national focus and investment the key?

We then dive into the latest All Blacks squad announcement, debating the biggest selections, notable omissions, and what the squad tells us about New Zealand's plans moving forward.

The conversation also explores one of rugby's most intriguing ideas: a global club competition. Could a true World Club Championship transform the sport and create the matchups fans have always wanted to see?

Plus:
🏉 Club rugby finals review
🏉 Refereeing, player behaviour and adapting to modern officiating
🏉 All Blacks squad analysis
🏉 Springboks vs Barbarians reaction
🏉 Rugby Championship preview
🏉 Under-20 Rugby Championship discussion
🏉 FIFA World Cup and Bafana Bafana's progress
🏉 Celebrating 2,000 subscribers

Join us for another rugby-filled episode packed with analysis, debate, and plenty of kak-cutting along the way.

📢 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave your thoughts in the comments. Who was the biggest All Blacks omission? And would you watch a global club rugby competition?

00:00 Club Rugby Finals Deliver the Goods
06:24 Why Some Nations Invest More in Rugby
14:21 Referees, Adaptation & The Modern Game
22:57 Managing Referee-Player Relationships
30:26 Could a Global Club Rugby Competition Work?
44:08 Springboks vs Barbarians Review
50:33 Rugby Championship & Player Analysis
57:47 The Balance Between Ads and Commentary
01:03:35 Beyond Rugby: FIFA World Cup & Cricket
01:09:14 Bafana Bafana's Rise and Expectations
01:13:00 Celebrating 2,000 Subscribers

In this episode of Cut The Kak, we sit down with Hong Kong China assistant coach Marno Meyer and Hong Kong China captain Guy Spanton to explore what it's really like building rugby in one of the sport's fastest-growing regions.

Marno shares his journey from professional rugby in South Africa and France to coaching in Hong Kong, while Guy discusses his unconventional path to international rugby and what it means to represent Hong Kong China on the world stage.

We dive into the unique rugby culture in Hong Kong, the challenges and opportunities of growing the game, player development, coaching philosophies, refereeing, and the importance of creating more international opportunities for emerging rugby nations.

We also discuss Hong Kong China's Rugby World Cup qualification campaign, preparations for the tournament, the impact of the Nations Cup, the connection between Sevens and 15s rugby, and some of the most memorable moments from their rugby careers.

Whether you're a rugby fanatic, coach, player, or simply interested in how the game is developing around the world, this is a fascinating look behind the scenes of Hong Kong China's rugby journey.

⏱️ Chapters:
00:00 – Journey to Hong Kong
08:11 – Rugby Culture in Hong Kong
13:14 – Refereeing and Game Dynamics
19:01 – Rugby World Cup Preparation
24:10 – Diversity and Unity in Rugby
32:12 – Hong Kong Sevens vs 15s Rugby
38:26 – Final Thoughts & Hong Kong Sevens Invitation

🎙️ Guests:
• Marno Meyer – Hong Kong China Assistant Coach
• Guy Spanton – Hong Kong China Center

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment with your thoughts on the growth of rugby in Asia and the future of Hong Kong China rugby.