RugbyBits

ooks, Shaun and Thala preview the Rugby Championship Round 3 matches, focusing on South Africa attempting to break the Eden Park curse against New Zealand.

We have more questions than answers about the Springbok team selected as we debate on why a 5-3 bench was selected, what Willie le Roux brings to the team, how unlucky Jean-Luc du Preez is and whether the Boks will go back to their more traditional game plan.

On the All Blacks side we discuss whether this is a must-win for the All Blacks, how they fix their high ball issues, what Simon Parker and Emoni Narawa add to the side and the impact of Ardie Savea on his 100th test cap.

We then also preview the Australia v Argentina game, look forward to the final week of the Currie Cup, a Ranfurly Shield clash, SA Rugby becoming shareholders in the URC and how is the Top 14 already starting?

We discuss the significance of this victory and the road the Springbok women have taken over the last few years, the influence of Swys de Bruin on the team's attack, the Player of the Match performance from Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Nadine Roos' versatile role, the powerful carrying from Aseza Hele and Chumisa Qawe and the leadership of Babalwa Latsha. While the Boks had some issues closing the game out and letting in some soft tries, we dream a little about our chances against France and whether we could compete against either New Zealand or Ireland in the quarterfinals.

We also look back on some cracking fixtures over the 2nd round of the Rugby World Cup, including the USA drawing to Australia after a double from 18 year old Wallaroo Caitlyn Halse, Fiji giving Scotland a scare and Evie Gallagher's monster 35-tackle performance, and celebrating Samoa and Brazil scoring their first points of the Rugby World Cup, with Bianca Silva scoring Brazil's try in style.

We then switch over to the Rugby Championship where the All Blacks have an injury crisis, the Boks have recalled Faf de Klerk to bring most of the 2019 band back together and why Kooks calls the early kickoff times for Australia and New Zealand "utter woke nonsense".

Kooks, Shaun and Thala break down Week 2 of the Rugby Championship and the first weekend of the women’s Rugby World Cup.

We go long on the Springbok men’s 30-22 victory over Australia, a win that left us with more questions than answers. While Handré Pollard brought his trustworthy kicking and Cheslin Kolbe was excellent in the air - the boys debate what should the team’s approach be going forward, why does this team remind Kooks of the 2017 All Blacks and who should play against the All Blacks in Eden Park next week. Looking at the Wallabies, Shaun thinks they’re in the perfect place to build a strong team from here after another impressive performance in South Africa, we discuss Will Skelton’s shithousery and excellence from Rob Valetini and Corey Toole.

We then move to Buenos Aires where Argentina defeated New Zealand in Argentina for the first time. Pablo Matera and Santi Chocobares especially impressed as Argentina dominated the game and probably should’ve scored more points. Kooks and Thala wonder what’s happened to the All Black backline factory and wonder about some of the problems Razor Robertson needs to solve before the Boks come to town.

Finally we review the opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup where the Springbok Women beat Brazil 66-6 for their first World Cup win since 2010. We discuss the destructive carrying of Aseza Hele and Nadine Roos’ transformation at scrumhalf and whether they have what it takes to beat Italy next week. We go crazy about Ellie Kildunne’s performance against the USA, Fran McGhie’s hat trick against Wales and review the other results from the weekend.

Kooks and Thala review week 1 of the Rugby Championship where the Wallabies got their first victory in Ellis Park in 62 years and the All Blacks staved off a Puma comeback in Cordoba.We first marvel at the Wallabies comeback from 22-0 down to score 38 unanswered points. We discuss how Joe Schmidt is improving this side, the great performances from Fraser McReight and Max Jorgensen, and how the senior citizens at halfback Nic White and James O'Connor helped to control the game.On the other side of the pitch, Kooks questions the Boks game management, which leads to a discussion about how much Manie Libbok was to blame and Thala looks at whether the Boks should continue with the Tony Brown-inspired attacking game plan at the cost of some of the Bok traditional strengths. With injuries to Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit, we discuss the importance of this weekend's test match as well.We then look at the Argentina v New Zealand game and discuss yet another fantastic performance from the All Blacks pack and Kooks discusses the importance of James Ryan as a coach for the team. Tupou Va'ai and Fabian Holland are impressing Thala. We wonder what is Argentina's issue with playing at home and why they are not able to play consistently.We finish off by quickly previewing the first weekend's matches in the Rugby World Cup and why South Africa has a must-win match against Brazil and Kooks gives us a Currie Cup update and why the Sharks and Western Province are at the bottom of the log.

Kooks, Shaun and Thala look back on the weekend’s rugby, including the British and Irish Lions winning the series against Australia at the MCG.

We debate the controversial no-call for the Jac Morgan and Carlo Tizzano incident and the reaction from Australia. We discuss how the Lions came back from 18 points down, the improvements in the Wallabies attack thanks to Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, but the issues the Wallabies had defensively. Kooks also had a warning for the Wallabies for their upcoming tour to South Africa.

For the Lions we look at how they came back from 18 points down, the influential role that Finn Russell had, whether Maro Itoje may be the Lions GOAT and the celebrations they had.

We then analysed the Springbok squad selected for the Rugby Championship and how they approach the Wallabies games. We debate whether this is Jean-Luc du Preez’s big chance, the opportunity for some of the rookies and the battle for the number five jersey between Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert and Ruan Nortje.

We finally look at the Women’s Bok loss to the New Zealand developmental team and the encouraging signs showed by Aseza Hele and Chyna Qawe and Boland keeping the ball for 8 minutes to win their Currie Cup match against the Cheetahs.

Shaun and Thala review the weekend's test matches, which include South Africa putting 50 on Georgia and ending their July matches unbeaten.

We first start with the British and Irish Lions victory over Australia in the first test. We debate whether the Wallabies were undercooked and what changes they need to make to save the series and rave about the performances of Tom Curry and Finn Russell for the Lions.

Then we take a review of teh Boks July tests and discuss which players haveraised their stocks, how much depth the team has and how will Rassie manage the transition from the experienced players to the younger players. We discuss the great form Grant Williams is in and whether we are concerned about Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

We move to the New Zealand completing the series sweep on France which leaves us with more questions than answers - some players stood up like Fabian Holland, but are the All Blacks improving under Scott Robertson? We discuss which players stood out for France and the future Theo Attisogbe has in the national team.

Finally we congratulate Zimbabwe for qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with a lot of help from the Cape Town club rugby scene and we look forward to the Women's Boks facing the Black Ferns this weekend.

Sharky, Kooks and Thala (briefly) with one of the best episodes yet as Kooks firmly moves away from Welsh and Italian hate and dumps his rant squarely on anything related to the Los Pumas.We start the show by looking at the many talking points from the South African win as the Springboks and the load South African Italian cook. We talk about Jasper Wiese, Rassie Erasmus, Canan Moodie and the forward and back Andre Esterhuizen.We ask some questions around the midfield and talk at length about Manie Libbok finishing off with a Willie le Roux tribute.This is followed up by looking at the All Blacks, the British & Irish Lions, Ireland, England and our BabyBoks#RugbyUnion #SpringbokRugby #SiyaKolisi #JasperWiese #GrantWilliams #WillieleRoux #ManieLibbok #MakazoleMapimpi #EdwillvdMerwe #RassieErasmus

Sharky, Kooks and Thala (briefly) with one of the best episodes yet as Kooks firmly moves away from Welsh and Italian hate and dumps his rant squarely on anything related to the Los Pumas.

We start the show by looking at the many talking points from the South African win as the Springboks and the load South African Italian cook. We talk about Jasper Wiese, Rassie Erasmus, Canan Moodie and the forward and back Andre Esterhuizen.

We ask some questions around the midfield and talk at length about Manie Libbok finishing off with a Willie le Roux tribute.This is followed up by looking at the All Blacks, the British & Irish Lions, Ireland, England and our BabyBoks

#RugbyUnion #SpringbokRugby #SiyaKolisi #JasperWiese #GrantWilliams #WillieleRoux #ManieLibbok #MakazoleMapimpi #EdwillvdMerwe #RassieErasmus

Shaun and Thala preview the second weekend of the July test window. We first start with the much-changed Springboks facing Italy. We look back at Willie le Roux's career as he gets his 100th test cap, we discuss which Springboks we looking forward to seeing and how much of a chance does Italy have.

We catch up with the British and Irish Lions and the addition of Jamie Osborne into the squad. We discuss who still has a chance to break into the test team with a great performance on Saturday against the AUNZ invitational team. We debate which loose forward will be on the bench, the role Tadhg Beirne may have and what role Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell could have. We then look at the Wallabies squad for the series, which includes James O'Connor and if the Noah Lolesio injury might mean Nic White starts at 9.

We discuss how the All Blacks can manage without Scott Barrett and the addition of Emoni Narawa, whereas the French make many changes to their team but still include Leo Barre, Nicolas Depoortere and Pierre-Louis Barassi. We then discuss the titanic clash between Josua Tuisova and Tom Jordan for Fiji v Scotland, if Argentina can come back after their loss to England, the return of Sophie de Goede for Canada against the Women Boks and surely, surely Wales will win against Japan this weekend?

Shaun and Thala preview the second weekend of the July test window. We first start with the much-changed Springboks facing Italy. We look back at Willie le Roux's career as he gets his 100th test cap, we discuss which Springboks we looking forward to seeing and how much of a chance does Italy have.

We catch up with the British and Irish Lions and the addition of Jamie Osborne into the squad. We discuss who still has a chance to break into the test team with a great performance on Saturday against the AUNZ invitational team. We debate which loose forward will be on the bench, the role Tadhg Beirne may have and what role Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell could have. We then look at the Wallabies squad for the series, which includes James O'Connor and if the Noah Lolesio injury might mean Nic White starts at 9.

We discuss how the All Blacks can manage without Scott Barrett and the addition of Emoni Narawa, whereas the French make many changes to their team but still include Leo Barre, Nicolas Depoortere and Pierre-Louis Barassi. We then discuss the titanic clash between Josua Tuisova and Tom Jordan for Fiji v Scotland, if Argentina can come back after their loss to England, the return of Sophie de Goede for Canada against the Women Boks and surely, surely Wales will win against Japan this weekend?