RugbyBits

Kooks and Shaun go through the weekends action with a look at what happened to the Bomb Squad, why the Springboks were flat and how much of a concern it is.Kooks wants Siya Kolisi, Makazole Mapimpi and Aphelele Fassi back for the second test and Shaun thinks we should go 5/3 on the bench to give more of the backs a chance to get game time.We look at New Zealand and how France out muscled them, why Kooks thinks there are troubled times ahead for the hosts. We pick their 14 for this weekend and both agree that Will Jordan should play 15.We unpack the British & Irish Lions performance against the Waratahs, look at how wingers always have blockbuster games against them, why they seem to target only one jumper in the line out and discuss their test side.We touch on the Wallabies, Los Pumas and Ireland and take a look at how good our BabyBoks are looking in the u20 Championship#RugbyUnion #Lions2025 #Springboks #SiyaKolisi #CheslinKolbe

Kooks and Shaun go through the weekends action with a look at what happened to the Bomb Squad, why the Springboks were flat and how much of a concern it is.Kooks wants Siya Kolisi, Makazole Mapimpi and Aphelele Fassi back for the second test and Shaun thinks we should go 5/3 on the bench to give more of the backs a chance to get game time.We look at New Zealand and how France out muscled them, why Kooks thinks there are troubled times ahead for the hosts. We pick their 14 for this weekend and both agree that Will Jordan should play 15.We unpack the British & Irish Lions performance against the Waratahs, look at how wingers always have blockbuster games against them, why they seem to target only one jumper in the line out and discuss their test side.We touch on the Wallabies, Los Pumas and Ireland and take a look at how good our BabyBoks are looking in the u20 Championship#RugbyUnion #Lions2025 #Springboks #SiyaKolisi #CheslinKolbe

Shaun, Kooks and Thala preview the weekend’s test rugby, but first discuss the breaking news of Owen Farrell replacing Elliott Daly in the British and Irish Lions team.

The boys disagree on whether this is the right call and what Farrell could bring to the Lions squad, whether he plays in the tests and how annoying Farrell and Sexton barking at you would be. We also discuss where the Lions are after their big victory over the Reds.

We then look at the Springbok team selected for the Italy test, which looks a lot like a first choice team. We discuss why this is a big test for Damian Willemse, Morné van der Berg and Vincent Tshituka to impress and the return of the 6-2 bench.

We spend some time discussing the All Blacks side chosen for the first test against France. We debate whether the Rieko Ioane at 13 experiment is over, the inexperienced bench the All Blacks have chosen and what the French would need to do to complete the upset.

We finally round up and do quick previews over the other test matches this weekend, including looking at El Crapico between Japan and Wales, how Argentina v England might be the underrated game of the weekend and what we could see from Joe Schmidt when the Wallabies face Fiji on Sunday.

Kooks, Shaun and Thala look back through the weekend’s rugby, including South Africa destroying the Barbarians 54-7 in Cape Town.

We start with what Rassie and the Springboks learned from their victory over the Barbarians. We revel in the performances of Lood de Jager, Cheslin Kolbe and Vincent Tshituka and Kooks talks about his new favourite player, Josh Jacomb.

We then discuss the British and Irish Lions putting 50 on the Western Force. We debate which players promoted their claims, including Joe McCarthy, Finn Russell and Elliott Daly and how Dylan Pietsch and Tom Robertson put up their hands in front of Joe Schmidt.

Then we discuss an insane Top 14 final, Toulouse beating Bordeaux in extra time. We think that Jack Willis should immediately join the British and Irish Lions, how Maxime Lucu has ice in his veins and another fantastic performance from Thomas Ramos.

We finish up by quickly discussing the SA U20’s big victory over Australia in the U20 World Championship, how the All Blacks will be affected losing Tamaiti Williams and injuries to Tomos Williams and Jean Kleyn respectively.

Kooks, Shaun and Thala preview the first Springbok match of the year against the Barbarians.

We talk about the four debutants and the props getting extra training in Daan Human’s farm. We discuss which players are primed to take their opportunities to step into the first team. We also look at an exciting BaaBaas team, whether Peter O’Mahony and Sam Cane have buried the hatchet and how will the Cape Town rain affect the match.

We also look at the British and Irish Lions loss versus Argentina and whose stocks have risen and fallen in the squad. We discuss what the Pumas need to do to back up their victory against the Lions.

Thala then shares how his trip to watch the Top 14 semifinals went and we preview the final between Toulouse and Bordeaux. We also discuss whether New Zealand should have concerns about their upcoming series against France.

Kooks, Shaun and Thala look back on the URC and Premiership finals weekend where Leinster and Bath became league champions.

We debate why the Bulls didn’t pitch up at Croke Park, how Leinster outplayed them, Jacques Nienaber’s brilliant defence and why the Clontarf Bulls are our new favourite Bulls story.

Kooks then tells us about his trip to London, which included going to Twickenham for the Premiership final. He talks about battling to go from Lord’s to Twickenham, seeing Finn Russell live and that rock and roll rendition of God Save the King. We debate the Dan Cole yellow card and Ben Youngs’ decision to kick the ball at the end of the game.

We then quickly wrap up the changes to the Springbok squad, including dropping the Hendrikse brothers, the French Top 14 barrage and Kooks has a rant about Super Rugby again/

Kooks, Shaun and Thala look back on the URC and Premiership finals weekend where Leinster and Bath became league champions.

We debate why the Bulls didn’t pitch up at Croke Park, how Leinster outplayed them, Jacques Nienaber’s brilliant defence and why the Clontarf Bulls are our new favourite Bulls story.

Kooks then tells us about his trip to London, which included going to Twickenham for the Premiership final. He talks about battling to go from Lord’s to Twickenham, seeing Finn Russell live and that rock and roll rendition of God Save the King. We debate the Dan Cole yellow card and Ben Youngs’ decision to kick the ball at the end of the game.

We then quickly wrap up the changes to the Springbok squad, including dropping the Hendrikse brothers, the French Top 14 barrage and Kooks has a rant about Super Rugby again/

Shaun and Thala break down the weekend's rugby, including the URC semi finals.

We start with the Bulls beating the Sharks at Loftus where Sebastian de Klerk and Cobus Wiese starred for the Bulls and the Sharks will rue not converting enough chances to win. We look at how the Bulls scrum and defence set the platform to win and try (again) to solve how the Sharks can finally reach their superstar potential.

Then we talk through Leinster thrashing Glasgow in the other semi final as Leinster finally found their form. We also look at what advantages the Bulls have for the final and where they can put pressure on Glasgow.

With Shaun leaving the pod early, Thala then looks through all the other weekend's rugby, including the insanity of the Super Rugby knockout format and the Blues winning at the death against the Chiefs, the Premiership semi-finals setting up a Bath v Leicester final, Montauban winning the Pro D2 and winning promotion to the Top 14 and the crazy final weekend of Top 14 action.

Shaun and Thala have a reaction podcast to the first Springbok squad of the year, which includes 54 players and 9 uncapped players.

We go through and discuss the uncapped players and try to get into Rassie Erasmus’ head as to why they were included. We discuss the biggest snubs, which include Ruan Venter and David Kriel and we even make up a 23 of the least capped players.

Come listen to find what Springbok fans can look forward to in the next few weeks.

Shaun and Thala look back at the weekend’s rugby, including the URC quarterfinals.

We start with the drama at Kings Park with the Sharks beating Munster via shootout. We debate Jaden Hendrikse’s wink to Jack Crowley, how Mike Adamson could’ve managed things better and why maybe the Sharks are the side of destiny.

We then move to the Bulls comeback win over Edinburgh, with Willie le Roux running the show, but concerns about the Bulls goal kicking. The Stormers get knocked out by Glasgow who look back to their best with Sione Tuipulotu and we ponder where the Stormers go from here. Finally we discuss if Leinster’s vibes are down, despite them beating Scarlets in their QF.

We then whip around the rugby world to look at Super Rugby and their crazy knockout format, the Premiership semi finals and Pat Lam trying to put pressure on Bath, the goings on in the Top 14 and Pro D2, and news that France can select at least some of their best players for their tour to New Zealand in July.