The Lekker Rugby Pod!

Why Salmaan Moerat? Of all the calls in the Springbok team to face Italy, it’s the one everyone is arguing about.Harry Jones runs Rassie Erasmus’s selection through his five Ps framework: pace, power, precision, poise and partnership. Pace and power have never been the question. The real test sits in the last three, where the Boks came unstuck in Perth, and Harry’s election-board breakdown shows where this side leans on proven combinations and where it still has work to do.In this episode:- The five Ps breakdown of the Springbok team to face Italy- Why Moerat got the nod ahead of Franco Mostert and the in-form locks back home- Whether the Bulls’ style is costing their players Bok selection- The case for Jacques Nienaber returning to run the Bok defenceMW and Harry also get into the brakefoot debate at scrum time and what the Nations Championship means for bonus points and points difference.

Was Leinster’s scrum-after-scrum against Munster a rehearsal for the Springboks?Owen Murphy is a South African living in Dublin. He is now Megafoon’s Irish correspondent, accredited by the IRFU and Leinster. He joins MW Welman and Harry Jones straight after his first Leinster v Munster from the Aviva press box. In that match he watched Leinster turn down other options to scrum again and again, and afterwards he put the question to Leo Cullen in his first press conference.Harry brings this season’s URC scrum numbers and remembers the look on Caelan Doris’s face after last year’s Test in Dublin. The three also dig into Ireland’s provincial rivalries, its World Cup nerves, and what the Springboks will need to bring on 21 November.In this episode:- Leinster’s scrum choices against Munster and what they could signal for Ireland- Owen’s first day in the press box and his question to Leo Cullen- How the Leinster-Munster rivalry compares with the old Currie Cup days- The Megafoon Meet and Greet in Dublin on Test day

Would you back this group to win a World Cup?Rassie Erasmus caught us off guard with a midweek Springbok squad announcement, so the Lekker Rugby Pod tore up the schedule. Harry Jones joins MW Welman for a quick-fire reaction to the squad for the November Nations Championship tests. They look at what it reveals about the Springboks’ thinking a year out from the World Cup.Harry works through the unlucky names left at home and the senior players who now have something to prove. He also looks at the young players being thrown into test rugby to accelerate their experience. Then he floats a theory about bonus points, points difference and the All Blacks that could explain why this squad is so loaded with pace and playmakers.In this episode:- Who misses out, and who is on notice- The work-ons for Moerat, Mostert and Fassi- The bolters, and why only test rugby can test them- The engine room question ahead of Ireland and France

How can a win feel worse than a loss?The Bulls watched Ulster claw their way back on a scorching afternoon at Loftus. The Stormers put a big score on the Scarlets and still walked off with more questions than answers. Both results went down as wins on the log, and neither felt like one.MW Welman and Harry Jones look at what those two performances say about the Bulls and Stormers when the opposition stops being mid-table and starts being Leinster, Glasgow or Munster. MW reports from the Loftus press room, where his questions got Johan Ackermann talking more freely than usual. Harry brings the numbers, including strength of schedule and the latest Harry Index.In this episode:- Johan Ackermann opens up at the Loftus press conference- How tough have the Bulls’ and Stormers’ opponents really been?- Turnovers, missed tackles and the case for the Bulls kicking more- The Stormers’ hooker crisis, plus the good, the bad and the ugly for both teamsIs either team ready to go to Dublin and do what Northampton once did?

Why have the Bulls and Stormers suddenly decided Europe is worth chasing with everything they’ve got?Harry Jones is heading to Bordeaux to embed with the Stormers for their Champions Cup clash. He and MW unpack what has shifted this season, what a deep European run could be worth to South African rugby, and where the Sharks fit into the picture. Then the conversation widens.In this episode:- Why the Bulls and Stormers are targeting the Champions Cup this season- How the Harry Index actually works, and why the Hurricanes are on itJohan Ackermann’s long bet on a faster Bulls side- The URC scoring explosion, and why Harry says long live the maul tryPlus, details on the free Megafoon meet and greet in Ballsbridge on 21 November, before the Springboks take on Ireland in Dublin.

Have the All Blacks really bounced back, or did they just meet the right opponent at the right time?The All Blacks got their first chance to respond at Eden Park, with a big Bledisloe win over the Wallabies. On this episode of The Lekker Rugby Pod, Martin Devlin of the Devlin Sports Podcast Network (DSPN) joins Harry Jones and MW Welman to sort out what was fixed from what the Springboks exposed, and to look ahead to Sydney.

Can you explain how the Bulls and the Stormers play in two minutes or less?This quickfire special edition of the Lekker Rugby Pod opens with Jake White’s new job at Fiji, then keeps going. MW Welman plays the complete ignoramus, Harry Jones does the explaining, and neither of them stays on topic for long.In this episode:- Jake White at Fiji and Sean Edwards at the Pumas- The Bulls and Stormers game plans, and which is harder to plan for- The maul law, Marnus van der Merwe’s trapdoor call and Harry’s 33- The brake foot law, and Harry’s view of itWe are also hosting a free Megafoon Meet and Greet in Dublin on Saturday 21 November, from 11:00 to 13:00 at The Schoolhouse in Donnybrook, before Springboks v Ireland. Gráinne Seoige and Leon, Harry Jones and Paul Avenant will be there, with other guests still to be announced. Everyone is welcome.

Why did the Bulls and Stormers both come up short, and how does a team work out what really went wrong?Harry Jones joins MW Welman on the Lekker Rugby Pod to analyse their losses properly, using the Bulls' defeat to Munster and the Stormers' defeat to Edinburgh as the working examples. Harry brings the numbers, and they ask whether a loss comes down to one fixable problem or to something bigger in how a team plays. The conversation also turns to the Springboks, where the tries conceded this season raise questions of their own.In this episode:- How a team diagnoses a loss, and what gets looked at first- The Bulls, the Stormers and the role of game drivers- Lineouts, kick retention and the numbers behind the results- Springbok defence concerns and the latest on Harry's 33

Was Perth a proper Test match, or a fixture the Springboks simply had to get through?Harry Jones watched the Wallabies win at 2:45am, under the covers in Northern California, and came away with two theories. Either Rassie Erasmus used 13 changes to run a deliberate stress test, or 17 weeks on the road finally caught up with a tired squad. MW Welman isn't convinced the experiment was worth running at all.They weigh up what the coaches learned about Aphelele Fassi, Andre Esterhuizen's captaincy and a defence that has conceded more tries every year since 2023, and ask whether Jerry Flannery's system is working.Then it's over to the URC: why the Stormers built a high-carry game for 4G pitches, what Johan Ackermann wants from the Bulls, and the Kwagga Smith rumours.In this episode:- Perth: stress test or obligation?- The Springbok defence and the numbers behind it- Harry's 33-man World Cup squad- The Stormers on 4G and the Bulls' fast start

Brett McKay is back on the Lekker Rugby Pod, and the old 8-9 Combo chemistry with Harry is still there. With the Wallabies out of sight and out of mind for most Bok fans, Brett brings us up to speed on who's actually in this squad, the breakout names, the shifting combinations, and what Les Kiss has built since taking over. Separately, Rassie has named a heavily rotated Springbok side for Perth, and we dig into the selection logic behind who's in and who's rested. We also revisit the last time these two sides met, when South Africa underestimated the Wallabies and paid for it, and ask whether that lesson has actually been learned this time around.

How do you actually beat the Springboks?Times rugby correspondent Charlie Morgan joins MW Welman and Harry Jones on the Lekker Rugby Pod to break down the Springboks' 3-1 series win over the All Blacks, and the question every rival coach is now asking. Charlie walks through the margins that decided each Test, the shape of André Esterhuizen's hybrid role, and why New Zealand's plan to target Grant Williams at scrumhalf nearly worked.In this episode:- Charlie's headline predictions from the start of the series, and how close they came to being wrong- Why the fourth Test in Baltimore was the most convincing Springbok performance of the series- The hybrid role Andre Esterhuizen is building, and what it does to a defensive coach's plans- Charlie's combined Greatest Rivalry XV, and where he had to leave All Blacks outIf you enjoy the show, the best thing you can do is LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the BELL so you never miss an episode.On this episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones sit down with Charlie Morgan of the Times.ABOUT MEGAFOON RUGBYGlobal rugby, rooted in South Africa. Megafoon Rugby covers the game from the Springboks to Super Rugby, the URC to the Northern Hemisphere, with knowledge, honesty, and no filler. We're a channel the rugby community trusts.Our shows include The Lekker Rugby Pod, The Loose Pass Rugby Podcast, Out the Boks, Rugby Rundown, The Long Way to the Game, Raw Reactions, A Closer Look, On the Inside, and Press Conferences.Members get the Sunday Briefing every week. Sign up at www.megafoonrugby.com.Follow Megafoon Rugby:Website: www.megafoonrugby.comWhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7VmEM1noz5uMxTvo2bInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/megafoonrugbyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/markuswelmanTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@megafoonrugbyX: https://x.com/LekkerRugbyPodBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lekkerrugbypod.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/@megafoonrugby"It's the Only Question": Charlie Morgan on How You Actually Beat the Boks | Lekker Rugby Pod0:00 Analyzing the Springboks' Dominance1:29 Fine Margins and Momentum Swings7:26 How Do You Beat the Springboks?10:16 Depth Disparities and Squad Rotation16:21 Layering Attacking Threats34:14 The Role of the Hybrid Player

How many of this Springbok squad will still be standing come the next World Cup?Jon Cardinelli joins MW and Harry to unpack the age profile question hanging over Rassie Erasmus's squad, the piece that's had rugby fans arguing all week. Half of the group that lifted the trophy last time round will be over 35 by the next tournament. So where does the balance sit between keeping the winners in the fold and getting the next generation ready in time?In this episode:- Why Cobus Reinach and Deon Fourie keep defying the usual ageing curve- The positions where depth is thin and the ones where it isn't- Cameron Hanekom, Ethan Hooker and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's cases to be trusted sooner- What Rassie's alignment camps really tell you about who's still in the picture

Not every ending gets a camera in the room. This one had Harry Jones.Harry was standing in the bowels of Baltimore's stadium when Dave Rennie turned to Rassie Erasmus and conceded the series, then got a few private minutes with Rassie himself afterwards. He brings that moment back first-hand, along with the scenes across the diaspora in Baltimore, Rassie's own account of how close the fourth test actually stayed, and a hard look at a double standard nobody in rugby seems willing to name.In this episode:- Harry's eyewitness account of the Rennie-Rassie handshake backstage in Baltimore- The diaspora atmosphere across the city, from the tailgates to the press box- Rassie Erasmus, one-on-one, on how close the fourth test actually stayed- Neil Barnes' repeated complaints about officiating, and what has happened to other coaches for less

Three Tests into Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, and the neutral voice in the room isn't feeling very neutral anymore.Gráinne Seoige is back, and by now she's not claiming any distance from this rivalry. What she brings instead is a perspective that's genuinely her own, close enough to feel it, far enough outside to see it differently from either side. She joins MW Welman and Harry Jones to look back on a series that's had the whole rugby world talking, a scrum row that turned into the most talked-about moment of the tour, and a casual throw that had two nations arguing about sportsmanship.In this episode:- Why the Dan Human scrum row became the moment nobody saw coming- Ox Nché's own explanation for the catch that had everyone talking- Cobus Reinach, Cam Roigard, and the throw that split opinion- What three Tests have actually proven, with Baltimore now on the horizon

Does the fourth Test in Baltimore actually count, or has this series already been decided?Harry Jones and Arrie Hougaard join MW Welman for a rapid-fire yes-or-no gauntlet on Test Three of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Tour, before the conversation opens up into everything the numbers alone can't explain.Cam Roigard's Oscar-worthy tumble gets picked apart frame by frame, alongside Malcolm Marx's total control of the set piece and the gesture that had everyone talking.In this episode:- Harry and Arrie face a yes-or-no gauntlet on the biggest calls from Test Three- Cam Roigard's dive, the hip-toss behind it, and whether the referee got the call right- Malcolm Marx's dominance and the case for him being the best player in the world right now- Manie Libbok's form and whether he's the Springboks' first-choice ten heading into BaltimoreIf you enjoy the show, the best thing you can do is LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the BELL so you never miss an episode.On this episode of The Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman is joined by Harry Jones and Arrie Hougaard.

What does it actually take to move the needle in the greatest rivalry in world rugby?Legendary Kiwi commentator Tony Johnson joins Harry Jones and MW Welman on the Lekker Rugby Pod to break down Test Three of the Greatest Rivalry series, with the Springboks and All Blacks locked at one apiece heading into the decider at FNB Stadium.In this episode:• Tony explains why he believes the needle has swung since the second Test• Dave Rennie's changes for the decider, and what they reveal about his thinking• The players from both sides quietly building their reputations on this tour• Why Tony rates this as one of the greatest rivalries in all of sport, not just rugby

Is the Springbok defence actually cracking late in matches, or are the All Blacks just playing that cleverly?Harry Jones and MW Welman are joined by the technical, patient and uncompromising André Pretorius, the World Cup winning Springbok flyhalf now coaching in Japan, for a complete breakdown of both sides of the ball. They dig into where the Springbok defensive system holds up, where it breaks down, and how patient and clever the All Blacks have been in picking it apart, phase after phase.In this episode:- Why the Springbok defence fades in the closing stages of both Tests- How the All Blacks use an extra set of hands to isolate Jesse Kriel- Why Cam Roigaard is one of the hardest scrumhalves in world rugby to read- What André wants to see change before the series decider

What would it take for the All Blacks to finally become the complete package?Martin Devlin joins MW and Harry from Cape Town, days after South Africa levelled the series in a brutal second test, and just before the decider in Johannesburg. Devlin is honest about where this All Blacks side actually stands, what went wrong in that first half, and what still separates a talented team from a complete one.In this episode:- Devlin's honest breakdown of the Cape Town loss and where the All Blacks got caught cold- Why he believes defending a lead is the mark of a champion team, and what that says about the Boks- The two things Devlin says the All Blacks must marry to become the complete package- What the age and freshness of both squads could mean heading into the World CupThis series has lived up to every bit of its billing, and neither side is done making its case for who's really number one in the world.If you enjoy the show, the best thing you can do is LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the BELL so you never miss an episode.

Did Dave Rennie's press conference lobbying just rewrite how World Rugby referees the scrum?Harry Jones and MW Welman spend this episode inside the scrum, walking through Law 19.10 line by line, explaining what a "brake foot" actually is, and laying out why they think referee Angus Gardner's approach in Test 2 shifted after Rennie went public with his "walk around" theory following the first Test loss. It's a technical, personal and occasionally profane breakdown of the argument now shaping the whole series.They also get into the viral low-flying plane scare over Cape Town, Bill Beaumont's old "shape of the game" comments, and where South Africa's front row dominance is actually coming from.In this episode:• Breaking down Law 19.10 and what a "brake foot" really means• Why MW thinks Test 2's refereeing changed after Rennie's comments• The viral Cape Town plane flyby everyone's talking about• Cobus Reinach's backline comms and the Boks' opening triesOn this episode of The Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones break down the scrum battle defining the Springboks-All Blacks series.If you enjoy the show, the best thing you can do is LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the BELL so you never miss an episode.

What does it take to make Rassie Erasmus call a "very interesting podcaster"? Martin Devlin found out this week in a Johannesburg press conference, and he joins MW and Harry fresh off his first trip to South Africa.Devlin was on the ground for the win at Ellis Park, an address to a packed Inanda Club, and a climb up Table Mountain that has the crew joking he's jinxed the series. He explains why he isn't buying that the All Blacks are safe after one win, breaks down both coaches' selection calls for Cape Town, and revisits the sliding doors moments, a reversed scrum, a yellow card that wasn't, that swung the first Test.In this episode:- Devlin's press conference moment with Rassie Erasmus- Selection changes for both the All Blacks and Springboks in Cape Town- The scrum drama and sliding doors moments that decided the first Test- Devlin's first days in South Africa, from Ellis Park to the Cape safari