Elite Rugby Banter

The Boks are Argentina hoping to give the Pumas a Moer(at)ing with a much-changed side, while the Currie Cup reaches its zenith with the Sharks traveling to Joburg to take on the Lions. Will Esterhuizen lead Ant's boys to their second trophy in succession? Or will Nohamba take his revenge on his old employers and sent Phil into a frenzy? Oh, also, the Bledisloe Cup is now the wooden spoon playoff for The Rugby Championship. What a time to be alive. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

It's the first Freedom Cup in 15 years, the first 4 consecutive wins over our greatest rivals since 1949, and Marx gets to 100 (points) before Willie becomes a centurion. Overall, it's a remarkable time to be a Bok. Also in this episode - in the Currie Cup, Western Province are the coriander, Lions are enjoying a birds-eye view at the top of the log, and the Sharks are the real-deal Durban masala. And where to for the woeful Wallabies after their Pumas mauling? Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

The Springboks toppled the All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg in a tense, tight affair but it's all to play for in Cape Town as both teams will come out firing. Join the gang as they discuss all things Springboks and All Blacks, as they get ready to watch the blockbuster of a match at Cape Town Stadium this weekend. Also discussed are Ant's grievances with the entire nation of New Zealand, as salty Kiwis come out of the woodwork, exciting plans for future All Blacks tours to South Africa and vice-versa, and some murmurings of the tail end of the Currie Cup. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Rassie has been ice cold with his selections this week, proving he's not a Fassi eater. Will Sacha flake on the biggest stage of his career? Will the artificially sweetened bomb squad have the desired aftertaste? Will the new lock combination melt or glisten? One thing is for sure - the action won't be vanilla as the Boks take on the All Blacks this weekend. Also, Kristen, we love your ice cream. Please can we have one on the house?

A rare four-man front row gathered to discuss the latest Bok test, as well as some Currie Cup and u18 action. Who were your winners and losers of the Bok tour Down Under? And is the All Black touring squad instilling any fear? Find out here on Elite Rugby Banter. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

The Bok team has been announced for the Brisbane Barney and the boys are frothing. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (SAFM to his mates and the pod) headlines the announcement as the starting flyhalf, with some other notable talking points ahead of the Southern Hemisphere's signature competition. Is this the Boks' chance to make a statement and perhaps be the best team between World Cups as well as during? Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

In a second-ever happenstance, our three regulars found themselves around the same table. Are Australia the form team of World Rugby? Is the smart money on Manie, or is Sacha such a talent? Is McKenzie the real MacDaddy or just macaroni? Does Ant support the NovaVit Griffons now? Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Elite Rugby Banter (the podcast, not the musical) is back with a full complement of 3 (the same number of minutes Willie managed before getting concussed, again). Ireland have won back the Raeburn Shield as well as the rights to Zombie as the emerald greens got in Rassie's head. Jannie de Beer's illegitimate red-haired lovechild quelled a boisterous shark tank, much to Ant's dismay in the stands. The game is dissected along with the other notable series decider between the All Blacks and England. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Is Dylan Richardson going on the next Lions tour? Should the Western Cape never host another Junior World Cup? Who is the best of the new coaches on the block? Can the Northern Hemisphere claim back some face this weekend? Will Ireland have any players left? And will Phil get washed away in Newlands? All these questions and more are answered as Ant and Phil tackle a busy rugby weekend. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

There’s a bone to be picked, a debt to be paid, and an injustice to be avenged… Are we talking about the Boks v Ireland series or the Team GB women in their underwear? Listen to find out. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

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.