The Lekker Rugby Pod!

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

Why did the Springboks lose to the All Blacks despite spending more time in the red zone?Harry Jones did the homework MW didn't want to do. He rewatched the whole test and logged every single attack set, not entries, not territory, the actual moments where the Boks had clean ball to work with. What he found explains the scoreline better than any possession stat does. In this episode:- Why red zone entries are the wrong number to judge a team's performance by- Every attack set from the test broken down individually, system error or player error- The scrum gamble on the five meter line that could have ended the match either way- What the All Blacks had in the tight moments that the Boks didn'tHarry and MW go through it minute by minute, name the errors, and work out what's actually fixable before the next test.

Mark Morgan from Two Cents Rugby joins Harry Jones and MW Welman for a first test post-mortem that gets uncomfortable fast. The Springboks won the scrum, the possession count and the territory battle, then lost five tries to one. Mark explains what Dave Rennie changed under the radar, and why it caught even the All Blacks supporters off guard.There's plenty to get through: the CPR numbers that halved from the warm-up games, an under-the-weather Ethan de Groot stuck in the front row, and the captaincy question nobody in South Africa wants to ask out loud.In this episode:- The Rennie Effect: how the All Blacks' gameplan shifted between the warm-ups and kickoff- Why the Boks' dominant stats never showed up on the scoreboard- The scrum penalty that swung the momentum, and the case for taking the three- Whether Pieter-Steph du Toit is the right captain with Siya Kolisi unavailable

How do you actually beat a defence built to protect its own weaknesses? André Pretorius joins Harry Jones on the Lekker Rugby Pod to break down exactly what it would take for the All Blacks to crack the Springbok defensive system at Ellis Park, and why he believes anything less than four tries won't be enough.André, a World Cup-winning Springbok fly-half now coaching in Japan, walks through Dave Rennie's tempo experiment, the numbers behind it, and where the real cracks in the Bok box defence might actually be.In this episode:- How the Boks defend the edge - Dave Rennie's carry-pass-ruck numbers and whether that tempo is sustainable- How to hide (and find) a targeted defender like Wilco Louw- Why André thinks the All Blacks need at least four tries to win

How do Springbok fans really feel about the All Blacks?Harry Jones and Riaan Louw sit down for a full accounting of how South Africans actually see the All Blacks: the black jersey, the 2015 All Blacks team many still call the greatest in history, the scrum, the tours, and the fans on both sides. Two mates giving the South African view of their oldest rival, with the confidence of a team that's used to winning.Real respect, real swagger. These are two teams used to winning, and neither one plays like an underdog.In this episode:- The uniform they cannot stop admiring and attacking- Why the 2015 All Blacks changed the way rugby is played- The scrum debate, the red card rules, and whether these tours happen too often- What they think New Zealand actually loves and hates about the SpringboksAll Blacks fans, settle in. You'll enjoy this as much as we did.If 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, Harry Jones and Riaan Louw work through what they love and hate about the All Blacks.

Martin Devlin says the All Blacks win this series. MW and Harry don't agree. Who's right?Episode 201 is a two-part debate. First, Martin Devlin of DSPN joins Harry and MW to make his full case for why the All Blacks can win this series, the Rennie effect, the return of Rieko Ioane, and why he trusts Ruben Love at Ellis Park. Then MW and Harry take over alone to make the opposite case, working through the numbers that Devlin's optimism has to survive.In this episode:- Martin Devlin explains the Rennie effect and why this All Blacks side finally looks settled- Why Ruben Love and the bench call could decide the first test- Harry breaks down the CPR and contestable-kick numbers behind the Springboks' case- The revenge narrative both sides are chasing after WellingtonOn this episode of The Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones sit down with Martin Devlin ahead of the first test between the Springboks and All Blacks at Ellis Park.

What happens when three Megafoon shows drop their usual format and pick one Springbok team together?In this special crossover episode, MW Welman is joined by Harry Jones, Jan de Koning and Arrie Hougaard to build their mythical Test 1 23 to face the All Blacks, working from the bench forward the same way Rassie does.In this episode:- The bench call that shapes everything: 5-3, 6-2, or the Andre Esterhuizen hybrid- Pollard vs Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the one debate the panel could not agree on- Why the Springbok locks have MW more worried than any other position group- Is Ox Nché fit for Test One, and who starts the front row if he is notThree shows, four voices, one Springbok 23. Nobody agrees on everything, but by the end, the team is picked and the reasoning is on the table.

Are the All Blacks judging themselves against a competition that doesn't reflect the real gap to the rest of the world?MW Welman and Harry Jones sit down with New Zealand rugby broadcaster Martin Devlin for a wide-ranging chat on the Greatest Rivalry Tour so far, and one question cuts deeper than the rest: is Super Rugby giving New Zealand players an inflated sense of where they actually stand?Devlin doesn't dodge it. The conversation moves through the All Blacks' tactical ceiling, the scrum battle brewing before the Test series, and a tiebreaker proposal that has him fuming.In this episode:- Whether Super Rugby is a fair yardstick for Test rugby readiness- Can the All Blacks win playing any way other than razzle-dazzle- The scrum interpretation gap catching New Zealand off guard- Devlin's verdict on a possible series tiebreaker

The two coaches went into the opening weekend of the Greatest Rivalry Tour with completely different problems, and neither one let you see what he was actually thinking.Harry Jones and MW Welman discuss both games from the first weekend of the Tour: the Stormers taking a youthful, undermanned side within touching distance of the All Blacks in Cape Town, and a rotated Springbok team grinding out a 17-10 win in Buenos Aires against an Argentina side that came in white hot. Two very different tests. Two coaches who gave almost nothing away.

Is Dave Rennie's high-carry game plan just an excuse to bash into the Springboks more?

That's Harry Jones' theory on the Lekker Rugby Pod: the All Blacks' CPR numbers under Rennie are off the charts versus his own history, and it's not really about running rugby. It's a delivery system for punishment, with a score to settle after last year's record loss in Wellington.

In this episode:

• Why Rennie's CPR spike looks like a vehicle for violence, not a style
• What that record Wellington defeat still means for this All Blacks squad
• Home ground advantage, tested honestly from both sides of the rivalry
• Why captain Ardie Savea staying home in New Zealand has split opinion

Harry and MW discuss the revenge angle with Martin, the depth gap between the two squads, and whether the All Blacks can actually back it up this time.

You can read Martin's article referred in this episode at https://www.rova.nz/articles/martin-devlin-the-springboks-are-favourites-and-theyve-earned-it?fbclid=IwdGRzaATfD4BjbGNrBN8PenBkb2YFZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEe17Pk4sD7PfkRkiP37NKiZXrgjAxypeiuBXQAgeHtxaUkh1K4gPiu_EyQAfc_aem_PIib9J5E__yBKSbE_cfCUQ&sfnsn=scwspwa

If 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 rugby journalist Martin Devlin to preview the Greatest Rivalry Tour between the Springboks and the All Blacks.

If South Africa isn't going to out-carry the All Blacks, what exactly is the plan?Harry Jones and MW Welman turn from New Zealand's carrying numbers straight to the Springboks' answer: a deliberate, aggressive, relentless kicking framework built by Tony Brown around contestable ball. We explain why last year's kicking meltdown against Australia wasn't actually Tony Brown's system, and what the real version looks like when it's executed properly.We also unveil the name we are giving this Springbok kicking system, with a cheeky nod to a very different kind of takeaway, and walk through the law change nobody talks about that's quietly reshaped the modern kicking game in South Africa's favour.In this episode:- Tony Brown's philosophy on turning every kick into a genuine weapon- Why the Boks' kicking collapse against Australia gets misunderstood- The law change that's rewarded South Africa more than anyone else- The name Harry and MW are giving South Africa's kicking system

Is Dave Rennie about to gamble the All Blacks' entire identity on one number?Harry Jones built a blunt, simple, unavoidable stat called CPR: carries, passes and rucks combined, to track how hard a team commits to running rugby. Under Rennie, New Zealand's CPR has shot past anything the All Blacks have recorded, and it isn't a fluke or a cherry-picked result.We answer our harshest critics on the methodology, and ask the harder question: what four brutal tests against the world's most physical pack actually costs a team built to carry, pass and ruck at this rate.In this episode:- Why New Zealand's CPR under Dave Rennie has never been higher- Harry and MW answer their critics' methodology line by line- What four tests against the Springboks costs a high-carry side- Why Rennie may be betting his contract on this gamble

Is Dave Rennie asking too much of his All Blacks before a ball's even been kicked in South Africa?
Harry Jones and MW Welman dig into Harry's own CPR index, combined carries, passes and rucks, and what it's showing about Rennie's opening rounds. New Zealand's CPR under Rennie is the highest on record for an All Blacks side, well past Steve Hansen's peak teams and Scott Robertson's numbers under Razor. Harry thinks that pace was built for opponents who aren't the Springboks.
Harry walks through the historical CPR data, from the 2015 semi-final to Twickenham 2019 to last year's World Cup final, and explains why more carries, passes and rucks doesn't automatically mean a better system. MW pushes back with the case for Rennie's game plan.
In this episode:
- What CPR actually measures, and why coaches and analysts have started using it
- Why Rennie's 581 CPR is unprecedented for an All Blacks side
- How much the series hinges on Cam Roigard staying fit
- Why Ardie Savea and the pack face a different kind of physical test in South Africa

How brutal will the Greatest Rivalry Tour with the Springboks and All Blacks series really get?Martin Devlin joins MW Welman and Harry Jones to break down New Zealand's Nations Championship form ahead of the All Blacks' first tour of South Africa in 30 years. This isn't just a form debrief. It's the opening bell for Ellis Park. Devlin explains where Dave Rennie's side has progressed, what still worries him about untested combinations, and why this rivalry now outweighs the British and Irish Lions series. Harry pushes back with his own concerns about Rassie Erasmus's rotation gamble and whether the Springboks have had their strongest team on the field together at all.In this episode:- Devlin's verdict on what kind of team the All Blacks have become- Whether Rassie's rotation policy leaves the Boks undercooked for the first test- The scrum battle, and why it opens the real fight- The new All Blacks combinations Devlin is watching closest before Ellis ParkIf you enjoy the show, the best thing you can do is LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the BELL so you never miss an episode.

What if the gap between the All Blacks, the Springboks and the rest of world rugby is bigger than anyone realised?Harry Jones has built something new for the pod: CPR, a specific, simple, brutal statistic that tracks how much each team carries, passes and rucks the ball in attack. Run it across the Nations Championship so far and the picture is stark. New Zealand and South Africa sit at opposite ends of the scale, but both are miles ahead of everyone chasing them.In this episode:- Harry unveils the CPR index and walks through how it's calculated- Why the All Blacks build almost double the rucks of the Springboks- How the All Blacks and Springboks each embody a completely different way to attack- What the numbers mean for selection and conditioning heading into 2027MW and Harry dig into what the numbers actually show, and where the theory still needs work.

Who thought up this strange competition? Did anybody even think it through?Harry Jones sits down with rugby content creator Riaan Louw to pull apart the Nations Championship, rugby's newest and strangest, competition. Not just the idea, but the logic underneath it, a finals ladder that quietly turns southern hemisphere fans into short-term allies of the north. Which is not what they wanted!In this episode:- Why the Nations Championship's finals seeding forces fans to root against their own hemisphere rivals- What's actually working, and what isn't, in the tournament's branding, stats, and graphics- Why Ireland avoided travelling to Japan and what problems that could cause going forward- Riaan's wider verdict on rugby's branding problem, from Ellis Park to Loftus VersfeldIf you enjoy the show, the best thing you can do is LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the BELL so you never miss an episode.

Is there actually a right way to win test rugby, or is the game splitting into two irreconcilable philosophies?The Lekker Rugby Pod is back, and this one goes deep. MW and Harry break down the spectrum that's quietly reshaping test rugby, with South Africa anchoring one extreme and New Zealand the other, and every other top nation picking a side to copy.In this episode:- The kicking spectrum explained, and why South Africa's attacking kick numbers are unlike anything else in the game- Why real momentum, the kind sports science actually measures, might be disappearing from rugby- A detailed breakdown of the pillar and post system, and exactly how Scotland's line broke through it- Big moments over the slow grind: why scraps are winning more matches than scrums nowHarry and MW also get into Rassie Erasmus's thinking on legacy and succession, the shape of the back line in transition rugby, and whether Paul de Villiers's size is a limiting factor or an asset at test level.

The Bulls have now lost four URC finals in five seasons. Harry Jones was embedded on their bench at Croke Park when the latest chance slipped away.What he witnessed from three meters away tells a story the scoreboard does not. A stunned bench. A Leinster coaching staff burning calories delivering information in real time. Eight Springbok calibre players sitting in silence with no shared framework for what was unfolding in front of them. And in the aftermath, the image Jones cannot shake: Cameron Hanekom, alone under the posts, staring at all of it.This is not a post-match reaction. It is a first-hand account of what a final looks like from the inside, and what it might mean for the Bulls until they solve it.

A year out from Australia 2027, Rassie Erasmus is fast-tracking players most coaches would wait on. Riley Norton at 21. Paul de Villiers stacking man-of-the-match awards at the Stormers. A bomb squad being rebuilt from scratch. The Nations Championship squad is not a holding pattern. It is a blueprint.Jon Cardinelli, one of SA rugby's sharpest analysts, joins Harry Jones on The Lekker Rugby Pod to decode what this next wave of Springboks tells us about 2027.In this episode:Why Riley Norton and Paul de Villiers are being fast-tracked ahead of the All Blacks seriesThe evolution of the bomb squad and why the second hooker might not be a hookerThe prop selections that break every convention about age and experienceElrigh Louw's omission and the silence Rassie left around itRecorded before Rassie's Nations Championship press conference. Some of what Jon and Harry decoded here, Rassie confirmed later. The Elrigh question, he didn't touch.If 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 are joined by rugby journalist Jon Cardinelli.

Can the Bulls pull off the upset of the year in Dublin on Friday?With the URC Final days away, MW Welman and Harry Jones go live to break down the Leinster and Bulls team announcements and make the case for why this final might not be the foregone conclusion many expect. The Bulls' front row is the story, and Leinster know it.In this episode:Why the Bulls' pack could be Leinster's worst nightmare in DublinAndrew Porter's withdrawal and what it signals ahead of the finalThe team announcements broken down and what they revealHarry Jones heads behind the scenes with the Bulls on match day Friday

Gráinne Seoige joins the Lekker Rugby Pod to discuss the cultural clash between South Africa and Ireland, Jacques Nienaber's move to Leinster, and the "fake news" targeting Canan Moodie.Back on the Lekker Rugby Pod by popular demand, Gráinne's here to make sense of the moment that exposed just how differently South Africa and Ireland see the same sport, and the same people.In this episode:🏉 The fake news targeting Canan Moodie and his family, and why it does not belong in rugby culture🏉 Why Jacques Nienaber can walk on water in South Africa but faces a very different reality in Ireland🏉 Whether Leinster should hand him the keys to the kingdom for next season🏉 Tony Brown's move to New Zealand and what it really means for the Springboks🏉 What the Bulls vs Leinster final really represents for both countriesIf 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 are joined by Gráinne Seoige

"We’re not coming here all the way to Dublin just to take part... we’re coming to win."From the streets of Somerset West to the peak of the world stage, Damian Willemse’s journey is defined by grit, community, and an unbreakable "blue-collar" work ethic. Ahead of the Stormers' URC semi-final clash with Leinster, we go behind the scenes with Damian and head physio Inga Croy to uncover the Why behind the superstar.This isn’t just a rugby interview; it’s a masterclass in elite performance and resilience. We explore: ✅ The Somerset West Connection: How his roots and family values (and his mom's toughness!) fuel his competitive drive. ✅ The Tactical Mind: Damian explains how he scans the field like football legends Messi and Xavi to find 1-2 phases ahead. ✅ The Physio Bond: A rare look at the safe space Inge Croy provides in a high-pressure environment. ✅ Playing Through Pain: The untold story of scoring against Benetton with a grade-one hamstring strain. ✅ The Leinster Blueprint: How the Stormers plan to create chaos in Dublin to reach the final. ✅ Legacy: Why the memory of Uncle Chippie remains the emotional heartbeat of the squad.Damian says he "oozes blue and white." Do you think the Stormers can silence the crowd in Dublin? Drop your score predictions and messages of support for the boys below!

Is Jacques Nienaber being set up to fail to save Leo Cullen's job? Harry Jones and MW Welman expose the Leinster Duplicity and the media witch hunt against the 2x World Cup-winning coach.🎂 IT'S OUR BIRTHDAY! To celebrate, we are diving deep into the Sacrificial Lamb narrative coming out of Dublin. Is the Irish press unfairly targeting Nienaber to protect the Leinster hierarchy? We break down the tactical circular firing squad and why the fix is in for the Bok legend.In this episode:• The "Leinster Duplicity" explained.• Why the defense isn't the problem (and the attack is).• Leo Cullen: The "uninspiring" boardroom survivor?• The "Witch Hunt" in the Irish media.• URC Semi-finals Preview: Leinster vs Stormers.• URC Semi-finals Preview: Glasgow vs BullsSupport our Channel: If you've enjoyed our coverage this year, the best birthday gift you can give us is to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the BELL so you don't miss any of our episodes!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/@megafoonrugbyIs Jacques Nienaber The Sacrificial Lamb for Leinster’s Failures? Birthday Special Lekker Rugby Pod00:00 Lekker Rugby Pod00:50 Two years and Counting04:47 Jacques Nienaber21:52 Leinster vs Stormers43:29 Glasgow vs Bulls58:52 Too Close to the Teams?

The Stormers have the best defence in the URC this season. Fewer than 2.7 tries conceded per game, dominant entry denial into the 22, and a jackal game that suffocates teams before they build momentum. But Norman Laker will be the first to tell you the last three games leaked 15 tries, and Cardiff found the edge.In this Side-by-Side, Harry Jones sits down with Stormers wing Seabelo Senatla and defence coach Norman Laker, literally shoulder to shoulder, for a conversation that goes well beyond tactics. They talk about what 4G pitches actually do to a defensive line, why chaos is not the opposite of structure, how a ten-year relationship between a coach and a player changes what is possible on the field, and what the right emotional register looks like heading into a home quarterfinal against the team that just beat you.Norman is honest and slightly unhinged in the best possible way. Seabelo is thoughtful, precise, and clearly enjoying every second of this stage of his career. Together they are one of the most interesting pairings this Stormers series have produced.On this episode of Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones go side by side with two of the key figures behind the Stormers' defence ahead of the Cardiff quarterfinal.

Four URC quarterfinals. Some of the best rugby minds in the game. One complete preview.MW Welman hosts Harry Jones and Huw Griffin for a full breakdown of every quarterfinal on the card this weekend: Bulls vs Munster, Stormers vs Cardiff, Glasgow vs Connacht, and Leinster vs Lions. MW brings inside knowledge from his time embedded at the Bulls, Harry brings his deep read on the Stormers, and Huw brings a full set of head-to-head stats covering every matchup. The Stormers' revenge mission gets full attention. The one upset that could reshape the semi-finals gets named. The case for Munster pulling off something very Munster at Loftus gets laid out and then picked apart. Glasgow's psychological state after a bruising Champions Cup exit gets examined honestly. And the question hanging over Leinster since Bilbao gets asked directly.On this special hybrid episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod, MW sits down with Harry Jones and Loose Pass co-host Huw Griffin for the most complete URC playoff preview you will find anywhere

Leinster lost another Champions Cup final. The question now is whether Leo Cullen can survive it.Harry Jones, MW Welman and special guest Pat McCarry go back to basics after Bordeaux's win in Bilbao. They pick apart the 24 turnovers, the heat excuses, the predictable attack, and what it says about a coaching structure where Jacques Nienaber's blitz defence has pulled focus away from the attack that used to define Leinster. With an Irishman coaching Bordeaux's attack and knowing every Leinster tendency, the final was always going to be harder than the hype suggested.The harder question sits underneath all of it: does Leo Cullen still have the room to turn this around, or does a squad this good need a different voice at the top?On this episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones sit down with Irish rugby journalist Pat McCarry to pull apart the Bilbao defeat and ask what comes next for Leinster.

Stormers kicking coach Gareth Wright has three rules for playing without fear. He can't say the first one out loud.Wright and Stormers scrumhalf Imad Khan break down what it actually takes to execute under pressure: box kicks, hang time, the snap, getting charged down, and what to do in the seconds after you make a mistake. Khan, 22 and stepping into a starting role in a big season, talks about playing without fear, finding his voice at scrum time, and the Bishops brotherhood that followed him all the way into professional rugby. Wright talks about the unseen work, the fingernails, and why the rugby purist cursing the box kick from his couch is missing the point entirely. They also unpack the Cardiff loss and what a home quarterfinal at DHL Stadium means to both of them.On this episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones go Side-by-Side with a coach and his player.

There's smoke around the Stormers camp. Harry Jones, who knows the camp well, explains what the fire actually is.MW and Harry run through the full URC playoff picture ahead of the quarterfinals. What is John Dobson really navigating inside a squad carrying deep frustration after two gut-wrenching losses? Can Johan Ackermann's high-tempo Bulls survive a Munster side built to make games ugly? And for the Lions' Cash van Rooyen, the task may be the hardest of the three: key players injured, heading to Dublin to face a Leinster side chasing the double.Then the European cup finals. Bordeaux against Leinster in the Champions Cup, with a genuine split on who wins and why. Plus the Challenge Cup, where Ulster face a Montpellier side that has had one of the best Top 14 seasons in recent memory.On this episode of The Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones cover the Stormers' internal situation, the URC quarterfinal picture and both European cup finals.

Three journalists were in the room with Dave Rennie and CEO Steve Lancaster at NZR HQ in Auckland. Martin Devlin was one of them.Rennie has a word for what he wants from this team. He has a number every player must hit. He already has a starting XV in mind for the first game in South Africa. What he said in that room has not been reported anywhere else.Martin Devlin is back on the Lekker Rugby Pod, and this is the first of many conversations as we build toward the Greatest Rivalry Tour. We will also be joining Martin on the ground in South Africa for live events during the tour. More details coming soon.On this episode, MW Welman and Harry Jones sit down with Martin to hear what the new All Blacks coach said behind closed doors, and what it means for the tour..

Brok Harris spent years scrumming in Wales. What he learnt there is why the Stormers generated 58 scrum penalties this season. On this episode, scrum coach Brok Harris and tight-head Sazi Sandi break down how the gap between Welsh and South African scrum philosophy shaped the most dominant set piece in the URC. The timings are different. The mindset is different. The risk appetite is completely different. Brok had to figure that out the hard way when he crossed hemispheres. Now he coaches it. Sazi executes it.From Sazi's journey through Grahamstown and St Andrews College to his 50th cap, to Brok's years in Wales before coming home to coach, this is an inside look at the culture and thinking behind a penalty machine.On this episode of The Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones sit down with Brok Harris, DHL Stormers scrum coach, and Sazi Sandi, Stormers tight-head and 50-cap Springbok, ahead of a crucial URC quarter-final positioning game in Cardiff.

Harry Jones has one word for Leinster going into the URC knockouts: ominous. But is it by design, or did they just get hot at the right time?On this week's Lekker Rugby Pod, the Harry Index sizes up every team with a seat at the table. The Bulls are back from the dead and looking dangerous. The Stormers are quietly building toward something big. Glasgow are leaking. And Munster? There is a lot going on at Munster right now.MW and Harry also call the final-round fixtures, including one upset nobody else is picking.

The Stormers are second on the URC log, and yet their attack coach sometimes has no idea what's coming next. That is not a gap in the system. That is the system.Dawie Snyman has spent many years building the Stormers attack around one idea: give the right players the freedom to express themselves and trust what follows. On this episode, he and captain Ruhan Nel break open how that philosophy actually works: How the penalty decision gets made in real time on the field, why the new aerial contest rules have reshaped modern attack, what playing on a 4G surface does to a team that likes to use its feet, and what "peaking" looks like for a squad nobody can quite pin down. Real answers, Not press-conference ones.Ruhan Nel also unpacks his journey from trials rugby at Tuks to Stormers captain, and what sevens taught him about reading a 15-man game.

The Bordeaux versus Bath Champions Cup semi-final ignited a very public clash between two of rugby's most prominent online voices over the standard of commentary, the integrity of the TMO process, and where the line sits between legitimate criticism and agenda-driven noise. MW and Harry work through what each side got right, where both overreached, and what the controversy reveals about the TMO system under pressure. The pod also covers a shifting Harry Index, Leinster rounding into ominous form at exactly the wrong time, the Junior Springboks closing in on a championship, and what the All Blacks depth chart really looks like under pressure.On this episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones weigh in on the drama that has split rugby online.

MW Welman started a sports channel. Harry Jones was writing about rugby from the other side of the world. One conversation changed everything.In this episode of The Long Way to the Game, Paul Avenant sits down with MW and Harry to tell the full origin story for the first time. How Megafoon Rugby found its footing, how a single phone call became Lekker Rugby Pod, and how a channel that began with Formula One content quietly grew into a rugby platform with a South African heartbeat and a genuinely global footprint. Not a plan they executed. A thing they built, recognised mid-flight, and then pushed as hard as they could. The apology tours, the coaches who pushed back, the WhatsApp from Dobbo, and the breakfast in Pretoria where two men realised their dreams had already been exceeded.Hosted by Paul Avenant, with MW Welman and Harry Jones on The Long Way to the Game.

Franco Smith has been calling himself a Dreamgiver for years. This conversation explains what that actually means.Jamie Lyall, who commentates for World Rugby and writes for RugbyPass, has watched Franco up close since 2022, when a teacher from the Free State arrived in Glasgow with no recruitment budget, inherited a staff, and started coaching scrum sessions he had never run before. Lyall unpacks what makes him different: a cultural intelligence that can hold Jack Dempsey and Sione Tuipulotu inside the same framework, and an ability to make players believe in something before they have any proof it works.The conversation also covers Glasgow's URC title run and that afternoon at Loftus, Franco's legacy at Italy, Kyle Steyn's place in world rugby, and an honest read on Gregor Townsend's record when the pressure is on.On this episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman sits down with rugby broadcaster and journalist Jamie Lyall.

The DHL Stormers are top of the URC log. They also just lost one of their own. This conversation sits inside both of those realities.Rito Hlungwani has built one of the most dominant forwards packs in world rugby. The way he does it, the rituals, the methods, the connection he builds in the room before battle. You won't find it written down anywhere. Ben-Jason Dixon is the engineer inside that machine. The man whose questions in team meetings take weeks to understand, and are always proven right.Together they sat down with Harry Jones and MW Welman before the Stormers' European tour. On Chippie Solomon. On what holds a group together when everything hurts. On what it takes to lead the URC when you're carrying grief.On The Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones explore the people, ideas, and moments shaping South African rugby and the world game.

Gráinne Seoige has watched Ireland and South Africa play each other from both sides of the fence.One of Ireland's most recognisable broadcasters, she now lives in Pretoria, was at Loftus when the Springboks settled the score in 2024, and has been inside SA rugby culture long enough to see the pattern clearly. On this episode she makes the case that the two nations share more than their rivalry suggests: in how they talk, how they host, how they grieve, and why the underdog story never goes away in either country. She also defends Connacht, corrects Harry Jones on the Galway win over the Stormers, and says "hoendervleis" in the most Irish accent you will ever hear at Loftus.On this episode of The Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones sit down with Gráinne Seoige, Irish broadcaster, Connacht fan, and resident of Pretoria.

This is what it looks like when MW and Harry get a room to themselves.No guest. No agenda. Just Harry Jones with a spreadsheet and MW with the questions to make sense of it. Harry has been running numbers on the URC's nine playoff contenders, not just the table, but the categories underneath it: how teams carry, how they defend, how they use the set piece, how they kick and get the ball back. He brings a framework to a race that still has everything to play for, and MW pushes him on every assumption.This is what the Lekker Rugby Pod was built for. MW and Harry, no guest between them, knowing the game well enough to disagree on it. Harry also runs the Harry Index, MW updates the Megafoon Rugby schedule, and there is a story about a Connacht fan, a six-page letter, and an upcoming guest you will not see coming.The Lekker Rugby Pod. MW Welman and Harry Jones. Classic.

SA rugby and Scottish rugby have been quietly in love with each other for years. This episode is the proof.Jamie Lyle grew up in rural Scotland, 20 houses, one black classmate across six years of school, and a satellite dish that showed him Super Rugby. He went to South Africa for his 30th birthday and came home different. Not because of Table Mountain or the Garden Route, though both surpassed every expectation. Because of what the trip forced him to see about himself. In this conversation with Harry Jones, Jamie opens up about confronting subconscious biases he did not know he had, what Trevor Noah's book unlocked in him, and how the experience changed the language he uses on air. Not only that. His voice ended up on Chasing the Sun 2. He spent a night with the Romania team in Bordeaux. And he tells the story of how Pierre Schoeman answered his very first media question.On this episode of The Lekker Rugby Pod, Harry Jones sits down with Scottish rugby commentator Jamie Lyle, only on Megafoon Rugby.

The Stormers have three games left and a home semi-final to play for. John Dobson is not pretending otherwise.In a conversation that goes further than most, Dobson and World Cup winner Deon "Brannas" Fourie cover the Glasgow game at the top of the URC log, the jackal stats that have the Stormers leading the world in turnovers (and why dominant tackles are the real engine behind them), the Damian Willemse experiment at fullback, and the scrum adjudication that is frustrating every South African franchise in the competition. Chippie Solomon comes up too. He belongs in every conversation the Stormers have. He always will.Stormers head coach John Dobson and World Cup winner Deon Fourie joined Harry Jones on The Lekker Rugby Pod.

South Africa and Ireland used to be a rare fixture. Tours separated by years, the odd November test, entire Springbok cycles without an Ireland series. That world is gone. The URC has put Irish provinces and South African franchises on the same fixture list for nine months of the year, and the two rugby cultures now read each other in real time from September to June.Pat McCarry joins Harry Jones and MW Welman on The Lekker Rugby Pod for a conversation that opens on the question this shift has forced into view. Have Ireland become South Africa's biggest rivals now? From there Pat does the thing only an Irish journalist with his depth of access can do. He takes each of the four Irish provinces in turn. Leinster first, then Ulster, Connacht and Munster. Where each side sits in the URC right now, what to watch for in the coming weeks, which players South African fans should start learning by name.

The Lions aren’t just a team. They’re an experience. And if you support them, you know exactly what that means.In this episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod, we take a tongue-in-cheek look at what it really means to be a Lions fan. The ups, the frustrations, the false dawns, and why, somehow, people keep coming back for more.We see the Lions through the eyes of Riaan Louw, whose perspective gives real insight into the mindset of a supporter who has lived it all. This is not just analysis. It’s about identity, loyalty, and what keeps fans invested when logic says otherwise.Riaan will be a more regular voice on the pod going forward, and this is a proper introduction to how he sees the game and the Lions.This is not a rant, and it is not a pile-on. It is an honest, slightly mischievous conversation about the psyche of Lions supporters.If you’re a Lions fan, you’ll recognise it. If you’re not, you might finally understand it.

Chippie Solomon, long-time Stormers team manager and one of the most important figures in Western Province rugby, passed away this week.In this piece, Harry Jones reflects on a man who meant far more than a title. A teacher, a leader, a bridge between generations, and a constant presence in the lives of those who passed through the Stormers environment.This is not analysis. This is a tribute.Our thoughts are with his wife Pearl, his children Chad and Nina, and everyone who knew and loved him.

Johan Ackermann did not arrive at a finished Bulls team. He stepped into a side that had been to three finals in four seasons, but one that was in turmoil. The previous coach had been forced out, and the group was searching for direction and alignment.Since then, results have started to turn. But as he explains here, the process is still unfolding. The Bulls are improving, yet they are not the final version of what they are trying to become.He reflects on what he found at Loftus, the early struggles, and the changes being made on and off the field. He also addresses the Springbok coaching involvement and the lessons from key defeats along the way.This is not a rebuild. It is a reshaping. And it is not done yet.

Episode 162 of the Lekker Rugby Pod is built around one idea. Harry has worked out what it will take for the Stormers and the Bulls to win this weekend's cruciall games, and we go through it properly.We look at how the Stormers are approaching Toulon, why that 50-minute mark matters, and where they think the game can be won. Then we turn to the Bulls and Glasgow, where Harry lays out a six-point plan for how the Bulls can pull this off.At one point we tell Franco Smith to stop watching, because it feels like we’re giving too much away.Watch the games with this in mind and see what shows up.Welcome to Megafoon Rugby, a digital-first rugby platform built for how the game is followed now. Thoughtful analysis, big personalities, proper debate, and the moments that actually matter.

What does a professional rugby team actually look like from the inside?MW spent a week embedded with the Bulls. Harry did the same with the Stormers. Not from the outside. Inside the week, inside the meetings, inside the environment. This episode works through what that access revealed.Some things look familiar. The structure, the preparation, the level of detail. You begin to see why top teams operate the way they do.But then the differences start to show. In how people interact. In how decisions are made. In how the environment feels day to day.The Bulls and the Stormers are similar in what they are trying to achieve. They are not the same in how they go about it.That tension sits at the centre of this conversation.

Fourteen rounds in, you stop guessing.The Bulls, Stormers, Sharks and Lions have all taken shape. Clear enough now to see what they lean on, and what they give away. The question is whether that holds in knockout rugby.This episode works through each team as they are now, and what that could mean when the season tightens. Riveting stuff!

Modern rugby looks different. More kicks, more broken play, more tries.
Yet kicking is still treated as a mistake.

In Episode 159, Harry Jones speaks to analyst and author Sam Larner (Attacking the Space) about how the modern game actually works, and why so many people misread it.

The common view is simple: keep the ball, build pressure, avoid kicking.
The reality is more complicated. The best teams kick more, not less, and they do it for a reason.

This conversation breaks down how kicking controls territory, reduces risk and creates pressure, and why possession often matters less than how a possession ends.

France, Ireland and England approach this differently, but the pattern is consistent once you know what to look for.

This is not a match recap. It is a clearer way of seeing rugby.

People have been asking for it. They’ve been waiting for it. So here it is.The Lekker Rugby Pod reaction to the Bulls vs Stormers derby may not be instant, but sometimes the dust needs to settle before the real analysis begins.MW Welman and Harry Jones take a calm look back at what happened at Loftus. Why the Bulls struggled to adapt once the Stormers slowed the game down, why the Stormers looked calmer under pressure, and what the result might mean for the URC run-in.The reaction may have been delayed. But the conversation was always coming.