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The URC is properly back, the Springboks are slowly returning, and the Sharks have somehow scored the world’s weirdest try and lead the log! Ant and Phil look back on a mixed bag for the South African sides, with the Lions and Sharks both unbeaten after two rounds, the Stormers continuing to be frustrating in a very different way, and the Bulls falling just short against Munster. The boys debate the ridiculous URC schedule, whether the tournament is becoming harder for casual fans to follow, and whether South African teams need to start taking Europe more seriously. Then it’s derby time. The Stomers host the Sharks in Cape Town, the Lions travel across the Jukskei to the Bulls, and both Phil and Ant are feeling cautiously optimistic about their respective teams. Plus the Springbok Women wrap up a successful tour in Spain, and we look ahead to a potentially very interesting Bledisloe Cup clash as Australia try to take advantage of the All Blacks’ lost aura. And, as always, plenty of fantasy rugby chat, questionable tactical decisions, bizarre tries and the occasional admission of where the loyalties really lie. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

The Boks suffered another loss against their new bogey team in Perthfontein, but our panel is philosophical about the lessons learned and positive implications for selections moving forward. We also cover the first round of the URC where the SA teams went four from four, and the Imbokodo who went pizza, pasta, past her in beating higher-ranked Italy away. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Ant and Andy are confronted this week with a delicious menu of rugby content, from the braais and barbies in Perthfontein to the intriguing starters served up in the opening week of the URC. Did Rassie underestimate the Aussies by selecting a B team? Or is this counterintuitively a show of deep respect and a long-term World Cup play? And will Ma’a and JP inspire a Sharks renaissance or will the plucky underdog Lions be the pick of the litter this year? What of the Bulls and Stormers starting out on the road? Find out here on Elite Rugby Banter. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Rugby's Greatest Rivalry is finally over, and the Springboks have completed an historic inaugural series win over the All Blacks. Phil, Ant and Dick look back on the final test and the series as a whole, as South Africa once again found a way to close out a game that felt much closer on the scoreboard than it did on the field. The Springbok bench made another huge impact, the backline survived yet another round of injuries, and the panel discusses the impressive performances of players including Hanekom, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Morne van den Berg and Pieter-Steph du Toit. The boys then take a broader look at the series and ask just how big the gulf between the two teams really was. Despite New Zealand remaining competitive until the final stages of almost every test, South Africa controlled most of the important areas of the game — while the All Blacks' struggles at scrum, lineout and aerial ball remained throughout the tour. The panel also questions the increasingly defensive reaction from the New Zealand coaching staff, particularly their tendency to blame refereeing and other external factors rather than looking at their own performance. And then it's awards season. The boys pick their moment, try, tackle, flop, find and player of the series, with plenty of love for Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx and Morne van den Berg — alongside a few less flattering awards for New Zealand, Angus Gardner and the tournament's rather questionable promotion. Plus the return of Richie Mo'unga, whether the All Blacks' hype got a little ahead of reality, the unfortunate state of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry social media operation, and why three wins from four still somehow wasn't quite as comfortable as it should have been. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

The Greatest Rivalry left South African shores after a rollicking few weeks of crowds, controversy, and cracking rugby. Is Roigard just a new Perenara? Did the All Blacks find set piece loopholes to cope with Bok dominance? And will they cope in the US with the impending forced and unforced changes? A full house deliberates on that and much more. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

A low-flying plane was the least of Springbok fans worries (literally, it wasn’t a big deal, calm down) as the Boks managed to close out a needlessly nervy second Test to keep the rivalry tour alive. Malcolm Marx was adjusting his brake foot like an anxious Airlink backseat pilot, while the Boks’ kick-chase was the real air show on the day. What changed between the two Tests, and how do the boys see that playing out in Test 3? You’ll have to listen to find out. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Denial. Anger. Bargaining. Depression. Acceptance. You’ll get it all on this week’s pod as Ant, Phil and Andy dissect the opening loss to the All Blacks. Each questionable call by refs and coaches is brought under the microscope as we process this shock result and try to look forward to the Cape of Good Hope (and possibly storms, in more ways than one). Is Pollard better employed from the bench? Can Marx go 80 again? Is PSDT ready to lead from the front and not from behind? Get your fix here at Elite Rugby Banter. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Ant, Dick and Andy managed to gather around one microphone for once in a rare in-person pod. Yes, we covered all the expected stuff with the upcoming tour opener and a recap of the Bulls vs ABs match, but we think you’ll find our tangential rant about TMOs and technology the real highlight here… Boks by 10ish! Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

We are two games into the RGR Tour (Phil has exhausted our free tokens for the full name) and the All Blacks have as many questions as they do answers. Cape Town was treated to a spectacle on and off the field against a second string side, while Durban was a damp downer against a more formidable lineup. The Boks out-gritted the Argentinians away but at the cost of their captain, while the All Blacks have also been losing men early. How will the two teams cope over the coming weeks? Who will be first choice come the Ellis Park opener on both sides? We try to channel our inner Rassie and we’re probably way off, but please have a listen anyway. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

The All Blacks are here! Confirmed by Ant in a plush Cape Town Virgin Active, the Kiwis have landed are preparing hard for the opening game against the Stormers this week. While the ABs sip cocktails in Clifton, a 26-strong Bok squad is quaffing Malbec in Buenos Aires, readying for their warm up against Argentina. There’s more antici…pation than a Rocky Horror number and more hype than an NZ rugby journo’s X account as we gear up for the Greatest Rivalry (TM CC LTD PBO). Ant, Andrew, Phil and Dick dive into the build-up to the first test, discussing whether the famous rivalry still deserves its billing and why these fixtures continue to stand apart from every other contest in international rugby. From history and respect to contrasting styles of play, the panel explores what makes South Africa versus New Zealand the benchmark by which every other rivalry is measured. Attention then turns to the rugby itself. Are the Springboks entering the series as deserved favourites? Has Rassie's side reached another level over the past year? And while Dave Rennie's All Blacks have shown encouraging signs, can they tighten up defensively against the most complete team in world rugby? The boys also discuss the contrasting approaches of Super Rugby and test rugby, the role of South Africa's franchises in preparing the All Blacks for what's to come, and why this series feels like a genuine measuring stick for both teams heading into the remainder of the international season. Plus predictions for the series, a look at the key individual battles, and why even in an era of expanded competitions and global tournaments, some matches simply matter more than others. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

There’s more than just bragging rights on the line when the Boks and All Blacks clash at Ellis Park in August - the winner takes the lineal world title, aka the Raeburn Shield. To discuss, we are joined this week by fellow rugby nerd and promoter of the Raeburn and Utrecht Shields, Dave Algie. Treat your ears to a fascinating deep dive into rugby history and a native Kiwi’s take on the upcoming Greatest Rivalry Tour - it’s a good one. Raeburn Shield Link: https://www.raeburnandutrechtshields.com/ Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Ant, Phil and Andy mark the Nations Championship midterms as they recap the first three rounds. France and South Africa have emerged as clear favourites, but there are some interesting performance arcs and player selection discussions to unpack. Are France in France a bigger threat to Boks ascendancy than three home games against NZ? Is Japan managing to break their reliance on foreign players? Is Scotland really the third best team in the world as Rassie reckons? And what of the flailing Fijians and irate Italians? Find out on this week’s pod. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

While referees and commentators stumble over the interpretation of the laws and player roles, our panel of three gives more daylight on the latest rugby than Paul de Villiers in a Bok turnover. From the Baby Boks to the B-team, it was an action packed weekend of international rugby. This was a bumper episode - make sure to use the full shot clock to get it all in. We unpack South Africa's victory over Scotland and Rassie's post-match suggestion that the Scots could now be the third-best side in the world. Is there really a changing of the guard happening at the top of international rugby? Or are people suffering from remarkably short memories after the Springboks comfortably dispatched both France and New Zealand the last time they met? Elsewhere, Ireland's trip to "Japan" sparks one of the biggest off-field talking points of the tournament. Why were Japan forced to give up a home fixture? Should teams be allowed to dictate where they play? And after yet another compromise in the competition's opening year, the panel jokingly arrives at one obvious solution: kick Ireland out of rugby. Australia once again show flashes before fading against a stacked French side, prompting discussion around Joe Schmidt's tenure, whether Dave Rennie deserved more time, and just how frightening France's depth has become. With Jalibert, Ntamack, Dupont and a seemingly endless conveyor belt of talent, are Les Bleus now the only nation capable of matching the Springboks for squad depth? And why does Ant love the Wallabies so much? Plus the All Blacks' "pump and dump" approach to player selection, foreign-born internationals popping up in unexpected places, and why having too many good players isn't always the worst problem to have. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

The opening weekend of the Nations Championship is in the books, and one thing became abundantly clear: when the Springboks hit top gear, nobody else is quite operating at the same level. Phil and Ant unpack South Africa's convincing victory over England, from the blistering opening quarter to another dominant second-half display. Damian Willemse reminded everyone why he's one of the world's premier fullbacks, Jasper Wiese continued to make life miserable for opposition forwards, and the Springbok bench once again proved why it's the envy of international rugby. There's also discussion around Paul de Villiers' impressive opportunity, Kurt-Lee Arendse's growing collection of yellow cards, and whether the Boks have finally found the perfect balance between experimenting and winning. Elsewhere, Australia push Ireland all the way but come up just short, raising as many positives as questions. Is the Wallabies' rebuilding job further along than the results suggest? And are Ireland still searching for the side that dominated world rugby just a few seasons ago? The boys also look at Dave Rennie's All Blacks after an entertaining victory over France. Has New Zealand already started to rediscover its identity? Just how influential is Cam Roigard becoming? And does Will Jordan's remarkable try-scoring record tell the full story of just how good he really is? Plus, England's puzzling selections, why development cycles matter more than many fans realise, and whether the gap between South Africa and the chasing pack is currently bigger than the scoreboards suggest. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

The Nations Championship is finally here, and with a brand-new tournament comes one very important question: what actually counts as success? Ant and Phil kick things off by looking at South Africa's campaign. Is three wins the minimum expectation for the Springboks? Which combinations still need answers before the business end of the season? And with Rassie continuing to build depth across the squad, just how much experimentation is too much when silverware is on the line? The boys then work their way around the rest of the tournament, setting realistic expectations for every side. England's lofty ambitions come under scrutiny, France head to New Zealand with a genuine chance of causing problems, there's plenty of sympathy for Fiji, who once again won't get the opportunity to play their home fixtures on home soil, and can the Wallabies take a big scalp from Ireland or France. Attention then turns across the Tasman, where Dave Rennie has some fascinating selection calls to make for his All Blacks side. Should the Hurricanes provide the backbone of the team? Is Ruben Love ready for the biggest stage? And after one particularly spicy internet take, the panel spends far longer than expected debating whether Will Jordan might just be the most overrated All Black of the modern era. Plus predictions for the opening weekend, discussion around the changing balance of power in world rugby, and why this year's Nations Championship could tell us a lot about where every major nation really stands. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.