That Rugby Union Show

Has South Africa already won Rugby's Greatest Rivalry? The Springboks leave home 2–1 up after three extraordinary Tests against the All Blacks — but there's still the small matter of a fourth match in… Baltimore. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa are joined by Westley Cockrell, better known as Rugby-kaans , to talk about a series that has become about much more than results. Westley explains how Rugby-kaans began, why his wonderfully unfiltered Afrikaans match reactions connected with supporters and how rugby content unexpectedly became his full-time career. His online persona isn't entirely an act either: he tells Xola and Sim that what viewers see is essentially his genuine rugby-watching personality with a little extra volume. Then it's rugby. Why has this series captured South Africa in a way few tours have? Has Rassie created another generation of Bok heroes? Why does he reward players with that indefinable “dog” in them? Who have been the great surprise Springboks of the Erasmus era? And have we historically overlooked brilliant smaller players? Finally: Baltimore. Westley believes the South African series was won 2–1 and Baltimore should probably have been an exhibition. Sim largely agrees — but Rassie's near-full-strength selection suggests the Springboks themselves have absolutely no intention of treating it that way. So now there's only one thing to do. Make it 3–1. That Rugby Union Show with Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa.

And if you don’t know… now you know. The Springboks have beaten the All Blacks 29–24 at FNB Stadium — and somehow this extraordinary series has produced another classic. New Zealand started at frightening speed. The Boks lost Cheslin Kolbe early. The All Blacks threatened from everywhere. But South Africa stayed alive, turned the screw at scrum time and eventually found the tries they had been missing in the second halves of the first two Tests. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa unpack the match: the Bok scrum, the penalty try, Will Jordan’s brilliance, Jesse Kriel’s immediate response, Malcolm Marx and the rolling maul, Manie Libbok’s impact and another performance from Ethan Hooker that suggests the youngster is very much at home in Test rugby. And then there’s Baltimore. The two teams now head to the United States for one final collision — with injuries mounting, selection questions everywhere and a wonderfully stupid argument waiting for us if New Zealand make it 2–2: Who actually won the series? That Rugby Union Show. Rugby. Unfiltered.

The series is level at 1–1. Now the Springboks and All Blacks head to FNB Stadium for a third Test that could change the complexion of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry completely. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa look beyond a week dominated by the war of words between Rassie Erasmus and Dave Rennie and get into the rugby. Has the scrum controversy become a tactical attempt to influence how the game is refereed? Has World Rugby's restricted communication between coaches and officials helped create the public battles we're now seeing? Then it's onto the teams. South Africa have largely backed continuity, with Cheslin Kolbe moving to fullback and Kurt-Lee Arendse returning, while Ethan Hooker's performances are making him increasingly difficult to leave out. New Zealand have taken a different approach, refreshing their forward pack with mobility and ball carrying in mind. It's heavyweight power against tempo. Continuity against squad rotation. And with the series poised at 1–1, the psychological pressure is beginning to rise. Who blinks first at FNB Stadium? That Rugby Union Show with Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa . #Springboks #AllBlacks #Rugby #ThatRugbyUnionShow

The Boks have answered. Now we have a series. South Africa beat New Zealand 33–26 in Cape Town to level the series at 1–1 — but Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa aren't convinced the performance was as radically different from Ellis Park as the result might suggest. The Springboks were physically dominant for long periods in Test One too. The difference this time? They converted. South Africa built the scoreboard pressure they'd failed to create a week earlier and finally had enough in reserve to survive another dangerous All Black finish. Xola and Sim unpack Rassie Erasmus's extraordinary late front-row reshuffle, Siya Kolisi's return, Cheslin Kolbe's emergence as a goalkicker and a fascinating performance from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Sacha wasn't spectacular. He wasn't producing outrageous individual moments. He was relatively ordinary — and the question becomes whether trying to make him safer risks removing exactly what makes him special. There are warnings too. New Zealand scored four tries and continue to find ways of attacking the edges of the Springbok defence. The All Blacks finished strongly and showed again why this series is going to be extremely difficult to put away. And then there's the scrum. Dave Rennie believes the Springboks are getting away with something. Rassie has a rather different interpretation: “We're not fucking walking around.” So is this simply a technical disagreement between two coaching teams — or has the battle to influence the officials for Test Three already begun? Cape Town: Springboks 33, All Blacks 26. Series: 1–1. Next stop: FNB Stadium. That Rugby Union Show with Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa.

Ding, ding. Round Two. And suddenly Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is back in the fight. After New Zealand's 33–16 victory at Ellis Park , the Springboks head to Cape Town 1–0 down and needing a response. Rassie Erasmus initially appeared to have chosen experience for the rematch. Handré Pollard at 10. Cobus Reinach at nine. Siya Kolisi back. Malcolm Marx starting. Ox Nché restored to the front row. Then came Friday's twist. Pollard is out. Sacha is back. A calf problem has ruled Pollard out, pushing Sacha back into the starting No.10 jersey and bringing Manie Libbok onto the bench. Meanwhile, Cheslin Kolbe has recovered sufficiently to return to the starting side. And that makes one of Xola's arguments in this episode even more interesting: Maybe the universe is telling Rassie to stop blinking. If Sacha really is South Africa's generational talent, eventually the Boks have to trust him when the pressure is at its highest. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa unpack what Rassie's selections tell us about his response to Ellis Park — from the return of Siya Kolisi and the restoration of the Bok front row to the extraordinary decision to bring 39-year-old Deon Fourie back as reserve hooker . There's also the battle up front. Ox Nché reaches his 50th Test , Pieter-Steph du Toit his 100th , while New Zealand have promoted George Bower after his contribution to stabilising the All Black scrum in Johannesburg. Before that, some love for the Lions after they pushed New Zealand all the way at Ellis Park, eventually going down 41–35 . But ultimately, this episode is about what happens when the Springboks get punched. One defeat and suddenly the pressure is back. The questions are back. The doubters are back. And South Africa are back in territory they know rather well: fighting from the corner. The All Blacks won Round One. Now Sacha has been thrown back into the ring. Cape Town. Saturday. Round Two. Ding, ding...

The All Blacks came. They saw. They conquered Ellis Park. New Zealand beat the Springboks 33–16 to take a 1–0 lead in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry — but the final score doesn't tell the whole story. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa unpack a bizarre Test in which South Africa appeared physically dominant for much of the opening half, won the early scrum and collision battles and created enough opportunities to build a significant lead. Instead, it was 13–12 at half-time . The Boks played with their food — and New Zealand eventually bit back. The boys examine South Africa's failure to convert pressure into points, an attack that struggled under serious defensive pressure, the obsession with the scrum, the disruption caused by the 6–2 bench split and an All Blacks side that simply refused to disappear. Then comes the selection headache. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu may be a generational talent — but is he already the Test-match general South Africa need to rescue this series in Cape Town? Or has another defeat reopened the door for Handré Pollard ? There's praise too for Jasper Wiese , Sim's man of the match despite the defeat, after another monstrous carrying performance. But perhaps the most interesting question comes after the autopsy. What if the Springboks needed this? For months they've been favourites. Expected to win. Comfortable. Now they've been beaten at Ellis Park, they're chasing the series and suddenly Rassie has something powerful to work with: hurt. Cape Town comes next, followed by FNB Stadium and Baltimore. So was 33–16 a warning that New Zealand have genuinely turned the tables? Or did the All Blacks just give Rassie Erasmus exactly what he wanted? Thanks. We needed that? That is much closer to the episode you actually recorded . The original explainer overplayed Carley and Will Jordan; the transcript is really about wasted Bok dominance → All Black resilience → tactical/game-management failure → Sacha/Pollard → “maybe this loss is useful” → what happens over the remaining three Tests.

The talking is over. The teams are named. Now, we go to war. The Springboks and All Blacks meet at Ellis Park in the opening Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry , and Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa are joined by Stormers assistant coach Rito Hlungwani to break down exactly where New Zealand can be hurt. Having helped devise the Stormers’ plan against the All Blacks, Rito identifies three key pressure points: the contestable kicking game, the scrum and the maul — and explains why the Boks must allow the “slow poison” to take effect. But South Africa’s game is about far more than scrum, maul and kick. Rito explains how Rassie Erasmus uses the kicking game to create chaos, recover possession and unleash the Boks’ runners against an unstructured defence. We also unpack both team selections: 🇿🇦 Has Rassie finally picked his strongest Springbok XV? 🔥 Is Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu ready for the biggest Test of his career? 💥 Why Paul de Villiers could be crucial 💣 The extraordinary power sitting on the Bok bench 🇳🇿 Why the All Blacks have gone big up front ⚡ How Cam Roigard changes New Zealand’s attack 🧱 What’s happened to the Springbok defence 🌱 And the remarkable rise of Zachary Porthen New Zealand appear ready to fight fire with fire . South Africa believe they have the weapons to overwhelm them. And then we make our predictions. Rito: Springboks by around 15. Xola: Boks by seven or eight. Four Tests. Two great rugby nations. One rivalry that needs absolutely no introduction. SIYA EMPINI. The battle begins.

The Springboks escaped Buenos Aires with a 17–10 victory over Argentina , but this was anything but comfortable. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa break down a bruising Test in which Argentina matched South Africa physically, challenged the Boks tactically and remained alive right to the death — while the Bok defence ultimately did enough to secure another victory. Was an ugly win in Buenos Aires actually the perfect preparation for the All Blacks? That's one of the central questions of the episode, with the physicality and speed Argentina brought providing exactly the kind of examination the Boks may face when Rugby's Greatest Rivalry begins. There's a deep dive into Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's 80-minute return , the Bok flyhalf pecking order, Siya Kolisi's injury concern and the importance of getting meaningful minutes into returning senior players ahead of New Zealand. And then there's Cameron Hanekom . After all the talk about auditions, Hanekom delivered what Xola and Sim describe as an “arrival performance” in a Springbok jersey — strengthening an already ridiculous battle for places in Rassie's loose trio. Attention then turns to the All Blacks after their opening tour victory against the Stormers. What did Cape Town expose? Is New Zealand vulnerable under the high ball? Was Beauden Barrett really poor — or was he always in a hiding to nothing against a provincial side with nothing to lose? The episode argues that judging either the Boks or All Blacks too definitively now is premature: we won't really know until the Tests begin. Finally, it's a quick look ahead to Sharks v All Blacks at Kings Park on Tuesday , including the young South African talent getting the extraordinary opportunity to test themselves against New Zealand. Both teams won. Both teams looked rusty. Both know they need to get better. That makes what's coming next considerably more interesting.

The All Blacks are back in South Africa for the first traditional tour in decades—but according to Rassie Erasmus, everyone is looking too far ahead. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa discuss the significance of New Zealand's return, preview the Stormers' challenge against the All Blacks, and examine why the Springboks' trip to Argentina may be the most important match before Rugby's Greatest Rivalry truly begins. The conversation explores Springbok selection, the return of experienced players including Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager, Aphelele Fassi's search for his best form, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's comeback, and the combinations South Africa hopes to build before facing New Zealand. The episode also asks whether rugby tours still hold the same magic, what the All Blacks are hoping to achieve from their provincial fixtures, and why Buenos Aires remains one of the toughest assignments in international rugby.

Argentina is the next opponent, but the conversation is really about what comes afterwards. With the Greatest Rivalry Tour drawing closer, Xola Ntshinga and Julian examine the Springboks' evolving selection picture and ask which players have already secured their places—and which still have everything to play for. The discussion explores Rassie Erasmus' latest squad decisions, the return of key players from injury, the value of versatility, and why the Argentina Test may represent the final opportunity for several contenders to impress before South Africa's showdown with New Zealand. If the All Blacks series is the destination, this episode explores the final steps in getting there—and the difficult decisions that could define the Springboks' season.

The first block of the inaugural Nations Championship is complete, and the Springboks now turn their attention to the next phase of the international season. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa review whether the new competition has achieved what World Rugby hoped, discuss the travel challenges facing northern hemisphere teams, and debate whether rugby is finally moving towards a genuine global season. They then unpack Rassie Erasmus' newly announced 43-man Springbok squad, discussing South Africa's extraordinary depth, the importance of versatile players, and what the selections reveal about the Springboks' long-term planning. The episode also looks ahead to Argentina, why it may be the ideal final Test before facing the All Blacks, and features Coca-Cola's Be A Bok campaign from Kings Park, including the memorable winner experience enjoyed by Marcelle and Nadine Beal inside the Springbok changeroom.

The Springboks have completed another convincing Test victory—but the bigger story may be the extraordinary depth Rassie Erasmus continues to build. Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa break down South Africa's performance against Wales, the impact of the newest Springbok caps, and what the latest selections tell us about the road towards the Rugby Championship and Rugby World Cup 2027. The conversation also turns to Ireland's difficult series, the changing international rugby landscape, and why South Africa appears to be pulling further ahead through long-term planning and squad development. Plus: 🏉 Which new Springboks impressed the most? 🏉 Is Rassie building the deepest squad in world rugby? 🏉 What does Wales' performance tell us? 🏉 Ireland's warning signs 🏉 Which players have forced their way into future Test squads? Join Xola and Sim for another informed rugby conversation as they unpack the biggest stories from the international game.

This week on That Rugby Union Show , Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa unpack another bold Springbok team selection as Rassie Erasmus hands four players their Test debuts against Wales. But the bigger discussion isn't simply who has been selected—it's how South Africa continues to produce world-class Test players at a rate unmatched in international rugby. Is the Springbok "factory" now the gold standard for player development? The guys also preview the clash with Wales in Durban, discuss what success should look like for the Boks, and examine the areas Rassie will still want to improve despite an encouraging start to the Nations Championship. Elsewhere, attention turns to Eden Park, where Ireland attempt to do what so few teams have managed over the past three decades—beat the All Blacks on one of rugby's most iconic grounds. Plus, they preview the rest of the weekend's Nations Championship fixtures, discuss France's continued rise, Australia's search for answers, England's momentum, and the biggest talking points from another massive weekend of international rugby. The episode also follows Coca-Cola's Be a Bok campaign, featuring this week's winners, Antoinette Groenewald and Brian Cook , and showing how supporters can experience life inside the Springbok camp.

This week on That Rugby Union Show , Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa unpack another impressive Springbok victory over England before looking ahead to Scotland's challenge in the second Test. The guys discuss the Bok breakdown dominance, the growing injury concerns around key players, and what Rassie's side still needs to improve despite another convincing performance. They also dive into rugby's biggest talking point off the field: is the Nations Championship the first real step towards a true global rugby season? With North and South finally facing off in meaningful fixtures, has international rugby finally found the structure fans have been waiting for? Plus, we highlight Coca-Cola's Be a Bok campaign and meet the first winner of 2026, who gets the opportunity of a lifetime to experience life inside the Springbok camp. In this episode: Springboks vs England review Scotland preview Bok injury concerns Is rugby entering a new era? Coca-Cola's Be a Bok campaign Hosted by Xola Ntshinga & Simnikiwe Xabanisa

Welcome back to That Rugby Union Show — and tonight we’re deep-diving into the chaos that is South African rugby’s new secret weapon:the 15th man… who’s actually already off the field.Yes, the Boks are back in action against Ireland — and after last week’s “14 men is enough” masterclass, Xola and Sim unpack whether South Africa genuinely plays better when someone’s in the changeroom drinking Guinness.In this episode:🔥 The big one — Boks vs Ireland: where the game will be won🔥 Why South Africa’s depth is so absurd it breaks World Rugby’s ranking system🔥 Tactical matchups: Irish structure vs Bok violence🔥 The psychological edge: why Ireland look like they’re seeing ghosts🔥 Are we witnessing a new era where the ‘sent-off’ Bok becomes the designated beer-holder?🔥 Plus: viewer predictions, hot takes, and the usual straight talk you won’t hear on TVAnd yes, we’ll be addressing the international meltdown over the “14-man Springbok ranking”… including why the AI supercomputer laughed when asked if Ireland could win.👇 Drop your score predictions.👇 Who’s your “15th man”? (Actual player or the guy with the Guinness.)That Rugby Union ShowHosted by Xola Ntshinga & Sim XabanisaThe only rugby show where the analysis hits as hard as a Bok cleanout.

The Springboks got it done in Paris — and Xola Ntshinga & Sim Xabanisa break down everything from an emotional, physical, beautifully ugly South Africa vs France showdown. This episode covers: How the Boks controlled the chaos and forced France to play on South Africa’s terms France’s emotional overload — the spy talk, the leaks, the revenge story, and why it all backfired exactly as predicted The key tactical shifts : 6–2 bench impact, pressure on France’s inexperienced props, the Bok back-three battle, and their defensive organisation The milestones — Kolisi’s 100th, Rassie’s 50th — and how both shaped the attitude and calmness of the Boks The turning points France couldn’t manage without Dupont’s influence or pack stability Mind games that mattered and why France still haven’t fully recovered from 2023 What this win means for the rest of the season and where both teams go from here Straight rugby talk. Zero PR. No sugar-coating. Follow the podcast • Turn on notifications • Rate the show Send us your thoughts on the match — we’ll read them on the next episode.

South Africa have done it again. The Springboks retained the Rugby Championship after a nail-biting 29–27 win over Argentina at Twickenham , clinching the title on points difference. Both the Boks and All Blacks finished on 19 log points, but Rassie’s men held their superior +57 margin to keep the crown. Xola and Sim break down every moment from Twickenfontein — no guests, just straight Bok analysis and sharp rugby talk. 🇿🇦 Back-to-Back Kings It wasn’t pretty, but it was powerful. Two tries each from Malcolm Marx and Cobus Reinach anchored a dominant set-piece display, while the Pumas’ late surge tested Bok nerve to the limit. 🇦🇷 Pumas Bring the Fight Felipe Contepomi’s side came to disrupt — and nearly did. A late try had fans on edge, but South Africa’s discipline and tactical kicking saw them home. 🇳🇿 All Blacks Fall Just Short New Zealand beat Australia in Perth, but their inferior +8 points difference left them chasing shadows. The Boks’ Durban demolition job ultimately sealed the deal. 🧠 In this episode: How Marx and Reinach powered the win Tactical discipline under pressure Rassie & Kolisi’s mindset shift Why Perth still mattered What’s next: the northern tour and the Championship’s evolution New chaos drops every week — follow for raw Bok breakdowns wherever you listen.

Xola Ntshinga and Sim Xabanisa break down a massive Test week as the Springboks take on France in Paris — loaded with history, emotion and two years of simmering tension. With Siya Kolisi’s 100th Test and Rassie Erasmus’ 50th , the stakes couldn’t be higher. In this episode: Kolisi’s centurion form France’s spy allegations and leaked team drama Rassie’s mind-games Missing DuPont, Aldritt omission, inexperienced front row The 6–2 bench battle Tactical match-ups and pressure moments Why the 2023 quarter-final still haunts France Follow the show, switch on notifications, and rate the podcast. Send your match prediction: Who wins “Le Grudge”?

Rugby is entering a new era. Xola Ntshinga and Sim Xabanisa unpack SANZAAR’s bold 2026–2030 plan — the pause of The Rugby Championship, the rise of the Nations Cup, and the move toward a global season. Pat Lambie joins the show to reflect on the changes, player safety, and the next evolution of the game. From concussion awareness to the All Blacks’ massive 2026 tour, this episode dives deep into rugby’s biggest transformation in decades. 🎧 Listen now and follow “That Rugby Union Show” for new episodes every week. 💬 Send us your voice note or message on Spotify — tell us if you back the new plan or think it’s gone too far. 📺 Watch the full video version on YouTube: That Rugby Union Channel

In this episode, Xola Ntshinga speaks with former Springbok flyhalf André Pretorius , who now coaches in Japan’s League One. Pretorius reflects on the toughest lesson of his career — the Test he says he “lost for South Africa” — and how that moment shaped his philosophy as a coach. He shares rare insight into Jake White’s influence , the importance of discomfort in elite rugby, and the emotional intelligence required to coach across cultures. From breaking language barriers to building trust in Japan’s rigid rugby system, Pretorius reveals how simplicity and empathy can unlock performance. The discussion turns to South African rugby — the Lions’ ongoing struggles , the Currie Cup’s brutal schooling , and the question of leadership in a divided system. Honest, humble, and sharp — this is rugby insight from a man who’s lived both sides of the game. Follow That Rugby Union Show for weekly rugby conversations that go deeper than the scoreline.