8/9 Rugby

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series was flipped on its head with the All Blacks winning the First Test in Johannesburg, and now the Springboks must regroup to get that series back on level ground. MW Welman from Megafoon Rugby joined Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby to outline exactly how far the First Test loss runs for Springboks fans.

There’s no doubt the Ellis Park result has shaken not just rugby fans, but all of South Africa. The reaction in the immediate aftermath and the days since has been described as “funereal”, after New Zealand pulled off a win that wasn’t totally unexpected, but still never really entered the conversation. It’s fair to say there’s been some soul-searching in Republic this week.

Also, Brett shares some thoughts on the Wallabies in Argentina, and why the two-Test tour presents plenty of opportunity and danger in equal amounts.

#89Rugby #Wallabies #GreatestRivalry #Springboks #AllBlacks #RSAvNZL

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Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport

Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio)

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A quite incredible opening to the Greatest Rivalry Series has seen New Zealand outlast South Africa 33-16 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. In what could well be an instant classic in this stories rivalry, the All Blacks scored 5 tries in 1 despite being at times dominated by the Springboks’ set piece game, before the scoreboard pressure simply became too much for the home side, silencing the parochial home crowd in the process.

Plenty for both teams to work on ahead of next weekend’s 2nd Test in Cape Town, but wow, what a way to start the series.

#rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #GreatestRivalry #RSAvNZL #Springboks #AllBlacks

Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts

Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby’ on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too

And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/

Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport

Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series now moves into the Test Matches, with the Springboks and All Blacks facing off in the First Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg this weekend. Harry Jones makes a welcome return to 8/9 Rugby to get into the weeds around what’s happened so far, and what happens from here.

Harry’s new concept of carry-pass-ruck as a new measure for how teams are playing makes for a really interesting preview, with the All Blacks’ combined number on Tour pushing back up toward their very high Nations Championship levels, while the Springboks’ number stayed low against Argentina a few weeks back. Where South Africa have been caught out in the past – the Wallabies at Ellis Park last year, for eg – has been when their ‘CPR’ number climbs unusually high.

#89Rugby #Wallabies #GreatestRivalry #Springboks #AllBlacks #RSAvNZL

Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts

Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby’ on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too

And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/

Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport

Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio)

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A much better showing from the Wallabies in Townsville, with a dominant front row and breakdown leading to a big win over Japan. Geoff Parkes joined Brett McKay once for the immediate reaction to an impressive performance at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

#rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #AustraliavJapan #AUSvJPN #Wallabies #Wallabies #JapanSeries

Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts

Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby’ on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too

And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/

Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport

Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A much better showing from the Wallabies in Townsville, with a dominant front row and breakdown leading to a big win over Japan. Geoff Parkes joined Brett McKay once for the immediate reaction to an impressive performance at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

#rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #AustraliavJapan #AUSvJPN #Wallabies #Wallabies #JapanSeries

Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts

Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby’ on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too

And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/

Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport

Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices