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THE AFTERMATCH

Kirstie Stanway-Thorne

Come for the rugby, stay for The Aftermatch. Join Stephen Donald & Kirstie Stanway every week for the best unfiltered stories, fresh perspectives and unique insights into rugby union.

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  • 40 episodes
  • Avg 26 min
  • English

Episodes 40

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  • Yesterday · 12 min

    “All Blacks Team Reaction, Do the Boks need a cricket score? Breaking down every round four match.”

    0:00 - Intro: the triple-dose week, and the All Blacks team named for Scotland 0:23 - Beav's reaction: "I actually love the team" 0:56 - Every game on this tour is a must-win 1:42 - Bushbuck All Blacks reaction: the bench surprises 2:06 - Tempo and speed: what the bench says about the plan 2:49 - How many points at Murrayfield? Those miserable conditions 3:59 - Mike Blair returns to Murrayfield, plus Scotland's threats 4:56 - Round four: Italy v South Africa and the points-difference chase 6:47 - Beav's backflip on France beating South Africa, then Wales v Japan 7:34 - France v Fiji: Jake White's new look 8:21 - The game of the round: England v Australia, Monday 4am 8:47 - What it tells us about the Wallabies and the All Blacks 10:07 - Let's not discount England: Kirst's view 10:27 - The forward battle at Twickenham, and who's back for the Wallabies 11:58 - Sign-off: give us your round four predictions

  • Yesterday · 13 min

    BEAVER'S BUNKER: Analysing Finn Russell's brilliance

    0:00 - Intro: a double Beaver's Bunker with Platinum Homes 0:20 - Why Finn Russell is worth watching 1:07 - Kirst's Damian McKenzie dig: "now you consider him a ten?" 1:23 - Clip one: beating two tacklers and the chip-and-chase v England 2:28 - Are the All Blacks all instinctive players? 2:36 - Clip two: the pass only a few would throw v the Springboks 3:49 - How do you shut down players this unpredictable? 4:40 - Clip three: Finn Russell's vision and finding mismatches 5:40 - Spotting the weak part of the field again, v South Africa 6:34 - Organising the backs and forwards: the Wales and Ireland clips 8:27 - Twelve phases without touching the ball: the try v Ireland 9:39 - Do all top tens control the forwards like this? 9:53 - How a ten and a nine talk to each other 10:55 - Could he fit into a top-three team? Finn Russell and Dupont 11:37 - Scotland at the top table, and the Nations Championship final 12:17 - What chance do Scotland have against the All Blacks? 13:10 - He'll have his moments: the Sunday morning kick-off 13:29 - Sign-off: tell us what you've noticed

  • Monday · 14 min

    “Nations Championship preview: all the maths, the kingmakers, and our picks for who makes the final.”

    0:00 - Intro: the Platinum Homes Blueprint for the Nations Championship0:44 - Beav the sceptic, now lured in by the competition1:14 - Both teams could go undefeated and still miss the final1:43 - How the Nations Championship works, explained simply3:02 - Finals weekend in London: who plays who3:29 - South Africa and NZ locked on 15 points4:09 - Why South Africa's run home is tougher4:33 - The game that determines everything: South Africa v France5:27 - Who wins at Stade de France?6:30 - What a Springbok loss means for the All Blacks' path6:45 - The smokies: Scotland, England and Ireland7:14 - Scotland's bonus-point chances, and Argentina the kingmaker7:50 - Our predictions: who makes the final?8:27 - Beav defends his picks and South Africa's tough run9:02 - Why Scotland in the final would be enormous9:32 - Argentina: kingmaker or king destroyer?10:38 - Is there anything in it for Argentina?11:06 - Who will be the most influential player on tour?11:45 - The superstars on show, from Finn Russell to Dupont12:55 - Beav's pick: Jordie Barrett, the All Blacks' player of the year13:10 - Sign-off & the push to 20,000 subscribers13:49 - The Murrayfield try-fest: points prediction

  • October 27 · 24 min

    Leicester Fainga’anuku is officially a hybrid player! Kirst was right about Damian McKenzie. Plus the 36-man squad and Northland’s NPC final run.”

    0:00 - Intro: Rennie names his 36-man end-of-year tour squad0:16 - Beav on the depth built since South Africa0:48 - Who's the unluckiest player to miss out?1:52 - Outside backs and why defence mattered in selection2:29 - Damian McKenzie listed at first five, and Kirst's theory2:56 - Richie Mo'unga's fitness for the Wales game3:41 - Christian Lio-Willie's return in the loose forwards5:12 - Leicester Fainga'anuku confirmed as a hybrid player7:15 - What excites you most? The uncapped players8:36 - The big movers in the squad9:07 - How many new players can break into the World Cup group?10:44 - Why this tour is a trial before the World Cup12:03 - Bunker teaser: the end-of-year tour preview12:33 - The NPC final: Northland's incredible season14:44 - David v Goliath: the semi-pro story that almost happened15:03 - Black Magic All Black of the Week: George Bell16:40 - Bushbuck Moment: Canterbury's second-half comeback17:38 - Isaac Hutchinson, the local boy the Chiefs sent back18:48 - Giving Canterbury their flowers: back-to-back champions19:28 - Where do Northland's players go next?20:48 - Why the NPC is still a great competition21:44 - Kudos to the NPC social media content creators22:05 - Rating the NPC season: 10 out of 10

  • October 19 · 34 min

    Vintage Beauden Barrett, overreacting to D-Mac at 10 & Northland’s fairytale run to the NPC final!

    0:00 - Vintage Beauden Barrett in Sydney0:46 - Why everyone's happy for Barrett after a tricky year1:27 - Rating the performance2:14 - Beav's first day out at Homebush3:28 - Bushbuck Moment: Beauden Barrett's intercept try4:55 - Barrett's World Cup case, and writing people off5:45 - Damian McKenzie at ten: Kirst the "reactionary"7:17 - Could Barrett at 15 and McKenzie at 10 work?9:12 - Over to the comments: is Kirst overreacting?9:42 - Who else can change a game like Damian McKenzie?10:52 - Pace, Jorgensen and Tom Wright: the Wallabies' bright spots13:20 - All Blacks depth: is anyone irreplaceable?14:23 - Wallace Sititi's return and the loose forward depth15:42 - Is Peter Lakai an automatic selection?18:30 - How a makeshift midfield clicked after one game together19:40 - Black Magic All Black of the Week: Codie Taylor21:26 - Vintage wine: Taylor and Barrett still peaking at 3522:28 - Special mention: Josh Moorby24:19 - What we've learned from the Bledisloe series26:06 - Damian McKenzie's flip pass (would Beav have tried it?)26:54 - Cam Roigard's try-saver, and the farcical TMO delay28:34 - The NPC final: Northland's incredible story31:23 - Why Northland are more than a feel-good story32:41 - The Labour Day final: Northland v Canterbury34:27 - Sign-off & Beaver's Bunker teaser

  • October 11 · 34 min

    All Blacks at an 8? How good can D-Mac be, plus Tana Umaga’s fiery spray Beav witnessed!

    00:00 – Bledisloe Cup: All Blacks Smash The Wallabies01:55 – All Blacks Rate Their 50-Point Performance03:49 – Rating The All Blacks: An Eight Out Of Ten?05:23 – Jordie Barrett: Best Player In The World?07:22 – Who Will Win World Rugby Player Of The Year?08:27 – Black Magic All Black Of The Week09:21 – The Barrett Brothers Back Together11:15 – Damian McKenzie’s Best Performance At 10?14:22 – Should D-Mac Be The All Blacks’ First Five?16:59 – Bushbuck Moment: Tupou Vaa’i’s Brilliant Try18:28 – Cam Roigard Is A World-Class No. 920:31 – The All Blacks Win The Aerial Battle21:29 – Leroy Carter’s Injury And The Hip-Drop Debate22:39 – All Blacks Injury Crisis: Who’s Next?23:40 – What Went Wrong For The Wallabies?25:55 – The All Blacks Bench Makes The Difference27:43 – Could The Wallabies Get Even Better?30:19 – How Tana Umaga Fired Up The All Blacks33:35 – The Bledisloe Cup Record That’s Lasted A Generation34:27 – Who Deserves World Player Of The Year?

  • October 7 · 18 min

    Beaver's Bunker: breaking down Australia's win over the Boks, & the blueprint to stop them.

    0:00 - Breaking down the Wallabies' win over the Springboks2:00 - The McReight–Wilson one-two punch off the line out3:23 - Harry Wilson's X-factor and playmaking instincts3:52 - The back three skill clip: four perfectly executed passes7:05 - The Lonergan box-kick blueprint, and Len Ikitau's role7:51 - Targeting Suaalii and Jorgensen in the air9:46 - Why Suaalii was moved to the wing to use his aerial threat11:14 - High praise for the Wallabies' halfback12:00 - Three keys for the All Blacks this week: contain McReight & Wilson, match the skill level, win the kicking battle12:27 - Side note: the URC box-kick rucking farce13:05 - Where the Springboks actually hurt the Wallabies15:40 - Targeting the Wallabies' scrum late in games15:51 - Is this genuinely a good sign for the Wallabies' World Cup hopes?16:09 - Why Saturday won't be a clash of styles, but a shootout

  • October 6 · 19 min

    Bledisloe Cup preview! The All Blacks just got scarier, why the Wallabies are dangerous, who makes the 23's & win fishing gear!

    00:00 – Bledisloe Cup Is Finally Here00:48 – All Blacks Squad: Two Huge Returns02:07 – The Barrett Brothers Back Together02:35 – Shannon Frizell: Man Amongst Boys03:32 – Counties’ Incredible Shield Turnaround05:19 – Bushbuck Moment: The Magic Of The Shield06:20 – Who Starts For The All Blacks?08:36 – Four Huge All Blacks Injuries10:16 – Who Makes The All Blacks 23?11:32 – Picking the All Blacks Loose Trio 12:54 – Who Gets The Loose Forward Spots?13:16 – Win Prizes: Pick The Starting Loose Trio13:38 – How Do The All Blacks Win?15:50 – Why Eden Park Is So Special17:41 – Who Will Be Black Magic Player Of The Week?19:10 – Beav’s Bunker Teaser

  • September 22 · 32 min

    Boks vs Wallabies preview, Handre Pollard's near miss and the Ma'a Nonu haka moment, and a

    00:47 - Beav's back in the comments section1:58 - Bushbuck Moment debate: Fitzpatrick vs the Ma'a Nonu haka3:12 - Betty's comment: the moment that choked up the stadium3:38 - Your unsung heroes: Handre Pollard and Bodie4:01 - How close Pollard came to starting in Cape Town6:24 - Jordie Barrett's all-round performance, praised by fans6:48 - Your Springbok picks: Marx, Kolbe, Wiese & Etzebeth8:35 - Rookie of the tour: Morné van den Berg9:45 - The Boks' missing players — and how deep their stocks run11:01 - The brutal All Blacks injury list from the tour12:59 - Losing Ardie Savea & Luke Jacobson: reshaping the loose trio14:48 - Could Scott Barrett's return be timely?15:04 - The midfield injury hit: Lienert-Brown, Tupaea & Proctor18:00 - Black Magic Player of the Week: James Ramm's rise20:55 - Could more overseas Aussies sneak into World Cup squads?23:38 - Taranaki's dream NPC season continues23:48 - Bushbuck Moment: Kini Naholo's try24:44 - Taranaki's stacked Super Rugby-laden squad25:43 - Platinum Homes Blueprint: previewing Boks vs Wallabies in Perth28:10 - Why the Wallabies are flying under the radar29:10 - The stat that could favour Les Kiss and the Wallabies30:28 - Is Beav sniffing out an upset?32:05 - Sign-off & push to 20,000 subscribers

  • September 15 · 29 min

    Humbled but confident: Full series review, Marx, Ardie & the moment that said it all.

    0:00 - Intro: the postmortem, and why this was the greatest series ever0:50 - The rivalry's return after 30 years, and how it delivered2:44 - Award #1: Best Moment — Ardie Savea's gesture5:45 - Beav's moment: the scrum 6:51 - Award #2: Unsung Player — Kyle Preston the roofer8:14 - Honourable mention: Tupou Vaa'i's versatility at six and lock9:05 - Beauden Barrett's role as water boy and mentor11:04 - Award #3: Player of the Tour15:11 - Rookies of the tour17:01 - Confidence check: 12 months out from the World Cup18:52 - What the All Blacks need to work on before then21:25 - The players missed: Scott Barrett, Fainga'anuku & more24:37 - Diving into the Springboks: why they're so dominant26:41 - Malcolm Marx, Eben Etzebeth & the forward pack's depth28:49 - Final prediction: a World Cup quarter-final in Sydney29:05 - Sign-off & call for comments

  • September 14 · 16 min

    Review or post-mortem? A Springboks masterclass & why small wingers are more dangerous than ever!

    00:00 – Springboks Make Us Eat Humble Pie01:30 – What Was Going On With The Technology?!03:05 – Springboks Set The Standard04:57 – Kurt-Lee Arendse: The Small Winger Causing Chaos06:28 – How Close Were The All Blacks?07:00 – The Big Referee Momentum Swings09:07 – Black Magic All Black Of The Week10:26 – Richie Mo’unga Is Back11:49 – Will Jordan Does It Again!12:49 – Cody Taylor’s Ultimate Warrior Moment14:49 – Baltimore Ticked Almost Every Box15:48 – Greatest Rivalry Series Is Better Than The Lions!

  • September 10 · 21 min

    "Beaver's Bunker: your questions answered, Ardie's cult status, and that scrum on another planet."

    0:00 - Beav back in New Zealand1:05 - Bigger than a Lions series? Reflecting on the tour1:25 - Could New Zealand match this atmosphere in 4 years?2:01 - The result: series lost 2-1, but one test still to go2:41 - Rating the All Blacks' first half: best rugby of the series?3:51 - Does it breach the 7.5 threshold?5:28 - Bushbuck Moment: Ardie Savea's second try6:44 - Ardie Savea's game — and a scary shoulder injury7:22 - Peter Lakai & Wallace Sititi's growing impact7:50 - Ardie Savea joins the all-time top try-scoring forwards8:30 - Where does Malcolm Marx rank on that list?9:17 - Malcolm Marx's swagger and physical dominance10:59 - Give the Boks their flowers: the scrum is elite11:34 - What Dave Rennie learned from this series13:52 - Black Magic All Black of the Week: Will Jordan15:26 - Open question box: send us your questions16:07 - Why the rest of the world is relieved right now

  • September 7 · 17 min

    Was this better than a Lions series? Give the Boks their flowers, Marx has swagger, & the north is happy these 2 meet in the RWC Quarters

    0:00 - Beav back in New Zealand1:05 - Bigger than a Lions series? Reflecting on the tour1:25 - Could New Zealand match this atmosphere in 4 years?2:01 - The result: series lost 2-1, but one test still to go2:41 - Rating the All Blacks' first half: best rugby of the series?3:51 - Does it breach the 7.5 threshold?5:28 - Bushbuck Moment: Ardie Savea's second try6:44 - Ardie Savea's game — and a scary shoulder injury7:22 - Peter Lakai & Wallace Sititi's growing impact7:50 - Ardie Savea joins the all-time top try-scoring forwards8:30 - Where does Malcolm Marx rank on that list?9:17 - Malcolm Marx's swagger and physical dominance10:59 - Give the Boks their flowers: the scrum is elite11:34 - What Dave Rennie learned from this series13:52 - Black Magic All Black of the Week: Will Jordan15:26 - Open question box: send us your questions16:07 - Why the rest of the world is relieved right now

  • September 4 · 14 min

    "Previewing the Soweto decider: keys to victory, and why SA is tougher than the World Cup."

    0:00 - Intro: double (maybe triple) episode week0:38 - Beav's Bunker note: catch last week's on Sky Sport NZ1:59 - How tough is it to win in South Africa?3:05 - Keys to victory: tempo, offloading & the high-ball battle5:00 - How to stop the Springboks getting into your 226:29 - Handre Pollard in?7:11 - Winning the advantage line: the key to both gameplans8:04 - Any changes to the All Blacks' 23?8:52 - Richie Mo'unga's role, banking experience for the World Cup9:50 - Who wins this test for the All Blacks?11:36 - Nullifying the Springboks' biggest threats13:23 - Soweto: the history, the stadium, the vuvuzelas14:03 - Sign-off & questions for the comments

  • August 24 · 15 min

    Lima Sopoaga live from safari, that huge scrum, and George Bower's 'give me the herbs' speech!

    0:00 - Reflecting on the win: relentless Boks, but composure held0:19 - The scrum that won the game0:53 - George Bower's "give me the herbs" team talk1:36 - The momentum swing & belief in the group2:06 - Well-worked tries, not fluky intercepts2:43 - The final 20 minutes: was this the plan all along?3:15 - "Can you bash us for eighty?" — Rennie's message4:12 - Proud of a new group under pressure5:21 - All Black of the Week5:51 - Fabian Holland's moment6:34 - Tupou Vaa'i's big role at six6:58 - Jordie Barrett's incredible stat line7:41 - Locking in Jordie for Black Magic All Black of the Week8:17 - Looking ahead: Cape Town 9:06 - Rassie calls the loss "catastrophic"9:42 - Lima's Cape Town recommendations10:21 - The touring Kiwi fans on safari

  • August 18 · 24 min

    Rassie's mind games, Boks' 'new Dan Carter', Jordie to win it & the biggest game of Ardie's career?

    0:00 - 3 from 3 on tour, test one is here0:40 - South African braai vs Kiwi calamari1:50 - The mind games: Rennie's honesty vs Rassie's tactics3:04 - Rassie fronts a referee at the press conference4:32 - Does crowd pressure subconsciously sway the ref?5:49 - Why the Springboks delayed naming their team7:24 - Who starts at 10 for the Springboks?8:32 - Is Damian McKenzie fit to play?10:17 - Tupou Vaa'i six, and the bench picks11:18 - Keys to an All Blacks victory: winning up front14:56 - The kicking game, discipline & the aerial battle17:15 - Key players: Codie Taylor's experience up front18:35 - The best second five in the world: Jordie Barrett20:58 - Nobody's talking about our captain: Ardie Savea22:13 - The biggest test since the World Cup final23:14 - Kirst's plea: no cards to decide this game23:35 - Sign-off & tease for Beav's Bunker

  • August 13 · 26 min

    CONRAD SMITH JOINS THE AFTERMATCH! "Bakkies Botha pinned me down, the brought me a beer." Yarns for days with Conrad.

    0:00 - Intro: Conrad Smith joins the Greatest Rivalry series1:40 - Preparing mentally for a week against the Boks4:55 - His first taste of an All Blacks–Boks test was intense!6:38 - The try in Bloemfontein7:53 - Jean de Villiers & Jacques Fourie: his toughest opponents10:01 - Comparing the two midfields: enforcer vs organiser11:26 - The toughest player he ever had to defend13:42 - Touring life: golf, safaris & the apartheid museum17:39 - Why his partnership with Ma'a worked so well20:24 - Could Conrad pull off Ma'a's solo haka?22:10 - Richie McCaw's legendary wake-up call before a tour22:50 - His favourite Boks memory: John Smit's 100th test24:00 - Beating each other up, then best mates in the sheds

  • August 10 · 27 min

    WARNING: A street fight is coming!

    1:18 - "It's always gonna turn into a street fight"3:05 - Leroy Carter and Peter Lakai4:09 - The young Ardie Savea comparison4:30 - The (three) lessons learned from game one6:07 - We're playing a different game of rugby now6:43 -We are in the entertainment game?7:37 - Does the referee's home country change the calls?8:05 - How the All Blacks need to adapt9:17 - Dave Rennie confirms the high-ball tactic10:48 - Black Magic All Black of the Week: Rieko Ioane13:24 - The Rieko Ioane redemption story14:32 - Why Durban ranks #2 on Beav's tour card16:44 - King's Park, braais & the local nightclub17:16 - Beav heads to South Africa17:55 - Breaking down the team named for game two19:15 - The debutants19:50 - Three names Beav's excited to watch21:05 - Has Dave Rennie already locked in his 23?21:43 - The back three: Fehi, McKenzie & Caleb Clark22:49 - Semisi's underdog story25:13 - Ma'a Nonu's return, aged 44, for the Sharks26:59 - Sign-off & tease for Thursday's interview

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