The Lekker Rugby Pod!

Harry Jones and MW Welman

The ever-curious MW Welman and globetrotting rugby poet Harry Jones explore the people, ideas and moments shaping South African rugby and the world game. From in-depth discussions about the Springboks to detailed match analysis, this podcast offers expert previews and reviews of both local and international matches. We also explore the wider world of rugby, covering everything from player stories to the latest news and trends. Whether you're a seasoned rugby enthusiast or just discovering the sport, there's something here for everyone. Tune in and enjoy engaging conversations that celebrate th

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S1 · E218
Wednesday · 50 min
Episode 218: Analysing A Loss: Bulls Game Drivers, Stormers Lineouts and Springbok Defence Concerns
Why did the Bulls and Stormers both come up short, and how does a team work out what really went wrong?Harry Jones joins MW Welman on the Lekker Rugby Pod to analyse their losses properly, using the Bulls' defeat to Munster and the Stormers' defeat to Edinburgh as the working examples. Harry brings the numbers, and they ask whether a loss comes down to one fixable problem or to something bigger in how a team plays. The conversation also turns to the Springboks, where the tries conceded this season raise questions of their own.In this episode:- How a team diagnoses a loss, and what gets looked at first- The Bulls, the Stormers and the role of game drivers- Lineouts, kick retention and the numbers behind the results- Springbok defence concerns and the latest on Harry's 33
S1 · E217
September 30 · 50 min
Episode 217: Was Perth a Test Match or an Obligation? | Lekker Rugby Pod
Was Perth a proper Test match, or a fixture the Springboks simply had to get through?Harry Jones watched the Wallabies win at 2:45am, under the covers in Northern California, and came away with two theories. Either Rassie Erasmus used 13 changes to run a deliberate stress test, or 17 weeks on the road finally caught up with a tired squad. MW Welman isn't convinced the experiment was worth running at all.They weigh up what the coaches learned about Aphelele Fassi, Andre Esterhuizen's captaincy and a defence that has conceded more tries every year since 2023, and ask whether Jerry Flannery's system is working.Then it's over to the URC: why the Stormers built a high-carry game for 4G pitches, what Johan Ackermann wants from the Bulls, and the Kwagga Smith rumours.In this episode:- Perth: stress test or obligation?- The Springbok defence and the numbers behind it- Harry's 33-man World Cup squad- The Stormers on 4G and the Bulls' fast start
S1 · E216
September 23 · 40 min
Episode 216: Should Rassie's Perth Team Have Alarm Bells Ringing? | Brett McKay on Lekker
Brett McKay is back on the Lekker Rugby Pod, and the old 8-9 Combo chemistry with Harry is still there. With the Wallabies out of sight and out of mind for most Bok fans, Brett brings us up to speed on who's actually in this squad, the breakout names, the shifting combinations, and what Les Kiss has built since taking over. Separately, Rassie has named a heavily rotated Springbok side for Perth, and we dig into the selection logic behind who's in and who's rested. We also revisit the last time these two sides met, when South Africa underestimated the Wallabies and paid for it, and ask whether that lesson has actually been learned this time around.
S1 · E215
September 21 · 39 min
Episode 215: "It's the Only Question": Charlie Morgan on How You Actually Beat the Boks | Lekker Rugby Pod
How do you actually beat the Springboks?Times rugby correspondent Charlie Morgan joins MW Welman and Harry Jones on the Lekker Rugby Pod to break down the Springboks' 3-1 series win over the All Blacks, and the question every rival coach is now asking. Charlie walks through the margins that decided each Test, the shape of André Esterhuizen's hybrid role, and why New Zealand's plan to target Grant Williams at scrumhalf nearly worked.In this episode:- Charlie's headline predictions from the start of the series, and how close they came to being wrong- Why the fourth Test in Baltimore was the most convincing Springbok performance of the series- The hybrid role Andre Esterhuizen is building, and what it does to a defensive coach's plans- Charlie's combined Greatest Rivalry XV, and where he had to leave All Blacks outIf 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 Charlie Morgan of the Times.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/@megafoonrugby"It's the Only Question": Charlie Morgan on How You Actually Beat the Boks | Lekker Rugby Pod0:00 Analyzing the Springboks' Dominance1:29 Fine Margins and Momentum Swings7:26 How Do You Beat the Springboks?10:16 Depth Disparities and Squad Rotation16:21 Layering Attacking Threats34:14 The Role of the Hybrid Player
S1 · E216
September 16 · 52 min
Episode 214: Why The Springboks' Ageing Squad Isn't A Crisis | Jon Cardinelli
How many of this Springbok squad will still be standing come the next World Cup?Jon Cardinelli joins MW and Harry to unpack the age profile question hanging over Rassie Erasmus's squad, the piece that's had rugby fans arguing all week. Half of the group that lifted the trophy last time round will be over 35 by the next tournament. So where does the balance sit between keeping the winners in the fold and getting the next generation ready in time?In this episode:- Why Cobus Reinach and Deon Fourie keep defying the usual ageing curve- The positions where depth is thin and the ones where it isn't- Cameron Hanekom, Ethan Hooker and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's cases to be trusted sooner- What Rassie's alignment camps really tell you about who's still in the picture
S1 · E213
September 13 · 45 min
Episode 213: What Did It Look Like When Rennie Conceded? Harry Was There | Lekker Rugby Pod
Not every ending gets a camera in the room. This one had Harry Jones.Harry was standing in the bowels of Baltimore's stadium when Dave Rennie turned to Rassie Erasmus and conceded the series, then got a few private minutes with Rassie himself afterwards. He brings that moment back first-hand, along with the scenes across the diaspora in Baltimore, Rassie's own account of how close the fourth test actually stayed, and a hard look at a double standard nobody in rugby seems willing to name.In this episode:- Harry's eyewitness account of the Rennie-Rassie handshake backstage in Baltimore- The diaspora atmosphere across the city, from the tailgates to the press box- Rassie Erasmus, one-on-one, on how close the fourth test actually stayed- Neil Barnes' repeated complaints about officiating, and what has happened to other coaches for less
S1 · E212
September 9 · 53 min
Episode 212: Three Epic Springboks vs All Blacks Tests: What Really Hit Home | Gráinne Seoige
Three Tests into Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, and the neutral voice in the room isn't feeling very neutral anymore.Gráinne Seoige is back, and by now she's not claiming any distance from this rivalry. What she brings instead is a perspective that's genuinely her own, close enough to feel it, far enough outside to see it differently from either side. She joins MW Welman and Harry Jones to look back on a series that's had the whole rugby world talking, a scrum row that turned into the most talked-about moment of the tour, and a casual throw that had two nations arguing about sportsmanship.In this episode:- Why the Dan Human scrum row became the moment nobody saw coming- Ox Nché's own explanation for the catch that had everyone talking- Cobus Reinach, Cam Roigard, and the throw that split opinion- What three Tests have actually proven, with Baltimore now on the horizon
S1 · E211
September 7 · 1 hr 5 min
Episode 211: Quickfire Verdicts: Harry and Arrie Put on the Spot Over Roigard, Scrums & Baltimore | Lekker Rugby
Does the fourth Test in Baltimore actually count, or has this series already been decided?Harry Jones and Arrie Hougaard join MW Welman for a rapid-fire yes-or-no gauntlet on Test Three of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Tour, before the conversation opens up into everything the numbers alone can't explain.Cam Roigard's Oscar-worthy tumble gets picked apart frame by frame, alongside Malcolm Marx's total control of the set piece and the gesture that had everyone talking.In this episode:- Harry and Arrie face a yes-or-no gauntlet on the biggest calls from Test Three- Cam Roigard's dive, the hip-toss behind it, and whether the referee got the call right- Malcolm Marx's dominance and the case for him being the best player in the world right now- Manie Libbok's form and whether he's the Springboks' first-choice ten heading into BaltimoreIf 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 is joined by Harry Jones and Arrie Hougaard.
#210
September 4 · 1 hr 3 min
Episode 210: Has The Needle Moved Back To The Springboks? | Tony Johnson on Lekker Rugby Pod
What does it actually take to move the needle in the greatest rivalry in world rugby?Legendary Kiwi commentator Tony Johnson joins Harry Jones and MW Welman on the Lekker Rugby Pod to break down Test Three of the Greatest Rivalry series, with the Springboks and All Blacks locked at one apiece heading into the decider at FNB Stadium.In this episode:• Tony explains why he believes the needle has swung since the second Test• Dave Rennie's changes for the decider, and what they reveal about his thinking• The players from both sides quietly building their reputations on this tour• Why Tony rates this as one of the greatest rivalries in all of sport, not just rugby
S1 · E209
September 3 · 52 min
Episode 209: André Pretorius Breaks Down The Springboks' Defence and The All Blacks' Attack
Is the Springbok defence actually cracking late in matches, or are the All Blacks just playing that cleverly?Harry Jones and MW Welman are joined by the technical, patient and uncompromising André Pretorius, the World Cup winning Springbok flyhalf now coaching in Japan, for a complete breakdown of both sides of the ball. They dig into where the Springbok defensive system holds up, where it breaks down, and how patient and clever the All Blacks have been in picking it apart, phase after phase.In this episode:- Why the Springbok defence fades in the closing stages of both Tests- How the All Blacks use an extra set of hands to isolate Jesse Kriel- Why Cam Roigaard is one of the hardest scrumhalves in world rugby to read- What André wants to see change before the series decider
S1 · E208
September 2 · 51 min
Episode 208: The Two Things The All Blacks Need To Marry To Complete The Package | Martin Devlin
What would it take for the All Blacks to finally become the complete package?Martin Devlin joins MW and Harry from Cape Town, days after South Africa levelled the series in a brutal second test, and just before the decider in Johannesburg. Devlin is honest about where this All Blacks side actually stands, what went wrong in that first half, and what still separates a talented team from a complete one.In this episode:- Devlin's honest breakdown of the Cape Town loss and where the All Blacks got caught cold- Why he believes defending a lead is the mark of a champion team, and what that says about the Boks- The two things Devlin says the All Blacks must marry to become the complete package- What the age and freshness of both squads could mean heading into the World CupThis series has lived up to every bit of its billing, and neither side is done making its case for who's really number one in the world.If you enjoy the show, the best thing you can do is LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the BELL so you never miss an episode.
S1 · E207
August 30 · 45 min
Episode 207: Dave Rennie's Big Red Telephone to World Rugby, and What It Cost the Scrum
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.
S1 · E205
August 27 · 49 min
Episode 205: Rassie Said Devlin's A Very Interesting Podcaster! See How He Reacted | Martin Devlin
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
S1 · E204
August 26 · 1 hr 9 min
Episode 204: Here's How the Boks Really Lost the Attack Set Battle | Lekker Rugby Pod
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.
S1 · E203
August 23 · 49 min
Episode 203: The Rennie Effect: How the All Blacks Fooled the Springboks | Two Cents Rugby on Lekker
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
S1 · E202
August 21 · 49 min
Episode 202: André Pretorius: "The All Blacks Need At Least 4 Tries to Beat This Bok Defence | Lekker Rugby Pod"
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
S1 · E200
August 19 · 32 min
Episode 200: What We Love (and Hate) About the All Blacks | Lekker Rugby Pod Special
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.
S1 · E201
August 19 · 59 min
Episode 201: Martin Devlin Says The All Blacks Will Win. We Say Why They Won't. | Lekker Rugby Pod
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.
S1 · E199
August 16 · 58 min
Episode 199: Three Megafoon Shows Combine to Pick the Springbok Team (Special Crossover)
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.
S1 · E198
August 12 · 30 min
Episode 198: Is New Zealand Rugby Living In A Bubble? Martin Devlin Responds | Lekker Rugby Pod
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

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