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.
This weekend, it’s squeaky bum time for every Bok fan from Bellville to Bloem. The Rugby Championship title hangs in the balance — and all roads lead to Twickenfontein, where the Springboks face Argentina with everything on the line.
Xola and Sim, no fluff — just pure Bok brainpower and banter as they break down the final round.
🇿🇦 Boks on the Brink
South Africa sit top with 15 points after torching Argentina 67–30 in Durban, but a simple win might not seal it. A bonus-point victory will slam the door on NZ and Australia and secure the trophy outright. Ox Nche returns, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu stays in the saddle after his 37-point heroics, and Damian de Allende is backing him to be the difference again.
🇦🇷 Pumas Reload
Felipe Contepomi’s made seven changes, shifting Carreras to fullback and giving Prisciantelli another shot at 10. Expect early fireworks.
🇳🇿🇦🇺 Eden Park Fallout & Perth Decider
NZ vs Australia is now about silverware scraps. Barrett’s back as captain, McKenzie starts at 10, and the Wallabies reshuffle for Slipper’s swansong. For SA, it only matters if the Boks stumble.
🧮 Championship Math
Bonus-point Bok win = Trophy secured.
Win without bonus = Open door for NZ/Aus.
Lose = URC time.
🔥 In this episode:
Tactical keys for Twickenham.
Can Sacha deliver under pressure abroad?
The real threat (if any) from NZ and Aus.
Where the title could be won or lost.
New chaos drops every week — hit follow and get your Bok fix wherever you are.
The dust has barely settled — and the Springboks have left Durban smoking. In this post-game breakdown, we unpack everything that mattered from a massive weekend of rugby.
🇿🇦 Boks in Full Beast ModeSouth Africa smashed Argentina 67–30, turning a tight first half into a second-half bloodbath.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu made history, scoring 37 points — the most ever by a Bok in a single Test. Tries from Pieter-Steph du Toit (2), Marx, Kolbe, Libbok, van den Berg and Sacha turned Kings Park into a demolition site.
The result puts the Boks top of the table, one step closer to the Championship crown.
🌍 Global Fallout
Eden Park Curse continues: Wallabies fall 33–24 to NZ.
Injury chaos: Beauden Barrett out (shoulder), McDermott sidelined, Skelton & Valetini recalled.
England Women crowned World Champions after beating Canada at Twickenham.
🧠 What We’re Breaking Down
How the Boks flipped the switch after halftime — tactics, depth, clinical finishing.
What Sacha’s record-breaking night means for Bok flyhalf succession.
Durban dominance: was this Rassie’s statement performance of the year?
Eden Park ripple effects — and what it means for the title race.
Quick hits: women’s final, injuries, coaching fallout.
No fluff. No filters. Just raw Bok analysis and weekend chaos.
Springbok legend Naas Botha joins That Rugby Union Show to unpack the Boks’ epic win over New Zealand — and what it really means for world rugby. Is this the end of All Blacks dominance… or just a team in transition?
In this episode:🇿🇦 Springboks’ new game plan — why it’s working.🇳🇿 All Blacks in crisis? Naas tells it straight.💰 Rugby’s broken system — why the sport must be run like a billion-dollar business.🏆 The global season debate — will it ever happen?🔥 Flyhalf battle: Manie vs Pollard vs the new kids.🇦🇷 Argentina threat in Durban — how the Boks should approach it.👩🦰 Women’s Rugby World Cup Final: England v Canada.
Naas pulls no punches. If you want straight talk on the Springboks, the All Blacks, and the future of rugby — this is essential listening. 🏉
This week, the Rugby Championship turned upside down:
Boks Smash ABs in WellingtonSouth Africa inflicted New Zealand’s worst ever home defeat, storming to a 43–10 win. Six tries, a second-half demolition, and a historic Springbok statement that left the All Blacks reeling.
Pumas Edge WallabiesArgentina shocked Australia 28–26 in Sydney. The Wallabies looked ready to close it out, but Carreras and the Pumas had other ideas, proving once again they’re no one’s supporting act.
Women’s World Cup ClasThe Black Ferns powered past South Africa 46–17 in the quarterfinals. The Boks women impressed early, but New Zealand’s pace and finishing secured their place in the semis.
Championship HeatMomentum is green and gold. The Springboks have flipped the table, the All Blacks are in crisis mode, and Argentina remain dangerous outsiders. The Rugby Championship just got spicy.
👉 New episodes drop every week.🎙️ Real rugby talk, no fluff.
This week on That Rugby Union Show:
Eden Park Fortress — The All Blacks extend their streak to 51 unbeaten at Eden Park with a 24–17 win over the Springboks. Narawa and Jordan struck early, Tupaea sealed it, and Robertson’s men defended like demons. Kolisi’s return wasn’t enough to break the Auckland curse.
Wallabies vs Pumas Chaos — Angus Bell crashes over in stoppage time to give Australia a dramatic 28–24 win. Eddie’s gamble to chase tries pays off, but Carreras kept Argentina in it until the very end.
Championship Heat — New Zealand lead the table on 10 points, Australia close behind on 9, with the Boks and Pumas stuck on 5 each. Next up: Wellington, where Erasmus hunts redemption.
Currie Cup Fire — Semi-final spots are on the line, and the rivalries are as brutal as the internationals.
This week we go deep on every angle of the game:
Eden Park drama – Ray Mordt joins us to relive his flour-bomb hat-trick from 1981, as the Springboks head back to Auckland with Siya Kolisi returning, Jesse Kriel leading, and Ardie Savea marking his 100th test. Can the Boks finally crack the Eden Park curse?
Wallabies vs Pumas – Harry Wilson and Tom Lynagh return to the Aussie lineup, but Carreras and Argentina smell blood.
Women’s Rugby World Cup – Canada’s Beukeboom sets a record, England lean on Matthews and Breach, and the Springbok Women push for a historic quarter-final breakthrough.
Currie Cup heat – Semi-final spots on the line, with local rivalries boiling over.
🎙️ Special guest: Ray Mordt
💚 Weekly chaos, sharp takes, and no fluff.
Follow That Rugby Union Show for the stories, the rivalries, and the rugby you actually care about.
Join us on That Rugby Union Show as we break down one of the most dismal Springbok performances in recent memory.
The Wallabies pulled off a historic comeback in Johannesburg, snapping a 62-year hoodoo with a stunning 38–22 victory. The Boks went from cruising at 22–0 to completely falling apart — six unanswered Aussie tries told the story.
We’ll unpack:
🏉 How the Springboks managed to implode after a dream start
🇦🇺 What this win means for the Wallabies going forward
🕵️ The worrying cracks in Bok tactics, fitness, and mental game
🔔 Subscribe for weekly match previews and rugby chaos
💚 Join the That Rugby Union Show community – don’t just be a spectator
👉 New episodes drop every week.
The Rugby Championship is here, and the Boks are about to throw down against a Wallaby side packed with muscle, mind games, and 35-year-old flyhalves.
In this episode, we go full tilt into Saturday's test in Johannesburg:
• Rassie’s early team selection antics – did it work?• Schmidt’s injury chaos and 6–2 bench split bluff• Siya Kolisi picked at No. 8 — why it could work (or blow up)• The Aussie front row is a truck stop – can the Bok scrum hold?• Match-ups to watch: Will Skelton vs Etzebeth, Manie Libbok vs the altitude• Score predictions and some vintage banter
🎙 Hosts:Xola Ntshinga and Sim Xabanisa.
If you enjoy the show, follow us, share it, and tell us who you’re backing.New episodes every week. The rivalry never rests. Neither do we.📱 Watch the video version on YouTube: @ThatRugbyUnion
This week on That Rugby Union Show, former Springbok lock Flip van der Merwe joins us for a straight-talking, no-frills chat about life in and out of rugby.
From a late break into pro rugby and winning Super Rugby with the Bulls to his move to France and now running a rugby club, Flip shares the moments that shaped him.
We cover:
🇫🇷 French Rugby’s Rise – why France is setting the global standard.
🏉 Inside the Bok Camp – stories from the Peter de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer eras.
💼 Life After Rugby – Flip’s shift from bruising lock to businessman and rugby administrator.
🏟️ Curry Cup & SA Rugby – can domestic rugby rediscover its heartbeat?
🔮 Next-Gen Boks – who’s ready to step up ahead of the Rugby Championship.
We also dig into Rassie Erasmus’ current Bok setup, why French rugby is booming financially, and whether Flip’s future might bring him back to lead South African rugby from the front office.
🎙️ New episodes of That Rugby Union Show every week – tap Follow and join the conversation.
#Springboks #RugbyPodcast #FlipVanDerMerwe #FrenchRugby #RassieErasmus
This week, Springbok legends Akona and Odwa Ndungane join the show for a brutally honest and often hilarious conversation about growing up as twin pros in South African rugby.
From being mistaken for each other in the Bulls locker room to weighing in on what the Bok jersey should represent today — the Ndungane brothers bring insight, experience, and a few good chirps.
We get into:
Life in test rugby as identical twins
Whether SA rugby still has a clear identity
What true leadership looks like in the Bok setup
The mental pressure of big games and media expectations
...and yes, someone threatens to do stand-up comedy
A laid-back but sharp episode with two of the most respected (and underrated) names in the game.
👉 Follow the show for fresh episodes every week.
⭐️ If you’re enjoying it, rate us — it actually helps.
🗣️ Got thoughts? Share them in the Q&A or leave a voice note — we might feature it on the next one.
#ThatRugbyUnionShow #NdunganeTwins #Springboks #Bokke #SouthAfricanRugby #RugbyPodcast #BokCulture
1995 World Cup winner Mark Andrews joinsXola Ntshinga to reflect on rugby’s wildest era, the Natal hard men, and why Italy at Loftus won’t be the walkover you’re expecting. Old-school grit meets modern Bok talk.
🇿🇦 ANDREWS ON ‘95
Madiba, Mehrtens, and mayhem — Mark takes us inside the squad, the mindset, and the madness of South Africa’s first World Cup win.
🇮🇹 BOKS vs ITALY PREVIEWTshituka gets his first cap, Grant Williams starts at 9, and Italy’s Six Nations form demands respect. Loftus won’t be a walk in the park.
🧠 THE SIM BIN
Sim’s on deadline this week…
🎙️ Listen Now:Unfiltered Rugby Talk Every Week📺 YouTube: youtube.com/@ThatRugbyUnion
📲 Follow the chaos:
🐦 X: x.com/ThatRugbyUnion
📸 Insta: @thatrugbyunion
#ThatRugbyUnionShow #MarkAndrews #Springboks #ItalyTest #RWC1995 #Loftus #SharksRugby #SimBin #XolaNtshinga #SimXabanisa #BokLegends #UnfilteredRugby
Springbok legend Kobus Wiese joins Xola Ntshinga and Sim Xabanisa to talk 1995, Boet Erasmus brawls, and what rugby’s lost in the age of analytics.
No fluff. No filter. Just a Bok icon telling it like it is.
🇿🇦 WIESE ON ‘95
Madiba, Morné, and mayhem — Kobus reflects on the World Cup that changed South Africa, and why that punch was worth it.
🧢 BOKS vs BARBARIANS
Four uncapped players, one controversial 10, and Rassie rolling the dice. What the squad says about the road to 2027.
🦁 LIONS IN OZ
They’re back — but does anyone still care?
Faf vs Farrell rematch, anyone?
🏉 URC FINAL VERDICT
Bulls, Leinster, and the north-south clash that told us way more than the scoreboard did.
📚 CRAVEN WEEK CHAOS
Talent factory or TikTok highlight reel? What South African rugby’s next gen really needs.
🧠 THE SIM BIN
Misunderstood coaches, broken structures, and a few people Sim’s officially done being nice about.
🎙️ Listen Now — Unfiltered Rugby Talk Every Week
📍 Spotify: [Insert Link]
🍏 Apple: [Insert Link]
📺 YouTube: youtube.com/@ThatRugbyUnion
📲 Follow the chaos:
🐦 X: x.com/ThatRugbyUnion
📸 Insta: @thatrugbyunion
#ThatRugbyUnionShow #KobusWiese #Springboks #RWC1995 #URC #CravenWeek #SimBin #RugbyLegends #UnfilteredRugby
Rassie drops the squad and Ireland loses its mind over a wink.
Xola Ntshinga and Sim Xabanisa are joined by former Bok assistant and USA coach Gary Gold to break it all down.
🇿🇦 RASSIE’S PICKSThe Bok boss names squads for the Barbarians, Italy, and Georgia — who’s missing, who’s lucky, and what it says about 2025.
🌩️ STORMERS STUFFEDDobbo’s men got dismantled. We unpack the Stormers’ collapse: tactics, turnovers, and temperament.
👀 WINK-GATEHendrikse winked. Ireland combusted.Rassie clapped back. Jacques said it’s personal.Sim says: rugby needs more villains.
🧠 THE SIM BINURC chaos, Springbok Women’s rugby, and righteous rants — Sim lets fly.
🎙️ Listen Now — Unfiltered Rugby Talk Every Week📍 Spotify: [Insert Link]🍏 Apple: [Insert Link]📺 YouTube: youtube.com/@ThatRugbyUnion
📲 Follow the chaos:🐦 X: x.com/ThatRugbyUnion📸 Insta: @thatrugbyunion
#ThatRugbyUnionShow #Springboks #Rassie #SimBin #URC #RugbyControversy #Stormers #GaryGold
Rugby’s unkillable underdogs are back — and That Rugby Union Show is all over it.
🎙️ Xola Ntshinga and Sim Xabanisa are joined by Rory Duncan and Frans Steyn to talk survival, resurrection, and rugby politics — Cheetahs style.
🐆 You Can’t Kill the CheetahsFrom near extinction to international ambition, the Cheetahs story isn’t over — it’s just heating up.
⚔️ War Stories from BloemDuncan on captaining Currie Cup champions, coaching in Japan, and business school.Frans on debuting at 19, life abroad, and stepping into rugby leadership.
🌍 Club World Cup: Bold Vision or Kak Idea?🦁 Springboks, the Lions, and Scheduling Madness🏆 URC Quarterfinals: Who’s In, Who’s Done?🧠 The Sim Bin — Sim vents, rants, and (maybe) makes sense.
💬 Got thoughts? Sim’s reading the comments.📺 Want visuals? Watch on YouTube: @ThatRugbyUnion📸 Follow us on Insta: @thatrugbyunion🐦 Hit us on X: @ThatRugbyUnion
#ThatRugbyUnionShow #ToyotaCheetahs #URC #Springboks #FransSteyn #RoryDuncan #Cheetahs #CurrieCup #ClubWorldCup #SimBin #RugbyUnfiltered
Rugby’s never off — and neither are we. This week, Xola and Sim break down the headlines that matter:
🦁 Lions Squad Revealed: Maro Itoje takes the captaincy — bold move or just hype?
🦘 Wallaby Wildcards: Joe Schmidt’s calling James O’Connor. Inspired or insane?
🇿🇦 URC Crunch Time: Just two rounds left — who makes the QFs, and who’s hanging by a thread?
Plus: Lions snubs, SA’s playoff chances, and why the Wallabies are entering chaos mode.
It’s smart talk, real takes, and no fluff. Just rugby, unfiltered.
🎧 Listen weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & everywhere you get your fix.
📺 Watch the full show on YouTube: @ThatRugbyUnion📸 Insta & TikTok: @ThatRugbyUnion🐦 X: @ThatRugbyUnion