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Aotearoa Rugby Pod

Why the All Blacks Have a Springbok Problem

Season 7, Ep. 31

The All Blacks showed they can hurt South Africa. So why do the Springboks still keep finding a way to take control?


After the Boks moved 2–1 ahead in the Greatest Rivalry series, James Parsons, Bryn Hall and Ross Karl break down the areas that keep swinging these contests South Africa’s way — and what New Zealand has to change.


There are genuine reasons for optimism in the way the All Blacks are playing. But there are also problems that will matter far beyond this series.


So, can they solve their Springbok problem before the World Cup?

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  • 32. How the Boks Stay a Step Ahead of the All Blacks

    44:57||Season 7, Ep. 32
    The All Blacks showed progress — so why do the Boks still seem one step ahead? Ross, James and Bryn unpack a revealing series, the moments that mattered and the questions New Zealand must answer before these rivals meet again.Plus, the players pushing their claims, a listener’s bold scrum idea and North Harbour’s big NPC win.
  • 31.2. REACTION: All Blacks & Boks final test teams | The Battle of Baltimore

    36:37||Season 7, Ep. 31.2
    ARP goes live to discuss the All Blacks and Springboks teams for the third Greatest Rivalry test in Soweto🇳🇿 ALL BLACKS 🇿🇦 SPRINGBOKS1. Ethan de Groot 1. Ox Nche2. Codie Taylor (c) 2. Malcolm Marx3. Fletcher Newell 3. Wilco Louw4. Patrick Tuipulotu 4. Eben Etzebeth5. Sam Darry 5. Ruan Nortje6. Tupou Vaa’i 6. Siya Kolisi (c)7. Ethan Blackadder 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit8. Peter Lakai 8. Jasper Wiese9. Cam Roigard 9. Morne van den Berg10. Richie Mo'unga 10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu11. Josh Moorby 11. Ethan Hooker12. Jordie Barrett 12. Damian de Allende13. Anton Lienert-Brown 13. Jesse Kriel14. Will Jordan 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse15. Damian McKenzie 15. Damian Willemse RESERVES16. Asafo Aumua 16. Deon Fourie17. Xavier Numia 17. Gerhard Steenekamp18. Tyrell Lomax. 18. Thomas du Toit19. Josh Lord 19. Lood de Jager20. Wallace Sititi 20. Andre Esterhuizen21. Kyle Preston 21. Cameron Hanekom22. Rieko Ioane. 22. Cobus Reinach23. Beauden Barrett 23. Manie Libbok
  • 30.3. REACTION: All Blacks & Boks 3rd test teams | How to win in Soweto

    33:36||Season 7, Ep. 30.3
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  • 30.2. Did the Springboks Find the Formula? | ARP x Behind the Ruck

    53:17||Season 7, Ep. 30.2
    The Greatest Rivalry is locked at 1–1 — so it’s time to take some receipts. 🇳🇿🇿🇦Aotearoa Rugby Pod and Behind the Ruck reunite to break down the Springboks’ response in test two and ask the big question: have South Africa found the formula to beat the All Blacks?James Parsons, Bryn Hall and Ross Karl go head-to-head with Rudi Paige and Juan de Jongh over what changed, where the two teams now sit, and what each side needs to do in test three.Plus, we revisit our combined All Blacks-Springboks XVs, debate the selection changes that could swing the decider, and finish with some very different predictions.The rivalry continues. 🏉
  • 30. Why Is Rennie Under Rassie’s Skin?

    01:07:36||Season 7, Ep. 30
    Rassie Erasmus and Dave Rennie’s off-field battle is becoming as fascinating as the tests matches.After South Africa levelled the Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks, Aotearoa Rugby Pod unpacks the gamesmanship, late selection changes and increasingly heated debate over the scrum.Plus, what the Springboks changed to win Test 2, why their aerial game caused New Zealand so many problems, where the All Blacks attack still threatened, and what needs to change before a huge third Test.
  • LIVE REACTION: All Blacks & Boks 2nd test teams | What changes in Cape Town?

    43:15|
    ARP goes live to discuss the All Blacks and Springboks teams for the Greatest Rivalry test in Cape Town.🇳🇿 ALL BLACKS 🇿🇦 SPRINGBOKS1. George Bower 1. Ox Nche2. Codie Taylor 2. Malcolm Marx3. Tyrel Lomax 3. Wilco Louw4. Fabian Holland 4. Eben Etzebeth5. Tupou Vaa’i 5. Ruan Nortje6. Simon Parker 6. Siya Kolisi (c)7. Luke Jacobson 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit8. Ardie Savea (c) 8. Jasper Wiese9. Cam Roigard 9. Cobus Reinach10. Ruben Love 10. Handre Pollard11. Leroy Carter 11. Ethan Hooker12. Jordie Barrett 12. Damian de Allende13. Quinn Tupaea 13. Jesse Kriel14. Will Jordan 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse15. Damian McKenzie 15. Damian Willemse RESERVES16. Asafo Aumua 16. Deon Fourie17. Xavier Numia 17. Gerhard Steenekamp18. Fletcher Newell 18. Thomas du Toit19. Patrick Tuipulotu 19. Lood de Jager20. Peter Lakai 20. Andre Esterhuizen21. Kyle Preston 21. Cameron Hanekom22. Anton Lienert-Brown 22. Morne van den Berg23. Josh Moorby 23. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
  • 29.2. Aaron Smith: Roigard, Faf & How You Beat the Springboks

    41:17||Season 7, Ep. 29.2
    All Blacks great Aaron Smith joins the Aotearoa Rugby Pod for a deep dive into what it takes to beat the Springboks in South Africa.Smith breaks down the evolution of halfback play and why Cam Roigard impresses him so much, playing against Faf De Klerk, the challenge of the Boks’ line speed and where the All Blacks can find attacking opportunities, Plus, memories of playing at Ellis Park and what changes as the rivalry heads to Cape Town.
  • 29. Can the All Blacks Stop the Boks Striking Back?

    44:12||Season 7, Ep. 29
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