A hero’s welcome for the All Blacks in Cape Town kicks off a big conversation about why touring still matters, and why the New Zealand–South Africa clash has always felt like the sport’s true “World Championship”. David Pembroke, Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie unpack the build-up to the opener against the Stormers, the brutal reality of midweek games, and the All Blacks’ smart approach to PR, preparation and switching on at training. There’s also a close look at Rassie Erasmus taking a 26-man Springbok squad to Argentina, plus a preview of Japan v Wallabies in Osaka in serious heat and what Eddie Jones might spring to unsettle Australia under Les Kiss. Listener questions bring a straight-shooting chat on Zac Lomax leaving after a season and a half at the Force, plus a wider look at Samoa’s governance tensions and why Pacific rugby stability matters.
Also in this episode:
● All Blacks get a huge Cape Town welcome
● Touring returns, with midweek games back on
● Greatest rivalry history: All Blacks v Springboks roots
● Stormers preview and All Blacks weekly preparation plan
● Japan v Wallabies in Osaka heat, Eddie Jones tactics
● Zac Lomax, Western Force fallout, and Wallabies selection debate
PLUS: The panel also weighs Pacific rugby funding, accountability, and Samoa’s World Rugby tensions.
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