The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast

Commentator, presenter, and former Sunwolves lock Sam Wykes joined Brett McKay on the AUS Rugby scene this week, to peer into the dangers of the final two rounds of Super Rugby Pacific. Looking resplendent in his old Mighty Moondogs team kit, Sam gave some great first-hand insights into the anxiety around the final games for Moana Pasifika, and the impediments stopping the Fijian Drua becoming the finals team we think they can become, as well as working through the games that matter this weekend and next. #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby traveller and storyteller Harry Jones returns to 8/9 Rugby, reuniting with Brett McKay to dig into all the juicy bits in the lead-up to the Champions Cup Final in Spain this weekend, between Bordeaux and Leinster. The Bilbao clash pits a stark contrast of styles: the all-out, at times chaotic attack of UBB vs. the ideally impenetrable Jacques Nienaber defence of Leinster. From there. It's just a matter of who can on the day. Can Bordeaux back up last year's triumph and match the party that went for days? Can Leinster carry their growing URC momentum to another European title at the same venue as their last? #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby writer, analyst and creator John Ferguson joined Brett McKay on the AUS Rugby scene this week, as Super Rugby Pacific properly hots up for the remaining three rounds. With the valid assumption that the Hurricanes and Chiefs are locked into the top two – which looks highly likely – the run home for the remaining eight teams in finals contention is examined to work out who might finish where in the playoff positions, who might force their way in, and who's in danger of missing out. #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific Find John's channel Off The Ruck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OfftheRuck Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jake Mangin, Head Coach of Chilean professional team Selknam joined Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, for another state of play chat around Super Rugby Americas. Following on from similar State of Play chats on League One in Japan, and Major League Rugby in the US, Jake provides first hand insight into the origins and structure of the eight-team Super Rugby Americas competition in South America, how good of a job it's doing in developing players for Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina, and how the 2026 season is playing out for the competition and his team. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby More on Super Rugby Americas here: https://www.superrugbyamericas.com/ Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A peer behind the curtain into the world of rugby broadcasting on the AUS Rugby scene this week, as Stan Sport Exec Producer and Commentator Andrew Swain joins Brett McKay to share some of the secrets of what goes on behind the cameras at a rugby game, and how it all gets to air. As a commentator, ‘Swainy' is also often juggling the many moving parts of live TV with having to call games – including the now famous night he stepped in as colleague Sean Maloney's voice failed him. And as if that's not enough, this all happens as Super Rugby Pacific pushes headlong toward the finals series, with unknown numbers of equations and permutations available over the next month of action, as teams jockey for a finals berth. #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gain Line Analytics co-founder Simon Strachan joined Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, to dig into the current state of play around League One in Japan. Following on from last week's MLR State of Play, Simon provides great insights into how League One came about, the structures of corporate rugby in Japan within sport and business, how changes to League One player classification are impacting the competition, and how the 2026 season will play out with one round remaining before the promotion/relegation games and the finals to follow. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby As promised! The Toshiba Brave Lupus player profile pics: https://www.bravelupus.com/member/ Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Australian-based content creator and podcast producer Ollie Silverton joins Brett McKay on the AUS Rugby scene this week, for some thoughts on the success of Super Round, and some insight into just how much rugby content is available now. Ollie was a co-founder of some of the biggest rugby podcasts in the world, from The Rugby Pod in 2015 to Kick Offs & Kick Ons more recently. He was also a key producer for much of the Stan Sport Rugby programming in their early years. Still heavily involved in rugby, Ollie loved everything about Super Round in Christchurch, still harbours thoughts for a ‘Bula Round' in Fiji, and can't wait for a bumper Super Rugby Round 12 this weekend! #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

US-based podcaster and commentator David Lawrence joined Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, for a deeper dive into the current state of play around Major League Rugby in the United States. MLR had one of the roughest off-seasons in the history of professional rugby at the end of their 2025 season, when four clubs – Utah, Houston, NOLA, and Miami – all announced they were suspending operations for 2026, and two further clubs in San Diego and Los Angeles merged. What was an eleven-team, two conference competition is now six teams dotted to all corners of the USA. So how is MLR travelling now, just over a month into the 2026 season? Is this the reset the league needed, will any of those clubs return, and what does it all mean for USA Rugby, who will host a Rugby World Cup in just over five years' time? #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby Find David's ‘Scrum of the Earth' podcast, along with his MLR-focussed pod, the ‘Maul Street Journal' wherever you get your podcasts. Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New Zealand broadcaster and host of the popular DSPN podcast Martin Devlin joins Brett McKay on the AUS Rugby scene this week, to look ahead at the return of Super Round after a wild Round 10 last weekend. A round that had everything saw Moana Pasifika put up way more fight than expected, we had the first edition of extra time for the season in Hamilton, the Fijian Drua enjoyed a first away win in Australia, and the Western Force claimed another scalp. That puts all eyes onto the return of Super Round in Christchurch, and their brand new, magnificent stadium just blocks from the city centre. And imagine this: the NSW Waratahs causing a massive boilover to kick it all off, beating the Crusaders to return to the top six. Just imagine it. #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific Find the DSPN on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@DevlinSportsPodcastNetwork, and wherever you get your podcasts. Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New Zealand rugby commentator Elliott Smith joins Brett McKay on the AUS Rugby scene this week, with news of Moana Pasifika's demise dominating all discussion around the competition. Please note, Moana Pasifika confirmed their intentions to disband at the conclusion of the 2026 season soon after this episode was recorded, and before it was released, but the concerns expressed and thoughts on the way forward remain valid. This does feel like a tipping point for Super Rugby Pacific, and it's inherent on Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby that all options are not properly explored for the competition to regain lost ground. #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific Find Elliott hosting the Rugby Direct podcast, along with Liam Napier wherever you get your podcasts. Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Charlie Morgan from The Times joined Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, to wrap up a truly intriguing weekend of Champions Cup Quarter Finals action across Europe, and setting up a couple of spicy Semi Finals in early May. The four matches were all gripping in their own right, and gripping for different reasons, as clashes of style and pace met head-on to find out who advances. And the Semis are set up beautifully, with representation from the URC, the Premiership and the Top 14, and probably most of who everyone expected to be there. Includes a quick wrap of the Challenge Cup QFs too, with those Semis almost certainly not including who most expected to be there. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New Zealand rugby writer and fellow Substacker Jamie Wall joins Brett McKay on the AUS Rugby scene this week, with the curiosities of a short round over a long weekend quickly fading with the arrival of some stonking contests this weekend. If Round 8 felt a bit one-sided, Round 9 will be anything but, with at least three games looming as genuine coin-flip contests. Are the Drua still so invincible at home? What money a golden point draw between the ‘Canes and Blues? And surely the Reds have to bounce back, right? Good luck tipsters… #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific Find Jamie's new Substack page: https://jamiewallrugby.substack.com/ Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport  Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Irish rugby writer and podcaster Caolán Scully joined Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, to dig deep into a big first weekend of Champions Cup knockout stages. The eight Round of 16 games saw some blowouts and high-scoring games as it often does, but throughout the weekend there were some fantastic contests and results that probably don't do what we saw on the field justice. And importantly, it's left rugby fans with four properly mouth-watering Quarter Finals this weekend coming. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The great NZ commentator Tony Johnson joins Brett McKay on the AUS Rugby scene this week, for a timely perspective from over the ditch on Super Rugby Pacific and the view on the Australian teams in 2026. With a short round this Easter long weekend – which definitely does feel like a missed opportunity – there's a couple of really interesting Round 8 games of importance for a few teams and for a few reasons. But clearly, there's also been a great joy in the rugby we've seen played, and that will follow on the run to the finals now that we're over the hump. #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Riaan Louw, friend of the pod and star of the Rugby Update on YouTube is back with Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, because it's time to get excited about the Champions Cup again. With the Round of 16 this weekend, and the Quarter Finals to follow next weekend, the Champions Cup has finally reached the point where many a rugby pundit and fan believe it should just start. 16 Teams, straight knockout, bing-bang-bosh, done in half the time. But we have what we have, and thus Riaan and Brett work through the four pools to recall who did what back in January and last year, arriving at the eight knockout games on this weekend. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby writer, analyst and YouTuber John Ferguson joins Brett McKay on the AUS Rugby scene this week, to have a good think about what we've seen in Super Rugby Pacific over the first six weeks of the competition. And with a look ahead at what's coming for a few teams as well. The Hurricanes face all the other current top six teams over the next six week, for example. The Chiefs and Waratahs have harder looking draws coming up, too. The Fijian Drua suddenly look very vulnerable. Even before the halfway point of the year, the run to the finals looks like it will be intriguing. #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific Find John's YouTube channel, Off the Ruck at https://www.youtube.com/@OfftheRuck Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley joins Brett McKay on the AUS Rugby scene, for a look under the hood of the premiere southern hemisphere competition and examine the broader state of the game. What's made Super Rugby great this season has been the closeness, the unpredictability, the fact that top teams have all lost to teams below then on the table. But there's always more than can be done, there's nice-to-haves and even must-haves. There's also priorities and limited investment opportunities. In a wide-ranging chat that covers off everything from Law Variations to fan engagement, from broadcast look & feel to backing the best match officials in the world, this is a chat in which you'll learn something. #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby YouTube star and wonderful content creator Huw Griffin is back with Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, to wrap up what has been universally decreed as the best Six Nations tournament ever. Ultimately, France claimed a successive title by beating England in the final game, but oh the drama to get there! And the subplots from this year's tournament are endless: England's worst ever Six Nations, Scotland's close-but-maybe-still-so-far challenge, the rise of Italy, the life still in old Irish legs, and event the gradual but definite progress of Wales. It's been a superb tournament, and Huw is the perfect person to wrap it all up. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #internationalrugby #SixNations #Ireland #France #England #Scotland #Italy #Wales Find Huw on the HG Rugby on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HuwGriffinRugby Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Smith from The West Australian newspaper joins Brett McKay on the AUS Rugby scene, to delve into the Western Force's start to Super Rugby Pacific and take a look at a tough road ahead. And of course, to cover off on the biggest news in Australian rugby this week, the Force and Rugby Australia signing NRL star Zac Lomax for this year and next, and with immediate effect. The obvious questions are numerous: where does he play, how soon will he play, and has he fixed all the Force's on and off-field issues yet? #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former co-host Harry Jones re-joins Brett McKay on the new 8/9 Rugby this week, with the rugby world still in shock from events of the penultimate weekend of this year's Six Nations tournament. Scotland the Brave trounced many a Frenchman at Murrayfield. The rise of Italy spared no Englishman in Rome. Ireland's resurgence continued in Dublin. And it all sets up the most wonderful of Super Saturday finales this coming weekend. Plus Harry presents more famous poetry quotes than he ever did in four years within this parish! #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #internationalrugby #SixNations #Ireland #France #England #Scotland #Italy #Wales Find Harry on the Lekker Rugby Pod: https://www.youtube.com/@megafoonrugby Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonathan Drennan from the Sydney Morning Herald joins Brett McKay on the AUS Rugby scene, to celebrate another great round of Super Rugby Pacific for the Australian sides, and ponder how we can possibly keep this run going. The ACT Brumbies are atop the standings with three straight wins, but should be playing in front of much bigger crowds in Canberra. The NSW Waratahs are also unbeaten, but have to start winning outside Sydney. The Queensland Reds and Western Force were both much improved in recording their first wins. And what's this about James Slipper and another World Cup? #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scottish commentator Jamie Lyall joins Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, as the rugby world readies itself for the penultimate round of this year's Six Nations tournament. And don't Scotland have an opportunity this weekend? One win behind France in the standings, they host Les Bleus at Murrayfield on Saturday in a match that has significant implications for both sides and the tournament itself. Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TV's Michael Atkinson, from Stan Sport and the Nine Network joins Brett McKay on our brand new offering, the AUS Rugby scene, for a look back on another round of Super Rugby Pacific dominated by the form of the NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies. Somethings are hard to keep a lid on, right? The Brumbies just put 50 on the Crusaders in Christchurch, and the Waratahs won well over Drua despite leaving a similar scoreline on the field. And it all makes for an interesting view on the Queensland Reds this weekend, who are still theoretically the best team in Australia. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Riaan Louw joins Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, for a look back on the first three rounds of what has already been an extraordinary Six Nations tournament. Ireland, a team running on old legs and in desperate need of refresh two weeks ago are suddenly giant killers (who might still need a refresh), and England, a team who just two weeks ago were celebrating 12 straight wins, now look like they might never win again! Wales nearly pulled off a stunning win over Scotland, and France were comfortable over an Italian team sporting sweet-looking bomber jackets. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #internationalrugby #SixNations #Ireland #France #England #Scotland #Italy #Wales Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Novelist and weekly author of The Wrap Geoff Parkes joins Brett McKay for a look back at first round of Super Rugby Pacific and all the surprises that came with it, on the latest episode of a brand new offering from 8/9 Rugby: the AUS Rugby scene. And it wasn't without blemish, with the powers that be declaring on Monday morning a try should not have been awarded that was. In Round 2 this weekend, there is bounce-back factor in several games, while the teams that did win now have to back that performance up. Also, Brett and Geoff run you through what to expect on 8/9 Rugby on Substack, the new publishing venture they set up over the Australian summer. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific #89RugbyonSubstack Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pat McCarry joins Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, to take a look at the fallout last weekend's Six Nations results and another Calcutta Cup victory for Scotland, as well as a sneak peak to what's coming for Round 3 this weekend. Seemingly, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has sorted his immediate future once again just by beating England. Ireland overcame a dogged and certainly no longer the easybeat Italy, and France beat Wales as you do. This weekend? It's all eyes on Twickenham, where England's reaction to a loss needs to be better than Ireland's conviction that they're getting better. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #internationalrugby #SixNations #Ireland #France #England #Scotland #Italy #Wales Pat McCarry's Dirt Trackers Rugby Substack: https://dirttrackersrugby.substack.com/ Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean Maloney from Stan Sport joins Brett McKay to finalise preparations for the first round of Super Rugby Pacific which starts this weekend, on the latest episode of a brand new offering from 8/9 Rugby: the AUS Rugby scene. And they have declared that surely 2026 has to be the year an Australian team goes all the way through to the Super Rugby Final! ‘A long time between drinks' only tells part of the story. The new season does shape as an intriguing one, however, with five match-ups in this weekend's opening round that could be anything. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific #ACTBrumbies, #NSWWaratahs #QueenslandReds #WesternForce Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Huw Griffin joins Brett McKay on 8/9 Rugby this week, for a look back at last weekend's Six Nations results and to ponder the already shifting narratives for Round 2 this weekend. Already, we has to ask if we're all maybe underestimating Italy? And how do Scotland have so much ball and not make one line break? France were excellent over a jury's-very-much-still-out Ireland, and undoubtedly, England should have beaten Wales by a lot more. HG Rugby on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HuwGriffinRugby #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #internationalrugby #SixNations #Ireland #France #England #Scotland #Italy #Wales Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Darwin from Gain Line Analytics joins Brett McKay for a Super Rugby Pacific preview, launching the brand new offering from 8/9 Rugby: the AUS Rugby scene. And with pre-season predictions a mug's game at the best of time, Ben's ability to dig into and find meaning in the numbers is a great insight. So with Round 1 just over a week away, it's interesting to look at the squads in terms of experience – with perhaps some surprising results – and to look closer at everyone's draw and see who really does have a good draw this season. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #SuperRugbyPacific #ACTBrumbies, #NSWWaratahs #QueenslandReds #WesternForce Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Charlie Morgan joins Brett McKay to get 8/9 Rugby underway for 2026, and what better way to begin another year of Great Rugby Chats than to preview the upcoming Six Nations championship. And after injuries seem to been the story of the build-up, days out from the first match we start wondering about the rise of England, whether France are still in last year's holding pattern of FRA, and just what is actually happening with Ireland? #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #internationalrugby #SixNations #Ireland #France #England #Scotland #Italy #Wales Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and we're doing more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay outlines the evolution of 8/9 Rugby, and what's in store for 2026. TLDR: the Great Rugby Chats resume this week! The long list of guests will rotate through the co-host chair every week across two programs: the same 8/9 Rugby you know and love with guests from all around the rugby world, and the brand new AUS Rugby scene, focussing primarily on Australian rugby and Super Rugby Pacific And do check out 8/9 Rugby on Substack! Great rugby writers and opinions you know well, and the exclusive new home of ‘The Wrap', Geoff Parkes' well read and highly regarded weekly column. It's all happening for 8/9 Rugby in 2026, and we hope you're part of the discussion on video, on the pods, and now in written form, too. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Rugby #89RugbyonSubstack #internationalrugby #SixNations #SuperRugbyPacific #ChampionsCup #Premiership #UnitedRugbyChampionship #URC #Top14 #LeagueOne #MajorLeagueRugby #MLR RECAP: revisit Harry's 8/9 Combo December 2025 announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9LG1xmZlB4 Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts Social media: search for ‘8/9 Rugby' on Twitter, Bluesky, and we're trying to do more on Instagram, too And please do check out and subscribe to 8/9 Rugby on Substack: https://89rugby.substack.com/ Find Brett on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport Music: "Up Above" by Letter Box (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones come together for one last time on The 8/9 Combo Rugby Podcast, to wrap up more than 300 episodes as a duo over four wonderful years. From their humbles beginnings on The Roar, Brett and Harry formed the 8/9 Combo and went large, catering for rugby fans all over the rugby world, with great discussion and banter with each other and almost a hundred wonderful guests, slick analysis and reaction, the occasional dodgy connection, and plenty of laughs every week. If you've watched and listened from the start, or you've only found the 8/9 Combo recently, the message is the same: Thank you. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After more than 300 episodes together over four brilliant years, Brett McKay & Harry Jones share some news about The 8/9 Combo Rugby Podcast. But it might not be the end, and we'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions as to what comes next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean Maloney joins Brett McKay and Harry Jones on The 8/9 Combo Rugby Podcast, fresh from the SVNS World Series circuit rolling from Dubai to Cape Town, and ready to wrap up the rugby year for the SANZAAR nations. There's the Springboks' disgusting embarrassment of playing depth riches, there's the All Blacks' surprising and maybe infuriating conservatism, there's the Wallabies sending flowers but then not showing up at the in-laws, and then there's Argentina, who might just be timing their run to the 2027 RWC beautifully. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #internationalrugby #NovemberTests #AutumnNationsSeries #SouthAfrica #NewZealand #Ireland #France #England #Argentina #Australia #Scotland #Fiji #Italy #Wales #Japan Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the final Weekend Post-Mortem for The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast, with Brett McKay and Harry Jones running the rule over South Africa's big win over Wales in Cardiff to wrap up the Autumn Nations and November Tests. In a game played largely for the Welsh Rugby coffers, the Springboks have inflicted a record loss at home on the Welsh, running in eleven tries in none in a completely dominant win. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #WeekendPostMortem #internationalrugby #NovemberTests #AutumnNationsSeries #SouthAfrica #NewZealand #Ireland #France #England #Argentina #Australia #Scotland #Fiji #Italy #Wales #Japan Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8/9 Combo Rugby Podcast by prolific rugby YouTuber Huw Griffin for a review of the Autumn Nations Series and November Tests, where the guys plot whose October expectations are very different to the end of November feelings. And then there's the World Rugby Team of the Year announced this week, where after having no huge objections to the XV as selected, the guys ponder which three changes they'd be inclined to make. What does Brett have against Harry Wilson? Can Harry narrow down to one Argentinean back three player? And how many fullbacks does Huw really need? #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #internationalrugby #NovemberTests #AutumnNationsSeries #SouthAfrica #NewZealand #Ireland #France #England #Argentina #Australia #Scotland #Fiji #Italy #Wales #Japan Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A very different and very short Weekend Post-Mortem for The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast, with Brett McKay giving a quick run through the two biggest games in Harry Jones' convenient Springboks celebration-shaped absence on the ground in Dublin. And it was two intriguing contests for very different reasons. South Africa dominant in their win, but Ireland somehow staying in a contest they maybe had no right to, and Australian left to lament a 15pt loss to France that was only that wide because of what they did to themselves in what was probably still their best performance of the November Tests. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #WeekendPostMortem #internationalrugby #NovemberTests #AutumnNationsSeries #SouthAfrica #NewZealand #Ireland #France #England #Argentina #Australia #Scotland #Fiji #Italy #Wales #Japan Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Riaan Louw joins Brett McKay and Harry Jones on The 8/9 Combo Rugby Podcast once again as the Autumn Nations Series and November Tests reaches its penultimate weekend of a series that feels like it's been going for longer than it has. And there's so much to talk about in the rugby world suddenly! Are we seeing a changing of the guard in the Six Nations? Is there a chance of an upset anywhere this weekend coming? Do the World Rankigns feel about right? And who will possibly beat our presumptive favourite Ox Nche to a well-deserved World Player of the Year gong? #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #internationalrugby #NovemberTests #AutumnNationsSeries #SouthAfrica #NewZealand #Ireland #France #England #Argentina #Australia #Scotland #Fiji #Italy #Wales #Japan Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back for another Weekend Post-Mortem for The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast, after another big Saturday of Autumn Nations Series and November Tests in the norf'. An outstanding match in London, in which England really have upset the world rugby order after their impressive defeat of New Zealand, 14- and at a time 13-man South Africa got home over Italy in a weird game in Turin, Wales have scraped home over an unlucky Japan in Cardiff, and about the only positive from the Wallabies thrashing from Ireland in Dublin was that an Australian fullback nabbed a hat-trick inside half an hour. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #WeekendPostMortem #internationalrugby #NovemberTests #AutumnNationsSeries #SouthAfrica #NewZealand #Ireland #France #England #Argentina #Australia #Scotland #Fiji #Italy #Wales #Japan Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Charlie Morgan once again joins Brett McKay and Harry Jones on The 8/9 Combo Rugby Podcast as the Autumn Nations Series and November Tests heads into what looks like the most intriguing weekend of matches so far. Three of the six matches really stand out: England v New Zealand in London and Ireland v Australia in Dublin both on Saturday, followed by Scotland v Argentina in Edinburgh on Sunday. All three look intriguing as match-ups, it feels like there's an upset somewhere, and the rankings implications for RWC seedings are clear - even if the situation for Australia is perhaps a bit better than many think. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #internationalrugby #NovemberTests #AutumnNationsSeries #SouthAfrica #NewZealand #Ireland #France #England #Argentina #Australia #Scotland #Fiji #Italy #Wales #Japan Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

South Africa have overcome a red card and France in Paris, Italy has conquered Australia again, and Scotland were just one Damien McKenzie away from history against New Zealand, and Brett McKay and Harry Jones pull it all apart on the Weekend Post-Mortem for The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast. The second weekend of Autumn Nations Series and November Internationals has thrown up some engrossing performances, if perhaps predicted results, and there is plenty to discuss as always. Will France learn their lessons from the 2023 RWC now? Did the Springboks play better with 14? Surely the Wallabies have to make adjustments now, after their most disappointing capitulation of 2025? And did Scotland just underline ongoing issues for New Zealand? #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #WeekendPostMortem #internationalrugby #NovemberTests #AutumnNationsSeries #SouthAfrica #NewZealand #Ireland #France #England #Argentina #Australia #Scotland #Fiji #Italy #Wales #Japan Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back on The 8/9 Combo Rugby Podcast after one of them went missing temporarily in Chicago, and they've teamed up with Martin Devlin from the DSPN in New Zealand for a look back on the Ireland-All Blacks game at Solider Field. What was it that clicked on the hour for NZ? How did Ireland lose control of the match so quickly? And what on earth was going on with the set-up? No referee comms in the stadium, no TMO replays and decision on the big screens, and the pièce de resistance, the sight of referee and ARs having to go and watch replays on a sideline monitor. As big Martin thinks the All Blacks problems might be, the 2031 RWC in the US is only eight years away. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #internationalrugby #NovemberTests #AutumnNationsSeries #SouthAfrica #NewZealand #Ireland #France #England #Argentina #Australia #Scotland #Fiji #Italy #Wales #Japan Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back on The 8/9 Combo Rugby Podcast after an enjoyable late-season break, and they've used their first pod in three weeks to catch up on one family holiday and several intriguing current rugby matters. Namely, how was Brett's trip to Japan? How much of the famed 8/9 travel budget is left? (Spoiler: not much) How have the Stormers started the URC so well? How on earth did the URC Judicial process suspend Jan-Hendrik Wessels for so long with so little corroborating evidence? What is the Welsh equivalent of Suntory or Toshiba? And most importantly, how will these fascinating November Internationals impact 2027 RWC seedings? It's all in this week's Ep. Make sure you hit Subscribe! #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #internationalrugby #NovemberTests #AutumnNationsSeries #SouthAfrica #NewZealand #Ireland #France #England #Argentina #Australia #Scotland #Fiji #Italy #Wales #Japan Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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With the rugby world taking a little break in the international calendar, Brett & Harry have taken this little window to revisit some of their favourite episodes from The Rugby Championship. This week, a look back at the week following Australia's historic win over South Africa in Johannesburg, with Riaan Louw joining the show to recall all the ways he and Harry were wrong about the Ellis Park clash as they sat amongst the crowd inside the great stadium. Equal parts awkward and hilarious. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the rugby world taking a little break in the international calendar, Brett & Harry have taken this little window to revisit some of their favourite episodes from The Rugby Championship. This week, a look back at our TRC Post-Mortem following the Wallabies famous – infamous, for some – victory over the Springboks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, snapping a streak that went back more than 60 years, and which has so far proved to be a high point for Australia in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Rugby Championship has been run and won for 2025, but the real question would seem to be has it been run and won forever? Rugby writer and author Geoff Parkes joined Brett McKay and Harry Jones on The 8/9 Combo Rugby Podcast to ponder that very question. And as a way to wrap up The Rugby Championship properly for 2025 (but maybe forever), Harry sat a couple of homework tasks before this week's chat, namely: 1. Was that the last ever TRC? 2. If this was the last TRC, how will the TRC be recalled? 3. Who from each of the 4 teams whose TRC performance exceeded your expectations? And.. 4. When did each team look their best, and why they all had at least one shitty game. It all makes for a substantive, meaty, profound way to the conclude the TRC. Maybe forever. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #internationalrugby #Wallabies #TheRugbyChampionship, #Springboks, #AllBlacks, #LosPumas Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The All Blacks have swept the Bledisloe Cup series, and Brett McKay and Harry Jones pull it all apart in another TRC Post-Mortem for The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast. A relatively even first half contest looked more comfortable than perhaps it was, courtesy of two late tries, before the Wallabies cruelled their own second half with silly mistakes, skill errors, and poor decision-making, leaving them and Australian fans to contemplate the what-ifs for yet another year. And because the WiFi gods worked against us, and we recorded several hour after both games, there's a good wrap-up of what turned out to be a surprisingly close match between Los Pumas and the Springboks at Twickenham. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #WeekendPostMortem #InternationalRugby #TheRugbyChampionship #Wallabies #AllBlacks #Springboks #LosPumas Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the final round of The 2025 Rugby Championship this weekend, with a couple of key southern hemisphere matches to be played in Perth and, er… London? Brett & Harry ask the key questions for TRC Rd.6. Can the Wallabies square the Bledisloe Cup series in Western Australia, and can Los Pumas possible bounce back against the Springboks at Twickenham? This week's key questions: Q1. Despite the Horror of Ellis Park, is this South Africa's Rugby Championship to lose? (reckon this is the headline) Q2. Where is Argentina's best chance of an upset? Q3. Who has fared better from Bledisloe injury toll? And is this Tane Edmed's opportunity to nail down no.10 for November? What do you think? We'd love to hear from you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Bledisloe Cup decided for another year, but the return Test and The Rugby Championship still very much up in the air, Kiwi rugby journalist Jamie Wall joined Brett McKay and Harry Jones on The 8/9 Combo Rugby Podcast to dive deep into the fallout. While the result at Eden Park wasn't so surprising last weekend, the way the All Blacks closed the game out, and the way the Wallabies simultaneously killed off their best Bledisloe chance in many a year went against recent form lines and expectations. While Australian fans are still raging about refereeing decision, New Zealanders are just happy they didn't lose two games on the trot. The contrasts make for yet another Great Rugby Chat™. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #internationalrugby #Wallabies #TheRugbyChampionship, #Springboks, #AllBlacks, #LosPumas, #BledisloeCup Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The All Blacks have retained the Bledisloe Cup for another year, and Brett McKay and Harry Jones feel like the nine-point margin was about right on another TRC Post-Mortem for The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast. New Zealand started sharply and looked ominous early on, before Australia swing momentum and reduced the halftime margin to just three points. After the break and in the end, it will be another case of Wallabies errors and missed opportunities to rue, with crucial mistakes killing off any chances of yet another famous comeback win. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #WeekendPostMortem #InternationalRugby #TheRugbyChampionship #Wallabies #AllBlacks #Springboks #LosPumas Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices