Rugby Rivals - Sir John Kirwan & Victor Matfield

Rugby Rivals - Sir John Kirwan & Victor Matfield

All Black Legend Sir John Kirwan and Springbok Legend Victor Matfield go head to head on all things rugby just as you'd expect an All Black Winger and a South African Forward to do battle. Bringing in their friends and rivals from all over the Rugby world for a truly Global perspective. Refereeing in the middle is NZ media legend Ric Salizzo . And as all of them are well in the second half of their lives, Sir JK has some well meaning wellness advice to help them extend their lives and therefore the life of this podcast

Episodes

Springboks Celebrate Series Victory in the USA — the Game Victor said was just an Exhibition

September 13, 2026 • 34 mins
Victor and JK dissect the Baltimore finale with very different emotions. JK isn’t happy with the referee, while Victor is happy with just about everything! They name the player who delivered across the entire series, break down the moments that decided the final game, and assess how the series has shaped both teams’ futures—with the Rugby World Cup firmly in mind. Plus, Victor asks: will the All Blacks come unde...
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Victor Claims South Africa’s Series Victory Before the USA Finale

September 6, 2026 • 21 mins
JK is back in green and gold as South Africa take a 2–1 series lead following their victory in Soweto. Victor declares the series won now that the South African leg is over—but he’s quickly reminded there’s still one game to play in the USA before the trophy can be handed out.
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Boks Strike Back: How South Africa Saved the Series vs. All Blacks

August 31, 2026 • 37 mins
The Springboks hit back. South Africa beat the All Blacks 33-26 at DHL Stadium in Cape Town to level Rugby's Greatest Rivalry at 1-1. Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield unpack how South Africa saved it, with Ric Salizzo refereeing in the middle. The Boks led 24-14 at the break through tries to Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende and a returning Siya Kolisi, with Cheslin Kolbe flawless off the tee. New Zealand came late through Leroy Ca...
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Springbok & All Black Fans Collide Before Second Test!

August 28, 2026 • 19 mins
JK and Victor are off the leash, so we've handed the mics to the fans. A special edition of Rugby Rivals pits two rugby podcasts against each other ahead of the second test in Cape Town - Rawiri and Gareth from Our Super Smack flying the flag for New Zealand, and Dane from Kick On Rugby holding the line for the Springboks.
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Will South Africa Bounce Back? JK & Victor Matfield on Ellis Park "Hiding!"

August 24, 2026 • 39 mins
The All Blacks have taken first blood in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry - five tries to one, the biggest All Blacks win ever at the ground, the end of a 12-Test Springbok winning streak, and the world No.1 ranking gone. Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield break down how it happened. Why the Boks were 13-12 up at halftime and then nowhere. The scrum dominance that counted for nothing. The All Blacks' tackle-area tactics that Rassie admit...
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Where Are The Crowds? Why so many empty seats?

August 17, 2026 • 32 mins
The All Blacks are three from three in South Africa. 142 points scored, 40 conceded - but what have we actually learned? With the first Test at Ellis Park just days away, Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield ask whether this tour has told us anything at all about where the All Blacks are at yet. Plus: the elephant in the half-empty stadium. 14,759 turned up in Durban. Cape Town fell short of a sellout. Loftus still had tickets on ...
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All Blacks Survive Stormers Scare, Boks Edge Argentina Thriller!

August 10, 2026 • 29 mins
The All Blacks kicked off their South Africa tour with a scrappy, ill-disciplined 38-21 win over the Stormers in Cape Town —\- surviving three yellow cards and needing four late tries to pull away from what should've been a comfortable night. Meanwhile, the Springboks ground out a nervy 17-10 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires, with the bench "bomb squad" bailing them out late as the Pumas threatened a serious upset. On this...
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Rivals S02 Ep20b (Team Room 2)

August 10, 2026 • 14 mins
Victor outlines the tactics he'd use to beat the All Blacks and JK counters with his cunning plan to beat South Africa.
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Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Is Here! Boks vs. All Blacks Predictions

August 4, 2026 • 23 mins
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry is here - and Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield are making their calls. Thirty years on from the Incomparables, the All Blacks are back in South Africa for a full tour. Eight matches, four Tests, and the most anticipated series between these two nations in a generation. It starts Friday in Cape Town. But first - the story that's dominated the build-up. Thousands of South Africans turned out at DHL Stadi...
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All Blacks & Springboks Squads REVEALED: The Shock Selections

July 27, 2026 • 34 mins
Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield react to Dave Rennie's 44-man All Blacks squad for the Greatest Rivalry Tour of South Africa and Rassie Erasmus' 43-man Springbok group, as the two greatest rivals in world rugby prepare to collide in a four-Test series. In this episode: - The uncapped trio - Siale Lauaki, Josh Jacomb and Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa - injecting young talent into the touring squad - Rieko Ioane and Fabian Holland recall...
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All Blacks Run Riot & The Boks Stay Perfect!

July 20, 2026 • 39 mins
The All Blacks ran riot at Eden Park! Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield break down a massive weekend of Nations Championship rugby - starting with New Zealand's six-try demolition of Ireland that stretched the Eden Park unbeaten run to 53 matches. JK explains why Dave Rennie's side is starting to click, and what this performance tells us about where the All Blacks are heading. Then it's over to Durban, where Victor's Springboks s...
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Did Scotland Just Expose The Springboks?! Will Jordan Makes History!

July 13, 2026 • 36 mins
The world champions got a fright! Victor Matfield and Sir John Kirwan break down a wild weekend of Nations Championship rugby - starting with the Springboks being pushed all the way by a fearless Scotland side in Pretoria. Two-nil up in the championship, but should Rassie be worried by 46 missed tackles? Meanwhile in Wellington, the All Blacks ran in seven tries against Italy as Will Jordan made history - a hat-trick to become the ...
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Rennie's New All Blacks & Rassie's Ruthless Springboks | Nations Championship Reaction

July 6, 2026 • 36 mins
Is this the new age of rugby? Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield react to the opening weekend of the inaugural Nations Championship. The All Blacks edged France 34-32 in a Christchurch thriller in Dave Rennie's first Test in charge, with Ardie Savea leading the side as captain and a new-look backline featuring Ruben Love. Meanwhile, the Springboks dismantled England 45-21, running in seven tries and reminding the world why they'...
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"Sir John Kirwan REACTS: Dave Rennie's FIRST All Blacks Team Named! | Rivals Special"

July 2, 2026 • 14 mins
Dave Rennie has named his first ever All Blacks squad, and it's a massive one — the test against France kicks off this Saturday. Sir John Kirwan joins Rivals to break down every selection, the big calls, the surprises, and what it means for the new coach's tenure. Subscribe for more Rivals specials and expert reaction as the All Blacks season unfolds. #AllBlacks #DaveRennie #SirJohnKirwan #Rugby #Rivals #AllBlacksvFrance
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The Weekend That Decides #1 in World Rugby?

June 29, 2026 • 27 mins
This weekend, world rugby gets serious. The All Blacks face France and the Springboks take on England - and with the world rankings tighter than ever, both results matter. Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield go head to head on both matchups: who wins, who surprises, and who's genuinely the best team on the planet right now. Subscribe to Rugby Rivals and make sure you never miss an episode. Thank you to Klipdrift for supporting the...
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All Blacks Squad Shock! Bulls Disappointment & Boks Season Begins

June 22, 2026 • 28 mins
The All Blacks squad has been named... and JK and Victor have some thoughts. Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield break down the selections, debate who deserved to be in and who got left out, and ask whether the Hurricanes are the best club side on the planet right now. Plus - the URC Final and the Bulls' defeat, and the Springboks kick off their season, Victor weighs in on what to expect from his former side! 🎙️ Rugby Rivals is pr...
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Rugby Finals Week: URC & Super Rugby Predictions

June 15, 2026 • 39 mins
Finals week is here - and Victor Matfield and Sir John Kirwan are breaking down both the URC Final and the Super Rugby Pacific Final with their picks, predictions, and tactics. Victor makes the case for the Bulls to strangle Leinster up front - scrum dominance, a physical maul game, and keeping the ball off their dangerous backs. JK sees Leinster's quality in the backs as the difference. Then it's the Chiefs - can they finally get ...
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JK and Victor Clash Over Tony Brown’s All Blacks Return

June 8, 2026 • 34 mins
Tony Brown is BACK with the All Blacks… but should New Zealand rugby be looking wider than just coaches? In this week’s Rugby Rivals, JK and Victor Matfield go head-to-head over Tony Brown’s return and ask a provocative question: if rugby is happy to bring in overseas coaches, why not overseas players? The boys also break down a huge weekend of rugby as the Bulls charge into the final, while JK’s Blues some...
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John Kirwan & Victor Matfield Reveal The Greatest Game They Ever Played

June 8, 2026 • 16 mins
What happens when two rugby legends reveal the one game they’ll never forget? In this special bonus episode of Rugby Rivals, Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield look back on the greatest game they ever played — and the choices may surprise you. From epic All Blacks vs Springboks battles to unforgettable clashes involving Auckland and the Bulls, JK and Victor relive the pressure, the moments that changed everything, and ...
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Sacha OUT for the Boks?! URC Semis + Super Rugby Playoffs | Remembering Jonah

June 1, 2026 • 35 mins
JK and Victor are back to break down a massive week in world rugby. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu limps off scoring a try against Cardiff — and the prognosis isn't good. Is the Boks' brightest young playmaker about to miss a chunk of the season just weeks out from the England Test? Rassie's injury list is getting ugly. Plus: the URC semis are locked in, the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs are heating up across both sides of the Tas...
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