8/9 Rugby

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones love The Rugby Championship, and what better way to consume the international game than to launch into the Test Match post-mortem before giving it too much thought. This week's fulltime focus is on South Africa’s last-ditch 31-27 win overNew Zealand with Harry still there at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. And head to the 8-9 Combo YouTube channel for an exclusive mini Post-Mortem on Argentina v Australia in La Plata. Brought to you by Chasing the Sun 2 coming soon to RugbyPass TV – head to rugbypass.tv and sign up for FREE, to watch wherever you are in the rugby world! Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brought to you by Chasing the Sun 2 coming soon to RugbyPass TV – head to rugbypass.tv and sign up for FREE, to watch wherever you are in the rugby world! Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with the next Rugby Championship edition of their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week – where this week Harry is in the carpark of Heathrow Airport in London en route to Johannesburg, to see South Africa v New Zealand at Ellis Park, while Brett is setting his alarm for that blockbuster match, plus Argentina v Australia from La Plata. Two very big games, but for four very different reasons. Which opposition players would you drop into your side right now? The boys conduct their own Test Rugby mock draft, 8-9 style, and ponder how to make South Africa and Australia better. Or New Zealand and Argentina worse, probably. This week’s Games of the Week: • South Africa v New Zealand in Johannesburg • Argentina v Australia in La Plata Plus, it’s Round 2 of the Pacific Nations Cup, and the NPC in NZ, and the Currie Cup in South Africa get a mention, too. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brought to you by Chasing the Sun 2 coming soon to RugbyPass TV – head to rugbypass.tv and sign up for FREE, to watch wherever you are in the rugby world! Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by highly regarded Australian-based rugby writer and author Geoff Parkes, to consider the mouthwatering third round of The Rugby Championship this weekend coming. A belting weekend of Test rugby awaits, headlined by South Africa hosting New Zealand in Johannesburg, followed by Argentina hosting Australia in La Plata. With teams yet to be named, Geoff and the guys ponder what level the Rugby World Cup Final rematch will go to at Ellis Park, whether the Springboks are in the middle of a lock crisis, and why Argentina should be a game that Joe Schmidt’s rebuilding Wallabies can back themselves to win, and even with Los Pumas still riding high after winning in Wellington in the opening round. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brought to you by Chasing the Sun 2 coming soon to RugbyPass TV – head to rugbypass.tv and sign up for FREE, to watch wherever you are in the rugby world! Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by renowned Australian rugby writer and author, noted tourist and regular friend of the pod, the great Jim Tucker, to look back on the second round of The Rugby Championship and the lessons learned for the Wallabies, as they gear up for a now very important tour of Argentina. The tour comes at a crucial point for the Wallabies and new coach Joe Schmidt; after three wins in July followed by heavy losses to South Africa, Schmidt takes his Australian squad to South America next weekend where wins are necessary but certainly not guaranteed after Los Pumas themselves had an up-and-down tour of New Zealand. Is it more pain, or finally some gain for the Wallabies? Also, Harry is introduced to that fine Australian publication, The Betoota Advocate! Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brought to you by Chasing the Sun 2 coming soon to RugbyPass TV – head to rugbypass.tv and sign up for FREE, to watch wherever you are in the rugby world! Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones love The Rugby Championship, and what better way to consume the international game than to launch into the Test Match post-mortem before giving it too much thought. This week's fulltime focus is on South Africa’s 30-12 win over Australia in the wet west in Perth, and New Zealand’s very much expected 42-10 bounce-back win over Argentina in Auckland. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brought to you by Chasing the Sun 2 coming soon to RugbyPass TV – head to rugbypass.tv and sign up for FREE, to watch wherever you are in the rugby world! Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with a special Rugby Championship edition of their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week – where this week Harry enjoys a quality chat with world-renowned SuperSport commentator Matt Pearce on the Wallabies-Springboks Test in Perth this weekend, before Brett and Harry also take a look at the return All Blacks-Los Pumas Test in Auckland. This week’s Games of the Week: New Zealand v Argentina in Auckland Australia v South Africa in Perth Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brought to you by Chasing the Sun 2 coming soon to RugbyPass TV – head to rugbypass.tv and sign up for FREE, to watch wherever you are in the rugby world! Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by South African rugby YouTube sensation Riaan Louw to launch into discussions around the second week of The Rugby Championship, with return legs of the first games to be played in Perth and Auckland. Riaan and the guys contemplate where the Springboks might look for improvement, which couple of tweaks from a long list needed the Wallabies can make a difference with, to what degree will the All Blacks bounce back, and how even fewer fears Los Pumas will carry into another game in New Zealand. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones love The Rugby Championship, and what better way to consume the international game than to launch into the Test Match post-mortem before giving it too much thought. This week's fulltime focus is on South Africa’s record 33-7 win over Australia in Brisbane, and Argentina’s fantastic 38-30 win over New Zealand in Wellington. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with the First Rugby Championship edition of their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week – and the first round of the other big ticket annual series in Test rugby is here which means it’s an easy pick for GotWs this week, with two cracking contests to kick off the southern hemisphere’s premier tournament on either side of the Tasman Sea. This week, unsurprisingly, they’ve picked: • Australia v South Africa in Brisbane • New Zealand v Argentina in Wellington Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by Stuff.co.nz Senior Sportswriter, and SMH rugby columnist Paul Cully to dig deep into the narratives and the four squads as selected for The Rugby Championship, and to try and work out where the Wallabies, Springboks, All Blacks, and Los Pumas are placed heading into the first round of the premiere southern hemisphere international rugby tournament. Paul and the guys dig deep into some really interesting narratives surrounding Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Argentina heading into the first round of the TRC, including the coming together of the first generation of players who have only played Super Rugby, or have only played in the URC – but not across those borders – plus a proper wade into the weeds about the four squads for this year’s tournament. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by Australian and World Rugby Television Match Official Brett Cronan, to help peel back the layers on how the TMO works in professional rugby, and thus help us all learn a thing or two about part of the game we experience every week, but perhaps still don’t fully appreciate. In a revealing chat, Brett walks the guys through the ins and outs of the TMO process, the differences between how TMOs operate in Super Rugby Pacific and International Rugby and what the levels can learn from each other, the benefits of referee-TMO partnerships and why he works so well with Australian colleagues Nic Berry and Angus Gardner, and even the codewords they use between other and what a TMO really means when they use certain phrases. You’ll absolutely learn something you didn’t know before in this chat that lifts the lid on on-field communications. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with a special edition of their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week – with The Rugby Championship starting very soon, the guys take a look back at the July Internationals and discuss once and for all what we now know about the four TRC sides, and what we should expect when the Southern Hemisphere’s premier Test Match tournament begins on August 10. Oh, and it’s Conference Finals weekend in Major League Rugby: EAST: New England v Chicago in Quincy MA on Saturday WEST: Seattle v Dallas in Seattle on Sunday Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by Director and Producer of brilliant Springboks documentary series, Chasing the Sun, Gareth Whittaker, the man behind the twin series which documented the ‘Boks rise in world rugby and culminating in the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup triumphs. In this episode less about rugby and more about the art of storytelling, Gareth runs the guys through just how much footage was shot and not used, how many fully developed stories didn’t make the final cut, the contingency storylines in place if the Boks lost the Final or didn’t make it that far, and how his storytelling was shaped by the great sports documentaries of the time and the people who made them. If you watched Chasing the Sun and wondered how it all came together, so many of your questions will be answered. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones love Test Match Rugby, and what better way to consume the international game than to launch into the post-mortem straight after the final siren. This week, the fulltime focus takes in New Zealand’s 47-5 win over Fiji in San Diego, and Australia’s 40-29 win over Georgia in Sydney. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with another international edition of their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, where the guys are again joined former Ireland hooker turned commentator and pundit Bernard Jackman – direct from Ireland Olympic team duties - for one last look back at lessons learned from the July Internationals, and the importance of the long list of rugby Internationals featuring the so-called Tier 2 nations this weekend. This week’s International Games of the Week: • Queensland v Wales, Brisbane • New Zealand v Fiji, San Diego • Australia v Georgia, Sydney • South Africa v Portugal, Bloemfontein Plus, it’s conference semi-final time in Major League Rugby this weekend. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones welcome back onto The 8-9 Combo Senior Rugby Writer for The Telegraph, Charlie Morgan to cast an eye back on the second week of July Internationals in the southern hemisphere, and consider the broader implications of this important week where so-called Tier 2 nations are hosted around the rugby world. With all the two-Test series now done all over the southern hemisphere, the microscope turns to lessons learned by England in New Zealand, by New Zealand from England, who learned more out of South Africa and Ireland and whether they would possibly agree anyway, the size of Warren Gatland’s Welsh rebuild, and whether the Wallabies might be doing un-Joe Schmidt things that actually please Joe Schmidt. Plus, find out what will surely please The Telegraph’s comments section. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones love Test Match Rugby, and what better way to consume the international game than to react to it straight after the final siren. This week, the fulltime focus takes in New Zealand’s bruising 24-17 win over England in Auckland, and Australia’s workmanlike 36-28 win over Wales in Melbourne. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did indeed used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with another international edition of their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, where the guys work through the second weekend of July Internationals in the southern hemisphere, including previews of the big ticket series. This week’s International Games of the Week: • New Zealand v England, Auckland • Australia v Wales, Melbourne • South Africa v Ireland, Durban Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did indeed used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones welcome back to The 8-9 Combo Welsh rugby writer and top shelf video analyst Sam Larner to run the rule over the first round of July Internationals in the southern hemisphere, and contemplate the lessons learned and the early kneejerk reactions ahead of the Second Tests this weekend coming. Sam and the guys go through the major series now underway in the southern hemisphere – New Zealand-England, Australia-Wales, South Africa-Ireland, and Argentina-France – and look at the major lessons learned for the losing sides, the obvious work-ons for the winners, and take an early look at where changes might be made at the selection tables. And ponder who of England, Wales, and Ireland might be best equipped to square their series, while outlining what worked so well for New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with the first International edition of their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, where the guys work through the first chocka-block weekend of Test Match Rugby in the southern hemisphere, including previews of the big ticket series openers, and even bigger jersey collars. This week’s International Games of the Week: • New Zealand v England, Dunedin • Australia v Wales, Sydney • South Africa v Ireland, Pretoria • Argentina v France, Mendoza Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did indeed used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by Rugby Australia Chair Daniel Herbert for an open and frank discussion that outlines the delicate position the game finds itself in Australia – and how really transformative the next decade can be. Herbert outlines what led RA into the position they are now in the process of recovering from, outlining the reset of strategic direction they’re now implementing, which does include the demise of the Melbourne Rebels, options that may be available to get more games and gametime into Australian players, and how ‘centralisation’ became a dirty word in 2023, while also touching on the first Test against Wales in Sydney this weekend, and legacy Michael Hooper will leave behind, after announcing his retirement from Australian rugby over the weekend. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by Australia’s Major League Rugby record points-scorer and Seattle Seawolves flyhalf/fullback Sam Windsor, to get a true insight into the quality gains in MLR since it was founded in 2017, and how life works for a professional rugby player in the United States. The guys also cover off of two fantastic Finals of Super Rugby Pacific and the United Rugby Championship, won well by the Blues and Glasgow respectively, updates to the Harry Index of global club rankings, the start of the International rugby season, and what smells like a really knee-jerk reaction by the Leicester Tigers to part ways with Australian head coach Dan McKellar. Our thoughts with friends and family of Connor Garden-Bachop. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with a bumper edition of their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, where the guys work through plenty of important games from each of the best competitions around the rugby world, including the Finals of Super Rugby Pacific and the United Rugby Championship. This week’s Games of the Week: Super Rugby Pacific FINAL Blues (2) v Chiefs (4) in Auckland URC FINAL Bulls (2) v Glasgow Warriors (4) in Pretoria Top 14 – Semi Finals Toulouse (1) v La Rochelle (5) in Toulouse Stade Francais (2) v Bordeaux (3) in Paris MLR Round 17 - San Diego v Houston in San Diego Plus, International rugby starts this weekend! Japan v England in Tokyo South Africa v Wales in London Barbarians v Fiji in London (Twickenham double-header) Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did indeed used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by now-former Melbourne Rebels, and Wallabies fullback Andrew Kellaway in that small post-Super Rugby Pacific window and before things really step up properly through the international season, with the Wales series now less than three weeks away. In this week’s episode, the boys get a great insight into the Rebels ‘mourning period’ as they go their separate ways post-decision, how the Wallabies pre-squad training has been working and how many highlight clips he has to send to Joe Schmidt, and some really good ideas around what can be done to enhance the downtime in rugby and the lessons that could be learned from the NFL. Plus there’s an early preview of the Super Rugby Pacific Final between the Blues and the Chiefs. And a brush with wildlife. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, where the guys work through all the crucial finals games from each of the best competitions around the rugby world each weekend. It’s finals time in plenty of comps, and this week, they’ve picked: Super Rugby Pacific – Semi Finals Blues (2) v Brumbies (3) in Auckland Hurricanes (1) v Chiefs (4) in Wellington URC – Semi Finals Bulls (2) v Leinster (3) in Pretoria Munster (1) v Glasgow Warriors (4) in Limerick Top 14 – Qualifying Finals Toulon (4) v La Rochelle (5) in Toulon Bordeaux (3) v Racing 92 (6) in Bordeaux MLR Round 16 - Houston v Seattle in Houston Let the guys know what you think! Is there a game you think they’ve missed? Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did indeed used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by muckraking New Zealand sportswriter, author, and social media stirrer Jamie Wall, to get into where the four Super Rugby Pacific Quarter Finals were won and lost this weekend just gone. From there, it’s a matter of curious Semi-final scheduling that kind of makes sense (kind of), and a matter of who of the Brumbies and Chiefs can a pull a surprise over the Blues and Hurricanes. Could it be both? Australian rugby fans hope so. Plus Brett & Harry run through the URC Quarter Finals, and the extraordinary Premiership Final between Northampton and Bath at Twickenham. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, where the guys work through plenty of important games from each of the best competitions around the rugby world each weekend. It’s finals time in plenty of comps, and this week, they’ve picked: Super Rugby Pacific – Quarter Finals Chiefs (4) v Reds (5) in Hamilton Hurricanes (1) v Rebels (8) in Wellington Blues (2) v Drua (7) in Auckland Brumbies (3) v Highlanders (6) in Canberra Premiership - Final: Northampton v Bath at Twickenham URC – Quarter Finals Munster (1) v Ospreys (8) in Limerick Bulls (2) v Benetton (7) in Pretoria Leinster (3) v Ulster (6) in Dublin Glasgow (4) v Stormers (5) in Glasgow Top 14 – La Rochelle v Racing 92 in La Rochelle MLR - Seattle v Utah in Seattle Let the guys know what you think! Is there a game you think they’ve missed? Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did indeed used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok and Challenge Cup-winning Shark prop, and worldwide cake aficionado Ox Nche for another great rugby chat as we head to the pointy end of competitions around the world. Ox takes the guys on a ride through the Sharks’ Challenge Cup triumph over Gloucester, about how deeply he studies opposition front rows and what sort of scrummaging patterns he studies, through all his favourite moments of celebrations with both the Sharks and Springboks, including the final moments of the RWC Final and crazy homecoming in Johannesburg. Plus Brett & Harry offer up some thoughts on the demise of the Melbourne Rebels after last week’s decision from Rugby Australia. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, where the guys work through the best games from each of the best competitions around the rugby world each weekend. This week, they’ve picked: Super Rugby Pacific – Blues v Chiefs in Auckland URC – Benetton v Edinburgh in Treviso Premiership Semi-finals: Northampton v Saracens in Northampton Bath v Sale in Bath Top 14 – Toulouse v La Rochelle in Toulouse MLR - New England v Dallas in Quincy MA Let the guys know what you think! Is there a game you think they’ve missed? Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did indeed used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by barnstorming Queensland backrower Harry Wilson, with the Reds confirmed to a 5th place finish in 2024 before this weekend’s final round, and playing the kind of rugby they hope can take them deep into the Super Rugby Pacific finals series. Though he’s racing the clock to return from a broken arm before the end of Super Rugby Pacific - he’s an outside chance of being back should the Reds reach the Final – Harry and the guys go deep into how Queensland have gone to new levels in 2024, on the biggest dangers ahead in the finals. Plus Brett & Harry give their thoughts on an extraordinary Champions Cup Final in London. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined by renowned Irish pundit and commentator Bernard Jackman for their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, with this week’s focus on London and the Champions Cup Final between Leinster and Toulouse, as well as the Challenge Cup Final between Gloucester and the Sharks. Elsewhere this week, they’ve picked: · Super Rugby Pacific – Chiefs v Hurricanes in Hamilton · Japan League One Final - Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights v Toshiba Brave Lupus in Tokyo Plus a peak at Major League Rugby in the States, too. Let the guys know what you think! Is there a game you think they’ve missed? Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by Melbourne Rebels head coach Kevin Foote, for an open and honest and at times raw conversation that attempts to explain a team playing good rugby under the clouds of a club in Administration. On a number of topics that haven’t had a lot of attention, Kevin gives a pretty raw account of trying to coach a squad of players that currently do not know their employment status beyond the end of June, the frustrations and the stress that goes with that, and the impact the Rebels uncertain future continues to have on his coaches, the families and the club staff. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, where the guys work through the best games from each of the best competitions around the rugby world each weekend. This week, they’ve picked: · Super Rugby Pacific – Fijian Drua v Queensland Reds in Suva · URC: Connacht v Stormers in Galway · Premiership: Harlequins v Bristol in London · Top 14: Montpellier v Toulouse in Montpellier Plus, it’s finals time in Japan, and a peak at Major League Rugby in the States, too. Let the guys know what you think! Is there a game you think they’ve missed? Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by legendary New Zealand broadcaster and author Tony Johnson, fresh from calling one of the games of Super Rugby Pacific this season so far, the Blues v Hurricanes blockbuster at Eden Park on Saturday. With the top eight taking shape and only three rounds of the season remaining, the guys and Tony take a closer look at the state of play among the Kiwi teams, how the demise of the Crusaders is being received (gleefully, mostly), and how the New Zealanders are seeing the rise of the Australian sides in 2024. Plus, the guys applaud the introduction of the Under-20s Rugby Championship, complete over the weekend on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, where the guys work through the best games from each of the best competitions around the rugby world each weekend. This week, they’ve picked: · Super Rugby Pacific – Blues v Hurricanes in Auckland · URC - Bulls v Glasgow in Pretoria · Premiership - Bristol v Saracens in Bristol · Top 14 - Toulouse v Stade Francais in Toulouse Hopefully the AI Overlords approve. The Rugby Championship Under-20s also concludes this Sunday on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Plus, Major League Rugby in the States, too. Let the guys know what you think! Is there a game you think they’ve missed? Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by two-time RWC winning Wallabies and Queensland legend Tim Horan, with the Stan Sport commentator and lover of stadium pies casting his eye over the state of the Australian teams and where the competition favouritism lays with four rounds to play in Super Rugby Pacific. After a fascinating round of Show & Tell with some wonderful memorabilia out of the Horan Archive (a couple of sports bags under the stairs), Tim points forward to what a Wallabies side under new coach Joe Schmidt and the kind of players that might fit that style, who he believes he’s talking to when commentating games, and even some revolutionary thoughts on what might revitalise Super Rugby Pacific and the game in general in the southern hemisphere. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, where the guys work through the best games from each of the best competitions around the rugby world each weekend. This week, they’ve picked: Super Rugby Pacific – Crusaders v Queensland Reds in Christchurch Champions Cup Semi-Finals: Leinster v Northampton in Dublin Toulouse v Harlequins in Toulouse Challenge Cup Semi-Finals: Sharks v Clermont in London Gloucester v Benetton in Gloucester The Rugby Championship Under-20s also begins this week on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Plus, Games of the Week from Japan Rugby League One and Major League Rugby in the States, too. Let the guys know what you think! Is there a game you think they’ve missed? Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by Wallabies and former Queensland Reds lock/backrower and now Melbourne Rebels skipper Lukhan Salakaia-Loto for a thoroughly enjoyable chat about life, leadership and the difficulty the Rebels players are experiencing with their futures far from certain. In a chat that covers everything from LSL’s stratospheric rise from starting out in rugby to the Junior Wallabies in 12 months, to the mixed feelings of on-field confidence and off-field anxiety inside the Rebels camp currently, the conversation includes his emergence as a natural born leader within a group featuring a heavy Polynesian cohort, and what his time with the Northampton Saints taught him about his own game. Plus, Lukhan tries to blame his daughter for the current state of his playlist. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with their end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, where the guys work through the best games from each of the best competitions around the rugby world each weekend. This week, they’ve picked: Super Rugby Pacific – ACT Brumbies v Hurricanes in Canberra URC: Stormers v Leinster in Cape Town Premiership: Bath v Saracens in Bath Top 14: La Rochelle v Toulon in La Rochelle Plus, Games of the Week from Japan Rugby League One and Major League Rugby in the States, too. Let the guys know what you think! Is there a game you think they’ve missed? Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by Stan Sport commentator, marathon runner, and bad pun extraordinaire Sean Maloney for a mid-season recap on Australian fortunes in Super Rugby Pacific and their runs home over the final six rounds of the competition. The resurgence of the Australian sides in Super Rugby this season has made for a much more enjoyable rugby product for fans, spectators, and broadcasters alike, and Sean explains what sort of difference this has made to Stan’s coverage this season, while also giving some great insight in the behind the scenes working, the narratives behind the games, why it’s so important to mention a promising player by their full name, and why the criticisms can sting when rugby commentary, like everyone’s opinion on the game, is such a subjective thing. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with their new end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, where the guys work through the best games from each of the best competitions around the rugby world each weekend. This week, they’ve picked: · Super Rugby Pacific – Blues v ACT Brumbies in Auckland · URC: Bulls v Munster in Pretoria · Premiership: Exeter v Bath in Exeter · Top 14: Toulon v Toulouse in Toulon (aforementioned in the title) Plus, Games of the Week from Japan Rugby League One and Major League Rugby in the States, too. Let the guys know what you think! Is there a game you think they’ve missed? Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by co-founder and GM of Sport for Gain Line Analytics, Simon Strachan for a deep dive into the numbers behind the teams playing in not just all the major rugby competitions around the world, but in plenty of other sports as well. In a conversation that will impact the way you think about teams performing well and not so well, Simon explains how Gain Line’s deep analysis and research or playing groups helps teams in numerous sports understand why they have set themselves up for ongoing success or chronic failure through either their structures or their recruitment, and how across the four leading professional rugby competitions around the world in 2023, three were won by the team with the best Team Work Index. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are back with their new end-of-week offering, Games of the Week, where the guys work through the best games from each of the best competitions around the rugby world each weekend. This week, they’ve picked: Super Rugby Pacific – Hurricanes v Chiefs in Wellington Champions Cup Semi-Finals: Bordeaux v Harlequins in Bordeaux Leinster v La Rochelle at the Aviva in Dublin Northampton v Bulls in Northampton Toulouse v Exeter in Toulouse Plus, Games of the Week from Japan Rugby League One and Major League Rugby in the States, too. Let the guys know what you think! Is there a game you think they’ve missed? Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by new Wallabies assistant coach and one of the great rugby coaching brains in the game, ‘Lord’ Laurie Fisher, to discuss the ever changing trends in professional rugby as well as gain an insight into the preliminary discussions within Joe Schmidt’s growing Wallabies coaching staff. Where Laurie Fisher has forgotten more about rugby than many of us will ever know, this chat pulls back the layers on his coaching philosophies and his approach around the breakdown and defensive systems in exactly the kind of technical discussion fans of the game love, while Australian fans will really enjoy the level of planning and discussion already happening with Schmidt and his most recent addition to the Wallabies staff, renowned New Zealand scrum guru Mike Cron. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar: Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/ Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/ Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones have a new offering each week, Games of the Week, where the guys work through the best games from each of the best competitions around the rugby world each weekend. This week, they’ve picked: Super Rugby Pacific – ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs in Canberra Champions Cup Round of 16 - Friday: Harlequins v Glasgow at the Twickenham Stoop Saturday: Stormers v La Rochelle in Cape Town Sunday: Northhampton v Munster in Northampton Plus Games of the Week from Japan Rugby League One and Major League Rugby in the States, too. Let the guys know what you think! Is there a game you think they’ve missed? Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by South African rugby YouTube star and creator of the weekly Rugby Update, Riaan Louw, for the rundown on the United Rugby Championship in 2024 and whether South Africa cares about Super Rugby anymore. With the URC (pronounced ‘ERK’) now in it’s third season, TV audiences have hit record levels, crowds are up throughout the competition including in South Africa where the same games in Super Rugby used to draw family and friends only at times. Riaan gives great insight into what has changed in the Republic and as the URC has transitioned away from it’s old Celtic roots. Plus with the Round of 16 and the Quarter Finals to come over the next fortnight in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, the guys run the rule over the start of the knockout stages in the European competitions. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones have a new offering each week, Games of the Week, where the guys work through the best games from each of the best competitions around the rugby world each weekend. This week, they’ve picked: Super Rugby Pacific – Reds v Brumbies in Brisbane United Rugby Championship – Leinster v Bulls in Dublin Premiership – Northampton v Saracens in Northampton Top 14 - Montpellier v Stade Français in Montpellier Plus Games of the Week from Japan Rugby League One and Major League Rugby in the States, too. Let the guys know what you think! Is there a game you think they’ve missed? Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by NSW Waratahs lock/backrower Ned Hanigan fresh from their heartbreaking golden point loss to the Fijian Drua in Lautoka in Super Rugby Pacific over the weekend. It was the latest in a line of ‘what if’ games for the Waratahs in 2024, where their performances on the field aren’t quite matched on the scoreboard or the competition standings, and Ned is refreshing in his honesty of where the Waratahs are just missing a trick or two. Plus the guys discuss World Rugby’s recent moves in the “next steps in the process of reimagining rugby’s entertainment factor”, and whether some of the tweaks are needed at all. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones have a new offering each week, Games of the Week, where the guys work through the best games from each of the best competitions around the rugby world each weekend. This week, they’ve picked: · Super Rugby Pacific – Blues v Crusaders in Auckland · United Rugby Championship - Stormers v Edinburgh in Cape Town · Premiership – Saracens v Harlequins in London (pack the chinos, chaps!) · Top 14 - Bordeaux v Toulouse in Bordeaux Plus Games of the Week from Japan Rugby League One and Major League Rugby in the States, too. Let the guys know what you think! Is there a game you think they’ve missed? Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby podcasters Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by one of the leading analysts in the game, Sam Larner from the Beyond 80 show on RugbyPass TV, for a great chat on how we all consume the game of rugby via stats and analysis. What stats are meaningful? Which stats should you take notice of? Which one don’t mean as much as you think? There aren’t too many rugby people who have broken down rugby stats and rugby analysis better than Sam, and his Beyond 80 show goes to places where other shows just don’t. Plus the guys run the rule over the 2024 Six Nations, well won by Ireland as expected, but with more than a few surprises following them in the final standings. Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/89combo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@89combopodcast Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones (Yes, Brett and Harry did used to host The Roar Rugby Podcast!) Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme Voiceovers by Chookman + Amelia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices