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Rugby Rivals - Sir John Kirwan & Victor Matfield

Sportscafe Media
All Blacks
South Africa
Rugby
Springboks
New Zealand
Rugby Championship
France
Australia
Super Rugby
Rugby Union
World Cup
Six Nations
Rugby World Cup
Argentina
Ireland
Lions
Eden Park
TMO
Italy
England

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 thei... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes60Foundeda year ago
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Artwork for Rugby Rivals

Latest Episodes

Rassie has picked six uncapped bolters, and Etzebeth, Kolbe and Pollard are all out injured. JK and Victor go head to head on the controversial Springbok squad, then debate NZ Rugby’s decision on the future of Super Rugby.

In this episode:

🟢 The B... more

The All Blacks have swept the Bledisloe Cup, but are they the best team in the world again? Sir John Kirwan and Springbok great Victor Matfield break down the All Blacks’ 43-21 win over the Wallabies in Sydney.

A near-perfect first half had New Zeal... more

Sir John Kirwan and Victor Matfield break down the All Blacks' first Test since the Springbok series, and it was a statement.

New Zealand scored seven tries to three to beat the Wallabies 50–19 at Eden Park. That keeps the Bledisloe Cup in New Zeal... more

All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick sits down with the world's greatest athlete, two-time Olympic decathlon champion Daley Thompson, in this episode of Winning Matters, brought to you by ALTRAD.

Daley won decathlon gold at Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles... more

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Recent Guests

Daley Thompson
Olympic decathlete, multiple-time champion
British athletics
Episode: Sean Fitzpatrick & Daley Thompson on Winning Without Sacrifice
Sir John Kirwan
All Black legend
New Zealand Rugby (All Blacks)
Episode: Springbok & All Black Fans Collide Before Second Test!
Victor Matfield
Springbok legend
South Africa Rugby (Springboks)
Episode: Springbok & All Black Fans Collide Before Second Test!
Dionne Furee
Stormers player mentioned for standout performance and Springbok call-up
Stormers/Springbok
Episode: All Blacks Survive Stormers Scare, Boks Edge Argentina Thriller!
Luke Jacobson
All Blacks captain named during the episode
All Blacks
Episode: All Blacks Survive Stormers Scare, Boks Edge Argentina Thriller!
Cameron Hanekom
Player highlighted for strong weekend performance
Bulls
Episode: All Blacks Survive Stormers Scare, Boks Edge Argentina Thriller!
Tony Brown
Former rugby coach/storyline in discussion
Episode: JK and Victor Clash Over Tony Brown’s All Blacks Return
Ric Salizzo
NZ media legend moderating the show
NZ Media
Episode: JJK and Victor react to Champions Cup thrashing!
Andrew Trimble
Former Irish international with 70 caps.
Episode: Who will be the best team in the world 2025 plus Irish star Andrew Trimble

Hosts

Sir John Kirwan
All Black legend and host, frequently contributes strategic and historical rugby insights with a long career as a winger and rugby executive.
Victor Matfield
Springbok legend and analyst with deep forward-pack and lineout expertise, often reframing tactics from a South African perspective.
Ric Salizzo
NZ media legend moderating the show, providing context and structure to discussions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#41
United States/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#47
Canada/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#102
United Kingdom/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#12
Italy/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#27
Germany/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#53
Australia/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#80
France/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#5
Finland/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#8
Sweden/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#10
South Africa/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#16
Israel/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#19
Switzerland/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#23
New Zealand/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#27
Netherlands/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#40
Austria/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#40
United Arab Emirates/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#42
Japan/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#49
Hong Kong/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#88
Ireland/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#132
South Africa/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sean Fitzpatrick & Daley Thompson on Winning Without Sacrifice
Q: How did you learn to handle the pressure of the All Black/Jersey mindset and the fear of failure?
By preparing more thoroughly than anyone else, embracing the fear as a motivator, and building routines that ensured I knew I had earned my performance when the day came.
Sean Fitzpatrick & Daley Thompson on Winning Without Sacrifice
Q: What drove you to pursue the Decathlon given it required mastering ten events?
I wanted to do something I could be really good at, and the Decathlon represented a single, all-encompassing measure of whether I could excel across multiple disciplines; it felt like the perfect fit for my desire to be the best at something.
Rivals S02 Ep20b (Team Room 2)
Q: How should the All Blacks unravel South Africa's defense and scrum?
JK emphasizes varying the attack, managing scrum aggression with multiple entry points, and using early, smart kicking plus running tactics to keep South Africa off balance and to wear them down physically.
Rivals S02 Ep20b (Team Room 2)
Q: Victor, what are the key tactical areas to beat the All Blacks?
Victor outlines a three-pronged approach focusing on the kicking game to control field position, winning the aerial contest, and dominating the breakdown to prevent the All Blacks from gaining momentum, followed by leveraging well-timed attacks and defense adjustments.
John Kirwan & Victor Matfield Reveal The Greatest Game They Ever Played
Q: Can you remember like Victor did before, just what it felt like when you won the Shield?
Victor emphasizes the relief and the collective memory of a hard-fought season, while JK adds that the realization sinks in over time, especially after intense moments and celebrations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Rugby Rivals

What is Rugby Rivals about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Analyses of major rugby showdowns blend sharp strategic breakdowns with lots of banter between two legendary guests who often represent rival perspectives from different hemispheres. Episodes tend to dissect test matches, squad selections, kicking games, defensive structures, and the influence of refereeing and game tempo, all while weaving in personal anecdotes and cross-border rivalries. A steady thread is the exchange of tactical insight from former players and coaches, tempered by light-hearted sponsorship plugs and candid reflections on the sport's culture, travel grind, and media dynamics. The format likely appeals to serious rugby fans who enjoy a mix of technical breakdown, historical context, and entertaining rival banter, with occ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Rugby Rivals?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Rugby Rivals:

1. The Good, The Bad & The Rugby: Australia & New Zealand
2. Aotearoa Rugby Pod
3. DSPN - RUGBY
4. The Big Jim Show
5. Kick Offs and Kick Ons

How many episodes of Rugby Rivals are there?

Rugby Rivals launched a year ago and published 60 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Rugby Rivals?

Recent guests on Rugby Rivals include:

1. Daley Thompson
2. Sir John Kirwan
3. Victor Matfield
4. Dionne Furee
5. Luke Jacobson
6. Cameron Hanekom
7. Tony Brown
8. Ric Salizzo

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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