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Rugby Rivals - Sir John Kirwan & Victor Matfield

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

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 weeklyEpisodes56Foundeda year ago
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RugbySports

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Artwork for Rugby Rivals

Latest Episodes

Bledisloe week is here, and John Kirwan and Victor Matfield are naming the All Blacks who need to stand up against the Wallabies this weekend.

With the Cup on the line, JK and Victor ask whether this All Blacks side is good enough to keep Australia ... more

Australia led the world champions 42–17 with 15 minutes to go.

Then four yellow cards, a penalty try and a Springbok scrum onslaught turned Perth into chaos - and the Wallabies held on with 11 men.

Springbok great Victor Matfield and All Blacks l... more

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 deci... more

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 th... more

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Recent Guests

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
Victor Matfield
Springbok legend, former lock
Episode: John Kirwan & Victor Matfield Reveal The Greatest Game They Ever Played
Sir John Kirwan
All Black legend, winger
Episode: John Kirwan & Victor Matfield Reveal The Greatest Game They Ever Played
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
Sean Fitzpatrick
Former All Black captain and rugby legend
Episode: Gamesmanship/Cheating New big money comp plus special Guest Sean Fitzpatrick

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
#35
United States/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#31
Canada/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#88
United Kingdom/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#20
Germany/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#28
Australia/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#32
Italy/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#32
France/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#7
South Africa/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#12
Israel/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#16
Finland/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#16
New Zealand/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#22
Sweden/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#22
Netherlands/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#34
Ireland/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#36
Austria/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#44
United Arab Emirates/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#46
South Africa/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#49
Switzerland/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#60
Hong Kong/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#61
Japan/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#134
New Zealand/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
England Exposed? Scotland Run Riot | Six Nations Verdict
Q: How do players manage the pressure after a loss like England faced?
Players need complete support from the coach and must believe in the game plan to navigate the pressures after a loss.
England Exposed? Scotland Run Riot | Six Nations Verdict
Q: What did you think of Finn Russell's performance?
Finn Russell's performance was outstanding, making the game look effortless and leading his team effectively against England.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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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. Boks Unpacked x The Verdict
2. The Good, The Bad & The Rugby: Australia & New Zealand
3. For The Love Of Rugby: South Africa
4. DSPN -RUGBY
5. Aotearoa Rugby Pod

How many episodes of Rugby Rivals are there?

Rugby Rivals launched a year ago and published 56 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. Dionne Furee
2. Luke Jacobson
3. Cameron Hanekom
4. Tony Brown
5. Victor Matfield
6. Sir John Kirwan
7. Ric Salizzo
8. Andrew Trimble

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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