Modern rugby looks different. More kicks, more broken play, more tries.
Yet kicking is still treated as a mistake.

In Episode 159, Harry Jones speaks to analyst and author Sam Larner (Attacking the Space) about how the modern game actually works, and why so many people misread it.

The common view is simple: keep the ball, build pressure, avoid kicking.
The reality is more complicated. The best teams kick more, not less, and they do it for a reason.

This conversation breaks down how kicking controls territory, reduces risk and creates pressure, and why possession often matters less than how a possession ends.

France, Ireland and England approach this differently, but the pattern is consistent once you know what to look for.

This is not a match recap. It is a clearer way of seeing rugby.

People have been asking for it. They’ve been waiting for it. So here it is.The Lekker Rugby Pod reaction to the Bulls vs Stormers derby may not be instant, but sometimes the dust needs to settle before the real analysis begins.MW Welman and Harry Jones take a calm look back at what happened at Loftus. Why the Bulls struggled to adapt once the Stormers slowed the game down, why the Stormers looked calmer under pressure, and what the result might mean for the URC run-in.The reaction may have been delayed. But the conversation was always coming.

This is the match the Lekker Rugby Pod was built on.North vs South. Bulls vs Stormers. Loftus vs Cape Town. For more than a century this rivalry has defined South African rugby, and this weekend it explodes again in Pretoria.In Episode 158, MW Welman and Harry Jones go head to head in a classic preview full of analysis, history and merciless banter. From Pollard and Willie to Sacha and Willemse, from scrums to turnovers to altitude and momentum, everything is on the table.But as always with this rivalry, the analysis quickly turns into something else.Stormpy van Druren makes an appearance. Jeandré Rudolph becomes “Oom Rugby”.Harry predicts a Stormers upset.MW is having none of it.It is the battle of the bad winners against the bad losers. If you love rugby rivalries, this one is special. And if you love the Bulls or the Stormers, this one might hurt.Welcome to the North–South Derby.

England vs France is one of rugby’s great rivalries. But what actually decides these matches?In this episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod, Harry Jones and MW Welman are joined by analyst Angus Usher (@analystgus) to break down the tactical battle between England and France.Using the Six Nations clash as the case study, we unpack how teams build their game plans, where matches are really won, and how different tactical approaches shape the outcome.We discuss kicking strategy, phase play, defensive systems, and the key areas England would need to control to compete with France.If you've ever wondered what coaches mean when they talk about trusting the game plan, this episode explains it.

Former Springbok flyhalf Pat Lambie joins Harry Jones on the Lekker Rugby Pod for a reflective conversation about his career in the green and gold.Lambie looks back on unforgettable moments in a Springbok jersey, including his famous try against Australia at Newlands and the heartbreak of the 2011 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal. He shares insights into playing under Heyneke Meyer, how elite flyhalves read the game, the mental side of Test rugby, and what life looks like after his playing career.Now working in property development on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast, Lambie reflects on rugby, leadership, and the moments that still stay with him years after leaving the field.A thoughtful conversation with one of South Africa’s most respected playmakers.

Scotland have blown the Six Nations wide open.After previewing the match earlier in the week with Charlie Morgan of The Times, the Lekker Rugby Pod discussed the blueprint Scotland would need to beat France. At Murrayfield, that plan unfolded almost exactly as imagined.Finn Russell and Ben White controlled the tempo, the Scottish midfield stretched the French defence, and Kyle Steyn produced one of the performances of the championship. Scotland played with clarity, composure and physical edge, forcing France into mistakes and taking their chances ruthlessly.France arrived with the stronger metrics across almost every category. Dominant carries, tackle evasion, depth and star power all pointed their way. But when the pressure came, Scotland imposed their game and the French composure disappeared.We break down the key moments that swung the match, the tactical decisions that defined it, and what this result means for the final weekend of the Six Nations.

France arrive at Murrayfield looking like the most complete side in the championship. Power, pace, transition attack and a squad full of rangy athletes have pushed them ahead of the field in this Six Nations.But Scotland may be the one team with the tools to disrupt them.Charlie Morgan of The Times joins the Lekker Rugby Pod to unpack the tactical puzzle at the heart of Round 4. We look at how Scotland might target France through the kicking game, why Finn Russell and Ben White will be crucial to controlling territory, and how the Russell, Tuipulotu and Huw Jones midfield combination could challenge the French defensive system.We also dig into the evolving shape of the French side under Fabien Galthié. Their mobile back five, relentless transition threat and ability to create chaos from broken play has made them the most dangerous attacking team in the tournament.

Dave Rennie has been named head coach of the All Blacks.This conversation with Martin Devlin was recorded hours before the official announcement. During the episode, Devlin predicted Rennie would get the job and unpacked what the appointment would mean for New Zealand rugby at this moment in the cycle.The discussion moves beyond the name itself into the bigger questions facing the All Blacks, from discipline and aerial execution to belief, depth, and the growing contrast with the Springboks under Rassie Erasmus. With South Africa holding alignment camps and building momentum, the pressure on Rennie begins immediately.This is the state of play before the decision was confirmed, and why it matters now.