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International

Ruggamatrix episode 256

The Ruggamatrix boys

LISTEN HERE:

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WATCH HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baJwl4J-YkY&feature=youtu.be

All Blacks and the north lead the way – Former NSW Waratahs CEO Fraser Neill is our co-host this week with Ben on leave. He’s worked with World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby on World Cups and Super Rugby competition structure.

We’ll get his thoughts on the 2023 World Cup bids.
STRIKE ISSUE OF THE WEEK: Should the rest of the world step up to All Blacks standards? This is a theme on message boards and we address it on this week’s show.
Issue of the week brought to you by Strike. Leaders in mobile phone cradles for vehicles.
This week’s show brought to you by RUGBYPASS FANTASY – get your team in to win a great prize.
4K UHD VIDEO WALL BY SAMSUNG.

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Comments on RugbyPass

J
John Campbell 33 minutes ago
Six favours the All Blacks need from Santa's little helpers

Yes, but they must work together as a unit (like SA)

48 Go to comments
b
by George! 3 hours ago
Tyrone Thompson: 'I’m just seeing how the Chiefs season plays out'

Good to see the Bae back home, now play hard.

2 Go to comments
N
NJ 4 hours ago
Six favours the All Blacks need from Santa's little helpers

My Christmas wish is that this unrelenting barrage of negativity stops. It is time for all the regional tribalism to stop, for us to get in behind the ABs and Razor. Anybody looking might have noticed that despite the toughest competition ever we are still ranked number two. Let's meet the challenge.

48 Go to comments
P
PMcD 4 hours ago
Top 100 Rugby Players 2025

If I was to pick my team of the year HH, it would be;

1. Nche



...

108 Go to comments
J
JJ 5 hours ago
'To lose one Welsh captain is unfortunate; to lose two might be considered a bit careless'

Wales U19s played this week against england. We have a hot prospect at loose-head in Hudson Nevin, currently at the Scarlets. He was dropped to the bench as the Bristol prop is dual qualified. However, Hudson is also dual qualified and Ireland wasted no time in naming him for their U19s squad as well. This is on the back of losing our U18s captain, Will Moore, to england as he, too, is dual qualified. To lose one age-grade international is unfortunate; to lose two is way more than just careless.

4 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 5 hours ago
Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

They should be bitter with the NZRU, not the coaches. They are just messengers. That is why coaches prefer other countries because they have the freedom to coach themselves instead of doing what the board order

46 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 5 hours ago
Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

I wouldn't count on that. TB don't want the AB's job. They are archiac and is stuck in the previous millennium. Razor have as much say as me and you about selection and coaching tactics. The AB's isn't playing Razors style. That job is becoming a poisonous choice for coaches and a career killer. Only a foolish coach would go there. After being with the Boks and Rassie, I can't see him go back to coach the AB's unless they pay him triple what they normally pay head coaches. He got a free hand. He is allowed to do his own thing, and what a beautiful creation of a boring forward based Boks to the most dangerous and feared and best team in the world. Rassie is a genius, but people tend to forget the other coaches around him and what they bring, especially the forwards that is getting as dangerous as the backs with all their skills they now possess. He is very happy here. Tony is already revered by us Saffas almost as much as Rassie, an AB. Imagine that. If he were to go to the AB's, he wouldn't get the same freedom, but will be forced to do what they say, and it wouldn't benefit him or the AB's because NOTHING will change. He won't be the coach but the messenger, like Razor and Fozzie.

46 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 5 hours ago
Top 100 Rugby Players 2025

what % of France’s minutes did Dupont play in 2025?

108 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 5 hours ago
Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

He was, you NEVER were. NZRU still live in the past, and nothing changed at the top at all. What happened when Lam was there, is still happening. Nothing changed. He knows 1000% much more than you. That right there is a fact that a woke idiot like you can never admit. All you do is show just how little you really know.

46 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 5 hours ago
Top 100 Rugby Players 2025

Supersport (the Good Lord’s gift to sports television) has shown all the major international test highlights of this year, all day.

A few observations: Cobus Reinach was the best 9 in the world this year. Without a doubt in my mind.



...

108 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 5 hours ago
Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

Before reporting on it, I'd suggest do your homework first. There is fewer proper journalists left than chicken teeth. It's not about facts, but spewing whatever crap comes up in their minds and you of all people should know that.

46 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 5 hours ago
Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

Not crap, but facts you jealous fool. You know nothing. You are a know it all who love to claim to know everything but the bucket is empty upstairs. Pathetic

46 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 5 hours ago
Six favours the All Blacks need from Santa's little helpers

SB, thank you for speaking so much truth. But be advised, you are p1ssng into the wind around here.

48 Go to comments
S
SB 10 hours ago
Tyrone Thompson: 'I’m just seeing how the Chiefs season plays out'

Wonder why he only played 3 times for the main NRL side.

2 Go to comments
E
Eric Elwood 11 hours ago
Filo Tiatia salutes record-breaking Dragons on memorable night at Rodney Parade

Fantastic performance by Drgaons. I saw the Leinster match and there were enough signs there of quality and resilience in this team. There transition play was excellent, scrum dominant and they got the ball to width at excellent speed.

As for Connacht it was a Murphy’s Law evening, anything that could go wrong did go wrong. Murphy’s Law or not there was only going to be one winner or not.



...

1 Go to comments
u
unknown 12 hours ago
'I don’t suppose it will ever happen again': Ellis Genge

As a Quins fan this was painful to watch, buts as a former no 3, this was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in a while! Well played Genge!

1 Go to comments
P
PMcD 13 hours ago
Ireland are at a crossroads - will they ever make a World Cup semi-final?

Carlos - do you see it as ever-improving or ever-evolving? Either way, ARG are getting better over time.

They have an uncanny knack of delivering at RWC but they have been more inconsistent in the year to year TRC games, which is starting to change (especially AWAY).



...

183 Go to comments
u
unknown 13 hours ago
Exeter earn rare win at Saracens as aspiring England back-row scores twice

Self belief and momentum are everything .. and the Chiefs are building both!

1 Go to comments
S
SB 17 hours ago
Six favours the All Blacks need from Santa's little helpers

That was me! They definitely did, as a rugby fan I’m sure you know the rules very well. From memory the AB’s closed the gap illegally a lot against SA which wasn’t called, allowing them to steal a lot of lineout ball for example. Then against Australia again from memory there was a maul collapse at a crucial time which wasn’t one then Tom Hooper clearly showed a release before getting onto the ball which was called a no clear release. A bit like Ardie Savea’s against SA in the 2023 final.

Of course, these things happen and it’s little details but they definitely helped New Zealand in my view!



...

48 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 18 hours ago
Six favours the All Blacks need from Santa's little helpers

It is a direct response to “someone” called SB… claiming the ref’s helped NZ beat SA and Aus at Eden Park. Santa's little helpers was what that crazy person called it. 😁😁😁

48 Go to comments
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