Show Notes
Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers, and Hanyani Shimange (host) — break down one of the most controversial Easter weekends in recent Champions Cup history. Was the referee's decision the reason the Stormers went home early? We unpack the Stormers maul, yellow card, TMO failure, and what World Rugby needs to fix urgently.
Plus — the Bulls' near-miss in Glasgow, whether a South African team can ever win the Investec Champions Cup, and why the Sharks remain the most frustrating team in rugby despite having one of the best squads in the URC.
Jean de Villiers and Schalk go head-to-head on Louis Bielle-Biarrey vs Bryan Habana in a footrace — and the answer might surprise you.
We also debate the best and most intimidating rugby stadiums in the world, the schoolboy rugby overload crisis, and Henry Pollock's growing target on his back.
And — we prank call Nick Mallett live on air and ask him to apologise for his referee comments. His response? Exactly what you'd expect. 😂
Champions Cup quarter-finals preview: Toulouse vs Bordeaux, Bath vs Northampton, Leinster vs Sharks, Glasgow vs Toulon — predictions, man of the match picks, first try scorers and margin calls.
Presented by Capri Sun Kemps Bay. Betway predictions segment included. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Boks Unpacked x The Verdict
The Springboks have taken control of the series after another huge victory over the All Blacks, but how did they manage to win a game in which New Zealand enjoyed more possession, more carries and more line breaks? Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger and the team break down the key moments that decided the Test, from the Boks’ brutal scrum and maul dominance to Rassie Erasmus’ perfectly timed substitutions and the All Blacks’ growing set-piece problem. They also head back into Controversy Corner to dissect the biggest refereeing flashpoints from another fiercely contested encounter. Plus, with one final Test still to come in Baltimore, the guys ask what is really at stake for the Springboks, whether New Zealand can find an answer to South Africa’s greatest weapon, and what it would mean for this Bok side to finish the series 3-1. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Greatest Rivalry is perfectly poised at 1–1 as the Springboks and All Blacks head to the Calabash for a huge third Test in Soweto. Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers join the Boks Unpacked team to look ahead to what many are calling the true series decider, and discuss exactly what awaits the two sides at one of South African rugby’s great venues. The boys get stuck into all the controversy from the build-up: Rassie Erasmus’ late team switch, whether rugby’s team-sheet rules need to change, and Dave Rennie’s claims about the Springbok scrum “walking around” — mind games or a genuine technical concern? They also break down where Saturday’s Test could be won and lost, from the aerial battle and backfield defence at altitude to why the Boks may need to go out with the ambition of scoring 40 points. Plus, Schalk and Jean revisit their own memories of playing the All Blacks at FNB Stadium, debate the future of proper old-school Test tours, reveal some of the toughest opponents they ever faced and, inevitably, share a few stories from the nights out that followed some of rugby’s biggest battles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After the All Blacks shocked South Africa at Ellis Park, the panel is back to preview the next Test in Cape Town. They discuss what needs to change, whether the South African side should be more ambitious in attack, the importance of converting 22-metre entries, and how the conditions could influence the game.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Greatest Rivalry is here, and on this episode of Boks Unpacked, the panel welcomes former All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens to discuss one of rugby’s biggest battles — the Springboks vs All Blacks at Ellis Park. Mehrtens shares his experiences of facing South Africa, the intensity of the rivalry, and what makes playing the Springboks such a unique challenge.