Greatest Rivalry: Springboks v All Blacks – Steve Hansen & Ewen McKenzie on the start of the tour!

The All Blacks have landed in Cape Town to a hero’s welcome, and the Greatest Rivalry tour is already humming. But the real test starts now: midweek hit-outs, unknown opponents, and a Stormers opener that will tell us plenty about New Zealand’s edge.

David Pembroke is joined by Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie to unpack why All Blacks v Springboks still sets the benchmark, plus how touring and midweek games change everything. We preview Stormers v All Blacks, discuss Rassie Erasmus taking a 26-man squad to Argentina, and break down Japan v Wallabies in Osaka heat, with Eddie Jones looking to create chaos against Les Kiss’s new-look set-up. Listener questions also fire up a frank chat on Zac Lomax’s Western Force stint and what it means for Wallaby selection, plus concerns around Samoa’s governance tensions and why Pacific rugby stability matters.

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In this episode:
00:00 🏟️ All Blacks hero’s welcome in Cape Town
02:05 🌍 Steve Hansen on All Blacks love in South Africa
04:10 🧢 Ewen McKenzie recalls Cape Town tours and banter
07:05 📚 David Pembroke on rivalry history and World Rugby roots
11:10 🎙️ Steve Hansen on neutral referees and All Blacks v Boks
15:20 🚢 Touring returns: midweek games and rugby tradition
19:10 🧠 Steve Hansen: CIA prep, clarity and intensity for Stormers
23:10 🦈 Ewen McKenzie on South Africa distractions and focus
27:20 🧱 Stormers preview: All Blacks basics and counterattack
31:05 🔥 Training culture: switching on, dominating sessions
36:10 ✈️ Rassie Erasmus takes Springboks squad to Argentina
41:10 🗓️ Schedule: Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, then Test on 22 August
43:40 ☀️ Japan v Wallabies in Osaka heat and travel load
48:10 🧩 Les Kiss changes and Scott MacLeod defence tweaks
55:00 🎭 Eddie Jones surprises: lineout tricks and chaos tempo
01:02:30 💰 Zac Lomax leaves Western Force for PNG Chiefs
01:12:10 🏆 Blues Women beat Waratahs; Paarl derby crowd
01:15:40 🇼🇸 Samoa governance tensions and World Rugby accountability
01:20:50 👥 All Blacks squad chat: Kirifi unlucky, Blackadder value
01:25:30 🧑‍✈️ Ardie Savea rest plan and Cody Taylor captaincy
01:30:20 📬 The Big Three, questions, and Rugby Unity wrap

Call to action:
📌 Who wins Japan v Wallabies in Osaka heat, and why?

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