Steve Hansen on Argentina vs South Africa

Argentina face the world champions with a heavily depleted squad, but Steve Hansen believes forced selection changes can sometimes uncover players a team never knew it had. David Pembroke and Steve preview Argentina against South Africa in Buenos Aires, discuss Tomás Albornoz’s suspension and why respect for referees has to remain non-negotiable, before debating whether standalone Tests still carry enough meaning compared with matches played inside competitions such as the Nations Championship. The conversation then turns to one of rugby’s biggest financial questions: how World Rugby should fund Sevens, under-20 competitions, women’s rugby and the pathways needed to protect the future of the international game.

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In this episode:
00:00 🇦🇷 Argentina’s injury crisis ahead of South Africa
01:00 🟥 Albornoz suspended and why players cannot cross the line with referees
02:00 🌱 Can Argentina uncover new talent from a depleted squad?
03:00 🏆 Why Tests inside competitions carry more meaning
04:00 🇿🇦 What South Africa need from their Buenos Aires hit-out
05:00 🏉 Fiji vs South Africa and the wider international weekend
06:00 🌍 The future of the global Sevens circuit
07:00 💰 Could cutting international travel make Sevens sustainable?
08:00 🌱 Why under-20 rugby must remain a funding priority
09:00 ⚖️ How should World Rugby decide which parts of the game get funded?

Call to action:
📌 Where should rugby spend its limited money — Sevens, pathways, the women’s game or somewhere else?

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