Super Rugby is less than a month away, with Adam back taking the wheel this week as he is joined by Matt (recovering from a bender two days prior), an initially sleepy Phil and a mellow Ant. They discuss Joseph Dweba's looming move to France, preseason results and some other news before previewing the Bulls, Sharks, Highlanders, Jaguares (Matt fights off the fatigue here) and Crusaders. While previewing the Crusaders, Adam gets distracted and butchers some more names as if they were steak. Music...
Jan 12, 2020•1 hr 10 min
The new year has rolled round - Happy 2020 everyone! - and Super Rugby is less than a month away. Alex, Ben and Matt kick things off with previews of some of Super Rugby's finest and not so finest teams, particularly the Rebels, Blues, Lions, Hurricanes and the Brumbies. Adam also arrives late to not add much value. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show
Jan 05, 2020•1 hr 36 min
That's a wrap! With Christmas just around the corner, the gang (sans Matt...he's in the grips of winter from what we hear?) in 20 minutes - a record - chat about what they want for Chirstmas/the Festive Season ahead of the 2020 season. Thanks to all our listeners this year! It's been a great year but we are going to recharge for a few weeks and come back better than ever for the 2020 season. If you are travelling any where, please do so safely and have a great New Year!
Dec 22, 2019•26 min
It's the second last episode of the year, which was totally recorded on December 15, we swear...kind of. Matt and Adam start off things politely before Alex comes in and starts getting rather technical (as is his want), noting the contrasts between Northern and Southern Hemisphere rugby. Either way, the gang are very happy England did not win the Rugby World Cup. Ben is off on a catamaran or something...we aren't entirely sure. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show
Dec 15, 2019•58 min
Alex and Ben sit down to have a quick chat about Sevens, where the Blitz Bokke won in Dubai for the umpteenth time to kick off their World Sevens Series with a bang. More importantly, a listener got in touch with us regarding a previous comment made on the pod regarding religion which missed the mark. The comment is addressed in the pod and thanks to the listener - who we won't mention by name - for getting in touch with us. We shoot from the hip a lot and at times, don't get it right. If we can...
Dec 11, 2019•34 min
As the year draws to a close, Adam, Matt, Ben and Alex chat about how the gap can be closed between the 1st tier of world rugby, and those bubbling under (including Italy, who for all intents and purposes are really 2nd tier). Beyond the normal "intelligent discussion", there are some usual side paths taken. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show
Dec 08, 2019•42 min
As the 2019 comes closer to turning into 2020, Phil, Matt, Ben and Adam look at their highlights for the year, lowlights, top moments, and spend much time discussing the Crusaders' new logo. Alex then wonders into the pod through his hung-over induced haze to drop some wisdom, in what is likely the greatest assembly of rugby gentlemen since the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup in 2019. Also, it's the first time Phil and Adam are on air together....awwwww <3 Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show...
Dec 01, 2019•1 hr 26 min
The Rugby World Cup glow has faded and the holidays are approaching but Alex, Ben and Adam are here to chat about Dad stuff (it seems?) and where Australia, New Zealand and South Africa now that new coaches (apparently in South Africa's case) are taking the wheels. The time of Michael Cheika, Steve Hansen and Rassie Erasmus (?) have come to an end, and the future is unknown. The gang - Matt is at wrestling - chat about this and more. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.
Nov 24, 2019•1 hr 18 min
The year is winding down but Elite Rugby Banter is here to keep the rugby fire burnings. The World Cup celebrations have faded away by Alex, Adam and Matt chat about Damian Willemse's future position, Treven Enoch and then announce the winners for the prestigious ERB Awards, including Alex going to the mat for Captain Lappies. Much other nonsense is discussed in between, as usual. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.
Nov 17, 2019•54 min
The razzle dazzle of Rugby World Cup 2019 is over. The Springboks are touring South Africa lapping up the platitudes but have no fear, Elite Rugby Banter is here. The gang, in all their glory, chat about Saracen's hand being caught in the proverbial till, Beast's new book, Flouw's retirement, reveal their embargoed RWC 19 predictions - which were made before the first game - and go through their team of the tournament. Thanks for listening as always! Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.
Nov 10, 2019•1 hr 32 min
What a performance! It's a great day to be South African as Adam, Alex, Ben and Matt wax lyrical about the Springboks' outstanding Rugby World Cup final display that dispatched England, and put smiles on millions on faces. The gang break down the game in Yokohama to its key moments and run the rule over the game's different aspects which led to South Africa leaping to the top of Rugby World Rankings. The Springboks' World Cup legend goes on and we could not be prouder. For England, a case of wha...
Nov 03, 2019•2 hr 9 min
After a tantalising wait, here is this week's pod! It's all about the Rugby World Cup semi-finals as Alex, Ben and Ant go mental (yet there is some disquiet) about South Africa making the Rugby World Cup final for a third time, and heap praise on England's excellent performance to eliminate the Mordor of Rugby, the All Blacks. Faf's fabulous hair, kicking - so much kicking - and Phil reports from Japan, where he was at the South Africa-Wales semi-final. Intro music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show Jap...
Oct 28, 2019•1 hr 51 min
With Phil in Japan, Ben joins Ant to talk about the respective records of Jérôme Garcès and Nigel Owens heading into this weekend's World Cup semi-finals. There is also some mild banter, and much insight (we'd argue anyway). They conclude that the Springboks have nothing to worry about apart from themselves. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show. Thanks for listening!
Oct 24, 2019•57 min
For the first time ever, it's a one man show. Adam steers the ship and is joined by Phil, who reports in from Japan. This is arguably the least bantery episode ever. But hey, we serve the People! Adam goes through the quarterfinals that have just taken place at the Rugby World Cup, and while irritated with South Africa, the second half promises better things for next week. Edit: Apologies for the failed splicing! This has now been rectified! Thanks for listening! Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show...
Oct 20, 2019•35 min
It's the calm before the storm as Ant, Ben and Alex (Adam still hasn't recovered from the glass of wine apparently while Matt is sleeping...I mean, he's right there!) look over the looming quarterfinals. Will Japan continue their fairy tale against the Springboks (and will Brighton 2015 be mentioned five or 10 times)? Can Ireland stop the might All Blacks with only one avenue of attack? Will France even field a full XV against Wales and will Michael Cheika tell everybody, "I told you so" (spoile...
Oct 16, 2019•59 min
Alex and Ben are joined by Phil to talk about his upcoming trip to Japan for the playoffs! The gang discuss the French Revolution, Asian geography and other news before diving into the final reviews of the group stages and the legacy of Typhoon Hagibis and a RWC XV (so far) is proposed. They also lament the cancellation of the game the world will no longer get to see: Namibia v Canada. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show
Oct 13, 2019•2 hr 1 min
The Rugby World Cup is heading towards its business end but there is some loose endsto wrap up first. Ant joins Ben and Adam to discuss the weeks games thus far, and those coming up, including arguably the biggest game of them all: Canada vs Namibia, plus the small matter of Japan vs Scotland. South Africa's trouncing of Canada is covered too, as is the pod's running loss, Ant doing the Cape Epic, and reportedly, ERB being among the most listened to South African-homegrown sports podcasts around...
Oct 09, 2019•1 hr 3 min
It's our 100th episode, and in classic ERB style, we completely forgot about it. Have no fear, because Matt, Alex and Adam chat about Joe Moody's middle name, confuse him for Owen Franks, wonder who was the most chuffed Springbok to see Damian Willemse and cover the happenings and comings at the Rugby World Cup thus far. The business end is near by, it is the calm before the storm, and in Matt's case, he survived another harrowing night out. Adam curses early, while Alex regales Namibia, and tal...
Oct 06, 2019•1 hr 24 min
Alex and Ben steer the World Cup ship this week, in two parts! The Rugby World Cup is meandering towards the quarterfinals once more after the busy weekend, but much rugby is discussed. Scotland's thrashing of Samoa, France's hot and heavy defeat of the USA and New Zealand dispatching Canada with all the Barretts are discussed, along with the coming games, including South Africa v Italy, England v Argentina and the big one, New Zealand v Namibia.
Oct 02, 2019•57 min
Predictive analytics are playing a bigger role in sports, and some South Africans decided to get into the action by designing their own predictive tool that is targeting this year's Rugby World Cup: Ruggerbot.com. Adam "sat down" with Thomas Davies, of re:source design, the minds behind Ruggerbot.com, to find out how it works. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.
Sep 30, 2019•16 min
What a Rugby World Cup so far! Chris Lee joins Alex, Matt, Ben and Adam as he gives the Irish view of their epic defeat to Japan. The gang also chat about all the other World Cup action, including SA's meh victory over Namibia and Wales win over Australia (including some controversial refereeing!). To add some brains to this week's pod (Chris excluded), Adam sat down with Thomas Davies of re:source, the masterminds behind Ruggerbot.com, to find out how they went about building their predicative ...
Sep 29, 2019•2 hr 9 min
Ben and Adam sprint through the happenings on the field in the Rugby World Cup thus far, noting now Uruguay as it stands have a shot at the quarterfinals, recounting what's like when their high school team faces an opponent they have no right facing, and wondering about the teams only just beginning their campaign. Also, Schalk Brits has been named to play at 8 for the Springboks versus Nambia??
Sep 25, 2019•36 min
The Phil and Ant Stats Show returns, as the two number maestros dig into the numbers from the All Blacks' and Springboks' epic clash at Yokohama. It's not all doom and gloom for South Africa, but there is work to do! Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show. Follow Phil on @superbpippo. Ant...not sure he is on Twitter?
Sep 23, 2019•30 min
The Rugby World Cup is now underway, and Ben, Matt and Adam in chilled-out fashion discuss the week's games, including New Zealand's hard fought but deserved win over South Africa, Australia's good victory over Fiji, Rob Howley's betting habits, the haka and its "status", other World Cup niceties and the usual too-ing and fro-ing. Alex is off in the Eastern Cape somewhere but posting popular tweets apparently? Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show. Follow Alex via @alexthetarr, Ben at @Ben_from_Tax, ...
Sep 22, 2019•1 hr 50 min
The 2019 Rugby World Cup is days away in Japan and ERB are here to preview (badly at times, and other times well) the weekend's games, plus Wales and Georgia on Monday. Adam, Ben and Alex kick off the first of ERB World Cup Weekly, which will run through the entire tournament. Today's major focus is dedicated the Springboks' clash against the All Blacks on Saturday.
Sep 18, 2019•42 min
The Rugby World Cup is just around the corner, and ahead of kick-off, Nicola joins Ant, Matt and Adam to see whether the three of them know the Laws (not Rules!) of Rugby. Ant and Matt pass with flying colours, though rucks appear to confuse the kak out of Adam (this is not surprising). Prior to chatting about the game and its troves, Gareth Thomas' brave admission, SBW's possible not-injury, Adam being pranked and still not getting it, Os du Randt's admission in the Hall of Fame and the Sharks ...
Sep 15, 2019•2 hr 6 min
The Rugby World Cup begins in a week...you heard us right, a WEEK! All the squads have been chosen, typhoons (mostly) avoided and 20 nations will be competing for the Webb Ellis Trophy. But, are all the players selected from their country of origin? Do they know the local party song? If, for example, they aren't Scottish, do they even know what haggis is? This is the subject of Phil and Ant's forced lightning discussion (all will be revealed), as they tackle World Rugby's eligibility rules and t...
Sep 13, 2019•12 min
The Rugby World Cup is but weeks away and Alex, Ben and Adam are here to finish up their previews ahead of the global showpiece in the Land the Rising Son. In classic ERB fashion, there is a foul up when it comes to the New Zealand preview, Adam is willing on the briyani he had for breakfast to deal with the previous night, Ben gets tired playing golf in windy Mauritius, and Alex - serene and pure for most of the pod like driven snow - gets triggered by the name of Frans Steyn and "reserve flyha...
Sep 08, 2019•1 hr 56 min
Ben, Alex and Adam return, and they are joined by Michael who helps the gang break down the threat Eddie Jones' England pose to other Rugby World Cup aspirants. Prior to the previews, Aphiwe Dyanti's doping news is discussed - and disappointment shared - as is Eben Etzebeth, his family, striking referees and the kak people that abuse them, the Human Rights Commission, along with some actual rugby (Currie Cup and Wales being dethroned as World No. 1s). So, pretty standard stuff. Also, Ben maybe f...
Sep 01, 2019•1 hr 41 min
Phil, Ant and Alex get together to briefly (lol) discuss the different journeys taken by the South African, New Zealand, and Australian World Cup squads since the last World Cup and which players have fallen by the wayside (sorry Owen Franks...we knew you well). The interesting topic of cap retention forms part of the discussion. Ale'x recording is reportedly of sub-optimal quality (he bought a new mic apparently) with some echo, for which we apologise for. This is what happens when guys have a ...
Aug 28, 2019•1 hr 18 min
