This week we head to Japan for Saturday's historic Bledisloe Cup clash in Tokyo and catch up with a man of many talents, Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau. Possibly the game's most lethal tackler Tatafu reveals a quiet side to his personality that includes an appetite for education. Fluent in Japanese, he's been a massive hit among the locals. The match will have serious ramifications for both sides as they prepare for the Autumn Internationals. The panel goes through top squad lists for the up...
Oct 30, 2009•1 hr 11 min
Our Special guest is England and Stade Francais backrower James Haskell. James has a massive Top 14 game against Toulon in Paris this weekend, following that he'll ship back to England for camp ahead of the Autumn Internationals.
Oct 22, 2009•1 hr 29 min
RuggaMatrix takes you to Wales this week and speaks with their enigmatic Ospreys coaching director Scott Johnson. Johnson is one of rugby's truly great characters and on this show he doesn't hold back. The Ospreys are coming off a vital win in the Heineken Cup and we get the inside word on the preparations for the next phase. Johnson makes a bold call on this season's Six Nations champions (warning for the Irish here) and the upcoming autumn internationals. Les Kiss was called away on urgent bus...
Oct 22, 2009•56 min
London Irish have shown they are the real deal this season after grinding out a tough 12-9 win over Heineken Cup champions Leinster at the RDS. Today RuggaMatrix speaks with their inspirational captain Bob Casey about the rise of the Exiles this year. Casey is back in contention for Ireland selection and he hopes to add to his 7 national caps this autumn. The big lock took time out of his fortnightly poker night with teammates to give us a wide ranging and entertaining interview.
Oct 14, 2009•1 hr 17 min
Today's show is like a 12 course meal... something for everyone. England and Stade Francais backrower James Haskell joins up with his former coach Ewen McKenzie for an in-depth chat about his life plus French and English Rugby. Haskell features on the cover of the new Stade calendar and among the rugby questions we get to the bottom of that photo ... touched up or not? His form has been terrific on field this year in the Top 14 and RuggaMatrix catches up with him just a few days out before Stade...
Oct 07, 2009•1 hr 15 min
This week electric Wallaby wing Lachie Turner joins the panel for the whole show and he puts in an impressive performance. The Wallabies will soon embark on a historic tour of Japan and the Home Nations. The Croke Park clash is shaping as a classic and Les Kiss has already begun his analysis of the Australian side. Turner faces some tough questions over the Tri Nations series and meets them all head on. Kiss takes a close look at the Munster v Leinster showdown this weekend and what the Irish co...
Oct 01, 2009•1 hr 8 min
A late show this week but worth the wait. Our special guest star is former Gloucester and NSW Waratahs playmaker Duncan McRae. Forced to retire through in injury after his time in the UK, Duncan gives us a expert view on the Wallabies, Guinness Premiership and Magners League.
Sep 25, 2009•1 hr 4 min
It's another big show ahead of the final Tri Nations clash in Wellington between the Wallabies and All Blacks. Australian and former Leinster flanker Rocky Elsom is our special guest star. The Rock joins us for Wallaby camp in New Zealand but we cover a whole range of subjects including the grand slam tour at the end of the year. We also get a first hand account of the 'Bloodgate' match .. from the other side. Well worth a listen. Marc Stcherbina joins the panel. Les Kiss reports in from Ireland...
Sep 17, 2009•1 hr 24 min
Ewen McKenzie has parted ways with Stade Francais and he speaks with RuggaMatrix. It's a frank, too the point and no holds barred interview done just hours after the announcement was made just 5 games into the Top 14 season. As always Ewen aims up and we wish him the best for the future. Les Kiss is back from the wilderness and he's got plenty to say about the Magners League and the performance of the Irish clubs. We find out where the Ireland nation team is up to and his thoughts on the Tri Nat...
Sep 09, 2009•1 hr
Strong running centre Jaque Fourie is our special guest star as he warms up for his 50th Test. Les Kiss is still unpacking his old rugby league gear in Ireland so we've giving him the week off again but he is brilliantly replaced by London Irish fullback Peter Hewat. Hewat is preparing for a big year with Irish as they are back in the Heineken Cup.
Aug 31, 2009•1 hr 13 min
This week RuggaMatrix catches up with the South African camp ahead of their Tri-Nations clash with Australia in Perth. Assistant Springboks coach Dick Muir tells us about the confidence within the camp and the secret to their incredible success. Les Kiss is still settling back in Ireland so we'll hear from him in a couple of weeks but Ewen McKenzie has avoided the Swine Flu to give a us a full rundown on happenings in the north including Bloodgate. Our In-Depth Analysis is THE BIG PLAY....
Aug 26, 2009•1 hr 2 min
It's Bledisloe Week down under and RuggaMatrix catches up with arguably the best loosehead in world rugby at the moment ... Benn Robinson from Australia. Despite his size Robinson, also known as 'The Cat', has dominated his opponents at Super Rugby and Test level this year. Just days before another challenge up front against the All Blacks in Sydney Robinson covers all things front row, Dan Carter and much much more... Les Kiss is busy with the first Ireland camp of the season so we've got Marc ...
Aug 18, 2009•1 hr 30 min
This week we look deep into the game plan of the all conquering Springboks. How good are they? Can anyone hope to beat them for the title? Well the RuggaMatrix panel comes up with some answers thanks to a massive list of experts. 1991 World Cup winning coach Bob Dwyer joins us for the second time and on this occasion he's got something special for everyone.
Aug 12, 2009•1 hr 25 min
He looks like Russell Crowe but he's ten times tougher. Former Wallaby hooker Brendan Cannon joins the RuggaMatrix panel for one of our best interviews yet. Cannon was almost killed in a car accident in 1993 and he's endured many personal challenges through his career. His story is inspirational but this show is not just about Cannon's history but the current events in the game. Cannon has some interesting observations about the South African team dominating the Tri-Nations and what Australia an...
Aug 06, 2009•1 hr 17 min
This week we speak to one of Australia's great centres who is now charged with the almighty task of resurrecting the Queensland Reds. Daniel Herbert a 67 Test veteran for the Wallabies is the newly appointed Reds General Manager and he talks to RuggaMatrix on the very day that Queensland's best player, Berrick Barnes, defected to NSW. Herbert covers a host of different topics including rugby in France where he finished his playing career.
Jul 29, 2009•1 hr 21 min
Ewen McKenzie is back after a few weeks with the family. This week we explore the mysterious world of tighthead prop. Joining us for show 034 is Wallaby number 3 Al Baxter. The most capped Australian Test prop in history answers questions about the match that got away from the Wallabies at Eden Park last weekend.
Jul 22, 2009•1 hr 16 min
World heavyweights Australia and New Zealand clash this weekend to open the 2009 Tri Nations. Former Wallaby and Munster man ... now Wallaby assistant coach ... Jim Williams ... joins the panel just before jumping on the plane to Auckland. Canadian head coach Kieran Crowley takes our call while driving through the Rocky Mountains.
Jul 15, 2009•1 hr 20 min
The Lions are finished for another four years but now RuggaMatrix looks forward to the Tri Nations. This week we wrap up the Lions series with a close look at the third Test won by the tourists. We also question the concept of the TMO and its impact on the game. Ewen McKenzie is out of contact in country Victoria this week but Les Kiss more than makes up for Link's absence. From the Lions analysis to our in-depth analysis Kiss is required listening. We head across to New Zealand to catch up with...
Jul 09, 2009•1 hr 28 min
Has the Lions series had its day? Well the RuggaMatrix team says no and today we speak to a key player from the 2001 series in Australia. 1999 RWC Final try scorer and leading forward for the Wallabies in that 2001 series, Owen Finegan, joins the panel from Canberra for a direct comparison between the two tours. Ewen McKenzie updates us on the drama surrounding Mathieu Bastareaud. Les Kiss, a former Springbok assistant coach, looks closely at the Lions Test and the off-field drama that followed....
Jul 01, 2009•1 hr 15 min
This week we check in with our man on the spot in South Africa for the Lions series Simnikiwe Xabanisa. The Sunday Times scribe was on site for the First Test in Durban and gives us a first hand account. Our episode name comes courtesy of the Springboks prop and man of the match Tendai Mtawarira.
Jun 24, 2009•1 hr 22 min
The Lions are about to face South Africa in the First Test, France is looking to beat the All Blacks again and the Wallabies are taking on Italy in Melbourne. We take a long hard look at all campaigns going on in the south right now. Our special guest star is former Newport Gwent Dragons centre Marc Stcherbina who tells the story of his forced retirement as a result of a neck injury.
Jun 16, 2009•1 hr 15 min
This week we take a look inside the Italian camp ahead of their clash with the Wallabies in Canberra. Australian born fullback Luke McLean tells us that the Italians should not be dismissed as a threat this weekend. The panel checks in with the Lions tour and discusses whether the tourists are saving something special for the first Test.
Jun 10, 2009•1 hr 14 min
He's one of the most respected men in the game of rugby and we're pleased to have him as our special guest star for episode 027. 1991 World Cup winning coach Bob Dwyer joins the RuggaMatrix panel for the entire show and as usual he gives some thought provoking responses to our questions.
Jun 03, 2009•1 hr 27 min
RuggaMatrix pulls off another scoop with a feature-length interview with Heineken Cup winning head coach from Leinster, Michael Cheika. It's a revealing 'look' inside the Irish powerhouse. Last weekend they beat Leicester 19-16 in the Final. Cheika talks about the culture change that led to the team's success and the joy of seeing a player like Chris Whitaker ending his career on a high. He looks back at the past four years and forward to his more than likely final one. Ewen McKenzie has a busy ...
May 27, 2009•1 hr 26 min
It's our 25th show and there's plenty to celebrate in this episode. Joining us for the second time is London Irish back Peter Hewat who talks about the gripping Guinness Premiership Final against Leicester at Twickenham last weekend. Hewat's side went down by a heartbreaking scoreline of 10-9 in front of 80 000 people. He talks about the clash of styles with the Leicester Tigers and how Irish never considered restricting their expansive game. Hewat is well placed to comment on Leicester's chance...
May 20, 2009•1 hr 21 min
We've been talking about this guy a lot but this week we actually talk to him. Former Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones joins the RuggaMatrix panel for an informative and entertaining discussion on pretty much anything you can think of in rugby.
May 13, 2009•1 hr 22 min
He's the man the whole world is talking about and he's on RuggaMatrix for Episode 023 - The Rock. Leinster flanker Rocky Elsom joins the full panel this week to talk about the Heineken Cup final series and life in general in Ireland. Elsom's immediate future had not yet been decided but he's keen to play for the Wallabies when the Test programme resumes in June. He spends a good 40 minutes with the panel discussing a range of issues that span the globe. Will he stay or will he go after the Heine...
May 06, 2009•1 hr 31 min
Here's a bonus show with plenty to chew on. Wallabies and Waratahs prop Matt Dunning joins the RuggaMatrix honour roll this week for a special interview only episode of RuggaMatrix. Often maligned, Dunning is rated highly by RuggaMatrix as a player and person. He still lives at Berowra, north of Sydney with his family and will strike up a conversation with anyone. On the field, as you can see by this SMP Image, he takes no prisoners. He's just about ready to make a comeback from Achilles tendon ...
May 01, 2009•32 min
RuggaMatrix goes into the Cardiff Blues camp this week for a revealing chat with backs coach Bill Millard. It's our first look inside the Welsh system and a thoroughly enjoyable one too.
Apr 30, 2009•1 hr 31 min
Impressive ... that's what we think of Mark Gasnier after RuggaMatrix recorded a world exclusive interview with the Stade Francais back and former Australian rugby league super star.
Apr 22, 2009•1 hr 26 min
