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  • Ep.59 – Crusaders are the Blues, Blues are the Crusaders with Jamie Wall
    2025/04/23
    If the Crusaders are well and truly back in 2025 (and they are), then what on earth happened to them last season? Brett McKay & Harry Jones welcome Jamie Wall onto The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast this week, to contemplate that and many questions in and around New Zealand rugby. Last year’s Champions, the Blues, seem to have adapted the position of the 2024 Crusaders however, and this weekend’s crucial clash in Brisbane against the Queensland Reds feels very ‘must win’ for them, an indication of just how far they’ve fallen in 2025. The guys try to work the difference from one year to the next for the Blues, look a bit closer at the real health of New Zealand Rugby, and ponder the regular question whether this really in the best season of Super Rugby, ever. Games of the Week: • SRP Round 10: Queensland Reds v Blues, Brisbane • URC Round 16: Glasgow v Bulls, the Scotstoun • Premiership Round 15: Sale v Saracens, Salford • Top 14 Round 22: Clermont v Lyon, Clermont • Japan Rugby League One Rd.16: Shizuoka Blue Revs v Canon Eagles, Shizuoka • MLR Rd.11: Utah Warriors v Chicago Hounds, Salt Lake City #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #SuperRugbyPacific #URC #Premiership #Top14 #JapanRugbyLeagueOne #MajorLeagueRugby #JamieWall Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 時間 14 分
  • Weekend Post-Mortem: Super Point chaos in Perth + Harry’s Munster tales
    2025/04/20
    Harry Jones dials in from Limerick in Ireland, with many Munster tales to tell as he joins Brett McKay on the latest Weekend Post-Mortem for The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast. Munster’s annoying loss to the Bulls and the rise of Benetton in the URC top the discussion, as does the statement from the Chiefs and the Super Point chaos and mayhem in Perth in Super Rugby Pacific, and Sale’s return to the Premiership top four. Plus: everything that caught our eye from the Top 14 in France and Major League Rugby in the States League One in Japan returns next weekend. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #SuperRugbyPacific #URC #Premiership #Top14 #JapanRugbyLeagueOne #MLR Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    35 分
  • Ep.58 – Pinching stuff from other Leagues with Riaan Louw
    2025/04/16
    Rugby YouTube star Riaan Louw joined Brett McKay & Harry Jones on The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast to ponder a very simple concept: what would you pinch from any other League in the rugby world to make your own league that much better? Whether it’s the URC’s graphic, the Top 14 budgets, Super Rugby’s impatient referees, or League One running Japanese and English language websites and social media, there are plenty of things to envy from other comps around the world. And there are things to avoid too. English accounting, for one obvious example. Plus: the URC, the Premiership, and the Top 14 are all back this weekend, along with Super Rugby Pacific, League One in Japan and Major League Rugby, and for the first time in podcast history, Harry Jones knocks off early. Games of the Week: • SRP Round 9: Fijian Drua v NSW Waratahs, Lautoka • URC Round 15: Munster v Bulls, Limerick • Premiership Round 14: Bristol v Leicester, Ashton Gate • Top 14 Round 21: Lyon v Montpellier, Lyon • MLR Rd.10: San Diego Legion v Utah Warriors, San Diego #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #SuperRugbyPacific #URC #Premiership #Top14 #JapanRugbyLeagueOne #MajorLeagueRugby #RiaanLouw #RugbyUpdate Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 時間 9 分
  • Weekend Post-Mortem with Charlie Morgan: Waratahs + Brumbies statement wins, stingy Leinster surge to European favouritism
    2025/04/14
    The Telegraph’s Charlie Morgan joined Brett McKay & Harry Jones for a properly comprehensive review of the Champions Cup Quarter Finals – and Leinster’s surging domination - on the latest Weekend Post-Mortem for The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast. The Irish powerhouse are still yet to concede a point in the knockout stage, while Northampton, Bordeaux, and Toulouse will join them in the Semi-Finals in May. In Super Rugby Pacific, a couple of statement wins from the NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies stood out, plus the Blues finally look like reigning champions again. Plus: Some surprise results and boilovers in Japan Rugby League One and Major League Rugby in the States, too. #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #ChampionsCup #SuperRugbyPacific #JapanRugbyLeagueOne #MLR Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 時間
  • Ep.57 - Cascading Uncertainty with Geoff Parkes
    2025/04/09
    It’s the halfway point of Super Rugby Pacific, and that seems the ideal time to start drawing conclusions about the competing teams, as leading columnist turned author Geoff Parkes joined Brett McKay & Harry Jones on The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast. But in Australian rugby, it’s much more than just how each of the four teams are going. Headlined by incumbent Wallabies flyhalf and ACT Brumbies star no.10 Noah Lolesio electing to head Japan rather than deal with the ups and downs of yet another Wallabies coach, Geoff and the guys get into the crippling impact still not knowing Joe Schmidt’s successor is having on Australian players. Plus: it’s Champions Cup Quarter Final weekend, and there’s some intriguing contests across Super Rugby Pacific, League One in Japan and Major League Rugby. Games of the Week: Champions Cup Quarter Finals Leinster v Glasgow, Dublin Bordeaux v Munster, Bordeaux Northampton v Castres, Northampton Toulon v Toulouse, Toulon SRP Round 9: Blues v Moana Pasifika, Auckland Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies, Brisbane League One Week 17: Kubota Spears v Suntory Sungoliath, Osaka MLR Rd.9: New England Free Jacks v San Diego Legion, Quincy MA #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #ChampionsCup #SuperRugbyPacific #JapanRugbyLeagueOne #MajorLeagueRugby #theWrap #GeoffParkes Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 時間 21 分
  • Weekend Post-Mortem: Champions Cup blowouts, Moana Pasifika history
    2025/04/06
    Champions Cup Round of 16 blowouts and thrashings that only underline the need for a format re-jig, plus more Super Rugby Pacific intrigue and Moana Pasifika history stand out for Brett McKay & Harry Jones on the latest Weekend Post-Mortem for The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast. The start of the Champions Cup knockout stage saw 114-point games, sixty point thumpings, and average aggregate scores of 72 points a game, but also, some quite exciting rugby. And Moana Pasifika’s 45-28 win over the Waratahs marked the first time in their history they’ve recorded consecutive wins, a well-deserved piece of history. Plus: everything that caught our eye from the Japan Rugby League One and Major League Rugby in the States #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #ChampionsCup #SuperRugbyPacific #JapanRugbyLeagueOne #MLR Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    34 分
  • Ep.56 – The Eternal Quest for Player Welfare with Conrad Smith
    2025/04/02
    Player welfare, and what that entails in the incredibly broad landscape that is now professional rugby, was the key topic when former Hurricanes and All Blacks great turned players advocate Conrad Smith joined Brett McKay & Harry Jones on The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast this week. Now the Head of Rugby Operations for International Rugby Players, the global players association, Conrad goes into great detail about the sheer volume and breadth of discussions with World Rugby, national Unions, professional competitions, and individual player associations, as they educate players to help them during and after their rugby careers. Plus: the knockout stage of the Champions Cup is here, and there’s top of the log blockbusters in Super Rugby Pacific and Major League Rugby. Games of the Week: • Champions Cup Round of 16: Glasgow v Leicester, the Scotstoun • SRP Rd.8: Chiefs v Reds, Hamilton • League One Week 16: Kobelco Kobe Steelers v Toshiba Brave Lupus, Kobe SUN • MLR Rd.8: San Diego Legion v Chicago Hounds, San Diego #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #SuperRugbyPacific #ChampionsCup #JapanRugbyLeagueOne #MajorLeagueRugby #playerwelfare #ConradSmith #InternationalRugbyPlayers Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 時間 19 分
  • Ep.55 – Controlling the Volume with Tony Johnson
    2025/03/26
    Legendary Sky Sport NZ commentator Tony Johnson joined Brett McKay & Harry Jones on The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast this week, as they try to get to the bottom of just why 2025 has been the best start to a Super Rugby season in living memory. And it’s not an easy question with one simple answer. It’s not just that all the Australian team are competitive. It’s not just that anyone can beat anyone on any give weekend. It’s not just that the demise of the Melbourne Rebels has boosted depth in other squads. It might be the do with it being a Lions Tour year, and the extra jeopardy that brings. It might be weather-related, and the fact that it’s been a nice summer on both sides of the Tasman. It’s quite likely all of the above. Whatever the reason or reasons, it has been a wonderful start to the Super Rugby Pacific season. Games of the Week: SRP Rd.7: Hurricanes v Waratahs, Wellington URC Rd.14: Ulster v Stormers, Belfast Premiership Rd.13: Bath v Harlequins, the Rec Top 14 Rd.20: Clermont v La Rochelle, Clermont League One Week 15: Canon Eagles v Toyota Verblitz, Tokyo MLR Rd.6: Houston SaberCats v San Diego Legion, Houston #rugby #rugbypodcast #89Combo #SuperRugbyPacific #UnitedRugbyChampionship #Premiership #Top14 #JapanRugbyLeagueOne #MajorLeagueRugby Find us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo?sub_confirmation=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-8-9-combo-rugby-podcast/id1729575866 Social media: #89Combo Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social Find Brett and Harry on both Twitter and on BlueSky: @BMcSport + @HaribaldiJones Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr & Alex Elena (via YouTube Creator Studio) Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 時間 19 分