The Loose Pass Rugby Podcast!

Huw Griffin went back and watched every Stormers try scored this season. All of them. What he learned confirmed everything he suspected about the 48-12 win over Glasgow Warriors.Huw breaks down where the Stormers actually score from, why Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's numbers from this game are unlike any other fly half in the URC this season, and a first-phase pattern off scrums and mauls the Stormers have been running quietly all year. Also: the exact moment Huw believes Glasgow lost this game, and why it had nothing to do with the final score.Also on this episode: Bulls vs Scarlets, the Scarlets' kicking game and what it exposed, and a conversation about Super Rugby's player exodus.On this episode of The Loose Pass Rugby Podcast, MW Welman and Huw Griffin give their unfiltered read on a big week in URC rugby.

Neil de Bruin, Attack Coach at the Vodacom Bulls, has a rule about how much information a player should carry onto the field. It's less than you think.Most coaches give players more. More detail, more scenarios, more to think about. De Bruin does the opposite, and the Bulls are scoring the most tries in the URC.On the Loose Pass Rugby Podcast, fresh from a week inside the Bulls' preparation room, MW Welman sits down with De Bruin alongside Huw Griffin to talk about how he actually coaches. Not the theory. The practice. How he arrived at Loftus mid-season with no runway and had to make an immediate impact, what he found when he walked in, and the single governing principle behind everything he does on an attack day.Because by his own admission, the Bulls are just getting started.

Huw Griffin is a Scarlets fan. He is also, this week, the most statistically informed person on the Bulls in the Loose Pass studios.Huw spent the week building a data portrait of the Bulls' season (measured, specific, gleefully conflicted), mapping points per 22 entry before and after the Bristol game, tracking 11 straight games of negative net 22 entries, and pinpointing exactly which jerseys have been a revolving door. Not a Scarlets cheerleader's wishful thinking. A data analyst's actual work, done by someone who also sat across from the Bulls' attack coach this week, tried to extract the line-out calls, and got absolutely nothing.The Scarlets host the Bulls this weekend at Parc y Scarlets. Huw will tell you the Bulls have never won there. MW will tell you Huw is delusional. This is the one week of the season where the podcast stops being analysis and starts being personal.MW and Huw also dig into France's Top 14 annual financial report, the full URC top 8 run-in, and the weekend's biggest games.

THE LOOSE PASS sits down with Libbie Janse van Rensburg, women's Springbok fly half and four-time Super League champion with the Bulls Daisies.In this conversation: how a free trip to Paris and zero knowledge of contact rugby started a journey that ended in a Springbok jersey. The Italy game and the moment that stopped South African rugby in its tracks. The Black Ferns quarterfinal and what 40 minutes against the best team in the world taught them. What makes the Bulls Daisies the most professional setup in South African women's rugby. And what she still wants to do in the game.Libbie also talks about playing under Swys de Bruin, the women's Six Nations playing to packed stadiums, and why she thinks South African women's rugby is only getting started.The Loose Pass is part of Megafoon Rugby, where we slow the game down. Analysis, conversations and stories about why things happen, not just what happened.

What actually makes good rugby, and who gets to decide?In this episode of the Loose Pass Podcast, Huw Griffin and MW Welman get into a conversation that starts with a simple question and quickly turns into something bigger.There’s a growing idea in the game that more tries and faster matches automatically mean better rugby. But that only really makes sense if you’re asking people who don’t watch the sport closely. It’s the same argument often thrown at football, that it’s boring because there aren’t enough goals. Anyone who understands it knows that’s not the point.So what happens if rugby starts shaping itself around that outside perspective?This is where the discussion lands. Identity, tension, structure, and why some of the best matches are not the highest scoring ones. Because if the game keeps chasing a version of entertainment defined by the wrong voices, it risks losing what made it compelling in the first place.

The Stormers attack isn’t clicking right now, but that’s only part of the conversation.In this episode of the Loose Pass, MW Welman and Huw Griffin unpack what’s really going wrong with the Stormers, before shifting to the Bulls and what’s shaping up there, and looking ahead to a massive round of Champions Cup action. Bordeaxu take on Toulouse, Glasgow faces Toulon, Leinster plays Sale and Bath hosts Northampton SaintsAlong the way, there’s an Afrikaans lesson for the week, and the usual detour into YouTube, podcasting, and everything in between.Subscribe to HG Rugby here https://www.youtube.com/@HuwGriffinRugby

Leinster are still winning. Still stacked with internationals. Still chasing Europe. But the numbers tell a different story.There’s been a sharp drop in performance this season, and it’s not just a feeling anymore. The defence isn’t producing the same outcomes, the attack looks uncertain, and the balance of the team feels different. So what’s actually changed?This episode digs into the detail behind Leinster’s drop-off. What the data shows, what it looks like on the field, and whether this is a temporary dip or something more structural.Elsewhere, we unpack the Champions Cup dilemma for South African teams, key transfer moves, and the ongoing challenge of competing on multiple fronts.This one is about understanding the shift, not just reacting to it.

John Dobson didn’t dodge it. He fronted up after the match and called it humiliating, and Huw saw just how much it hurt him in the moments after the final whistle.We break down what went wrong fo the Stormers without piling on: the breakdown battle, the defensive slippage, and how quickly a tight game can turn into a runaway in Europe.We also talk about the Ardie Savea situation - but this was recorded before the bombshell news about Razor Robertson's sacking.

Join Huw Griffin and MW Welman on the second last Loose Pass Rugby Podcast of 2025 as they cover everything from Huw’s guitar obsession to the chaos of European club rugby. They break down the Stormers’ seven-game winning streak, the Bulls’ puzzling second half against UBB, and the fascinating story behind Doddy Weir’s legacy Lions jersey. Plus, don’t miss the debut of their new weekly segment, “Huw is Gatvol!”, where Huw lets loose on everything that’s frustrating him in rugby this week.This episode also dives deep into why the European Cup is losing relevance, how South African teams are adapting, and whether rugby fans are feeling oversaturated after a packed international season. Packed with insight, humour, and passionate debate, this is your essential end-of-year rugby check-in.

Huw and MW dig into one of the most fascinating debates in South African rugby right now: the massive statistical divide between Manie Libbok and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Their numbers could not be more different, and when you lay them side by side, the way Rassie is using both players suddenly makes a lot more sense. The conversation moves through what each of them does naturally well, why their strengths don’t overlap, and how this creates two completely different profiles within the same Springbok system.The episode winds through Sacha’s grounding at Llandovery, the influence of Welsh rugby schools, and the kind of player he is shaping into compared to Manie’s explosive, high-output, attacking style. That contrast becomes the thread that defines the discussion, from carrying numbers to defenders beaten to kicking volume and passing patterns.Only after the Manie-Sacha debate settles do the two shift into the broader weekend picture, with a deep dive on the Rugby World Cup permutations and an emotional return to Huw’s recent Samoa podcast. The Champions Cup previews close things out, with Bordeaux, the Bulls, the Stormers and Bayern all on the radar as MW and Huw break down selection trends, travel effects and the unpredictable nature of European matchups. It’s fast, analytical, emotional and packed with context for where the game is heading.

In this episode of Loose Pass, MW Welman and Huw Griffin dissect South Africa’s stunning comeback against France, a match where the stats were nearly identical. On paper, scrums, possession, and territory barely separated the teams, but the Springboks’ win revealed the real difference: Rassie Erasmus’ chess-like strategy.Huw breaks down how subtle tactical decisions, from the timing of substitutions to scrummaging adjustments and trust in key players like Manie Libbok and Malcolm Marx, turned the tide. France’s penalty-focused scrum plan could not anticipate these moves, proving that sometimes rugby is not about the numbers but about thinking two steps ahead.For fans who love insight, strategy, and the story behind the scoreboard, this episode is a masterclass in how patience, culture, and intelligent decision-making beat stats alone. Part of the Megafoon Rugby Network, where the game finally makes sense.

When does confidence cross the line into arrogance, and who gets to decide?In this week’s episode of The Loose Pass Rugby Podcast, Huw Griffin and MW Welman explore one of modern rugby’s most fascinating culture clashes: the fine line between swagger and "windgatgeid".Two young players highlight this divide. Henry Pollock, England’s breakout star, wears his confidence boldly, brash, expressive, and impossible to ignore. He celebrates big moments with energy that draws both cheers and side-eyes. In contrast, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the Springboks’ composed playmaker, exudes quiet control and poise, which some South African fans have mistaken for arrogance.Huw and MW dig into why rugby still struggles with players who show personality. Is it about culture, tradition, or old-school expectations of humility? They discuss how the word "windgat" carries weight in South African rugby, why confidence is often punished instead of celebrated, and what the sport could learn from letting players express themselves authentically.The conversation also touches on England’s skelm referee politics, bias in punditry, and the uncertain future of American rugby, where World Rugby’s plans for a 2031 World Cup face challenges. There are honest takes, lighthearted moments at Huw’s attempts to pronounce Afrikaans words, and insights that make you stop and think.From Lekker Rugby Pod to Loose Pass, MW shares how new voices are challenging old traditions in rugby media, with Megafoon Rugby at the heart of that change.If you care about rugby culture as much as the rugby itself, this episode is for you. It’s smart, unfiltered, and full of the kind of honest debate the sport needs more of.Join the Megafoon Rugby community and discover why we've grown to over 25,000 subscribers who appreciate thoughtful rugby analysis mixed with genuine passion for the game. This is rugby storytelling at its finest, where data-driven insights meet emotional connection to the sport we all love.

The Jake White to the Sharks rumour? Let’s be clear — it lives entirely inside MW’s head. But that doesn’t stop him from trying to convince Huw Griffin that Jake is plotting a secret return to Durban to rescue the Sharks. Huw’s scepticism lasts about ten seconds before he bursts out laughing.Somewhere between that and a language lesson gone wrong, Huw learns the Afrikaans word “SKELM” — just in time for a heated chat about Jan Hendrik Wessels’ reduced ban. MW calls it a proper Skelm move; Huw’s just trying to pronounce it correctly.From there, the pair dive into Springboks vs Japan, Ireland vs the All Blacks, and England’s ongoing identity crisis under Steve Borthwick. Huw also breaks down his latest Substack piece on women’s rugby, explaining why thumbnails, algorithms, and ethics don’t always play nice.🎙️ Hosted by MW Welman and Huw Griffin, produced by Megafoon Rugby — where rugby analysis meets chaos, and at least one conspiracy theory is born every week.

Join Huw Griffin and MW Welman on the Loose Pass Rugby Podcast as they dive deep into everything rugby this week. Huw can’t hide his love for the retro 2012-2013 France jersey, while MW teases him for being a “draadsitter” on France's upcoming game against the Springboks. From the Bulls’ challenging start to the season under Ackermann to transfers and injury crises at the Scarlets, Lions, and more, nothing escapes their attention.This week, the spotlight is on French referees now strictly enforcing scrum rules. MW and Huw break down what this means for upcoming tests, how teams will need to adapt, and why referees are taking a harder line on compliance. Along the way, they also debate the odds of David Kriel earning a Springbok call-up in November, analyzing his position, performance, and potential.The duo also dissects team strategies, early-season struggles, and coaching transitions, highlighting what’s going right, what’s going wrong, and why some squads might still surprise us. Finally, they preview the weekend’s must-watch games, including the East Wales Derby, Leinster vs Munster, and Bulls vs Connacht.Whether it’s kits, performances, or rivalries, Huw and MW bring you the insights, opinions, and debates that every rugby fan needs to hear.

Some rugby moments stay with you forever, and this was one of them.Huw Griffin never expected to be so close to history. Representing Megafoon Rugby alongside Harry Jones from the Lekker Rugby Pod, he stepped into the roar of Twickenham — a sea of green and gold Springbok supporters, cameras flashing, and the electricity of a crowd fully alive. But nothing prepared him for the moment he met Siya Kolisi. The Springbok captain’s warmth, humility, and presence left Huw completely awestruck — a moment he and viewers will never forget.In this episode, Huw shares the full experience: from navigating the chaos of the media centre, capturing the post-match celebrations, and feeling the pride of South African rugby in every corner of the stadium. MW Welman joins to unpack the significance of the day, reflecting on how moments like these bring fans, journalists, and players closer together.Beyond the handshake and surprise, they talk about the energy of the Springbok supporters, the atmosphere of Twickenham, and what it means to experience rugby at its highest level. You’ll hear stories about the vicarious thrill of living it through Huw’s eyes, the behind-the-scenes insights of covering an international test, and the emotions that come with being part of something bigger than yourself.This episode is more than rugby analysis — it’s a story about pride, awe, and human connection. It’s a moment that reminds us why we love the game, why we celebrate its heroes, and why stories like this stay with us long after the final whistle.

The flyhalf debate is back in the spotlight after Sacha's brilliant performance, and we debate the question is whether Manie Libbok edges out Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Many believe Sacha represents the future of South African rugby, but there’s a strong case that Manie’s vision, control and proven consistency continue to make him the more complete option right now. In this episode of The Loose Pass Rugby Podcast, we unpack the comparison in full, weighing the promise of a rising star against the steady influence of an experienced playmaker, and exploring what the Springboks need most from their number ten.From there the conversation moves beyond the flyhalf duel. We reflect on the drama of the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final and its wider significance for the global game, we dive into Samoa against Chile and the passion of rugby’s so-called smaller nations, and we unleash our infamous Hospital Pass segment where no one is spared. The episode closes with a look ahead to three unmissable games this coming week, setting the stage for more twists in the rugby calendar.It is an episode that blends bold opinion with deeper analysis, sharp criticism with passionate appreciation, and the kind of rugby conversation that keeps fans debating long after the final whistle.

The Springboks head to Kings Park in Durban for a crucial clash with Argentina, but this one could be a banana peel. Huw and MW break down whether South Africa can maintain their momentum, how the Pumas’ fast, skillful style could cause problems, and what this match means for the Rugby Championship standings.The drama doesn’t stop there. Rumours swirl around Faf de Klerk potentially moving to Toulon — is it the right time for the scrumhalf to make the leap? Huw dives into the Pacific Nations Cup, celebrating Fiji’s triumph, Samoa’s fight for World Cup qualification, and Japan’s marked improvement. Across the ocean, Major League Rugby continues to shrink, raising tough questions about rugby’s growth in the US. Meanwhile, the URC celebrates record YouTube growth and a new podcast, showing how the league is evolving in the digital age.From Durban’s high-stakes test to global rugby headlines, this episode is a bumper mix of predictions, transfers, triumphs, and crises — everything a rugby fan needs to know this week.

Huw stands in for MW to interview the women's Springboks player Eloise Webb ahead of their huge quarter final against the New Zealand Black Ferns! She speaks all about the Springboks Women's journey to become one of the world's top sides and shares her own story in rugby from getting into the game in her late teens to facing the Haka for the first time!

This week on The Loose Pass Rugby Podcast we put South Africa front and centre, with the Springbok Women chasing history in the upcoming World Cup quarterfinal. The Springbok men stumbled unexpectedly poorly at Eden Park, raising questions about preparation and execution, while our Hospital Pass segment dives into the toughest talking points of the week, including referee decisions and the controversies that had fans buzzing. We also cover the start of the Top 14 season and global rugby developments from Canada to France, all through the lens of what it means for South African rugby fans!