Podcast · Sport

THE AFTERMATCH

by Kirstie Stanway-Thorne · English · Sport

Come for the rugby, stay for The Aftermatch. Join Stephen Donald & Kirstie Stanway every week for the best unfiltered stories, fresh perspectives and unique insights into rugby union.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 22 min
Latest: 11 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026 · 35 minNew

All Blacks at an 8? How good can D-Mac be, plus Tana Umaga’s fiery spray Beav witnessed!

00:00 – Bledisloe Cup: All Blacks Smash The Wallabies01:55 – All Blacks Rate Their 50-Point Performance03:49 – Rating The All Blacks: An Eight Out Of Ten?05:23 – Jordie Barrett: Best Player In The World?07:22 – Who Will Win World Rugby Player Of The Year?08:27 – Black Magic All Black Of The Week09:21 – The Barrett Brothers Back Together11:15 – Damian McKenzie’s Best Performance At 10?14:22 – Should D-Mac Be The All Blacks’ First Five?16:59 – Bushbuck Moment: Tupou Vaa’i’s Brilliant Try18:28 – Cam Roigard Is A World-Class No. 920:31 – The All Blacks Win The Aerial Battle21:29 – Leroy Carter’s…

Play episodeWhatsApp Download

Earlier episodes 29 most recent

7 Oct 2026 · 19 min
Beaver's Bunker: breaking down Australia's win over the Boks, & the blueprint to stop them.
0:00 - Breaking down the Wallabies' win over the Springboks2:00 - The McReight–Wilson one-two punch off the line out3:23 - Harry Wilson's X-factor and playmaking instincts3:52 - The back three skill clip: four perfectly executed passes7:05 - The Lonergan box-kick blueprint, and Len Ikitau's role7:51 - Targeting Suaalii and Jorgensen in the air9:46 - Why Suaalii was moved to the wing to use his aerial threat11:14 - High praise for the Wallabies' halfback12:00 - Three keys for the All Blacks this week: contain McReight & Wilson, match the skill level, win the kicking battle12:27 - Side note:…
6 Oct 2026 · 20 min
Bledisloe Cup preview! The All Blacks just got scarier, why the Wallabies are dangerous, who makes the 23's & win fishing gear!
00:00 – Bledisloe Cup Is Finally Here00:48 – All Blacks Squad: Two Huge Returns02:07 – The Barrett Brothers Back Together02:35 – Shannon Frizell: Man Amongst Boys03:32 – Counties’ Incredible Shield Turnaround05:19 – Bushbuck Moment: The Magic Of The Shield06:20 – Who Starts For The All Blacks?08:36 – Four Huge All Blacks Injuries10:16 – Who Makes The All Blacks 23?11:32 – Picking the All Blacks Loose Trio 12:54 – Who Gets The Loose Forward Spots?13:16 – Win Prizes: Pick The Starting Loose Trio13:38 – How Do The All Blacks Win?15:50 – Why Eden Park Is So Special17:41 – Who Will Be Black Magic…
22 Sep 2026 · 33 min
Boks vs Wallabies preview, Handre Pollard's near miss and the Ma'a Nonu haka moment, and a
00:47 - Beav's back in the comments section1:58 - Bushbuck Moment debate: Fitzpatrick vs the Ma'a Nonu haka3:12 - Betty's comment: the moment that choked up the stadium3:38 - Your unsung heroes: Handre Pollard and Bodie4:01 - How close Pollard came to starting in Cape Town6:24 - Jordie Barrett's all-round performance, praised by fans6:48 - Your Springbok picks: Marx, Kolbe, Wiese & Etzebeth8:35 - Rookie of the tour: Morné van den Berg9:45 - The Boks' missing players — and how deep their stocks run11:01 - The brutal All Blacks injury list from the tour12:59 - Losing Ardie Savea & Luke…
15 Sep 2026 · 30 min
Humbled but confident: Full series review, Marx, Ardie & the moment that said it all.
0:00 - Intro: the postmortem, and why this was the greatest series ever0:50 - The rivalry's return after 30 years, and how it delivered2:44 - Award #1: Best Moment — Ardie Savea's gesture5:45 - Beav's moment: the scrum 6:51 - Award #2: Unsung Player — Kyle Preston the roofer8:14 - Honourable mention: Tupou Vaa'i's versatility at six and lock9:05 - Beauden Barrett's role as water boy and mentor11:04 - Award #3: Player of the Tour15:11 - Rookies of the tour17:01 - Confidence check: 12 months out from the World Cup18:52 - What the All Blacks need to work on before then21:25 - The players…
14 Sep 2026 · 16 min
Review or post-mortem? A Springboks masterclass & why small wingers are more dangerous than ever!
00:00 – Springboks Make Us Eat Humble Pie01:30 – What Was Going On With The Technology?!03:05 – Springboks Set The Standard04:57 – Kurt-Lee Arendse: The Small Winger Causing Chaos06:28 – How Close Were The All Blacks?07:00 – The Big Referee Momentum Swings09:07 – Black Magic All Black Of The Week10:26 – Richie Mo’unga Is Back11:49 – Will Jordan Does It Again!12:49 – Cody Taylor’s Ultimate Warrior Moment14:49 – Baltimore Ticked Almost Every Box15:48 – Greatest Rivalry Series Is Better Than The Lions!
10 Sep 2026 · 22 min
"Beaver's Bunker: your questions answered, Ardie's cult status, and that scrum on another planet."
0:00 - Beav back in New Zealand1:05 - Bigger than a Lions series? Reflecting on the tour1:25 - Could New Zealand match this atmosphere in 4 years?2:01 - The result: series lost 2-1, but one test still to go2:41 - Rating the All Blacks' first half: best rugby of the series?3:51 - Does it breach the 7.5 threshold?5:28 - Bushbuck Moment: Ardie Savea's second try6:44 - Ardie Savea's game — and a scary shoulder injury7:22 - Peter Lakai & Wallace Sititi's growing impact7:50 - Ardie Savea joins the all-time top try-scoring forwards8:30 - Where does Malcolm Marx rank on that list?9:17 - Malcolm…
7 Sep 2026 · 18 min
Was this better than a Lions series? Give the Boks their flowers, Marx has swagger, & the north is happy these 2 meet in the RWC Quarters
0:00 - Beav back in New Zealand1:05 - Bigger than a Lions series? Reflecting on the tour1:25 - Could New Zealand match this atmosphere in 4 years?2:01 - The result: series lost 2-1, but one test still to go2:41 - Rating the All Blacks' first half: best rugby of the series?3:51 - Does it breach the 7.5 threshold?5:28 - Bushbuck Moment: Ardie Savea's second try6:44 - Ardie Savea's game — and a scary shoulder injury7:22 - Peter Lakai & Wallace Sititi's growing impact7:50 - Ardie Savea joins the all-time top try-scoring forwards8:30 - Where does Malcolm Marx rank on that list?9:17 - Malcolm…
4 Sep 2026 · 14 min
"Previewing the Soweto decider: keys to victory, and why SA is tougher than the World Cup."
0:00 - Intro: double (maybe triple) episode week0:38 - Beav's Bunker note: catch last week's on Sky Sport NZ1:59 - How tough is it to win in South Africa?3:05 - Keys to victory: tempo, offloading & the high-ball battle5:00 - How to stop the Springboks getting into your 226:29 - Handre Pollard in?7:11 - Winning the advantage line: the key to both gameplans8:04 - Any changes to the All Blacks' 23?8:52 - Richie Mo'unga's role, banking experience for the World Cup9:50 - Who wins this test for the All Blacks?11:36 - Nullifying the Springboks' biggest threats13:23 - Soweto: the history, the…
24 Aug 2026 · 16 min
Lima Sopoaga live from safari, that huge scrum, and George Bower's 'give me the herbs' speech!
0:00 - Reflecting on the win: relentless Boks, but composure held0:19 - The scrum that won the game0:53 - George Bower's "give me the herbs" team talk1:36 - The momentum swing & belief in the group2:06 - Well-worked tries, not fluky intercepts2:43 - The final 20 minutes: was this the plan all along?3:15 - "Can you bash us for eighty?" — Rennie's message4:12 - Proud of a new group under pressure5:21 - All Black of the Week5:51 - Fabian Holland's moment6:34 - Tupou Vaa'i's big role at six6:58 - Jordie Barrett's incredible stat line7:41 - Locking in Jordie for Black Magic All Black of the…
20 Aug 2026 · 23 min
ALL BLACKS & SPRINGBOKS TEAM REACTION
Fabian will take it to the Boks, we need Sasha, Moorby & the 3 fullbacks & Ardie for player of the series?
18 Aug 2026 · 24 min
Rassie's mind games, Boks' 'new Dan Carter', Jordie to win it & the biggest game of Ardie's career?
0:00 - 3 from 3 on tour, test one is here0:40 - South African braai vs Kiwi calamari1:50 - The mind games: Rennie's honesty vs Rassie's tactics3:04 - Rassie fronts a referee at the press conference4:32 - Does crowd pressure subconsciously sway the ref?5:49 - Why the Springboks delayed naming their team7:24 - Who starts at 10 for the Springboks?8:32 - Is Damian McKenzie fit to play?10:17 - Tupou Vaa'i six, and the bench picks11:18 - Keys to an All Blacks victory: winning up front14:56 - The kicking game, discipline & the aerial battle17:15 - Key players: Codie Taylor's experience up…
13 Aug 2026 · 26 min
CONRAD SMITH JOINS THE AFTERMATCH! "Bakkies Botha pinned me down, the brought me a beer." Yarns for days with Conrad.
0:00 - Intro: Conrad Smith joins the Greatest Rivalry series1:40 - Preparing mentally for a week against the Boks4:55 - His first taste of an All Blacks–Boks test was intense!6:38 - The try in Bloemfontein7:53 - Jean de Villiers & Jacques Fourie: his toughest opponents10:01 - Comparing the two midfields: enforcer vs organiser11:26 - The toughest player he ever had to defend13:42 - Touring life: golf, safaris & the apartheid museum17:39 - Why his partnership with Ma'a worked so well20:24 - Could Conrad pull off Ma'a's solo haka?22:10 - Richie McCaw's legendary wake-up call before a tour22:50…
10 Aug 2026 · 28 min
WARNING: A street fight is coming!
1:18 - "It's always gonna turn into a street fight"3:05 - Leroy Carter and Peter Lakai4:09 - The young Ardie Savea comparison4:30 - The (three) lessons learned from game one6:07 - We're playing a different game of rugby now6:43 -We are in the entertainment game?7:37 - Does the referee's home country change the calls?8:05 - How the All Blacks need to adapt9:17 - Dave Rennie confirms the high-ball tactic10:48 - Black Magic All Black of the Week: Rieko Ioane13:24 - The Rieko Ioane redemption story14:32 - Why Durban ranks #2 on Beav's tour card16:44 - King's Park, braais & the local…
4 Aug 2026 · 16 min
BEAVER'S BUNKER - Beav analyzes the Spingboks tries from their Wellington win.
Rennie and Rassie will watch these clips!
3 Aug 2026 · 22 min
"Israel Dagg on the OG bomb squad, the Springbok match winner, and going rogue on Graham Henry!"
0:00 - Israel Dagg joins the Greatest Rivalry series0:26 - Why his best rugby came against the Springboks1:56 - His first test against the Boks & the wing swap mix-up3:32 - Milsey still doesn't know what really happened4:39 - Explaining the OG bomb squad5:10 - The mental prep behind facing high balls all week7:52 - Did he ever feel the pressure?9:03 - Life on tour in South Africa11:25 - Playing at altitude12:11 - The Soweto match-winner in front of 100,000 fans15:42 - The Springbok legends he played against16:09 - Zane Kirchner, Morné Steyn & Fourie du Preez17:24 - Getting burned by Brian…
28 Jul 2026 · 33 min
Sam Cane on convincing yourself your body is going to be destroyed!
Sam Cane on Cheslin's ridiculous training feats, relentless du Toit, & Dane Coles baiting Boks fans!
20 Jul 2026 · 45 min
All Blacks ratings, why peak D-Mac is back & Richie Mo'unga could now be on the tour!
00:00 – Are the Fox's the most succerssful sporting family?02:16 – We Rate The All Blacks in Win Over Ireland07:05 – Patty Tuipulotu's Career & Comeback Story09:28 – Tupou Vaa'i: Lock & Six!11:41 – Luke Jacobson's Underrated Impact14:03 – Damien McKenzie's New Running Game16:15 – McKenzie at Fullback & Rennie's Coaching Touch18:28 – Ethan de Groot & Barnesy's Tough Love Coaching20:46 – Breaking Down the Win Over Ireland23:03 – All Blacks' Best Defensive Performance of the Year25:26 – Nations Championship Review: Best Performer27:43 – Best Rookie & the Morby X-Factor29:19 – Rating the All…
13 Jul 2026 · 38 min
Jordie & Reiko Know Ireland's Secrets, Is Will Jordan the GOAT Winger? Beav Names His AB's Starters.
00:00 Welcome & All Blacks vs Italy Rating02:16 Will Jordan Breaks the All-Time Try Record06:33 Ranking the Greatest Finishers in World Rugby09:21 Game Recap: All Blacks 47-17 Italy09:51 Leroy Carter Injury & Rico Ioane Recalled12:02 Josh Morby's Sensational Debut14:12 What Worked (and Didn't) for the All Blacks17:42 Black Magic All Black of the Week: Jordie Barrett22:33 Ireland Test Preview & Eden Park History24:55 Front Row and Scrum Selection25:38 Second Row Debate26:31 Loose Trio & Midfield Selection29:34 Back Three Picks for Ireland Clash30:47 Nations Championship Title Race33:45 Round…
6 Jul 2026 · 39 min
Kirst & Beav review test one vs a brilliant France side — and Beav hands out his ratings!
0:00 - Intro & Welcome0:23 - Rennie's All Blacks — First Impressions1:18 - Hurricanes DNA in the All Blacks2:25 - Beav hands out his ratings3:50 - Bushbuck Moment of the Week — Cam Roigard's Second Try5:44 - France are a good side!6:24 - French Nine & Ten — The Standouts10:00 - Full Test Match Review15:00 - Beav's Team for Test Two18:29 - Blackmagic MVP - The McCaw Meads Medal25:05 - Platinum Homes All Blacks Blueprint 32:26 - Loose Forward Selections Debated33:17 - Nations Championship Round One Review34:20 - South Africa & Cheslin Kolbe's Magic35:15 - Scotland vs South Africa Preview36:00…
29 Jun 2026 · 38 min
Kirst & Beav preview the All Blacks vs a dangerous France & does Beav's starting XV have surprises?
0:30 - Test Week One — The New Era Begins!2:02 - Christchurch & The French Are Coming2:45 - New Coach, New Captain — Rennie & Ardie4:25 - Ardie's Incredible Backstory12:00 - Beav's Predicted Starting XV20:00 - All Blacks vs France Preview20:30 - Platinum Homes Blueprint — How to Beat France32:27 - The French Psyche — How Do They Do It?33:30 - Nations Championship Explained34:49 - Round One Predictions37:01 - Pick Rennie's Team & Win
23 Jun 2026 · 21 min
Kirst & Beav review the Super Rugby Final, was that the greatest finals performance we've ever seen?
0:00 - Intro & Beav's Welfare Check2:15 - Bushbuck Moment of the Final — Ruben Love4:27 - The Wellington Atmosphere & Pre-Match Show6:49 - Weather Chaos & The Full House9:00 - First Half Review — Hurricanes Dominate16:13 - How the Hurricanes Dismantled the Chiefs18:32 - Greatest Finals Performance Ever?20:54 - Jordie Barrett's Game IQ22:00 - All Blacks Season Preview Coming Up
22 Jun 2026 · 11 min
INSTANT REACTION: Ardie's the skipper, 4 new faces are in. Dave Rennie's first AB's squad is here!
.
18 Jun 2026 · 19 min
BEAVER'S BUNKER - Can Beav make rucks sexy?
00:01 We are talking ruck speed...good luck making this sexy!00:55 Tupou Vaa'i, 6'7 but can get low!02:14 The king of all kings Du'Plessis Kirifi02:55 Chop tackle and supporting players04:05 Brad Shields...Slow ruck means line speed 05:06 Brilliant attacking teams06:42 You can make the opposition commit more players12:58 Teams named, who's in, who's out
15 Jun 2026 · 53 min
Best final in 30 years? Plus 2 stars who could play their way into All Black honours!
0:00 Welcome to the Dream Final0:54 The Greatest Finals of the Last 30 Years2:12 Over 60 points scored?3:16 Weather Watch for Saturday Night4:15 BUSHBUCK Moment of the Week8:16 Chiefs Back Line & Midfield Breakdown9:55 Chiefs vs Crusaders: Best 40 Minutes of Rugby Ever?15:38 Hurricanes vs Blues Semifinal Review22:37 Richie Mo Medal Points & McKenzie's Case26:07 Players Who Could Write Their Names into Rens book35:05 Roigard vs McKenzie & Why Ruck Speed Wins It39:23 The Mental Game: Pressure, Discipline & Destiny47:28 Brad Shields still has it, Hurricanes Selection Calls 6-2?49:48 Storylines…
8 Jun 2026 · 47 min
Tony Brown mind games? Do the Blues have two big games in them? Brodie & Rennie thrown in Japan!
00:35 Is the Tony Brown hiring NZR mind games? 02:05 Could Rassie ever coach another international team?03:35 Dave Rennie and Brodie Retalick get thrown around by the Japanese!06:02 BUSHBUCK Moment - that D-Mac flick pass brings back nightmares for Beav against the Stormers09:20 The best performance this week? Surely the Hurricanes!10:23 Has a star been born with Isaac Hutchinson?12:12 There were some standouts for the Crusaders v Blues14:10 Superb loose trio chat including McCaw, Read and Kaino19:23 Time for the Richie Mo Meadal!!23:24 Beavers Bunker suggstions..Beav gets a passion…
4 Jun 2026 · 11 min
BEAVER'S BUNKER EP4 - Cam Roigard deep dive! Beav breaks down the most dangerous halfback in Super!
01:00 The threat of him. Drawing defenders & analysing try v Crusaders.01:44 Taking the line on. Analysing 2nd try v Crusaders.02:22 Why he attracts defenders04:22 DC was triple threat what does Roigard have?05:53 It's the vision and the intelligence. Analysing try v Force06:43 Kicking game and vision. Analysing a near try v Blues07:51 The support line. He runs in front of the play. Analysing try v Reds
3 Jun 2026 · 7 min
CRUSADERS v BLUES PLAYOFF PREVIEW! Do the Blues fear the Crusaders?
00:01 3 v 4 at the best stadium in the country01:00 The Bluesd arer definitely in with a chance03:30 Who's 100th is it this time?!04:40 High ball in play from the Crusaders!
3 Jun 2026 · 7 min
CHIEFS v REDS PLAYOFF PREVIEW! It's the final game that counts!
00:33 Just look at the names on the Reds team sheet02:30 It's the battle of the loosies04:20 The Chiefs will look at each other and know...
3 Jun 2026 · 7 min
HURRICANES v BRUMBIES PLAYOFF PREVIEW! History and the weather are on the Brumbies side.
00:27 History is on the Brumbies side02:20 The Brumbies forwards need to slow them down03:05 Lonergan is the key04:45 Rain, wind and the pressure of finals football

About THE AFTERMATCH

Come for the rugby, stay for The Aftermatch. Join Stephen Donald & Kirstie Stanway every week for the best unfiltered stories, fresh perspectives and unique insights into rugby union.

THE AFTERMATCH is a English sport podcast from Kirstie Stanway-Thorne. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Kirstie Stanway-Thorne
Language: English
Category: Sport
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 22 min
Latest episode: 11 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1797408314
Rights: Kirstie Stanway-Thorne

RSS feed Apple Podcasts

More English sport

Take it with you

The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.