Ruggamatrix International Mp3

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 Stcherbina off the bench. Ewen McKenzie tells all about Stade Francais and their opening Top 14 22-all draw against star studded Toulon. We review the opening week across France and look ahead to the start of the Magners League and Guinness Premiership. Some trying times off the field in England but we attempt to pick out the positives as both competitions rapidly approach.

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.

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 and New Zealand have to do to win. We also throw in a few questions from our Twitter followers. Ewen McKenzie reports in from the French Alps as he prepares for the Top 14 kick-off and Les Kiss is already winging his way to Dublin after packing up the family in Sydney.

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.

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.

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.

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 Marc Hinton from www.rugbyheaven.co.nz. Hinton gives us the latest on the re-signing of the current All Blacks coaching staff and the outlook for the All Blacks in the Tri Nations. Our in-depth analysis subject this week is MANAGEMENT.

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. Our special in-depth analysis this week is POSSESSION.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 week ahead but he's always got time for RuggaMatrix. Stade Francais takes on Perpignan on Saturday in the second semifinal of the French Top 14 competition. By the time they play Toulouse or Clermont would have already qualified for the final. Things are obviously tense because he wouldn't even tell us what his team is! Les Kiss reports in from the United States after the Irish were less than impressive against Canada last week. It's a much bigger challenge coming up this week according to Kiss against the Eagles w

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 chances in Saturday's Heinkenen Cup Final against Leinster at Murrayfield. Bruce McLane is back on the show as the USA Super League nears its conclusion ... and yes the title of the show comes from the colourful New Yorker. Les Kiss is also somewhere in North America but it took a while to find him. Ewen McKenzie was just where he was supposed to be as he prepares for the Top 14 semis. The panel analyses the Super Rugby semifinals and revisits their pre-season predictions. Our subject for in-depth analysis this week ...

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.

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 Heineken Cup Final? He was pretty tight-lipped but we had a crack anyway.

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 surgery after the turf slipped beneath his feet during the Barbarians game last year. He talks about that injury setback and decision not pursue legal action and we discuss his contract renewal which is currently a hot subject. Dunning throws up a couple of radical ideas about player contracts and assesses some of the competition in the Super 14 as the season draws to a conclusion. He wants to be part of the action if the Waratahs make the semis. And why not? Matt Dunning has been stuck on 99 caps for NSW since the e

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.

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.

RuggaMatrix takes on a family feel for episode 019. Leinster scrumhalf and former Wallaby Chris Whitaker joins us just hours after the arrival of his third child in Dublin and just a few days after qualifying for the Heineken Cup semis.