Episodes
As its Christmastime, To the Last Drop is in the mood for giving, and this week we have a bumper episode that spans continents and is full of festive flavour. Brenden and Liam chat to Glasgow Warriors coach Franco Smith about Champions Cup, life in Glasgow and the perils of finding good wine. Then we give you a sneak glimpse of a roaring lunch Liam hosted at Pirates Rugby Club with Springbok brothers Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis before we dive into our predictions for Round 2 of the...
Published 12/14/23
The jamboree that is the Cape Town Sevens is again expected to be the mother of all parties this weekend. SA Rugby's marketing manager Marlon Kruger explains the logistics behind the event, its extreme safety precautions and the headline act that slipped through their fingers at the 11th hour. Liam and Brenden also gaze into their crystal ball ahead of this weekend's fixtures in the Champions Cup, as well as the Challenge Cup.
Published 12/07/23
This week To The Last Drop catches up with a player who literally takes the cake, and a coach who doesn't stroke egos. Bok prop Ox Nche waxes lyrical from his favourite confectionery to trophy tour confetti. He also assesses where the Sharks are at after their underwhelming start to the URC. Later, Blitzboks coach Sandile Ncgobo lays bare the changes in his team including how he cleansed it of egos.
Published 11/29/23
In this week's 'To The Last drop' Liam flies solo. He sits down affable Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys who talks about the increasing belief and mongrel in the Lions team. He also shares his distinct views on the scrum, the seven/one split, and his fears for the sport. Later Donovan Goliath tells us how he came up with the edgy, inspiring, and at times devilishly funny content he dropped on social media during and after the Rugby World Cup. The content creator and former comedian...
Published 11/22/23
Sean Everitt plied his trade with the Sharks for 15 years before taking up a short-term job with the Bulls last year. On Friday, the new Edinburgh coach will test his mettle against old mate and grizzled adversary Jake White when his team takes on the Bulls in the URC. On the latest instalment of To The Last Drop, Brenden and Liam catch up with Everitt who is 10 weeks into his new job. Everitt gets quizzed about the move and the challenge of operating in a different rugby culture, coming up...
Published 11/15/23
This week Brenden and Liam gaze into their crystal ball to the next Rugby World Cup and who of the current crop of Springboks are likely to make the trip to Australia. Four, if not more Springboks will retire in the next year or so but the nucleus of the squad will be in the 35/36 age group bracket by the time the next RWC comes around. Our hosts also take a look at some of the players who have dropped off the Bok radar that may be back in contention.
Published 11/08/23
The World Cup is over, the trophy tour is rolling through the country and the entire Mzanzi is united in celebration. But across the world the sour grapes continue, as pundits question the style, authenticity and every little detail of a magnificent Springbok victory. Why won't they give the Boks their due, and in reality, do we really care? Brenden Nel and Liam del Carme unpack eight weeks of rugby, address the sour grapes abroad, and dissect France 2023 as a tournament. They also pick...
Published 11/02/23
What can be bigger than a World Cup final? Not much in reality, and the To the Last Drop team dissect the Springboks' chances against the All Blacks in Saturday's massive game, reflect a bit on the heart-stopping win over England and one of the strangest weeks in modern rugby since. There is also a cameo by former Bok captain John Smit on the nostalgia of France 2007 and the Boks chances, while another former Bok, Hanyani Shimange, chats about the importance of Bongi Mbonambi to the...
Published 10/27/23
Phew! We’ve just caught our breath after that amazing Springbok win in Paris and the semifinal is fast approaching. Liam del Carme and Brenden Nel reflect on one of the greatest games in Rugby World Cup history with Jesse Kriel chatting about his 13 stitches and exceptional performance. We look at the semifinal against England and the Boks chances of making back-to-back World Cup finals, listen as Rassie Erasmus trolls England and then Brenden chats to Kiwi shock jock Martin Devlin about the...
Published 10/19/23
It’s LE CRUNCH as the Springboks’ moment of truth has arrived. They face France in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal and their title is on the line. Rugby guru Swys de Bruin joins the To the Last Drop squad as they dissect the Boks chances, why the white line fever needs to be beaten and how clinical the Boks need to be. There is simply no better analysis of the Boks chances on any podcast anywhere ahead of this crucial game. Then to top things off, former Springbok prop Gurthro Steenkamp...
Published 10/12/23
Just back Manie Libbok! That’s the message from Stormers head coach John Dobson as he weighs in on the flyhalf selection conundrum in the latest offering of To the Last Drop. Dobson joins the podcast from the Southern Cape training camp where he is in the Wilderness - literally, not figuratively. From the inside view on what makes Manie Libbok tick and why the Boks need to back him to an inside take on the Stormers’ pre-season training camp where Warrick Gelant has lost a massive 7kg since...
Published 10/04/23
Handre Pollard is back in the team and the flyhalf hysteria can die down a bit. But talking of hysterics, Brenden was sidetracked by a bunch of very thirsty South Africans that stopped the two podcasters meeting in Paris, and for that, he is shamed - especially as no wine ever touched his lips in France. Between all of this, the two debate the Bok squad for Tonga, reflect on an epic game against Ireland and consider what is worse - Eddie Jones' next trick or "hannibal lector" Dupont facing...
Published 09/28/23
In this week’s episode Liam and Brenden talk up the Boks’ biggest clash since the deciding Test against the British and Irish Lions.
Published 09/20/23
Rent free in their heads! That's the message after the Springbok management again surprised and bamboozled the rugby world by picking four scrumhalves in a match day 23. Bok dominance over Scotland, all the talking points and logistical challenges all are part of a World Cup as Liam finds new friends in Toulon and Deon Fourie tells us the secret of his longevity. It's all happening in France and it's all there - to the Last Drop.
Published 09/14/23
The Rugby World Cup is finally here and the To the Last Drop duo have been split. Liam is battling logistical nightmares in France as the tournament creeps closer. In episode 10 of To the Last Drop Liam gives an update from the Bok camp in Toulon, former Bok assistant Johann van Graan tells us why Finn Russell is so dangerous to the Bok cause and RG Snyman talks about his bizarre pre-game music ritual. And of course we discuss the Bok selection and the big games that are fast approaching...
Published 09/07/23
This week on the To the Last Drop Podcast we pick on the bones of the Springboks' stunning victory over New Zealand in London, the fall out from the lopsided clash, including the now predictable criticism of the Springboks' power game. The bulk of the episode however, is dedicated to a man with a smile and wide as his sidestep Schalk Brits, the 2019 RWC winner. The amiable ex-hooker assesses the team's prospects in France and he uncorks his preferences when it comes to what tipple tickles...
Published 08/30/23
As the World Cup gets closer the news cycle gets stranger. From Steve Hansen's bromance with Eddie Jones to a not-so-friendly warm-up game against the All Blacks, this week's episode of To The Last Drop is jam-packed with loads of news. Liam del Carme and Brenden Nel muse about Canan Moodie's elevation to the midfield and what it means long-term for the Springboks in the showpiece tournament, we hear from Jake White on what it takes to win in France while Ardie Savea reminds us this won't be...
Published 08/23/23
What a week! With the Rugby World Cup fast approaching, Brenden and Liam have a lot to talk about in this week's episode of To the Last Drop. The dive into the Springboks' team selection for their penultimate warm-up match against Wales, address some of the conspiracy theories in the wake of last week's World Cup squad naming, relive the glorious France vs Scotland match and much more. And of course, the episode wouldn't be complete without a look at serial offender Owen Farrell's farcical...
Published 08/16/23
There were shocks galore when the World Cup squad was announced on Tuesday. Without Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am and Lood de Jager, the Springboks will defend their World Cup crown with a few more questions than normal. Brenden and Liam dissect the announcement and the implications for the World Cup campaign while there is the juicy second half of the chat with SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus and esteemed author and broadcaster David O’Sullivan on their book - which is now the...
Published 08/10/23
The Rugby Championship is over and the World Cup is fast approaching. This week’s episode of To the Last Drop has a twist - we bring you part one of an exclusive interview with Rassie Erasmus and author David O’Sullivan on Rassie’s new book with a no-holds barred chat over a bottle of wine. Hear Rassie talk about what frustrates him most about Springbok fans and how Munster changed him as a person - and as a coach. Then Brenden Nel and Liam del Carme dissect the Bok team for the Buenos...
Published 08/02/23
‘Underestimate Argentina at your peril’ warns the doyen of South American rugby writers Frankie Deges. The Boks need to restore momentum against Los Pumas at Ellis Park on Saturday, but as Deges points out on the next episode of ‘To the last Drop’, the visitors have similar aspirations as they look to build on their win over the Wallabies. Deges also talks about how Argentinians and South Africans bond off the field and has a surprise for co-host Brenden Nel.
Published 07/27/23
The Boks blundered their way to defeat in Auckland. ‘To the last drop’ runs the rule over their performance and comes to the conclusion there is no reason to panic. The Boks’ upcoming clash against Argentina also comes under the microscope. Our hosts insist Los Pumas’ bite matches their growl. They also come to the conclusion Johnnie Sexton’s slap on the wrist ban is actually a slap in the face for the game. They do all of this while familiarising themselves with a bottle of Ken Forrester.
Published 07/20/23
In Episode #2 of To the Last Drop, Liam Del Carme and Brenden Nel dissect the weekend's rugby and as a surprise, chat to the King of "smartasses" - Ken Borland - the journalist who got Eddie Jones so hot under the collar. Add a bottle of Hemel and Aarde valley wine to the equation and enjoy this weekend's showdown between the Springboks and All Blacks in Auckland.
Published 07/13/23
Seasoned rugby writers Liam Del Carme and Brenden Nel kick-off their 'To the last drop' podcast with a look ahead to the Rugby Championship opener between the Springboks and the Wallabies at Loftus on Saturday. They compare notes on Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, and who his key players might be. They also run the rule over the Bok team for Saturday. The even share one of the best kept wine secrets.
Published 07/06/23