Pat McCarry joined Harry and MVA to make the case that the South Africa-Ireland rugby rivalry is no longer confined to Test level — it now has deep club roots, with the URC quarterfinal pairings routinely pitting SA franchises against Irish provinces. McCarry argued that the rivalry has been earned through genuine confrontation: Leinster getting "pants pulled down" on tour in South Africa, the Sharks-Munster Winkgate drama, the Bulls' famous semi-final ambush of Leinster, and now Connacht beating the Stormers in a charged fixture days after the Cheetahs' Chippy Solomon passed away. The hosts pushed back gently, noting that the SA sides have yet to go deep in the Champions Cup, but agreed the ingredients for a lasting dynastic duel are all there — perceived grievances, recurring knockout collisions, and a growing personal familiarity between the two rugby communities.
MVA went all in and predicted a Bulls-Stormers URC final at Loftus, while McCarry flagged the Lions as the dangerous outsider nobody wants to meet, drawing a comparison to Connacht's underdog energy in the West. The Munster conversation is worth the listen alone — McCarry's analysis of why the province has stalled, from poor recruitment to losing Limerick's best athletes to hurling, is sharp and specific. Full episode on the Lekker Rugby Pod feed.