Episode 217: Was Perth a Test Match or an Obligation? | Lekker Rugby Pod

Was Perth a proper Test match, or a fixture the Springboks simply had to get through?Harry Jones watched the Wallabies win at 2:45am, under the covers in Northern California, and came away with two theories. Either Rassie Erasmus used 13 changes to run a deliberate stress test, or 17 weeks on the road finally caught up with a tired squad. MW Welman isn't convinced the experiment was worth running at all.They weigh up what the coaches learned about Aphelele Fassi, Andre Esterhuizen's captaincy and a defence that has conceded more tries every year since 2023, and ask whether Jerry Flannery's system is working.Then it's over to the URC: why the Stormers built a high-carry game for 4G pitches, what Johan Ackermann wants from the Bulls, and the Kwagga Smith rumours.In this episode:- Perth: stress test or obligation?- The Springbok defence and the numbers behind it- Harry's 33-man World Cup squad- The Stormers on 4G and the Bulls' fast start