Brett McKay and Harry Jones delve into The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast archives to share and celebrate their favourite Cheers & Jeers from the start of more than forty weekly guest episodes in 2024.

Featuring non-speaking guest appearances by Charlie Morgan, Sam Larner, Riaan Louw, Laurie Fisher, Cam Sheppard, Harry Wilson, Sean Maloney, Jamie Wall, rugby mascots, and all our wonderful guests in 2024.

See you back in 2025!

Social media: #89Combo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo

Now on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social

Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport

Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones

You can find Brett and Harry individually on BlueSky, too!

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme

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Brett McKay and Harry Jones come together on The 8-9 Combo Rugby Podcast for one last time, to wrap up the 2024 rugby year in one big go – by asking simply, ‘How do we sum up 2024 for…?’ each of the top eight international teams: South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand, France, Argentina, Scotland, England, Australia.

But to do that, somehow, the summary is set in the Wild West! Find out who the outlier church is, who the questionable brothel, who is the gunslinger with the hired goons, and who is the villain that every western plot needs.

Social media: #89Combo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo

Now on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social

Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport

Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones

You can find Brett and Harry individually on BlueSky, too!

Make sure you FOLLOW US on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm

Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar:

Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/

Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme

Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones jump into the final Test Match post-mortem of the year with no more thought than usual, with this week's fulltime focus on Ireland’s patience and Australia’s frustrations in the 22-19 result at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, to wrap up the Northern Spring Autumn Series Tours for 2024.

A wonderful, gripping contest came from some seriously scrappy rugby – and curious officiating – and that only exaggerates Ireland’s relief, while simultaneously driving the Wallabies frustrations at one that really did get away.

Social media: #89Combo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo

Now on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social

Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport

Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones

You can find Brett and Harry individually on BlueSky, too!

Make sure you FOLLOW US on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm

Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar:

Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/

Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones lay out the final Games of the Week for 2024, incorporating the final match of the Northern Spring Autumn Series Tours between Ireland and Australian in Dublin, and which will put Joe Schmidt and his gameplan up against his former assistant Andy Farrell and the same gameplan in what will be a fascinating contest. The United Rugby Championship and the English Premiership are both back this week too.

Does Schmidt and the Wallabies have one last performance up their sleeve for 2024, and what would an upset win over Ireland mean for Australian rugby heading into 2025, and the arrival of the British & Irish Lions? What would a third loss for Lions nations do for their confidence? And how hard will it be to get back into club and franchise rugby after a big month of Internationals?

This week’s Games of the Week:

• Ireland v Australia in Dublin

URC Rd.7: Munster v Lions in Limerick

Premiership Rd.7: Harlequins v Bristol at the Stoop

Top 14 Rd.11: Racing 92 v Toulouse in Paris

Social media: #89Combo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo

Now on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social

Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport

Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones

You can find Brett and Harry individually on BlueSky, too!

Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm

Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar:

Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/

Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by Irish sportswriter and playwright Patrick McCarry to look back over the final full weekend of the Northern Spring Autumn Series Tour, and then to cast an eye forward to the final international fixture for 2024 this weekend coming, when Ireland host Australia at the Aviva in Dublin this Saturday.

The Irish haven’t had the smoothest of time through this Autumn Nations, and have had to make adjustments to the new Law Variations in play, but this weekend, there is also a much revered character to deal with: the return of Joe Schmidt, with his rebuilding Wallabies in tow.

Social media: #89Combo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo

Now on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social

Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport

Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones

You can find Brett and Harry individually on BlueSky, too!

Make sure you FOLLOW US on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm

Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar:

Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/

Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme

Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones jump into another Test Match post-mortem without much thought at all, with this week's fulltime focus on Scotland’s gritty 27-13 win over Australia at

a chilly Murrayfield in Edinburgh, the wrap up the final full weekend of Northern Spring Autumn Series Tours.

In a game that would have been a statement win for either side, it was the Scots who maintained their shape, their discipline, and their excellent defence to see off the Wallabies, and with it, another shot at a historic Grand Slam.

Social media: #89Combo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo

Now on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social

Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport

Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones

You can find Brett and Harry individually on BlueSky, too!

Make sure you FOLLOW US on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm

Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar:

Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/

Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones lay out the Games of the Week for the final full weekend of the Northern Spring Autumn Series Tours, the last chance for the Home Nations to save something from the November Tests, and for the southern hemisphere nations to reinforce their claims of global rugby domination.

Can Argentina spring one last upset? Can Ireland make one last statement? How much patience is left in Wales? Will New Zealand appease fans at home with a fourth Spring Tour win? Will Scotland blink first, or Australia? And will the full support of the board continue for Steve Borthwick?

This week’s Games of the Week:

• France v Argentina in Paris

• Wales v South Africa in Cardiff

• Italy v New Zealand in Turin

• Scotland v Australia in Edinburgh

Plus, the Top 14 is back: we like the sound of Toulon v Bayonne on Saturday

Social media: #89Combo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo

Now on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social

Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport

Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones

You can find Brett and Harry individually on BlueSky, too!

Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm

Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar:

Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/

Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by incoming New South Wales Waratahs coach Dan McKellar, who has put the disappointment of how his Leicester Tigers gig ended, the strong links to his native Queensland, and his storied history with the ACT Brumbies all behind him to get on with the job of restoring the Waratahs to the force Australian rugby needs them to be.

Plus, Brett and Harry also dig into the Wallabies’ super impressive 52-20 thumping of Wales in Cardiff, the first time Australia has won consecutive matches on foreign soil since the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. Next up for the Wallabies are Scotland at Murrayfield, and a contest that has remained tight for the last few years.

Social media: #89Combo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo

Now on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social

Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport

Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones

You can find Brett and Harry individually on BlueSky, too!

Make sure you FOLLOW US on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm

Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar:

Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/

Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme

Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones jump into another Test Match post-mortem without much thought at all, with this week's fulltime focus on France’s patient 30-29 win over New Zealand in Paris, and South Africa’s well-in-hand 29-20 win over England at Twickenham.

Two enthralling contests with lead changes and plenty of drama, and from which there was plenty to talk about straight away – and will be more to talk about for the rest of the week, we’re sure.

Social media: #89Combo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo

Now on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/89combo.bsky.social

Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport

Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones

Make sure you FOLLOW US on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm

Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar:

Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/

Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones lay out the Games of the Week for the second full weekend of the Northern Spring Autumn Series Tour, where the Home Nations in particular will be seeking responses after all suffering losses of varying degrees of hurt the previous round.

Pressure is starting to mount in certain team environments, and another loss will only add to some already uncomfortable narratives. How much patience does Twickenham Man have left? Equally though, the SANZAAR nations in particular will be wanting to continue their run of performances, with all eyes on South Africa to see if they can make themselves proud again after a win, and Australia determine to ensure the Twickenham triumph was not one-night-only.

This week’s Games of the Week:

• Ireland v Argentina in Dublin

• England v South Africa at Twickenham

• France v New Zealand in Paris

• Wales v Australia in Cardiff

Social media: #89Combo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo

Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport

Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones

Make sure you SUBSCRIBE on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm

Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar:

Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/

Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett McKay and Harry Jones are joined on The 8-9 Combo by The Telegraph’s senior rugby writer Charlie Morgan to look back over the first full weekend of matches of the Northern Spring Autumn Series Tour, with New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Fiji and South Africa all recording wins in a sweep of southern hemisphere dominance.

Of course, that means we probably should brace for some kind of reaction, and in the case of Ireland, England, and Scotland, their supporters are already demanding that. But spare a thought for England coach Steve Borthwick, with the RFU already coming out to publicly back their man. And that always ends well…

Social media: #89Combo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/89combo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@8-9Combo

Brett: https://twitter.com/BMcSport

Harry: https://twitter.com/HaribaldiJones

Make sure you FOLLOW US on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcKhb24YOtwQhKc0S3sDm

Find Brett and Harry’s written work on RugbyPass and The Roar:

Brett: https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/contributor/brett-mckay/

Harry: https://www.theroar.com.au/author/haribaldi/

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/oakvale-of-albion/extreme

Voiceovers by Chookman + Sean Maloney + Amelia

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices