The Bonus Point

Tj Olsen
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Rugby
  • Updated Bimonthly

A transpacific rugby podcast connecting New Zealand’s elite game with the rise of rugby in the United States. Expect detailed breakdowns, tactical insight, and honest analysis across Super Rugby, the All Blacks, and MLR.

  1. Sep 28

    Episode 81: Baltimore Buzz, NPC Stars Return & Wallabies’ 11-Man Miracle

    Fresh off an unforgettable trip to Baltimore — and battling a bit of post-travel sickness — I’m recapping a genuine rugby bucket-list experience: the All Blacks and Springboks in the United States, historic attendance at MT&T Bank Stadium, incredible access to the teams, and what an event of that scale can mean for rugby’s growth in America. Then we get into a massive week across New Zealand rugby. I break down NZ Rugby’s reported $66 million financial challenge, why the NPC and Ranfurly Shield remain vital to the game’s future, and why it matters that players including Beauden Barrett, Noah Hotham, Cortez Ratima, George Bell, Emoni Narawa and others are returning to represent their provinces. I also unpack the Black Ferns’ heartbreaking Red Roses defeat, Counties Manukau’s emotional Ranfurly Shield win, Northland’s incredible Shield journey, and the attacking ambition of Auckland’s Rico Simpson. In the second half, it is all about one of the wildest Tests of the year: the Wallabies’ 42–38 win over the Springboks. Australia held on with just 11 men, lifted the Mandela Challenge Plate, and delivered a major statement against the reigning world champions. Plus, I reflect on making my play-by-play commentary debut for UCLA Rugby’s last-minute win over Michigan, and look ahead to UCLA’s upcoming home fixtures against Brown and Southern Nazarene. In this episode: Baltimore recap: All Blacks, Springboks and a record U.S. rugby crowdWhat NZ Rugby’s financial challenge means for the gameWhy All Blacks returning to the NPC mattersBlack Ferns v Red Roses reactionCounties Manukau win the Ranfurly ShieldWallabies survive with 11 men against South AfricaUCLA Rugby commentary debut and upcoming matches

  2. Aug 14

    All Blacks Selection Chaos Before the Springboks w/ Dane Sherratt (Kick On Rugby) - Episode 80

    In Episode 80, Tj is joined by Dane Sherratt from Kick On Rugby to break down New Zealand’s strong tour start, including the win over the Stormers and the 54–0 result against the Sharks, before the final pre-Test audition against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld. TJ and Dane also unpack the Springbok challenge: scrum pressure, the aerial battle, competing fly-half options, New Zealand’s outstanding lock and loose-forward depth, and whether the All Blacks can impose enough tempo to disrupt South Africa across a four-Test series. In this episode: All Blacks tour takeaways from the Stormers and Sharks matchesBulls v All Blacks: the final Springboks Test auditionRichie Mo’unga’s return and the No. 10 debateAll Blacks injury and selection watchCam Roigard, Kyle Preston and the scrum-half raceHow the All Blacks match the Springbok scrum and kicking gameSpringbok fly-half options: Libbok, Pollard or Feinberg-MngomezuluIs the northern hemisphere finally closing the gap on the south?First-Test selection calls and series predictions Subscribe to The Bonus Point Podcast, follow Kick On Rugby, and let us know: Who starts at 10 for the All Blacks in the first Test against South Africa?

  3. Aug 7

    Greatest Rivalry Is Here: Stormers v All Blacks - Episode 79

    Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour is officially underway as the All Blacks open their South African campaign against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town. In Episode 79, I break down the Stormers team and the biggest storylines heading into the match — including senior Stormers debutant Yaqeen Ahmed at fly-half, his huge matchup opposite Beauden Barrett, and why Hacjivah Dayimani is one of the most exciting hybrid loose forwards in rugby right now. I also look at the All Blacks’ two potential debutants, the major selection calls shaping Dave Rennie’s squad, and the looming Springbok challenge. South Africa’s rotated front rows have continued to deliver dominant scrum production through the opening Nations Championship rounds, making set piece one of the defining battles of this tour. In this episode: What Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour isStormers v All Blacks previewYaqeen Ahmed’s senior Stormers debutWhy Hacjivah Dayimani is a hybrid-forward threatAll Blacks selection and debutant watchThe Springboks’ scrum depth and rotationThe biggest questions before the All Blacks face South AfricaWho makes the biggest statement in the opening match: Yaqeen Ahmed, Hacjivah Dayimani, Beauden Barrett, or one of the new All Blacks? #Rugby #AllBlacks #Stormers #Springboks #RugbysGreatestRivalry #RugbyPodcast #RugbyAnalysis

  4. Jun 25

    Hurricanes Rewrite the Script - Episode 78

    The 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season wrapped with a statement as the Hurricanes crushed the Chiefs in a record-breaking final, and we break down exactly why they were the best team in the competition. From the key stats and standout performers to the breakout stars forcing their way into the All Blacks conversation, we dig into the numbers, the tactics, and the selection battles that are shaping the next era of New Zealand rugby.

  5. Jun 11

    The Search For An Edge - Episode 77

    In Episode 77, we break down a massive week in rugby, starting with the Super Rugby semi-finals, the big selection calls, and how the Australian teams have fared across the season. We also look at the launch of Super Rugby Aupiki and the exciting wave of new talent coming into the competition. In the second half, we shift to the All Blacks, with Tony Brown joining the setup and Kieran Read raising questions about whether New Zealand still has the same edge and belief that defines South Africa. To finish, we get into the Barbarians squad announcement, including TJ Perenara, Duhan van der Merwe, and Kyle Sinckler, plus what it means to see Scott Robertson back in that space. A big episode on finals rugby, national identity, and the players and teams shaping the next few weeks.

  6. May 28

    Building the Eagles (w/ Rob Hammerschmidt & Scott Ferrara) — Episode 76

    In Episode 76, we’re diving deep into the state of USA Rugby with Rob “The Hammer” Hammerschmidt and Scott “The Big Guy” Ferrara from the Rugby Rant podcast. With the Eagles set for a huge summer of Test rugby, we break down the upcoming Nations Cup fixtures, talk through who should be in the 23 for the first match against Portugal in Denver, and look ahead to what this stretch means for the future of the national team. We also get into the current Major League Rugby season, including the latest standings, the teams building momentum down the stretch, and the ongoing challenges around viewing access and league growth in the U.S. From there, we zoom out to ask the bigger questions: is USA Rugby on track for 2031

  7. May 12

    The Man in the Middle (w/ Caleb Greaves) - Episode 75

    If you’ve ever yelled at a ref… this episode might change your perspective. Or probably not as its a regular occurance amongst rugby fans. In this episode, we sit down with Caleb Greaves, a referee with 12 years of experience across five different associations and a current official in the North Harbour Premier Men’s competition Auckland, NZ. Caleb shares stories from the field, how referees manage chaos in real time, and why it might be one of the toughest jobs in sport. We also unpack his viral approach to recruiting new referees, including the now-infamous “do something dumb until someone signs up” challenge, + how the North Harbour Referees Instagram page is changing the perception of officiating. In the second half, we shift into Super Rugby — breaking down the state of officiating, the chaos at the breakdown, TMO influence, and how players are getting smarter at pushing the limits of the game. Our Bonus Point segment is a new segment we like to call “Whistle Blower” - Some quick fire questions and sure to be a doozy

    The Man in the Middle (w/ Caleb Greaves) - Episode 75

  8. 12/03/2025

    All Blacks Season Review w/ Jamie Wall - Episode 69

    Episode 69 of the podcast features an insightful conversation with rugby journalist Jamie Wall, renowned for his deep knowledge and years covering the All Blacks and global rugby. Jamie shares his journey into rugby journalism, highlighting his work covering the All Blacks since 2017 and dives into the All Blacks’ complex and often scrutinized 2025 season, analyzing coaching challenges, standout players, and pivotal tactical decisions. We also unpack the debates around the World Rugby Player of the Year awards, examining fairness in selection and overlooked players. Lastly with the 2027 Rugby World Cup pools announced just yesterday, Jamie provides expert analysis on New Zealand’s draw, the expanded 24-team format, and the strategic path the All Blacks must follow to win the tournament. This episode offers a compelling mix of career insights, current rugby analysis, and forward-looking World Cup preview that any rugby fan will appreciate.

    All Blacks Season Review w/ Jamie Wall - Episode 69
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A transpacific rugby podcast connecting New Zealand’s elite game with the rise of rugby in the United States. Expect detailed breakdowns, tactical insight, and honest analysis across Super Rugby, the All Blacks, and MLR.

Information

  • Creator
    Tj Olsen
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    79
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tj Olsen
  • Show Website
    The Bonus Point