# Episode 173: The French TMO Footage Drama: Our Take on Rugby's Online Debate

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lekker-rugby-pod-6941520/episode-173-the-french-tmo-footage-drama-our-take-on-rugby-s-online-debate
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lekker-rugby-pod-6941520/episode-173-the-french-tmo-footage-drama-our-take-on-rugby-s-online-debate.md
Podcast: [The Lekker Rugby Pod!](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lekker-rugby-pod-6941520)
Published: 2026-05-06T15:15:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mw-welman8/episodes/Episode-173-The-French-TMO-Footage-Drama-Our-Take-on-Rugbys-Online-Debate-e3ivpu7
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/f721ca94/podcast/play/119580039/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-4-6%2F423600374-44100-2-911603239e37d.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3060

## Resource

The Bordeaux versus Bath Champions Cup semi-final ignited a very public clash between two of rugby's most prominent online voices over the standard of commentary, the integrity of the TMO process, and where the line sits between legitimate criticism and agenda-driven noise. MW and Harry work through what each side got right, where both overreached, and what the controversy reveals about the TMO system under pressure. The pod also covers a shifting Harry Index, Leinster rounding into ominous form at exactly the wrong time, the Junior Springboks closing in on a championship, and what the All Blacks depth chart really looks like under pressure.On this episode of the Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones weigh in on the drama that has split rugby online.

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## Transcript

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