Episode 88: Jake White Drama: How Rapport Broke SA Rugby’s Biggest Coaching Story! | With Tinus van Staden

In Episode 88 of the Lekker Rugby Pod, MW Welman and Harry Jones are joined by Tinus van Staden, the sports editor of Rapport, for a revealing conversation that takes listeners deep inside South African rugby journalism—and the biggest coaching story in the country right now. This episode pulls back the curtain on how Rapport broke the explosive Jake White story, detailing the intense months of behind-the-scenes reporting, verification, and editorial debate that led to one of the most talked-about revelations in South African sport.Tinus explains how the story came together, why vivid detail matters in investigative storytelling, and what it says about shifting leadership cultures in rugby. He opens up about the newsroom discussions with top writer Hendrik Cronjé, the responsibility that comes with reporting uncomfortable truths, and how Rapport maintains its credibility while navigating backlash from fans and rugby insiders alike.This conversation also explores the evolving relationship between media and SA Rugby, the unique role of Afrikaans journalism in local rugby coverage, and how Rapport balances source relationships with integrity. Tinus shares insight into the emotional distance modern coaches need to maintain, the Bulls’ coaching succession after White’s departure, and names like Johan Ackermann and Franco Smith that are being floated behind the scenes.Beyond Jake White, the trio delves into selection politics around players like Evan Roos and Cameron Hanekom, the global curiosity about South African rugby from countries like Ireland and France, and Rassie Erasmus’s long-term strategy to regenerate the Springboks. There’s also a candid look at the digital challenges facing sports media, from content theft to adapting to an online-first world.This is a front-row seat to how journalism shapes rugby culture—and how one newsroom broke the story that’s still shaking Loftus.