DSPN - Devlin Sports Podcast Network

The vibe rankings are back and things are starting to feel very real. On the DSPN, Marty and Lachie break down where every Super Rugby team actually sits right now, and more importantly, who’s already out of the race. The Hurricanes are clear at the top, the Chiefs and Blues are chasing, and the big question becomes whether anyone can genuinely disrupt what’s starting to look like a locked-in top...

The Hurricanes are humming, the Chiefs are waiting, and suddenly every big Super Rugby matchup feels like an All Blacks trial. On the DSPN, Marty is joined by Ant Strachan to break down just how good the Hurricanes really are after putting away the Blues, why Cam Roigard is right at the top of his game, and what Ruben Love is doing to force his way into the test conversation. We also get into the...

The Hurricanes are flying and Martin can barely hide it. On the DSPN today, Marty and Tony Johnson get stuck into a wild round nine of Super Rugby Pacific, starting with the Canes’ statement win over the Blues. We get into what made them so sharp, why their kicking game keeps putting teams under the pump, and whether Ruben Love is turning every big game into another selection headache for the All...

Marty and Young Producer Lachlan dive into a massive Mailbag session this week, questioning if the All Blacks are looking backwards by sticking with Rieko Ioane and Beauden Barrett. They tackle the bizarre excuses for the Super Rugby Pacific Easter schedule, debate who should lead the team under Dave Rennie, and preview the massive Hurricanes vs Blues clash. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Murray Mexted is back with us on DSPN and this one covers a lot of ground. From Ian Foster’s book to the inner workings of NZ Rugby, there’s plenty to unpack and not all of it is comfortable listening. We get into the pressure Foster faced behind the scenes, the decision to name a new coach before a World Cup, and why Mexted believes the All Blacks setup wasn’t properly supported. There’s also a s...

Halfway through Super Rugby Pacific, we’ve done what rugby fans love doing most: picked a team and invited the arguments. Jamie Wall joins us to name a pure form XV after eight rounds. Not an All Blacks side, not a projected test squad, just the players who’ve been the best in their positions so far. That means big calls, a few uncomfortable omissions, and plenty of names right on the edge. We get...

The DSPN crew is back to tear into the absolute mess that was the Super Rugby Easter schedule. Martin, Mark, and John don't hold back on the "lame" excuses from the board and why the fans deserve better. Plus, we look at Shannon Frizell’s return, the looming battle for the All Blacks midfield, and why referees need to stop trying to coach the players during the game. Learn more about your ad choic...

Martin and Jeff the Ref are back to break down a strange weekend of Super Rugby Pacific. With only three games on the slate, there was still plenty of drama to dissect, from cynical yellow cards to massive hits that tested the laws. Jeff explains why the Crusaders were pinged for slowing the ball and debates whether rugby needs to take a leaf out of league’s book when it comes to intercepts. Learn...

Super Rugby Pacific hits the halfway mark and, honestly, it still feels like the comp is making it up as it goes. We get Sean Maloney and Brett McKay on with us to make sense of the Easter schedule, the state of the Australian teams, and whether anyone can actually stop another New Zealand side winning the title. We get into the Brumbies’ case as Australia’s best hope, why the Reds are still so ha...

Super Rugby gave us only three games over Easter, but there was still plenty to get stuck into. On this episode, Martin and Tony Johnson unpack why the competition missed a trick with the long weekend schedule, then dive into the biggest talking points from round eight. We get into Codie Taylor’s ridiculous 150th game celebration, why the Chiefs made a real statement, and what the Force’s win over...

What actually makes the All Blacks successful? It is not just what happens on the field. Martin Devlin sits down with former All Blacks manager Darren Shand for a rare, deep dive into what really drives performance at the highest level. From leadership and culture to the importance of the “team behind the team,” Shand breaks down the ecosystem that powered one of the most dominant eras in rugby hi...

All Black legend Beauden Barrett joins Martin to talk about the "deep feeling of hurt" that’s driving him toward the 2027 World Cup. He opens up about the "unsettling" coaching changes within the All Blacks, his new life as a father of three, and why he’s not ready to head offshore just yet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are diving deep into the mailbag this week as Martin and Lachlan tackle the big questions in New Zealand rugby. From the "swimming" tactics in the mall to the mental dread of facing a sixth-placed Crusaders side in the playoffs, no stone is left unturned. We also look at the All Blacks' need for individual upskilling and the structural challenges facing Moana Pasifika. Learn more about your ad...

We are halfway through the Super Rugby season, and there is plenty to celebrate. From the All Whites’ historic win over Chile to the emergence of Ruben Love, Martin, John, and Mark, break down the standout performers. We also dive into the tricky future of Moana Pacifica and debate who should lead the All Blacks as captain this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who should captain the All Blacks right now? It sounds simple, but once you start pulling at the thread, it gets complicated pretty quickly. We get stuck into the big leadership debate, with Ardie Savea widely tipped as the front-runner. But is it that clear cut? Martin, Jamie and Lachlan break down the cases for Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor and even Jordie Barrett, looking at what actually matters...

Jeff McGregor joins Martin to dig into a massive weekend of Super Rugby officiating. We’re looking at why those head clashes in the Moana Pasifika v Highlanders game didn't trigger mandatory HIAs and how the refs managed that bizarre power outage at North Harbour. Jeff also explains why officials are turning a blind eye to hands in the ruck and the drama behind that Ruben Love shot clock call. Lea...

It’s vibe rankings time and things are starting to split. At the top, it’s pretty clear. The Hurricanes and Blues have separated themselves from the rest. But behind them? Absolute chaos. We break down where every team sits after seven rounds, from the Canes flying to the logjam in the middle where the Crusaders, Chiefs, Brumbies and Reds are all taking turns beating each other. No one’s quite sur...

The Hurricanes are humming, and we mean properly humming. Today on DSPN, Marty and Tony Johnson get stuck into a massive Super Rugby round, starting with a Canes side that’s putting up points for fun and looking every bit like the team to beat. We get into why Wellington’s attack looks so sharp, why their defence deserves more love, and what the next stretch of games will tell us about whether thi...

Round seven gave us a bit of everything, and then chucked in a proper sideline meltdown from England for good measure. We get stuck into the Hurricanes flattening the Reds, the Blues finally waking up after halftime, and the Chiefs doing what good teams do by getting the job done when it was messy. We also look at Moana Pasifika’s season going sideways, the Waratahs keeping theirs alive with a big...

The DSPN mailbag is overflowing this week. Martin and Lachlan dive into the heated debate over the All Blacks captaincy—is Ardie Savea really the right man for the job? We also address the bold claims from the Northern Hemisphere, explain why we "don't rate" the Six Nations' hype, and look at whether Dave Rennie's new "hard bastard" coaching crew can finally bring back the All Blacks' dominance. L...

Greg Martin joins the show for a massive cross-code preview. We dive into the "hard bastard pie" being served up by the new All Blacks assistants, Neil Barnes and Tana Umaga. Plus, we look at the clinical Reds ahead of their clash with the Hurricanes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sky Sport’s Tony Johnson joins Martin Devlin to look ahead to a massive Round 7. We break down the "battle within a battle" between the Hurricanes and the Reds, dive into the loose forward clash featuring the dangerous Harry Wilson, and ask if the Blues can stay clinical against a unpredictable Drua side. Plus, we look at the mounting injury toll at Moana Pasifika. Learn more about your ad choices...

Sky Sport’s Tony Johnson joins Martin Devlin to break down the newly named All Blacks coaching crew. We discuss the "relief" of the appointments, why Mike Blair is the final piece of the jigsaw, and the massive challenge facing Tana Umaga's defense. Plus, a deep dive into the first-five-eighth crisis: is it Beauden Barrett's jersey to lose, or is Ruben Love ready for the step up? Learn more about...

Greg Barclay has held the top job at the ICC and now sits as a director for New Zealand Rugby and our man at World Rugby. He joins Martin Devlin to pull back the curtain on the governance of our national game. We discuss the "rigorous" All Blacks review, the influence of the BCCI in cricket, and how we fix the "overburdened" regulations that are making rugby hard to watch. Learn more about your ad...

The No. 10 jersey is the most important position in New Zealand sport, and right now, it’s entirely up for grabs. Martin Devlin breaks down the four-way battle between Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga, and the rising Ruben Love. With Dave Rennie’s tenure kicking off in July, can the All Blacks afford to experiment, or is winning the only currency that matters? Learn more about your...