DSPN -RUGBY

Tony Johnson joins Martin Devlin in the studio to preview the upcoming Bledisloe Cup opener at Eden Park. We break down the absolute minimum requirements for the All Blacks after a tough series against South Africa, address the ongoing high ball issues, and look at the squad selection changes heading into Thursday.

All Blacks Josh Moorby and South Africa Kurt-Lee Arendse during All Blacks v South Africa, Rugbys Greatest Rivalry Tour, Baltimore, USA, 13 September 2026. (Photo by Jack Megaw / action press)

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Jamie Wall and John Day sit down for a special mailbag edition of DSPN. We pay tribute to New Zealand sports journalism legend Phil Gifford following his passing at 79. Plus, we react to Ardie Savea signing a one-year deal with the Blues, address Scott Barrett's reluctant captain label, and answer your burning questions ahead of the Bledisloe Cup opener at Eden Park.

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Today on the Rugby Roundtable we're breaking down Dave Rennie's 34-man All Blacks squad for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup series. Codie Taylor takes the captaincy with Ardie Savea out injured, while Scott Barrett and Shannon Frizell return to the forward pack. We discuss the selection surprises, the casualty ward, and whether we have the right mix to take down the Wallabies after their shock victory over the Springboks.

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Brenden Nel returns to DSPN to break down the fallout from the Springboks loss to the Wallabies in Perth. We discuss whether making 13 changes backfired on Rassie Erasmus, how South African fans are reacting, and why Brenden believes this loss will only make the world champions stronger in the long run.

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South Africa Rassie Erasmus during All Blacks v South Africa, Rugbys Greatest Rivalry Tour, Baltimore, USA, 13 September 2026. (Photo by Jack Megaw / action press)

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Stan Sport’s Sean Maloney joins us after an unbelievable night of test footy in Perth. We break down the Wallabies' 42-38 victory over the Springboks, praising Ryan Lonergan's game management, Len Ikitau's midfield presence, and how Australia held on with just 11 men.

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Dave Rennie has named his 34-man All Blacks squad for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup series against the Wallabies. Codie Taylor takes the captaincy reins with Ardie Savea sidelined through injury, while Scott Barrett and Shannon Frizell make big returns to the forward pack. We run through all the inclusions, the casualty ward, and the selection headaches ahead of Eden Park.

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Tony Johnson and Jamie Wall break down Australia's impressive win over the Springboks in Perth. We look at Len Ikitau's move to centre, Ryan Lonergan's clutch goal-kicking, and whether Rassie Erasmus's squad depth was exposed?

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Former All Black Ant Strachan joins us to answer five pressing questions following the 3-1 series loss to the Springboks. We break down where the squad sits, how to fix set-piece and high-ball struggles, coaching pressure, and which NPC standouts could make the end-of-year tour.

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The Wallabies are heading to Perth on a five-match unbeaten streak, but Rassie Erasmus is bringing a scary-looking Springbok bench to town. We chat with Aussie rugby writer Christie Doran about whether Australia can stay in the fight for more than fifty minutes, or if South Africa's nuclear bomb squad will blow them off the park.

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Ross Karl from the Aotearoa Rugby Pod joins us to reflect on the Springboks series and what the All Blacks can learn from Rassie Erasmus. We discuss Rassie’s media tactics, how South Africa manipulates refereeing gray areas, the shocking collapse of the Kiwi lineout, and why New Zealand Rugby needs a major structural reality check.

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Dave Rennie during All Blacks captains run, Rugbys Greatest Rivalry Tour, Baltimore, USA, 12 September 2026. (Photo by Jack Megaw / action press)

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