DSPN - RUGBY

In this weeks Roundtable...

We lock horns over Dave Rennie’s "confusing" positional selections, evaluate the heavy technical load currently draining captain Ardie Savea, expose the corporate buzzwords invading the whiteboard blueprints, and profile the looming Eden Park threat from Ireland.

All Blacks Ardie Savea during the All Blacks v France international test match, Nations Championship 2026, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand, 04 July 2026. (Photo by Martin Hunter / action press)

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We are tracking the All Blacks' preparation as they shift camp from Christchurch to Wellington. Assistant coach Neil Barnes directly addresses the selection philosophy, the 95% sub-3-second ruck analytics, and the high-tackle penalty count. Plus, rookie loosehead prop Xavier Numia reflects on a highly emotional debut with his grandfather, and towering lock Sam Darry shares the data tweaks needed to fix their defensive leak before facing a proud Italian forward pack.

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The groundbreaking opening round of the inaugural Nations Championship is officially in the books. Veteran Sky Sport rugby broadcaster Tony Johnson joins Marty to run a fine microscope over the All Blacks' adventurous 34-32 victory against a bruising French team in Christchurch. We break down the staggering ruck speed analytics, validate Luke Jacobson’s relentless physical work rate, analyze the backfield kicking deficit, and look inside Fabien Galthié's tense, untranslated press conference.

Dave Rennie during the All Blacks v France international test match, Nations Championship 2026, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand, 04 July 2026. (Photo by Aaron Gillions / action press)

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The inaugural round of the Nations Championship is officially in the books, and rugby scribe Chris Jones joins Marty to unpack a wild opening weekend. We break down the absolute demolition of England at Ellis Park, Tony Brown’s revolutionary impact on the Springbok attack, and the defensive red flags surrounding the All Blacks’ high-tempo win over France.

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Martin Devlin and Jamie Wall are live from Christchurch the morning after the All Blacks opened the Dave Rennie era with a thrilling 34-32 victory over France.

After sleeping on the result, they break down the good, the bad and the genuinely concerning. The All Blacks scored five tries and showed a clear new attacking intent, but defensive lapses, discipline issues and four French tries ensured this was far from a complete performance.

The pair assess Ruben Love’s night at number 10, Luke Jacobson’s standout performance, Will Jordan on the wing, the impact of the bench and whether this side has already moved forward from last season.

Plus, reaction to the rest of the opening Nations Championship round, including South Africa’s big win over England, Ireland edging Australia and Scotland’s stunning victory in Argentina.

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In a special live podcast recorded straight after full time, Martin Devlin and Jamie Wall react from One NZ Stadium in Christchurch to the All Blacks’ opening Test of 2026 against France.

They break down the key moments, standout performances and biggest talking points from the match, before being joined straight off the field by Peter Lakai, Fehi Fineanganofo and Jamie Hannah.

Immediate analysis and player reaction from inside the stadium.

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The first All Blacks starting lineup of the season is officially locked in, and Jamie Wall joins Marty live from Christchurch to unpack the mailbag. We tackle the massive debate surrounding Ruben Love getting his first international start at first-five, analyze why Luke Jacobson got the nod over a dominant Du'Plessis Kirifi, and look into a major milestone conspiracy dividing local fans.

IMAGE CREDIT:

Luke Jacobson during a training session, Christchurch, New Zealand, 29 June 2026. (Photo by John Cowpland / action press)

Will Jordan during a training session, Christchurch, New Zealand, 02 July 2026. (Photo by John Cowpland / action press)

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Martin Devlin is joined by Nigel Yalden and Jamie Wall live in Christchurch ahead of the All Blacks’ opening Nations Championship Test against France.

The trio break down Dave Rennie’s first All Blacks team, the big selection calls and the pressure on Ruben Love to make the No. 10 jersey his own.

They also ask whether this new coaching group can get more from a familiar group of players than the previous regime managed, and what a successful first performance under Rennie should actually look like.

With six Test matches across the weekend, there is plenty to preview, including the other key Nations Championship clashes and the Rugby Championship teams in action.

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All Blacks halfback and 123-game Chiefs legend Brad Weber steps into the DSPN studio for a masterclass on the technical mechanics behind Dave Rennie's tactical setup ahead of the opening French test.

All Blacks XV Brad Weber speaks at an interview after the match between New Zealand XV and Japan XV in the Lipovitan-D Rugby Challenge Cup, Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo, Japan, Saturday , July 08, 2023. (Photo by Toru Hanai / action press)

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The highly anticipated international test season is officially here, and our expert roundtable is completely divided. Mark Watson and John Day join Marty for a fiery debate ahead of the All Blacks' blockbuster opening test against France in Christchurch. We lock horns over the No.10 starting jersey, break down the massive selection fallout over Ethan de Groot’s match fitness, and preview a sensational weekend of international Nations Championship footy.IMAGE CREDIT:All Black Ruben Love kicks the ball during the Wales v All Blacks match, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday, 22 November 2025. (Photo by Anthony Upton / action press)

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