DSPN - RUGBY

Super Rugby is back in the spotlight, and not always for the right reasons. We get stuck into what happens next for the competition after Moana Pasifika’s demise, whether the current model is actually working, and why there are still big questions around crowds, structure, and long-term sustainability.

From there, we shift into All Blacks selection and the big calls coming up. Ruben Love is putting his hand up, but is it too soon, or exactly the right time? And then there’s the loose forward debate, where suddenly we’ve got plenty of names, but no clear answers.

We wrap by looking ahead to a massive Hurricanes vs Chiefs clash, with All Blacks spots on the line all over the park and another big test for the competition’s best form team.

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Moana Pasifika is all but done, and we’re still trying to work out what that really means. We get Jamie Wall in to unpack the sadness around the club’s collapse, the funding model that was always under pressure, and the bigger picture for Pacific rugby.

We also get into what a 10-team Super Rugby comp looks like from here, why coaches keep heading offshore, and whether New Zealand rugby is just caught in the same cycle again. Then we finish on this weekend’s big matchups, including the Hurricanes and Chiefs, Patrick Tuipulotu’s return for the Blues, and whether the Crusaders can lift without the horses and without much rhythm.

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What actually needs to change if the All Blacks want to stay at the top? That’s the big question in this one, and we get stuck into it with two men who know the game inside out, Sir Graham Henry and former NZ Rugby chair Brent Impey.

In a very special extended chat, we talk Super Rugby, offshore eligibility, player depth, club rugby, the financial squeeze on the game, and why Sir Graham believes New Zealand cannot keep doing the same thing and expect to stay the best in the world. Brent counters with the economic reality, the value of a strong domestic competition, and why the community game still needs far more attention.

There’s also plenty on Dave Rennie’s new coaching group, player ownership, the lessons from 2007 and 2011, and why both men still reckon the All Blacks have the talent to be right in the fight.

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Not every big hit is a good hit, and not every whistle needs to blow. This week on the DSPN, we get Jeff the Ref back in to work through some of the trickiest calls from the Super Rugby weekend.

We get into tip tackles, head clashes, yellow cards that maybe should not have been, and a few moments where the refs probably left everyone scratching their heads. Jeff also owns a correction from last week, explains why player safety has to stay front and centre, and gives us the referee’s view on penalty counts, back chat, mauls and TMO intervention.

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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 six.

We get into the struggles of the bottom teams, why the Highlanders and Force might have missed their moment, and how the Brumbies have quietly built one of the strongest cases in the competition. Plus, we debate just how far the Crusaders can really go and whether their inconsistency rules them out of title contention.

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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 value of combinations, the pressure building around the 10 jersey, and where Damian McKenzie fits into it all.

Then we zoom out to the bigger picture. We talk fresh eyes in the All Blacks coaching group, why these next few weeks matter so much for selection, and whether Super Rugby is giving our best players the platform they need heading into a huge international season.

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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 Blacks.

There is plenty more on the menu too. The Chiefs did what they had to against Moana Pasifika, but is their form rock solid or still a bit flattering? The Crusaders and Reds served up a slippery mess in Brisbane, the Brumbies kept their hoodoo over New Zealand sides rolling, and Martin and Tony also chew over a couple of refereeing calls that had everyone scratching their heads.

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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.

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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 strong take on how coaches develop over time, why experience matters, and what Dave Rennie brings to the role.

Then we shift to something Mexted knows better than most, loose forwards. He breaks down the modern demands of the position, why size matters against teams like South Africa, and names the players he believes can handle it.

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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 into a front row that practically picks itself, a locking debate that’s suddenly full of depth, a loose forward mix with real bite, and the first-five conversation that still refuses to sit still. There’s also plenty on Cam Roigard, Jordie Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i, Will Jordan and the midfield pairing that might finally give the All Blacks some proper continuity.

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