DSPN - RUGBY

The rugby round table reconvenes to pull apart the messy Scott Hansen situation. Martin Devlin, Mark Watson, and John Day ask the tough question: how do you sell a coach perceived as the "problem" back to a skeptical public? We also dive into the massive player exodus, with 19 stars heading offshore, and wonder if the Six Nations just proved the Northern Hemisphere is playing a better version of our own game.

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Rugby League royalty Laurie Daley joins Martin Devlin for a deep dive into the 2026 NRL season. Daley breaks down the Warriors' "breathtaking" start, explaining how Andrew Webster has moved the team away from relying on highlight reels to mastering the "No Talent Required" effort areas. We also tackle the State of Origin passion debate, the tactical data behind Queensland’s recent dominance, and whether modern rugby union forwards can actually survive in the NRL.

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Referees are under the pump, and Jeff McGregor is here to explain why. We tackle the Augustine Pulu red card, the technical mastery of international scrums, and the "shallow rugby" of box-kicking under pressure. Jeff calls out the illegal use of hands by halfbacks and explains why the TMO is increasingly becoming a "crutch" for officials.

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The vibes are shifting! Martin Devlin and Lachlan Waugh break down the Round 5 Vibe Rankings, and there's a major disagreement at the top. Marty argues the Blues should technically be 5-0, while Lachlan questions if the Hurricanes have even been tested yet. We also dive into the Crusaders' "Magic 8-Ball" form and why the Drua are a literal weather weapon.

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The "no loyalty" era is officially underway. Martin Devlin and Jamie Wall sit down for the second edition of Form 15, selecting an All Blacks side based strictly on who fronted in Round 5. We discuss the rumors of Tana Umaga and Scott Hansen joining Dave Rennie's staff, the "administrative cock-up" of the Central Vikings, and why Beauden Barrett’s "intellectual property" is keeping him in the frame. Plus, we defend England villain Henry Pollock and celebrate a Six Nations finale that looked suspiciously like Super Rugby.

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What a ridiculous, brilliant, all-over-the-place Six Nations that was.

In this episode of DSPN, we run through six big takeaways from a tournament that seemed to deliver a new storyline every week. From France v England turning into full Instagram reel rugby, to the shift toward high-scoring, high-speed test matches, there was no shortage of chaos, quality and debate. We also look at the form swings that made this comp so watchable, with France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and England all giving us something different across the five rounds.

Then Martin gets into one of the biggest talking points of the weekend, Henry Pollock. Is he too much, or exactly the kind of character rugby needs more of? It’s a lively one, with a few strong opinions and plenty to chew on.

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Join DSPN host Martin Devlin, longtime Kiwi rugby commentator Tony Johnson, and UK rugby correspondent Chris Jones as they review all the action from the final weekend of the 2026 Six Nations.

France have successfully defended their title after a thrilling 48-46 win over England in Paris.

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The Six Nations has been an absolute "melting pot" of unpredictable results. All Black legend Justin Marshall joins Martin Devlin to make sense of England’s spectacular fall from grace, Italy’s historic rise, and Scotland’s innovative attacking masterclass. We discuss why the All Blacks should adopt Scotland's "use the ball" blueprint and whether Dave Rennie's new coaching era will return New Zealand to its instinctive DNA. Plus, a full preview of a massive "Super Sunday."

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The Rugby Roundtable is back! Martin Devlin, Mark Watson, and John Day tackle the major headlines: the potential appointment of Tana Umaga as an All Blacks assistant, David Kirk’s controversial "business" framing of the national game, and a historic Six Nations where Italy is suddenly a giant-killer. Plus, we look ahead to Super Rugby Round 5 and the desperate need for a Crusaders revenge mission against the Highlanders.

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A week of massive shifts in Super Rugby Pacific! Martin Devlin is joined by Blues loose forward Anton Segner to talk about their "clinical" second-half shutout of the Crusaders and the boost of having Beauden Barrett back. Then, Justin Marshall weighs in on the "bizarre" fluctuations in team form and issues a challenge to new coach Dave Rennie: sweep the sheds and pick strictly on form, even if it means moving on from legendary names.

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