DSPN - RUGBY

We’re calling it how we see it - the All Blacks get a C+ this season, the same grade as last year. And no, that’s not pessimism. It’s realism. In this episode, Marty Devlin breaks down exactly why the performances haven’t genuinely improved, even if the win-loss numbers look tidy on paper. From the highs of Eden Park to the darkest day in Wellington, we go through what really matters for this team.

We look at those losses after big wins, why consistency is still missing, and what the results actually tell us about selections, coaching, and where this side is heading. There’s plenty of belief in the ceiling of this squad, but the floor keeps dropping out.

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On the DSPN, we go straight to South Africa to get the view from the top of the mountain. Martin is joined by the great Andy Capostagno, who’s watched the Springboks rise from gritty winners to a frighteningly complete rugby side with depth most countries can only dream of.

Andy explains how Rassie Erasmus has rebuilt this team from the ground up, why generational talent Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is changing the way the Boks play, and how they’ve reached a point where world-class players like Handré Pollard don’t even start the big games.

We also dig into Ireland’s chaotic test, the scrum pressure the Boks applied, and why their squad could lose half a dozen stars and still win comfortably.

There’s plenty in here too for All Blacks fans: where the true gap sits, how long this Springbok window might last, and much more.

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What a weekend. We’re still buzzing after a stacked run of Autumn Internationals that felt like a mini Rugby World Cup.

Martin sits down with Tony Johnson to unpack the lot, from England’s gritty win over Argentina to South Africa’s relentless demolition job on Ireland.

Up north, the stadium atmospheres have been electric, and Tony gives us a first-hand look at what it’s been like following the All Blacks across Wales, Scotland, and England. We dig into the Springboks’ terrifying scrum, England’s growing confidence, Australia’s slide, and where the All Blacks sit after wrapping the tour with a 50-point statement in Cardiff.

And yes, Ruben Love, Will Jordan, and that back-three balance definitely get a mention.

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This week on DSPN's Marty's Mailbag, we rip into the fallout from that rough All Blacks loss to England, and honestly, there’s plenty to unpack. Between the panic under pressure, the broken basics, and a coaching setup still finding its feet, we’re all feeling the frustration.

But like we keep saying on the show, criticism doesn’t mean we don’t love the team. It means we want them to be better!

We dig through your messages and comments, from midfield combinations to conditioning worries, to why we’re struggling against the likes of South Africa and England. Marty and Lachie get into the importance of experience in the coaching box, whether that early Razor Sky Sport documentary was a misstep, and why fans are so desperate to see actual solutions.

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Greg Martin is back on DSPN and the timing couldn’t be better. Schoolies is erupting across the Gold Coast, the Ashes are underway, and both Australia and New Zealand's rugby teams are wobbling around like newborn calves. Marto takes us inside the madness of Schoolies, including the harsh truth about what really happens when 17 and 18-year-olds flood Surfers Paradise. Let’s just say it isn’t cricket they’re watching.

We also dive into the Ashes buildup, why Test cricket is still the purest sporting drama, and how Marto reckons half of Australia tries to hype it long before anything actually happens. Then we swing to rugby, where Marto lays out exactly why the Wallabies look like a rabble right now. From selection chaos to fading combinations, he doesn’t hold back.

It’s loose, honest, and full of the kind of stories only Marto can deliver.

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We’ve got Tony Johnson with us from a very chilly Cardiff, and there is plenty to unpack. The All Blacks have named a completely reshuffled side to take on Wales, with 13 changes and a real mix of experience, youth, and players desperate to prove a point .

Tony takes us inside camp mood, the review process after Twickenham, and why the coaches felt they had to stick to their word and give fresh combinations a crack. We talk Will Jordan’s switch, Reuben Love’s big chance, that new-look forward pack, and the pressure on the boys to finish the year properly.

Plus, Tony gives us the vibe on the ground in Wales, why locals aren’t giving their team much of a shot, and the other massive rugby fixtures lighting up the weekend.

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We’ve been hanging out for this one. Today on DSPN, we finally sit down with Tim Cocker, the voice and mind behind Eggchasers Rugby - one of the biggest rugby creators on YouTube.

We get into everything from England’s resurgence to why the All Blacks feel “one year behind” in their rebuild, as well as the raw atmosphere at Twickenham after that gut-punch loss for New Zealand. Tim opens up about losing his dream job, starting his channel in a campervan at the World Cup, and how he sees the sport evolving on and off the field.

There’s talk of South Africa’s brilliance, the madness of world rugby admin, fan culture, TMO interruptions, and why some players are genuine “test match animals".

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Test cricket's best rivalry - The Ashes - is back, and we’re fizzing for it. This week on the DSPN, we get stuck into a proper Australia vs England chat with Andre Adams, the former Blackcap who spent time as Australian bowling coach not too long ago.

Andre breaks down why the opening test in Perth could swing England’s way, especially with Australia missing a couple of big-name bowlers. We talk fast tracks, fast bowlers, and why the first two tests arriving bang bang will push both squads to their limits.

He also opens up on what it’s really like inside an Aussie dressing room during a huge series, why Ben Stokes is the heartbeat of England’s hopes, and how the media circus can be more comical than helpful. A cracking listen for any cricket tragic as the summer gets underway.

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We get straight into it today, because the All Blacks conversation has gone somewhere it probably shouldn’t have. After the hiding at Twickenham, the team’s social feeds fired out smiley post-match pics and early hype for Wales. Martin reckons that completely missed the moment, and we break down why authenticity matters when fans are still hurting.

Producer Lachlan then joins in, as we work through a game of Glass Half Full, with questions around the All Blacks, the Springboks, England, Ireland and everyone in between. From the gap between New Zealand and South Africa to what actually counts as a “bounce back”, we go deep on where this team really sits.

Plus, cricket scheduling chaos, Samoa squeezing through to the World Cup, and why some awards make zero sense.

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We’re back around the table and straight into the question every Kiwi is wrestling with - what’s actually happening to the All Blacks, and are we being honest about how deep this rut really goes? Martin, John Day and Mark 'Watto' Watson pull apart the England loss, the messy patterns we keep repeating, and whether any of the numbers we’re being fed match what we’re all seeing on the field.

We look hard at the coaching setup, accountability inside the camp, and that line from Razor about coaches “learning on the job”. John argues the turnaround is still possible if the right tweaks are made. Watto says the whole thing needs a reset and New Zealand Rugby won’t make the tough calls. Martin pushes on the lack of connection with fans and whether anyone is telling the truth behind closed doors.

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