DSPN - RUGBY

A few days have passed since Twickenham, but the questions are not going away. So we turn to one of the sharpest rugby minds in the country - Murray Mexted joins us on DSPN to break down exactly why England were able to take control of that second half, and why the All Blacks are struggling to find any real rhythm.

Mex gets into the numbers, the possession split, the defensive lapses, and what England did strategically that New Zealand could not answer. We talk locks, loose forwards, the bench selections, and why the All Blacks are still getting beaten late in games. Mex also raises concerns about coaching roles, too many voices, and whether some players are simply not in the right positions.

We look ahead to Wales as well. Do you back the same group to respond, or is it time for targeted changes? Max is clear on what he thinks needs to happen.

Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s be honest. That loss to England hit differently. This week on DSPN we dig into it properly with Telegraph rugby writer Gavin Mairs, who joins us from the UK with a clear view on what is working for England and what is not working for the All Blacks.

We talk through England’s tactical shift, their smart coaching additions, and why Steve Borthwick finally has a side that looks like it knows exactly what it wants to do. Then we flip the lens back on our own backyard. Why are we still seeing the same patterns after 12 tests? Where is the ruthless edge that used to define New Zealand rugby? What does it mean when Razor is openly saying some of his assistants are learning on the job?

We also cover the Autumn Internationals, the Ireland-South Africa blockbuster, and the upcoming Nations Cup. Gavin gives a grounded northern perspective, and we try to figure out where the All Blacks go from here.

Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s be honest, that performance at Twickenham told us everything we already feared. Two years into this regime, 26 tests deep, and the All Blacks don’t just look stalled. In too many key areas, they’ve gone backwards. Today, Marty lays it all out with a bluntness the moment demands.

He breaks down the muddled attack, the shaky leadership, the high-ball issues everyone in world rugby now targets, and the complete loss of direction once England wiped out that early 12-0 New Zealand lead. This wasn’t panic. This was clarity. If we’re halfway through a Rugby World Cup cycle and still look this unco, still repeating the same patterns, then something fundamental is off.

Razor is a great bloke, but that doesn’t matter right now. The only thing that matters is whether this team is improving. And on current evidence, it isn’t.

Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you ask a Northern Hemisphere rugby man what’s going on with the All Blacks, you know you’re going to get the unvarnished version. And Chris Jones delivers exactly that. England’s comeback at Twickenham wasn’t a one off to him. It was a pattern New Zealand keeps repeating, and he can’t believe we still haven’t learned how to close out a game.

We talk through the recurring issues: losing momentum, basic skill errors, yellow cards, a forward pack going missing after halftime, and a coaching group Razor admits is still “learning on the job.” Chris can’t fathom that at this level. Neither can we.

He also looks at leadership gaps, and why the All Blacks look anything but sure of themselves after 12 tests this year. From Argentina’s guts, to South Africa thriving with 14 men, to Wales’ struggles, he gives us the full Northern picture.

Plus, Belgium are one win away from a Rugby World Cup. Yes, really.

Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s be honest, we’re all still feeling the sting of that England loss. Three defeats this year, and this one might be the most frustrating of the lot. So today we sat down with Tony Johnson, who’s been right in the middle of it all, calling the games and talking to the people who know what’s actually going on inside the All Blacks camp.

We break down the moments that swung the match: missed kicks for touch, defensive lapses, the Codie Taylor yellow card, the domino effect of errors, and the injuries to Cam Roigard and Beauden Barrett. Tony spells out the five or six controllables that hurt us and why those flat patches keep haunting this team.

We also look ahead. Cardiff looms, there are selection headaches everywhere, Jason Holland is leaving, and big questions remain about whether parts of this coaching group are still learning on the job. Tony doesn’t shy away from any of it.

Plus, fair dues to England. Tony explains exactly how they got their tactics right and why the bench was the difference.

Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

England week always brings a bit of extra edge, and this one’s no different. We break down the All Blacks side named for Twickenham, the message it sends, and why this is not the week for experiments.

Rieko Ioane’s future comes sharply into focus too. He’s been overtaken, shifted, reshuffled, and now not even making the bench with injuries around him. We talk honestly about where things have landed and whether Wales next week might be his last test.

Then it’s a stacked mailbag. Grand Slam definitions, cricket grounds, Fabian Holland hype, the intercept rule blow-ups, the Kiwis league comeback, Samoan pride, Springboks dominance, a disgruntled fan named Foxy Yum Yum, and even a kudu steak that didn’t survive the dog.

Plenty in here. Plenty to push back on. Plenty to agree with.

Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re staring down the biggest test of the Grand Slam tour, and Tony Johnson joins us from London with everything we need to know ahead of All Blacks v England at Twickenham. The selections are locked in, the locals are confident, and the bookies have England as favourites. Yep, favourites.

Tony gives us a proper look at the key matchups: the loose forwards, the new midfield combo, and why England’s 6-2 split says everything about how they want to win this. We also dig into the aerial game, the kicking battle, and what Damien McKenzie’s super-sub form means for the jersey.

There’s plenty about the mood on the ground too, from the All Blacks’ setup outside London to the realities of a massive, not-so-friendly Twickenham crowd.

A big week, a big test, and a chance to keep the slam alive.

Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Martin joins Marty on the DSPN for another BRILLIANTLY unfiltered chat about Aussie rugby chaos, cash conspiracies, and Christmas gravy. Between slagging off the Wallabies’ coaching circus, defending Paul Kelly as the 'voice of Australia', and reminiscing about when Australia could actually catch a high ball, Marto and Marty deliver pure gold.

Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for the DSPN website

Instagram: @martindevlin_dspn

TikTok: @martindevlin_dspn

YouTube: @DevlinSportsPodcastNetwork

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Springboks speedster Breyton Paulse joins the podcast, for an uplifting chat full of energy and heart. Breyton chats with Marty about the unity and incredible culture behind South African rugby’s rise. He shares personal stories from his playing days, pays tribute to current captain Siya Kolisi’s leadership, and reveals how coach Rassie Erasmus and assistant Tony Brown have transformed the modern Boks.

Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for the DSPN website

Instagram: @martindevlin_dspn

TikTok: @martindevlin_dspn

YouTube: @DevlinSportsPodcastNetwork

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martin Devlin kicks things off by delivering a sermon, unpacking all the important details of the All Blacks vs England test at Twickenham. How damaging will it be for New Zealand if they lose? How much pressure could the coaching group be under?

Then, Mark 'Watto' Watson and John Day join Marty for another installment of Rugby Roundtable, dissecting the All Blacks and other rugby topics. Watto says New Zealand still lacks a true 'statement performance' this year, while John slams poor discipline and soft defence for underwhelming results - for the most part - in 2025. All three agree England will define the season - win and the All Blacks are back, lose and the pressure on Razor explodes.

Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for the DSPN website

Instagram: @martindevlin_dspn

TikTok: @martindevlin_dspn

YouTube: @DevlinSportsPodcastNetwork

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices