DSPN - RUGBY

On the DSPN, Bledisloe Cup build-up ramps up as young producer Lachlan Waugh and MediaWorks sports journo John Day dive deep into All Blacks vs Wallabies nostalgia. The pair rattle off three good and bad memories for New Zealand in the famed rivalry - including the 1996 Athletic Park test, and John Eales kicking winning goals - before presenting a combined XV. How many Aussies would make the team? More than you think, according to Lachie and JD.

Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for the DSPN website

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In part two of young producer Lachlan's chat with Matt Williams, the conversation moves more towards the global rugby scene. The pair cover off how tight the international game is, highlighted by Argentina beating Australia an New Zealand on a regular basis. Matt highlights how professionalism and the rise of northern competitions, particularly France’s Top 14, have transformed the global game and left Super Rugby Pacific struggling to stay relevant. Williams argues Australia and New Zealand must adapt, facing financial pressures, dwindling junior investment, and tough decisions about whether to move north or reinvent their domestic competitions.

Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for the DSPN website

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Former rugby coach and renowned pundit Matt Williams joins Lachlan Waugh on the DSPN in a very special interview. The pair discuss the 2025 Rugby Championship and how tightly contested - and exciting - the competition has been. Matt shares insights on coaching philosophies, leadership, and the importance of belief within a team. With Eden Park hosting a huge Bledisloe Cup test this weekend, and Perth set for another soon after, Matt and Lachie weigh up what’s at stake for both New Zealand and Australia. It’s a passionate conversation that blends analysis, history, and optimism, without revealing too much about Williams’ predictions.

Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for the DSPN website

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Former Warriors coach Tony Kemp is back on the DSPN with Lachlan Waugh, diving deep into a thrilling weekend of NRL finals action, that saw the Panthers and Sharks secure spots in the preliminary finals. The pair cover Penrith’s dominant run, their upcoming clash with Brisbane, the Broncos' chances of taking the four-time defending premiers down, and the twists and turns of other finals clashes. Kempy shares his thoughts on Canberra's disappointing finish to 2025, whether Cronulla's hot form can continue against Melbourne, and the performances of Nicho Hynes, Braydon Trindall, and Addin Fonua-Blake. Kempy and Lachie wrap up by giving predictions for the grand final qualifiers this coming weekend.

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Experienced Aussie rugby commentator Greg Clark reflects on the Wallabies' long Bledisloe Cup drought, recalling the last win at Eden Park in 1986 and the golden era in the 1990s. Ahead of this year’s clash opening test at Eden Park this weekend, Clarkie and Tony Johnson discuss key challenges, including the loss of stars like Rob Valentini, uncertainty at halfback and first five-eighth, and the vital impact of players like Tom Wright. Clarkie highlights Australian coach Joe Schmidt’s influence in rebuilding rugby in the country, praising sellout crowds and emerging talent.

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Tony Johnson starts off with an editorial on what he describes as the most important fortnight for the All Blacks in 2025, as well as touching on a couple of other big rugby storylines over the weekend - including the Black Fern's 34-19 loss to Canada in the women's World Cup semifinals.

Then, TJ is joined by former Black Fern Kristina Sue, who credits Canada’s clinical performance and resilience, fueled by adversity and top-level competition abroad. She highlights New Zealand’s struggles with discipline, handling errors, and injuries, including the absence of x-factor Jorja Miller. Looking ahead, Sue calls for stronger international calendars, greater investment, and exposing players to diverse rugby styles.

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Former Warriors, Panthers and Raiders coach Matthew Elliott joins Lachlan Waugh on the DSPN, to preview the second weekend of NRL finals action for 2025. Matt and Lachie first cover off the exciting season for the Warriors, and how far off  - if far at all - they are from a Grand Final appearance. Matt highlights the Warriors’ access to a massive pool of players in New Zealand, stressing the importance of developing them to be ready for NRL level, similar to Penrith’s system. The conversation shifts to previewing this weekend's matches between the Raiders and Sharks, and Bulldogs and Panthers. Matt believes a couple of upsets could be on the cards.

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Former All Black Ant Strachan joins Lachlan Waugh on the DSPN, to further reflect on New Zealand's heavy defeat to South Africa in Wellington, and what the repercussions from the 33-point loss will be. Ant highlights a lack of physicality, resulting in the ABs losing the collision battle, as well as the need for resilience in the playing group. The pair mourn the loss of some experienced heads like Sam Whitelock and Aaron Smith, and wonder what experience is in the squad now to help change their fortunes. Ant believes New Zealand must build a strong 45 player pool - or three XV's - to future-proof the team and maintain competitiveness. The pair also cover off NPC rugby, in particular Auckland's slight uptick in form recently.

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Former Black Ferns captain Les Elder joins Lachlan Waugh on the DSPN to preview a crucial women’s Rugby World Cup semifinal between New Zealand and Canada. Elder discusses the impact of losing star player Jorja Miller, key selection calls, and why Canada is a far tougher opponent than many expect. The pair reflect on the Black Ferns’ nervy quarter-final against South Africa and the need for strong goal kicking under pressure in knockout games. Elder also explores how Canada’s centralised program and overseas experience have elevated their game.

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In the latest edition of Day In The Life, John Day is joined by All Blacks, Hurricanes and Counties Manukau halfback Cam Roigard, ahead of the latter's return to rugby this weekend. Roigard makes his long-awaited return from a fractured foot, and will feature in the Steelers' NPC clash with Auckland. He opens up about the challenges of rehab, the importance of the halfback's kicking game at test level, and the All Blacks’ need to bounce back after a tough loss against the Springboks. With Eden Park and the Wallabies on the horizon, Roigard’s focus is on proving his fitness and helping his team secure a vital win.

Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for the DSPN website

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