DSPN - Devlin Sports Podcast Network

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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