DSPN - RUGBY

Former Highlanders lock and player agent Joey Wheeler joins Martin on DSPN to break down the big issues in New Zealand rugby. We dig into New Zealand Rugby sticking with the status quo, look at how bringing Japanese corporate teams into Super Rugby could inject massive money, and discuss the threat of Australian rugby league scouts targeting our best schoolboy talent.

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Martin flies solo on the DSPN mailbag while Jamie heads to Edinburgh ahead of the All Blacks test against Scotland. He rips into listener feedback on dominant forward packs, the Christchurch stadium heat debate, Super Rugby squad announcements, and why writing off Scotland at Murrayfield is a massive mistake.

IMAGE CREDIT:

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie during the All Blacks v Australia, Bledisloe Cup, international test match, ACCOR Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 17 October 2026. (Photo by James Gourley / Alphapix)

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Four weeks, four tests, and plenty riding on the outcome. Martin breaks down the six big questions facing the All Blacks as we head into the final stretch of the Nations Championship. We look at realistic expectations, who is playing for their World Cup future, and why England at Twickenham is the ultimate measuring stick for Dave Rennie.

IMAGE CREDIT:

All Blacks flanker Peter Lakai during the All Blacks v Australia, Bledisloe Cup, international test match, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, 10 October 2026. (Photo by Blake Armstrong / Alphapix)

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Martin Devlin is joined by John Day and Mark Watson for a massive roundtable preview as the All Blacks gear up for their opening Nations Championship test against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Following a grueling year of test rugby, we look at the historical record against the Scots, the danger posed by flyhalf Finn Russell, and why our forward pack needs to front up from the first whistle. The team puts our set-piece execution under the microscope, discussing why an 80 percent lineout success rate is simply not good enough at test level.

IMAGE CREDIT:

Damian McKenzie during an All Blacks training session, Sydney, Australia, 15 October 2026. (Photo by John Cowpland / Alphapix)

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Tony Johnson joins Martin to unpack the big announcement from NZ Rugby on the future of Super Rugby and the NPC. We look at why privatisation is off the table, the idea of All Blacks playing across the ditch, and look ahead to the Nations Championship kickoff against Scotland at Murrayfield.

IMAGE CREDIT:

Will Jordan during the All Blacks training session, Sydney, Australia, 13 October 2026. (Photo by John Cowpland / Alphapix)

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