DSPN -RUGBY

The Wallabies are heading to Perth on a five-match unbeaten streak, but Rassie Erasmus is bringing a scary-looking Springbok bench to town. We chat with Aussie rugby writer Christie Doran about whether Australia can stay in the fight for more than fifty minutes, or if South Africa's nuclear bomb squad will blow them off the park.
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Ross Karl from the Aotearoa Rugby Pod joins us to reflect on the Springboks series and what the All Blacks can learn from Rassie Erasmus. We discuss Rassie’s media tactics, how South Africa manipulates refereeing gray areas, the shocking collapse of the Kiwi lineout, and why New Zealand Rugby needs a major structural reality check.

IMAGE CREDIT:

Dave Rennie during All Blacks captains run, Rugbys Greatest Rivalry Tour, Baltimore, USA, 12 September 2026. (Photo by Jack Megaw / action press)

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Tony Johnson, Nigel Yalden, and Jamie Wall take the reins on DSPN while Martin Devlin takes a break. The team breaks down the upcoming test in Perth between the Wallabies and Springboks, Jamie’s wild experience losing his passport in the United States, and why judging the All Blacks' season right now is far too early. Plus, a chaotic look at women's test rugby and the ongoing financial battles inside New Zealand Rugby.

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We are opening up the DSPN mailbag to go through your feedback after the Springboks swept the tour. We tackle the hard questions around Super Rugby's ability to prepare us for test footy, ongoing high-ball disasters, forward pack mindsets, and why heeding these brutal lessons is the only way forward for Dave Rennie's side.

IMAGE CREDIT:

All Blacks Codie Taylor during All Blacks v South Africa, Rugbys Greatest Rivalry Tour, Baltimore, USA, 13 September 2026. (Photo by Greg Sabin / action press)

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All Black legend Murray Mexted joins Martin Devlin to wrap up our post-mortem of the four-test series against the Springboks. Mexted reflects on the wild atmosphere in Soweto, the massive gulf between Super Rugby and test match footy, and why Dave Rennie's side must learn from this physical wake-up call.

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