Claim OwnershipDSPN - Devlin Sports Podcast Network
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Martin Devlin is a seasoned sports broadcaster in New Zealand, famous for his high-energy, no-nonsense style on both radio and TV.
He’s covered everything from the FIFA World Cup to the Rugby World Cup and is known for his passion for the game.
Now, he’s about to take things up a notch by launching the DSPN—The Devlin Sports Podcast Network.
DSPN promises to be a wild ride through the sports world, packed with Devlin’s signature energy, bold takes, and insider insights.
Get ready for sports talk that’s fast-paced and unapologetically Devlin!
He’s covered everything from the FIFA World Cup to the Rugby World Cup and is known for his passion for the game.
Now, he’s about to take things up a notch by launching the DSPN—The Devlin Sports Podcast Network.
DSPN promises to be a wild ride through the sports world, packed with Devlin’s signature energy, bold takes, and insider insights.
Get ready for sports talk that’s fast-paced and unapologetically Devlin!
478 Episodes
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Not every big hit is a good hit, and not every whistle needs to blow. This week on the DSPN, we get Jeff the Ref back in to work through some of the trickiest calls from the Super Rugby weekend.
We get into tip tackles, head clashes, yellow cards that maybe should not have been, and a few moments where the refs probably left everyone scratching their heads. Jeff also owns a correction from last week, explains why player safety has to stay front and centre, and gives us the referee’s view on penalty counts, back chat, mauls and TMO intervention.
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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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Halfway through Super Rugby Pacific, we’ve done what rugby fans love doing most: picked a team and invited the arguments. Jamie Wall joins us to name a pure form XV after eight rounds. Not an All Blacks side, not a projected test squad, just the players who’ve been the best in their positions so far.
That means big calls, a few uncomfortable omissions, and plenty of names right on the edge. We get into a front row that practically picks itself, a locking debate that’s suddenly full of depth, a loose forward mix with real bite, and the first-five conversation that still refuses to sit still. There’s also plenty on Cam Roigard, Jordie Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i, Will Jordan and the midfield pairing that might finally give the All Blacks some proper continuity.
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The DSPN crew is back to tear into the absolute mess that was the Super Rugby Easter schedule. Martin, Mark, and John don't hold back on the "lame" excuses from the board and why the fans deserve better. Plus, we look at Shannon Frizell’s return, the looming battle for the All Blacks midfield, and why referees need to stop trying to coach the players during the game.
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Martin and Jeff the Ref are back to break down a strange weekend of Super Rugby Pacific. With only three games on the slate, there was still plenty of drama to dissect, from cynical yellow cards to massive hits that tested the laws. Jeff explains why the Crusaders were pinged for slowing the ball and debates whether rugby needs to take a leaf out of league’s book when it comes to intercepts.
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Super Rugby Pacific hits the halfway mark and, honestly, it still feels like the comp is making it up as it goes. We get Sean Maloney and Brett McKay on with us to make sense of the Easter schedule, the state of the Australian teams, and whether anyone can actually stop another New Zealand side winning the title.
We get into the Brumbies’ case as Australia’s best hope, why the Reds are still so hard to trust, and whether the Force just saved their season. There’s also a look at the Chiefs, the Blues, the Hurricanes, and that ongoing obsession with finding the right halfback and first-five combinations.
It’s sharp, funny, a little chaotic, and full of proper rugby chat from both sides of the Tasman.
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Super Rugby gave us only three games over Easter, but there was still plenty to get stuck into. On this episode, Martin and Tony Johnson unpack why the competition missed a trick with the long weekend schedule, then dive into the biggest talking points from round eight.
We get into Codie Taylor’s ridiculous 150th game celebration, why the Chiefs made a real statement, and what the Force’s win over the Reds says about the Aussie sides right now. There’s also some love for the skill level on show, a look at how open this comp still feels, and a proper build-up to what already feels like a season-shaping Hurricanes vs Blues clash on Saturday night.
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What actually makes the All Blacks successful? It is not just what happens on the field.
Martin Devlin sits down with former All Blacks manager Darren Shand for a rare, deep dive into what really drives performance at the highest level. From leadership and culture to the importance of the “team behind the team,” Shand breaks down the ecosystem that powered one of the most dominant eras in rugby history.
We also get into pressure, legacy, player ownership, and what it takes to build an environment where players thrive. It is honest, insightful and packed with lessons that go well beyond rugby.
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All Black legend Beauden Barrett joins Martin to talk about the "deep feeling of hurt" that’s driving him toward the 2027 World Cup. He opens up about the "unsettling" coaching changes within the All Blacks, his new life as a father of three, and why he’s not ready to head offshore just yet.
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We are diving deep into the mailbag this week as Martin and Lachlan tackle the big questions in New Zealand rugby. From the "swimming" tactics in the mall to the mental dread of facing a sixth-placed Crusaders side in the playoffs, no stone is left unturned. We also look at the All Blacks' need for individual upskilling and the structural challenges facing Moana Pasifika.
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We are halfway through the Super Rugby season, and there is plenty to celebrate. From the All Whites’ historic win over Chile to the emergence of Ruben Love, Martin, John, and Mark, break down the standout performers. We also dive into the tricky future of Moana Pacifica and debate who should lead the All Blacks as captain this year.
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Who should captain the All Blacks right now? It sounds simple, but once you start pulling at the thread, it gets complicated pretty quickly.
We get stuck into the big leadership debate, with Ardie Savea widely tipped as the front-runner. But is it that clear cut? Martin, Jamie and Lachlan break down the cases for Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor and even Jordie Barrett, looking at what actually matters in a modern captain.
From on-field decision making to leadership groups, media responsibilities and even the social media question, we cover the lot. There’s also a proper look at whether captaincy elevates a player or risks dragging their game down, plus why timing, form and perception all play a bigger role than we probably admit.
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Jeff McGregor joins Martin to dig into a massive weekend of Super Rugby officiating. We’re looking at why those head clashes in the Moana Pasifika v Highlanders game didn't trigger mandatory HIAs and how the refs managed that bizarre power outage at North Harbour. Jeff also explains why officials are turning a blind eye to hands in the ruck and the drama behind that Ruben Love shot clock call.
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It’s vibe rankings time and things are starting to split. At the top, it’s pretty clear. The Hurricanes and Blues have separated themselves from the rest. But behind them? Absolute chaos.
We break down where every team sits after seven rounds, from the Canes flying to the logjam in the middle where the Crusaders, Chiefs, Brumbies and Reds are all taking turns beating each other. No one’s quite sure who belongs third and who belongs sixth, and that’s kind of the point.
Down the bottom, it’s a tougher conversation. Moana Pasifika, the Drua and the Force are all battling, but results just aren’t coming. We get into what they need, whether their seasons are already gone, and why it’s hard not to want these teams to succeed anyway.
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The Hurricanes are humming, and we mean properly humming. Today on DSPN, Marty and Tony Johnson get stuck into a massive Super Rugby round, starting with a Canes side that’s putting up points for fun and looking every bit like the team to beat.
We get into why Wellington’s attack looks so sharp, why their defence deserves more love, and what the next stretch of games will tell us about whether this run is the real deal. There’s also plenty on the Waratahs’ big win over the Brumbies, the Chiefs doing what they had to do in Perth, and a Blues side that keeps finding its way home late.
Then the chat shifts to bigger selection questions. Who’s the best left wing in the comp right now? Who should be the next All Blacks captain? And is Caleb Clarke the man to wear 11 in black? Plenty to get stuck into.
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Round seven gave us a bit of everything, and then chucked in a proper sideline meltdown from England for good measure. We get stuck into the Hurricanes flattening the Reds, the Blues finally waking up after halftime, and the Chiefs doing what good teams do by getting the job done when it was messy.
We also look at Moana Pasifika’s season going sideways, the Waratahs keeping theirs alive with a big win over the Brumbies, and the growing debate around who should be steering the Chiefs at 10 and 15. There’s some love for Peyton Spencer, some appreciation for afternoon rugby, and a fair bit of disbelief at a coach losing the plot over a pre-match kick.
It’s a proper round-up episode with winners, worries, and plenty to chew on.
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