DSPN - Devlin Sports Podcast Network

Sir Steve Hansen is back with Martin, and as always, there is no soft serve here. From Christchurch’s new stadium buzz to the All Blacks’ future, this is a proper state-of-the-game chat.

We get into Super Rugby standards, New Zealand’s player pathways, the lure of the All Blacks jersey, offshore eligibility, Dave Rennie’s coaching group, and why Hansen still believes this country has the talent to get back to the top.

And yes, South Africa come up. Hansen’s view? They are brilliant, they are number one, but they are absolutely beatable. Which is handy, because staying grumpy about not being number one feels like a very Kiwi place to start.

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After 15 years of waiting, planning, debating and building, Christchurch finally has its new stadium, and Marty is right in the thick of it.

Martin Devlin talks with Chris Paterson and former Wallaby Al Baxter from Populous, the architecture firm behind Te Kaha, about what it takes to design a stadium that feels big, close, loud and properly special. They discuss the emotional weight of the project, Christchurch’s post-earthquake journey, and why this venue is about far more than rugby.

From the engineering challenge of a roof in a heavy seismic zone to the dream of creating a “factory of memories", this is a look inside a building designed for sport, concerts, community and a fair bit of noise.
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Ever watched a game and thought, “how on earth is that the rule?” Yeah, same. That’s where Jeff the Ref comes in.

This week, Jeff McGregor joins us to break down some of the biggest refereeing moments from Super Rugby, including head contact calls, obstruction, a spider cam intervention, and one of the strangest tries you’ll see all season.

We get into the grey areas around shoulder-first tackles, why some calls feel inconsistent, and how much referees can realistically process in real time. Plus, there’s a proper deep dive into grounding the ball, and why something that looks wrong can still be technically right.

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Christchurch finally got its big rugby weekend, and fair play, it looked and felt like the sort of thing Super Rugby has been begging for. But should Super Round stay there, move around the country, or is Watto right to be the bloke grumbling about chips and long-term crowds?

This week on DSPN’s Rugby Roundtable, Martin is joined by Mark Watson and John Day to dig into the Super Round glow, the Crusaders’ shaky-but-dangerous resurgence, and whether the Blues are actually title contenders or just professionally stressful.

The boys also debate Leicester Fainga’anuku as a loose forward option, whether Fehi Fineanganofo should be picked before heading overseas, Ruben Love’s All Blacks case at 10, and why Sunday rugby feels like the most obvious idea rugby keeps treating like advanced physics.

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This one hits different. Because it is not theory, it is lived experience.

Duncan sits down with firefighters Steve Devine and Dave Phillips to hear directly from the frontline. What they describe is a system going backwards. Ageing trucks breaking down on the way to fires. Stations closed for years. Equipment that is outdated. And a workforce stretched thin while still fighting for fair pay and proper support.

But it goes deeper than that. The conversation turns to cancer risk, mental health, and the reality of what firefighters carry home after every shift. From traumatic callouts to the lack of formal support, this is the side of the job most people never see.

There is frustration, there is anger, and there is a clear message. This is not just about firefighters. This is about public safety, and right now, they say New Zealand is more exposed than people realise.
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