DSPN - Devlin Sports Podcast Network

We're digging into the massive listener mailbag before the All Blacks run out against Ireland tomorrow night. Jamie joins Martin to look at the massive front row row, debate the fine margins keeping Wallace Sititi out of the twenty-three, and tear into the static five-minute cameos currently stalling Cortez Ratima.

IMAGE CREDIT:

All Blacks Cortez Ratima during the All Blacks v Italy international test match, Nations Championship 2026, Hnry Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand, 11 July 2026. (Photo by Aaron Gillions / action press)

All Blacks Wallace Sititi during the All Blacks v France international test match, Nations Championship 2026, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand, 04 July 2026. (Photo by John Cowpland / action press)

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The All Blacks team to face Ireland at Eden Park has been named, and Martin Devlin, Jamie Wall and Nigel Yalden break down the biggest selection calls.

Tupou Vaa’i starts at blindside flanker, Patrick Tuipulotu plays his first Nations Championship Test, and Josh Moorby is rewarded after an impressive debut.

The panel also debates whether Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea are now the All Blacks’ first-choice midfield, the value of keeping the same 9, 10 and 12 combination for a third straight Test, and the unlucky players still waiting for game time.

Plus, Mex the legend was right.

Has the right team been picked to beat Ireland?

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World-class Irish commentator Bernard Jackman joins Marty to chart Dave Rennie’s structural progress, isolate Sam Prendergast’s defensive vulnerabilities, dissect Jamison Gibson-Park’s high-tempo tactical engine, and preview the brutal ground-and-pound framework arriving in Auckland.

IMAGE CREDIT:

All Blacks Ardie Savea during the All Blacks v Italy international test match, Nations Championship 2026, Hnry Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand, 11 July 2026. (Photo by Aaron Gillions / action press)

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All attention is on our 32-year Eden Park record as Thursday's official squad announcement looms. Broadcasting from high altitude on the Tibetan Plateau, Mark joins Martin and John to tear down the sanitized optimism surrounding our scratchy international progress. We debate the severe positional edits needed to face a world-class Irish side, expose front-row scrumming vulnerabilities, and use sports psychology to challenge the pre-match physiological load of the Haka.

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We are running a fine lens over global hierarchy changes following a massive winter block of test rugby. Sports Journalist Chris Jones joins Marty to evaluate our scratchy 47-17 margin over Italy and size up a brutal traveling Irish threat. We target the immense squad rotation depth currently separating South Africa from the chasing pack and analyze the tactical selection fear painting local strategy into a corner.

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