DSPN - Devlin Sports Podcast Network • 19 September 2025

'Outmuscled With Little Resilience' - Ant Strachan on All Blacks' Key Issues

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Former All Black Ant Strachan joins Lachlan Waugh on the DSPN, to further reflect on New Zealand's heavy defeat to South Africa in Wellington, and what the repercussions from the 33-point loss will be. Ant highlights a lack of physicality, resulting in the ABs losing the collision battle, as well as the need for resilience in the playing group. The pair mourn the loss of some experienced heads like Sam Whitelock and Aaron Smith, and wonder what experience is in the squad now to help change their fortunes. Ant believes New Zealand must build a strong 45 player pool - or three XV's - to future-proof the team and maintain competitiveness. The pair also cover off NPC rugby, in particular Auckland's slight uptick in form recently. Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for the DSPN website Instagram: @martindevlin_dspn TikTok: @martindevlin_dspn YouTube: @DevlinSportsPodcastNetwork Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices