RTÉ Rugby Podcast

Neil Treacy and Bernard Jackman are joined by a special guest this week, as former South Africa and Bulls head coach Jake White helps us look ahead to the BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final between Leinster and the Bulls.

White, who brought the Bulls to three URC finals during his time in charge (22:00), explains why Leinster remain the "benchmark" for others to follow in the URC, and why the South Africans are better equipped to get the better of Leo Cullen's side in Friday's final at Croke Park (12:15).

The ex-Springboks coach gives us the South African perspective on where this week's final will be won and lost, with a big focus on the scrum (30:35) and the first quarter.

And we also get White thoughts on some of the changing trends in rugby (04:00), as well as putting some listener questions for the World Cup winner (50:30).

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Neil Treacy is joined by Ireland number 8 Aoife Wafer, as she discusses a record breaking Six Nations for Ireland's women, winning a second successive Player of the Championship, and and her belief that Ireland can become the best team in the world.

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Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Gareth Steenson, as we look back on Leinster's URC semi-final win against the Stormers, and break down the big stories of the week in Irish rugby.

We start this week's podcast by discussing two great losses to the game in Ireland, paying tribute to former Ireland captain Fergus Slattery, and long-term chief executive of the IRFU, Philip Browne, both of whom passed away in the last week.

The panel breaks down a gritty URC semi-final win for Leinster against the Stormers (06:10), which sets up a Grand Final rematch against the Bulls at Croke Park on Friday, 19 June.

We also react to the confirmation from the province that James Lowe is set to leave Leinster and Ireland at the end of the season (31:17), and ask how both the province and the union allowed this to happen.

Bernard and Gareth give their take on the news that Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has agreed a new four-year contract to lead his side all the way to the Rugby World Cup in 2031 (44:00).

And we also discuss the two recent coaching appointments at Munster (55:30), and Jimmy Duffy and Jared Payne come into Clayton McMillan's coaching ticket for next season.

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Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Jonny Holland to recap a week of high drama in Irish rugby, and the URC quarter-finals.

We discuss a couple of heated media exchanges between Leinster head coach Leo Cullen and senior coach Jacques Nienaber in the last week, and ask why Nienaber feels he isn't "valued" in Irish rugby.

Bernard also follows up on his own comments around Leinster's coaching decisions during the Champions Cup final, after Cullen took exception to them at the weekend (27:40).

We ask whether there is any chance James Lowe will be remaining at the province next season (46:00), and ponder what Andy Farrell must be thinking of how the situation has played out.

The panel also looks at Munster and Connacht's URC quarter-final defeats (46:00), and ask why no province has made a move to bring Glasgow Warriors attack coach Nigel Carolan back to Ireland (55:10).

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Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Gareth Steenson on this week's RTÉ Rugby podcast, as we look back on a pair of disappointing Champions and Challenge Cup final defeats for Leinster and Ulster.

We kick the show off on a positive note, with Gareth giving us his quick run through of his time with Ireland during the Women's Six Nations, before we discuss the brilliant scenes of celebrations after Bordeaux's Champions Cup victory.

The panel break down just where things went wrong for Leinster in the first half of their 41-19 defeat in Bilbao, as they gave up five tries and 35 points in the opening 40 minutes, while Bernard also takes a closer look at the big contrast in how the two coaching teams operated on the day.

We discuss Ulster's painful Challenge Cup final defeat to Montpellier, and how this season will be viewed after Richie Murphy's side missed out on a play-off spot and Champions Cup qualification.

And we take a quick look at how Connacht and Munster are shaping up for their URC quarter-finals this weekend.

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Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Johne Murphy to look ahead to this weekend's Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals in Bilbao, while Hannah O'Connor recaps Ireland's big finish to the Guinness Women's Six Nations.

The panel break down the key talking points ahead of Leinster's latest shot at winning the Champions Cup (02:50), with Leo Cullen's side taking on defending champions Bordeaux-Begles on Saturday afternoon.

We look at how Ulster face a season-defining Challenge Cup decider against Montpellier on Friday night, while Bernard also brings us up to speed on the province's new forwards coach, Clarke Dermody (21:45).

The podcast goes back over Munster's vital win against the Lions last Saturday (37:50), which has secured Clayton McMillan's side a play-off spot and Champions Cup qualification.

Connacht, meanwhile, will have to wait to see if their top-half finish is enough for Champions Cup rugby next season (49:15), although Stuart Lancaster's side did secure their play-off spot, as they continue their impressive form.

Later, Hannah O'Connor joins Neil to discuss Ireland's comprehensive 54-5 win against Scotland to mark an impressive finish to their Women's Six Nations campaign (56:45).

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Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Johne Murphy to discuss the URC play-off picture as we head into the final round of the regular season, while Hannah O'Connor looks ahead to Ireland's Women's Six Nations finale against Scotland at Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

Both Bernard and Johne have strong opinions on the independent governance review commissioned by Munster, as the fallout of the Roger Randle saga continues (11:55).

The pair also look ahead to the province's meeting with the Lions at Thomond Park, where they may need to win to secure Champions Cup rugby for next season.

We discuss Connacht's continued growth under Stuart Lancaster (29:40), and how the province are heading in the right direction, whether or not they make the URC play-offs.

The panel recap Ulster's madcap 38-38 draw with the Stormers (38:12), as Richie Murphy's side aim to lock in their play-off spot at home to Glasgow.

Later, Hannah joins Neil as we turn our attention towards the final round of the Guinness Women's Six Nations (48:00), as well as the controversial plans to introduce size 4.5 balls by World Rugby in the women's game (1:11:55).

To learn more about Johne Murphy's Marathon for MND, visit the link below: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXXU0zvDZ9Y/

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Neil Treacy is joined by Brett Igoe and Jonny Holland as we look back on Leinster and Ulster's Champions and Challenge Cup semi-final wins, while Hannah O'Connor looks ahead to Ireland's Guinness Women's Six Nations meeting with Wales.

We start by recapping Leinster's 29-25 win against Toulon which has booked them a Champions Cup final date with Bordeaux-Begles in Bilbao, with Leinster's attack looking as sharp as it has all season, but question marks still remain about their discipline, with two more yellow cards picked up.

The panel also discusses Ulster's impressive Challenge Cup semi-final win against Exeter Chiefs (29:40), as Richie Murphy's side go in search of their first silverware for 20 years, with particular praise for Jude Postlethwaite and Jack Murphy.

And we preview a huge Interpro in Galway on Saturday night, as Connacht host Munster with a play-off spot on the line (42:20).

Later, Neil is joined by Hannah O'Connor (55:35) as Ireland return from the Women's Six Nations fallow week against Wales in Belfast on Saturday evening, with Scott Bemand's side looking to finish their campaign on a high across the next two weekends.

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Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Johne Murphy to preview Leinster's Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon, as well as recapping the rest of the provincial action, while Hannah O'Connor looks back on Ireland's Guinness Women's Six Nations defeat to France.

The panel discuss the 'scar tissue' carried by Leinster into another Champions Cup semi-final, as well as their surprise defeat to Benetton in Italy last week, which will at least guard against any complacency.

We look ahead to Ulster's Challenge Cup semi-final with Exeter Chiefs on Saturday (20:50), as Richie Murphy's side continued to fall further down the URC table with a heavy defeat to Munster.

Meanwhile, that win for Munster (31:30) came at a big cost with multiple injuries, but Clayton McMillan's side look within touching distance of confirming Champions Cup qualification, ahead of next week's trip to Connacht (38:10), who will need a big finish to the season.

The panel also discuss the finals weekend in the Energia All-Ireland League, as St Mary's ended their long wait for a Division 1A title (41:20).

Later (57:50), Hannah joins Neil to recap a pulsating Women's Six Nations clash between France and Ireland in Clermont, as Scott Bemand's side paid for wasting multiple first half chances in a 26-7 defeat.

To learn more about Johne Murphy's Marathon for MND, visit: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXXU0zvDZ9Y/

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Neil Treacy is joined on this week's RTÉ Rugby podcast by Bernard Jackman and Jonny Holland to discuss a seismic weekend of URC rugby, while Hannah O'Connor recaps Round 2 of the Guinness Women's Six Nations.

We start the show by breaking down Connacht's incredible comeback win away to the Stormers, which has given their play-off hopes a major boost, and had a ripple effect right across the league.

Bernard and Jonny break down Leinster's impressive away win at Ulster (15:02), which now gives Leo Cullen's side a great chance of securing one of the top seeds.

We look at how Ulster are heading for a nervous final few weeks after their defeat (23:55), and a spate of injuries have put pressure on them to consolidate their play-off spot, with a treacherous run of fixtures ahead.

The podcast discusses a much needed win and performance for Munster away to Benetton (31:45), as well as the fallout from their controversial appointment of Roger Randle.

And we also cast an eye ahead at the Energia All Ireland League Division 1 final on Sunday afternoon (50:25), as defending champions Clontarf face St Mary's at Aviva Stadium.

In part two of this week's podcast, we take a detailed look at Ireland's impressive Guinness Women's Six Nations win against Italy on Saturday with Hannah O'Connor (01:00:57), as attention now turns to a huge away trip to France on Saturday.

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