While you were sleeping on Sunday night, Ireland women beat New Zealand for just the second time in their history, opening their WXV campaign in style in Vancouver. This victory over the world champions confirms that Scott Bemand’s side is on the rise. Yet it still comes just 18 months after Ireland won the dreaded wooden spoon in the Six Nations.

John O’Sullivan and Gordon D’Arcy join Nathan Johns to pick through the game and where Ireland can go from here. We also talk through Gordon’s record-breaking weekend and a mixed bag of results for the provinces.

Produced by John Casey.

Clip: Ireland’s last-gasp winner against New Zealand.

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As news reports emerge of English rugby once again being in dire financial straits, while some URC teams continue to live on the edge of their means, a rival competition across the water offers a positive example. France’s Top14 has a lucrative TV deal, record crowds and a thriving second division.

How has France cracked the domestic rugby code, what is it about the Top14 which makes it commercially viable?

French rugby journalist James Harrington joins The Counter Ruck to talk through the league’s development, and to pick out what, if anything, other leagues can learn.

Produced by John Casey.

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As the provincial season gets underway, Nathan Johns is joined by Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan to pick through the opening weekend of action.

We look at how Felipe Contepomi has turned Argentina around, how Ireland took the number one world ranking back from South Africa, and which halfbacks impressed in the provinces.

Monday clips: How to kick five points from the tee / Commentators curse Halfpenny / Contepomi classic

Produced by John Casey

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When Emerging Ireland first toured South Africa in 2022, the news caused controversy as provinces were left without important players at an early stage of the URC season. This time around, with another squad recently named, has the IRFU gone about things in a better way?

On this episode of The Counter Ruck host Nathan Johns is joined by Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan to talk through the merits of the tour, pick out the players to watch, a few head scratching calls and lay out what will constitute success.

Produced by John Casey.

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Host Nathan Johns is joined by Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan to pick apart Ireland’s win over Australia and highlight the best rugby action you missed over the weekend.

We also talk through provincial recruitment while analysing why the Irish provinces are so appetising for English rugby.

Clip - Fiji's Peni Ravai succumbs to an invisible tackle: https://x.com/WorldRugby/status/1834931315763802437

Produced by John Casey.

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To wrap up what has been a long rugby season filled with extreme highs and at times crushing lows, host Nathan Johns is joined by Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan in this end of season special.

Having returned from covering the recent tour of South Africa, John regales us with tales of lost luggage and close shaves with the local wildlife. We also chat through the history of famous Irish drop-goals, with Gordon throwing one of his own efforts into the ring, while we hand out some end of season awards to the players involved.

Produced by John Casey.

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Gordon D’Arcy joins host Nathan Johns to pick through Ireland’s series opening defeat to South Africa. Do tactical changes need to be made? Did South Africa’s new attacking philosophy catch Ireland on the hop? What to make of David Humphreys implementing new restrictions on provincial recruitment?

All this is discussed on more on the latest episode of The Counter Ruck. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Produced by John Casey.

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John O’Sullivan joins The Counter Ruck from South Africa where he is covering Ireland’s upcoming Test series - minus his luggage. As he avoids borrowing clothes from players - for now - John joins Gordon D’Arcy and host Nathan Johns to look back on Irish tours of old, pick apart the South African hype machine and analyse if this series is a step too far for Ireland in what has been a very busy year. Gordon also recalls the time he picked his Leaving Cert over a trip to South Africa - in hindsight a wise choice.

Produced by John Casey.

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Irish winners of Super Rugby are somewhat of a rarity. Adam Foy is the head of performance analysis with the Blues, the Auckland based franchise which just won the southern hemisphere’s most prestigious club competition last weekend.

Having previously worked with Munster and Ireland under Joe Schmidt, Foy moved to New Zealand two years ago. As well as number crunching in rugby, he previously did analysis work for the Dublin footballers.

What exactly is the role of the analyst? Is it all numbers and nerds? How do these video boffins get buy in from players and coaches? Has rugby as a sport undergone an analytics revolution previously seen in other sports? Adam gives us his thoughts in the aftermath of a successful season with the Blues.

Produced by John Casey.

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Leinster and Munster both crashed out of the URC semi-finals in what was a bitter blow to Irish rugby. John O’Sullivan and Nathan Johns chat through the implications of the defeats, as well as Ireland’s squad for their tour of South Africa.

Is Leo Cullen’s job under pressure? How did Munster let things slip at home? Why does Andy Farrell see his players differently to the provincial pecking order? Tune in to find out.

Produced by John Casey.

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