The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby Podcast

No Irish senior rugby this weekend but Ireland U20s do get their World Cup campaign underway in Georgia on Saturday.

John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to pick through the players to keep an eye on and Ireland’s hopes while we also look back on the 10-year anniversary of the stellar Ireland group that both beat New Zealand and reached the U20s World Cup final.

Produced by John Casey.

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Monday saw Leinster announce that Leo Cullen will leave the province once his contract expires at the end of next season.

Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns to pick through why he’s going and who could replace Cullen atop the Leinster tree.

Produced by John Casey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reaction: Leinster outclass the Bulls to win URC crown

Gordon D’Arcy and Nathan Johns pick through Leinster’s URC final victory over the Bulls.

After Champions Cup disappointment in Bilbao, Leo Cullen’s side have ended the year with silverware after a comprehensive victory over the South African outfit.

Produced by John Casey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shorn of multiple players due to injury, Andy Farrell has named his group to tour Australia and New Zealand this summer. 

Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick through who is in and who might consider themselves unlucky. 

Plus, we build up to the URC final as Leinster and the Bulls name their teams for Friday night’s decider.

Produced by John Casey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With confirmation arriving that James Lowe will leave Leinster, in theory ruling him out of Ireland’s World Cup bid next year, Irish Times rugby writer John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to discuss how talks broke down. 

Why is Leinster’s record try scorer leaving despite, by all accounts, wanting to stay? 

Plus, we chat through Munster’s hire of Jared Payne instead of Roger Randle and the announcement of the Ireland U20s squad for their upcoming World Cup.

Produced by John Casey. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leinster beat the Stormers on Saturday to secure another URC final appearance as they once again meet the Bulls in the final. 

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to pick through the action, look at where Leo Cullen’s side just about had enough to work past the Cape Town outfit and how they might fare against another South African juggernaut. 

Plus, we look at excitement elsewhere with Glasgow blowing their lead and European champions Bordeaux crashing out of Top14 contention.

Produced by John Casey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A number of narratives have emerged in an attempt to explain Leinster’s European malaise under the current coaching staff. 

Is Jacques Nienaber’s new system the problem or, rather, has he been given enough coaching power to truly take control? 

Are Leinster still a well coached team or are they tactically behind the curve given the way the game is being played at the moment? 

Analyst Sam Larner joins Nathan Johns to cut through all the headlines and figure out what is actually going on in Leinster HQ.

Produced by John Casey.

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The season has come to a close for Connacht and Munster after their respective URC quarter-final defeats. 

Leinster meanwhile beat a lacklustre Lions side to stay alive and reach the semi-finals.

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to review the action, analysing why Connacht have had a season to remember, Munster a year to forget while looking at how Leinster can, if at all, look to improve things for next year.

Produced by John Casey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Leinster and Scotland analyst Brett Igoe joined Nathan Johns for a deep dive into the tactics Bordeaux used to outthink Leinster in the Champions Cup final.

Brett also casts his analyst’s eye over Connacht and Munster’s season to date, and their prospects going into their URC quarter-finals against Glasgow Warriors and Bulls respectively.

Produced by John Casey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After sobering defeats for both Leinster and Ulster in European deciders, Nathan Johns and Gordon D’Arcy look back at the weekend.

Analysis of where things went wrong plus thoughts on how Irish teams might be able to narrow the gap to their French counterparts.

Is player recruitment key for both provinces? And should Leinster rethink their focus on defence?

Produced by John Casey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.