The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby Podcast

Both Leinster and Ulster struck early in their respective finals, only to be pegged back soon after as both sides suffered chastening defeats.

Is this Leinster's most damaging final defeat since they last won the Champions Cup in 2018?

Did the heat and conditions suit the French sides? And how do the provinces close the gap on Bordeaux, Montpellier and others from the Top 14?

Nathan Johns and Gerry Thornley are in Bilbao as they dissect defeats for Leinster and Ulster on a damaging European weekend for Irish rugby.

Produced by John Casey.

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Cautious optimism has started to build as Leinster bid to break their finals losing streak in European action. Underdogs against Bordeaux, is this the year they finally win a coveted fifth star?

What of Ulster’s chances, shorn of big players due to injury and needing a Challenge Cup win to guarantee top tier action next year?

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to preview this weekend’s European finals.

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In front of a record-breaking crowd, Ireland women powered past Scotland to finish their Six Nations campaign.

Meanwhile Connacht and Munster secured their top eight spots in the URC, Ulster narrowly missed out while Leinster warmed up for their Champions Cup final with a win over the Ospreys.

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to discuss.

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John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to preview the weekend’s rugby action.

How can all four Irish provinces make the URC top eight? Are Ulster prioritising the Challenge Cup final over their last URC outing?

Plus, how Ireland built towards a record day at the Aviva Stadium when they host Scotland on Sunday.

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Did Connacht’s stability off the field manifest itself in their dominant victory over Munster, given the chaos engulfing their provincial rivals?

What of a glut of refereeing decisions that prompted debate over the weekend, including Nathan Doak’s late concession of a penalty try in Belfast?

After wins for Leinster, Connacht and a draw for Ulster, Did Connacht’s stability on the field manifest itself in their dominant victory over Munster, given the chaos engulfing their provincial rivals?

What of a glut of refereeing decisions that prompted debate over the weekend, including Nathan Doak’s latest concession of a penalty try in Belfast?

After wins for Leinster, Connacht and a draw for Ulster, Nathan Johns and Gordon D’Arcy pick through the action and look at what each province needs to qualify for the top eight.

Plus, Ireland women returned to winning ways thanks to a victory over Wales. and look at what each province needs to qualify for the top eight. Plus, Ireland women returned to winning ways thanks to a victory over Wales.

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Controversy surrounded the weekend’s Champions Cup action after a number of head contacts were supposedly missed by the officials.

Was this genuine error, issues with TV directors or something else wrong with the process?

Former referee Owen Doyle joins Nathan johns to assess the state of rugby officiating.

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Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to review the weekend’s action.

Leinster and Ulster are both heading to European finals but with varying degrees of positivity surrounding their performance.

Do Leinster have enough to beat Bordeaux or does the nervy Toulon endgame leave them second favourite? What of Ulster’s chances against Montpellier after seeing off Exeter?

Plus, the panel analyses Leo Cullen’s criticism of how the Irish press has been covering his team.

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During the week, it was announced that Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final with Toulon had sold 30,000 tickets. Now, closer to kick-off, that figure is likely to rise, but it is notable that on the week of a big European game, there were still 20,000 seats available.

Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns to chat through why this may be - is there an Aviva fatigue with Leinster calling the stadium home for two years now during the RDS development?

We also preview the on-pitch action as Leinster face the French side while Ulster welcome Exeter in the Challenge Cup semi-final.

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Provincial action, women’s Six Nations and the business end of the AIL club season - this weekend had plenty.

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to review it all. Is the battle for the URC top eight just going to come down to whoever has enough fit players?

A week out from their European semi-final, what to make of Leinster’s upset defeat away to Benetton?

Have Ireland shown enough progression to get close to France, or was Saturday night a bump back down to earth?

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John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to preview the weekend’s rugby action.

From Munster’s key interpro with an injury-ravaged Ulster to Ireland’s Six Nations French revenge tour, not to mention AIL finals weekend, there is plenty to discuss as the rugby season continues towards the business end.

Produced by John Casey.

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