The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby Podcast

John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to pick through some big selection decisions made by Andy Farrell ahead of Ireland’s Six Nations clash with Italy.

Plus, John also takes his through his vision for how Ireland can bring more players through from U20 level to the senior side.

Produced by John Casey.

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

Ireland suffer a heavy defeat to France while Italy are on a high following a win over Scotland.

Does that make for a potential banana skin for Andy Farrel and Co this weekend?

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to discuss.

Plus, we look at some of the wider tactical and skillset deficiencies plaguing Irish rugby. What can be done to stop the rot?

Produced by John Casey.

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

A difficult night for Ireland saw them lose heavily to France in Paris.

Nathan Johns and Gerry Thornley were at the Stade de France to pick through where it all went wrong.

Was Ireland’s game plan exposed? What to make of selection or the decision to continually kick away possession? What positives, if any, can be gleamed from a second half fightback?

Produced by John Casey.

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

Ireland have named their team for Thursday’s Six Nations opener.

There are surprises, namely Jacob Stockdale in for James Lowe and Cian Prendergast starting at 6.

Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick through the key match ups.

How will Ireland tactically overcome France’s Parisian challenge?

Produced by John Casey.

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

The new head coach of the US team is an Irishman from Skerries.

After winning a medal with the Canada Sevens team in Paris, Jack Hanratty has moved to America to coach Ilona Maher and Co.

He joins host Nathan Johns to chart his journey from a Leinster development coach to boss of the US.

Plus, with World cups heading stateside in 2031 and 2033, Jack gives his take on a question rugby has long sought to answer: can the sport make it in America?

Produced by John Casey.

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

Ireland’s front-row injury crisis plummeted to a further low when Jack Boyle was carted off with an Achilles issue for Leinster against Connacht. Given the absentee list at loosehead, should he - alongside other Ireland Six Nations players - have been wrapped in cotton wool over the weekend?

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to discuss this along with Leinster’s victory over Connacht, Ulster’s defeat away to the Scarlets and Munster getting over the line vs the Dragons.

Produced by John Casey.

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

It’s squad week ahead of the upcoming Six Nations. Both the senior group, the squad selected in the second string and the U20s have all been revealed.

Is Andy Farrell’s selection overly safe or a fair reflection of newer players pushing through?

Who has been hard done by? Can anyone from the second string push their way into the upper ranks? And what of the U20s, who are looking to bounce back after a poor year?

John O’Sullivan and Gordon D’Arcy join Nathan Johns to discuss.

Produced by John Casey.

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

The final European weekend for a while threw up plenty of intrigue.

Munster are out of the Champions Cup, their latest love affair with Europe’s top tier proving to be a short lived one. Leinster once again won in difficult circumstances to ensure they are the lone Irish team flying the flag in the Champions Cup.

Ulster and Connacht safely guaranteed their progression to the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup, where they will be joined by Munster.

What did the latest round of provincial action mean for this week’s Ireland squad announcement ahead of the Six Nations?

Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to discuss. 

Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound.

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

Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns to pick through the rugby news of the day.

The quality of the on-field product certainly improved during last weekend’s European action, a badly needed injection of life after some difficult outings for Irish sides in recent months.

Meanwhile the rugby transfer story mill has picked up into overdrive while the All Blacks shocked the world with the decision to move on from their coach Scott Robertson. What to make of it all?

Produced by John Casey.

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

Leinster get out of jail against La Rochelle while Munster fall in Toulon in the Champions Cup.

Meanwhile Ulster are snowed off while Connacht let a late lead slip against Montpellier in the Challenge Cup.

A weekend of entertaining rugby, but what did we learn, if anything, about Irish rugby’s trophy prospects this year?

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

Produced by John Casey.

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