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 ...
Jun 27, 2024•23 min
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...
Jun 20, 2024•24 min
Nigel Carolan, the former Connacht academy manager and Ireland U20s head coach, joins The Counter Ruck from Glasgow. Now the Warriors' attack coach, Carolan faces off against Munster this weekend in the URC semi-final. He talks through his own coaching journey, his attacking philosophy as well as his own experience coaching a number of current Irish internationals at underage level. Also on the podcast, Gordon D'Arcy joins host Nathan Johns to preview Leinster's trip to South Africa to take on t...
Jun 13, 2024•34 min
As they prepare to face Leinster this weekend in the URC quarter-finals, this week’s podcast reflects on Ulster’s uptick in fortunes since bringing in Richie Murphy as head coach. In turmoil after a poor league run and an early exit from Europe, Ulster parted ways with previous head coach Dan McFarland. Now under Murphy, the province has recovered somewhat to make the URC playoffs. Gordon D’Arcy, John O’Sullivan and Nathan Johns discuss how Ulster have improved and what constitutes success in Mu...
Jun 06, 2024•31 min
Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to break down Leinster’s third consecutive Champions Cup final defeat. We analyse Leinster’s midfield attack, their decision making around penalties, what could have been done at the breakdown and assess where Leinster go from here domestically and in Europe. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 30, 2024•29 min
For the week of an Irish province playing in a European final, there has been plenty of news stories away from Leinster's clash with Toulouse. Simon Zebo announced his retirement, the IRFU revealed that it will tweak its controversial central contracts system while it even emerged that Hugo Keenan will return to Sevens in a bid to make Ireland's Olympics squad. Joining host Nathan Johns to pick through the news as well as the actual rugby taking place on Saturday is former Ireland international ...
May 23, 2024•25 min
Come July 1st, a number of changes to rugby's laws come into effect. A number of trials will also be seen over the summer as World Rugby continues to grapple with the balance of preserving the sport's values and attracting new audiences. Have they got that balance right? Are they alienating traditional fans? Is there an irreconcilable difference between attitudes towards the game in the northern and southern hemispheres? Former referee Owen Doyle joins host Nathan Johns to talk through the chang...
May 16, 2024•21 min
This week's podcast is a detailed preview of Saturday's Champions Cup semi-final between Leinster and Northampton Saints at Croke Park. Nathan Johns, Gordon D'Arcy and John O'Sullivan look back at the last time Leinster played in Croke Park, when one member of the panel scored a memorable try. They also discuss whether the venue has a bearing on the game and what sort of game we can expect on Saturday Part two is an interview with Northampton's head coach Sam Vesty, focusing on the Saints' defen...
May 02, 2024•39 min
In the coming weeks, World Rugby will decide on a proposal to implement a new 20-minute red card. Already seen in the southern hemisphere and Super Rugby, the proposal allows sides to replace a red carded player after 20 minutes in order to preserve the spectacle of a contest, to not kill off games when teams are reduced to 14 players. Critics of the move say that the measure risks admitting defeat in the battle to change player behaviour and eradicate high tackles as a result of poor technique....
Apr 25, 2024•32 min
News of Leinster's recent signing of All Black Jordie Barrett has split opinion. Is this a fair reflection of the dominant province flexing their muscle, or an unfair benefit of the IRFU paying their best players via national contracts? Next season, 10 Leinster players will have their salaries paid by the governing body via central contracts, the other provinces combined have three. Is this a cycle of dominance, or a worrying portend of Leinster pulling ahead and destroying competitive balance i...
Apr 18, 2024•31 min
Few things get the Irish rugby public as excited as a young talent at outhalf. Dannah O'Brien has been on the scene for a while now, making her debut against Japan in 2022. Fresh off starting in Ireland's defeat to Italy last weekend, O'Brien joins The Counter Ruck to talk through her career to date, the first two rounds of this year's Six Nations and how Ireland are trying to progress from last year's wooden spoon. Gordon D'Arcy also joins host Nathan Johns to talk through the best of the weeke...
Apr 08, 2024•42 min
Former Ireland, Leinster and Leicester backrow Shane Jennings joins Gordon D'Arcy and host Nathan Johns. The historical links between Leinster and Leicester, opponents this weekend in the Champions Cup, are profound. In 2005, Jennings and current Leinster head coach Leo Cullen left the province for a two-year stint at the English club. When they returned, they played a significant role in a culture shift that saw the province transition from perennial underachievers to European champions. Also o...
Apr 02, 2024•48 min
Gordon D’Arcy and Nathan Johns talk through Ireland's defeat to France to begin the women’s Six Nations. We also pick through the best of the action following a mixed weekend for the provinces in the URC. A week on from the Six Nations, we look at which fringe internationals, now playing before the return of European action, have the best chance of forcing their way into Andy Farrell’s reckoning ahead of the summer tour to South Africa. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...
Mar 25, 2024•33 min
Ireland begin their Six Nations campaign a number of months after winning the first edition of the WXV3 competition. It was a much-needed confidence boost in an era largely defined by governance controversy off the field and spiralling performances off it. John Cronin was director of rugby at Railway Union RFC, coaching a number of current and former Ireland internationals. He has been a prominent voice in the media and on social media advocating for change in the women's game. He joins John O'S...
Mar 21, 2024•40 min
Gordon D’Arcy and Gerry Thornley join host Nathan Johns to pick through the final round of the Six Nations championship. Ireland weren’t perfect, but had enough to get over the line against Scotland to earn back-to-back titles for just the third time. Given the way the final matches unfolded, have teams started to figure out the Irish attack? Was this the last we will see of Peter O’Mahony in a green jersey? How will the other teams look to progress after a very competitive tournament? Our panel...
Mar 18, 2024•38 min
Scotland and Ireland have seen plenty of animosity in their contests in recent years. Yet the Scots have not won since 2017, while they haven't been victorious in Dublin since 2010. Can such a one-sided fixture truly be a rivalry, or do the two sides simply not like each other? Gordon D'Arcy and John O'Sullivan join host Nathan Johns to preview this weekend's Six Nations title showdown. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 14, 2024•32 min
England’s best performance in recent memory sent Ireland to a narrow defeat in London. Hopes of back-to-back Grand Slams are gone, offering a timely reminder of just how difficult it is to win it all. Gordon D’Arcy and Gerry Thornley join host Nathan Johns to pick through where it all went wrong for Ireland, where England excelled and why a Six Nations title, even without a Grand Slam, is not to be sniffed at. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 11, 2024•39 min
Gordon D'Arcy and John O'Sullivan join host Nathan Johns to preview Ireland's upcoming clash with England. Where are England in this transition period? Will their blitz defence cause problems? Have we learned anything new from the Ireland team selection? All this is and more is discussed as the panel predict a strong England performance that will test Ireland's Grand Slam ambitions. Produced by John Casey and Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 07, 2024•26 min
In this extended chat with England’s World Cup-winning number eight, Nathan Johns and Gordon D’Arcy preview this week’s Six Nations clash at Twickenham. We also discuss how Dallaglio could have declared for Ireland, his memories of touring for the Lions with D’Arcy as well as England’s muddled thinking in this year’s championship. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 04, 2024•34 min
With Ireland’s current crop of U20s training against the senior side today at the Aviva Stadium, we took a deep dive into the underage structures in Irish rugby. John O’Sullivan has covered age grade international sides for a number of years, and he joins host Nathan Johns to recall his memories of following Irish teams around the world. From dramatic penalty shoot-outs vs South Africa to meeting players’ parents, John has plenty of stories regarding Ireland’s young players. We also look at the ...
Feb 29, 2024•28 min
Ireland were not at their fluid best on Saturday but they did not have to be, beating Wales 31-7 at the Aviva Stadium. How did Wales stilt the Irish attack somewhat? Just how good is Ireland’s defence? Does Andy Farrell have a replacement bench to rival the South African bomb squad? The panel chats through all the talking points from the Irish victory, as well as the other notable games from the weekend. England, Ireland’s next opponents, come in for some heavy criticism after their defeat to Sc...
Feb 26, 2024•42 min
Is fullback Ciarán Frawley’s best position? How much of a loss will Hugo Keenan be? What to expect from debutant Oli Jager? Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join host Nathan Johns to react to Andy Farrell’s team announcement. The panel looks at if there were any other options to replace Keenan, is picking a 6/2 split on the bench somewhat of a risk and why Stuart McCloskey makes the bench instead of Garry Ringrose. Saturday’s opponents, Wales, also are analysed in detail. We look at if Sam Cost...
Feb 22, 2024•24 min
Despite being tipped by some as wooden spoon contenders for this year’s Six Nations, Wales have lost their opening two matches by a combined margin of just three points. A second half comeback against Scotland and a strong opening 40 minutes in Twickenham vs England have allowed Wales to already exceed the expectations. Ahead of their trip to Dublin to take on Ireland this weekend, Mike Bubbins, a former Cardiff and Wales underage backrow, joins Gordon D’Arcy and host Nathan Johns to talk throug...
Feb 19, 2024•42 min
For all the positivity surrounding Ireland’s two wins to open up this year’s Six Nations, a concern for the concession of scrum penalties remains simmering in the background. Against France, Andrew Porter was penalised twice in quick succession in the first half. After half-time, the French replacement front row eked out a further penalty, cementing a clear advantage. Scrumming down against Italy, Ireland fared much better, winning as many as four scrum penalties, but still conceding a handful o...
Feb 15, 2024•26 min
After Ireland put Italy to the sword in the Aviva Stadium, the panel discusses standout performances form Jack Crowley and James Lowe, Ireland's impressive defensive record and the latest disappointing Italian performance. We also talk through Wales being more competitive than previously thought, the low standard of play across the board so far in the tournament and the infamous TMO decision that left Scotland reeling. With the Six Nations taking a break this weekend, Gerry and John pick their p...
Feb 12, 2024•38 min
Former Leinster out-half and current Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi joins his old teammate Gordon D'Arcy on today’s podcast. Italy's new head coach, Gonzalo Quesada, is a former teammate of Contempomi. The former Leinsterman tells us what to expect from his old friend as he prepares his Italian side for their clash with Ireland at the Aviva on Sunday afternoon. Contepomi also discusses his time coaching Leinster's trio of young out-halves and why he believes the province is right to sprea...
Feb 08, 2024•27 min
Fresh off covering Ireland's win over France, Gerry Thornley joins host Nathan Johns and John O'Sullivan to review the victory that sets up Andy Farrell’s team as favourites for the Six Nations. We discuss the French media's strong reaction, how Ireland looked a better-coached side, the impressive second row pairing of Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne as well as Jack Crowley's coming-of-age performance at out-half. We also analyse if Ireland has a scrum problem, while looking at the U20s win over F...
Feb 05, 2024•47 min
Irish Times rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley previews Friday night’s clash from the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. With both teams exiting last year’s World Cup at the quarter-final stage, a opening round win will go some way to deciding the winner of this Six Nations tournament. In terms of Irish players to watch out for, Jack Crowley steps in to fill the void left by the now-retired Johnny Sexton at fly-half, while Leinster lock Joe McCarthy is a hugely exciting prospect. While watching Irela...
Feb 01, 2024•22 min
Gordon D'Arcy and John O'Sullivan join host Nathan Johns to preview the Six Nations ahead of Ireland's opening game away to France on Friday night. The panel discusses selection, captaincy and Ireland's poor record following World Cup campaigns. We also hear from Clare native Noel McNamara, the attack coach at Union Bordeaux-Begles. Newly installed at the French club, McNamara works on a daily basis with a number of players in the France squad, most notably Maxime Lucu, the man expected to be ta...
Jan 29, 2024•47 min
The Counter Ruck is a new rugby podcast from The Irish Times. Launching on Monday, January 29th - just in time for the Six Nations. Produced in association with Nifti Business. https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 25, 2024•25 sec
