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PODCAST

The Counter Ruck

The Irish Times

A rugby podcast from The Irish Times. Produced in association with Harcourt Bar & Garden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

sports rugby

All Episodes

29:11

How do Ireland counter new-look Springboks?

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/07/11

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

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32:45

Luggage, player bingo and leaving certs - Ireland in...

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/07/04

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

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22:30

Adam Foy - the Belvo boy with a Super Rugby medal

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/06/27

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

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24:07

Provincial demise ends domestic season

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/06/20

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

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33:55

Nigel Carolan, the Galway man plotting a hole through...

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/06/13

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 the

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30:50

Ulster’s turnaround under Richie Murphy

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/06/06

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

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28:54

Third time’s not a charm - Leinster fall in Europe...

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/05/30

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.

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24:46

Zebo retires, Keenan to the Olympics and Leinster's...

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/05/23

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

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20:47

Rugby's new laws explained with Owen Doyle

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/05/16

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

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39:18

Northampton head coach Sam Vesty on meeting Leinster...

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/05/02

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 SaturdayPart two is an interview with Northampton's head coach Sam Vesty, focusing on the Saints' defensive

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31:30

Does rugby need the 20-minute red card?

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/04/25

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. The

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31:09

Is Ireland's central contract system broken?

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/04/18

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 in

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42:01

Interview - Dannah O'Brien, Ireland's great outhalf hope

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/04/08

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 weekend's

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48:11

How Leicester inspired Leinster's drive to the top

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/04/02

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 on

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32:57

Ireland show green shoots in France defeat

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/03/25

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/privacy

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40:11

Women's Six Nations - can Ireland avoid another...

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/03/21

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

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38:18

Ireland win the Six Nations - Gordon D’Arcy and Gerry...

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/03/18

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

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31:50

Ireland vs Scotland - Grudge match or rivalry?

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/03/14

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.

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38:36

Ireland's Grand Slam dream dies at Twickenham

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/03/11

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.

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25:53

Ireland's Twickenham Test

The Counter Ruck ·

2024/03/07

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.

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122 results

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