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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

18:27

Ireland suffer at the hands of a vengeful New Zealand

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/09/09

Ireland’s green wave came crashing back down to earth after a 40-0 defeat to New Zealand in Brighton. The saving grace is that, after defeating Japan and Spain in their opening games, a quarter-final spot has still been secured. They play Six Nations foe France in Exeter next weekend. After attending the match on Sunday, Nathan Johns and Gerry Thornley pick through the talking points.Where did it go wrong for Ireland? Did they play into New Zealand’s hands with their game plan? Will Aoife Wafer play

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24:13

Ireland set up New Zealand showdown

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/09/02

Ireland have qualified for a Women’s World Cup quarter-final for the first time since 2014 having beaten Spain. Whether they win the pool, and their knockout opponent, will be decided on Sunday when taking on the Black Ferns. Across their first two games, Ireland have scored 13 tries and 85 points. All seems well, but were there cracks in the performance against two lower ranked teams? How do we balance critiquing displays while acknowledging the achievements of this side? Irish Times contributor

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28:53

Ireland’s joyous World Cup start

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/08/26

Ireland returned to the World Cup stage with a dominant win over Japan. Given the day that’s in it, a first World Cup match for all bar one of the squad, all at Franklin’s Gardens left in a positive mood. Even with a second half struggle which allowed Japan to get back into the game. What made the day a successful one, who impressed and how could Ireland improve ahead of their next game with Spain? Nathan Johns and Louise Lawless discuss after being in Northampton.Produced by John Casey. Hosted on

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34:01

Ireland’s 2017 World Cup misery - what can be learned?

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/08/22

Ireland’s last Women’s World Cup appearance came in 2017. It was supposed to be a crowning moment, a global tournament hosted on Irish soil. Instead, results on the field precipitated a decline off it. Eight years later - with one failed qualification attempt in between - Ireland finally return to the world stage. What has changed in the last eight years? Are there lessons to be learned from the 2017 disappointment? How important a moment is it that Ireland are now back competing at World Cups

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28:38

Ireland’s World Cup: limping to the start line or a...

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/08/12

Ireland’s World Cup campaign is fast approaching. Yet perhaps due to Lions fatigue, the build-up has been somewhat muted. Maybe the bandwagon won’t get going until Ireland play New Zealand on September 7th, or is it a case of the women’s game being in a strange place? Much of the chatter around this Ireland group has been positive in recent years, thanks to improving Six Nations results and a famous win over the Black Ferns. Yet with key players injured, last-minute call-ups from England and

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23:53

Ireland are back at the World Cup. How will they fare?

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/08/08

After missing out on the 2021 edition, Ireland are back in World Cup action as they prepare for the upcoming campaign in England. Matches against Japan, Spain and New Zealand - who they memorably beat last autumn - await in Northampton and Brighton respectively.Ahead of the campaign, Nathan Johns is joined by players Aimee Leigh Costigan and Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald to get an insight into camp. We chat World Cup preparation and the future of the women’s domestic game in Ireland which is set for an

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40:08

How will the 2025 Lions be remembered?

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/08/05

The Lions failed in their bid of a Test whitewash but still travel home from Australia as series winners. It seems that this series took a while to kick into gear but once it did, the final two Tests provided entertainment aplenty. Not least due to a dramatic lightning delay in Sydney on Saturday. How did Australia come back to salvage some pride? Was it inevitable human nature that the Lions took their foot off the gas once the series was secure? Where does this Lions tour rank in the annals of

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26:49

Who is Ireland’s greatest ever Lion?

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/08/01

Nine Irish players start in the Lions Test side in back-to-back weeks. But will this be remembered as a vintage tour, even with all the Irish representation? Is it difficulty to get up for the third test after last week’s series-winning drama? And with Tadhg Furlongin line for his ninth consecutive start for the Lions in Test matches this Saturday, is he in the conversation of greatest ever Irish lion?John O’Sullivan and Nathan Johns preview the third test between the Lions and the Wallabies.Read

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24:20

Thrilling second Test saves Lions tour from ignominy

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/07/29

As expected, the Lions are series winners having secured a 2-0 lead heading into the final Test against the Wallabies in Sydney. But, Melbourne’s second Test victory wasn’t without its drama. A Wallaby counterpunch, a thrilling fightback, refereeing controversy, a last-minute try and plenty of Irish involvement. The second Test had it all and the tour as a whole badly needed such a shot in the arm. Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick through the match; how did Australia give

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32:21

Is it do or die for Australia in the second test...

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/07/25

This year’s Lions tour has been laden with negative coverage of how the tourists have endeared themselves to (or otherwise) to the Australian public. With disputes on the strength of touring sides, blocking players from lining out and the general negativity surrounding the standard of the Wallabies, it feels this tour has been as memorable for off-field storylines as much as on-field ones. Do the Lions need to be popular in their host country? Does any of this matter so long as the Lions win? Are we

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46:27

Andy Farrell's Lions fire the first shot in Australia

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/07/21

As was widely expected, the Lions were too strong for Australia during Saturday’s first Test in Brisbane. How did Andy Farrell’s side go about working past Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies?A fast start gave way to a middling if not average second half display. Does this give Australia hope of a series comeback, or did the Lions simply take their foot off the gas?Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick analyse where the game was won and lost. We also conduct a postmortem on the year for

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19:41

How can the depleted Wallabies survive a Lions...

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/07/18

The teams have been named for Saturday’s first Lions Test and Australia are missing a number of big names. With Will Skelton, Rob Valetini and Taniela Tupou among those on the sidelines, concerns abound for Joe Schmidt’s ability to put together a competitive gameplan. Will wily Joe have something up his sleeve? Will Saturday turn into a uncompetitive drubbing, a nightmare scenario for the tour as a whole? Irish Times rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley is on the ground in Brisbane. He joins Nathan

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37:54

Slow Lions build-up finally culminates in Test week

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/07/15

Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join host Nathan Johns to recap the weekend’s action: South Africa’s hijinks, Ireland’s century and the Lions’ final warm-up game are all up for discussion. What, if anything, did we learn about an Irish side which scored 100+ points against a poor Portuguese side? Is this Lions side genuinely world class, or are they just playing against bad opposition? Will this slow build-up be worth it once the Test series gets underway?Fancy joining us for our live show? Head

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28:38

Does Andy Farrell know his best Lions XV yet?

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/07/11

The rugby action continues to come thick and fast. John O’Sullivan is in Portugal to preview Ireland’s clash in Lisbon, and he joins host Nathan Johns for today’s episode. We chat Ireland’s selection of fast wings, Jamie Osborne’s Lions call-up, Andy Farrell’s selection conundrums and take a deep dive into the disappointing U20s campaign at the World Championships. Like what you hear? Join Nathan, John, Gordon D’Arcy and Seán O’Brien in the Harcourt Bar on July 16th for a Lions preview live

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26:21

Ireland impress as the Lions struggle

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/07/08

The rugby action continues at full steam ahead. The Lions struggled against the Waratahs in Sydney while Ireland’s second string impressed in Tbilisi. Meanwhile the U20s continued their struggles against Italy. All this before you mention Wales losing to Japan, France’s B team putting it up to the All Blacks and Fiji giving Australia a bit of a bloody nose.What to make of it all? John O’Sullivan is on his travels following Ireland as he dials in alongside Gordon D’Arcy and Nathan Johns.The upcoming

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36:20

Who needs to make an impact on Ireland’s summer tour?

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/07/04

While the Lions tour continues on its merry way, Ireland are back in action for the first time since the Six Nations. John O’Sullivan is in Tbilisi for their game against Georgia and he joins Nathan Johns for a detailed breakdown of the tour opener. It’s pelting it down in the days leading up to kick off. Good look facing a Georgian pack in the rain.Which players are we expecting big things from as plenty look to impress with the frontliners away in Australia? In what positions do Ireland need to

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43:53

Which Irish players have impressed for the Lions?

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/07/01

A busy weekend of rugby action saw plenty of Irish involvement in the Lions win over the Western Force, a Top14 final for the ages in France, Peter O’Mahony and Cian Healy bow out with the Barbarians, while the Ireland U20s finally returned to winning ways in their World Cup opener. Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join host Nathan Johns to chat through all the action while also looking forward to Wednesday’s Lions clash with Queensland, where a familiar face in Les Kiss will be coaching the Reds

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40:32

Tom Court - Ireland's accidental Lion

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/06/26

Lions tours are full of stories of players being called up last minute, dashing across the world to get an opportunity to pull on the red jersey. Former Ireland prop Tom Court has as good a story as anyone, tucking into a takeaway in his native Queensland before being summoned to Melbourne as the 2013 Lions faced a mini-propping crisis. Given it’s 12 years on from that tour, this is as good an opportunity as any to hear from Court. As much as this is a Lions chat, though, it turns into a fascinating

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48:40

Will the Lions tour save Australian rugby?

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/06/24

Imagine Irish rugby had to compete with a professional GAA and a thriving League of Ireland for talent. Would the country still be so successful?That is the picture facing Australia at the moment and then some, given the popularity of Rugby League, AFL, cricket, soccer, basketball and countless other codes down under. Yet just over 20 years ago, Australian rugby defied this sporting competition to produce a side good enough to win the 1999 World Cup, beat the Lions in 2001 and narrowly miss out on

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32:59

The Lions in Dublin - what to expect?

The Counter Ruck ·

2025/06/19

After a lengthy build-up, the Lions tour is finally upon us. Andy Farrell and co come to Dublin on Friday night to take on Argentina before travelling down under.The last time the Lions faced Los Pumas, our own Gordon D’Arcy started at 12 back in 2005.He joins Nathan Johns and John O’Sullivan to reminisce on his own Lions experiences, look ahead to Friday and analyse the place of the Lions in the public psyche. Is it an event which captures the everyday fan’s imagination or simply a corporate

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122 results

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