The Counter Ruck The Irish Times

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.

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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 Bulls as well as that Munster vs Glasgow clash.
Produced by John Casey.

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

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 Murphy’s rebuilding project.
Produced by John Casey.

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

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.

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 Gordon D'Arcy.
Produced by John Casey.

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

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 changes. 
Produced by John Casey.

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