The Counter Ruck

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to pick through the weekend’s rugby action. Did Ulster let themselves down against a Leinster shorn of first choice players? How did Leo Cullen’s men shut down one of the URC’s best attacks? Plus, we discuss much-needed victories for Connacht and Munster while highlighting the best bits of Ireland’s win over Italy in the women’s Six Nations. Produced by John Casey....

John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to talk through Ireland’s home start to their Six Nations campaign against Italy this Saturday after defeat to England last week in front of a record crowd of 77,120 at the Allianz Stadium. They also preview Ulster’s crucial interpro with Leinster and look at where Connacht and Munster are currently in the URC standings. Plus, the controversy surrounding Munster’...

Leinster are in the Champions Cup semi-finals after beating Sale while Ulster find themselves in the Challenge Cup last four thanks to victory over La Rochelle. They will not be joined by Connacht, though, after they lost in France to Montpellier. And Ireland women got their Six Nations campaign underway with an expected yet somewhat encouraging defeat to England. Nathan Johns is joined by Gordon...

Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns to pick through the wreckage of Munster’s European campaign. The rot on the pitch appears to stem from deeper lying issues off it. Plus, news on Ireland’s team selection for their women’s Six Nations opener, as well as a look ahead to Leinster, Connacht and Ulster’s European action, with a look at La Rochelle’s unique selection for their trip to Belfast. Hosted on...

After Leinster impressed but confounded in equal measure in their latest Champions Cup outing, what to make of their tournament hopes? How have Munster found themselves already out of Europe’s second tier competition? Do Connacht and Ulster have legitimate silverware chances? Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to discuss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

Rugby is experiencing a wave of positivity after the recent Six Nations. We saw a record number of tries scored in the competition as attacking rugby was on full display. Does this mean we are living through a positive upswing in the state of the game as an entertainment product? Why are teams better at scoring now than in the best? Given the sport cycles through negativity around kicking and ente...

With word on Ireland eyeing up an Australian rugby prospect, Nathan johns and Gordon D’Arcy look at Ireland’s prop development pathway. Plus, how did Jamie Osborne look back in the centre following a Six Nations campaign at 15? How did Munster improve on a difficult South African tour? How are the provinces shaping up for a return to Europe? Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...

Plenty of rugby news warrants further discussion as a thrilling conclusion to the Leinster Schools Cup warranted a replay. Munster are also in the headlines after a concerning story that they are implementing voluntary redundancies after enduring some financial difficulty. John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to discuss the rugby news of the day. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

A week after the conclusion of the Six Nations, the provinces returned to action. Bundee Aki headlined a statement win for Connacht over Ulster while Sam Prendergast and Leinster struggled away to Glasgow. A record defeat for Munster rounded off a tricky return to domestic action for the Irish sides. Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to discuss. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

The Six Nations finished with a bang with Ireland’s Triple Crown win over Scotland and France’s thrilling escape act against England, a late affair that just denied Ireland the title. Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to pick through what we’ve learned from the tournament. From a dismal opening night in Paris to within touching distance of the title, how did Ireland trend in the right direction aft...

Heartbreak for Ireland as England’s late penalty concession and Thomas Ramos’ right boot cost Andy Farrell’s side a Six Nations title. Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns from the bowels of the Aviva Stadium to try and make sense of a Super Saturday which saw Ireland beat Scotland to the Triple Crown but just miss out on the overall crown. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

Mark Palmer, Scottish rugby correspondent at The Times, joins Nathan Johns to preview Ireland’s clash with Scotland. The winner takes home the Triple Crown and has a shot at the outright Six Nations title, pending the result between England and France later on Saturday evening. Mark tries to figure out if Scotland have a genuine chance at breaking an 11-match losing run to Ireland or if this is th...

A sensational weekend of Six Nations action leaves us anticipating a bumper Super Saturday to decide the title. Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to pick through Ireland’s win over Wales, Scotland’s thumping of France and Italy’s historic victory over England. Scotland, France and Ireland are all mathematically in the hunt for the title, while the winner of Ireland vs Scotland will take home the Tr...

This was a much-changed Ireland side from the one who performed heroics at Twickenham against England two weeks ago. And there was much to admire given their blistering start, but question marks too. And have Wales finally turned a corner after so long in the doldrums? They played like a rejuvenated team, organised and tenacious, and offering a real threat going forward at times. Ireland could onl...

Andy Farrell has made five changes to the starting XV ahead of Friday’s clash with Wales. Unusual, perhaps, to mix up a winning formula after a stunning day out at Twickenham. John O’Sullivan and Gordon D’Arcy join Nathan Johns to pick through what it all means. Have Ireland embraced more rotation in a slightly tweaked selection policy? What to expect of Wales, a banana skin or as downtrodden as e...

Sam Larner has, quite literally, written the book on data in rugby. In his recent publication, Attacking the Space: Inside rugby’s data and tactics revolution, Larner attempts to explain why the game looks the way it does in a manner accessible to the Irish fan. He joins Nathan Johns to explain why data shapes Ireland’s recent tactical evolution towards a kicking game, why putting boot to ball isn...

Everyone loved a crisis talk after Ireland U20s and Ireland XV lost on the same weekend the senior side struggled in Paris. Since then, though, the U20s have won back-to-back games, including an impressive display against England. After last year’s wooden spoon, has the age grade side turned a corner? Is talk of a misfiring talent pipeline misguided? John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to put us al...

How many of you saw that coming? A record Irish victory in Twickenham was some way for Andy Farrell and co to change the narrative surrounding this side after a middling start to this year’s Six Nations campaign. Gordon D’Arcy, John O’Sullivan and Nathan Johns were all in London on Saturday and they link up once again to pick through how Ireland pulled off that performance. Plus, we look at how Ir...

Ireland’s team for the weekend is out with a big decision made at outhalf. Will the changes improve Ireland’s chances of securing an upset? What of England who have promoted Henry Pollock to the starting XV? Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to preview Saturday’s clash. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland responded to their disappointment in Paris with a win over Italy. Albeit an unconvincing one. Did new faces in Andy Farrell’s team do enough to change the status selection quo? Did Ireland’s attack start to look like its old self? Does Scotland’s win offer any hope heading to Twickenham? Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to discuss. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast...

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.c...

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 a...

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 soug...