The Counter Ruck

Is this the most undercooked an Irish side has been heading into an international window? Is Andy Farrell picking on form? What to make of Jack Crowley at outhalf, Stuart McCloskey at centre and Caelan Doris on the bench? Do Ireland stand any chance of upsetting a New Zealand side which has yet to convince under Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson? Gerry Thornley is our man on the ground in Chicago. He joins...

In a slightly different episode, Gordon D’Arcy has gone digging around his attic for career memories. A teammate feedback sheet from his aged 21 season prompts today’s discussion. In these anonymous submissions, D’Arcy was given both praise and constructive yet strong criticism about his early days with Leinster. In his own words, it was the sheet which “changed everything.” What was said by his p...

Brendan Fanning has just published a book on the modern history of Irish rugby. Looking at recent successes, he speaks to the heavy hitters involved to figure out if we are set-up to continue growing, stay still or go backwards. Brendan joins The Counter Ruck to discuss his book, Touching Distance, to analyse the biggest issues that have affected the game since 2007. What is Stuart Lancaster’s rel...

Munster battered their provincial rivals for the first time in a long time, potentially igniting this derby match for the future. Were Leinster simply undercooked as they continued to bring back their Lions or has the tide turned on this previously one-sided grudge match? Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to recap the weekend’s action and look ahead to the ramifications of this g...

Andy Farrell named a settled Ireland squad for the upcoming November internationals this week. With just one uncapped player - Leinster’s Paddy McCarthy - has he taken the opportunity to regenerate the side halfway through a World Cup cycle? Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns to pick through the more interesting selections. Why has McCarthy risen so quickly up the depth chart? Can Tommy O’Brien for...

For the first time this season, Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan are back together on The Counter Ruck to pick through the weekend’s rugby action. Leinster returned to winning ways, Munster won an ill-disciplined affair against Edinburgh, Ulster picked up a statement win over the Bulls while Connacht fell away to Cardiff. With Harry Byrne impressing for Leinster, will he be included in Wednesday’...

Another provincial preview but this one is a little different. After going through things at senior level, Nathan Johns is joined by John O’Sullivan to look at the new players entering the four provincial academies across Ireland. Which players that impressed at U20 level have earned an opportunity? What names should we look out for? Is Ireland still strong at producing younger talent? A deep dive...

The weekend’s provincial action took a hit as Connacht and Ulster both saw their games postponed courtesy of Storm Amy. Munster managed to get their game in as they saw off Cardiff while Leinster finished up their South African trip with another defeat. It’s the first time they’ve lost their first two fixtures of a campaign since 2003. Is there genuine room for concern or is this just a continuati...

Four years after failing to qualify for the World Cup, few would argue that a valiant quarter-final defeat to France represents progress for the Irish women’s side. How do they keep that going, capitalising on the support which followed them for a month over in England? Lynne Cantwell is the IRFU’s head of women's strategy. A former player, she is tasked with making the sport more visible, helping...

The opening weekend of the URC season has been and gone with three out of the four Irish provinces recording victories. Stuart Lancaster and Clayton McMillan opened their accounts with victories for Connacht and Munster respectively, while Ulster saw off the Dragons with their attack impressing under the influence of Richie Murphy’s assistant Mark Sexton. Leinster, though, turned in a horror displ...

Our province-by-province preview series concludes out West and in the capital. Connacht have a new coaching staff led by Stuart Lancaster while Leinster have extended their group spearheaded by Leo Cullen and Jacques Nienaber. Can Connacht bring through their young players into Ireland contention? Will Leinster finally break their European curse? John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to discuss. Prod...

The return of the URC is upon us as all four provinces gear up for the new campaign. New coaches, new players, teams looking to improve on a down season for Irish rugby as a whole domestically, there are plenty of storylines to keep an eye on. Joining host Nathan Johns to pick through Munster and Ulster’s prospects is Irish Times rugby writer John O’Sullivan.  Produced by John Casey. Hosted o...

Ireland came close to upsetting France in the World Cup quarter-final, only for an improved display to come up short. How did they nearly pull off the unthinkable? What to make of the bite on Aoife Wafer and subsequent punishment? Where does this Irish team go from here? John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to discuss. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

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...

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 b...

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...

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 2...

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 famo...

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....

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...

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 Furlong in line for his ninth consecutive start for the Lions in Test matches this Saturday, is he in the conversation of greatest ever...

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...

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...

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 Nat...

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...