The Left Wing

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ireland and Munster star Keith Earls to discuss Ireland's Grand Slam win and his scintillating form. Luke and Keith discuss what it is like working under Joe Schmidt, with Earls describing the impact the Ireland boss has had on his career. Earls also opens up on how he struggled for confidence early in his car...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Leinster and Ireland flanker Dan Leavy to discuss his season to date. Leavy won Man of the Match against Saracens last Sunday and he discusses his brilliant performance - as well as his excellent inter-play with James Ryan that led to a try. Leavey also reveals that he didn't always think he would ma...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Irish Independent rugby correspondent Cian Tracey to preview this weekend's Champions Cup quarter-finals. Leinster vs Saracens and Munster vs Toulon headline the quarter-final line-up, and the lads feel that it will take two huge performances to see both Irish teams into the semi-finals. Injuries wil...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Johnny Sexton to discuss Ireland's Grand Slam win. Sexton talks about the work that went into the big victory over England, including the set-piece move that saw prop Tadhg Furlong handle the ball like a back in midfield. Johnny also talks about a possible future as a coach, his reaction to Eddie Jones' commen...

On this week’s episode of The Left Wing, live from Kennedy’s Pub, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery are joined by Robbie Henshaw and Scott Fardy to preview England vs Ireland. Robbie discusses the impact Bundee Aki has made in the championship while playing with three different centre partners while Scott discuses the evolution of 21-year-old second row James Ryan. Luke assess’ whether Eddie Jones...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery are joined by David Wallace to look back on Ireland's Grand Slam-winning season of 2009. Wallace had been in the team for a number of years and had come up just short of glory, with Declan Kidney then steering Ireland to Six Nations success in his first season in charge. Luke was just starting his international career, and...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey of the Irish Independent to discuss all the latest Six Nations action. Ireland are three from three and with Scotland to come at home, could well be on course for a Grand Slam when they play England on St Patrick's Day. The lads discuss Ireland's performance against Wales and whether Garry Ringrose...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Bristol out-half and former Leinster star Ian Madigan. Ian talks about the importance of sports psychology to his preparation, and in particular how it helps him in dealing with the pressures of goal-kicking. The lads also discuss how Ian is getting on in Bristol, as well as how it feels to watch the Ireland t...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman. Jackman fills the lads in on how his project in Wales is coming along, as he looks to lay the foundations for lasting success at the Dragons. They also discuss his time in charge of Grenoble in the Top 14, from how the language barrier prevents French players from getting ac...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former England and Lions star Alex Corbisiero. The lads look back on an exciting weekend of Six Nations action as Alex weighs in on how Eddie Jones' England side are progressing as they look for a third championship in-a-row. Ireland required a sensational Johnny Sexton drop goal to beat France, and the former...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ulster centre Darren Cave to look ahead to the Six Nations. Ireland are being tipped by a lot of people to win the tournament this year, and Darren and Luke are in agreement that having Joe Schmidt as coach gives the team an edge over their competitors. The lads look back to the 2015 World Cup and remember how...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing in association with Laya Healthcare, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery are joined in studio by Irish Independent rugby correspondent Cian Tracey to recap an exciting final weekend of Champions Cup action. Leinster booked a home quarter-final and possible home semi-final after winning in Montpellier, and the lads discuss the performances of Jordan Larmour and...

On this week's podcast, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery are joined by Leinster and Ireland star Rhys Ruddock. The flanker is currently recovering from a nasty hamstring injury and he tells the lads how his rehab is going - as well as giving Irish fans some positive news on his return. Ruddock's dad Mike is a Grand Slam-winning coach with Wales, and Rhys talks about the influence his father has h...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Leinster and Ireland star Jamie Heaslip. The back row is currently on the sidelines with a back injury and the lads try their best to extract as much information as possible on when Heaslip might be back on the field. The 100-cap international has one of the most impressive CVs in world rugby, and gi...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor of the Irish Independent to recap all the festive action. The lads agree that Leinster have pulled substantially ahead of the rest of the provinces, but will Jordan Larmour and James Lowe be able to force their way into the team for the Champions Cup? Luke thinks that the 20-year-old Larmour...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Dublin star Cian O'Sullivan to discuss his All-Ireland-winning inter-county career and how he balances work with top level sport. Luke and Cian are friends from their time in school, and discuss the challenges they faced in working their way to the top of rugby and Gaelic football. Cian reveals that battling b...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Des Berry of The Herald and Cian Tracey of the Irish Independent to discuss all the Champions Cup action. After Leinster's impressive win in Exeter and Saracens' heavy defeat, Will argues that Leinster are now the Champions Cup favourites. Simon Zebo stood out during Munster's big win against Leicester - but w...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former Ulster and Ireland star Stephen Ferris to preview the Champions Cup back-to-back fixtures. Despite a decent set of results so far this season, Ferris paints a gloomy picture of the state of Ulster rugby as they prepare to face Harlequins. It is Les Kiss' third season as Director of Rugby and Ferris thin...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by in studio by Irish Independent rugby correspondents Ruaidhri O'Connor and Cian Tracey to review the November internationals. O'Connor discusses Jacob Stockdale's big contribution to Ireland's three wins while Tracey analyses the team's midfield options heading into the Six Nations. The panel then debate whethe...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by former Leinster centre Eoin O'Malley. Like Fitzgerald, O'Malley was forced into retirement through injury when he was just 25. The talented centre was just emerging as a contender for Brian O'Driscoll's 13 jersey when he was forced to step away, and O'Malley discusses what it was like battling Irelan...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Leinster wing Fergus McFadden to discuss the province's season so far, Ireland's demolition of the Springboks and their rivalry as team-mates. Fitzgerald and McFadden discuss the performances of Jacob Stockdale and Andrew Conway against South Africa, while McFadden talks about the competition for places in the...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery is joined by Irish Independent rugby columnist Tony Ward, Irish Independent rugby correspondent Ruaidhri O'Connor and Des Berry of The Herald to preview Ireland's upcoming November series. The panel debate the key selections issues facing Joe Schmidt, including whether centre Bundee Aki will make his debut, and look ahead to the challenge pose...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Bristol out-half Ian Madigan. The lads hear what life has been like under Pat Lam in the English championship, and look back at his career with Leinster as well as the crushing 2015 World Cup defeat to Argentina. And as someone directly impacted by the IRFU's stance on players playing abroad, Madigan...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Connacht flanker Jake Heenan. In a wide-ranging interview, Heenan opens up on his tough teenage years in New Zealand, how Pat Lam convinced him to go to Connacht and the changes out west under new coach Kieran Keane. Luke and Jake, who is now Irish qualified through the residency rule, also have an i...

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Irish and Sunday Independent columnist Neil Francis to discuss how the Irish provinces fared in the first weekend of Champions Cup action, and look ahead to this weekend's games. Neil isn't overly pleased with Leinster's performance while Luke thinks that the errors made by Leo Cullen's men can be rectified ah...