The Left Wing

Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Will Slattery break down Leinster's dramatic Champions Cup final defeat to Toulouse on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. Poor handling, bad decision making, and some heroic Toulouse defence saw the French side triumph in extra time. The lads discuss all the major talking points after Leinster's third successive Champions Cup final loss, including the pre...

There was more Champions Cup final heartbreak for Leinster this weekend. They were beaten 31 points to 22 after extra time by Toulouse in an epic final at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London. Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane to discuss another lost final for Leinster with Antoine Dupont producing a man-of-the-match performance to lead the French side to a sixth title. Se...

The stage is set for the first Champions Cup final between Leinster and Toulouse tomorrow in London. Leinster are going for their fifth title when they play the French side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to discuss the team selections and give their final thoughts on what should be an epic game. See omnystu...

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Ruaidhri O'Connor, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery preview Leinster vs Toulouse in the Champions Cup final Leinster's record in deciders has not been good in the last few years and Ruaidhri thinks the psychological baggage they are carrying could be significant. Luke says Jacques Nienaber's defensive influence could be a deciding factor while the l...

Munster's rich vein of form is a main topic of discussion on this week's episode of The Left Wing where Luke Fitzgerald and Cian Tracey join Will Slattery. Just like last season, Graham Rowntree's men have timed their URC run nicely, and after a big win over Connacht, their title defence looks in a great place. It's a different story for Connacht, who face a must-win game against the Stomers after...

Leinster nervously inched their way closer to a fifth European Champions Cup, after a nail-biting finish at GAA HQ on Saturday evening. A James Lowe hat trick capped an impressive first 60 minutes in style, but why did things fall apart as the final whistle approached? Will Luke and Cian discuss how a 37 minute period without a score will be punished by a better team than Northampton. Leinster wil...

Leinster's selection policy ahead of their Champions Cup semi-final is a big topic of discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Luke Fitzgerald, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Will Slattery discuss whether Leo Cullen made a mistake in resting so many starters for the recent trip to South Africa and break down some of the big selection talking points for the semi-final at Croke Park. Meanwhile, Mun...

It was a memorable weekend for Ireland after they secured automatic qualification for next year's World Cup in England. Scott Bemand's team finished third in the Women's Six Nations table which also means they will play in Tier 1 of the WXV competition later this year. Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly joined Sinéad Kissane on the Left Wing podcast to review the campaign and discuss what needs to be d...

After Munster's performance in Loftus, can their win over the Bulls be the catalyst for a URC defence and what about the difference RG Snyman makes? Cian Tracey and Luke Fitzgerald join Rúaidhrí O’Connor on this week’s Left Wing podcast to discuss all the big talking points for Irish rugby from the weekend. After Leinster’s uncharacteristic loss to Lions are they repeating past mistakes as the coa...

England dished out a 88-10 hammering to Ireland in the Women's Six Nations at Twickenham last weekend. The world number one-ranked team completely overwhelmed Ireland as they ran in 14 tries. Scott Bemand's side will play Scotland in Belfast in next Saturday's final round with an automatic place in next year’s World Cup up for grabs for the team that finishes third in the table. Former Ireland pla...

Leinster's emphatic win over La Rochelle and their blockbuster signing of Jordie Barrett are up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Rúaidhrí O'Connor, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery break down the key moments behind Leinster's victory and single out the key performers like Will Connors and Joe McCarthy. Jacques Nienaber's influence on Leinster is also discussed before talk tu...

Ireland have jumped to third in the Women's Six Nations table after their excellent bonus point win over Wales at Musgrave Park on Saturday. Ireland scored five tries as they won 36-5 to record their first win in the championship since April 2022. Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly joined Sinéad Kissane to talk through this very impressive performance and look ahead to Ireland's daunting task against E...

Leinster's showdown with La Rochelle and Munster's Champions Cup exit are both up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Cian Tracey, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery look back on the round of 16 clashes that saw Leinster beat Leicester and Munster go down to Northampton. La Rochelle now loom for Leinster, and the lads break down where the game will be won and lost. Ulster and Con...

Rúaidhrí O'Connor, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery look ahead to the Champions Cup last 16 on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Leinster and Munster take on Leicester and Northampton respectively this weekend, while Ulster and Connacht also face French opposition in the Challenge Cup. The lads preview all four games as well as looking back on another interesting weekend of URC action. Rúaidhr...

Ireland suffered their second defeat of this season's Women's Six Nations after a 27-21 loss to Italy in front of a record attendance at the RDS on Sunday. Next up for Scott Bemand's team is Wales in Cork on April 13. Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly join Sinéad Kissane on the latest episode of the Left Wing to discuss the factors that cost Ireland and what they need to improve when they face Wales....

The return of the URC and the downside to playing rugby in Croke Park is up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald discuss what Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht need to do to ensure a strong finish to the season with some big games to come over the next few weeks. The lads also discuss Ireland's opening Women's Six Nations game against France...

Ireland opened their 2024 Women's Six Nations with a 38-17 defeat to France in Le Mans but there were some improvements on last year's performance against the French with Aoife Wafer and Aoife Dalton scoring tries with the Irish defence also a plus. Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly join Sinéad Kissane on The Left Wing podcast to discuss the improvements and the areas of concern going into the first h...

The 2024 Women's Six Nations kicks off this weekend with Ireland facing France in Le Mans on Saturday. After finishing bottom of the table last year, Ireland - under new head coach Scott Bemand - will hope for a much better showing in this year's edition.  Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly joined Sinéad Kissane on the latest edition of The Left Wing to discuss where Ireland are at going into this...

Ireland are Six Nations champions once again as Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Will Slattery look back on another memorable campaign. The final victory over Scotland failed to hit the heights as Luke and Cian pick out areas where Ireland will look to improve ahead of two tests against South Africa this summer. However, there were also plenty of positives as Andy Farrell's men secured back-to-bac...

Ireland are back to back Six Nations champions. They beat Scotland 17-13 at the Aviva stadium today.  Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane after the game to discuss the big talking points including the possibility that it could be O'Mahony's last game in an Ireland jersey. ­ Head to www.mypodcastfeedback.com pop in code WING and fill out the short survey to be in with the c...

Andy Farrell has named an unchanged team for Saturday's Six Nations game against Scotland at the Aviva stadium. Farrell has gone with a 5/3 bench split with Garry Ringrose among the subs. On today's episode of The Left Wing, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane to discuss the team and bench that Farrell has named as they chase a Six Nations title in the championship finale. Head...

Ireland's shock defeat to England at Twickenham is up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Cian Tracey joins Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery to break down where things went wrong for Andy Farrell's men. A passive defence, poor kicking strategy and a questionable use of the bench all contributed to the Ireland defeat. Italy's surprise win over Scotland, Antoine Frisch's France c...

It was heartache for Ireland after they lost to England and a drop goal with the last kick of the game but in the end the better team won. Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey give their immediate post-match analysis from Twickenham and reflect on why Ireland played below par and what it means for their final Six Nations game against Scotland next weekend. And join Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald f...

The fit-again Hugo Keenan is back in the Ireland team for Saturday's Six Nations game with England with no place for Garry Ringrose in the squad. ­ Andy Farrell has once again gone with a 6:2 split on the bench which includes Ciarán Frawley and Ian Henderson while James Ryan has been ruled out with a bicep injury he picked up in training yesterday. ­ Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad K...

Ireland's Twickenham showdown against England is up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. Jonathan Bradley joins Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery to break down the big talking points as Andy Farrell's side continue their march towards another Grand Slam. England's stuttering attack, Ireland's bench selection and Jack Crowley's performance to date are all on the agenda as...