The Counter Ruck

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 Triple Crown. Might this finally be the weekend where Scotland, fresh off their stunning win over France, get over their Ireland hoodoo? Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 questions 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 only breathe easy with 77 minutes on the clock when Jack Crowley made it a ten-point game. Host Nathan Johns is joined by Irish Times Rugby Correspondent Gerry Thornley. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ever? Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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’t an inherently ugly thing, why Leinster changed their props so early in the game and how Munster have lost ’the best attack coach in the world.' Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 all straight. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Ireland U20s managed a similarly impressive victory over their English counterparts in Bath on Friday night. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.com/privacy for more information.

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 acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 sought to answer: can the sport make it in America? Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland’s front-row injury crisis plummeted to a further low when Jack Boyle was carted off with an Achilles issue for Leinster against Connacht. Given the absentee list at loosehead, should he - alongside other Ireland Six Nations players - have been wrapped in cotton wool over the weekend? Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to discuss this along with Leinster’s victory over Connacht, Ulster’s defeat away to the Scarlets and Munster getting over the line vs the Dragons. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s squad week ahead of the upcoming Six Nations. Both the senior group, the squad selected in the second string and the U20s have all been revealed. Is Andy Farrell’s selection overly safe or a fair reflection of newer players pushing through? Who has been hard done by? Can anyone from the second string push their way into the upper ranks? And what of the U20s, who are looking to bounce back after a poor year? John O’Sullivan and Gordon D’Arcy join Nathan Johns to discuss. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The final European weekend for a while threw up plenty of intrigue. Munster are out of the Champions Cup, their latest love affair with Europe’s top tier proving to be a short lived one. Leinster once again won in difficult circumstances to ensure they are the lone Irish team flying the flag in the Champions Cup. Ulster and Connacht safely guaranteed their progression to the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup, where they will be joined by Munster. What did the latest round of provincial action mean for this week’s Ireland squad announcement ahead of the Six Nations? Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to discuss. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns to pick through the rugby news of the day. The quality of the on-field product certainly improved during last weekend’s European action, a badly needed injection of life after some difficult outings for Irish sides in recent months. Meanwhile the rugby transfer story mill has picked up into overdrive while the All Blacks shocked the world with the decision to move on from their coach Scott Robertson. What to make of it all? Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leinster get out of jail against La Rochelle while Munster fall in Toulon in the Champions Cup. Meanwhile Ulster are snowed off while Connacht let a late lead slip against Montpellier in the Challenge Cup. A weekend of entertaining rugby, but what did we learn, if anything, about Irish rugby’s trophy prospects this year? Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to review the weekend’s action. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An ex-Ireland captain is now in charge of the rugby department at one of the country’s four provinces. Rory Best, Joe Schmidt’s on-field lieutenant towards the back end of the 2010s, is back in Irish rugby as general manager of his native Ulster. This is worth a deep dive in and of itself - what is a general manager? Why has Best gone into this role instead of coaching? Is he the Jason Wilcox to Ulster’s Ruben Amorim equivalent? - but add to that Ulster’s recent form and there is plenty to get into. Best only joined the province three months ago, so there is an element of him coming in on top of good work done previously, but he undoubtedly will have a role in shaping the continuing development of a recently struggling outfit which appears to have turned the corner. Best joins Nathan Johns to discuss his role, why he came back and if Ulster’s purple patch is a genuine revival for the northern province. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The end of the festive interpro season is nigh but that means Europe is back in focus as the provinces gear up for continental rugby once more. All while Andy Farrell ruminates on his Six Nations squad which is expected to be named in the coming weeks. Whose performances may have turned his eye after three weeks of Irish derbies? Will any of Ulster’s in-form youngsters prompt a shake-up? What to make of Leinster’s slow march to victory with performances that divide opinion? Have disappointing runs for Munster and Connacht had a negative impact on their players? Plus, which Irish provinces are actually worth paying into these days? Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to discuss. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.