The Counter Ruck

John O'Sullivan joins Gordon D'Arcy and host Nathan Johns to discuss his recent chat with Leo Cullen as he heads into his final season as Leinster head coach.

Several successors have been discussed on this podcast and elsewhere, but is there one potential candidate that could provide the continuity Leinster will need?

And why have the province brought in so few new faces while their rivals have added squad depth?

Plus, as New Zealand and South Africa head into the fourth and final test of their much-hyped 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' series, the panel mull over what they've learned a year out from the World Cup.

Produced by John Casey.

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As world rugby moves away from multi match tours, instead preferring the nations championship, two of its biggest brands are going the other way. 

Ditching traditional southern hemisphere competitions, New Zealand are embarking on a lions style tour of South Africa. 

Is this good for the game or a shameless cash grab, two bigger nations going out on their own? 

South African journalist Daniel Gallan joins Nathan Johns to discuss.

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Noah Byrne, a member of the Irish U20s, recently opted to move to Aussie rules instead of taking a Leinster academy contract.

Is a move like this, often seen in GAA circles, going to become more prevalent in rugby, or are we dealing with a fascinating one off?

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After defeat to the All Blacks wrapped up Ireland’s season, Nathan Johns, Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan talk through Ireland’s ups and downs.

Firmly ranked below the world’s top sides, where do Ireland go from here as they look to close the gap next season?

How does the team balance its need to improve the attack with the personnel available? And what positions are looking stronger than others sixteen months out from the next World Cup?

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What to make of Ireland’s 40-21 defeat to New Zealand on Saturday?

A chastening, worrying performance or simply a fair reflection of Ireland’s place in the current global pecking order?

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to analyse the final Ireland game of the season.

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Nathan Johns and John O’Sullivan pick through Andy Farrell’s team selection ahead of this weekend’s clash with the All Blacks.

Are Ireland deservedly underdogs or are we gearing up for another famous win on Kiwi soil?

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Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns on the line from Auckland to give his take on being at Ireland’s victory over Japan on Saturday.

We also delve into David Humphreys’ media roundtable last week after the IRFU’s performance director discussed Munster’s Roger Randle U-turn, James Lowe’s departure and Leinster’s hunt for a new head coach.

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After a 36-20 victory over Japan, Gordon D’Arcy, John O’Sullivan and Nathan Johns analyse Ireland’s performance in their latest Nations Championship action.

What debutants put in strong performances? Did established players take responsibility? And was there enough on show to generate optimism going into next week's clash with New Zealand?

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Former Leinster and Scotland analyst Brett Igoe joins Nathan Johns to pick through the facts, figures and trends of last weekend’s Nations Championship action.

We also look at Ireland’s heavily rotated team selection for this weekend in a bid to assess what Andy Farrell is looking for against Eddie Jones’ side.

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Fresh off Ireland’s victory over Australia in Sydney, Gerry Thornley dials in from Australia to discuss that win as well as the weekend of Nations Championship rugby as a whole with host Nathan Johns.

What did we learn from the narrow win over the Wallabies? Are we likely to see many Irish debuts handed out over the three tests?

And could Japan prove to be a potential banana skin given their wining display against Italy in their Nations Championship opener?

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Ireland squeezed home against Australia after a Thomas Clarkson try and a missed kick from Ben Donaldson with the clock in the red.

Was this a gutsy, narrow win on the road or a worryingly rusty start to their summer window?

Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to discuss.

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Andy Farrell and Ireland begin their latest bloc of fixtures with a clash against Australia in Sydney.

Jonathan Drennan of the Sydney Morning Herald joins Nathan Johns to discuss why Joe Schmidt is still in charge of the Wallabies, will they put out a better showing than what we saw in Dublin last November and why both teams have selected in the way that they have.

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Ireland U20s began their Under-20s World Championship campaign with defeat in Tbilisi, and it was déjà vu as Toulouse secured another Top14 title. 

It’s also the start of an Ireland test week as the build-up to a clash with Australia kicks into gear. 

Nathan johns discusses it all with Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan.

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No Irish senior rugby this weekend but Ireland U20s do get their World Cup campaign underway in Georgia on Saturday.

John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to pick through the players to keep an eye on and Ireland’s hopes while we also look back on the 10-year anniversary of the stellar Ireland group that both beat New Zealand and reached the U20s World Cup final.

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Monday saw Leinster announce that Leo Cullen will leave the province once his contract expires at the end of next season.

Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns to pick through why he’s going and who could replace Cullen atop the Leinster tree.

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Reaction: Leinster outclass the Bulls to win URC crown

Gordon D’Arcy and Nathan Johns pick through Leinster’s URC final victory over the Bulls.

After Champions Cup disappointment in Bilbao, Leo Cullen’s side have ended the year with silverware after a comprehensive victory over the South African outfit.

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Shorn of multiple players due to injury, Andy Farrell has named his group to tour Australia and New Zealand this summer. 

Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick through who is in and who might consider themselves unlucky. 

Plus, we build up to the URC final as Leinster and the Bulls name their teams for Friday night’s decider.

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With confirmation arriving that James Lowe will leave Leinster, in theory ruling him out of Ireland’s World Cup bid next year, Irish Times rugby writer John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to discuss how talks broke down. 

Why is Leinster’s record try scorer leaving despite, by all accounts, wanting to stay? 

Plus, we chat through Munster’s hire of Jared Payne instead of Roger Randle and the announcement of the Ireland U20s squad for their upcoming World Cup.

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Leinster beat the Stormers on Saturday to secure another URC final appearance as they once again meet the Bulls in the final. 

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to pick through the action, look at where Leo Cullen’s side just about had enough to work past the Cape Town outfit and how they might fare against another South African juggernaut. 

Plus, we look at excitement elsewhere with Glasgow blowing their lead and European champions Bordeaux crashing out of Top14 contention.

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A number of narratives have emerged in an attempt to explain Leinster’s European malaise under the current coaching staff. 

Is Jacques Nienaber’s new system the problem or, rather, has he been given enough coaching power to truly take control? 

Are Leinster still a well coached team or are they tactically behind the curve given the way the game is being played at the moment? 

Analyst Sam Larner joins Nathan Johns to cut through all the headlines and figure out what is actually going on in Leinster HQ.

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The season has come to a close for Connacht and Munster after their respective URC quarter-final defeats. 

Leinster meanwhile beat a lacklustre Lions side to stay alive and reach the semi-finals.

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to review the action, analysing why Connacht have had a season to remember, Munster a year to forget while looking at how Leinster can, if at all, look to improve things for next year.

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Former Leinster and Scotland analyst Brett Igoe joined Nathan Johns for a deep dive into the tactics Bordeaux used to outthink Leinster in the Champions Cup final.

Brett also casts his analyst’s eye over Connacht and Munster’s season to date, and their prospects going into their URC quarter-finals against Glasgow Warriors and Bulls respectively.

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After sobering defeats for both Leinster and Ulster in European deciders, Nathan Johns and Gordon D’Arcy look back at the weekend.

Analysis of where things went wrong plus thoughts on how Irish teams might be able to narrow the gap to their French counterparts.

Is player recruitment key for both provinces? And should Leinster rethink their focus on defence?

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Both Leinster and Ulster struck early in their respective finals, only to be pegged back soon after as both sides suffered chastening defeats.

Is this Leinster's most damaging final defeat since they last won the Champions Cup in 2018?

Did the heat and conditions suit the French sides? And how do the provinces close the gap on Bordeaux, Montpellier and others from the Top 14?

Nathan Johns and Gerry Thornley are in Bilbao as they dissect defeats for Leinster and Ulster on a damaging European weekend for Irish rugby.

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Cautious optimism has started to build as Leinster bid to break their finals losing streak in European action. Underdogs against Bordeaux, is this the year they finally win a coveted fifth star?

What of Ulster’s chances, shorn of big players due to injury and needing a Challenge Cup win to guarantee top tier action next year?

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to preview this weekend’s European finals.

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In front of a record-breaking crowd, Ireland women powered past Scotland to finish their Six Nations campaign.

Meanwhile Connacht and Munster secured their top eight spots in the URC, Ulster narrowly missed out while Leinster warmed up for their Champions Cup final with a win over the Ospreys.

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to discuss.

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John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to preview the weekend’s rugby action.

How can all four Irish provinces make the URC top eight? Are Ulster prioritising the Challenge Cup final over their last URC outing?

Plus, how Ireland built towards a record day at the Aviva Stadium when they host Scotland on Sunday.

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Did Connacht’s stability off the field manifest itself in their dominant victory over Munster, given the chaos engulfing their provincial rivals?

What of a glut of refereeing decisions that prompted debate over the weekend, including Nathan Doak’s late concession of a penalty try in Belfast?

After wins for Leinster, Connacht and a draw for Ulster, Did Connacht’s stability on the field manifest itself in their dominant victory over Munster, given the chaos engulfing their provincial rivals?

What of a glut of refereeing decisions that prompted debate over the weekend, including Nathan Doak’s latest concession of a penalty try in Belfast?

After wins for Leinster, Connacht and a draw for Ulster, Nathan Johns and Gordon D’Arcy pick through the action and look at what each province needs to qualify for the top eight.

Plus, Ireland women returned to winning ways thanks to a victory over Wales. and look at what each province needs to qualify for the top eight. Plus, Ireland women returned to winning ways thanks to a victory over Wales.

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Controversy surrounded the weekend’s Champions Cup action after a number of head contacts were supposedly missed by the officials.

Was this genuine error, issues with TV directors or something else wrong with the process?

Former referee Owen Doyle joins Nathan johns to assess the state of rugby officiating.

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Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to review the weekend’s action.

Leinster and Ulster are both heading to European finals but with varying degrees of positivity surrounding their performance.

Do Leinster have enough to beat Bordeaux or does the nervy Toulon endgame leave them second favourite? What of Ulster’s chances against Montpellier after seeing off Exeter?

Plus, the panel analyses Leo Cullen’s criticism of how the Irish press has been covering his team.

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During the week, it was announced that Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final with Toulon had sold 30,000 tickets. Now, closer to kick-off, that figure is likely to rise, but it is notable that on the week of a big European game, there were still 20,000 seats available.

Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns to chat through why this may be - is there an Aviva fatigue with Leinster calling the stadium home for two years now during the RDS development?

We also preview the on-pitch action as Leinster face the French side while Ulster welcome Exeter in the Challenge Cup semi-final.

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Provincial action, women’s Six Nations and the business end of the AIL club season - this weekend had plenty.

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to review it all. Is the battle for the URC top eight just going to come down to whoever has enough fit players?

A week out from their European semi-final, what to make of Leinster’s upset defeat away to Benetton?

Have Ireland shown enough progression to get close to France, or was Saturday night a bump back down to earth?

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John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to preview the weekend’s rugby action.

From Munster’s key interpro with an injury-ravaged Ulster to Ireland’s Six Nations French revenge tour, not to mention AIL finals weekend, there is plenty to discuss as the rugby season continues towards the business end.

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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.

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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’s new assistant coach hire Roger Randle.

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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 D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan to chat through the weekend’s rugby action.

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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.

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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.

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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 entertainment value, are we living through the sport’s good old days?

Rugby analyst Sam Larner joins Nathan Johns to pick through the trends that explain why so many tries are being scored. 

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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 after a Six Nations that will live long in the memory.

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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.

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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 the latest example of Scottish hubris.

How has Gregor Townsend turned around this campaign after an opening defeat in Rome was followed up by sensational wins over England and France? Are Ireland really there for the taking?

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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?

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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 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.

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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?

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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.'

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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.

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