The Counter Ruck

Underdog Ireland gear up for All Blacks test 17.07.2026 23min

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

Irish rugby's state of the union down under 14.07.2026 32min

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

Reaction: Ireland run in five tries as they beat Japan 11.07.2026 22min

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

What to make of Ireland's rotation for Japan? 10.07.2026 29min

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.Produced by John Casey and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where do Ireland now stand in the Nations Championship? 07.07.2026 37min

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

Reaction: Ireland squeeze home against Australia 04.07.2026 26min

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

Can Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies upset Ireland? 02.07.2026 24min

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

Ireland come up short against England in Under-20s World Championship 30.06.2026 30min

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

Who to look out for in Ireland U20s at the World Cup 26.06.2026 24min

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

Why is Leo Cullen leaving Leinster? 22.06.2026 17min

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

Leinster win back-to-back URC titles 19.06.2026 21min

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

What to make of Andy Farrell's Ireland squad to tour Australia and New Zealand 18.06.2026 41min

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

Why is James Lowe leaving Leinster? 12.06.2026 28min

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

Leinster into another final, but are their fans buying into their URC run? 09.06.2026 39min

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

Are Leinster being set up tactically for success? 05.06.2026 31min

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

Have Leinster hit their ceiling this season? 02.06.2026 35min

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

How Bordeaux outfoxed Leinster and URC quarter-finals preview 29.05.2026 20min

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

Where do Leinster and Ulster go from here? 26.05.2026 38min

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

Leinster suffer Champions Cup humbling at the hands of Bordeaux 23.05.2026 28min

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

Can Leinster break their European hoodoo? 21.05.2026 25min

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