The Counter Ruck

Episodes

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  Will new Leinster coach bring French winning chaos to Ireland? 03.11.2026 49m

  Noel McNamara will join Leinster as head coach from next season, bringing a 12 year era under Leo Cullen to a close.On today’s podcast, Nathan Johns asks John O’Sullivan and Gordan D’Arcy what they might expect, and the challenges facing McNamara when he arrives.The revelation in John’s Irish Times feature that Ronan O’Gara didn’t receive a call about the job has caused some intrigue, but is it surprising?And the weekend’s provincial action gives each province a lot to think about heading into the Nations Championship internationals.Presented by Nathan Johns. Produced by Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Exclusive look inside O'Gara's La Rochelle 30.10.2026 27m

  Its not often journalists get an access all areas pass inside a top flight rugby club.On today’s Counter Ruck rugby podcast, Irish Times rugby writer John O’Sullivan recounts a weekend he spent inside Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle camp.Host Nathan Johns also looks ahead to the weekend’s provincial action as Ulster face the Stormers, and Munster take on the Sharkes in South Africa, and Connacht host Leinster. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Could Tadhg Furlong miss the Nations Championship over alleged genital grab? 27.10.2026 48m

  Following Tadhg Furlong’s citing for an alleged groin grab on Gavin Coombes during Saturday’s clash between Leinster and Munster, the question looms about whether a ban, should one be imposed, would mean for Ireland's November campaign.He has been cited under the same law which resulted in Bulls front rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels being handed a nine match ban last year for grabbing the genitals of Josh Murphy during a United Rugby Championship (URC) clash in Galway.On today’s podcast, Gordon D’Arcy and Nathan Johns discuss the prospect of sanctions on Furlong and what they’d mean for Leinster and Ireland.We’ll also look at Connacht’s win against Zebre, and Ulster’s continued wait for their first win of the season.Presented by Nathan Johns. Produced by Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Can this Ireland squad make an impact on the Nations Champsionship? 23.10.2026 32m

  Andy Farrell announced a very familiar looking extended squad for Ireland’s Nations Championship campaign, save for the inclusion of Ulster’s Jamie Benson.On today’s Counter Ruch rugby podcast, host Nathan Johns and Irish Times rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley discuss the winners and losers; who’s in, and who’s out.We will also look ahead to Munster vs Leinster this weekend, and ask whether the rivalry can once again become the thriller is was once known for.Presented by Nathan Johns. Produced by Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Are the provinces fortunes turning after a clean sweep in Europe? 20.10.2026 48m

  It’s not long since we were talking about a weekend of four defeats for all four provinces.The weekend’s action in round one of the European competitions was the opposite with four wins. In today’s podcast Nathan speaks to Gordan D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan about their highlights.And we’ll look ahead to the Ireland squad announcement on Wednesday.Presented by Nathan Johns. Produced by Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Steven Kitshoff: World Cup glory, the Rassie factor, and his time at Ulster 16.10.2026 41m

  Steven Kitshoff, the former South Africa and Ulster prop, joins Nathan Johns on The Counter Ruck. Kitshoff has won two World Cups with South Africa and has worked extensively with both Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber. He was also forced to retire due to a serious neck injury that could have developed into a significant issue known as the ‘hangman’s fracture’. Kitshoff joins the podcast to give an insight into the inner workings of South Africa’s historic run, his injury, the Springboks’ relatively new rivalry with Ireland and his time within Irish rugby.Presented by Nathon Johns. Produced by Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  First interpro excites while Leinster return to winning ways at the RDS 13.10.2026 44m

  Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick through the weekend’s interpro action. Friday night saw Connacht struggle away in Glasgow with the set-piece and maul proving an issue. The panel discusses how Connacht continue to look to improve their tight five while analysing Bundee Aki’s return to action at the start of what could be his last season in Irish rugby.Elsewhere, the first interpro of the season brought about a thriller as Ulster and Munster went tête-à-tête for a draw in Belfast. Clayton McMillan’s side raced out to a commanding hall-time lead only for Ulster, spearheaded by the likes of Robert Baloucoune, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale, to pull things back for a dramatic draw.Finally, Leinster returned to the RDS for the first time in competitive action as they saw off Cardiff. In a performance that featured impressive counter-attacking displays from the likes of Hugo Keenan and Sam Prendergast, our trio looks at how Leo Cullen’s side are trying to evolve their attack in a bid to ultimately catch up with some of their French foes later this season.Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  A new era for Munster? 09.10.2026 27m

  Following Munster’s appointment of former Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee as CEO, can the province build towards former glories?In today’s Counter Ruck rugby podcast Nathan Johns and Gerry Thornley look back at an era for the province which has been criticised for underachievement and ask whether Lee is the man to fix a culture that former players have described as “broken”.Gerry believes there are some strong indications that Munster has at last got the backroom leadership it has been lacking with Lee “fronting up” to the media and the public rather than leaving it to head coaches to explain what is amis.Munster travel to Ulster this weekend for the season’s first inter-provincial tie. The loser, Gerry explains, will go into the first round of European fixtures in the bottom eight of the URC table.So what does the future hold for Munster? And can it produce the consistent success its fan base expects?Presented by Nathan Johns. Produced by Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Irish 10s steal the limelight on an encouraging URC weekend 06.10.2026 37m

  After round one saw all four Irish provinces lose to kick off the URC season, this weekend brought a more encouraging set of results spearheaded by impressive outhalf displays. Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to review all the action as Connacht and Munster secured victory, Ulster took a draw away in Glasgow and Leinster wrapped up their South African tour with a losing bonus point.On Friday night, Ciarán Frawley scored two tries in his first Connacht game since moving west from Leinster, the second a vital late contribution as the western province withstood a creaking scrum to beat Benetton away in Italy. Frawley offered an exciting window into what life might be like at Connacht with Frawley linking with Mack Hansen and Sam Gilbert, while Sean Jansen impressed off the base of the scrum.Munster had their own impressive outhalf, youngster Charlie O’Shea also scoring two tries as the province continues to look to fill the gap left by Jack Crowley’s injury. Using O’Shea’s willingness to be brave in attack, the pod analyses a wider shift in Irish rugby to trust players willing to take risks and impact games in a positive way.In this vein, Todd Lawlor at Leinster comes in for more praise despite Leinster’s loss, as does Ethan McIlroy at Ulster after their draw in Scotland.However, we also look at some weakness up front with many a provincial scrum struggling over the weekend, particularly against South African opposition.Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Is Irish and British domestic rugby broken? 02.10.2026 1h 3m

  Andrew Trimble and London Irish chairman Daniel McKeown want to examine rugby’s governance. Looking at the money flowing in at a the international level, they want to know why so many clubs are still struggling. Worcester, Irish themselves and Wasps have all had well-documented financial troubles, while clubs further afield in Argentina and Australia have also gone under.Is rugby doomed to only succeed at international level, or should the governance structure be changed, featuring more control of star players for clubs and better initiatives to get more people watching the club game?Speaking from their experience attempting to revive London Irish, Daniel and Andrew discuss their plans with Nathan Johns and John O’Sullivan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Historic opening weekend ends in defeat for all Irish provinces 29.09.2026 42m

  For the first time since 2009, all four Irish provinces started their domestic campaign with defeat. With Connacht and Ulster both losing at home on Friday night, Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan reflect on the teams they selected as their ones to watch heading into the season. Is it time to row back on preseason positivity or will reinforcements of senior players in the weeks to come right the respective ships?On Saturday, Leinster lost away to the Lions despite promising performances from a number of young players. Gordon picks out who impressed him from a counter-attacking sense as we wait to see how Leinster will shift their style in a bid to be more competitive against the bigger European sides. We also discuss Munster’s loss at home to Glasgow despite the likes of Ben O’Donovan and Kieran Brookes putting in positive displays.The panel also pays tribute to Béibhinn Parsons after she became Ireland’s record try-scorer in Sunday’s win over Japan.Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Big URC preview and how did Ireland throw away victory vs the USA? 25.09.2026 38m

  On Sunday, international rugby returned to these shores as Ireland women took on the USA in Tallaght. Despite an impressive first half showing, not to mention pulling 19 points clear after half-time, Ireland nevertheless succumbed to arguably the biggest upset defeat of the Scott Bemand era as a lower ranked American side mauled their way to a surprise victory. John O’Sullivan, covering the game for The Irish Times, joins Nathan Johns and former Leinster and Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy to pick through where it all went wrong.Meanwhile, the United Rugby Championship returns as the wait for domestic rugby action comes to an end. Teams have been named as Connacht take on the Stormers, Ulster host Edinburgh, Munster take on Glasgow while Leinster travel to Johannesburg to take on the Lions.Gordon, John and Nathan pick through all the talking points ahead of the new campaign. Why have Leinster picked a strong outfit for this South African tour, naming a number of internationals who normally get this fortnight in the calendar off? What to make of Munster’s outhalf availability crisis, and how might we expect them to play under a new attack coach? With Ulster and Connacht both enjoying largely successful campaigns last season as they went through some transition, can these two continue their positive trajectory under Richie Murphy and Stuart Lancaster respectively?Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Leinster's RDS bump and Munster's outhalf crisis 18.09.2026 38m

  As the rugby season continues to draw closer, Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns to talk Leinster’s return to the RDS, Munster’s outhalf crisis, optimism for Connaht and Ulster ahead of the new campaign plus World Rugby’s continuing bid to crack the American market.Produced by John Casey and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  As Leo Cullen prepares for his final season in charge, why haven't Leinster strengthened? 11.09.2026 33m

  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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Why are New Zealand embarking on their own Lions tour? 07.08.2026 25m

  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.Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The AFL comes for Irish rugby 31.07.2026 15m

  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?Produced by Andrew McNair and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Where do Ireland go from here? 21.07.2026 46m

  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?Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Reaction: New Zealand ease to victory over Ireland 18.07.2026 18m

  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.Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Underdog Ireland gear up for All Blacks test 17.07.2026 23m

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

  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.