The Counter Ruck

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.

How Leinster and Ulster warmed up for their European showdowns 19.05.2026 26min

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

How all four Irish provinces can make the URC knockouts 15.05.2026 25min

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

How Connacht are proving a stark contrast to reeling Munster 12.05.2026 29min

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

Is rugby’s TMO process fair? 08.05.2026 29min

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

Leinster reach a record ninth Champions Cup final 05.05.2026 46min

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

Leinster out to heal Champions Cup trauma; and is Aviva Stadium fatigue creeping in? 01.05.2026 29min

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

How concerned should Leinster be for Europe after Benetton defeat? 28.04.2026 30min

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? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could injuries derail Ulster's stellar season? 24.04.2026 23min

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

Leinster dismiss pretenders Ulster, Connacht find consistency and Ireland women crush Italy 21.04.2026 32min

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

URC preview, women’s Six Nations and Munster’s controversial new appointment 17.04.2026 23min

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

Leinster have yet to fully find their mojo heading into a Champions Cup semi-final – when will it all click? 14.04.2026 39min

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

What’s gone wrong in Munster? 09.04.2026 33min

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are Leinster champions cup contenders/how have things gone this badly wrong for Munster? 07.04.2026 54min

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we living in rugby's good old days? 03.04.2026 35min

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

Transfer rumour mill runs hot as Irish provinces gear up for Europe 31.03.2026 30min

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