John O'Sullivan

speaker

1,545 appearances 9 recordings 2 series first heard Mar 2026 last heard yesterday

John O'Sullivan’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.

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recordings per month · last 12 months

Recordings per month over the last 12 months — 9 in all, peaking in Apr 2026 with 3.

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The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby Podcast · Could injuries derail Ulster's stellar season? · 24 Apr 2026 podcast

Yeah, I mean, you have seen, as you rightly pointed out there, you've seen more of the women's team in the flesh this season in terms of and in the World Cup in terms of their fixtures.

So I take your point about France winning the collisions, having a bigger side, bigger pack.

But then you've got to play smart because this was a historical problem for Ireland teams of both genders, if you like.

over the years, and you have to be smarter, and you have to be smarter in where you take them on.

The collision points, one thing that they would need to improve appreciably is their defence.

I think getting connected in defence, Ireland get opened a little bit easy, particularly when you go through three or four phases, so that is something that they need to improve on.

But I do take your point, if it's a stop-start, collision-based game, then France have a bigger side, so therefore...

They have the wherewithal and the instincts to do it.

But again, and it sounds like a bit like a lazy cliche here, but France sometimes can be their own worst enemies in terms of forcing things a little bit.

And you have to be alive to that as well.

You have to understand that if that's the game they're going to play, being sharp in and around the contact areas can get you ball, can get you cheap ball.

if they look to play offloads at the wrong time.

So I think what Ireland have to do is be precise in the way they defend, be cohesive and connected in their defence, and also then try and if you can't win the collisions, then look to pick and choose when you can get in over the ball.

And I think that's smart rugby.

That's how you can get your turnovers and that's how you can stop them and take the ball from them.

I think Dan O'Brien has been very good in her kicking game in a general sense.

And that's something that Ireland have to do as well.

Kick well, chase well.

And then when you get the opportunity, have the courage to play.

They have, yeah.

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