The Counter Ruck
Episodes
Is Ireland vs France the best rivalry of the modern era?
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For the third time in as many years, it looks that the winner of Ireland’s clash with France will go on to win the Six Nations. Who, then, are the f...
Are France better at developing young players than Ireland?
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A regular talking point when Ireland take on France is the competitively younger age of the French line up. Louis Bielle-Biarrey debuted when he was s...
Is Ireland’s production line of talent beginning to falter?
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last weekend, either side of Ireland’s Six Nations victory in Cardiff, other Irish sides struggled. The U20s were on the wrong side of the result in...
How Ireland escaped Cardiff unscathed
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to debrief the weekend’s Six Nations action. We discuss silly season in the media, how Sam Prendergast can improv...
Bold and brave team selection from Ireland and Wales ahead of Six Nations clash
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ireland have shuffled the pack ahead of the trip to Cardiff to take on Wales this Saturday. Dan Sheehan captains in place of the injured Caelan Doris,...
Who has been added to Ireland’s Six Nations squad and why?
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After the first fallow weekend, the Six Nations kicks back into gear this week with Ireland travelling to Cardiff. However, across the first two round...
Will a new coach bounce for Wales cause Ireland problems?
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week brought the news that Warren Gatland is no longer head coach of Wales. Given their recent 14-match losing run, that Gatland could not contin...
Ireland’s Scottish win has all roads leading to France
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick through Ireland’s comfortable victory over Scotland at Murrayfield. Are Ireland the ...
How do Ireland avoid a Scottish banana skin?
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ireland have not lost to Scotland since 2017, but it seems every year since then the Scots feel closer and closer to ending their hoodoo. Will this ye...
Are Ireland Six Nations favourites?
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After an impressive, comfortable victory over England, do Ireland rival France as favourites for this year’s Six Nations? As Gordon D’Arcy points ...
Can Ireland afford to lose to England?
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Six Nations is upon us. Momentum in this tournament is key and Ireland start with one of the harder fixtures with the visit of Steve Borthwick’s...
Who will start at 10 for Ireland during the Six Nations?
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Six Nations week. Ireland get their campaign underway with a tricky assignment against England next weekend. Now under the leadership of Simon ...
Who will win the Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup?
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s that time of year when Schools rugby, the single most important development tool in Ireland, kicks into gear with the Senior Cup in all four pr...
Are Leinster and Toulouse destined for another European final?
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Now we know the knockout draw for the Champions Cup, can anyone get in the way of another Leinster vs Toulouse showdown in the final? Can Noel McNamar...
Ireland’s Six Nations squad, winners and losers
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ireland recently named their squad for the six nations. Widely seen as a continuity selection, there are still a number of talking points. What does T...
Leinster win in La Rochelle - grit or alarm bells?
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Leinster have now beaten La Rochelle on three consecutive occasions. Is this a sign they have turned the corner against bigger French sides, or was it...
‘I’ve been involved a lot in turnarounds’: Michael Cheika on his coaching philosophy and career to date
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Cheika was the head coach who guided Leinster to their first European crown in 2009. Now, coaching Leicester Tigers, he squares off against Ir...
Who are Ireland’s next young rugby stars?
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
No provincial men’s rugby took place this weekend but Ireland U20s did play their final warm-up match before their Six Nations campaign gets underwa...
Should Irish rugby encourage more loan moves like Harry Byrne’s?
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Harry Byrne recently caused a bit of a shock by moving from Leinster to Bristol on a short term loan. On paper, the move makes sense, given Byrne’s ...
Is the gap widening between Leinster and the other provinces?
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Munster defence coach Denis Leamy recently described Leinster as ‘brilliantly boring’ due to their current style of play. After watching the weeke...
Is Ireland's central contract system in need of radical change?
26 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When news of Leinster's signing of All Black Jordie Barrett broke back in April of this year, opinion was split. Was it a fair reflection of the domin...
Was 2024 a successful year for Irish rugby?
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We may only be halfway through the rugby season, but the end of the calendar year presents an opportunity to reflect nonetheless. Ireland won a Six Na...
Irish women’s rugby: ‘there are loads of structural issues that are really difficult to address’
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Ireland women’s team is riding on the crest of a wave after World Cup qualification and a victory over New Zealand in 2024. How does the game lo...
Is the Champions Cup on its last legs?
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This weekend, Sharks head coach John Plumtree made headlines for outlining the unsustainable nature of South African sides trying to compete in Europe...
Irish lions - Rob Henderson
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rob Henderson played for Munster, Ireland and the Lions. He was Brian O’Driscoll’s centre partner both during his infamous Paris hat-trick and the...
Why can't Irish rugby produce players with genuine pace?
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As this year’s European action kicked off with a mostly positive weekend for the provinces, one difference between Irish sides and those they square...
Leinster’s Champions Cup opener brings a meeting with a familiar face
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Leinster square off against the Bristol Bears, Pat Lam, once in charge of Connacht but now bedded in with the Premiership side, once again finds ...
Where do Ireland go after the Autumn Nations Series?
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After a narrow win over Australia wrapped up a mix bag of an Autumn Nations Series, The Counter Ruck pores through where Andy Farrell’s side finds i...
Is Joe Schmidt the right man for Australia?
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Former Leinster and Ireland boss Joe Schmidt looks to have begun a miraculous turnaround with the Wallabies. From failing to get out of their poor gro...
Are Ireland back to their best after thrashing Fiji?
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ireland put in their best display of this November window with a 52-17 thumping of Fiji. Was this a return to the good form of old or was it a case of...
Are Fiji now capable of beating Ireland for the first time in their history?
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone seems to love to watch Fiji, but what is it about the Pacific Island nation that is so endearing? Is it their thrilling style of play, nostal...
Have teams figured out Ireland's attack?
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ireland won ugly against Argentina while England once again produced an at times scintillating performance, only to lose to South Africa. Whose camp w...
The Felipe Contepomi interview
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a wide ranging chat, Contepomi joins host Nathan Johns and former teammate Gordon D’Arcy to look back at their time playing together at the RDS, ...
Why Ireland won’t push the panic button after All Blacks defeat
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How worried should Irish rugby be after a disheartening defeat to the All Blacks? Is it time to make significant changes to the team? Are sides starti...
Are New Zealand underdogs against Ireland?
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Mehrtens was the New Zealand outhalf before Dan Carter. A 70-cap All Black, he joins Nathan Johns and Gordon D’Arcy to preview Ireland’s cl...
When did the All Blacks lose their aura?
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s All Blacks week. At the beginning of his career, Gordon D’Arcy never felt like Ireland could get close to New Zealand. Towards the end, Joe S...
Does Munster’s new coach need to be Irish?
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After Tuesday’s shock announcement that Graham Rowntree is no longer Munster’s head coach, many questions remain. The most pressing: where does th...
Munster part ways with Graham Rowntree
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Munster shocked the rugby world on Tuesday with the news that Graham Rowntree will no longer be their head coach, ending a five year stay with the pro...
How a search for game time forced Ed Byrne to leave Leinster
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ed Byrne recently moved from Leinster to Cardiff after making over 100 appearances for the province. He was also capped 6 times by Ireland. In the wee...
Who will be named in Ireland’s November squad?
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On Wednesday, Andy Farrell names his Ireland squad for the November internationals. But who will see their names included? How will Ireland resolve th...
Should rugby's bomb squads be outlawed?
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the coming weeks, World Rugby will decide on the implementation of the controversial 20-minute red card. The proposed disciplinary law change will ...
How Leinster overcame Munster in absorbing URC battle at Croke Park
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On Friday night, Ireland women worked past the USA to finish second in their WXV1 group. With next year’s Six Nations and World Cup to come, Scott B...
Inside the Irish women’s rugby team
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Stacey Flood is currently with the Irish team out in Vancouver for their WXV1 campaign. Lining out at fullback, Flood played an integral role in the s...
Leinster vs Munster- the history of a bitter rivalry
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gordon D’Arcy remembers his first interpro game for Leinster against Munster for all the wrong reasons. As an 18-year-old, he was mercilessly steppe...
Is rugby set to change forever?
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last year, the IRFU introduced a law trial to lower the tackle height in amateur rugby. In a bid to make the game safer, the permitted tackle height w...
Have we just seen Ireland’s greatest ever win?
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While you were sleeping on Sunday night, Ireland women beat New Zealand for just the second time in their history, opening their WXV campaign in style...
How did the Top14 become rugby’s answer to the Premier League?
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As news reports emerge of English rugby once again being in dire financial straits, while some URC teams continue to live on the edge of their means, ...
Is a new crop of Irish scrum halves coming of age?
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the provincial season gets underway, Nathan Johns is joined by Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan to pick through the opening weekend of action....
Does the Emerging Ireland tour actually benefit Irish rugby?
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Emerging Ireland first toured South Africa in 2022, the news caused controversy as provinces were left without important players at an early stag...
Is the Champions Cup set to be devalued?
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Host Nathan Johns is joined by Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan to pick apart Ireland’s win over Australia and highlight the best rugby action ...
The Counter Ruck end-of-season special!
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To wrap up what has been a long rugby season filled with extreme highs and at times crushing lows, host Nathan Johns is joined by Gordon D’Arcy and ...
How do Ireland counter new-look Springboks?
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gordon D’Arcy joins host Nathan Johns to pick through Ireland’s series opening defeat to South Africa. Do tactical changes need to be made? Did So...
Luggage, player bingo and leaving certs - Ireland in South Africa
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John O’Sullivan joins The Counter Ruck from South Africa where he is covering Ireland’s upcoming Test series - minus his luggage. As he avoids bor...
Adam Foy - the Belvo boy with a Super Rugby medal
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Irish winners of Super Rugby are somewhat of a rarity. Adam Foy is the head of performance analysis with the Blues, the Auckland based franchise which...
Provincial demise ends domestic season
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Leinster and Munster both crashed out of the URC semi-finals in what was a bitter blow to Irish rugby. John O’Sullivan and Nathan Johns chat through...
Nigel Carolan, the Galway man plotting a hole through Munster's defence
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nigel Carolan, the former Connacht academy manager and Ireland U20s head coach, joins The Counter Ruck from Glasgow. Now the Warriors' attack coach, C...
Ulster’s turnaround under Richie Murphy
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As they prepare to face Leinster this weekend in the URC quarter-finals, this week’s podcast reflects on Ulster’s uptick in fortunes since bringin...
Third time’s not a charm - Leinster fall in Europe once more
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to break down Leinster’s third consecutive Champions Cup final defeat. We analyse Leinster’s midfield attack, t...
Zebo retires, Keenan to the Olympics and Leinster's Champions Cup showdown
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For the week of an Irish province playing in a European final, there has been plenty of news stories away from Leinster's clash with Toulouse. Simon Z...
Rugby's new laws explained with Owen Doyle
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Come July 1st, a number of changes to rugby's laws come into effect. A number of trials will also be seen over the summer as World Rugby continues to ...
Northampton head coach Sam Vesty on meeting Leinster at Croke Park
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week's podcast is a detailed preview of Saturday's Champions Cup semi-final between Leinster and Northampton Saints at Croke Park. Nathan Johns, ...
Does rugby need the 20-minute red card?
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the coming weeks, World Rugby will decide on a proposal to implement a new 20-minute red card. Already seen in the southern hemisphere and Super Ru...
Is Ireland's central contract system broken?
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
News of Leinster's recent signing of All Black Jordie Barrett has split opinion. Is this a fair reflection of the dominant province flexing their musc...
Interview - Dannah O'Brien, Ireland's great outhalf hope
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Few things get the Irish rugby public as excited as a young talent at outhalf. Dannah O'Brien has been on the scene for a while now, making her debut ...
How Leicester inspired Leinster's drive to the top
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Former Ireland, Leinster and Leicester backrow Shane Jennings joins Gordon D'Arcy and host Nathan Johns. The historical links between Leinster and Lei...
Ireland show green shoots in France defeat
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gordon D’Arcy and Nathan Johns talk through Ireland's defeat to France to begin the women’s Six Nations. We also pick through the best of the acti...
Women's Six Nations - can Ireland avoid another wooden spoon?
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ireland begin their Six Nations campaign a number of months after winning the first edition of the WXV3 competition. It was a much-needed confidence b...
Ireland win the Six Nations - Gordon D’Arcy and Gerry Thornley assess the campaign
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gordon D’Arcy and Gerry Thornley join host Nathan Johns to pick through the final round of the Six Nations championship. Ireland weren’t per...
Ireland vs Scotland - Grudge match or rivalry?
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scotland and Ireland have seen plenty of animosity in their contests in recent years. Yet the Scots have not won since 2017, while they haven't been v...
Ireland's Grand Slam dream dies at Twickenham
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
England’s best performance in recent memory sent Ireland to a narrow defeat in London. Hopes of back-to-back Grand Slams are gone, offering a timely...
Ireland's Twickenham Test
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gordon D'Arcy and John O'Sullivan join host Nathan Johns to preview Ireland's upcoming clash with England. Where are England in this transition period...
The Lawrence Dallaglio interview
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this extended chat with England’s World Cup-winning number eight, Nathan Johns and Gordon D’Arcy preview this week’s Six Nations clash at Twi...
The history of Ireland U20s
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With Ireland’s current crop of U20s training against the senior side today at the Aviva Stadium, we took a deep dive into the underage structures in...
Wales walloping leaves Ireland one win away from the Six Nations title
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ireland were not at their fluid best on Saturday but they did not have to be, beating Wales 31-7 at the Aviva Stadium. How did Wales stilt ...
Ireland vs Wales preview
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is fullback Ciarán Frawley’s best position? How much of a loss will Hugo Keenan be? What to expect from debutant Oli Jager? Gordon D’A...
Youthful Wales show signs of life ahead of Ireland game
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Despite being tipped by some as wooden spoon contenders for this year’s Six Nations, Wales have lost their opening two matches by a combined margin ...
Rugby's culture war - Mike Ross on the state of Ireland's scrum
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For all the positivity surrounding Ireland’s two wins to open up this year’s Six Nations, a concern for the concession of scrum penalties remains ...
Italian demolition job with Gerry Thornley and John O'Sullivan
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After Ireland put Italy to the sword in the Aviva Stadium, the panel discusses standout performances form Jack Crowley and James Lowe, Ireland's impre...
The Italian Job with Felipe Contepomi and Gordon D'Arcy
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Former Leinster out-half and current Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi joins his old teammate Gordon D'Arcy on today’s podcast. Italy's new head...
Ireland's magic night in Marseille
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fresh off covering Ireland's win over France, Gerry Thornley joins host Nathan Johns and John O'Sullivan to review the victory that sets up Andy Farre...
Gerry Thornley in Marseille ahead of France vs Ireland
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Irish Times rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley previews Friday night’s clash from the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.With both teams exiting last year...
France vs Ireland preview with Gordon D'Arcy and Noel McNamara
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gordon D'Arcy and John O'Sullivan join host Nathan Johns to preview the Six Nations ahead of Ireland's opening game away to France on Friday night.The...
The Counter Ruck, a new rugby podcast from The Irish Times, coming on January 29th
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Counter Ruck is a new rugby podcast from The Irish Times. Launching on Monday, January 29th - just in time for the Six Nations. Produced in associ...