Will Champions Cup blowouts come back to haunt Leinster?
Watching the Champions Cup rugby action over the weekend, Gordon D’Arcy was taken by young Henry Pollock. The 20-year-old England flanker scored twice for Northampton in their quarter-final win over Castres, a result which tees up a last four trip to Dublin to take on Leinster. But which familiar face closer to home does Pollock remind D’Arcy of? Is the comparison a foreshadower of things to come? Alongside the Northampton game, Gordon joins John O’Sullivan and Nathan Johns to discuss the weekend’s rugby. Munster’s lineout woes cost them dear in Bordeaux, but what else is holding them back from a magic European run? Toulouse were tested by Toulon on Sunday, does this indicate they may not be the same juggernaut which beat Leinster last year? After back-to-back games where their opponents failed to score, are Leinster in imperious form or have they simply not been battle tested by quality opposition? What does this say for their semi-final and final prospects? Plus, Ireland in theory narrowed the gap to England after a defeat in the women’s Six Nations. How did they go about closing the gap to the title favourites, and are they continuing to build positively ahead of the World Cup?Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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45:14
Joey Carbery, Munster and Ireland - where did it all go wrong?
Munster’s reward for their victory in La Rochelle is a Champions Cup quarter-final tie away in Bordeaux. Their former outhalf, Joey Carbery, started for the French side last weekend against Ulster. The coach leading their famed attack, is another man with Munster roots, the Co Clare native Noel McNamara. Irish Times rugby writer John O’Sullivan joins Nathan Johns to explore the Irish links to the French club. Was moving to Bordeaux the right move for Carbery? Where would he sit in the Irish outhalf pecking order if he moved home? Should Irish rugby look to get McNamara back involved in their system given the performances of Bordeaux’s attack? How did a non-traditional rugby city start churning out the best attendance numbers in the Top 14? Can Munster pull off another upset on the road in France? Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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26:31
How did Munster stun O’Gara’s La Rochelle?
The weekend’s rugby action brought a result to remember for Munster in their first competitive outing against La Rochelle, coached by their former outhalf Ronan O’Gara. With wins elsewhere for Leinster and Connacht, plus a valiant defeat for Ulster, John O’Sullivan and Gordon D’Arcy join Nathan Johns to pick through the weekend’s action. How did Munster pull off the upset in France? Is this another peak for the province to be followed by a trough, or can they back it up against Bordeaux? Is Leinster’s attack back firing, or was their drubbing of Harlequins just another example of the flawed Champions Cup structure? Albeit in defeat, have Ulster turned a corner with the likes of Jacob Stockdale and James McNabney impressing? Which players boosted their summer international hopes, either with the Lions or Ireland?Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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35:33
A history of Leinster and Harlequins' 'bloody' rivalry
Irish players prepare for another European weekend of action, with Leinster taking on Harlequins, Munster playing La Rochelle in the Ronan O’Gara derby, Ulster away to Bordeaux and Connacht lining out against Cardiff. The past few weeks of URC action, while throwing up plenty of intriguing storylines, has been a reminder of how much interest in the national game drives the sport here. Rugby is at somewhat of a crossroads, financially speaking. Simon Keogh, the CEO of Rugby Players Ireland, represents the interests of players in the wider discussions on the future of the game. A former Leinster and Harlequins scrumhalf and wing, he joins The Counter Ruck alongside Nathan Johns and his former teammate Gordon D’Arcy. We chat memories of playing with and against each other, the infamous Bloodgate match between Leinster and ‘Quins, as well as the current state of the sport from the players perspective. What are the pressing issues facing players today? Does the Irish system allow for better player management than other countries? How does rugby become a financially sustainable entity?Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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33:35
How did Leinster’s young guns outmatch the Sharks?
Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to review the weekend’s action. How did Connacht fail to take advantage of Munster’s red card in the test in the west? How much do we read into the Leinster youngsters beating the Sharks, or is that particular South African team always prone to madness? Are we finally seeing Ulster’s exciting back line turn a corner? Speaking of back lines, Ireland finally take the handbrake off in a record Six Nations win over Italy.Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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