The Counter Ruck

Lions tours are full of stories of players being called up last minute, dashing across the world to get an opportunity to pull on the red jersey. Former Ireland prop Tom Court has as good a story as anyone, tucking into a takeaway in his native Queensland before being summoned to Melbourne as the 2013 Lions faced a mini-propping crisis. Given it’s 12 years on from that tour, this is as good an opportunity as any to hear from Court. As much as this is a Lions chat, though, it turns into a fascinating analysis of Irish props and scrums. How did Court, who didn’t play rugby until the age of 23, play for Ireland A within 16 months of first touching a rugby ball? Was this an indication of his unique athleticism, or an indictment on Ireland’s ability to develop front rows? Or a bit of both? Given he experienced the system, Court gives his take on how we as a country develop props. What needs to be done to avoid reliance on one man in a certain position (a la Tadhg Furlong) for an extended period? How do Australia compare in their athlete development? Are we on the way to fixing the problem?We’d love to find out what you think of The Counter Ruck podcast and to understand a little more about our listeners.Please take our survey and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a €100 One4All gift card:https://www.research.net/r/CounterRuckWebAppProduced by John Casey.

Imagine Irish rugby had to compete with a professional GAA and a thriving League of Ireland for talent. Would the country still be so successful?That is the picture facing Australia at the moment and then some, given the popularity of Rugby League, AFL, cricket, soccer, basketball and countless other codes down under. Yet just over 20 years ago, Australian rugby defied this sporting competition to produce a side good enough to win the 1999 World Cup, beat the Lions in 2001 and narrowly miss out on back-to-back global crowns in 2003. What has changed?Jonathan Drennan is a Belfast-born journalist working for the Sydney Morning Herald. He joins host Nathan Johns to explain Australian rugby’s recent demise.Will this Lions tour, combined with hosting duties at the 2027 World Cup, give the sport the injection of eyeballs it needs, or will it bankrupt a once great rugby nation?We’d love to find out what you think of The Counter Ruck podcast and to understand a little more about our listeners.Please take our survey and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a €100 One4All gift card:https://www.research.net/r/CounterRuckWebAppProduced by John Casey.

After a lengthy build-up, the Lions tour is finally upon us. Andy Farrell and co come to Dublin on Friday night to take on Argentina before travelling down under.The last time the Lions faced Los Pumas, our own Gordon D’Arcy started at 12 back in 2005.He joins Nathan Johns and John O’Sullivan to reminisce on his own Lions experiences, look ahead to Friday and analyse the place of the Lions in the public psyche. Is it an event which captures the everyday fan’s imagination or simply a corporate juggernaut?We’d love to find out what you think of The Counter Ruck podcast and to understand a little more about our listeners.Please take our survey and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a €100 One4All gift card: https://www.research.net/r/CounterRuckWebAppProduced by John Casey.

After weeks of criticism, Leinster have answered their Champions Cup disappointment in the best way possible.A first trophy since 2021 was secured by beating the Bulls on Saturday, Leinster climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand in Croke Park to lift a first URC title since the South African sides joined.What does this mean for the province going forward? Have they cured their mental problems in big games? How will they replace the influence of Jordie Barrett? Is this a side ready to win European titles once again?Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick through the weekend’s action.Produced by John Casey.

Leinster have played the Bulls twice in knockouts since 2022. Both times, they lost. The South African game plan has been clear: beat them up front. But are Leinster better equipped this time? Gordon D’Arcy, John O’Sullivan and Nathan Johns discuss. Plus, how will Sam Prendergast shape up in his first final?

After weeks of consistent (yet fair) criticism, Leinster turned in a performance to silence the critics. At least for now, their ultimate test for this season still to come. A convincing win against Glasgow showed a side touching top form again while offering a window into their unusual ‘us against the world’ mentality. What to make of it all? Gordon D’Arcy and Nathan Johns discuss. Will Leinster disappoint in another final? What does D’Arcy think are the mental improvements for a side with all the talent in the world? Are Leinster back at their best?

It may be URC semi-final week, but the rugby news cycle has been dominated by events away from Leinster. Connacht have pulled off a big-name managerial signing by securing the services of Stuart Lancaster, while Paul O’Connell has named his Ireland squad for the summer tour of Georgia and Portugal. With the Lions contingent away in Australia, this tour will be vital for plugging the gaps and filling areas of weakness as we start to inch towards another World Cup. Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns to discuss all this while looking at why Leinster’s URC playoff run appears to be struggling to capture the public imagination. Produced by John Casey.

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to talk through a dramatic URC quarter-final weekend. Munster’s shootout defeat to the Sharks in Durban has dominated the headlines, no least for the home side’s attempts to throw Munster’s kickers off their game. This inevitably opened up a wider chat on kick tricks and the dark arts in rugby more generally. Plus, do Leinster look like a side on the cusp of a title after their unconvincing Scarlets win? What do we need to see from them over the next fortnight to end their silverware drought? Produced by John Casey.

Gerry Thornley joins the latest episode of The Counter Ruck fresh off his trip to Cardiff to watch the Champions Cup final.He breaks down the future landscape for free-to-air rugby in Ireland, analyses France’s domination of the Champions Cup, looks at the chances of Noel McNamara returning home and more.Alongside host Nathan Johns, talk also turns to injuries ahead of the provincial run in the URC knockouts, and the importance of Leinster lifting the domestic trophy at the end of the campaign.We'd love to find out what you think of The Counter Ruck podcast and to understand a little more about our listeners. Please take our survey and you'll be entered into a prize draw to win a €100 One4All gift card: https://www.research.net/r/CounterRuckWebAppProduced by John Casey.