The Counter Ruck

A difficult night for Ireland saw them lose heavily to France in Paris.

Nathan Johns and Gerry Thornley were at the Stade de France to pick through where it all went wrong.

Was Ireland’s game plan exposed? What to make of selection or the decision to continually kick away possession? What positives, if any, can be gleamed from a second half fightback?

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

Ireland have named their team for Thursday’s Six Nations opener.

There are surprises, namely Jacob Stockdale in for James Lowe and Cian Prendergast starting at 6.

Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick through the key match ups.

How will Ireland tactically overcome France’s Parisian challenge?

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

The new head coach of the US team is an Irishman from Skerries.

After winning a medal with the Canada Sevens team in Paris, Jack Hanratty has moved to America to coach Ilona Maher and Co.

He joins host Nathan Johns to chart his journey from a Leinster development coach to boss of the US.

Plus, with World cups heading stateside in 2031 and 2033, Jack gives his take on a question rugby has long sought to answer: can the sport make it in America?

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

Ireland’s front-row injury crisis plummeted to a further low when Jack Boyle was carted off with an Achilles issue for Leinster against Connacht. Given the absentee list at loosehead, should he - alongside other Ireland Six Nations players - have been wrapped in cotton wool over the weekend?

Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to discuss this along with Leinster’s victory over Connacht, Ulster’s defeat away to the Scarlets and Munster getting over the line vs the Dragons.

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

It’s squad week ahead of the upcoming Six Nations. Both the senior group, the squad selected in the second string and the U20s have all been revealed.

Is Andy Farrell’s selection overly safe or a fair reflection of newer players pushing through?

Who has been hard done by? Can anyone from the second string push their way into the upper ranks? And what of the U20s, who are looking to bounce back after a poor year?

John O’Sullivan and Gordon D’Arcy join Nathan Johns to discuss.

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