Should the 7-1 split be outlawed?

The Counter Ruck

#Sports #Rugby #Declan Conlon #Irish Times #Ireland #National #Leinster #Munster #Connaught #Ulster #Champions Cup

30:55

A secret field that summons lightning. A massive spiral that disappears into a salt lake. A celestial observatory carved into a volcano. Meet the wild—and sometimes explosive—world of land art, where artists craft masterpieces with dynamite and bulldozers. In our Season 2 premiere, guest Dylan Thuras, cofounder of Atlas Obscura, takes us off road and into the minds of the artists who literally reshaped parts of the Southwest. These works aren’t meant to be easy to reach—or to explain—but they just might change how you see the world. Land art you’ll visit in this episode: - Double Negative and City by Michael Heizer (Garden Valley, Nevada) - Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson (Great Salt Lake, Utah) - Sun Tunnels by Nancy Holt (Great Basin Desert, Utah) - Lightning Field by Walter De Maria (Catron County, New Mexico) - Roden Crater by James Turrell (Painted Desert, Arizona) Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.…

22 days ago 18:13

MP3•Episode home

While not quite at culture war levels, the use of extra forwards has prompted a strong rebuke, as either dangerous, against the spirit of the game, or both, from plenty of those involved in the game.

One of those is Owen Doyle. A former international referee and current Irish Times columnist, he joins Nathan Johns to talk through World Rugby’s latest law development. Should the 7-1 split be outlawed, or is it simply a case of clever innovation, leaving the rest of the world to catch up?

Produced by John Casey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

103 episodes

The Counter Ruck

Should the 7-1 split be outlawed?

The Counter Ruck

24 subscribers

published 22 days ago

MP3•Episode home

While not quite at culture war levels, the use of extra forwards has prompted a strong rebuke, as either dangerous, against the spirit of the game, or both, from plenty of those involved in the game.

Produced by John Casey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

103 episodes

#Sports #Rugby #Declan Conlon #Irish Times #Ireland #National #Leinster #Munster #Connaught #Ulster #Champions Cup

All episodes

The Counter Ruck

1
‘Getting the top two inches ready’ - How important is sports psychology to breaking a losing habit? 45:01

15 hours ago45:01

45:01

Inevitably, plenty of public commentary in the last few weeks has focused on Leinster’s inability to get over the line in big games. Clearly, they have the talent. Is the problem instead to be found in the top two inches? Enda McNulty, a former All-Ireland winner with Armagh, worked with both Leinster and Ireland as a sports psychologist. He joins Gordon D’Arcy - with whom he worked during his playing days - to look at the importance of sports psychology in winning environments. Does sport psychology work? How do you get players to buy in? Why did Leinster and Ireland under Joe Schmidt embrace training the mind so readily? To what extent can previous success be attributed to training the mind? Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Counter Ruck

1
Have rugby fans stopped caring about the URC? 44:39

3 days ago44:39

44:39

This weekend was a crucial round of URC action, with Munster and Ulster squaring off for playoff places, Connacht looking to stay in the hunt and Leinster aiming to wrap up the league’s top seed. Not to mention the occasion it was for the likes of Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray playing their final game in Limerick. Yet the crowds were on the low side, despite what was on the line. Does the public simply have a case of rugby fatigue? Perhaps the season stretches on too long, with emotional energy being preserved for the URC knockouts, Ireland’s summer tour and of course the Lions’ trip to Australia. Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to figure out how to capture the public imagination with the URC, drawing comparison to France where club rugby still seems to be top dog. Plus, D’Arcy gives a masterclass of international centre play, explaining why the job is more difficult than you think and why some Irish players are struggling with the nuances of the role. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Counter Ruck

1
Who is in the most Irish Lions squad of all time and why? 21:47

7 days ago21:47

21:47

Andy Farrell has picked his long-awaited Lions squad ahead of this summer’s tour to Australia. 15 Irishmen have been named, a record for the touring side, just about pipping the 14 originally named in 2009. A man who was belatedly called up to that squad 16 years ago, Gordon D’Arcy, casts his eye alongside the latest crop. Alongside John O’Sullivan and Nathan Johns, who attended the launch bash in London, this episode delves into the runners and riders, along with those who may have been unfortunate to miss out. Do Ireland deserve to have so many tourists? Would Caelan Doris have been captain if fit? Why does this squad have the lowest Welsh representation since the war? Are any Irish players, such as Robbie Henshaw or Sam Prendergast, unlucky to have missed out? Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Counter Ruck

1
Where do Leinster go next after more Champions Cup heartache? 40:31

10 days ago40:31

40:31

Prior to Saturday, Leinster hadn’t conceded a point in European knockout action this year. No team had run in five tries against them in this competition since 2016. Northampton changed all that, leaving Leinster’s latest European escapade in tatters, scoring 37 points on route to a thrilling victory at the Aviva Stadium. How did they do what no other team has done since 2016, let alone this year? Is Leinster’s galactico bubble burst? Why did they not start Jordie Barrett? If Leinster aren’t going to win in Europe this year with this squad at their disposal, when will they? Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick through the latest defeat, the extent of the damage and work out where the province can go from here. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Counter Ruck

1
Leinster vs Northampton - the comeback final revisited 35:17

15 days ago35:17

35:17

Just one Irish province is in action this weekend, with Leinster taking on Northampton in the Champions Cup semi-finals. Joining Gordon D’Arcy and Nathan Johns on today’s episode is a man who played for both sides in his career, James Downey. A centre back in his day, Downey lined up directly opposite D’Arcy in the infamous comeback final in 2011, Leinster overturning a 22-6 half-time deficit to win their second Heineken Cup. The story of Leinster’s turnaround has been well told at this stage, but Downey gives a unique perspective from the Northampton side. Where did it all go wrong? As a player who left Leinster early in his career in search of opportunities, not to mention his current role as an agent, Downey also provides a unique perspective on a current hot topic in Irish rugby; player movement and the talent backlog at Leinster. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Counter Ruck

1
Will Leinster be the only Irish team in the URC knockouts? 47:25

17 days ago47:25

47:25

For the first time since 2015, all four Irish provinces lost on a single weekend of domestic action. Add this to Ireland women’s defeat to Scotland to wrap up the Six Nations and it was an unusually glum 48 hours for rugby in this country. Panic stations or just a blip? The playoff picture currently being painted leaves just one province, Leinster, playing knockout rugby in the coming weeks. There are also Champions Cup permutations. As it stands, Munster, Connacht and Ulster won’t be playing top tier European rugby next season, a result which would be borderline disastrous - for Munster particularly given they have an incoming new head coach. Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick through the weekend. Where did it all go wrong, and will any Irish side improve over the final few weeks of the season? Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Counter Ruck

1
Should the 7-1 split be outlawed? 18:13

22 days ago18:13

18:13

The now infamous 7-1 forward split on the bench hit the headlines once again recently when World Rugby announced they would not be outlawing the practice. The innovation, first used by South Africa and made more prominent by France in the recent Six Nations, is controversial in some quarters . While not quite at culture war levels, the use of extra forwards has prompted a strong rebuke, as either dangerous, against the spirit of the game, or both, from plenty of those involved in the game. One of those is Owen Doyle. A former international referee and current Irish Times columnist, he joins Nathan Johns to talk through World Rugby’s latest law development. Should the 7-1 split be outlawed, or is it simply a case of clever innovation, leaving the rest of the world to catch up? Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Counter Ruck

1
How to fix the Champions Cup? 23:30

24 days ago23:30

23:30

The Champions Cup is not the competition it used to be. For all Munster’s recent trips to France provided a feel-good window of sport at its best, plenty of dead rubber ties reminded us that it is difficult to get the best of the best facing off in truly competitive ties. That the pool stages have featured too many hammerings on the scoreboard to be a proper competition has been true for some time. That such drubbings continue until the quarter-final stage is worrying. Plenty of column inches and podcast segments have been dedicated to calling out the issue for what it is, but what are the solutions? Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns to explore what can be done. How did it get to this stage in the first place? Are the English clubs truly dedicated to the competition? How have TV rights issues played into the problem? How can we fix the Champions Cup? Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Counter Ruck

1
Why do Leinster keep signing All Blacks? 28:03

29 days ago28:03

28:03

On any other day, an Irish provincial coach leaving his job with immediate effect would be front page news. As it happens, on the same day Pete Wilkins announces his departure from Connacht, Leinster revealed their next big name signing. Out goes Jordie Barrett this summer, in comes Rieko Ioane, his All Blacks centre partner. Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick through the move. Does it make sense, both from a positional and character sense, given Ioane’s role as a pantomime villain when facing Ireland last year? Should Leinster be allowed to continually make these signings by the IRFU? Is it a case of the rich getting richer? Will Ioane block the development of younger Irish players? Or is Irish rugby right to let the free market do its work? John O’Sullivan, our resident U20s expert, also breaks down the shock decision of Reuben Crothers to retire from rugby just three years after leading Ireland to underage Grand Slam glory. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Counter Ruck

1
Will Champions Cup blowouts come back to haunt Leinster? 45:14

4 weeks ago45:14

45:14

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.…

The Counter Ruck

1
Joey Carbery, Munster and Ireland - where did it all go wrong? 26:31

5 weeks ago26:31

26:31

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.…

The Counter Ruck

1
How did Munster stun O’Gara’s La Rochelle? 35:33

5 weeks ago35:33

35:33

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.…

The Counter Ruck

1
A history of Leinster and Harlequins' 'bloody' rivalry 33:35

6 weeks ago33:35

33:35

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.…

The Counter Ruck

1
How did Leinster’s young guns outmatch the Sharks? 27:00

6 weeks ago27:00

27:00

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.…

The Counter Ruck

1
Have the Lions left Ireland in the lurch? 26:52

7 weeks ago26:52