Best Connaught Podcasts (2025)

1
The role sports psychology has played in Leinster and Ireland’s success 45:00

Play Pause

3h ago45:00

45:00

Inevitably, before their success in the United Rugby Championship last season, plenty of public commentary focused on Leinster’s inability to get over the line in big games. Clearly, they had the talent. Was 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 Ir…

1
Christmas takeaways from a strange provincial weekend 49:41

2d ago49:41

49:41

Another week, another round of games featuring Irish provinces winning ugly. Leinster and Munster secured bonus point victories despite being far from their best. Are we being harsh by focusing overly on performances instead of bottom lines at this stage of the year? Ulster put it up to Leinster but succumbed to a lack of depth. Are they still tren…

1
Could a multiple URC champion be on the way out? 31:41

6d ago31:41

31:41

Not for the first time this year, Welsh rugby is awash with speculation of the downfall of one of its clubs. The Ospreys, four-time winners of the URC in its various guises over the year, are the latest team which could be on the chopping block, according to various media reports. With high profile players leaving the club, word that owners are loo…

1
Do Leinster’s misfires matter so long as they’re winning? 41:54

11d ago41:54

41:54

Leinster won on their travels but looked far from convincing against Leicester. Munster also flattered to deceive albeit they got a winning bonus point at home to Gloucester. Ulster rotated their side with one eye on an interpro against Leinster and lost in the dying embers against Cardiff while Connacht won easily against Black Lion of Georgia. Sh…

1
Rugby’s stylistic direction of travel - is it for the best? 36:22

15d ago36:22

36:22

With Leinster and Leicester squaring off in Europe this week, Jimmy Gopperth - a former outhalf for both sides - joins ex-teammate Gordon D’Arcy and Nathan Johns. We look back at an interesting time in Leinster’s history, the years when they were coached by Matt O’Connor. We also chat about Irish rugby’s tactical evolution in the last 10 years, as …

1
Munster fall as Leinster fail to impress in Europe 40:10

17d ago40:10

40:10

Round one of European action has been and gone as Leinster won in unconvincing fashion over an understrength Harlequins side, Munster fell away to Bath, Connacht lost to Ospreys and Ulster hammered Racing at home in Belfast. Are Leinster leaving it till too late in the season to kick into gear? Is Munster’s defeat terminal to their European ambitio…

1
Ireland's path to World Cup redemption + European preview 33:15

21d ago33:15

33:15

Two years out from the World Cup, Ireland now know who they are playing after Wednesday’s draw. The fixture dates come next February as World Rugby look for spikes of ‘hype’, a tactic which divides the opinion of our panel. Nathan Johns is joined by Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan to look at Ireland’s draw and preview the upcoming European action…

1
Why are Irish rugby tickets so expensive? 37:20

25d ago37:20

37:20

During the November window, the IRFU released their financial accounts for the previous year. Inevitably, they were asked about rising ticket prices for games at the Aviva Stadium. Irish Times rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley reported that the cost of a ticket has increased by 80 per cent in the past 12 years. Why does rugby charge more for the i…

1
Is international rugby becoming unwatchable? 41:44

29d ago41:44

41:44

There have been postmortems aplenty on the state of Irish rugby after the November window. But what of the international window as a whole. Officiating is arguably a hot a topic as it ever has been - and not in a good way. Stylistically, law tweaks have more and more teams striving for efficiency and playing in similar styles, ones which are not al…

1
Saturday Shambles wraps up Ireland's November window 46:03

1M ago46:03

46:03

Saturday was shambolic. Chaotic. Insert your choice of adjective here. A rugby match took over 130 minutes to complete. Seven cards were handed out - one rescinded. Somewhere in between, South Africa bullied Ireland, Andy Farrell’s side ultimately doing well not to lose by a heavier margin. What to make of all the chaos, and of Ireland’s November w…

1
Ireland vs South Africa: rugby’s biggest rivalry? 40:48

1M ago40:48

40:48

South Africa come to town this weekend with two World Cup winners’ medals in the back pocket of plenty of squad members. Yet one of the few frontiers this side under Rassie Erasmus has yet to cross is winning in Dublin. Daniel Gallan is a South African journalist for Rugbypass and the Guardian. He joins Nathan Johns to explain just how Rassie has d…

1
Ireland’s record win over Australia sets up Springboks clash perfectly 29:56

1M ago29:56

29:56

Ireland secured a record victory over Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies on a wet Saturday night at the Aviva Stadium. It was comfortably the best display of this November window from Andy Farrell’s side, but where does it leave them ahead of next week’s Springbok challenge? Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan once again join Nathan Johns to discuss, amongst ot…

1
What will Joe Schmidt's legacy with Australia be? 30:25

1M ago30:25

30:25

After beating the Lions in the last Test and running them close in the series as a whole, Australia have gone downhill. They started this November window with a scare against Japan while last weekend saw a damaging defeat to Italy. Where did it all go wrong? Joe Schmidt is in the twilight of his tenure in charge, finishing up next July. After the L…

1
Ireland’s unconvincing Japan job 37:21

2M ago37:21

37:21

Ireland 41 Japan 10: back on track after the Chicago disappointment or a worrying, laboured victory? Did Ireland get what they needed from returning players? Did newer faces step up? Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to give their thoughts. Meanwhile over in Spain, Ireland’s second string impressed against the tier two nation. Can…

1
A big weekend for Ireland’s emerging rugby talent 28:17

2M ago28:17

28:17

Two Irish sides take to the pitch on Saturday; Andy Farrell’s senior outfit takes on Japan before a second-string side play Spain. Plenty of interesting selection calls have been made, while a number of high-profile players - Caelan Doris included - return to starting roles. What are the storylines and performances to watch? Who needs a big display…

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Are Ireland sliding down rugby's global pecking order? 45:54

2M ago45:54

45:54

Where does Ireland’s defeat to the All Blacks leave them in world rugby’s hierarchy? After a solid if unspectacular opening hour, Ireland collapsed to a two-score defeat in the final quarter. The Irish kicking game brought plenty of joy, but New Zealand’s bench ultimately turned the contest. Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pi…

1
Can Ireland upset the odds against New Zealand? 22:39

2M ago22:39

22:39

Is this the most undercooked an Irish side has been heading into an international window? Is Andy Farrell picking on form? What to make of Jack Crowley at outhalf, Stuart McCloskey at centre and Caelan Doris on the bench? Do Ireland stand any chance of upsetting a New Zealand side which has yet to convince under Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson? Gerry Thorn…

1
How to save a young Irish rugby player’s career 46:56

2M ago46:56

46:56

In a slightly different episode, Gordon D’Arcy has gone digging around his attic for career memories. A teammate feedback sheet from his aged 21 season prompts today’s discussion. In these anonymous submissions, D’Arcy was given both praise and constructive yet strong criticism about his early days with Leinster. In his own words, it was the sheet …

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After a decade of success, can Irish rugby continue to achieve? 37:17

2M ago37:17

37:17

Brendan Fanning has just published a book on the modern history of Irish rugby. Looking at recent successes, he speaks to the heavy hitters involved to figure out if we are set-up to continue growing, stay still or go backwards. Brendan joins The Counter Ruck to discuss his book, Touching Distance, to analyse the biggest issues that have affected t…

1
What we learned from Munster’s emphatic win over Leinster 39:23

2M ago39:23

39:23

Munster battered their provincial rivals for the first time in a long time, potentially igniting this derby match for the future. Were Leinster simply undercooked as they continued to bring back their Lions or has the tide turned on this previously one-sided grudge match? Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to recap the weekend’s ac…

1
Ireland’s November squad: valuable rotation or more of the same? 31:43

2M ago31:43

31:43

Andy Farrell named a settled Ireland squad for the upcoming November internationals this week. With just one uncapped player - Leinster’s Paddy McCarthy - has he taken the opportunity to regenerate the side halfway through a World Cup cycle? Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns to pick through the more interesting selections. Why has McCarthy risen so…

1
How are Leinster and Munster stacking up ahead of their first meeting of the season? 50:09

3M ago50:09

50:09

For the first time this season, Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan are back together on The Counter Ruck to pick through the weekend’s rugby action. Leinster returned to winning ways, Munster won an ill-disciplined affair against Edinburgh, Ulster picked up a statement win over the Bulls while Connacht fell away to Cardiff. With Harry Byrne impressi…

1
Which new academy players could shine for the provinces? 31:37

3M ago31:37

31:37

Another provincial preview but this one is a little different. After going through things at senior level, Nathan Johns is joined by John O’Sullivan to look at the new players entering the four provincial academies across Ireland. Which players that impressed at U20 level have earned an opportunity? What names should we look out for? Is Ireland sti…

1
How many Ireland jerseys are up for grabs ahead of the Autumn Nations Series? 26:33

3M ago26:33

26:33

1
How can Ireland build on their World Cup success? 44:33

3M ago44:33

44:33

Four years after failing to qualify for the World Cup, few would argue that a valiant quarter-final defeat to France represents progress for the Irish women’s side. How do they keep that going, capitalising on the support which followed them for a month over in England? Lynne Cantwell is the IRFU’s head of women's strategy. A former player, she is …

Connaught Podcasts

1
The Counter Ruck

The Irish Times

1
The Irish at War

The Irish at War

1
The Center for the Restoration of Christian Culture

The Center for the Restoration of Christian Culture

1
The role sports psychology has played in Leinster and Ireland’s success 45:00

1
Christmas takeaways from a strange provincial weekend 49:41

1
Could a multiple URC champion be on the way out? 31:41

1
Do Leinster’s misfires matter so long as they’re winning? 41:54

1
Rugby’s stylistic direction of travel - is it for the best? 36:22

1
Munster fall as Leinster fail to impress in Europe 40:10

1
Ireland's path to World Cup redemption + European preview 33:15

1
Why are Irish rugby tickets so expensive? 37:20

1
Is international rugby becoming unwatchable? 41:44

1
Saturday Shambles wraps up Ireland's November window 46:03

1
Ireland vs South Africa: rugby’s biggest rivalry? 40:48

1
Ireland’s record win over Australia sets up Springboks clash perfectly 29:56

1
What will Joe Schmidt's legacy with Australia be? 30:25

1
Ireland’s unconvincing Japan job 37:21

1
A big weekend for Ireland’s emerging rugby talent 28:17

1
Are Ireland sliding down rugby's global pecking order? 45:54

1
Can Ireland upset the odds against New Zealand? 22:39

1
How to save a young Irish rugby player’s career 46:56

1
After a decade of success, can Irish rugby continue to achieve? 37:17

1
What we learned from Munster’s emphatic win over Leinster 39:23

1
Ireland’s November squad: valuable rotation or more of the same? 31:43

1
How are Leinster and Munster stacking up ahead of their first meeting of the season? 50:09

1
Which new academy players could shine for the provinces? 31:37

1
How many Ireland jerseys are up for grabs ahead of the Autumn Nations Series? 26:33

1
How can Ireland build on their World Cup success? 44:33