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The Counter Ruck

The Irish Times
Six Nations
Rugby
Irish Rugby
Ireland
Ireland Rugby
Welsh Rugby
Scotland
Gordon D'arcy
Scrum
France
England Rugby
Jack Crowley
Wales Rugby
European Rugby
Twickenham
Mike Bubbins
Jamie Osborne
Italy Rugby
Ireland Under 20s
World Cup

A rugby podcast from The Irish Times. Produced in association with Harcourt Bar & Garden.

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes156Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RugbySports

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Artwork for The Counter Ruck

Latest Episodes

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... more

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... more

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 co... more

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... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Daniel Gallan
A rugby journalist with experience at The Guardian and Rugbypass, originally from South Africa.
The Guardian, Rugbypass
Episode: Ireland vs South Africa: rugby’s biggest rivalry?
Jonathan Drennan
Guest from the Sydney Morning Herald and unofficial Australia rugby correspondent
Sydney Morning Herald
Episode: What will Joe Schmidt's legacy with Australia be?
Lynne Cantwell
Former Ireland International and current IRFU head of women's strategy
IRFU
Episode: How can Ireland build on their World Cup success?
Lindsay Peat
Retired Irish rugby player, former loose-head prop who played in the 2017 World Cup.
Episode: Ireland’s 2017 World Cup misery - what can be learned?
Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald
Current Irish rugby player and former participant in the 2017 World Cup.
Episode: Ireland’s 2017 World Cup misery - what can be learned?
Larissa Muldoon
Former Irish scrum half who played during the 2017 World Cup and scored the first try of the tournament.
Episode: Ireland’s 2017 World Cup misery - what can be learned?
Louise Lawless
Rugby writer covering the Irish women's rugby team for The Irish Times
The Irish Times
Episode: Ireland’s World Cup: limping to the start line or a golden opportunity?
Sean O'Brien
British and Irish Lion and former Leinster and Ireland rugby player
Episode: Slow Lions build-up finally culminates in Test week
Gerry Thornley
Irish sports journalist and rugby analyst
The Irish Times
Episode: How can the provinces break France’s dominance?

Host

Nathan Johns
Host of a rugby podcast providing insightful analyses and discussions about the game, with a focus on Irish rugby.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 125 ratings
  • Average

    ‘Bar bites’

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bazza 17
    Ireland7 months ago
  • John, stop using the phrase “if you like” inappropriately

    John O’Sullivan needs to stop using the phrase “if you like” at the end of every sentence inappropriately

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    jizzhandle
    Irelanda year ago
  • D4 central

    Im a Leinster supporter but this podcast is ridiculously Leinster/D4 centric.. like a private school boys club

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Moncarmar123m
    Irelanda year ago
  • Replace Gavin C with Liam T and it’s perfect!

    This is a great rugby pod but could be perfection if you could switch out the gossip-focussed Cummiskey with the far more knowledgable and insightful Liam Toland.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RobVals
    Ireland6 years ago
  • Fantastic!

    Super podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rob626262
    Ireland6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners express a desire for greater variety in topics and coverage of different aspects of rugby beyond player performances.
The podcast is recognized for its detailed coverage of Irish rugby and its cultural implications, resonating with rugby enthusiasts.
Listeners appreciate the depth of analysis and commentary provided about rugby, often highlighting the insightful observations from hosts.
There are mixed feelings regarding host dynamics, with some suggesting that certain hosts dominate discussions, potentially sidelining others.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#10
United States/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#8
Canada/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#16
United Kingdom/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#6
Germany/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#14
Italy/Sports/Rugby
Apple Podcasts
#27
France/Sports/Rugby

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can Ireland upset the odds against New Zealand?
Q: What can we expect from Ireland over the next four weeks?
Thornley indicates that Ireland has changed their game approach to focus more on counter-attacking and kicking strategies rather than relying solely on high phase counts.
What we learned from Munster’s emphatic win over Leinster
Q: What impact do we think this has on Ireland over the next few weeks in terms of pecking orders?
The performance of Munster may influence selections as players have showcased their form, particularly Jack Crowley.
Ireland’s November squad: valuable rotation or more of the same?
Q: Do you think Stockdale is long-term fullback?
There's potential for him to reinvent himself as a fullback, especially given the competition at left wing.
Ireland’s November squad: valuable rotation or more of the same?
Q: Have you noticed anything markedly different about Munster and how they're going about things under their new coach?
They are becoming more pragmatic and direct in their style of play, focusing on winning physical collisions.
How are Leinster and Munster stacking up ahead of their first meeting of the season?
Q: Who will start at out-half next week for Leinster?
Both Harry Byrne and Sam Prendergast are in contention, with discussions on their recent performances influencing the decision.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Counter Ruck

What is The Counter Ruck about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Engaging discussions surrounding rugby, this podcast provides listeners with insight into the sport's latest happenings, particularly focusing on Irish rugby and international competitions. With in-depth analyses of matches, player performances, and strategic evaluations, the hosts dissect game dynamics along with broader themes such as ticket pricing, the impact of rule changes, and the cultural significance of rugby rivalries. The chemistry between the knowledgeable hosts fosters a rich commentary that appeals to rugby fans keen on understanding both the sporting and societal implications of the game. Unique in its approach, it often blends personal anecdotes from the hosts' experiences with critical reflections on current events within r... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Counter Ruck?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Counter Ruck:

1. The Left Wing
2. RTÉ Rugby Podcast
3. The 42 Rugby Weekly
4. Indo Sport
5. OTB Rugby

How many episodes of The Counter Ruck are there?

The Counter Ruck launched 8 years ago and published 156 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Counter Ruck?

Recent guests on The Counter Ruck include:

1. Daniel Gallan
2. Jonathan Drennan
3. Lynne Cantwell
4. Lindsay Peat
5. Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald
6. Larissa Muldoon
7. Louise Lawless
8. Sean O'Brien

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