First interpro excites while Leinster return to winning ways at the RDS
The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby PodcastShow Notes
Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick through the weekend’s interpro action. Friday night saw Connacht struggle away in Glasgow with the set-piece and maul proving an issue. The panel discusses how Connacht continue to look to improve their tight five while analysing Bundee Aki’s return to action at the start of what could be his last season in Irish rugby.
Elsewhere, the first interpro of the season brought about a thriller as Ulster and Munster went tête-à-tête for a draw in Belfast. Clayton McMillan’s side raced out to a commanding hall-time lead only for Ulster, spearheaded by the likes of Robert Baloucoune, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale, to pull things back for a dramatic draw.
Finally, Leinster returned to the RDS for the first time in competitive action as they saw off Cardiff. In a performance that featured impressive counter-attacking displays from the likes of Hugo Keenan and Sam Prendergast, our trio looks at how Leo Cullen’s side are trying to evolve their attack in a bid to ultimately catch up with some of their French foes later this season.
Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby Podcast
It’s not long since we were talking about a weekend of four defeats for all four provinces.
Steven Kitshoff, the former South Africa and Ulster prop, joins Nathan Johns on The Counter Ruck.
Following Munster’s appointment of former Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee as CEO, can the province build towards former glories?
After round one saw all four Irish provinces lose to kick off the URC season, this weekend brought a more encouraging set of results spearheaded by impressive outhalf displays. Gordon D’Arcy joins Nathan Johns to review all the action as Connacht and Munster secured victory, Ulster took a draw away in Glasgow and Leinster wrapped up their South African tour with a losing bonus point.
Andrew Trimble and London Irish chairman Daniel McKeown want to examine rugby’s governance. Looking at the money flowing in at a the international level, they want to know why so many clubs are still struggling. Worcester, Irish themselves and Wasps have all had well-documented financial troubles, while clubs further afield in Argentina and Australia have also gone under.