Why are New Zealand embarking on their own Lions tour?
The Counter Ruck: The Irish Times Rugby PodcastShow Notes
As world rugby moves away from multi match tours, instead preferring the nations championship, two of its biggest brands are going the other way.
Ditching traditional southern hemisphere competitions, New Zealand are embarking on a lions style tour of South Africa.
Is this good for the game or a shameless cash grab, two bigger nations going out on their own?
South African journalist Daniel Gallan joins Nathan Johns to discuss.
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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.
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.
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.